GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TEEEITORIES. 299 



as relates to the soil aud agricultural resources, I cannot do better than 

 insert the notes taken while passing- along the leading railroad-lines. 



And, first, I insert the few notes taken along the line from Saint 

 Paul to Duhith. 



For several miles out of Saint Paul until after we have passed a short 

 distance beyond White Bear Lake, the country is rolling and slightly 

 broken, and, where not in cultivation, is covered with oak-groves, 

 mostly bushes near the city, but increasing in size after we have 

 ad\'auced some distance into the country. The surface of the conn- 

 try here appears to be knotted and pitted, thus affording basins for the 

 numerous little lakes found in the northern part of this (Ramsey) coun- 

 ty, and in fact over a considerable area in this part of the State. After 

 parsing White Bear Lake a slight change commences ; the conifers be- 

 gin to appear, especially in the low and swampy spots ; the surface 

 becomes more level, and the aspen {Fopulus tremuloldes) appears in fre- 

 quent groves, its white bark forming a strong contrast with the dark 

 pines. About iSTorth ] branch the country is quite level, and is covered 

 with a pretty heavy growth of oak, which at a distance resembles the 

 post-oak, {Q. obtusiloha.) The soil here also is very good, having a better 

 appearance than that previously passed over. Much of the surface be- 

 tween Wyoming Station and this point is marshy, but we should bear 

 in mind the fact that the past season, when I visited this section, was 

 more than usually wet. From North Branch to Rush City the surface 

 is level and rather wet, the soil rich, and the timber heavy, consisting 

 chiefly of oak, elm, maple, and ash. Occasionally a hickory and butter- 

 nut are seen, but these are rare. Conifers, in the swamps, are chiefly 

 tamarack or black larch, {LcuHx Americana,) balsam-fir, {Abies Bal- 

 samea,) &c. 



From Pine City, on Snake River, northward, the i^ine-forests prevail, 

 and the surface of the country is more or less damp aud swampy. At 

 Kettle River we begin to meet with the low, rounded drift-ridges, the 

 soil consisting of a reddish sandy clay, intermixed with small red bowl- 

 ders; in many places the sand appears to be the chief ingredient. At 

 this ])oint, and also at several points along the IsTorthern Pacific, we met 

 with the wild strawberry in fruit, (July 3-10.) 



As we approached the junction with the 1^5'orthern Pacific we were 

 met by a cold northern mist, that compelled us to draw on our overcoats 

 and made fire very comfortable. From here to Duluth we descend the 

 ragged bluff that surrounds Lake Superior; in going twenty miles we 

 make a descent of nearly 600 feet. The dark waters of Saint Louis River 

 rush down to our right over the ragged rocks with a deafening roar, 

 plunging and dashing themselves into foam as they leap from ledge to 

 ledge or drive through the narrow rugged gorges, presenting a scene of 

 wildness and grandeur. Whether it wi'l ever be utilized or not is more 

 than I can say, yet it is true that here is an immense water-power. 



It is scarcely within the scope of my duties to speak of the ])rospects 

 of any town or city in a commercial point of view, but as Duluth is 

 destined to be the chief port of the western end of Lake Superior, and as 

 a matter of course the principal shipping-point of Minnesota, so far as 

 lake-transit is concerned, a few remarks in regard to it may not be out 

 of x^lf^ce here. 



Although it will labor under some material disadvantages, yet it is 

 destined to make a place of considerable importance. Its disadvantages 

 are as follows: The climate can by no means be called a favorable one, 

 altljough what I saw could scarcely be taken as a fair sample of sum- 

 mer weather. The winters, as 1 understand by those who have visited 



