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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



BOUNDARIES. 



The section of conutry to wbicli this report applies lies between the Platte River ou 

 the north and the northern boundary of the State of Kansas on the south, and between 

 the western bank of the Missouri River ou the east and Fort Kearney ou the west. 



DESCRIPTION OF LAND. 



Question 1. The relative proportion of monntain, valley, and plain of your section 

 Proportion of timbered land and varieties of timber ? 



Answer. There are no mountains. The whole region forms a portion of the Trans- 

 Missouri Prairie, wliich rises gradually from the Missouri Bluffs in long swells, every 

 where available for cultivation. The rolling prairie offers no positive obstruction to 

 the plow, and the l)roken prairie seldom. There is little or no timber in the section, 

 excei)t in the river-bottoms, where narrow strips of forest-trees are found. I here give 

 a statement of 



Elevation at the different stations along the Burlington and Missouri River Eailroad, in 



Nebraska. 



Stations. Elevation in feet. 



Platt.smonth .5'2.5 



Oniaha Junction 542.10 



Louisville 582.40 



South Bend 5'J2. 60 



Ashland G43 



Greenwood 682. 10 



Waverlv 677.80 



Newton 692.60 



Lincoln 704.90 



Denton 788.80 



Highland 970 



Stations. Elevation in feet. 



Crete 910 



Dorchester 1042. 65 



Fairmont 1198 



Grafton 1253. 20 



Haiward 1:556 



Inland 1435 



Juniata , 1526. 40 



Kenesaw 1()05 



Lowell 1627 



Kearney Junction 1704 



Remarks. — Kearney Junction is above low water, Gulf of Mexico, 2,114 feet, and 

 above Lincoln, (the State capital of Nebraska,) 1,000 feet. To each elevation add 410 

 feet to get the altitude above low water. Gulf of Mexico. 



Question 2. What portion can be irrigated and rendered tillable, and what portion not 

 irrigable is suitable for grazing? What are the methods of irrigation ; how many 

 times do you irrigate the different crops; what depth of water in inches is used dur- 

 ing the season ; what is your method of regulating the supply and price, and what the 

 cost per acre of irrigation ? 



Answer. Irrigation is not required within the defined limits. The land, though de- 

 void of forests, is not subject to destrutive droughts. During the agricultural months 

 the rain-fall is sufficient for all the needs of the agriculturist, and it is regular. An aver- 

 age for five years is as follows: January, 1.24 inches; February, 2.35 inches; March, 1.75 

 inches; April, 2.98 inches; Maj^, 4.71 inches; June, 5.43 inches; July, 3.40 inches, August, 

 3.20 inches ; September, 3.49 inches; October, 2.41 inches ; November, 1.24 inches, and De- 

 cember, 1.64 inches. Dividing the year into three portions, these figures give for the win- 

 ter-months of January, February, and December an average total for the five years of 

 5si2 inches; for the sj)ring and fall months of March, October, and November, an aver- 

 age total of 5.40 inches; and for the remaining six agricultural months, an average total 

 for each year of 23.21 inches.* As the rain fiiUs in largest and sufficient quantities 

 exactly when it is most needed, the clouds themselves form a perfect system of irriga- 

 tion. It is a fact that this section, as the whole State of Nebraska, receives a less 

 amount of rain-fall than other places in the same latitude ; but following a natural law, 

 as settlement proceeds and trees are grown, (for which latter see answer to question 7,) 

 the annual rain-fall will become increasingly larger, and the upper branches of the 

 rivers and creeks — which are now dry, or partially dry, except during rains — will 

 always have a flow of living water.t In order to furnish a correct account of the 

 character of the country in this niatter, it is necessary to add that the rich, black soil 

 of the section rests on a subsoil of porous yellow clay. Moisture does not consolidate 

 this subsoil into a mass, but water is received and held as it would be by a sponge. 

 Thus the land is, as it were, scientifically underdrained ; and the crops are duly fed, 

 and able alike to resist drought or excessive rain. 



Question '.',. What varieties of grains, vegetables, fruits, and other crops have been 

 tried, whieli have proved best adai)tedto your section, and the average yield per acre ? 



Answer. All cereals have been tried, and succeed perfectly; but wheat stands fore- 



*The proper estimate is, from April to August, 19.72 inches. — T. 



ITliis very general ojunion is very doubtful, yet it is probably true that the distri- 

 bution will be more e(|tuible and the amount more effective on vegetation. — T. 



