GRIMSLEY. | Geography and Topography. 39 
are active agents of erosion. The attempts which have been 
made to dam back the waters for a summer supply for stock 
have not been very successful, as the rush of waters soon carries 
out the obstructions. The traveler who is caught in the hills 
by a severe thunder-storm in summer is compelled to wait for 
many hours before he can safely find his way across the ravines. 
This whole region presents the most rugged topography of 
the state, and forms scenery quite out of accord with the smooth 
topography which characterizes the state as a whole. Few 
people know or imagine that any portion of Kansas has such a 
rough surface as is shown in this area. It is especially inter- 
esting to the geologist through the lessons in erosion it so clearly 
depicts. We thus see that the erosion features and the result- 
ing topography increase in complexity from north to south 
through this gypsum belt. The plateaus are more and more 
dissected southward, and give evidence of the great power of 
running water in modifying the surface appearance of our land. 
But it must be remembered that this is the relief of our time, 
and only a stage in the world’s history. 
