ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 311 



able discussion of peat in Nebraska, see Hayden's Final Report of 

 Geological Survey of Nebraska, p. 69.) 



Building S'ones. In portions of Nebraska building stones are 

 abundant. In the central and western portions of the State they 

 are difficult to obtain, owing to the great thickness of the superfi- 

 cial deposits, which must be removed in order to reach the underly- 

 ing rocks. This is easiest done along the edge of bluffs or ravines, 

 where they are often partially exposed. 



The Carboniferous section of the State is, on the whole, the rich- 

 est in building stones. Here limestones, silicious limestones, and 

 many kinds of sandstones of all shades and colors abound. In 

 Richardson County there are many fine quarries, and those at Sa- 

 lem are among the best. Here two beds of limestone are exposed, 

 which generally extend under the superficial deposits. These strata 

 are exposed in many other places in this county. In Pawnee 

 County the building stone is still more abundant. Beds from six 

 inches to two feet in thickness crop out on hill-sides in many places. 

 One of the best crops out about eight miles west of Pawnee City 

 It is cream colored, and soft, but of great tenacity. It is a fusulina 

 limestone, can be worked into any form with ease, and is a great 

 favorite with builders. Hay den regards it as of Permo-Carbonifer- 

 ous age. In Gage County there are various beds of soft, yellow 

 limestone, full of geode cavities, porous and spongy; and also of 

 compact limestone, which are used for building purposes. 



Johnson County contains a silicious limestone of various thick- 

 ness, which is almost wholly composed of fusulina. The court 

 house in Tecumseh, is constructed of this material. It is exposed 

 at many places along the hillsides, and is easily quarried and 

 worked. In Nemaha and Otoe counties, along the Missouri 

 River, there are various beds of stone that are quarried and used 

 for building. One of these is a limestone, and at Peru it occurs 

 near the top of the bluffs. .Further down at Brownville, there is a 

 bed of limestone three feet thick, of very superior quality for build- 

 ing purposes. Fine-grained, micaceous sandstone that readily 

 cleaves into flags, also exists here. Towards the center of the 

 county some fine quarries have been opened. The church at Feb- 

 ing is an example of the quality of its stone and its fine architectural 

 effect. Similar exposures of rock, suitable for building materials, 

 occur along the Missouri through Otoe and Cass counties. One of 

 the best is below Plattsmouth, on the banks of the Missouri. Here 



