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By my direction Mr. Meek passed across the State of Iowa to Nebraska City with Dr. C. A. White, State geologist, and they succeeded in tracing the coal measure rocks from Des Moines to Nebraska City, and the conclusion they arrived at was, that the workable beds of coal in Iowa occur in the lower coal measures, and that those beds would be found by boring from 300 to 500 feet below the water level of the Missouri at Nebraska City. All the facts that we have so far secured in our subsequent examinations seem to confirm that conclusion. It may so happen that the limestones and clays increase in thickness in their westward extension, and in Nebraska it may be necessary to bore 600 or 800 feet before reaching a workable bed of coal. Even at that depth a good bed of coal would be profitable. In England coal has been mined 1,800 feet beneath the surface, and there are numerous pits from 800 to 1,200 feet in depth. We shall give this question of coal our earnest attention as we proceed southward. I enclose a section of an artesian boring made at Omaha by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, near 400 feet, also a second section made by Mr. Croxton at Nebraska City. The observations made by the parties engaged in the boring were not made with that positive accuracy that I could have desired, still I have put their notes into such a form by means of colors, in accordance with your instructions, that you will readily understand the character of the beds for a great depth beneath the surface of the two localities.

I shall forward to you all the sections of this kind which I can secure. Mr. J. Sterling Morton has sunk a shaft on his farm 100 feet in depth, without success. I have advised boring hereafter, and, to save expense, to continue Mr. Croxton's boring, which is already 400 feet deep, to a depth of 800 feet, if necessary, so as to settle a vexed question one way or the other. Several thin beds fifteen to eighteen inches thick of coal have been found in various parts of the State, and these beds have been wrought with some profit.

The results of our examinations north of the Platte were that the limestones of the upper coal measures pass from sight beneath the water level of the Missouri at De Soto, and are then succeeded by sandstones of a cretaceous age; that these coal measure limestones occupy about two-thirds of Douglas county; that no coal beds of workable character can be found in this county at a less depth than from 800 to 1,000 feet beneath the water level of the Missouri. Limestone of good quality for economical purposes generally is found at Omaha, and all over Sarpy county. On both sides of the Platte river as high up as the Elkhorn are excellent quarries of limestone. There is one ledge of limestone on the Platte about four feet in thickness, very compact and durable, which fully satisfied the wishes of Mr. J. L. Williams, one of the commissioners for accepting the Union Pacific railroad, and he informed me that its discovery would settle the location of the great railroad bridge across the Missouri. One singular geological phenomenon occurs which I have not before observed in any part of the west. The surface of this rock, where the superincumbent drift is removed, has been planed so smoothly by glacial action that it will make most excellent material for caps and sills without further working. Sometimes there are deep grooves and scratchings all of which have a direction nearly northwest and southeast. This glacial action is also seen at Plattsmouth, and the evidence is that if the superficial deposits were stripped off, a large area of the upper surface of the limestones would appear to be planed in this way. This is an exceedingly important geological discovery. At various points I found potters' clay in abundance. A factory for making potters' ware is about to be established at Nebraska City. At Plattsmouth Rock bluff and Nebraska City there is a bed of this clay about 15 feet in thickness, of various colors, mostly red, colored with the sesquioxide of iron. This clay is not only most excellent for potters' use, but it is employed in Iowa as a paint, and by a judicious mixture of the different colored clays any shade desirable may be produced. This is a matter of some interest

to the people. Numerous beds of sand occur also, which are of much value for building purposes.

With the sand and the yellow marl, the materials for making brick are with out limit in this State.

THE SALT BASINS OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

I returned last evening from a tour of five days to the salt basins in Lancaster county, about fifty miles west of Nebraska City. It has been determined by the State to locate the capital near these basins, and therefore the examination of them and the country in the vicinity became a matter of some importance. The basins and scattering springs occupy a large area several miles in extent, but the main basin is located near the town of Lancaster. These basins are depressions in the surface nearly destitute of vegetation, and the white incrustations of salt give the surface the appearance in the distance of a sheet of water. The great basin, as it is called, is situated about one mile from Lancaster, township 10, range 6, section 22, and covers an area of about four hundred acres. The brine issues from a large number of places all over the surface, but in small quantities. All the salt water that comes to the surface from this basin unites in one stream, and we estimated the entire amount of water that flowed from this basin at from six to eight gallons per minute. The second salt basin lies between Oak and Salt creeks, and covers an area of two hundred acres. Third basin is on Little Salt creek, called Kenosha basin, and covers two hundred acres. Numerous small basins occur on Middle creek, which occupy in all about six hundred acres. Between Middle and Salt creeks are several small basins, covering forty or fifty acres. From the surface of all these basins more or less springs ooze out. In former years great quantities of salt have been taken from the surface and carried away. During the war as many as sixty families at a time have been located about these basins employed in securing the salt.

Besides the numerous basins above mentioned, Salt creek, Hayes's branch, Middle creek, Oak and Little Salt creeks have each a dozen springs coming out near the water's edge. One spring on Salt creek issues from a sand rock, and gushes forth with a stream as large as a man's arm, at the rate of four gallons a minute.

This is the largest spring known in the State. The geological formations in the vicinity are of the upper carboniferous and lower cretaceous age. The salt springs undoubtedly come up from a great depth, probably from the upper carboniferous rocks, and are the same in their history and character as those in Kansas. The cretaceous sandstones occupy the hills and high ground, but do not go deep beneath the water level of the little streams. We settled an important point for the citizens in this county, that no coal beds of workable value can possibly be found at a less depth than one thousand to fifteen hundred feet beneath the surface, which renders further search for this mineral useless.

Much time and money has already been spent prospecting and digging for coal in this region, and the almost entire absence of timber would render the presence of coal here a matter of vital importance. I would be glad to find a workable bed of coal for the good people, but it cannot be. The farmers must plant trees, and in a few years the demand for fuel will be supplied. Two methods have been used to some extent in this region in preparing the salt-boiling and evaporation. The only method which can be employed profitably in this country, where fuel is so scarce, is solar evaporation, and this can be carried on more effectually than in any State east of Nebraska. The unusual dryness of the atmosphere, the comparatively few moist or cloudy days, the fine wind which is ever blowing, will render evaporation easy. The surface indications do not lead me to believe that Nebraska will ever be a noted salt region. It seems to me that if all the brine that issues from all the basins and isolated springs were

united in one they would not furnish more than brine enough to keep one good company employed.

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What will be the result of boring can be determined only by actual experiSome large springs may yet be found in that way, but I saw no brine that was much stronger than ocean water. I will forward specimens of the salt and two bottles of the brine, which ought to be carefully analyzed. I shall collect more of the brine at a later and more favorable season. The rains have been so frequent this spring that it is much diluted with rain water. The Nebraska Salt Company made, from July to November, 1866, 60,000 pounds of salt. Another company, at work at the same time, made about the same amount. Good working days 6,000 pounds have been made in a day. The kettles used for boiling are very rude steam boilers split into two parts. In a vat 12 by 24 feet average evaporation was 125 to 130 pounds per day. An extra day was 250 pounds. I think it not improbable that a company with a large capital, and employing all the improved methods of manufacturing the salt, would succeed. The salt is said to be good, though not as strong as the common salt of commerce.

The best building stone yet observed in the State occurs in the southern portion of Lancaster county. The quarries have been opened, and several fine houses built of the stone. The rocks are of the permo-carboniferous, or upper carboniferous age, and are usually called magnesian limestones; are very durable, easily wrought, and make most beautiful building material. There is also plenty of potters' clay, sand, and all the materials for the manufacture of brick without limit.

THE CULTIVATION OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES.

I think a sufficient number of experiments have already been made in this western country to show clearly that the forests may be restored to these almost treeless prairies in a comparatively short period of time. There are certain trees which are indigenous to the country, and which grow with great rapidity under the influence of cultivation. I have given special attention to this matter, in accordance with your instructions, and shall continue to do so throughout the period of the survey. About four miles west of Omaha City Mr. Griffin, an intelligent farmer, has planted about forty acres of forest trees, which are now in a fine condition of growth. I have obtained as many measurements as possible, in order that my statements might have their proper weight. The common cottonwood of the country grows everywhere finely, on upland or lowland. I would remark here that Mr. Griffin's experiment is rendered more emphatic from the fact that he chose one of the highest points in the vicinity of Omaha, 600 feet above the water-line of the Missouri river.

The soil is the usual yellow silicious marl of this region, which is regarded by Lyell and other geologists as the American equivalent of the loess of the Rhine. which is so well adapted to the culture of the grape. The indigenous trees of the country all do well, as might be expected, and many others which have never been found in the west grow rapidly and healthfully. The trees most in cultivation are the indigenous ones, as the cottonwood, (Populus monilifera,) soft maple, (Acer rubrum,) elm, (Ulmus americana,) basswood, or linden, (Tilia americana,) black walnut, (Juglans nigra,) honey locust, (Gleditschia tricanthus,) and several varieties of willows.

At Mr. Griffin's farm I found cottonwood trees, ten years' growth, with a circumference of 2 feet 11 inches, 30 feet high; seven years' growth, with a circumference of 2 feet; seven years' growth, with a circumference of 2 feet 6 inches; soft maple, ten years' growth, with a circumference of 2 feet 8 inches; soft maple, seven years' growth, with a circumference of 1 foot 10 inches; soft maple, seven years' growth, with a circumference of 2 feet 1 inch, 15 feet high; common locust, ten years' growth, with a circumference of 2 feet, 15 feet high;

honey locust, ten years' growth, 1 foot 8 inches; black walnut, ten years' growth, with a circumference of 12 inches, 15 feet high; black walnut, ten years' growth, with a circumference of 13 inches, 15 feet high.

At Dr. Enos Lowe's place, near Omaha, about 300 feet above the water-line of the Missouri, cottonwood trees, ten years' growth, circumference 2 feet 6 inches, 40 feet high; cottonwood trees, ten years' growth, circumference 2 feet 43 inches, 25 feet high; cottonwood trees, ten years' growth, circumference 2 feet 5 inches; cottonwood trees, ten years' growth, circumference 2 feet 4 inches; cottonwood trees, ten years' growth, circumference 2 feet 9 inches; cottonwood trees, ten years' growth, circumference 2 feet 10 inches; common locust, ten years' growth, circumference 2 feet, 1 foot 10 inches, 1 foot 9 inches, 1 foot 10 inches, 2 feet, 2 feet 1 inch, 2 feet, 1 foot 10 inches, 2 feet 5 inches, 1 foot 10 inches; soft maple, seven years old, circumference 8 inches; box elder, ten years old, circumference 2 feet 2 inches; apple trees, ten years' growth, circumference 1 foot 3 inches, 1 foot 1 inch, 1 foot 2 inches, 1 foot 1 inch; twelve years' growth, I foot 6 inches, 1 foot 3 inches, 1 foot 6 inches, 1 foot 6 inches; common red cherry trees, ten years' growth, circumference 12 inches; silver poplar shade trees, seven years' growth, circumference 2 feet 4 inches.

Dr. Lowe's garden shows a most healthy and vigorous growth of the smaller fruits, and he has raised successfully out of doors the following vines: Hartford Prolific, Catawba, Clinton, Delaware, and Concord. These vines are loaded with young fruit at this time. Pears, apples, and cherries abundant; peaches plentiful, but I do not think they will endure the climate. Dr. Lowe has the following evergreens, which are growing finely: Scotch pine, Austrian, Russian, white pine, spruce, balsam fir, white cedar, or arborvitae, and red cedar.

Near the mouth of the Platte Rev. J. G. Miller raises successfully the Diana grape. Lombardy poplars grow well; four years old, 20 feet high, 2 to 5 inches in diameter. Cottonwood, four years old, circumference 18 inches, and 20 feet high.

Mr. Miller's place is one of the most highly cultivated in the State. He has twenty five apricot trees, raised from the seed, which are now loaded with fruit; English red raspberry, blackberry. &c., all bearing thriftily.

At Rev. Mr. Hamilton's, Bellevue, Sarpy county, I saw most of the smaller fruits in a high state of cultivation, as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, &c., and I am convinced that none finer could be produced in any country.

On Mr. J. Sterling Morton's farm, near Nebraska City, I observed a cottonwood tree that had grown from the seed in ten years to a height of 50 feet, with a circumference of 4 feet.

About ten miles south of Platte's mouth there is a fine grove of trees upon a high elevation, composed of cottonwoods, maples, locusts, and black walnuts. Those of ten years' growth are from 8 to 10 inches in diameter, and 10 to 30 feet high. The black walnut trees may be raised from the seed with ease, and, though of slower growth than the others, are very valuable from the fact that the astringent, pungent bark forms their defence, not only against cattle, but the gopher, the most destructive of the wild animals. The gopher gnaws off the roos of some of the most valuable trees, and is a source of great annoyance to the farmer. The native or honey locust is not disturbed by the boring insect, which is destroying the common locust. The borer sometimes attacks the cottonwoods.

I have said enough to show already that most of the hardy northern trees may be cultivated on these western plains with entire success. The cultivated forests will prove much more desirable than those of natural growth, and their arrangement may be made as beautiful as the taste of the proprietor may dicThe greater portion of the more intelligent and thrifty farmers are planting forests to greater or less extent. This is done so easily that there is no

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excuse for a farmer to be destitute of fuel after a few years. Nearly all the common forest trees can be raised from the seed as easily as corn or beans. As soon as it is understood that coal is restricted to a small portion of the State, even if it occur at all, every one will adopt the plan of raising his own fuel. So far as the cultivation of the smaller fruits is concerned, I am convinced that Nebraska will not be surpassed by any other State in the Union. The climate seems to be severe for peaches, though Mr. Morton will have thirty or forty bushels this season. The dwarf fruits seem to do best. A row of forest trees around the gardens and orchards proves great protection from strong winds and cold of winter. The osage orange is used very successfully all over the State for hedges.

I have dwelt on this subject here, from the fact that it is a popular notion at the east that trees cannot be made to grow successfully on the western prairies, and especially that the climate and soil are unfavorable to the cultivation of the fruits. I held that opinion until within two years, but I now believe that within thirty to fifty years, forest trees may be grown large enough for all economical purposes.

Mr. Griffen, in ten years' time, is able to supply his own fuel from the limbs and dead trees which would otherwise go to decay, and within four or five years he will have fuel for sale. I will endeavor hereafter to report the results of my labors to you weekly. If you wish to have me elaborate any special point more fully, please give me instructions to that effect.

The great pest of this country appears to be the grasshopper. This year it seems to be restricted in its distribution. I did not observe any north of the Platte, and very few north of Nebraska City. But at the latter place, and for four or five miles around it, the grasshopper is very abundant and destructive. Mr. Gilmore, one of the wealthiest farmers in the State, has lost seventy acres of wheat and sixty-five acres of clover and timothy grass. crops have been injured-others have suffered in this vicinity.

Many other

I am making a collection of them of different ages and intend to investigate their nature and habits with great care. I hope to be at Brownsville, Nemaha county, in a few days, and from that point will report on Otoe county.

OTOE AND NEMAHA COUNTIES.

Otoe is one of the most fertile and thickly settled of the counties of Nebraska. The fertility of the soil is shown by the richness and abundance of the crops, which are remarkably fine. The winters are so severe and the snows so thin that winter wheat will not do well, and spring wheat is raised altogether and is grown most successfully in ordinary seasons. Thirty and forty bushels to the acre is not an uncommon yield throughout the State, and last autumn Nebraska wheat brought from ten to fifteen cents more per bushel in the market at St. Louis than wheat from any other portion of the west.

The great fertility of the soil in the river counties of Nebraska is mainly due to the beds of silicious marl which cover those counties to a greater or less depth. This is usually called loess, from a similar formation which occurs along the Rhine, in Germany. The sections which I enclose to you from time to time will reveal the prospect of workable beds of coal in the State. so far as the surface exposures are concerned. One outcrop at Nebraska City has been wrought by drifting in a distance of three hundred yards, and several thousand bushels of pretty good coal have been taken therefrom. The seam was about eight inches in thickness. On account of the scarcity of fuel in this region this thin seam has been made somewhat profitable. At Otoe City, eight miles below Nebraska City, the lithological character of the beds seems to change, so that we have red shales and clays passing up into soft yellow sandstones, with comparatively little rock useful for building purposes. There is here also a bed of slate and coal about eight inches in thickness, which has been wrought to some

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