48 University of Kansas Geological Survey. 
we have a series of conditions similar to that just described for the 
Dakota sandstone area, excepting that the protecting rock here is 
gypsum rather than sandstone, the so-called ‘““Mansard beds” south 
of Medicine river being exceedingly picturesque. See Plates XIIL, 
XIV., XV., XVII, XVI, XXL, and XXII. Such hills rise to an 
altitude of more than 500 feet above the valley of the river, and fre- 
quently to the altitude of 300 feet above the surrounding valleys. 
The broad layers of gypsum from 5 to 15 feet thick which occur 
on the tops of the hills have a regular stratified position and extend 
for many miles east and west. The general feature of the country 
is therefore similar to that of the Kearney hills west of Salina, in 
the Dakota sandstone area. Passing westward still from Barber 
county the general features of the country in Comanche and Clark 
counties are similar. The surface of the country drops southeast- 
ward in some places at the rate of 30 feet to the mile, producing a 
large number of drainage channels which have been worn out to an 
unusual depth resulting in the production of an exceedingly varied 
topography for the whole surface. See Plate IX. This rugged 
area covers nearly all the south half of Barber, Comanche, Clark, 
and Meade counties, beyond which both to the north and west high 
level plains are again encountered. The general surface of the 
country south of the Arkansas river and west of Meade county is’ 
that of one high upland area smooth as a graded land except here 
and there a drainage channel has been cut down into the plain like 
a ditch in a meadow, and presents a monotonous appearance of 
which the eye soon tires. 
This can not be said of the far west north of the Arkansas river. 
The geologic formations being so different is the cause for the 
different results. From the time the Smoky Hill river has entered 
the state it has cut its channel through the Tertiary and into the 
Cretaceous formations. Its various tributaries, which are numerous, 
likewise have done the same, many of which have relatively broad 
valleys. The result is that a varied and pleasing topography is 
produced which consists of the flat topped upland areas and the 
broad valleys from 50 to 200 feet below producing a general scenic 
condition in many places similar to that of the Kearney hills al- 
ready referred to. See Plate X. 
