686 DEE JOORINAL TOL MGA OIEO GAA 
larger streams and extending well up toward the heads of their 
branches are numerous trees; but on the upland of the plateau 
nothing appears save the native prairie grass. At numerous 
points are extensive views of most interesting landscapes which 
are especially beautiful when clothed with the bright green grass 
of early summer.* 
As the summer advances the grass is frequently turned 
brown by the hot, dry weather so that during August and Sep- 
tember the ground is parched and barren, and it is not at all 
strange that the early explorers of Kansas described the region 
as a ‘‘desert.’’ Professor Broadhead has called attention to 
some of the interesting topographic features of this region and 
has suggested that it ‘‘might appropriately be termed the 
Permian Mountains.”? In a recent paper Professor Haworth 
has admirably described the topographic features of eastern 
Kansas, and concisely stated that its terraced topography is due 
to ‘‘a condition which seems dependent principally upon the 
more or less regular occurrence of alternating heavy beds of soft 
shales with light beds of harder limestones and sandstones.’’3 
The professor also speaks of the beauty of the scenery* along the 
Kansas River and the ‘magnificent bluffs’’5 which line the upper 
part of its valley. 
tAmong other places the writer would especially mention Blue Mount at Man- 
hattan, looking up the canyon of the Kansas River, which presents a scene of surpassing 
beauty. Fine views may also be obtained at various places on the southern side of 
the Kansas River between Manhattan and Junction City; at numerous places in 
Wabaunsee county south of Alma and southeast toward Eskridge; in Chase county 
southwest of Cottonwood Falls, on the southeastern side of Cottonwood River, and in 
the southern part of the state in the eastern portion of Cowley and western portion of 
Chautauqua county. 
? Trans. St. Louis Acad. Science, Vol. IV., Pt. III., 1883 (2), p. 484. Again, on 
page 491, occurs this statement: “The group of the Permian Mountains forms an 
interesting study, the strata are easily traced, and the scenery afforded is very fine and 
the views very extensive.” An abstract of this paper was published in the Am. Jour. 
Science, 3d series, Vol. XXII., 1881, pp. 55-57, and the above quotations appear on 
pp. 55 and 57 respectively. 
3 Kansas Univ. Quarterly, Vol. Il., 1894, p. 134. 
4 Jbrd., p. 131. 
5 Jbid., p. 134. 
