22 University of Kansas Geological Survey. 
mile in width throughout Morton, Stevens, and Grant counties. 
Farther east it widens somewhat, so that in southwestern Meade 
county it is nearly two miles wide. The general character of the 
bluffs likewise changes, becoming more abrupt. This is probably 
due to the greater hardening of the “mortar beds” near the surface 
throughout the greater part of Seward county. At Arkalon and a 
few miles above and below the bluffs are exceptionally abrupt and 
the vailey is entirely cut down into the broad, flat Tertiary plains. 
The “mortar bed” rocks are prominent along the bluffs near the 
summit, producing a very picturesque appearance. Perhaps no 
river valley in the state, or in the world, as for that matter, is more 
nearly a channel cut downwards with almost vertical walls into a 
broad flat plain. The “mortar beds” near the surface serve as a pro- 
tection which prevents the bluff-lines from assuming the customary 
rounded form of erosion. 
The Little Cimarron river is a tributary to the Cimarron river, 
rising a short distance across the state line in Colorado. Through- 
out Morton and Grant counties its course is almost parallel with that 
of the Cimarron river. It rarely has water in it during any con- 
siderable portion of the year, and is entirely unaffected by melt- 
ing snows in the mountainous regions. It has a wider valley than 
the Cimarron does throughout the part of its course where the two 
are parallel. In Grant county its valley will average about two 
miles wide, while in Morton county it is but little less. The bluff 
lines along this tributary correspond very well with the bluff lines 
along the Cimarron in Morton and Grant counties, but possess none 
of the abruptness so prominent along the Cimarron river in Seward 
and Meade counties. 
Bear Creek. 
The general characteristics of this little stream have already 
been given. Its peculiarities consist in the deep channel it possesses 
in the western part of its course, and the absence of any channel 
whatever in the northern part of Grant county. It is an excellent 
example of the short streams so common in western Ikxansas which 
have a well defined channel and valley through their upper course 
but which reach eastward to a plain of less inclination through 
which they have no channel whatever. 
