126 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Vor. XXIX, 1922 
ville boulders, existed in those pre-Cambrian times than has yet 
been observed and described. The assumption and conclusive 
proof of either fact is important. That life extended back into a 
vast period unrecorded by fossils, since the earliest fossils yet 
found imply a very prolonged antecedent evolution, there can be 
no doubt. It is not in the least improbable that some day, some- 
where, someone will discover a colony of fossil remains distinct- 
ly preserved in the oldest known stratified rocks accessible to the 
study of man, of a higher type than has yet been conceded to 
exist, for among these rocks are known to occur occasional lime- 
stones and cherts, which as a class are usually products of organic 
life, and are thought to imply the existence of life. Perhaps we 
have here in Iowa resting upon materials of the youngest geologi- 
cal age (Pleistocene), specimens of some of the planet’s earliest 
life, miraculously preserved and brought down to us for our ob- 
servation and study. 
Of whatever age they may finally be determined the boulders 
under consideration are worthy of further study and investigation, 
and if possible should be secured and removed to the campus of 
the State University where they may be preserved and would afford 
much of scientific interest. The problem of transportation alone 
affords much of speculative interest, for here we have material 
which was originally in solution, and then became imbedded in a 
fossiliferous stratum which was elevated, broken up by erosion and 
carried to the sea, where it was again imbedded in the basal con- 
glomerate which again in turn was elevated, broken up and trans- 
ported hundreds of miles, perhaps by two different glaciers. This 
material will again, I dare say, at some far distant future period, 
when our fair state shall have once more become inundated by 
inland oceans, be consolidated into what we like to call enduring 
(?) rocks only to be at .some subsequent period elevated above 
the sea to again become a prey to that terrific monster, erosion, 
which is forever gnawing at the vitals of our planet. 
Iowa Wesleyan College. 
