22 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



feet. That is, about 1 in 14, or an angle of 10°. This was, however, nearly due south, 

 and we estimated that an additional 5° would be necessary for the easting. The dip at 

 Norton Mill is probably not more than 7° or 8°. 



The fact previously assumed, that the beds of the northern streams are higher than 

 the Solomon bed, and that the chalk is shown in each, is probably due to this southeast 

 dip. And to this dip is probably due the other potomographic fact, that the streams are 

 on the south side of their troughs. This fact of dip may have a bearing on the question, 

 How deep must we go for coal in western Kansas? 



There are many cracks in the cretaceous strata, and a few faults. One at Norton 

 Mill gives a displacement of about 9 inches, and one at Mr. Trescott's 6 inches. Another 

 at the latter place gives a break of not less than 12 feet. It is the largest we have seen 

 in Kansas. We saw no breaks in the Tertiary. 



3. Paleontology. 



On this head we can add very little to the incidental remarks made in previous para- 

 graphs. We are indebted to Professor E. D. Cope, of Philadelphia, for the names of 

 some of the fossils we exhibit here, but those are not given positively. A specialist 

 should examine the specimens themselves, and more than one specialist. 



We wish here to be emphatic on one point. We desire a good museum of Kansas 

 specimens in Topeka. It is the capital of the State. Many persons will visit a collec- 

 tion here who will never see those at our State educational institutions. We wish the 

 Kansas Academy of Science to make a State museum at the State capital. We succeeded 

 in infusing this idea into our friend, Doctor Turner, who therefore gives up to us the fine 

 chelonian specimen before us. He and I together have also preempted the side of a ra- 

 vine, which has yielded the rhinoceros jaws, the tusk, and other fossils without number, 

 the front of one of our excavations measuring 10 metres. Two other places we have act- 

 ually proved to be rich in remains, one yielding these mastodon bones, and the other this 

 large rib and fragment of tooth. Another place still, I have good evidence, will pay 

 well in Miocene remains for any labor put upon it. All this in one county; and there 

 are many counties in Kansas, and other formations besides Niobrara and Tertiary. We 

 will enumerate the kinds represented by the Miocene fossils ; 



Mastodon, Brontotherium, Oreodon, Rhinoceros (Aphelops), Horse, and Tortoise of 

 at least three species. The one in the photograph is Xenobatis. It is certain that con- 

 tinued excavations in more than one of the places already worked would yield almost 

 complete skeletons. It is probable that no finer set of teeth has never been obtained 

 than are in this jaw of a young rhinoceros. There are also fossils from this region in 

 private hands, that can be procured if proper effort is made. 



4. Economic Geology. 



The useful value of the minerals of this county is great. In several places in the 

 county, the chalk is sufficiently compact to be used for building, and is sawed into blocks 

 for that purpose. Still more plentiful is hard, durable stone from the Miocene ledges, 

 the jail at Norton being built of such blocks as the one before us. The soil of the county 

 is probably as rich as that of any part of the State, containing both lime and silica. 

 The Pliocene beds may be considered good soil to their entire depth, though lacking in 

 organic matter. The abundant rains this fall have given sufficient illustration of the fer- 

 tility of all the various soils. 



The supply of water is directly connected with the condition and position of the strata. 

 At Miller's Spring we have noticed that water comes off' the shale. This is the case 

 also on Ghost creek, while at Silver creek, a little further east, the water comes off' the 

 chalk. On the high prairie, the wells are deep, needing to reach to the bottom, or nearly 

 to the bottom, of the Miocene grit which appears to be the chief reservoir. A proper 

 survey which would note both dip of strata and elevation of surface would, we believe, 



