Waverly was, in years past, when the river traffic was active, a large shipping point and a place of much business activity. and prosperity. During late years it has, however, retrograded and is supported only by a meager trade derived from the adjacent country. During the past year, however, the discovery of coal at this point has started mining here which bids fair to cause a revival of prosperity.

Dover is, like Waverly, an old town, formerly supported by the river trade, but now sunk into a dormant condition. No special industries characterize the place, and it is supported merely by a small local trade.

Alma is a place only a few years old, and is, at present, merely a local trade and shipping point. It has a grain elevator, and drain-tiles and brick are also manufactured here.

Aullville is, similarly, only a small local trading and shipping point with a grain elevator and fruit storage warehouse.

INDUSTRIES.

The industries of the area are chiefly agriculture and mining. The value of the agricultural products is much in excess of those from mining, the area being in one of the most fertile sections of the State. These products consist chiefly of wheat and corn, and in addition large numbers of cattle and hogs are raised and shipped. Coal is the only mineral substance which is mined to a large extent. Clays are manufactured at a number of points into drain-tile and brick, as already indicated. A few small quarries have also been opened and are worked intermittently for local uses, and in connection with railway construction; more will be said of these later.

According to figures collected by Hon. Willard C. Hall, State Labor Commissioner, the values of the various products shipped from the different railway points in Lafayette county during the year 1890 were, in round numbers: Wheat, $500,000; corn, $80,000; cattle, $330,000; hogs, $240,000; coal, $400,000.

PHYSIOGRAPHY.

TOPOGRAPHY-HYDROGRAPHY-SOILS-FORESTRY.

TOPOGRAPHY.

Topographically, the area represented by the Higginsville sheet is a plateau in which erosion has proceeded far. It is in what is called a "mature" stage of topographic development. A drainage system is well developed, and base-leveling is in progress along the Missouri river and along the larger of the tributary streams, such as Tabo, Davis and Sait creeks. It is

FIG. 2. Hypsometric diagram of the Higginsville sheet.

composed of horizonal strata of varying degrees of hardness a plateau situated at a moderate elevation above sea-level, and durability, overspread by a thick mantle of drift which forms a soil of extreme fertility, and located in a region of which the climate is most conducive to the growth of vegetation.

As a result of the first of these conditions, the moderate altitude, the differences of elevation are not great. The altitude of the flood plain of the Missouri river varies from about 660 ft. A. T. to 680 ft. A. T., and that of the highest summits is about 900 ft. A. T.; hence, the maximum difference is a little over 200 ft. The distribution of different zones of elevation is well displayed on the preceding diagram.

The altitudes of the flood plains of the principal tributaries of the Missouri are in the vicinity of 700 ft. A. T., which is very little above the plain of that river. Hence, it will be readily understood that these streams can corrade or lower their channels little, if any, below their respective levels. For convenience of use and reference the following table of altitudes is here introduced :

TABLE OF ALTITUDES TO THE NEAREST FOOT OF RAILWAY STATIONS IN THE AREA OF THE HIGGINSVILLE SHEET.*

As a result of the condition of horizontality of the strata we have the irregularly undulating surface and the broad, flattopped hills. Long, narrow-crested ridges are entirely absent.

The process of degradation by reason of the conditions of variable hardness and variable durability of the strata is well displayed along the Missouri river, where active erosion has developed a line of steep bluffs over 100 feet high, in which the strata of limestone or shale are frequently well exposed.

* On the topographic map accompanying this report many details of elevation are incorporated. Further reference to such is hence omitted here.

Here the disintegration of the softer rocks, and the consequent undermining of over-lying hard strata, is clearly to be recog nized as the controlling action of erosion. Away from this stream, however, bluffs and steep declivities are rare, the country is more what is called rolling, and the details of the effects of stratigraphy are hidden by the mantle-like covering of loess. The climatic conditions and the abundant vegetation are most effective here in retarding the work of erosion, and preventing the formation of gullies and ravines. Were the country arid and barren, with little soil, the topography would be of a rugged type, consisting of flat-topped hills bounded by abrupt ravines or canyons; the characteristic profile would be a serrated rather than an undulating one.

HYDROGRAPHY.

The entire area of the sheet is part of the drainage basin of the Missouri river. This stream traverses the northern portion. It is there seen to be bordered by broad, alluvial plains on the northern side, whereas on the southern side it flows close to the bluffs. It was at one time a great avenue of travel and a source of support to the various small towns and villages scattered along its banks. The extension of railways has, however, now reduced river traffic to a minimum, and has caused the decay of many of these small centers of trade. The depth of water in the channel is very fluctuating, and this has also, in part, caused the partial abandonment of steamboating. During the spring and early summer months the water is generally high; while during the late autumn and winter months it is generally so low as to prevent the passage of the larger freight boats, to which the river is open at other seasons of the year. The extent and distribution of sand-bars are well displayed on the sheet, and the obstruction they offer to free navigation can readily be imagined.

The principal tributaries of the Missouri traversing this area are: Tabo creek, Davis creek and Salt creek.

Tabo creek is represented in the northwestern corner just before it empties into the river. It is a stream only about 15

miles long, which rises in Lafayette county. Within the area mapped it is bordered by alluvial plains, and has reached its base level.

Davis creek traverses the southern portion of the sheet. It also rises in Lafayette county, about fifteen miles above Aullville, and it empties into Black fork of the Lamine river at Sweet Springs, about fifteen milles below Aullville. Broad alluvial plains, of great fertility, flank the stream along its whole length within the area of the sheet. It is to be noticed that the level of this plain, near the eastern border, is not more than 15 ft. above the level of the river plain immediately north of this point. Base levelling is hence in progress here, and corrasion of the channel is slight or nil.

Salt Creek rises within the limits of the sheet and flows through the northeastern corner. It constitutes the upper portion of the Salt fork of Lamine river, which flows through Saline county, and empties into Black fork above the confluence of the latter with the Lamine river. The channel of this stream, within the sheet, is some 20 ft. higher than that of Davis creek to the south, despite the greater proximity of the former to the river. Its flood plains are, hence, narrower and corrasion probably more active.

In general, the drainage system of the area mapped is well developed and the main drainage channels permanently established. The general outlines of the drainage areas of the respective streams are shown in the small cut on page 13, representing the hypsometry of the sheet.

The waters of the streams are derived from surface flows, or from percolation through the superficial clays and loams. No large springs exist here, such as are found in the countries of massive limestone beds; in fact, surface springs of all kinds

are scarce.

SOILS.

The soils may be divided into two classes, residuary and foreign.

Residuary soils are such as have resulted from the decomposition or decay in situ of the country rock, and are, hence, in