126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



"Spring planting, as early as possible, is the only time, in my opinion, for all kinds 

 of plants in this region of country. There has been no thorough culture in this region 

 yet, so far as depth is concerned, and consequently our terrible droughts have been 

 master of the situation. When we can cultivate two feet deep, and keep the ground 

 thoroughly pulverized, we may defy dry weather, and not before. 



"M. M. HOOTON." 



The above comprise all the reports from County Correspondents in 

 the Sixth District. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



ISAAC SNEDECKER. 

 Jerseyville, III., Dec. 6, 1873. 



REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE ON GEOLOGY AND SOILS. 



The report of Captain E. H. Beebe, of the Standing Committee on 

 Geology and Soils was then presented and read by the Secretary, as fol- 

 lows : 



Mr. President: 



We learn froiii our geological survey, that although the face of the 

 country is generally level or gently rolling, that there are some portions 

 of the State more elevated than others. The highest lands in the State 

 lay along its northern line, between Freeport and Galena, where the ele- 

 vations known as mounds culminate into points of elevation from 700 to 

 850 feet above the level of the river at Cairo, 1,200 feet above the sea 

 level, and from 100 to 200 feet above the surrounding country. From 

 Freeport, in Stephenson county, southward along the line of the Illinois 

 Central Railroad, ( located near the center of the State, ) there is a gradual 

 descent to the valley of the Big Muddy, in Jackson county, where the 

 railroad grade is only fifty-five feet above that of the river at Cairo. From 

 this point there is a rapid rise in the country toward the south, and at 

 Cobden the railroad intersects a mountain ridge crossing the southern 

 portion of the State, with an elevation of from 500 to 600 feet above the 

 river at Cairo. The elevations already mentioned in Northwest Illinois, 

 are no doubt the result of denuding forces which have swept away the 

 surrounding strata, leaving these isolated hills as the only remaining indi- 

 cation of the former level of the surrounding country. There are four 

 other principal axes of elevation along the northern borders of the State, 

 besides several of minor importance. These start northerly and cross the 

 State from near Savanna, in Carroll county, intersect Rock river at 

 Grand de Tour, and the Illinois river at Split Rock, between La Salle 

 and Utica. The general trend is from N. N. W. to S. S. E. ; its extent 

 in this direction has not been determined. It elevates the coal measures 

 to the surface in the vicinity of La Salle, from a depth of from 300 to 400 

 feet, thus showing that the disturbance took place subsequent to the coal 

 formation. (G. S. I., Vol. i, folio 300.) All of the rocks north of the 

 great break north of our State line, and far up in Wisconsin, belong to 

 the Upper Silurian formation. The surface rocks at the time of the drift 



