REPORT ON FIELD WORK IN GEOLOGY. TI3 



sure limestones numbers 9, 10, and 11, with their intervening shales, 

 of the Neosho river section.; are identical with the first three limestone 

 systems encountered in passing up the Cottonwood river. The system 

 numbered 12 first makes its appearance east of Cottonwood Falls a 

 few miles, and is quite prominent at the famous stone quarries at that 

 place. The principal quarries are located in number 13, which first 

 appears in the neighborhood of Ellinor, three or four miles east of 

 the quarries. At the Retticker Bros.' quarries, situated two and one- 

 half miles east of Cottonwood Falls, we have the following section: 

 Beginning on the hill-top we find about 30 feet of soil, gravel, and 

 shale, in the latter of which marine in\ertebrate fossils are unusually 

 abundant. They weather out on the hill-side above the limestone. 

 Below this is limestone number 13, composed of two layers, the upper 

 one of which is 2)^ feet, the lower one 3. Each layer is remarkably 

 uniform and particularly free from vertical fissures. These properties 

 render the stone the most valuable for building purposes of any thus 

 far extensively operated in the state. It is possible to obtain masses 

 of almost unlimited size with a thickness of either 2J2 or 3 feet. By 

 splitting or sawing the layers, flagging stone of any desired thickness 

 and 20 or 30 feet long can easily be obtained.* Below number 13 

 there is about 30 feet of shale, but it is not nearly so silicious here 

 as along the Neosho river. Below this is the upper stratum of 

 number 12. In character the rock is quite similar to number 13, 

 and has been quarried considerably, but the operations were finally 

 abandoned on account of the thinness of the layers and the large 

 amount of stripping necessary. Below another 9 or 10 feet of 

 shale the lower limestone of this system is found. It differs radi- 

 cally from the upper one in being much finer grained and more 

 compact in texture, and in having so many vertical fissures that 

 it is impossible to work it into dimension stone. Vet for ballast 

 and for structural purposes where small pieces are wanted it is one of 

 the most valuable in the state on account of its durable qualities. 

 It has a sub-conchoidal fracture, a dark bluish-gray color, and its 

 blocks are so angular that it is locally known as "joint rock." 



On the north side of the Cottonwood river these limestone systems 

 can be traced for miles below Strong City. They disappear beneath 

 the level of the railroad track ,in regular order, number 13 passing 

 out of sight a short distance above Strong City. 



After passing from 20 to 30 feet of shale limestone number 14 is 

 seen on the hill-side northwest of Strong C^ity. It is here about 4 feet 

 thick, and is a much better quality of stone than that produced from 



*The plant at this quarry is well suited for the extensive operations which the good 

 quality of the stone has brought about, but space will not admit a lengthy description. 



