REVIEWS. 
The bedford Oolitic Limestone of Indiana. By T. C. Hopxrns and 
C. E. SIEBENTHAL. Extr. 21st Ann. Rep. Dept. of Geology 
and Natural Resources (of Indiana). W. S. Blatchley, 
State Geologist, Indganapolis, 1896. 
All of the older geological maps of Indiana show the various rocks 
across that state in broad, sweeping lines, and that, too, in spite of the 
fact that the rocks are everywhere nearly horizontal and have been 
deeply trenched by the streams. ‘The last two reports of State Geolo- 
gist Blatchley have shown a great improvement in this respect—the 
maps by Hopkins and by Kindle in the twentieth report and those by 
Hopkins and Siebenthal in the twenty-first report are by far the best 
that have yet appeared of the areas represented, showing, as they do, 
the dendritic form of ‘outcrop to be expected. 
From the earliest to the latest of the Indiana reports, almost every 
one has had something to say of the well-known odlitic limestone ; 
but hitherto there has been no report on this rock that could lay 
claim to being a systematic description and discussion of it. The 
present report bears internal evidence of having been prepared under 
pressure, but it is nevertheless a highly creditable and valuable piece of 
work, and by far the best report ever made on the Bedford stone. The 
maps show a vast amount of field work, and exhibit for the first time 
the distribution of this valuable building stone. We are glad to see 
that the authors do not feel it incumbent upon themselves to ‘ puff” 
the Bedford stone. This and every other good building stone, once 
it is given a chance, may be trusted to take care of its own reputation 
without any such help from geologists as that quoted on page 323. 
Evidently some people think the truth can be improved upon. What 
Mr. Hopkins says is certainly as much as reasonable people can ask. 
“The Bedford oGlitic limestone can unhesitatingly be recommended as 
one of the most durable building stones on the market, where not 
exposed to the action of acids. It is fireproof up to the point of cal- 
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