PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 71 



which it empties at Pittsburg. Throughout the greater part of its course 

 in Van Buren county, the stream flows over the limestone of the- Saint 

 Louis, in which it has cut a somewhat Irregular channel with prominent 

 rock escarpments. 



Lick Creek. Lick creek takes its rise in Jefferson county, flows south- 

 easterward and enters the Des Moines at Kilbourne. Throughout most 

 of its course the channel is confined to the drift and coal measure forma- 

 tions, the latter of which, from lack of resisting materials, offers few 

 exposures, and the region is marked by rounded, hilly topography. Lick 

 creek penetrates to the limestone, however, a short distance above Kil- 

 bourne, and from this point its course is marked by abrupt deflections 

 and prominent rock escarpments. 



Coates Creek. Somewhat similar in character to Lick is Coates or 

 Honey creek. Taking its rise in the upland plateau in numerous widely 

 branching secondaries and flowing southward, it discharges into the Des 

 Moines. It soon penetrates the drift and coal measure deposits, and its 

 course thereafter is marked by more or less prominent rock acclivities 

 carved in the Saint Louis limestone. 



Reed creek is almost the counterpart of oates, except that in its 

 lower course it is more sinuous from deflections due to the peculiarities 

 of the underlying rock structure. Iowa Geological Survey, Vol. IV, p. 

 203, 204, 205. 



FOREST TREES OF MUSCATINE COUNTY. 

 By Ferdinand Reppert. 



The timber area of Muscatine county is confined to the region along 

 the Mississippi and Cedar rivers. Originally these forest belts were in 

 the main unbroken and continuous along these watercourses, and from 

 four to six miles or more wide. Much of this area has been cleared of 

 its timber and converted into farm and pasture lands. The original 

 larger forest trees have almost disappeared, so that what is now seen are 

 mostly "second growth" trees. There is very little, if any, timber cut 

 for export or manufacturing purposes. There are frequent groves on 

 the prairie farms, planted to protect the houses and live stock from 

 wintry blasts. The soft maple is the principal tree planted for this pur- 

 pose; small groves of black walnut and evergreen trees are occasionally 

 seen. The forest trees which most largely contribute to the timber sup- 

 ply are the white oak, bur oak, shellbark hickory and mocker-nut hickory. 

 A few other species contribute more or less to the wood supply, but the 

 six species above mentioned largely predominate. Geological Survey, 

 Vol. IX, pp. 380-1. 



GEOLOGY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY. 

 By John A. Udden, Geologist. 



The west bluff of Pine creek, all the way from Pine creek to near the 

 junction of its two main branches near the center of section 17 in Mont- 

 pelier township, consists of a high and frequently vertical escarpment 



