CRETACEOUS. 
———_—__— 
COMANCHE SERIES OF KANSAS. 
REVIEW OF PREVIOUS WORK. 
The geology of southern Kansas south of the Arkansas river 
was comparatively unknown until within a few years. However, 
during the last decade, thanks to the earnest investigations of St. 
John, Cragin, Hay and Hill, we are now as familiar with the strati- 
graphy and classification of its rocks as with those in any part of 
the western half of the state. Before beginning the description 
of the Cretaceous formation it is believed that a brief historical 
review of the development of our knowledge of the Cretaceous rocks 
of southern Kansas will prove of interest to the reader. No attempt 
will be made to mention every reference to the geology of this part 
of the state, but it is thought that at least all the important papers 
will be considered. 
Mudge, 1878.—The “Geology of Kansas” was the first work that 
really attempted to give a description of the geology of the entire 
state. On the “map showing the superficial strata of Kansas,” that 
portion of the state south of the Arkansas river is colored as belong- 
ing te the Upper Carboniferous and Cretaceous systems; the line of 
division commencing in the northwestern part of Reno county and 
running southwesterly across Pratt, the southeastern part of Kd- 
wards [now Kiowa], Comanche and Clark counties.? 
Under the account of the Cretaceous system we have the follow- 
ing statement: “That portion [of the state] south of the Arkansas 
river, and west of Harper county has been little examined, either by 
myself or others, but appears to be represented by the Fort Benton 
and Daketa groups” {upper Cretaceous’). 
1 Swallow’s Preliminary Report of the Geological Survey of Kansas, 1866, ap- 
parently makes no reference to the geology of southwest Kansas. The description 
of the seolosy of central Kansas is very meagre, while it is stated that the Tertiary 
occupies “‘a considerable portion of western Kansas; but we have had no opportunity 
of Feet a) Oya formations, and therefore cannot give any detailed description 
of them 
2 First Biennial Report State Board Agriculture of Kansas, p. 47. 
3 IoviGl., 75 GS, 
(96 ) 
