'BERKELEY LP.RARY ] UNIVERSITY OP CALIFORNIA EARTH SCIENCES LIBR'Sv LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. Class BERKI LP.R> UNIVERS CALIFO EARTH SCIENCE GEOLOGICAL REPORT OF THK COUNTRY ALONG THE LINE OF THE SOUTH-WESTERN BRANCH OF THK PACIFIC RAILROAD, STATE OP MISSOURI. BY GL C. SWALLOW, STATK GEOLOGIST. To which zv prefixed a Memoir of the Pacific Railroad, ST. LOUIS: PRINTED BY GEORGE KNAPP & CO.. 1859. LIBRARY'S FUND OFFICERS OF PACIFIC RAILROAD, 1858-9, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. JOHN M. WIMER, JOHN J. ANDERSON. H. I. BODLEY. GEORGE KNAPP, JOHN G. PRIEST, II. CLAY HART, JAMES McDONOUGH, CHAS. P. CHOUTEAU, SAMUEL GATY. B. W. ALEXANDER, BENJ. STICKNEY, B. W. GROVER, of Johnson County GEO. R. SMITH, of Pcttis County. OFFICERS OF PACIFIC RAILROAD CO. JOHN M. WIMER, President, JOHN G. PRIEST, Vice-President, FRED L. BILLON, Sec'y and Treasur EDWARD MILLER, Chief Engineer, DAN'L. TROWBRIDGE, Auditor, T. McKlSSOCK, Superintendent, JOHN D. STEVENSON, Agent of Land Department. THOMAS & COX, Attorneys. er 215375 HISTORICAL MEMOIR OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD OF MISSOURI. Previous to 1850, little or no attention had been given to the subject of internal improvements in the State of Missouri. A Board of Improvement had been created in 1840, but nothing further was done than to make a survey for a railroad from St. Louis to the Iron Mountain, by the way of Big river, and some surveys of the Osage river, with a view of improving its navi gation. The subject of a railroad across the continent having been discussed in various quarters, for several years, Col. Benton, then U. S. Senator for Missouri, on the 7th of February, 1849, introduced a bill into the United States Senate to provide for the location and construction of a Central National Road from the Pacific Ocean to the Mississippi river — to be an iron rail way where practicable, and a wagon road were a railway was not practicable — and proposed to set apart seventy-five per cent, of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands in Oregon and California, and fifty per cent, of the proceeds of all other sales of the public lands, to defray the costs of its location and con struction. On the 20th February, a spirited public meeting was held at the Court-house in St. Louis, and a series of resolutions, in troduced by Thomas Allen, was adopted, requesting the Legis lature, then in session, to grant a charter and right of way, (fee., for a railway across the State, from St. Louis to the western boundary. IV HISTORICAL MEMOIR. On the 12th March, 1849, a charter was granted, providing for a capital of $10,000,000, and with " power to survey, mark, locate and construct a railroad from the city of St. Louis to the city of Jefferson ; and thence to some point on the western line of Yan Buren county, in this State, with a view that the same may be hereafter continued westwardly to the Pacific Ocean." The corporators named in the charter were John O'Fallon, Louis Y. Bogy, James H. Lucas, Edward Walsh, George Col lier, Thomas B. Hudson, Daniel D. Page, Henry M. Shreve, James E. Yeatman, John B. Sarpy, "Wayman Crow, Joshua B. Brant, Thomas Allen, Robert Campbell, Pierre Chouteau, Jr., Henry Shaw, Bernard Pratte, Ernst Angelrodt, Adolphus Meier, Louis A. Benoist and Adam L. Mills. In the spring of the same year another meeting was held in St. Louis for the purpose of calling a National Convention, to be held in St. Louis in October, and a committee of twenty- five citizens was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. A spirited address to the people of the United States, written by Thomas Allen, was issued, and a large convention, at which fifteen States were represented, of which the Hon. George Darsie, of Pennsylvania, was President, was held at the Court-house, in St. Louis, during the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th days of October. This convention warmly commended the project of a National Pacific Railway across the continent, and made an address to the people of the United States and a memorial to Congress in its behalf. In January, 1850, Mr. Thomas Allen, over his own signa ture, in the Missouri Republican, published the charter granted by the Legislature and called a meeting of the corporators. This meeting was held at the office of the St. Louis Insurance Company, on Thursday evening, January 31, 1850. There were present at this meeting, John O'Fallon, James H. Lucas, D. D. Page, Wayman Crow, Edward Walsh, George Collier, J. B. Brant, James E. Yeatman, Adolphus Meier, Adam L. Mills and Thomas Allen. Mr. Allen made an elaborate address, which produced a de cided impression, in favor of commencing the work of making railways in Missouri. At this time not a single railroad touch ed St. Louis on either side of the Mississippi, nor was any built HISTORICAL MEMOIR. V in the vicinity. The Erie Railroad was not completed, and only 7,000 miles of railroad had been constructed in the United States. The result of the meeting was an immediate organization ot a company, and a subscription on the spot, by the eleven gen tlemen present, of 8154,000. Books for further subscriptions were ordered to be opened ; a committee was appointed to make arrangements for a general topographical and geological survey of the country, and to prepare a memorial to Congress for a donation of alternate sections of public lands along the route for the construction of the proposed road. At that time there were large bodies of public land in the State open to pri vate entry, 29,216,000 acres, as was stated in the memorial to Congress, remaining unsold. The preliminary meeting above alluded to was organized by the election of JOHN O'FALLON, President, THOMAS ALLEN, Secretary, and D. D. PAGE, Treasurer. This organization soon afterwards settled down into a more permanent form for the year 1850, in the selection of THOMAS ALLEN, President, Secre tary and Treasurer, and JAMES H. LUCAS, Vice President. Early in the season, JAMES P. KIRKWOOD, of New York, was se lected as Chief Engineer. Books of subscription having been opened at the Merchants' Exchange in St. Louis, the sum of one million of dollars was subscribed by citizens of St. Louis by the 1st March. The following gentlemen were elected Directors for the first year: Thomas Allen, James H. Lucas, D. D. Page, Edward Walsh, George Collier, James E. Yeatman, L. M. Kennett, Louis A. Labeaume and James Harrison. The preliminary surveys were commenced on the 24th May, and were closed on the 29th November, 1850. Five different lines were surveyed, embracing in the whole over 800 miles of survey. Taking into consideration as well the estimated cost of construction of the different lines, as the probable need of a branch to the Iron Mountain, and to the South-west part of the State, the location, by Mill creek valley, valley of the River Des Peres, and by the valley of the Mera- mec, was adopted on the 18th of June, 1851. During the progress of the surveys the President personally VI HISTORICAL MEMOIR. visited and addressed the people and the county courts of nearly every county from St. Louis to the western boundary, and also laid his plans before the Governor of the State, which the Gov ernor, after due consideration, substantially adopted. The City and County of St. Louis, and the County of Jackson, sub scribed to the stock. Petitions to Congress in behalf of a grant of land, as applied for by the Company, were circulated and numerously signed in all the counties along the proposed line, and in due time transmitted to Congress. The first division of the road (33 miles) having been put under contract, the first spadefull of earth was removed, in the ab sence of the Governor, by the then Mayor of the City, Mr. Ken- nett, on the 4th of July, in the presence of a large and enthu siastic audience, who were first addressed by the President and Hon. Edward Bates. This memorable event took place at a point on the south bank of Chouteau Pond, on Mr. Minckes' ground, west of Fifteenth street. At the ensuing session of Congress, held in 1850-'51, a bill passed the Senate of the U. S., granting for the railroad alter nate sections of land for a space of six miles in width on each side, but was not reached in the House of Representatives. In the same winter of 1850-'51, the President having been elected to the State Senate, a plan for a complete system of railroads for the State was laid before the Legislature by him, including a form of State aid by a loan of the public credit. This plan, which was soon adopted with some variation of starting points, contemplated the issue of State bonds to the Railroad Company to an amount equal to the amount first to be advanced by the stockholders, the Company agreeing to pay the interest and principal of the bonds, and the State reserving a first lien on the road as security. The first act was approved February 22d, 1851, and provided for the issue to the extent of two millions of State bonds to the Pacific Railroad Company, in sums of $50,000, upon satisfactory evidence being furnished to the Governor, at each application, that a like sum of $50,- 000 had been expended by the Company, derived from sources other than State bonds ; and provided, that the bonds should not be sold below par. These bonds having twenty years to run, and bearing six per cent, interest, were sold for a premium HISTORICAL MEMOIR. Vll for more than a year and a half, and some were sold as high as 110. Some important amendments to the charter were granted at the same session, by an act approved March 1, 1851. Persevering in the effort for a grant of public lands, Congress, on the 10th June, 1852, passed an act granting to the State of Missouri the alternate sections of land in a strip six sections in width on each side of the line, for the construction of a railroad from St. Louis to the western boundary of the State. Soon after the passage of this act, the Company petitioned the Governor to call an extra session of the Legislature, and the then Governor, Mr. King, complied with the request. So largely had individuals entered the public lands the previous year or two, in consequence of the railroad surveys, that it was soon discovered that the grant would be of little value for con structing a railroad in a direct line westward from St. Louis to the Western boundary. Therefore, in view of the im mense district of country lying at the South-west, known to be desirable in soil, climate and minerals, yet inaccessible, and also in view of the probability that a good route for the Na tional road to California might be found along the 35th paral lel, it was deemed advisable to make a fork in the line of road, and run the main trunk nearly west in the direction of Kansas, via the State capital, and the fork or Branch in the South western direction. To the road from St. Louis to the point of divergence from the main line, and thence to the South-west boundary of the State, the State granted the lands by the act of December 20th, 1852, without bonus and with an ex emption from taxation, until the road could pay a dividend ; and with also a further loan of $1,000,000 to the main line, and 11,000,000 to the South-west branch. The right of pre emption to actual settlers already on the lands, at $2.50 per acre, was, however, reserved. Mr. Allen, President of the Company, was appointed the agent of the State to select the lands, and for that purpose he went to Washington City. The lands selected, and the sched ule of which, as furnished by the General Land Office, has the force of a patent, amounted to about 1,200,000 acres. The Pacific Railroad Company, having surveyed a route for a Branch Railroad to the Iron Mountain, to cross the Meramec Vlll HISTORICAL MEMOIR. near the mouth of Calvey creek, in Franklin county, and run on an interior ridge, west of Big river, via Potosi, and reported that the Iron Mountain could thus be reached by building about sixty miles additional of railroad, at a cost of two or two and a half millions, the Legislature granted a loan to the Company for that branch of $750,000. Some clamor springing up for a " direct line" to the Iron Mountain from St. Louis, this loan was subsequently yielded and transferred to the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad. At the same session of the Legislature, a general railroad law was enacted, February 24, 1853, fixing the guage of all railroads in the State at five feet six inches, and providing for the levy and collection of taxes to pay subscriptions to railroads made by municipal corpora tions and for the conversion of the same into stock. On tha motion of the President of the Company, also, (then Mr. Allen), a loan was enacted for the first time, providing for a Geological survey of the State, and appropriating $10,000 a year for two years, for that object. One of the consequences which has flowed from that law is, the accompanying interest ing report of the State Geologist, upon the geology of the coun try, rich in minerals, through which the South-west branch of the Pacific Railroad is located. An act was also passed the same day, authorizing the Pacific Railroad Company to extend, construct, and operate their road, or make contracts, &c., to any point west of the State boundary — having in view a connection with a National road. It was on the 31st March, 1853, that Congress provided for such explorations and surveys as the War Department might deem advisable, in order to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific Ocean. Very soon after, Mr. Allen, being then in Washington, and believing a route in that direction practica ble, proposed to the Secretary of War to make a survey, without expense to the government, for a railroad through South-western Missouri, and thence by the way of the Canadian river and Albuquerque, &c., to California (the route now, in part, travel led by the overland mail) ; provided, that the results of the survey should be reported with those of the Army Engineers. The proposition was declined. HISTORICAL MEMOIR. IX In November, 1852, the first Locomotive, the "Pacific," manufactured at Taunton, Mass., was placed upon the track, at the machine shop erected by the Company, and ran out to the Manchester road, and was quite a noticeable and marked event in this State. In December, 1852, a train, loaded with passengers, ran out to Cheltenham, about five miles, where a large company was entertained at a public dinner given by the President. During the same year, Thomas S. O'Sullivan, Esq., having been elected Chief Engineer, on the resignation of Mr. Kirkwood, the South west branch was surveyed and located, under the immediate charge of his Assistant, James K. Ford, Esq. In July, 1853, the First Division was opened from St. .Louis to Franklin, a distance of 38 miles, and the event was appro priately celebrated at that place. In the spring of that year, the President being then in New York, a contract was made with Diven, Stancliff & Co., for the construction of the whole South-western branch. An ebb-tide in monetary affairs ren dering it difficult to negotiate loans on Railroad securities, as contemplated, a meeting of stockholders was held at Mercantile Library Hall, and it was proposed that the County of St. Louis make an additional subscription of $1,200,000 to the capital stock of the Company, to be paid by taxation within four years, and that the stockholders claim no exemption from the tax, as the law allowed, in consequence of their being already subscri bers. The President, Mr. Allen, who had devoted his time and energies to the starting of the enterprise, the first year without pay, and during the last at a salary of $1500 per annum, willing still to make sacrifices for the cause, and desirous of attracting public attention at once to the necessities of the case, and to propitiate all opposition, if any, on the score of long continu ance in office, tendered his resignation ; this was at length ac cepted, and Hudson E. Bridge, Esq., was elected President, April 25, 1854. At the election which took place, on the ques tion of making the subscription and levying the heavy tax pro posed on the part of the County of St. Louis, it was decided affirmatively by a vote of 3420 yeas to 1133 nays. Thus the people of St. Louis made themselves the first example in the- X HISTORICAL MEMOIR. State under the law authorizing the imposition of taxes for railroad purposes. The Legislature, by an act approved Feb. 10, 1855, modified the law in regard to the issue of State bonds as loans to the Railroads, so far as the amount was limited to the particular sum of $50,000 to be applied for at any one time, leaving the amounts within the general limit optional, and permitting sales at market price. The work was pushed forward on all the contracts to Jeffer son City that year ; and in September, the work under the con tract for the South-western road was also commenced. A contract was also entered into to construct the main line of the road between Jefferson City and the "Western boundary, with Messrs. Kirkwood, Porter & Co. The superstructure of the main line being principally laid nearly to Jefferson City, (125 miles,) a few of the bridges only requiring completion and trestle work being temporarily substituted, an excursion was planned, in view of the then approaching session of the Legislature, to take place on the 1st November. A splendid train of ten passenger cars started from St. Louis loaded with the elite gentlemen of the city and surrounding country, one lady only being present — as precious, goodly and cheerful a company as ever breathed the air of a hopeful morning — but was fatally precipitated, from too much speed and too weak a structure, at the foot of the first pier of the Gasconade trestle work, 108 miles from St. Louis. There the Chief Engineer, and thirty-one others, prominent and worthy men, were instantly killed. This lamentable accident caused some delay. The direct damage to the running stock of the Company was about $21,750. It appearing, from experience, that the cost of our railroads had been under-estimated, it became necessary for the ensuing Legislature to make further provision for them. With wise precaution they first, on the 7th of December, 1855, enacted a law to secure the prompt payment of the interest on the State bonds, by requiring the setting apart out of the State Treasury, on the 1st July, 1856, the sum of 1200,000 as a basis of a State Interest Fund, and the further sum of 1100,000 annually for thirteen years. The Treasurer and Auditor of the State were HISTORICAL MEMOIR. XI made Commissioners of this Fund ; and in case any Railroad Company failed to deposit with the Treasurer of the State a suffi cient sum to meet the interest upon any State bonds loaned to them thirty days before the interest becomes due, the Auditor is required to pay out of the fund to the Treasurer a sum suffi cient to pay the interest as it falls due, such sum to be re funded by the delinquent Railroad Company, under penalty of receiving no more bonds and forfeiting their road to the State. The Legislature then, on the 10th December, 1855, enacted that the State bonds might be issued to the Railroad Companies in the proportion of two dollars of loan advanced for one ex pended by the stockholders, and thus granted the further sum of two millions to the main trunk line of the Pacific Road, and also transferred to said main line the one million before au thorized for the South-west branch. The Company was also authorized to mortgage a million acres of their lands and Southwest branch, and issue their own bonds thereon to the extent of ten millions, to aid them to construct that branch, the State agreeing to guaranty three millions of those Company bonds, the proceeds to be expended on the first 114 miles of the South-west branch, reaching from Franklin to a point be yond the Gasconade river ; but the Company were required to expend $50,000, to be derived from other sources, for every 1100,000 of bonds to be guarantied. This act required the first division of that branch to be completed within three years from its date, under penalty of forfeiture of the road to the State, its lands and franchises, by operation of law, subject only to the mortgage above mentioned. That law also extended the privileges of actual settlers on railroad lands, by granting them rights of pre-emption at $2.50 per acre to the extent of fifteen miles from the road. The act also created and established a Board of Public Works, consisting of three persons, not stockholders, to be (after the first appointed by the Governor) elected by the people for four years, the first election in 1856, and further required each Railroad Company to set aside and pay to the State Treasurer, every year, on State bonds thereafter to be issued, one and one quarter of one per cent. (1J) on each 30 year bond, and two and one-half per cent. (2 J) on each 20 year bond, sold or Xll HISTORICAL MEMOIR. hypothecated. The Treasurer of the State and the Treasurer of each Railroad Company for the time being, were made Com missioners of the Sinking Fund thus created, and each Com pany was required to pay to the State Treasurer the semi annual interest on the bonds issued to them thirty days before the coupons should fall due. The State Treasurer was re quired to select one place in the city of New York for the pay ment of the interest on all the bonds issued by the State, and to give public notice thereof thirty days in advance. This was a good provision and is calculated to consolidate and strengthen the public credit, while it places the State upon its proper dig nity in guarding its own honor. So long as the Companies continue to provide the means to pay the interest themselves, as they are required to do, the State Interest Fund and the Sinking Fund will accumulate, and suitable provisions are made for the safe and productive investment of the funds in securities readily convertible. Thus with the lapse of each year, with the increasing value of the railroads and their earn ings, with the enhancement in the worth of the railroad lands, with the gradual accumulations of the Sinking Funds, and with the constant and steady increase of the public wealth, THE PUBLIC CREDIT OF MISSOURI, not now to be much more extended by the constitution, will be firmly established beyond all contingency. James H. Lucas, Esq., was elected President of the Pacific Railroad Company in March, 1856, but resigned about a month afterwards, when William M. McPherson, Esq., was elected President in his place, and Mr. Edward Miller soon after was made Chief Engineer. Mr. McPherson continued to serve as President until March, 1858, when Hon. John M. Wimer was elected in his place. By an act approved March 3, 1857, the State agreed to guar anty the bonds of the Pacific Railroad Company, issued as authorized by the act of Dec. 10, 1855, upon a mortgage of lands on the South-west branch in sums of $100,000 each, to an amount not exceeding $4,500,000— the first $100,000 to be issued upon evidence of a like amount of expenditure on that branch by the Company derived from sources other than guar antied bonds, but the subsequent amounts were to be issued as fast as each given sum was expended. The Governor was also HISTORICAL MEMOIR. Xlll authorized to make such guaranties in larger amounts than $100,000 at a time, if expedient, and place them for sale in the hands of an agent to be appointed by him, &c. The Company was required to complete the South-west branch in four years, pay the interest, and hold the State harmless from her guaranty, or forfeit the branch road, lands and franchises. The same act further provided, that whenever the Pacific Railroad Com pany had expended $ 500, 000 west of Jefferson City, the Gov ernor of the State should issue to them 11,000,000, part of the three millions granted by the act of Dec. 10, 1855, but not issued ; and also granted a further loan of 1300,000 of the same three million loan, to be based upon a showing of half that sum expended from stock subscriptions west of Jefferson City. And the act also granted the same Company a further loan of $1,000,000, to be issued in sums of $100,000, and the appli cations for them to be based upon proof of additional expendi ture of half the amount derived from sources other than State bonds, and not included in any previous statement, and show ing also that the proceeds of all the bonds issued under the act of 1855 had been expended in the construction of the road ; and the statement of expenditure to be exclusive of interest, dis count and commissions. These laws also provided, that the work should progress continuously west so as to leave no part unfinished beyond the reach of the means of the Company. The act also postponed the payments into the Sinking Fund, required by the act of 1855, until January 1st, 1859, when said payments are to commence and be made as before required, and within two years from that time the Companies are to make full payment of all sums thus postponed. It was the same act of March 3, 1857, which required the State Geologist to make a thorough survey along the lines of all railroads aided by the State, and to report in detail, to the President and Directors, " all the mineral, agricultural and other resources which may affect the value or income of the road under their direction." By a proposed amendment to the constitution, which passed the Legislature by an almost unanimous vote, and approved March 4, 1857, the State debt is limited " to never exceed the sum of thirty millions of dollars." This will become a part of XIV HISTORICAL MEMOIR. the constitution when passed upon again by the present Legis lature. As affecting also the value of State bonds, as well as City and County bonds issued to railroads, and Railroad bonds also, all are exempted from taxation by the act of March 4, 1857. And, again, the Banks, under the act of 1857, are required to invest ten per cent, of their paid-in capital and two per cent, per annum of their nett profits in State bonds ; and moreover, each Bank is required to pay for their privileges, annually, one per cent, on the amount of their paid-up capital, to the State, which is to go to the credit of the " State Interest Fund" — thus materially strengthening the credit of the bonds. In consequence of the panic in the money market, the State bonds of Missouri, like many others, touched a low point in the fall of 1857, and many of the holders felt much alarmed. But, as was predicted by those best acquainted with the resources of Missouri, the Legislature met the crisis with a determined ener gy which inspired new confidence. The act of November 19, 1857, suspended the further issue and guarantee of bonds until March 1, 1859, with some exceptions ; and among them $400,000 were permitted to be issued to the Pacific Railroad to finish to Round Hill, and |200,000 to carry the South-west branch to Moseley's. But it was agreed that whenever State bonds could be sold for 90 cents on the dollar, the Governor might issue $500,000 for the South-west branch, and receive in exchange the same amount of guarantied bonds, and to deposit with the State Treasurer a like amount of seven per cent. Rail road mortgage bonds as collateral security ; and as the latter bore seven per cent, interest and the former six, the Company were required to pay the difference (one per cent.) into the State Interest Fund, on the bonds so exchanged. The Pacific Railroad was also required to deliver up all guarantied bonds ; and a like amount of State bonds, running 20 years, and bear ing six per cent, interest, were ordered to be issued and deliv ered to them. It was a singular fact that while State bonds sold readily, mortgage bonds, guarantied by the State, could not be sold. The act also authorized a special tax of one-tenth of one per cent, on the $100, to be levied upon all taxable prop erty in the State, commencing in 1859, to be paid into the State Interest Fund ; and also provided, that the per cent. HISTORICAL MEMOIR. XV due from the United States to the State of Missouri, on account of the public land sales in the State, under the act of Congress of March 6, 1820, and of March 3, 1857, when received, should also be placed in the " State Interest Fund." The Board of Public Works were required to attend all the meetings of the Boards of Directors, and watch their proceed ings. And in order to provide further for the certain and prompt payment of the interest on any State bond which may be unprovided for, the Commissioners of the State Interest Fund, thirty days before the interest is due, shall temporarily take out of any funds in the public treasury, except the School Fund, the Road and Canal Fund, and the Internal Improve ment Fund, sufficient to pay such interest ; and in case there is not sufficient to pay such interest, then the Governor is au thorized to issue " Revenue Bonds," payable two years after date, with any rate of interest not exceeding ten per cent., and hand them to the Commissioners, to sell or hypothecate for a loan in anticipation of the moneys due to the Interest Fund. And in case the moneys provided by the act are noi needed to pay accruing interest, then they are to be invested, and the interest on the investment added to the fund, and the fund is declared sacred and inviolable until the principal and interest of all the State bonds are fully paid. Thus full and ample provision has been made by the Legislature to meet, at all times, the accruing interest on the State bonds of Missouri. These facts are important as bearing upon the future of the Pacific Railroad in completing the line to Kansas, and the South western branch. The main, or Kansas line of the Pacific Railroad, was open ed to Jefferson City (125 miles from St. Louis), about the 1st of March, 1856, and is well constructed and well stocked. Its business between that point, which is the State capital, and St. Louis, has exceeded the expectations and estimates of all. That line was opened to the town of California, 25 miles further, on May 4th, 1858, and to Tipton, 12f miles still further west, being 162-j miles from St. Louis, July 25th, 1858. The amount expended upon that line to Dec. 1, 1858, has been about XVI HISTORICAL MEMOIR. $10,033,823, and for its construction $6,780,000 of State bonds have been issued to the Company. The annual interest on these bonds is about ... $406,800 00 The gross earnings of the road for the last twelve months were, From Freights, - - ';V ; •• - '-'. - - $296,58070 " Passengers, 'Ji'-: •'*' -' '-- ''- . - 320,79144 " Mails, &c., ... f ' •- "•">'* ::J * 19,13960 Total, 7 f " $636,511 74 Upon the South-west branch about 19 miles of track are laid, and the next 60 miles can be completed in 1859. The iron for this distance is already contracted for at the Cambria Works in Pennsylvania. The amount expended in construction upon the South-west branch, beyond Franklin, to Dec. 1st, 1858, is 11,442,710. The amount of bonds issued for that branch to Dec. 1st, is 11,268,000 of State 6 per cents., and $132,000 guarantied 7 per cents. The total length of the main line of the Pacific Railroad, as now definitely located from St. Louis to Kansas, is 282 miles. The length of the South-west branch is 283 miles. The total amount of State bonds issued to all Railroads is $19,056,000. The total amount granted is $24,950,000, of which $5,894,000 are not yet issued. The following statement of the issue and distribution of these bonds is believed to be correct : Names of Roads. Received. Remaining. Total. Main Line Pacific Railroad $6,780,000 $220,000 $7,000,000 South-west Branch do. 1,400,000 3,100,000 4,500,000 North Missouri do. 4,350,000 1,150,000 5,500,000 Iron Mountain do. 3,276,000 324,000 3,600,000 Hannibal and St. Jo. do. 3,000,000 3,000,000 Cairo and Fulton do. 250,000 400,000 650,000 Platte County do. 700,000 700,000 Total $19,056,000 $5,894,000 $24,950,000 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. XV11 The security of the State, being the first lien, is based not only upon the Roads themselves and their appurtenances, upon which large amounts of private capital have been expended, amounting in the case of the Pacific Main Line alone to 83,254,582, but also upon large grants of land, amounting to over two millions of acres, of which the fee simple title has absolutely passed by act of Congress and the decision of the General Land Office. INTRODUCTION. Hon. JOHN M. WIMER, President of the Pacific Railroad Company. Sir : — In conformity to a law requiring me to make geolog ical surveys along the lines of all the Railroads aided by the State, the country along the South-Western Branch of the Pacific Railroad, in which the lands of your company are lo cated, have been examined with sufficient care to enable me to speak with certainty as to the general character of the country, the climate, soils, minerals, timber, and water power. In this survey we have extended our examinations over the counties of St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, Gasconade, Crawford, Phelps, Maries, Pulaski, La Clede, Webster, Green, Lawrence, Newton, and a part of Jasper, McDonald, Polk, Stone, Barry, Taney, Dallas, Washington and Wright — in all, an area of some 13,000 square miles. In the time, and with the means allotted us for this work, it could not be expected that we would be able to speak with cer tainty of each section or even township in so wide an area ; but by availing myself of the examinations previously made in por tions of this region, and by so arranging the operations of the geological corps as to render the labors of each directly or in directly available in this report, without materially retarding the progress of the State survey, we have been enabled to collect data sufficient to give a very correct view of the topo graphical, geological, mineral and agricultural features of the country under consideration. I am indebted to Dr. Shumard for reports upon St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, Crawford, La Clede and Pulaski counties ; to Dr. Litton for many valuable analyses of soils and minerals, and reports on numerous mines ; to Mr. Price for the sketches of Granby and the Bluffs of the Niangua, for much valuable 1 I: ; , INT HOD U C T I 0 N . assistance in the field and in making up this report ; and to Mr. Broadhead for a report on Maries county, for assistance in the field, in making up this report, and in preparing the accom panying section and map. Mr. J. L. P. W. Fitzgerald, of Granby ; Judge W. C. Price, Mr. J. A. Stephens, and Mr. Chas. Carlton, of Springfield ; Mr. C. D. Bray, N. A. Davis, M.D., Mr. W. C. Smart, and Mr. L. P. Ayers, of Green county ; Mr. C. L. Dickerman, Mr. D. G. Morrow, Mr. McCraw, Joel Hall, Esq., Mr. J. G. McFadden, Mr. Casswell Roberts, and Mr. Harvey Burkhart, of Taney ; Hon. H. T. Blow, Mr. J. F. Darby, Mr. T. C. Johnson, and Mr. S. M. Colman, of St. Louis ; Mr. Wm. C. Best, of Maries ; Mr. Isaac N. Young, of Franklin ; Pleasant Johnson, Esq., and John S. Reding, Esq., of Newton county; C. A. Edmands, of Washington ; and Henry H. Fox, of McDonald, have rendered very important aid in our explorations and in collecting the statistics for our reports. The large amount of material thus collected, has been care fully digested, and the most important results, such as are deemed entirely reliable, have been condensed into the follow ing report. This report is submitted with a painful sense of its imperfections, and how far it comes short of fully representing the very extensive, interesting, and rich region upon which it is made. Still it is hoped we have presented such an amount of information as will very conclusively indicate the vast agri cultural, mineral and manufacturing resources of that beautiful and favored country. Wishing you eminent success in your able efforts to hasten the completion of the South-Western Branch, I remain, very respectfully, Your Ob't Servant, G. .0. SWALLOW, State Geologist. GEOLOGICAL ROOMS, STATE UNIVERSITY, Columbia, Mo., June 2d, 1858. GEOLOGICAL REPORT OP THE COUNTRY ALONG THE PACIFIC RAILROAD AND THE SOUTH WESTERN BRANCH, FROM ST. LOUIS TO THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE STATE, IN NEWTON COUNTY. IT has been our object, in making this survey, to examine into all the available resources of this part of the State, and especially those designed to furnish a people with sustenance and wealth, and provide a surplus for trade and exportation ; as a dense and wealthy population, and a surplus of produc tions, are the real elements of Kailroad profits as well as national power and progress. TOPOGRAPHY. That portion of Southern Missouri extending from Newton county in the south-west, to Ste. Genevieve in the south-east, usually represented as the eastern extremity of the Ozark Mountains, is, in fact, a table land varying from 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the ocean. In the west it is sufficiently undulating to be well drained, while in the south and east it sometimes rises into ridges and knobs of moderate elevation. From this table land, the country descends by moderate slopes in every direction. On the northern slope are the head waters of the Sac, Pomme de Terre, Niangua and Gasconade, flowing into the Missouri ; on the east, the Meramec and the Big, flowing into the Mississippi ; on the south, the waters of the St. Francois, the Current, and the White and its tributaries, descending towards Arkansas ; and Spring River and Shoal Creek, on the western slope. The valleys of the numerous streams which flow from this table land are at first but little depressed below the general level ; but the farther they descend, the deeper and wider they become, until they expand into broad alluvial bottoms bounded by bluffs more or less precipitous. 4 GEOLOGICAL EEPORT. This table land presents a surface sufficiently undulating to be well drained, and still level enough for argricultural purposes. The South-Western Branch from Franklin, rises gradually onto the north-eastern slope of this table land, up the divide be tween the waters of the Bourbeuse and the Meramec, until it reaches an elevation of 780 feet above St. Louis, before crossing the valley of the Gasconade. Beyond this valley it rises again to the most elevated part of the line in AVebster county. Thence through to Green, Lawrence and Newton, it descends the gentle western slope to the State boundary, where the road will be 440 feet above the St. Louis Register,* and the highest point on the line of the road at Marshfield is 1092 feet above the Reg ister, and about 1500 above the Gulf of Mexico. At Buck prairie it is 1020 feet above the Register, and 780 at Little prairie, east of the Gasconade. CLIMATE. This table land, as above stated, has an elevation of some twelve or fifteen hundred feet above the ocean. It has a rolling surface, and gentle slopes of some four or five feet to the mile, towards the valleys of the Osage, the Mississippi, the Arkansas, and the Neosho or Grand river, and no high mountains or arid plains to disturb the equable and agreeable temperature, which usually prevails at this altitude, under the thirty-seventh par allel of north latitude. There are no swamp or overflowed lands from which noxious exhalations can arise to affect any considerable portion of this country. The climate, as these facts indicate and our meteorological observations clearly prove, is most agreeable and salubrious ;f the summers are long, temperate and dry, the winters short and mild. No climate, in short, is better fitted to secure health and a luxurious growth of the staple products of the temperate zone. * This Register is about 400 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. t The Census Report of 1850 shows this to be one of the most healthy regions in the United States. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. O GEOLOGY. It is not deemed expedient, in this report, to enter into a de- failed description of the rocks in the region under considera tion, as that has been done in the Second Annual Report of our Survey, where any one desiring it can find a full exposition of these rocks, their classification, and catalogues of the fossils upon which that classification was based. In this connection, therefore, we shall merely mention the extent of each forma tion, its economical relations, and whatever may appear pecu liar in the localities observed. QUATERNARY SYSTEM. All of the deposits of sand, clay, marl and humus in the bottoms of the streams, together with the clays and marls spread over the consolidated strata on the high lands, belong to the Quaternary period. These deposits cover the entire region. and are particularly important, as they furnish a large part of all the mineral ingredients that enter into the composition of the soils which rest upon them. The Alluvial Formation, in the bottoms, is made up of clays, sands, marls and humus, more or less commingled. The char acter of these materials explains the wonderful fertility of the soils resting upon them. The Bluff Formation consists of impure clays and marls, and is best developed on the eastern end of the line, particularly in St. Louis county, where it covers the high country and forms the basis of the soils. On the central and western portions, the superficial deposits are more argillaceous and sparingly devel oped, often leaving the underlying rocks to exert their due in fluence upon the soil. The Quaternary is represented on the map by the carmine color. CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. The Coal Measures underlie about 160 square miles in St. Louis county, a portion of St. Charles, and some small patches in Crawford, Phelps and Newton. It is represented by the purple color in the accompanying geological map. This forma tion in St. Louis countv contains three beds of coal ; one of 6 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. hydraulic limestone and one or more of good fire-clay. The Coal Measures are represented on the map by the purple. The Mountain Limestone underlies nearly all of Newton, Lawrence and Green, the southern part of Jasper, the north of McDonald, Barry and Stone, the south-west of Webster, and portions of St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles, and occupies an area of more than 3,000 square miles. The St. Louis, the Archimedes, and the Encrinital Limestones are developed in the East, the Ferruginous Sandstone, the Archimedes and En crinital * Limestones in the West. The Mountain Limestone contains the numerous and exten sive deposits of lead and zinc in Jasper and Newton ; the ex tensive beds of iron in Green and Lawrence ; the marbles of St. Louis, and an abundance of good building stones in all the counties above named. It also exerts a good influence upon the soils, rendering them productive and durable. It is represented on the map by the blue. CHEMUNG GROUP. This division is sparingly developed in St. Louis, Webster, Green, Taney, Stone, Lawrence, Newton and McDonald. Al though this formation is very thin, its three divisions are Avell defined in some parts of the West, where the denudation of the middle clay beds has formed the mounds so conspicuous in the prairies of that part of the State. These sandy clays often exert an injurious influence upon the soil. No valuable minerals have been found in these rocks, save some copper in the beds of transition between them and the Encrinital Limestone in Lawrence county. It occupies an area of some 160 square miles, and is represented by green on tiic map. * Tliis formation presents some peculiar features in Lawrence county Its lower part is there made up of heavy beds of whitish, porous quartz rock, as indicated by the following section on the Turnback: — No. 1 — 5 feet of Ferruginous Sandstone. " 2 — 30 feet Encrinital Limestone, with its usual characters. " 3 — 70 feet of brownish gray, porous and hard silicious rock or quartzite. " 4 — 5 feet of soft brown impure Sandstone, with masses of calcareous spar. " 5 — 10 feet of coarse, impure crystalline Limestone ; contains Spirifer Mario- nensis — Chemung. " 6 — 20 feet of silicious rock like No. 3. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. LOWER SILURIAN. The Trenton Limestone underlies a portion of St. Louis, Franklin and Jefferson counties. No valuable ores have as yet been discovered in this formation. It furnishes good lime stones and marbles for building and ornamental purposes. The soils formed from it are calcareous and durable. The Magnesian Limestone Series * occupies a large part of Jefferson, Franklin, and Webster, and nearly or quite all of Gasconade, Crawford, Washington, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski, La Clede, Wright, and Dallas — an area of nearly 6,000 square miles within the limits of the Railroad lands. This series of ancient deposits is made up of magnesian lime stones, sandstones and intercallated beds of chert or impure flint. These rocks contain the best building material in the State. Some of the limestones are not surpassed in beauty and durability. Many of them will furnish inexhaustible supplies of beautiful, variegated marbles. A few of the sandy beds are excellent free stone well adapted to architectural purposes ; while others will afford any desirable quantity of pure white sand for cements and glass manufactures. These rocks usually exert a good influence upon the soil ; but there are exceptions. Some of the magnesian limestones decompose so rapidly, and supply the soil with so large a por tion of magnesia as to impair its fertility ; as is evident in many of the glades on the ridges and slopes, where they come to the surface. In a few localities the sandstones render the soil too arenaceous, while in other places the fragments of chert are so abundant as to prevent its use for ordinary cultivation. It should be borne in mind, however, that these apparent defects, when not in very great excess, give the soil a peculiar adapta tion to one of the most important departments of husbandry, the culture of the grape. And the time is not far distant when * The upper part of tin's series belongs unequivocally to the age of the Cal- ciferous Sandrock; but since our Second Annual Report was published, the evidence that the lower beds are Potsdam Sandstone has been increased by the discovery of the Lingula antiqua of Hall, by Mr. Broadhead, in Moniteau county 8 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. the "poor flint ridges " and terraced slopes * of Southern Mis souri, will be more valuable for vineyards than the best lands of the State for the other departments of agriculture. This is, emphatically, the mineral bearing rock of Missouri. It contains the larger part of all the lead, zinc, copper, cobalt, and nickel, and a considerable portion of the iron discovered in the State. Some or all of these ores abound wherever these rocks have been explored within the limits of the State. When it is borne in mind, that they occupy an area of some 10,000 square miles in the counties containing Railroad lands, we shall be less surprised at the long catalogue of mineral lo calities in those counties already known and be better prepared to expect still other discoveries of equal importance. The Lower Silurian Strata are represented by yellow on the accompanying geological map. IGNEOUS ROCKS. There are but few unimportant representations of this divi sion in the region under consideration. At one locality in La- clede, and one or two in Crawford, granite dykes, or ridges, rise above the stratified rocks. SOIL. The soils of this region, are as diversified and varied as the topographical and geological features, already disclosed, would indicate. The wide diffusion of the rich silicious marls of the Bluff formation, particularly in the eastern and western coun ties, is a sufficient proof of the value of the soils found upon it. It is well known that a part of St. Louis and the adjoining counties possess a very superior soil. It may not be as well known, though equally true, that portions of Newton, Green, Lawrence, and the adjoining counties, have a soil equally good. It is also true, contrary to the opinions of some, that the central counties on the line of this road, have large areas of most ex cellent land. See Plate vm. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 9 Almost every acre of the alluvial bottoms throughout this entire region, has a rich, durable soil, which is usually well adapted to the culture of corn, wheat, tobacco, oats, and the grasses ; some would yield good hemp. Where the silicious marls of the Bluff are well developed, the upland soils are rich, fertile and durable. This variety of soil prevails in all the best upland on the line of the road, particularly in the eastern and western extremities. In Oliver's prairie, Pool's prairie, and Sar- coxie prairie, in Newton ; Grand and Kickapoo prairies, in Green ; Pleasant prairie, in Webster ; Dimond prairie, in Jasper ; and Ozark prairie, in Lawrence, the soil is excellent. It possesses the same good qualities in some of the timbered portions of all the counties above named ; but St. Louis county has much the largest proportion, as indicated by the superior soils in the val ley west of the city and in the Florisant. There is a soil somewhat inferior to the preceding, which covers large areas in the region under consideration. It also rests upon the marls of the Bluff where that formation is some what clayey and where it has been injured by washing. This variety is found on the ridges and undulating portions of the country, where the white, post and black oaks, and summer grapes abound, and white hickory, dwarf sumac, and hazle are less prevalent. This same soil also occupies the prairies, which are somewhat inferior to those mentioned above. The following analyses show the qualities of this variety of soil : 10 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. Analyses of Soil from the Bluffs of Boone County, BY DR. LITTON. No. 12 A* No. 12 C* No. 12 B* 0-4105 3-0957 90-1420 0-1384 3-0654 2-0553 a trace. 0-2086 0-3423 6-3368 0-1828 0-0560 0-0035 0-0000 0-8030 3-8901 85-0571 0-2187 4-7672 3-8814 a trace. 0-4722 0-6581 0-3895 0-1220 0-0556 0-0099 0-0276 0-6558 2-6049 90-8063 0-1475 2-9346 2-0590 a trace. 0-1242 0-2048 0-2121 0-2925 0-0346 0-0508 0-0000 Organic matter & water not expelled at 150°C Silica, etc., insoluble in Hydrochloric acid • ' 100-0373 100-3524 100-1311 This soil covers several thousand square miles in the coun ties comprised in this survey. It is the very best soil for wheat, and rye, in the State. It is well adapted to corn, tobacco, oats, and grasses ; and is very much improved by deep cultivation, as the above analyses show the richest portions to be ten or twelve inches below the surface. The vineyards of Booiiville, Hermann, and Hamburg, are on soils similar to this ; and it pro duces most excellent wild grapes. But the soils derived from the magnesian limestone series, cover the largest portion of this region. The sand, lime, mag nesia and alumina, derived from the decomposition of these rocks, together with the abundance of vegetable matter from the dec'ay of the rank vegetation, and the alkalies from the fires which annually overrun this country, combine to form a soil light, dry, warm, and rich in potash, soda, lime, magnesia, and all the other ingredients needed to render it fertile and * No. 12 A was collected from 2 to 6 inches below the surface ; No. 12 B, from 10 to 12, and No. 12 C, from 18 to 20 inches below the surface, on a high ridge covered with white, post and black oak, white hickory, dwarf sumac, hazle and summer grapes. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 11 suitable in an eminent degree for many of our staple crops, and especially for Notwithstanding the true principles of grape culture are so little understood by the community at large, no department of agriculture has been more carefully investigated, more distinctly denned and reduced to scientific principles. Since Virgil wrote his masterly treatise upon the habits and cultivation of the vine, the principles which should govern its culture, have been vvitliiii the reach of all who would investigate the struc ture of this plant and learn the soil and climate adapted to its perfect development. And, indeed, it could scarcely be other wise, as the vine has occupied so prominent a position in the husbandry of almost all the enlightened nations of ancient and modern times. Since Noah planted a vineyard, the vine has followed the progress of husbandry and civilization throughout India, Ara bia, Palestine, and Southern Europe. It holds an important place in the history of those seats of ancient civilization and progress. The " vine-clad hill" occupied a conspicuous posi tion in every landscape, and the juice of the grape had its place at the social board and ruled the joys of the banquet hall. While it held so important a position among the nations, its value led the ablest minds to investigate its habits and deduce the best modes of culture from the experience of the many en gaged in the pleasant pursuit. Solomon investigated the prop erties of the vine, and Virgil gave so excellent a treatise upon its habits and culture that the investigations and experience of the last two thousand years have added but little to the know ledge then possessed. Since then the habits of the vine, and the modes of culture best adapted to it, have been so carefully determined, and so thoroughly established by the experience of the last four thou sand years, it only remains for the cultivators of our times to investigate the modes of culture so long and so successfully * The vast importance of this subject, induced me to make a most thorough examination of all the facts showing the adaptation of the soil and climate of this region to the culture of the grape. The results of these investigations are most satisfactory. 12 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. practised in India and the countries bordering upon the Medi terranean ; to inquire how far the varieties there cultivated, and the culture there adopted, will succeed in other localities ; to determine whether some new varieties may not succeed bet ter in other climates and soils ; and what modifications of cul ture will secure the highest degree of success in the various soils and climates to which we would introduce the vine. It is obvious that the success of the grape depends upon the mutual adaptation of both soil and climate. In places where the soil has all the requisite properties, the climate may be such as to prevent full success ; as in many parts of New England, where the climate is too cold ; and in England, where it is too moist. In many localities in Southern Europe, the soil is such as to prevent the full success of the vine, though the climate is all that could be desired. Soil. — According to Virgil* and the best authors who have followed him, the soil should be warm, light, dry, and rich in alkalies and alkaline earths, especially potash, soda, lime and magnesia. The best vines have been grownf upon soils of this description ; and when any of these qualities have been want ing, the most skillful vine-growers have supplied the de ficiency by artificial means. Hence Virgil directs to place " po rous stones and rough shells" in the trenches — the stones and shells to loosen the soil and perfect the drainage, the shells to supply the deficit of lime. The vine has ever succeeded the best, other things being equal, in a calcareous soil. The best vineyards upon the Rhine, the Ohio, and the Missouri, are upon soils rich in lime ; and, ac cording to D'Orbigny, the wines from such vineyards in France are " more lively and spirituous." The chemical composition of a plant also gives us sure indi cations of the mineral ingredients of the soil required for its perfect development. The following table, from Johnston's Agricultural Chemistry, contains the compositions of five vines, grown on five different soils. The result shows most conclu. * Geor. Lib. II., lines 217—221 and 262.—" Optima putn arva solo." t The great vine at Windsor Park was planted fifty years ago. " In 1850," says Prof. Lindley, " it produced 2,000 large bunches of magnificent grapes, filled a house 138 feet long and 16 feet wide, and had a stem two feet nine inches in circumference. The border in which it grows is warm, light, dry and shallow." GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 13 sively what mineral substances are demanded for the perfec tion of the vine : >>§ ** J By "Weinchcimer. Primary Hocks. Gratz. 11 , HI 33 * aJ i N « rt s 3 B 1 % 17-32 28-50 25-24 2-74 40-75 7-49 1.52 18-89 2-88 0-53 34-13 8 03 32-67 4-66 0-16 16-35 2-16 0-50 1-45 24-93 7-31 37-59 7-12 0-24 19-55 2-37 0-35 0-62 26-41 8-79 33-47 9-16 0-19 16-87 2-44 0-25 2-48 25-60 11.07 34-85 7-64 1-25 15-37 2-36 0-68 1-22 Qn/ln AT " 9-78 4-12 5-20 - 1.96 1-82 1-55 Tntal . . 100- 100- 100-11 100-08 100-06 100-04 Percentage of Ash in dry 2-835 2-689 2-525 2-25 2-325 2-525 These analyses show that potash, soda, lime, magnesia and phosphoric acid, enter largely into the composition of the vine, and that grapes will succeed best on soils rich in those mate rials. The other ingredients are such as are found in nearly all soils and may be left out of our investigations. It is a well established principle of vegetable science that lime may supply the place of soda and potash, in part at least, in some plants. The following analyses of vines from two localities show this to be true of the vine also : I. II. Alkalies 45.82 27.98 Lime 29.95 40.75 If, therefore, soda and potash be deficient in a soil, their places may be partially supplied by lime, should it exist in sufficient quantities. Climate. — The success of the grape on the islands and the shores of the Mediterranean, shows their adaptation to a climate in which the winters are short and mild, and the summers are temperate and equable. In the Ionian Islands, where the grape attains great perfection, it is never exposed to pinching cold or burning heat, or to any very sudden changes from one to the other. But the great profusion and excellence of the grapes in India, at Candahar and Cabul, " the sunny home of the grape," 14 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. indicate an ability to reach perfection in spite of sudden chan ges from extreme cold to burning heat. " In no part of the world," says Lindley, " are the grapes more delicious than in Candahar and Cabul ;" and yet the traveller speaks of the " bitter cold wind and blazing fires at night" and " the burning sun by day" in March, and the sun's heat at 140° in May, where the grapes ripen as early as June. We may conclude then that the grape will, under favorable circumstances, reach the greatest perfection, though exposed to sudden changes and extremes of heat and cold. Having ascertained the conditions of soil and climate best adapted to the successful culture of the vine, it has been my aim, during the progress of the Geological Survey of Missouri, to determine how far these conditions arc fulfilled in Missouri ; to what extent and with what succes the vine may be cultivated in our State, and the advantages to be derived from its culti vation. In order to secure the most accurate data for our conclu sions, our investigations have been directed to the following subjects : 1. The characters and habits of all our native vines, and the soils on which they succeed best, have been carefully noted. 2. Five persons* have been appointed to make meteorologi cal observations ; one at Springfield in the south-west, one at Cape Girardeau in the south-east, one at Palmyra in the north east, one at St. Joseph in the north-west, and one at Colum bia in the centre, in the valley of the Missouri river. These observers have been supplied with the very best instruments, and they have made and recorded their observations according to the plan adopted by the Smithsonian Institute. 3. The experience of our most successful vine-growers, has been collected, and the results carefully compared with the * It gives me great pleasure to bear testimony to the disinterested labors of those who have so faithfully observed and recorded the meteorological pheno mena at the stations above named. Our State will be under many obligations to the Rev. G. P. Comings, of St. Paul's College, Palmyra ; Rev. James Knoud, of St. Vincent's College, Cape Girardeau ; J. A. Stephens, Esq., of Spring field ; E. B. Neely, A.M., of the St. Joseph High School ; and Miss M. B. Hill, at Columbia, who have made the observations at their several localities. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 15 conclusions derived from our examinations of the climate, soils, and wild vines of the State. 4. The soils of the State have been carefully observed, and the varieties collected and submitted to a most skillful chemist for full and accurate analyses. Native Grapes. — The growth and fruit of our native vines give us most important indications of the adaptation of our soil and climate to the cultivation of the grape. The folio wing- species have been observed, and the growth, habits, and fruit of each variety, have been carefully examined. 1. VITIS LABRUSCA, Linn. Fox Grape of the Northern States. This vine is abundant in all parts of the State. It attains to a very large size* in our rich alluvial bottoms and on our best upland soils ; but the vines of a smaller size, which grow upon the dry ridges, on the declivities of the bluffs (espe cially those of the Magnesian Limestone), and on the talus of debris at their bases, exhibit a healthy, firm growth, and produce an abundance of fine fruit. The grapes found in these localities are larger and the pulp is more juicy and palatable. Many well known and excellent varieties of grapes now in cultivation were derived from this species. The Isabella, Catawba, Schuylkitt, and Eland's, are the most esteemed. 2. VITIS JESTIVALIS, Mlchx. Summer Grape. This, like the preceding, is found in all parts of the State, and is doubtless the largest of all our vines. It is one of the most striking objects in our magnificent forests. While the stem, like a huge cable, hangs suspended from the limbs of the largest trees, the branches clothed in rich foliage, and often loaded with fruit, hang in graceful festoons over the highest boughs. But the vines growing on the thin soils of our lime stone ridges and bluffs, .and on the loose debris at their bases, where they are more exposed to the air and the sun, produce a greater abundance of the very best fruit. * This vine often attains to a diameter of 10 inches, ascends the loftiest trees and spreads its branches over their highest boughs. 16 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 3. VITIS CORDIFOLL4, Michx. Winter or Frost Grape. This vine is widely diffused through the State ; but it is not so large as the Fox or the Summer Grape. Its fruit is small and acerb. 4. YITIS RIP ARIA, Michx. River Grape. This grape is partial to the alluvial soils along the margins of our streams. It grows to a large size. ( Muscadine of the West, and Fox Grape, ac- 5. VITIS VULPINA, Linn. ) cording to Elliott, of the South-eastern ( States. It is most abundant in the southern part of the State. It grows very large and produces abundantly. Its fruit is very much esteemed. The cultivated Scuppernong* Grape is a va riety from this species. 6. VITIS BIPINNATA, Michx. This plant was observed in Cape Girardeau and Pemiscot counties. 7. VITIS INDIVISA, Willd. This vine abounds in the central and western counties. From this list it will be seen that Missouri possesses all the native grapes of our country save one, the Vitis Caribcea? (D. C.) of California. The vines are so abundant and so large as to form an important and conspicuous part in every copse and thicket throughout the entire State. They are everywhere present, lending grace and beauty to every landscape, and in dicating with prophetic certainty that the day is not far distant when the purple vineyards will cover our hills, and the song of the vine-dresser will fill the land with joy, and the generous juice of the grape will improve our moral, intellectual and phy sical powers. Experience of our Vine-dressers* — Several vine-dressers in * I am indebted to Mr. William Haas, of Boonville, Mr. George Husmann, of Hermann, Mr. Frederic Mench, of Marthasville, and Mr. Joseph Stuby, of Ham burg, for valuable information respecting the cultivation of grapes in our State. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 17 our State have been engaged in the cultivation of the grape during the last twelve or fourteen years. Their success has been fully equal to their expectations, and they are full of high hopes of the most useful and profitable results, even of entire and permanent success. Their experience in cultivating the vine has led them to the same conclusion that we have deduced from our scientific examinations of the soil, climate and native vines, viz : that the vine can be cultivated with entire success in favorable localities in all parts of the State. It should be borne in mind that these results have been derived mostly from vineyards in the valleys of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, which are not, by far, the most favorable localities in the State; for the "mildew" and the " rot," the most formidable obstacles they have had to contend with, may be partially or entirely obviated in localities where the atmos phere and soil are not so densely charged with moisture. " The rot," says one of our most successful vine-dressers, Mr. Haas, " attacks the berries when the soil is in a wet condi tion in July and August." " It is most severe on the low and wet parts of the vineyard." Mr. Husmann says : " The principal cause, all are agreed, is an excess of moisture about the roots, and damp, moist weather." Now the larger part of our vineyards are located upon a stiff, cold, clayey subsoil, which, of necessity, retains the excess of moisture, and produces the injurious results.* This evil may be obviated by thorough draining, or, what is better, by selecting some of the millions of acres in the southern part of the State, where the soil is warmer and lighter and richer in the ingredients most favorable to the vine, and where the sub soil is so porous as to permit a free passage to the excess of moisture. The mildew appears in June, and all agree that it is caused by "foggy, damp and hot weather after rains" Now our observations prove that hot damp weather, accompanied by mists, is much more prevalent in the valleys of the Missouri and the Mississippi than on the table lands to the south. The characters of the two regions under comparison, show *See Soil No. 12, page 10. 18 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. most conclusively that the excess of moisture in the valleys must be considerable and permanent. The valleys are covered with numerous and extensive lakes, sloughs, and forests of rank growth and vast extent, besides the broad rivers which flow through them ; while the table lands are almost destitute of lakes and ponds, and but partially covered by a very sparse and much less vigorous growth of timber; and besides, they occupy an' elevation severar hundred feet above the valleys. No fears, therefore, need be entertained that these obstacles will prevent the entire success of vine culture in Missouri, should 'our atmosphere even continue as moist as at present. But we may expect much improvement in this respect, as it is fully established "!by past experience, that the settlement of a country, and the opening of a soil to cultivation, lessen the amount of rain and moisture in the atmosphere. Notwithstanding the many difficulties our vine-dressers have had to contend with, arid notwithstanding some of their vine yards are not, to say the least, in the most favorable localities in the State, their siiccdss has been very flattering. The vineyards of Boonville have yielded, the present season, about 6,000 gallons, worth $12,000. Five acres :gave a clear profit of $2,000, or 1400 per acre. Mr. Haas made 1,550 gal lons from three acres. - The vintage of Hermann was about 100,000 gallons, from less than 200 acres. At'$l. 00 per gallon-— which is much less than the value — it will give a profit of at least $400 per acre, or of $80,000 on the 200 acres in cultivation. One small vineyard at Hamburg, Mr. Joseph Stliby's, yielded over 1,000 gallons per acre. The entire cost of vineyards, preparing the soil, setting and training the vines until they come into bearing, varies from $200 to $300 per acre. l>fr«» *)}''• 'I i"1 •rv-'Xv-T8 T Air ' mi "< Annual cost of cultivation after ..$ 50 to $GO per acre; Ten per cent, on first cost • • $20 to $30 per acre ; (J ••. .Total expense for each -year •» • • $70 to $90 per^cre; ;.) so that an income of $100 per annum for each acre is sufficient to pay the interest on the first cost and the expense of cultiva- ; . : '• }'i" ' tion. Judging from the statistics before me, I would suppose all our vineyards have yielded an average of at least 250 gallons GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 19 per acre since 1849, which, at an average price per gallon of $1.60, would give an annual income of $400, and a yearly profit of $300 per acre. So that the vine-dresser, even in the poorest seasons, can scarcely fail of a handsome profit, while in good years his gains will far surpass those derived from any other department of husbandry. But the profits of our most successful cultivators have been much greater. Mr. Poeschel, of Hermann, is said to have made over 400 gallons per acre for the last ten years, and an annual profit of more than $500 for each acre. Such are the favorable results legitimately derived from the experience of our vine-dressers in their early efforts in a new country, with a soil and climate unknown to the cultivators of the grape. All must admit that they are most satisfactory. Even if our climate does not become more dry, if no more improvements are made in the modes of culture, and if no more favorable localities are obtained, grape culture must increase very rapidly, and become an important element in our agricultural and commercial interests. Soil. — Nearly all the soils of Missouri possess all the ingre dients necessary to the complete development of the vine ; but some of them are too heavy, wet and cold, unless improved by artificial means. This is true to some extent of those on the bluffs of the Mississippi and Missouri, where nearly all the vineyards of our State are located. Still, they produce an abundance of large native grapes, on vines of the Vitis labrusca, and other species. The character of this variety of soil is indicated by the analysis of a specimen from the bluff of Boone county, as given above. It has already been shown that it covers large areas in the region under consideration. The superior native grapes growing upon this soil, and the success of the vine yards above named, prove its adaptation to the vine. Its greatest defect is a capacity to hold and retain an excess of water, which must be remedied by trenching and a proper admixture of vegetable matter, sand, pebbles and broken rocks. But the action of the elements upon the rocks of the Mag-- ncsian Limestone Series, has prepared a soil, as if by design, to invite the vine-dresser to possess and cultivate it. The following analysis shows the properties of this variety of soil : 20 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. ANALYSIS OF A MAGNESIAN LIMESTONE SOIL FROM THE SOUTHERN BLUFFS OF CALLAWAY COUNTY, BY DR. LITTON. Soil No. 14. Water expelled by heating to 150° C 1.1700 Organic matter and water not driven off at 150° C 9.6299 Silica, etc., insoluble in hydrochloric acid 54.2600 Soluble silica 0.1639 Alumina 10.8588 Peroxide of iron 2.5186 Manganese a trace Lime 8.0720 Magnesia 1.6609 Potassa 1.6378 Soda 0.3442 Carbonic acid - 10.1111 Sulphuric acid 0.0605 Phosphoric acid 0.0950 Chlorine 0.0053 Total 100.5880 This soil is all that could be desired for the culture of the grape. It contains an abundance of all the mineral substances which enter into the composition of the vine, as shown above by its analysis. While it is warm, light and dry, it contains large quantities of magnesia and vegetable matter, or humus, giving it great capacity for absorbing and retaining a sufficient quantity of moisture, even in the droughts of summer. This is a fair representative of the soils on the Magnesian Limestone ridges and slopes throughout Central and Southern Missouri. These slopes and ridges occupy millions of acres, now deemed worthless, which are, in fact, by far the most valuable lands in this part of the State for the cultivation of the grape. Especially is this true of those located upon the southern highlands, away from the vapors and sudden changes of our large rivers and their broad valleys. The Magnesian Limestone series, from which this soil is derived, occupies a large part of the poor portions of the coun try on the South-western Branch. The Magnesian Limestones, sandstones, porous chert, and the thin beds of reddish, brown marly clays that usually overlie the limestones, all combine to form a soil light, dry, warm and rich, in all the elements needed for the grape, as shown by the foregoing analysis. In many places this soil is underlaid with a sufficient quantity of GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 21 pebbles and fragments of porous chert to constitute a most thorough system of drainage, while in others the fragments of chert are disseminated through the soil in such quantities as to injure it somewhat for ordinary cultivation, but which gives precisely the preparation so highly recommended by Virgil and late authors, and the best cultivators of the grape. It is true that the native vines do not grow so large and sappy in this as in the deep damp soils of the State ; but they are nevertheless strong and healthy, and produce finer clusters of larger and better grapes. This improvement was particu larly observed in the Muscadine, the Northern Fox, and the Summer Grapes. This variety of soil also extends over other portions of the State. It occupies large portions of nearly all the highlands in Southern Missouri, the counties on both sides of the Osage, and over the southern part of Boone, Callaway, Montgomery, and Warren, on the north side of the Missouri, occupying, in all, an area of some 15,000,000 acres. Of these, at least 5,000,000 acres might be selected in the most desirable locali ties, much of it on the line of the South-western Branch, and devoted to vineyards without encroaching upon the lands most desirable for other departments of agriculture. And, so far as we can judge from the characteristics of soil and climate, and the indications of the native vines, these 5,000,000 acres in the highlands of Southern Missouri, present rare inducements to the vine-dresser — such a combination of favorable circumstances as will not fail to attract the attention of those who would engage in this most pleasant and profitable department of hus bandry. And so important will be the results, that every effort should be put forth to hasten the time when these 5,000,000* acres shall be covered with flourishing vineyards ; giving profit able employment to 2,000,000 people ; yielding more than 1,000,000,000 gallons of wine ; and an annual profit, at the lowest estimate, of $500,000,000. And, what is still more im portant, the pure nourishing juice of the grape would take the place of the vile, maddening compounds used in the names of wine and brandy ; drunkenness would give place to sobriety ; * France has about 5,000,000 acres in vineyards. They yield 925,000,000 gallons of wine, besides the 95,000,000 gallons distilled into brandy, and give profitable employment to 2,000,000 of people, mostly women and children. I 22 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. and our people, nourished by the grape and its pure wines, would become as robust and hardy as they are now daring and indomitable. Natural Terraces. — The bluffs of the numerous streams in Southern Missouri usually slope back into knobs and ridges, which are frequently surrounded by numerous natural ter races, so regular and uniform that they appear like the work of human hands, as seen in Plate VIII. These terraces are produced by the decomposition of the strata of Magnesian Limestones which form the bluffs. Their height varies from one to six feet, and the width of the top from two to twelve, according to the angle of the slope and the height of the ter race. Their surfaces are nearly level, and arc usually covered with a light, warm and rich soil, containing fragments of chert and the decomposing limestone, all wonderfully prepared by nature for the planting of vineyards. These terraces generally surround high, open ridges and knobs, exposed to the free circulation of the dry atmosphere of the region under con sideration. We have as yet observed but one objection to their use for vineyards. In some places the soil does not appear to be sufficiently deep to secure the vine against the effects of droughts. But, as an offset to the want of depth, it always contains large proportions of carbonate of magnesia and humus, which give it great capacity for absorbing and retain ing moisture, as these substances possess this capacity to a greater degree than any of the other ingredients of our soils. And, besides, the thinnest soils on these terraces sustain a vigorous growth of prairie grasses, flowers, shrubs and vines, which produce the finest quality of grapes in great profusion. Caves. — There are numerous spacious caves in all parts of this interesting country. The temperature of those measured ranges between 50° and 60° F. Many of them would make most excellent wine cellars, as their temperature is sufficiently low and uniform to prevent that acidity to which the wines of all temperate latitudes are predisposed. These facts respecting the native vines, the climate, the expe rience of our vine-growers, and the soil, clearly prove the capacity of Missouri to become the great wine-growing region of our continent. They should encourage those noble spirits GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 23 who have so faithfully devoted their labor and their money to promote this important department of husbandry in our midst ; for the time is not far distant when the " poor flint ridges " and terraced slopes of Southern Missouri will be as valuable for vineyards as some of them are now for their rich mineral deposits ; when the vineyards of Pulaski and La Clede will compete in golden profits with the hemp farms of Lafayette and Platte ; and the vine-clad hills of the beautiful Meramec and the Gasconade will vie in wealth with the leaden veins of Potosi and Granby. It will thus be seen that even the poorest soils and those in the most broken parts of this country will become very valua ble for the culture of the grape. And I might add that their value for vineyards will increase in about the same ratio as their fitness for the other departments of husbandry decreases. ABSTRACTS FROM THE COUNTY REPORTS OF DR. B. F. SHUMARD. " Crawford County. — This county presents great variety of surface, from level or moderately rolling prairie, and ' oak openings,' to rough, rocky hills with abrupt and uneven slopes. The soil varies from rich alluvial bottom land to productive or nearly sterile upland. On the northern side of the dividing- ridge, on which is located the Pacific Railroad, the country con sists of moderately rolling or level oak openings and prairie, traversed by numerous beautiful prairie valleys, bounded by gentle hills from eighty to one hundred and fifty feet high, the whole presenting a most desirable region for the agriculturalist. " On the southern side of this ridge the topographical fea tures of the country are quite different. Near the Meramec and its principal affluents, Huzza, Crooked and Dry creeks, the surface is often extremely rough and rocky, and the hills from one to four hundred feet in height. But on the summits of these ridges we frequently find extensive tracts of nearly level, post oak, black oak, and hickory lands, which are capable of being cultivated to good advantage. The alluvial bottoms of all the principal streams are broad, extremely productive, and very heavily timbered. "Phelps Count?/. — In its general features this county is very similar to the preceding. It is generally rolling, and possesses 24 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. a great deal of fine agricultural land, with here and there dis tricts that are quite broken and illy adapted to cultivation. The western portion is the most broken, particularly in the vi cinity of the larger streams. So soon as we leave the valleys of these streams, we encounter rough, rocky hills with abrupt slopes, characterized by poor and sometimes barren soils, ex tending back for distances varying from a half of a mile to two miles on either side. Then succeed elevated and gently un dulating table lands, possessing moderately fertile soils. There is also some rough country bordering the valleys of the Dry Fork of the Meramec and Norman Hollow. The dividing ridge between the Meramec and Bourbeuse presents a succession of beautiful woodlands and prairies, and affords some of the finest farms in the county. On the north side of this ridge we have rolling oak lands, dotted occasionally with patches of prairie. They possess arable soils, particularly where the underlying rock is the 2d Magnesian Limestone, which under proper cul ture yield abundant and profitable crops. From experiments made in the county by an intelligent farmer, we know that these lands are capable of vast improvement from thorough sub- soiling. " The valleys of Little Piney, Spring and Dry Fork of Meramec and Bourbeuse, have a width varying from a hundred yards to a half of a mile, and their soils are remarkable for their pro ductiveness, throughout nearly their whole extent. The val leys of the smaller streams contain also many very desirable farm sites. "Pulaski County is in general very hilly and broken, but there are extensive districts of rich and productive agricultural lands in the alluvial bottoms of the streams, as well as in the uplands. The hills range from fifty to five hundred feet above the water-courses. If we travel back from the streams, avoid ing the valleys of the smaller branches, we usually find at first very rough hills with steep declivities, strewn with a great deal of chert and sandstone, then the surface becomes gently rolling, or expands into level plains, constituting what are known in the country as "post oak fiats" which are found on the sum mits of most of the higher ridges, and vary in width from a hundred yards to a couple of miles. For a short time during the spring these plains are occasionally wet, but after they have GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 25 been once thoroughly broken up by the plough, they are no longer so, but form desirable farming lands. The most exten sive "flats " lie between the Gasconade, Robideaux, and Big Piney, and east of the latter stream ; they also frequently oc cur on the ridges in the northern part of the county. The val leys of the principal streams are from a few hundred yards to a mile wide, and are remarkable for the fertility of their soils. Indeed, they may be grouped with the very finest soils of our State for the culture of corn, and after being partially exhausted are well adapted to the growth of wheat and other species of small grain. The soils of the smaller valleys are also quite productive, and many of the choicest farms of the county are here located. They do not usually exceed a quarter of a mile in width, but often extend for several miles in length, and are then known as " Prairie Hollows" The next in point of fer tility are the soils of the uplands, underlaid by the 2d Magnesian Limestone, and the poorest are those overlying the 2d Sand stone and cherty beds of the 3d Magnesian Limestone. " La Clede County. — In its topography this county is very similar to Crawford and Wright, exhibiting great diversity of surface. In the vicinity of the Big Niangua, Gasconade and Osage Fork, the hills range from one hundred and fifty to five hundred feet in height, and are separated from each other by deep and narrow valleys. But after we leave these streams a short distance, the face of the country assumes a less broken aspect, and as we approach the summit level, we find mod erately rolling oak lands and broad oak flats, in which may be located many productive and desirable farms. Between the Osage Fork and Gasconade the Pacific Railroad passes over a broad and fertile district of undulating oak openings, inter rupted by extensive prairies. The valleys of these streams are from a quarter of a mile to one mile wide. They possess soils whose richness can scarcely be surpassed, and support a heavy growth of the finest kinds of timber. The valleys of the small branches are also highly arable. Those of Goodwin Hollow, Bear, Mill, Cobbs, Prairie, and Brush creeks, afford numerous excellent farms. "Wright County. — The surface is hilly and occasionally rough and broken. The elevation of the hills ranges from fifty to four hundred and fifty feet above the adjacent streams. Most 26 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. frequently they are neatly rounded in outline, and present gradually ascending slopes. Near the Gasconade and its branches, their sides are often rough and precipitous. The 4 Ozark Mountains ' (hills would be more proper) traverse the southern tier of townships and constitute the dividing ridge between the waters of the Missouri and White river. The bearing of this ridge is nearly east and west. The ascent from the north is rather moderate, but the southern slope presents usually steep declivities down to the valleys. The soils of the uplands are of course greatly modified by the character of the subjacent strata. Throughout much the largest portion of the county, the soils are of excellent quality, and produce well, while the land is just sufficiently undulating to secure proper drainage. In places where the arenaceous and cherty beds of the Magnesian Limestone series reach the surface, the soil is thin and light, and sometimes entirely unfit for cultivation from the large proportion of chert it contains. The soils of the val leys of every part of the county are remarkable for their rich ness and fertility." "In Green county, the heavy timber in the bottoms of the Pomme de Terre and the Sac, of James' Fork of White river, of Clear creek, and the Finley, clearly indicate the richness of the alluvial soil in those beautiful valleys. The soil is also good in a part of the country between Stephen's mill and Ray's post office, in sections 17 and 18 of T. 30, R. 24, and in the larger part of Grand prairie, Leaper's prairie and Buck's prairie, in Ts. 26 and 27, Rs. 25 and 26. "In Lawrence county, in Sections 26, 27, 28 and 36, of T. 26, R. 26, in the valleys of Spring, Crane, Center, and Honey creeks, and in Sarcoxie and Ozark prairies, the soil is excellent. "In Newton county, the valleys of nearly all the streams are rich and well timbered ; that of Indian creek is beautiful and rich, as are also the valleys of Hickory, Shoal and Buffalo creeks. "In Jasper, the bottoms of Silver creek, and Carver's of Spring river, are rich and well timbered. Round, Dimond and Spring river prairies are rich. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 27 "In La Cledc and Camden, the valleys of the Auglaize and the Gasconade, and their tributaries, and many of the slopes descending to those streams, are covered with fine soils. "In Maries county, the soil is good in the bottom of Spring creek, in the valley of the Maries, and on the Dry Fork of the Bourbeuse, and in Lane's prairie, and the adjacent timbered lands. "In the following localities the soil is good, though somewhat inferior to that in the places above named : "Sec. 16, T. 27, R. 21, and Sec. 10 of R. 22, in the same township ; the country from Ray's post office to the south-west some five miles ; in Sec. 28, T. 27, R. 24, and the valleys at the head of Buck prairie, in Sec. 18, T. 26, R. 24 ; from the head valley of Spring river, in Sec. 36, T. 26, R. 26, to the head of Crane creek, in Sec. 4, T. 25, R. 25 ; from Pickerel creek to Sec. 24, T. 29, R. 24 ; the timbered land between Grand and Leaper's prairies ; the hills near Clear creek, in Green county ; Sees. 7, 8, 18, 19, 20 and 30 of T. 30, R. 24 ; Sees. 24 and 25 of T. 30, R. 25, and Sec. 10, T. 29, R. 24 ; the valleys of the South Fork of Pomme de Terre and the North Fork of the Sac, in Sees. 4, 5 and 6, T. 30, R. 19 ; Sees. 35 and 36, T. 31, R. 20, and Sees. 1, 2 and 3 of T. 30, R. 20 ; the ridges between Ozark and Mr. W. C. Smart's, in Green county ; the narrow bottoms in T. 24, R. 27 ; from Sec. 28, T. 26, R. 26 to the south-west, along the Railroad line, some four or five miles ; the timber near the head of Little Indian creek, and Sec. 18, T. 24, R. 30 ; Sec. 8, T. 24, R. 30, and T. 24, Rs. 33 and 34 ; the southern part of Swa's prairie, in Newton county ; the timber from Swa's prairie to Jay's prairie, in the south-east part of T. 25, R. 32 ; the timber on the edge of Dimond prairie, and on the Railroad line from Hickory creek west to the State line ; Spurgeon's prairie, and the county about Duff's lead mines, in Sec. 31, T. 28, R. 32 ; the bottoms in Sec. 18, T. 27, R. 28, and T. 28, R. 31 ; from Spring river to Mt. Vernon, and from Mt. Yernon north-west to Adam's branch, and from the Middle to the East Fork of the Turnback ; from Pickerel creek to Sec. 9, T. 28, R. 24 ; the lands on the St. Louis and Springfield road, through the most of Webster and La Clede counties ; parts of the valleys of Dry, Spring, Cave-Spring, and 28 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. Little Tavern creeks, in Maries county ; the hills and valleys near Clifty Dale, and the white-oak lands of Maries county." MINERALS. The mineral wealth of the region under consideration is very great, and cannot fail, when fully developed, to command the admiration of the world, and greatly increase the material wealth of our State. BUILDING MATERIALS are very abundant in all parts. There is an ample supply of limestones and sandstones and marbles, suitable for all the purposes to which such materials are usually applied. Clays and sands of excellent quality for limes and cements exist in large quantities in nearly all parts of this country. Gravel and pebbles of good quality for roads and streets occur in great Abundance. IRON ORE of most excellent quality exists in great quantities. The Red and Brown Hematites are the most common ; they occur in nearly all the counties, and are found in the Ferruginous Sandstone and the Magnesian Limestones. One of the most valuable localities of iron was observed in the south-western part of Green county. Large masses of fibrous brown hema tite cover several acres in the S.E. qr. of the S.E. qr. of Sec. 24, T. 27, R. 24. The bed is more than eight feet thick in a shaft sunk into it. In the S.W. qr., Sec. 19, T. 27, R. 23, we saw another large bed of the same ore. The same excellent ore covers many acres in the N.W. qr. of the same section. It also abounds in Sec. 7 of the same township, and in Sees. 14 and 15, T. 27, R. 24. There are also large beds of this ore to the N. and N.E. of these localities. Some important beds of the common brown hematite occur at Pond Springs, and sev eral other localities in Green county. In Sec. 2, T. 25, R. 25, in Stone county, large quantities of the ore were observed. Beds of less importance were also seen in nearly all the coun ties examined. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 29 In Dent county, in Sees. 2, 3, 10 and 11, of T. 35, R. 4 W., is one of the most valuable and extensive deposits of the spec ular oxide of iron, near the line of the South-west Branch. The ore is rich and pure, and will yield a very large per cent, of the very best iron. In appearance the ore is intermediate between that of the Iron Mountain and that at the Pilot Knob ; but in quality it is not surpassed by either. These beds must become very valuable as the county settles up and the demand for iron, in that part of the State, is greatly increased. Brown hematite was observed in many localities in La Clede county. Mr. Engelmann examined large masses of it near Bear creek, in Sec. 25, T. 36, R. 14. The Meramec Ore Beds, in Phelps county, is a valuable deposit of compact specular ore, which has been wrought since 1829. In Sec. 32, T. 37, R. 8, there is another extensive bed of the same ore. Iron ore is also reported in Sec. 27, T. 36, R. 7 ; Sec. 11, T. 39, R. 8, and in Sec. 13, T. 37, R. 7. In Crawford county there are many very important localities of iron ore, as shown by the following abstract of Dr. Shu- mar d's report on that county : " Iron ore of excellent quality has been found at a number of localities in this county, generally associated with the 2d Sand stone and the cherty parts of the 3d Magnesian Limestone. The varieties observed are the brown hematite, specular oxide, and sulphuret. Brown hematite and the specular oxide are found in S.E. of N.B. qr. Sec. 5, T. 37, R. 4 W. It is thickly strewn over the surface, and probably exists in workable quan tity. "Brown hematite occurs at a number of points in T. 36, R. 3 W. In Sees. 15 and 36 it is most abundant, commingled with pseudomorphous crystals of pyrites, chert and crystallized quartz. At Bleeding Hill, according to Mr. Engelmann, there seems to be a rich deposit of specular ore of excellent quality. Two shafts have been sunk here, one of them through thirty- seven feet of red clay and comminuted chert. In this shaft the miners encountered a four-foot bed of soft, purple iron ore, greasy to the touch, like the paint ore at the Meramec Iron Works. " In S.E. of S.E. qr. Sec. 2, T. 38, R. 6, and Sec. 1, T. 38, R. 3, are workable beds of iron ore. 30 GEOLOGICAL EEPORT. " In N.W. of Sec. 13, T. 37, R. 7, specular ore abounds, together with pseudomorphous crystals of pyrites. " Specular ore of fine quality abounds in S.E. of S.W. qr. Sec. 32, T. 35, R. 5. Specular oxide is also found in Sec. 4, T. 37, R. 3, and other places in the same township. " But little mining has been done in this county ; still, the surface indications warrant the opinion that the mines are worthy of being more thoroughly tested. " Iron ore of the best quality abounds at a number of locali ties in Phelps county. The oldest known, and, perhaps, most valuable deposit in this county, is the Meramec Ore Banks, situated about a half mile from the Meramec, on the west side. This bank was opened as early as 1826, by Messrs. Massey & James, who commenced the erection of a furnace, which was completed in the month of January, 1829, and has been in operation at intervals up to the present time. The ore, which is a rich, compact specular variety, is wrought by Messrs. James, the present proprietors, with considerable profit. It occurs in large rounded or angular masses, and appears to be almost inexhaustible. " When the masses are broken they exhibit cavities filled with small, extremely beautiful, fibrous crystals of iron, which are highly iridescent, and sometimes perfectly transparent quartz crystals. In some parts of the bank the specular ore is im bedded in a soft, purplish hematite, which is quite soapy to the touch. It forms an excellent and valuable paint, for which purpose large quantities, I am told, are sent annually to the eastern cities. The sandstone in the neighborhood contains masses of iron pyrites. " In Sec. 32, T. 37, R. 8, there is an extensive deposit of spec ular ore, very similar in character to the Meramec Bank. It was examined by Mr. Engelmann. " In N.W. qr. of Sec. 27, T. 36, R. 7, large masses of specular and brown iron ore abound on the surface. A shaft of fifteen feet has been sunk here, from which a good deal of argillaceous red hematite has been taken. " In Sec. 11, T. 39, R. 8, small quantities of good hematite occur; and also in Sec. 13, T. 37, R. 7. Beautiful pseudo- morphous crystals of iron pyrites were found in large masses near Weber's, in the R.R. cut. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 31 " Iron ore is found at many localities in Pulaski county. A large deposit of specular iron ore, similar to that used at the Meramec Iron Works in Phelps county, was examined by Mr. Engelmann in Sec. 31, T. 37, R. 12. In N.E. qr. of Sec. 30, T. 36, R. 11, there exists a large deposit of brown hematite. It occurs in the cherty beds of the 2d Sandstone and 3d Mag- nesian Limestones. Large masses of brown hematite were also observed on the hills of Bee Branch, in T. 37, R. 10. In a cave in Sec. 19, T. 36, R. 8, sulphuret of iron occurs. Sul- phuret and brown hematite are also found in Sec. 9, T. 38, R. 13. " Fragments of brown and specular ore were observed at many points in La Clede county , but only in small quantities. Mr. Engelmann observed large masses of brown hematite near Bear creek, in Sec. 25, T. 36, R. 14. " Jefferson County.— In N.E. qr. of Sec. 4, T. 39, R. 4 E., on land belonging to Mr. Prentiss, is a deposit of brown hematite which appears to be of good quality. The ore projects in large masses above the surface of the ground, and the indications are that it exists in workable quantity." ABSTRACT FROM MR. BROADHEAD'S NOTES. " Near the line between Webster and Green counties, in Sec. 18, found hematite in fragments, some of them quite large. They occurred in a ravine about the line between the Saccharoidal Sandstone and 2d Magnesian Limestone. "In Green county, in Sees. 24 and 25, T. 29, R. 24 W., on the summit and sides of a low hill, masses of brown hema tite of a good quality were found. The underlying rock, as observed at the nearest locality, was Encrinital limestone. " Iron ore is abundant in Maries county, occurring both as a hematite and a sulphuret. The sulphuret is found in small quantities in many places. It is most abundant in Sees. 28 and 30, T. 38, R. 9 W., on railroad land. The sulphuret is frequently changed to an oxide on the exposed surface. " Good specular ore was found abounding in large masses in Sec. 5, T. 39, R. 11 W., associated with argillaceous hematite. This locality is worth exploring. 32 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. " Masses of iron ore were found at Vienna. In Sec. 30, T. 41, R. 7, there is a large deposit of argillaceous red hema tite, which, I was told, had been used very successfully as a dye stuff. It is easily mined." But the localities of iron ore are too numerous to he de scribed in detail. The following table gives the important localities known to us : GEOLOGICAL EEPORT. 33 H P 2 O S 60 O 3 \ |-"t ^L o 5 CO S 5 B H Is II M I li a § "S |j sis ww p, co OcccoWceWK 000^3 S^US^H g £ S^ ^sg^g" pq tq pq H P^ o o HH° « .slc I Is ICNCNC^CNGNCNC^?! GEOLOGICAL REPORT. * S .si , Q 4 4 - Wher on RR.land. jijil S3 . .+ , . 1 §« lilil« ^^^ aaa aga -^ pa ' ' * * CO r-t rH rH (N ^* CO rH CO CO CO 02 CD CO t- !>• t- CO 00 CO CO t- n3 ^ ^ "^3 r^ •""* eg c$ os cs K rt " * ^ ' u bl ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ o o _o _o c> _o ^o ^ ^o ^o ^o ^o _o ^ ^o ^o ^o ^o _o ^o . . . /:^^pg "c5 oooo3Q5o3oQ5o5c3Q?"c^oc3^QPoc3 o o^ «-. w o c c 00 0 ^ 0 r-t rH ^ (N 55 o il O _ If ^ PH • ^ s . & So" if I >» K CO _O "o 8 P § £ .5 p, & s 2 PH • ^* ej •i o CO 02 en PH 02 s ^^^r-^^^^ . ^C T3 13 T3 'C ' H3~ ' ' . . . • • s ssBsls 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 !_££££. § sills +j ^3333 e G c" c 2 533 e G c 000 C G G G O O O O G G G 233 G C G C S ooooo G C C O CO O) CC CC CC O) O5 ^ WCOCQCOCQ )-H OJ )-^ H^ Hl^Hl ^Hl^^ H?»^H5 i_3 i_q (j; )_5 1_5 ^Hi 1 1 1 i 1 : n J* H: : : i i r ; : . : ' : : S3S=3S3S^-?S33S3S3S: I '. '. ..... I 3 '. • • . • '. • '. ,G ,c js ^3 ,G ^s ^ 'S S3 -G js x ^3 ^: A A ....... • • *A ........ &f£^ CH &*£:?&? CH— {j ^ajaiacuaaa'-*'-'' •;•&!;;;;•;;; 3333"3'3'3r5,iir3'3's'3'3'3'3: : : • : : • • • :"3 • • • • • : • : GO CC CC W 02 02 02 ^ -® CC 02 OJ CO CC 02 OQ .......... CC ........ Gc3 pj CGCfiGGpJ fcC o fcE ) bX) bfi bJD o bC bC c ) bJD &C o tt j j &C 00 O OOCOOOOCGCGCCGGGGCSCCGGCGfl CO CO CO CO CO CO CO Cfl CO CO -2 -JJ -J3 '^ -5 'G '^ 'G '3 'S '^3 "S "S '£ *S '— *G "^ ' CO CO CD CO CO -^ UO O O O O O O COCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCO' •iJ •as?a .« o^ oooiOr-itMco"* o C<) C<1 CC CO CO CO CO CO' 60 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. jo ox CO 00— 1 7cOt— t^t^tr-t^t-i^-t^t^t— COCO COVCO CO QO QO CO CO GO 35 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 61 •a G *""' s f 1 1 ej eS 2 2 PH ^ 2 % •S ^ PH P^ t- m 62 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. ^ ^ 8 i ^ e v S V ^ I ll Whethe worked :*=£* : •* •% : ; : •* * O3 /. OJ /- CC /, O3 y. O3 7i OD 'A C/2 O/ C/3 C£ CO C/3 'S'S'S'H'S'S'H'S'H'S'S'H'H'H'H'S'S'H'H'S'H'S'S • • • • • • • CO Tj< GOOD O5 b- X, ,!«--)«)) jo CK GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 63 qu qu s s > 1 s l • • 'S'S'SI : • : £ £ a; o> o o . £ . Q rrt rrt rr( fr^ -2 Is Is Is 13 13 "3 13 13 13 Is S £ * * * * :s o c o o o 131313 #:*:** c : : * : * : : # « * ^ « ^^^^^^.^^^^^^^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^^a^^^^^^^^ Crittende Sheep ' • • •gs o § >-, •S 5 o 7*f 4£ «P b-» CO C» O.»-i ff* CO^*» »Q o a> cu a; ' CO V3 CO CO CO be be be be iC'i W o 3 p3 w § H H 02 H — • MH H p O GO H w H 3 O ^ 1 II H M «N CO -* »O CD (M (^ CS (M C^ •£ o o> o> o - X> ll ff.|j * llllll Illl Ill* 1 ccSflccrtg £,2,2 22 §2-222-3-3^13 3 13 « H^ 3 3 13 3 3 CO 03 • . (M (M B1a x-|-:--.*:., „.§ „•« .11 III 1 1 III 1 1 aH^^S«WpqW^SoQP5>0^>c2g!>fSS -0*1 66 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 3 V» yes. wer, 1 ey hoal cre ickory c n Hicko miles we ter powe Ste s Water pow by, on S eye. Hi eyes. On eye. 9 last — wat 3 1 Bl Log ,2.2,2.2 ,2,2-2.2 a CO CO O/. CO CO CO t/3 CO CO 'S' P-( 0-( 3333333 IIII Ill OO COCO COCOCOCO ao-Buanj JO 'OX T^iOeOt^ CO O5 O »— ( CN CO ^ (MC^C^C^J CS CS CO CO CO CO CO GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 67 COPPER. We observed several localities in the South-west, in which were found small quantities of both the sulphuret and the car bonate of copper ; but none of them give evidence sufficient to justify the opinion that the deposits are very extensive. In Taney county small quantities of copper ore were observed at McFadden's Mines and at the Goose Diggings. In Lawrence county, at several localities on the Turnback, this ore was found near the junction of the Encrinital and Chemung rocks, -•]->•< Mr. Broadhead examined several localities in Bade and Green. The following is an abstract of his report : REPORT OF LOCALITIES EXAMINED BY G. C. BROADHEAD. " In Dade county, at Josiah Stogdill's, on S.W. of N.W. qr. Sec. 2, T. 30, R. 25, copper ore occurs in small crystals of sul phuret and particles of green carbonate, profusely disseminated through a very coarse and -somewhat friable crystalline lime stone, belonging to the lower Encrinital beds. Along a branch running near, copper has been found in several places. On S.E. of N.E. qr. Sec. 23, T. 30, R. 25, sulphuret of copper is found, associated with brown hematite. " Green county.— On Sec. 19, N.W. of S.W. qr. T. 30, R. 24, very small traces of copper were found associated with calc spar, and traversing the lower silicious beds (c Turnback rocks ') of the Encrinital limestone in about an E. and W. direction. "At William Haralson's, on W. lif. of Sec. 10, T. 29, R. 24 W., a pit has been sunk fourteen feet deep through the lower beds of the Encrinital limestone. The ore found here is the sulphuret and green carbonate, in a gangue of coarse opaque buff-colored calc spar, adhering to large crystals of white sub- transparent calc spar, the copper ore more often occupying the line between the two varieties of spar. Some mining has been done here, but no profitable results have as yet been derived. This shaft was sunk in the edge of a valley leading into the valley of Sac river, and about three-fourths of a mile from that stream. Fragments of copper ore have been found at several places along this valley. In Sec. 2; T. 40, R. 9 W., in Maries 68 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. county, some explorations for copper have been made ; but proving unprofitable, the mining was abandoned. A very little copper ore was found here, associated with iron pyrites and hematite and dog-tooth spar. The mining extended through red clay, into the softer beds of the underlying 3d Magnesian limestone." ABSTRACT FROM DR. B. F. SHUMARD'S REPORT. " The copper mines of Crawford county have not been worked for some years. Dr. H. King examined them at the time they were being worked, from whose report we largely avail ourselves. "Hindi's Copper Mines, on the side of a high hill, near the center of Sec. 4, T. 38, R. 2 W. This mine was discovered in 1849, and several thousand pounds of ore have been raised here. According to Dr. King, the ore, near the surface, is a carbonate and oxide, but deeper it assumes the character of a sulphuret of excellent quality. Dr. King states that 800 Ibs. of ore produced 273 Ibs. of good pig copper. The holes or shafts have been sunk chiefly in loose, red clay and commi nuted chert, but the walls of some of them are in the Magne sian limestone. The copper ore was found with brown hematite in small fragments disseminated through the clay and filling fissures in sandstone. Small scales of native copper were found occasionally with the carbonate and oxide. " Mr. Engelmann states that very little has been done here toward investigating the real character of this mine, owing to the very irregular manner in which the work has been car ried on. "Rives9 Copper Mine, in N.E. qr. Sec. 13, T. 39, R. 3 W. The formation here is the cherty portion of the 3d Magnesian Limestone and 2d Sandstone. This mine was worked to some extent in 1849, and many pits were sunk through the super ficial deposits. According to Dr. King's report, some twelve or fifteen holes were sunk, and more or less copper in some condition was found in nearly all of them. On the west side of the hill, at a depth of about twenty feet, a mass of ore was struck several feet in thickness, or which was penetrated to this extent without passing through it. Dr. King further states that a ' large pile, probably some hundred thousand pounds of GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 69 this ore, was brought to the surface, where it has since been left exposed to the rains and atmospheric influences.' It is chiefly an oxide and sulphuret of iron and copper, but not very rich in the latter mineral. " In most of the other shafts sunk at this mine, the ore was found in the state of green carbonate ; but this was generally in a deposit of fragmentary chert. " Dr. King arrives at the conclusion that this would be an extremely valuable copper mine if properly worked. " Copper Hill. — No work has been done here since Dr. Lit ton examined it. "Bleeding Hill, in S.W. of N.W. qr. Sec. 4, T. 38, R. 2 W., was examined by Mr. Engelmann. A few shallow shafts have been sunk here, chiefly through red clay and chert. " The ore is found in small fissures in 2d Sandstone, and consists of green and blue carbonate, sulphuret, and some scales of virgin copper, commingled with a great deal of earthy brown hematite. No systematic mining has been done here, but much useless labor has been spent. "In Sec. 22, T. 40, B. 2 W., some excavations have been made, but only small fragments of blue and green carbonate have been found. A few pieces have also been found on Huzza and Crooked creeks. " Copper, in small quantities, was found in Phelps county, in the lead cave on Piney, above mentioned. " In Sec. 23, T. 28, R. 16, in Wright county, Mr. Hough found small particles of green carbonate of copper disseminated through the calcareous spar which here abounds in the Magne- sian limestone." " Stanton Copper Mine, T. 40 N., R. 2 W., Sec. 2, where mining was commenced by the present company, in 1851, and has been continued to the present date, without interruption. " This mine is in the spur of a ridge, the course of which is about N., 70° E., terminating, at its eastern extremity, in a valley. In most places, this ridge is covered with soil, with now and then, on its top and sides, an exposure of rock. As we pass from its eastern extremity, along the top of it, we find no other rock than Magnesian Limestone, in place, until within 70 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 300 yards of the range of the shafts, where Sandstone is found both on the top and sides. At the eastern extremity of the ridge, the Magnesian Limestone is almost perfectly horizontal, with no perceptible dip, until it approaches the Sandstone, when it is seen dipping down for a short distance, at an angle of ten or fifteen degrees, to the west. This Sandstone continues west for about 600 feet, visible at points, both on the top and sides of the ridge ; but no other rock was seen (excepting on the south side, and near its base, where Dr. Shurnard measured a brecciated mass, eighteen feet high, consisting of chert and Magnesian Limestone, until passing a short distance west of the range of shafts, where the Magnesian Limestone was again vis ible, with, at first, a dip of ten or fifteen degrees to the east ; but a short distance further west, on the same ridge, it was horizontal. In the Sandstone, whether exposed on the ridge, or examined in the driftings, I found no appearance of stratifica tion. The surface of the ridge is so covered with soil, that it is impossible to examine the eastern and western junctions of the Sandstone, with the Magnesian Limestone ; but I infer, from examination of the driftings in the mine, that the western junc tion is irregular, with a general course across the ridge of about N., 20° W. ; and that along this line, there is, in all probability, a space, for some distance beneath the surface, filled witli the debris of the two rocks. " Most of the mining done has been in a space, irregular, so far as explorations have shown, the direction of which is across and extending below the base of the ridge, and with a general course of about north, twenty degrees west, and of an estimated width of from forty to sixty feet, bounded on the east by Sand stone, and on the west by Magnesian Limestone. This, so far as explored, is found filled with tumbling rock, clay, chert, calc spar (semi-crystalline, and colored red by peroxide of iron), masses of iron ore and copper ores. " From the vertical section, it will be seen that there are five shafts, the deepest of which (engine shaft) is 115 feet, and in which is the pump, worked by a steam engine. In sinking it, tumbling rock, of a magnesian character, was found through its entire depth, and it is cribbed from top to bottom. This shaft is connected by a level, 145 feet in length, with a shaft ninety feet deep, north of it, and thus connecting with the main works in the north hill. At the time of my last visit this level GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 71 extended no farther than this shaft ; but, since then, it has been run northwardly, the depth of about fifty feet below all preced ing driftings ; and, as I am informed by one of the company, with good success and fine prospects. Levels have been run into the north hill, from both the north and south sides ; but most of the driftings have been fifty feet below these, and above which driftings, only (as represented on the vertical section), the ground has been stoped away. " The copper ores found here are a mixture of the gray sul- phuret and the green carbonate. Two analyses of a specimen, which was richer than the average run, gave the following results : — I. II. Silica, 1-16 1-29 Sulphur, 2-02 2-10 Peroxide of iron, 12-85 12-20 Oxide of copper, 61-16 60-16 Carbonic acid, water and loss, 22-81 24-25 Giving, as the mean of the two determinations, 48-41 per cent, of copper. " The furnace for smelting the ore is distant from the mine about one mile, where there is an abundance of water during the whole year, for washing the ores, and supplying a blast for the furnace during eight months in the year. For this last purpose, however, the company have lately erected, at this point, a steam engine, and are now enabled to continue, at all seasons, their smelting operations. They are now engaged in smelting a large quantity of copper ore that has accumulated during the present year, and which, it is estimated, will pro duce thirty tons of copper ; that, added to the twenty or thirty tons previously made, will make the total amount of copper made here, since the commencement of operations, in 1851, about fifty tons. " During the first year of the operations of the Company, there was but little mining, most of the labor having been ex pended in erecting the furnace ; and the average number of hands was not over six. During 1852, the average number of hands was about ten ; and, at present, there are, probably, twenty or twenty-five in the employ of the company." The owners deserve great credit for the energy with which they prosecuted the exploration of this mine, to prove the char acter of this and other copper deposits in the State. 72 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. II PQ M 1 s s s s^ g § ^ p3 3 3 »;« * * 0 £ O . O C o C "- < C Magn. Limestone. 'a I * -111 ; 11 HI! 1 1| i || IJ (J I 1 , 1 ^ 77^ rrf-v i 1 £y^ y-} £ : Steam pow na na 11 oo a c O Q