COTTONWOOD AND JACKSON COUNTIES. 5^5 



Peat.] 



the year, and near its head, a thickness of a foot or more of turf-peat may be taken out over a 

 space of a few rods square. It is thicker and better near the head of the ravine than at any other 

 point, owing to the more constant protection of the grass and roots from the prairie fires." 



"Other similar peaty ravines occur on land of Miss Ellen Imus, near that of Mr. Taggart." 



Great Bend. "N. E. } of sec. 38; land of A. J. Hall. In a turfed ravine, where water stands 

 or slowly oozes through the turf, sloping gently toward the Des Moines river, a turf-peat may be 

 taken out to the depth of a foot or twenty inches. The belt containing peat is from ten to twenty 

 feet wide, and similar in its situation to that of Mr. S. O. Taggart, but more extensive. It shakes 

 under the feet for three or four feet about, but a horse can walk safely over it in most places in 

 the dry season. Indeed, it is mown for hay every year. An irony scum lies on the ground and 

 on the grass stalks. The peat itself is a turf, but contains shells and some grit. 



"Another similar ravine is on the same claim. Numerous others might be located along the 

 ravines that cross the Des Moines bluffs." 



"N. E. J of sec. 30; land of Arthur Johnson. Turf-peat occurs in a ravine, twenty feet 

 over, where fuel can be taken out." 



Amo. "Sec. 13. A slough that shakes is in the valley that forms the prolongation of the 

 Des Moines valley northwestward above the great bend a few miles above Windom, and has a 

 spongy peat about two feet in thickness, with black mud below. It covers six or ten acres." 

 This peat, taken two feet below the surface, was found by Prof. Peckham to contain, when air- 

 dried, 9.85 per cent, of water, 42.63 of organic matter, and 47.52 of ash (No. 3); a hundred pounds 

 of it being equivalent to fifty-six pounds of oak wood. 



" In the same prolongation of the Des Moines valley, on K. K. Peck's land, two miles above 

 the bend of the Des Moines, is a thickness of two or three feet of peat. This valley seems to hold 

 about two feet of peat along a considerable area through the middle, and would supply a great 

 quantity. It is not of a superior quality, but might be very useful to the settlers." Professor 

 Peckham's analysis of peat taken here two feet below the surface gave 13.58 per cent, of hygro- 

 metric water, 53.28 of organic matter, and 33.14 of ash (No. 4); a hundred pounds of this air-dried 

 peat being considered equal in value to seventy pounds of oak wood. Peat from this place three 

 feet below the surface yielded 11.03 per cent, of water, 41.67 of organic matter, and 47.30 of ash 

 (No. 5); a hundred pounds of it being about equivalent to fifty-five pounds of oak wood. 



Springfield. " The land of George C. Bush, sec. 6, holds a peaty turf, in a dry slough near 

 the mouth of a ravine, in considerable abundance." 



South Brook. "Sec. 2. Side-hill peat occurs on a gentle slope over the space of a few rods, 

 having a thickness of a foot and a half or two feet. Such peaty patches appear also on the op- 

 posite side of the main valley, arising from the issuing of springs that keep the surface moist, 

 while the lower land in the same slough is dry and hard. This peat is not free from sand. It 

 also smells strongly of sulphuretted hydrogen." 



"Peat exists, according to Mr. John Crapsey, three miles north of Talcott lake." 



Four localities of peat are reported by Prof. Winchell in Jackson coun- 

 ty, as follows: 



Delafield. "S. W. J of sec. 4; land of Eev. Edward Savage. A good moss peat occurs here 

 in a slough, having an average thickness of two feet, over an area of ten acres or more. The 

 slough is confined between bluffs that appear to be entirely composed of drift, and has a feeble 

 drainage into a small lake. The surface is mostly covered with a short grass, but also with chair- 

 bottom rushes. Some patches also of Typha latifolia are seen. No horsetail rush appears. In 

 passing over the surface of this marsh it quakes five or six feet around, and the auger hole is im- 

 mediately filled with water to the top. Below eighteen inches (even sparingly in ten or twelve 

 inches) shells begin to be rather common, and the auger next brings up a black mud with many 

 shells. The most of this peat is made up of the peat moss, though at a depth of a foot or eight- 

 een inches it contains grass roots and other fiber." This peat from eighteen inches below the 

 surface, by Prof. Peckham's analysis, contains, when air-dried, 10.22 per cent, of hygrometric 

 water, 64.48 of organic matter, and 25.30 of ash (No. 6); a hundred pounds of it being worth as 

 much for heating as eighty-five pounds of oak wood. 



