74 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE 



sulphates, in the unconcentrated water ; also a spring of ordinary water, in 

 which bi-carbonates of the alkaline earths are the principal constituents. 



The main springs are, therefore, saline sulphuretted waters, possessing 

 alterative, laxative, diaphoretic, and diuretic effects, well adapted for the 

 cure of eruptive complaints, as well as of chronic diseases of the digestive 

 organs. The properties possessed by the chalybeate, are those of a tonic, 

 suited to cases of a constitutional or temporary debility, in which prepara- 

 tions containing iron are indicated. 



As Little Ked river was too high for us to take the river road towards 

 Clinton, we were prevented from examining any sections of the rocks that 

 might present themselves along the route, and had again to ascend to the 

 table-land, in which the waters of the Cadron take their rise. 



The aneroid barometer indicated an elevation of 320 feet above the 

 widow Goff's farm. 



For two or three miles we again travelled through a fine pine region, 

 with a sandy soil, derived from the underlying sandstones of the millstone 

 grit series, but emerged soon, in township 9 north, range 12 west, on good 

 tracts of farming lands, watered by the heads of the North Fork of the 

 Cadron. 



On section 13, township 9 north, range 12 west, samples of soils for future 

 chemical analysis were taken from this table-land on the farm of George 

 More. 



This soil is especially adapted for the growth of oats, and will yield on 

 an average, 20 to 25 bushels of corn, 15 bushels of wheat, and 800 pounds 

 of cotton. It stands drought remarkably well, being based on a retentive 

 ferruginous clayey subsoil. 



In digging wells in this part of Van Buren county, a hard reddish blue 

 shale is penetrated under the subsoil, which overlies the beds of millstone 

 grit. To the disintegration of these shaly rocks is no doubt to be attributed 

 the superior fertility of these upland soils, compared with the sandy soils 

 of the pine lands, which repose immediately on the underlying sand- 

 stones. 



These table-lands are bounded on the south by a ridge, composed of 

 sandstone and shales, rising some 70 to 100 feet above the waters of the 

 Cadron. Two or three miles to the northeast of George More's farm, 

 dark shaly rocks are exposed. About the same distance to the north-west, 

 a sandstone region commences, overlaid by gravel supporting a growth of 

 stunted oak and hickory. This kind of country extends for about six miles 

 to the descent to the main Cadron, and the Greasy valley, which lies 

 about 230 feet below the table-land. White, grey, banded and mottled, 

 schistose sandstone, are exposed in ledges. The ascent on the opposite 



