286 . THE GLACIAL LAKE AGASSIZ. 



1,075 to 1,085 feet. lu the southern part of this distance, probably in the 

 southwest quarter of section 14, the margin of the flat, somewhat marshy- 

 area that appears to have been covered by Lake Agassiz is very definite at 

 1,075 feet, which thus was probably the height of the lake here. 



Beach in the southwest quarter of section 34, Tauberg, composed of 

 gravel, nearly flat, 25 to 30 rods wide, 1,084 to 1,087 feet, bordered by a 

 depression of 2 to 5 feet on the east and by an expanse 10 to 15 feet lower 

 on the west. Beach in the northwest quarter of this section 34, also 1,084 

 to»l,087 feet. Here the land next east does not present the usual slight 

 hollow dividing the beach ridge from the higher land eastward; instead is 

 a springy belt, mostly 1,089 feet, quite marshy, yet slowly rising 2 to 4 

 feet above the belt of beach gravel. Occasional hummocks, about 2 feet 

 above the general surface and covered with rank grass about 6 feet high, 

 form part of this belt of marsh and shaking bog. Next to the east is a 

 slough about 1,086 feet, or 3 feet below the springy tract, and this is suc- 

 ceeded by a surface of moderately undulating till, which rises gradually 

 eastward. 



Sloughs, mostly filled with rushes and having areas of water all the 

 year, occupy a width of 1 to 2 miles next west of the shore-line and beach 

 of Lake Agassiz and extend nearly continuously 10 miles from south to 

 north, from the middle of Akron to the south edge of Prairie View Town- 

 ship. The elevation of this belt of sloughs is 1,080 to 1,050 feet, being 

 considerably lower on its west than on its east border. The highest land 

 westward in the west part of Tauberg, between these marshes and Manston, 

 is about 1,060 feet. Along most of this distance the ordinary beach ridge 

 is wanting-. 



Great Northern Railway track at Lawndale water tank, 1,089 feet. 

 Here a side-track has been laid, extending about a third of a mile north- 

 ward, with its northern end some 50 rods east of the main line, to take 

 ballast from the beach, which is well exhibited here and onward, having its 

 typical ridged form. The elevation of its crest is 1,091 to 1,094 feet. It 

 is composed of gravel and sand in ab(Hit equal amounts, interstratified 

 mainly in level layers, but with these often obliquely laminated. Most of 

 the gravel is quite fine, and the coarsest gravel found here has pebbles only 

 2 to 3 inches in diameter. About half of it is limestone. 



