Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-10-30


discussed in the report are as fol-
lows:
The Geology of Southern North Da-
kota with special reference to coal.
The Geology of Northwestern North
Dakota with special reference to ce-
ment materials.
The Manufacture of Natural Hy-
draulic Cement.
Laboratory Tests in Cement Making
With North Daokta Materials.
The Geological History of North
Dakota.
The Bottineau Gas Field.
Good Roads and Road Materials.
The first paper of the geology OF
southwestern North Dakota, by DR.. A.
G.. Leonard describes in detail the
topography and drainage of Billings
and Bowman counties, including an
account of the origin of the famous
Bad Lands of the Little Missouri,
description of the burning coal beds,
and the origin of the numerous buttes
of the region.
The various geological formations
are discussed and their distribution y
shown on the geological map accom-
panying the paper. Some account is
given of the many fossils contained in
the rocks, which include shells, leaves
and bones of extinct reptiles such as
the huge dinosaur known as lricero-
tops-a clumsy land reptile with three
horns. There are also the bones OF
the three-toed horse, the ancestor of
the modern horse, and species OF
rhinoceros.
A large portion of this first paper
is devoted to a detailed discussion
of the extensive ooal deposits OF
southwestern North Dakota So far
as possible every important coal out
crop in the region IS described and
accurately located on the map, the
thickness of the different seams is
given and also the exact location OF
the outcrop by section and quarter
section. All coal mines are likewise
located and described.
Twenty-one workable coal beds are
shown to occur in Billings county
alone, having an aggregate thickness
Of 157 feet. One of these seams is |
known to have covered an area of at |
least 900 square miles and it prob |
ably had an extent of 1000 to 1900
square miles. Many coal analyses are |
given and the development of the |!
coal resources is discussed.
The paper on the geology of north |
eastern North Dakota. by John g.
Barry and v. J. Melsted, describes the |
topography, drainage and geological
history of Pembina, Cavalier and ad- I
joining counties, and is accompanied
by a geological map of the region. 1t
l1&1 l>I Mt ~
Lake Agassiz beaches and the loca-
ton of these are shown on the map.
Particular attention is given to the
cement resources of the region and
every outcrop of cement rock is de-
scribed, it's location given in the text
and indicated by symbol on the
map. The cement rock Is shown to
have a greater extent than was pre-
viously supposed, being shown By it's
outcrops to occur for nearly thirty
miles south of the Canadian boundary
along the western edge of the Red
River valley Numerous analyses are
given not only Of the cement rock
but also of the shales and clays suit
able for brick making.
Mr.. V. J. Melsted discusses brief
ly the manufacture of natural hydra
u1ic cement, particularly the methods
adapted to the manufacture of cement
in North Dakota This is followed by (
an account of the laboratory tests on
cement making with North Dakota 7
materials.
In the chapter on the geological his
tory Of North Dakota, DR.. Leonard de-
scribes in popular style the develop
ment of the state geologically from
earliest times down to the present;
how it has been many times submerg-
ed beneath the sea and repeatedly ele'
waited; how the various rock forma-
lions were formed, and how the pres
ent physical feature originated. This
chapter was prepared especially for !!
use in the schools, in order that the
pupils and others interested may be
informed as to the many changes the
state has passed through before man /
appeared upon the scene. ~
The Bottineau gas field is describ- /
ed in a short paper by Mr.. John G.
Barry, including an account of the I
depth and occurrence of the gas, loca-
ton of the wells, and probable origin |
of the gas.
The subject of good roads Is one |
of great interest and Importance to-
the people of the state and the con
Guiding paper Of the report, by Mr..
w. H. Clark, deals with good roads I
and road materials. The relations OF I
roads to materials suitable for road |
making is given. The report contains
some rules of road building and men |
lions important types of road making !
machinery. |
This volume of the Geological Sur
vey should prove of interest and value |
to the people of the state, containing |
as it does, SO much information re- |
garding the naural resources, geology |
and topography of the region. copy I,
of the report can be secured free of
charge by writing the State Geologist,
DR.. A. G. Leonard, Grand Forks, N.
D., and enclosing II cents in stamps
to pay the postage. Ali previous re-
ports OF the survey, except the first,
can likewise be obtained by REMIT
ing postage. .}t... . II
The second biennial report deals al
most entirely with the coal deposits
of the state, Postage is IL cents. {
The third biennial reoort contains