CHAPTER XI. 



THE GEOLOGY OF STEELE COUNTY. 



BY M. W. HARRINGTON. 



Situation and area. Steele county* (plate 15) lies in the second tier of 

 counties from the Iowa line. It lies next west of Dodge county, being the 

 fourth in number west of the Mississippi river. It has the form of a rect- 

 angle, and is bounded on the south by Freeborn, on the west by Waseca, 

 and on the north by Rice county. The area of Steele county, compiled 

 from the plats of the United States surveyors, is 430.59 square miles, or 

 275.579.16 acres, of which 2,817.69 acres are covered by water. 



SURFACE FEATURES. 



Natural drainage. This county is well provided with lakes, as may be 

 seen in the following notes. Marshes also are numerous. These are due 

 to the nearly level character of the county, and to the very slight elevation 

 of one part above another. The small amount of slope in the surface is 

 further shown by the sluggishness of the currents in the various streams. 

 The course of the Straight river shows that some increase in bight occurs 

 as we travel southward. But, although the county is very nearly level and 

 has little change of elevation within itself, its elevation with reference to 

 the rest of the state is considerable. This is shown by the fact that two 

 streams originate here, viz: the Straight river in the southern part of the 

 county, and a branch of the Zumbro. 



in Steele <otmly. 



The small amount of fall of the streams limits the mill privileges in this county. The mills 

 are found only on the Straight river, at Owatonna. anil north. 



The City mills at Owatonna, Drought and VVliitson, owners. They have seven feet head of 

 water, and three run of stone. It is a custom mill, but does a little export business. 



*This county was examined iti 1875. and was described in Ilic :mmml report for that year. In the present report 

 additional del ail* are derived from Mr. I'phani. respecting the drilling for an artesian well, the glacial drill, Hml sections 

 of the drift shown by common wells. 



