BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 87 
examination of numerous specimens proved that none 
of them were conifers The species could not be defi- 
nitely determined, but there is no doubt that several 
species occurred. The species most probably were 
cottonwoods, elms, ash, and willows. Even if the ex- 
act species can not bedefinitely determined, the fact 
remains that a forest formerly flourished on a rather 
large area, where within the memory of man, only a 
typical semi-marsh existed. It is also an indisputable 
fact that this forest was destroyed from some cause, 
and preserved in an accumulation of plant remains. 
Since the cause is practically unknown, it may be in 
order to offer a possible and probable theory in regard 
to the matter, especially as some further data concern- 
ing the depth and nature of the various soil strata 
have been secured since writing the portion relating to 
that subject. While drilling a well on the Phelps 
Celery Farm just south of the Brown Ditch, the follow- 
ing strata were encountered and depths of each were 
learned: 
Jy Wily hep yoy Tie petiole Aa aie Meola Aral pee Onan Pe ania ee nse 6 ft. 
Rlayesmad tion uinlO atl. 2-08 cares = yen cele sy oes Se > ft, 
Mach quicksand aid oTravel 5.5 a wae eee 9 ft. 
pleco tial tment: Ap eee Soha RY Sate ah She eae 1S: ft: 
The gravel rests directly upon the rock strata, 
which are here 18 feet below the surface. About 40 rods 
or so north of this well, the strata were found to be of 
the following depths: 
AEST AG eo ee eae Ri rosin Asse oh he pone ated eecle Ot Sit. 
| GIERE GSI OF: oli c Ue on e012) cl NeRea a a sl MSO Se er eee tT 3 ft. 
Marts quicksand and. gravel +1220 su sea saet hits 
DE OA ers Reese oe erate tee ate WN aia a ate ZO: 
As the surface slopes from the latter well toward 
the former, the rock strata are nearly horizontal. 
This arrangement and nature of strata proves con- 
