GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 21 



turf, pitcli-turf, &c., and when the people of the State give this matter 

 their serious attention, I have no doubt that various kinds will be found 

 in a far more abundant supply than I have suspected from my observa- 

 tions. When the annual tires sweep over these prairies, in the autumn, 

 they not uufrequently burn down into the boggy places a foot or two. 

 I shall hereafter make careful observations on this subject, and pre- 

 serve specimens of the peat, from time to time, as opportunity presents. 



Building stone is found in moderate quantities all over the county, but 

 it is by no means as well supplied as some of the more interior counties, 

 especially the second tier from the Missouri. Still there is sufficient 

 to supply the wants of the people, and suitable material for burning to 

 lime. 



At Hiawatha, Kansas, a number of buildings are built of yellow lime- 

 stone that is composed almost entirely of organic remains. It is a soft but 

 very tenacious rock, and is easily wrought into good and durable building 

 material. This bed undoubtedly forms one of the underlying rocks of 

 this county, though I did not observe it in my examinations. At 

 Hiawatha an excellent cement is made from lime and sand, which, when 

 dry, is as hard as the rock it cements. The materials for brick- 

 making, &c., are everywhere without limit. There are a number of 

 good mill-sites along the ]Sremaha ; probably all that are needed. 



The crops throughout the county are looking very fine, indeed. The 

 grasshoppers have not disturbed the corn, and they have left a good 

 half-crop for the farmers. The grass crop is unusually fine; the upland 

 will cut IJ to 2 tons to the acre, and the bottom 1 to 3 tons. 



I have but little time to elaborate these brief reports, merely seizing 

 a little time now and then to write them hurriedly, but they will afford 

 material which can be expanded into the final report. I hope they will 

 at least furnish suitable material to be incorporated into the appendix 

 of your annual report. I shall be glad to get any suggestions that may 

 present themselves to you from time to time. 



PAWNEE COUNTY. 



This county is equally fertile with Eichardson, the latter possessing 

 only the geographical advantage of bordering on the great navigable 

 river Missouri. Its surface is more rolling or undulating, the slopes are 

 ■ more gentle, and, to the eye, it is even more desirable for farming purposes. 

 Both counties are remarkably well watered and well drained by nature, 

 so that there is hardly a foot of land in either that is not susceptible of 

 cultivation. I cannot ascertain that one produces better crops than the 

 other. Eichardson County may have more woodland than Pawnee, 

 but the numerous branches of the North and South Nemaha, circulat- 

 ing all over the county, render the land very attractive to the settler 

 and speculator, who have absorbed, already, every acre of land in it. 



It is not irrelevant for me to state, in a report which is to convey in- 

 formation in regard to a district of country and promote immigration,- 

 that the inhabitants of Pawnee County belong to a superior class, with 

 respect to their industry and morals, and that there is not a locality in 

 the county where ardent spirits are sold as a beverage. There was an 

 attempt on the part of some person to establish a saloon at Pawnee 

 City. The proprietor was at once waited upon by the ladies of the 

 place and politely but firmly requested to leave the countj^- within 

 twenty-four hours. Of course the prosperity of this beautiful region is 

 decided. Pawnee County lies directly west of Eichardson, forming one 

 of the southern tier of counties. It is entirely underlaid by rocks of 



