NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA 23 



ing country. In the north and north-west, many similar hills were in sight, 

 and as the dip of the strata here is in that direction, it is probable some of 

 this are not only chiefly made up of the sandstone No. 1, but surmounted by 

 the other Cretaceous beds Nos. 2 and 3 of the Nebraska Cretaceous series ; in- 

 deed, Dr. Engleman found all these formations occupying this relation on Re- 

 publican river, not more than seventy miles north of this.* 



Although this paper is merely designed to give a brief sketch of the leading 

 geological feature of those portions of north-eastern Kansas visited by us, we 

 cannot close it without alluding to the truly great agricultural and other natural 

 resources of this new and interesting Territory. We mean no disparagement 

 to other portions of the Mississippi valley, when we state, that after having 

 travelled extensively in the Great West, and after having seen many of its 

 most favored spots, we have met with no country combining more attractive 

 features than Kansas Territory. Her geographical position gives her a com- 

 paratively mild and genial climate, intermediate between the extremes of heat 

 and cold, while the rich virgin soil of her beautiful prairies is admirably 

 adapted to the growth of all the great staple grain and root crops of the west. 



It is true that in some districts there is rather a deficiency of timber, but as 

 a general thing there is along the streams sufficient for the immediate wants of 

 the country. In addition to this, the wonderful rapidity with which forests 

 are known to have sprung up on similar prairie lands in Missouri, as the 

 country became settled so as to keep out the annual fires, shows that the 

 present scarcity of timber should not be regarded as presenting any serious 

 obstacle to the settlement of the most extensive prairie district in Kansas. 



Before going out into the interior of the Territory, we had expected to find 

 the whole country immediately west of Fort Riley comparatively sterile ; on 

 the contrary, however, we were agreeably disappointed at meeting with scarcely 

 any indications of decreasing fertility as far as our travels extended, which 

 was about sixty miles west of Fort Riley. Here we found the prairies clothed 

 with a luxuriant growth of grass, and literally alive with vast herds of Buffalo 

 that were seen quietly grazing as far as the eye could reach in every direction. 

 Even on the high divide between the Smoky Hill and Arkansas rivers, south of 

 this, we found the soil rich and supporting a dense growth of grass ; and from all 

 we could learn from persons who have gone further out, the same kind of 

 country extends for a long distance beyond this, towards the west. Hence we 

 infer that the belt of unproductive lands between the rich country on the east, 

 and the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains on the west, is much narrower than 

 is generally supposed ; and even this so-called desert country is known to pos- 

 sess a good soil, which may be rendered fruitful by artificial irrigation. 



In regard to the mineral resources of Kansas, we have at present only time 

 and space to say a few words. As already stated, coal is known to exist, 

 though its extent is not yet fully determined, at several localities in the region 

 of Leavenworth City, while the geological structure of the country, as well as 

 discoveries already made, warrant the conclusion that this important and useful 

 mineral abounds at many localities south of there. Limestone suitable for 

 building purposes, and the production of quicklime, exist throughout large areas, 

 while inexhaustible beds of gypsum are known to occur at several places not 

 far west of the mouth of Solomon's river. Near this place we likewise saw in 

 the lower Cretaceous rocks crowning the summits of the Smoky Hills, deposits 

 of iron ore, but were unable to determine in the limited time at our command, 

 whether or not it exists in large quantities. 



Of the discoveries of gold in the mountains on the western borders of Kan- 

 sas, much has been said ; nothing, however, but a thorough geological survey, 

 by authority of the Territorial or State government, (for Kansas must soon be 

 a State,) can lay before the public such full, accurate, and reliable information 

 on these subjects as will bring from the older States the capital, skill and 

 enterprise necessary to develop the great natural resources of the country. 



1859.] 



1 See Report of Secretary of War, Dec. 5th, 1857, page 497. 



