254 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



and reddish masses — are, however, sufficiently numerous to be worth col- 

 lecting, and their hardness would make them useful for macadam roads. 



MINERAL WATERS. 



All springs are more or less impregnated with the minerals over or through 

 which they run. Brown and reddish sands and sandstones and clays have 

 often iron in them: and that will impregnate the water. Water percolating 

 through limestone takes up some lime, and the vegetable matter in some 

 shales supplies iron and sulphur from the decomposition of iron pyrites. The 

 cap of loess also has iron and lime and alum capable of being absorbed by 

 percolating waters; and therefore mineral springs are to be expected in the 

 county. The beautiful rolling surface, the abundance of timber, the softness 

 of the air, and the presence of mineral waters, makes it possible for the 

 county to have more than one delightful health resort.. 



SOIL. 



The loess is the principal subsoil of the county. Its surface, modified by 

 the vegetation it has supported, is therefore the principal soil. It is mostly a 

 marl, and is lighter than clay soils of some regions and in places it inclines to 

 be sandy. The influence of the limestones and shales in forming direct seden- 

 tary soils is very limited; but, in the smaller valleys the detritus from the vari- 

 ous outcrops has made itself felt in the gumbo and other clay soils of some 

 bottom lands. The bottom lands of the Kaw valley and of the Missouri are 

 largely composed of sandy alluvium. All the soils are fertile and mostly deep. 



RAINFALL AND IRRIGATION. 



The rainfall of Wyandotte county is abundant for the growth of crops. It 

 exceeds 30 inches per annum. But dry seasons occur here; and the recurrence 

 of drought from time to time In Ohio, New York, and even the western coun- 

 tries of Europe is causing attention to be given everywhere to the suggestion 

 that irrigation may be adopted with benefit in the countries of abundant rain- 

 fall, for use at the critical period of crop-growing when "precipitation is pro- 

 crastinated." 



Wyandotte county (and with it all the river counties) is favorably situated 

 for so using water as to ensure crops. The two rivers can be available for the 

 bottom lands by pumping with gasoline or other engines. The topography and 

 geological structure are favorable to the construction of reservoirs, both large 

 and small, for the storage of the run-off waters in all parts of the county. A 

 good example of this is seen in the 39 acres of water at Forest Lake, an artificial 

 sheet shut in by a strong dam a few miles east of Bonner Springs. A pumping 

 plant has been used this year (1894) on the south of the Kaw river near Kansas 

 City. 



ATCHISON COUNTY. 



TOPOGRAPHY. 



The topography of Atchison county is much the same as the other river 

 counties. It has the same steep bluffs to the river; the same narrow openings 

 in the bluffs for the exit of small streams; the same amphitheater forrns be- 

 hind the bluff's; the same rolling upland in the interior of the county. The 

 Stranger does not give so marked a valley; but in one way it is peculiar, its 

 whole depth is in the loess; scarce an outcrop on its sides or stony riffle in its 

 bed to tell of the presence of bedrock. On the other hand, the western part of 



