THE UPPER CRETACEOUS. 



By GEORGE I. ADAMS. 



In 1853 Congress authorized the exploration of several lines 

 across the western portion of the continent, for the purpose of 

 selecting a route for a transcontinental railway. Each expedi- 

 tion was accompanied by a geologist. The results of their ob- 

 servations were published in the Pacific Railroad Reports. 

 Among those who pushed into the western territory was Pro- 

 fessor Hall, the veteran geologist of the New York survey. 

 His official duties requiring his time in New York state, he 

 employed Meek and Hayden to explore a part of the upper Mis- 

 souri river region. The results of this work, mainly paleon- 

 tological, were published jointly by Professors Hall and Meek. 1 

 This work was the beginning of long-continuing labors which 

 they pursued jointly and separately. Their section of the Cre- 

 taceous along the Missouri river, known as the Meek and 

 Hayden section, 2 has served as a basis for much subsequent 

 work . 



The Cretaceous formation of Kansas lies within the south in- 

 terior region of the Cretaceous area of North America, as di- 

 vided by "White 3 for the purpose of discussion and correlation. 

 The Missouri river section by Meek and Hayden has been used 

 as a standard for reference in the study of this area, and is sub- 

 stantially still so used. It includes only formations which are 

 referred to the Upper Cretaceous. A later nomenclature and 

 grouping of these divisions, which was proposed by Eldridge, 4 

 was adopted by White. His table showing the relation of the 

 section is given on next page. 



1. Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci., 1856. 



2. Proceedings Amer. Phil. Soc, 1856. 



3. Bulletin No. 82, U. S. G. S., Correlation of the Cretaceous, 1891. 



4. American Jour. Sci. xxxviii, 313-321, 1862. 



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