484 TR\NS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIEXCE. 



replaced by other beds which still contain well recognized upper 

 coal measure fossils. We pass from these across the lower meas- 

 ures of Woodson and eastern part of Greenwood county and again 

 recognize the upper coal measures. 



In Woodson and Greenwood and northeast part of Elk county 

 we find about 50 feet of thick-bedded coarse brown sandstone al- 

 most entirely devoid of fossils, and only occasional fragments of 

 fucoids and cordaites were seen. From this the step is rapid to 

 other higher rocks without seeing the connected strata of the Mis- 

 souri river ; for there are found great thicknesses of shales with 

 some sandstones, and an occasional limestone bed abounding in 

 Fusulina cylindrica. 



The valley of Fall river at Charleston is about 965 feet above 

 the sea, at Twin Falls 1,000 feet, at Eureka 1,095, near junction 

 of East and West forks 1,166, indicating a descent of 200 feet in 

 40 miles. 



Entering the State near the line of Cowley and Chatauqua 

 counties we find ourselves upon a long, dividing ridge extending 

 northwardly and well defined for 70 miles to the head of Fall' 

 river, and thence northwestwardh' and northwardly. 



This ridge is much higher than the country east and west, and 

 is known in southern Kansas as the " Flint Hills," on account of 

 the numerous fragments of flint lying strewn over the surface. 

 It includes the Permian rocks of Kansas, and might appropri- 

 ately be termed the Permian Mountains. This ridge is elevated 

 above the sea as follows : on line of Elk and Cowley counties, 5 

 miles west of Greenfield, 1,560 feet; near head of Grouse creek,. 

 1,600 feet ; at head of Otter and Hickory creeks, a peak near the 

 corner of Elk and Greenwood counties rises 1,700 feet, this pro- 

 bably being the highest point of this range in Kansas, and highest 

 ground east of Walnut and Arkansas valleys. 



On the west the descent from this ridge is gentle, being 270- 

 feet in 6 miles, or 390 feet in 25 miles, and becoming less as we 

 pass north. 



On the eastern slope the descent is more abrupt, there being 

 in fact only four good wagon passes in 70 miles — one near Green- 

 field, Elk Co.; the next 15 miles north of this, known as McDow- 

 ell's Pass ; the third on the Augusta road at head of Spring creeks 



