Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-11-13
WHY M. risGAH SHOULD BIZ 4
STATE PARK.

WHY MI. rlSGAA SHOULD BE a
STATE PARK.
Piseah, Iowa,-Some Of our local
people think we have here ct pisgah
as fine location for state park as
anywhere. We have as wild and rug
ged hills, as picturesque scenery as
anywhere in western Iowa. They are
many objects Of public interest near
Pisgah. First, and not least, the
Soldier river, so called because COM
pany Of U. s. regulars camped on its
banks years ago. This stream is on
" little less in volume Of flow than
the Boyer river. Old settlers have a
saying Of this stream, j. e., shat it
only takes jug of water to put the
Soldier out of its banks" This is
due to the many high and steep hills
on either side, giving it somewhat
the nature of mountain stream. A
little rainfall in the adjacent hills and
as it takes so short a time to reach
the stream, it makes it's sudden rise
possible.
Terraces of Glacial Drift.
The terraces or benches found in
the Soldier river valley are truly
grand. These terraces are composed
of glacial drift with covering in
some places of the lighter loose soil.
One of the most interesting of these
benches is Kenyon BENCH" which
occupies position in the center Of
the valley and is separate and not
connected with any other hill or height
of land and has mound like appear
ance, with level top.
These river terraces vary in height
from thirty to fifty feet. In the riv-
er valley north Of Kenyon bench"
are located three very interesting
mounds, being about 200 feet across
The base and of height of twenty to
thirty feet.
Mounds of Indian Origin.
These mounds are thought by some
observers to be Indian mounds and
are so described in Joe Smiths ellis
,ory of Harrison County" While we
would not question the statements of
Joe Smith mot the prophet) we lean
:owards the idea that these mounds
ire of glacial origin, as the base of
the mound on the county line road is
Composed of blue gray clay or gla-
cial drift, with loose covering
Then there are several mounds on the
up of high bluff near where the
'orners meet Of the four sections,
%, "a, Is, and rs, of Jackson town
ship. While these mounds have not
oeen examined by men who are COM
'etent to pass on same, it would seem
that these are Indian mounds, either
burial mounds or else mounds for sig
nal fires of the Indians. It is to be
'egretted that these mounds have been
partially destroyed by the pillow. To
the southeast of Pisgah there is a
large grove of native timber called
Flowers Grove" so named for the
many native flowers which formerly
grew within its confines. This grove,
with the Mt. Pisgah hills and valleys,
presents many beautiful and picture
sque scenes.
Gravel Banks and Boulders.
The gravel banks at the location of
the old mill furnish many objects Of
interest. The gravel banks here
rise to height of about forty feet
above the Soldier river and are about
thirty feet thick. Some large boul-
ders of Sioux quartzite are found.
Many homes Of prehistoric ami
mails have been found here. Bones
Of elephants, mastodon, camel and
the aftoman horse. The elephant
bones are of the "elphas imperator,
an animal larger than the mastodon
or any elephant now living. The two
springs south of the old mill site are
worthy of mention, as these flow
from the gravel deposits and the wa
Ter from which is remarkably pure
and soft. We could not close with
out mentioning the former Indian
trails. There was one that started at
the Coffman grove in Raglan town
ship, and proceeded in northeastern.
" direction, following the divide on
The eastern side Of the Soldier river
valley and passing out Of this county
near the northeast corner of Aller
township Then another that started
near the former Henry Garner farm
and proceeded northeast along the
livide between the Allen creek and
Steer creek valleys. These two trails
united in Allen township.
THINKOGRAPHS
There was fair maid with hat;
1t was little and ugly and flat;
But the price was sure nifty