GEOLOGY OF SOUTHWESTERN IOWA. 345 



of the southern boundary line, a part of the townships are not 

 quite of full size. Its superficial area is estimattd at about 

 five hundred and thirty-seven square miles, or three hundred 

 and forty-three thousand six hundred and eighty acres. 



Drainage and Surface Characters. Taylor county is 

 drained principally by the Platte and One Hundred and Two 

 rivers, together with their upper branches, most of which have 

 their rise within its limits. The East Nodaway crosses its 

 northwestern coiner, but drains only an inconsidei able part 

 of its surface. 



The general character of the surface is gently undulating, 

 but it possesses considerable diversity, and even beauty, 

 along the valleys of the larger streams. Its northeastern 

 quarter reaches nearly to the highest land in this tier of 

 counties, and having no large streams to traverse its surface, 

 it is almost one continuous prairie. The southeastern quarter 

 is also in great part prairie, but narrow belts of woodland 

 exist there along the banks of the branches of the Platte, the 

 East Fork of One Hundred and Two river, and of Honey 

 creek. Both these portions, constituting the east half of the 

 county, are destitute of any exposure of rocks in place. 



The western half is also largely prairie, but it contains a 

 greater proportion of woodland, which exists in narrow belts 

 along the banks of the different branches of One Hundred and 

 Two river, and the East Nodaway. In consequence of the 

 presence of these larger streams here, it also has a greater 

 diversity of scenery. 



Geology. The only two places at present known within the 

 limits of Taylor county where Fig. 28. 



strata of any kind are ex- ^ p^^^ ^ ^g) 



posed are, first in the imme- Jlliillgllglgll g t* 



diate vicinity of Bedford, the f ^J^BSBBfip '' ' 



county seat, and second, on J Mjr __ s\ 5 ' 



land of Mr. J. E, Foster, in " ^3516513 *' 



the northwest part of the *J^SS BB= S S3s l 



vicinity there are several J= ~-^^^-=^= ===EhE^j r 

 44 



