280 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITOEIES. 



nection with this subject. What is, or is likely to be, the effect upon the 

 industries and development of this portion of the country of land-grants 

 to railroads by Congress 1 This has assumed such vast proportions that 

 it behooves the statesmen of our nation to examine the subject with 

 great care, and not be led away by the simple and conceded fact that 

 these grants hasten the settlement of the section of country in which 

 they are made. 



This is a matter which already agitates the public mind; and in no 

 j)art of the country have we a better opportunity of studying its effects 

 than in the Northwest, where the grants have been most numerous and 

 extensive. 



When the public mind becomes aroused in relation to a given subject, 

 and a tendency to reaction becomes manifest, politicians are apt to seize 

 upon the opportunity of riding into position upon the current of opin- 

 ion, and, instead of striving to lead it to a correct conclusion, strive to 

 carry it to the other extreme, and often thereby cripple national indus- 

 tries instead of correcting abuses. It is proper, therefore, that the facts 

 in respect to such subjects should be spread before the public at as early 

 a day as possible. As I cannot enter upon an examination of this im- 

 portant question, I desire to call attention to it. 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



As the surface features and configuration of any section have an im- 

 portant bearing upon its climatology and agricultural resources, I will 

 present first a sketch of the physical geography of that portion of the 

 Northwest at present under consideration. Although I shall, when I 

 discuss the climatology, embrace a larger area, I will at present confine 

 my remarks chiefly to Minnesota, Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. 



Poster, in his excellent work on the physical geography of the Missis- 

 sippi Yalley, has presented in a very attractive form a description of the 

 leading characteristics of the West; therefore it will be unnecessary for 

 me, in describing the features of a limited section, to repeat what has 

 been so well set forth. I will, for this reason, confine myself to the more 

 minute details, and especially to the hypsometrical data. 



Notwithstanding this region, which has been not inaptly termed the 

 "New Northwest," presents no elevated mountain-ranges or lofty peaks, 

 to break the somewhat monotonous contour and form sharj) dividing- 

 lines between the water-systems, yet its geographical features are not 

 devoid of interest in a scientific point of view, nor without important 

 influences on the climate. Who can predict with certainty what would 

 be the climatic effect of a rugged forest-clad mountain-range running 

 east and west from the base of the Eocky Mountains to the Mississippi 

 Eiver ? Who can tell what would be the result of such a barrier to the 

 winds which now sweep across these vast plains ? Who can foresee with 

 certainty the effect even of a continued forest over this immense area? 



This country may be described in general terms as one immense com- 

 paratively level area, consisting of slightly rolling and marshy, timbered 

 sections in the northeast and broad, open, undulating prairies in the 

 west and southwest. 



The eastern portion, from Lake Superior to the Mississippi, is covered 

 chiefly with pine and tamarack forests, and to a large extent more or less 

 marshy, especially in the eastern and northeastern part of Minnesota, 

 but fading out and changing somewhat in character as we move south- 

 ward, the marshes entirely disappearing in this direction. A lengthy 

 but narrow forest-strip runs north and south along the west side of the 



