A CENTURY OF IOWA GEOLOGY 



CHARLES KEYES 



Pboloqtie. 



The first centennary of a science in Iowa is upon us. History of 

 the sciences in the commonwealth now goes back beyond the span 

 of Qur statehood. It transgresses a date when even a name for our 

 state was yet unknown. In Iowa, by many years, claims to first 

 recognition for geology antedate those of every other natural 

 science. Curiously enough this earliest Iowa episode is also the 

 most important geological event for the entire continent during a 

 hundred years. It is even worldwide in some of its aspects. Nor 

 are these early observations alone in their great significance. Dur- 

 ing the century just passed Iowa has been the field wherein a score 

 or more far-reaching generalizations on geologic themes have had 

 birth. That our state should be thus so intimately associated with 

 the growth of American geology is surely a circumstance of much 

 satisfaction to all lowan scientists and laymen alike. 



Amidst the multitudinous distractions of the world war Iowa's 

 geological centennary has been allowed almost to pass unheeded. 

 Yet, it is not too late to call attention to some of the outstanding 

 features of a hundred years. Our accomplishments in this branch of 

 science mig:ht have been much less. 



At one time the great industrial importance of the Dubuque lead 

 district naturally led to its systematic geological consideration. 

 This, however, was more than two centuries after the discovery of 

 the mineral there by Europeans, and twenty-five years subsequent 

 to the first real geological investigation undertaken within the limits 

 of our state. From the year 1634, when the French adventurer, 

 Jean Nicollet,^ penetrated from Quebec to southwestern Wisconsin, 

 until 1839, when Dr. D. D. Owen made the maiden publicly sup- 

 ported survey of Dubuque, the lead region was of commercial solici- 

 tude only. 



iShea: Discov. and Explor. Mississippi VaHey, p. 20, 1853. 



