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"•' I -^ uk NumlikUt ,3.., 5i I Ji I u '^^:-'.. \ UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY J. AV. I'OWELL, DIKECTOP. THE UPPER BEACHES AND DELTAS OF THE GLACIAL LAKE AGASSIZ 1 Y WARREN UPHAM WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1887 d, z ' ?- ""^ • '-> ■•^ i *i CONTENTS. Letter of transmittal.... 7 INTUODUCTION. The upper or Herman beacli jq The Norcross beacli 12 The Campbell beach 12 The McCanleyville beach 12 I The Red River Valley 12 ' The outlet of Lake Agassiz I4 The northern barrier , 15 5 Area and depth of Lake Agassiz I9 I Elevations of the crests of the beaches of Lake Agassiz 20 THE UPPER OR HERMAN BEACH IX MINNESOTA. From Lake Traverse east to Herman 21 From Herman north to the Red River 23 From the Red River north to Muskoda 24 Delta of the Buffalo River 29 From Muskoda north to the Wild Rice River 30 From the Wild Rice River north to Maple Lake 34 THE UPPER OR HERMAN BEACH IX DAKOTA. From Lake Traverse northwest to Milnor 38 From Milnor north to Sheldon 42 From Sheldon north to the Northern Paciiic Railroad 45 From the Northern Pacific Railroad north to Galesburg 48 From Galesburg north to Larimore 51 Shore west of the Elk and Golden Valleys 57 Beaches and islands east of the Elk and Golden Valleys 64 From Garder north to the Tongue River .< 72 Delta of the Pembina River , 74 Index 91 ILLUSTEATIOXS. Plate I. Map of the upper beaches and deltas of the glacial Lake Agassiz 3 Fig. 1. Typical section across a beach ridge of Lake Agassiz 11 2. Map of a township, showing its divisions in sections 21 (391) -l^iiUoll. Sir Bullet tious beaclu occnpi This datag preseu progrt clusioi of cart iinlepe tlents Hon LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. i Department op the Interior, I United States Geological Survey, f Washington, D. C, Jvu,' 8, 1886. Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for publication as a Bulletin of the Survey a paper em bodying the results f the investiga- tions of Mr. Warren Upham, assistant geologist, upon the upper i beaches and dePi > of the extinct Lake Agassiz, which, in glacial times, \ occupied the basin of the Red River of the iSTorth. This is but an initial contribution, embracing only so much of the I data gathered as from their degree of completeness and interest warrant ? present publication as a record of results. The investigation is still in progress, and the general discussion of data and the eduction of con- I elusions are reserved until its completion. Meanwhile the great mass of carefully determined facts here recorded will, besides their inherent independent value, be of important and immediate service to the stu- dents of other extinct and shrunken glacial lakes. Very respectfully, T. C. OHAMBERLIN, Geologist in Charge of Glacial Division. Hon. J. W. Powell, Director U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. (393) 7 I UPPER BEACHES AND DELTAS OF LAKE AGASSIZ. By Warren Upham. INTRODUCTION. That part of the extinct Lake Agassiz which lies in Minnesota, so far fas it is prairie, was explored by the writer in 1879 and 1881 in connection Svith the Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota, the re- sults of which are partly used in the preparation of this report for the burpose of giving completeness and significance to the observations jobtained in the survey to which this bulletin more especially relates.' '■ Further exploration of this lake was begun for the United States fOeological Survey by the writer, with Robert H. Young as assistant, in tl88o, mapping the upper or Herman beaches in Dakota from Lake traverse to the international boundary, besides portions of the lower shore lines, with exact determinations of their elevation by leveling. lAs the Herman beaches and deltas are thus surveyed along the entire extent of Lake Agassiz in the United States, excepting the wooded Region of Northern Minnesota, where their exact survey seems imprac- ticable, they are made the subject of the present report, reserving the detailed description of the lower beaclies and the inclosed lacustrine area until their exploration within the United States is finished, for ■which the field work of 18SG will probably sutfice. Discussions of the history of Lake Agassiz and of the causes that |iave changed the relations of surfiices of level here are mainly deferred |to the end of the examination of the whole area of this lake. Obser- vations gathered thut completely may be reasonably expected not only |to add much to our knowledge of the conditions attending the glacial 'The Geological and Natural History Siirv(fy of Minnesota, Eighth Annual Report (1879), pp. 84 to 87, containing a general Htatement of the extent of this lake, with notes of its beaches and deltas at a few points, and proposing for it the name Lake Vgassiz; and Eleventh Annual Report, pp. 137 to l.'i'J, describing and mapping the lerman, Norcross, and Campbell beaches, noting the decrease in the northward iscent of the Irke level during its successive stages, and attributing these changed levels to the attraction of the lake by gravitation toward the diminishing ice sheet, piis work in Minnesota was done under the direction of Prof. N. H. Winchell, State geologist, with the assistance in 1881 of Horace V. Winchell as rodmau in leveling. (395) i /'<:: ;/>W 10 / / -■ \ UPPER BEACHES OF LAKE AGASSIZ. [UULL. 39, 1 Area o\ TILL, SI Such period aud the recession of the ice sheet but also to shed needed light fiikes w on the nature and relations of the earth's crust and interior. ik-ater 1 The glacial Lake Agassiz is confldenily believed to have been formed feet ab( in the basin of the Red River of the North and of Lake Winnipeg dur- |o feet ing the final melting and gradual recession of the ice sheet. It thus breadtl belongs to the closing epoch of the ice age, when the continental glacier, |>roail \< subdued by a more temperate climate, was yielding its ground between I^ako Traverse aud Hudson Bay. During this retreat free drainage from the melting ice could not take place, because the descent of the land is northward. As soon as the border of the ice had receded be- yond the watershed dividing the basins of the Minnesota and the Red Rivers, it is evident that a lake, fed by the glacial melting, stood at the foot of the ice fields and extended northward as they withdrew along the Red River Valley to Lake Winnipeg, filling this valley and its %h\^ rid branches to the height of the lowest point over which an outlet could ti^itli on be found. Until the ice barrier was melted upon the area now crossed |ind rar by the Nelson River, thereby draining this glacial lake, its outlet was % or 3 n along the present course of the Minnesota River. At first its over- tlie sho flow was upon the nearly level, gently undulating surface of the drift, ^n the i about 1,100 feet above the sea ; but in process of time this cut a channel ^n Dak 125 to 150 feet deep and from 1 to 2 miles wide, in which lie Trav- fliis stn erse aud Big Stone Lakes, respectively 970 and 962 feet above the sea. lakes ai From this outlet the plain of the Red River Valley, 30 to 50 miles ff Lake wide, stretches 315 miles north to Lake Winnipeg, which is 710 feet ^f 5 mi above the sea. Along this entire distance there is a very uniform con- fqual p( tinuous descent of a little less than one foot per mile. The drift de- tjisually posited by the ice sheet upon this area, together with that which may |ble for have been dropped by floating ice borne on the waters of the lake, and fs an e the silt brought in by glacial rivers and by those of the surrounding Jn Miuw land, were here received in a lake, shallow near its mouth, but becoming fv'henev gradually deeper northward. Beyond our national boundary this lake tiing ag covered a large area, varying froiA_lQiLta-200 miles in breadth at and ? The i west of Lake Winnipeg, and its total length appears to have been at posit of least^GOO miles. Because of its relation to the retreating continental •!" ^ ^^^ ice sheetTtliis lake has been named in memory of Prof. Louis Agassiz, till, wit the first prominent advocate of the theory that the drift was produced to erodi by land ice.' lometiii THE UPPER OR UERMAN BEACH. **'^^ ^^^ tN-ith hi Along nearly the whole of the upper shore line of Lake Agassiz, a.s \ Comi traced in Minnesota and Dakota, there exists a remarkable deposit of till or u beach gravel and sand, forming a continuous, smoothly rounded ridge, ii.nd occ such as is found along any part of the shores of the ocean or of our great Remark tludes ' The Geological and Natural History Survey of Minneeiota, Eiglith Annual Report, for the year 1879, pp. 84, 85. (390) pebbles referab the bea [UULL.39. INTRODUCTION. 11 needed light or. been formed ''inuipeg dur eet. It thus ental glacier, uud between ree drainage Bscent of the I receded be- and the Red , stood at the ;hdrew along alley and its outlet could now crossed bs outlet was irst its over- of the drift, }ut a channel ;ch lie Trav- 30ve the sea. ► to 50 miles I is 710 feet uniform cou- The drift de- it which may :he lake, and surrounding ut becoming iry this lake 3adth at and lave been at continental 'uis Agassiz, as produced ) Agassiz, as lo deposit of iinded ridge, ' of our great Luuual Koport, j^ikes where the land sinks in a gently descending slope beneath the |f ater level. Usually the beach of Lake Agassiz (Fig. 1) is a ridge 3 to 10 feet above the land next to it on the side away from the lake and 10 to |o feet above the land adjoining it on the side where the lake lay. In breadth this beach, ridge varies from 10 to 25 or 30 rods. It is thus a iTroaJ wavelike swell, with a smooth, gracefully rounded surface. BEACH ORAVEL AND SAND. Till. ^ Area of Laka Agassiz. > TILL, SLIOHTLV ERODED. t SCALE, 100 FEET TO ONE INCH, Fig. 1. Typical section across a beach ridge of Lake Agassiz. Such being a section across the beach, it is to be remembered that ^his ridge extends along the whole distance that has been explored, iffitli only here and there gaps where it has been cut through by streams iud rare intervals — of a quarter or a half of a mile, or, at the longest, ^ or 3 miles — where the outline of the lake shore or the direction of ihe shore currents prevented such accumulation. It is also deficient An the shores of the strait that occupied the Elk and Golden Valleys |n Dakota, but is well developed along the chain of islands east of |his strait. There are similar interruptions in the beaches of present lakes and on the sea coast; and, like these modern deposits, the beach i^f Lake Agassiz varies considerably in its size, having in any distance i^f 5 miles some portions 5 or 10 feet higher than others, due to the un- equal power of waves and currents at these parts of the shore. The lisually moderate slope of the land toward Lake Agassiz was favor- iible for the formation of a beach ridge, and one has been clearly traced is an essentially continuous formation along a distance of 400 miles In Minnesota and Dakota. In calling it continuous, I mean to say that ^'henever interrupted it is found a little distance farther along, begin- ting again at very nearly the same height. , The gaps where the beach is not a distinctly traceable ridgelike de- posit of gravel and sand cannot exceed one tenth of its whole course. in a few places the lake undermined its shore, forming a terrace in the till, with no definite beach deposit, the work of the waves having been to erode and carry away rather than to accumulate. In other places — lometimes 2 or 3 miles in length — the area where this ancient lake jbad its margin is a marsh or shaking bog, full of spring water and rough $vith hummocks of grass. ] Commonly the land upon each side of this beach of Lake Agassiz is till or uhstratified clay, containing some intermixture of sand and gravel ind occasional stones and bowlders. The material of the beach ridge is temarkably in contrast with this adjoining and underlying till, for it in- cludes no clay, but consists of stratified sand and gravel, the largest pebbles being usually from 2 or 3 to 6 inches iu diameter. No bowhlers referable to transportation by floating ice have been found iu any of $he beach deposits o** this lake. (397) i 12 UPPER BEACHES OF LAKE AGASSIZ. [BULL. 39. j;rilAM.] When Lake Agassiz stood at its greatest height and formed the upper beach, its outlet was about 75 feet above tbe present surface of Lake Traverse, or 1,045 feet above the sea. The channel which at this time "Bacribeeu excavated in the drift by its outflow was 40 to 50 feet deep along the distance of about 50 miles, where are now Lake Traverse, Brown's Valley, and Big Stone Lake. This beach is crossed by the Brcckenridge line of the Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Rail- way' at a point about 1^ miles northwest from Herman, Minnesota. THE NORCROSS BEACH. Three lower beaches, of the same character as to form, size, and ma- terial with the highest, have been also noted ; their course has been traced through long distances and their height has been determined by leveling. At the next epoch after that of the upper or Herman beach, when the lake level was again nearly stationary long enough to form a ridge of gravel and sand upon its shore, the outlet had been eroded about 20 feet deeper than at the time of the upper beach, but was still 55 feet above the present Lake Traverse and Brown's Valley. The beach of Lal^^ Agassiz, when it had this lower level, is crossed by the Brcckenridge railway line at Norcross, Minnesota, 5 miles northwest from Herman. THE CAMPBELL BEACH. A third series of beach deposits was formed when the outlet of Lake Agassiz had been lowered some 50 feet more, nearly to the level of Lake Traverse. T^HTbCach of this third stage of Lake Agassiz takes its name from the township of Campbell (T. 130, R. 46), in the southern part of Wilkin County, Minnesota, which it crosses from southwest to north- east. ;; THE m'cauleyville beach. 1*be.,fourth and lowest beach of Lake Agassiz, while it outflowed to the south, was formed after a further erosion of 15 feet, lowering the outlet to 900 feet above the sea and completing the excavation of its channel to the present beds of Traverse and Big Stone Lakes. My first observation of this beach was3| miles northeast from McOauleyville(T. 134, 11. 4H), in Willfiti County, Minnesota. Four distinct series of beach ridges of gravel and sand were thus formed by Lake Agassiz at successive stages of height during its proc- ess of deepening the channel by which it outflowed southward. THE red river VALLEY. The central part of the basin of Lake Agassiz, within thy limits ot Minnesota and Dakota, now drained by the Ited River, has an exceed- ingly flat surface, sloping imperceptibly northward, as also from each side to its central line. The Red River has its course along the axial depression, where it has cut a channel 20 to GO feet deep. It is bor- dered by oTily few and narrow areas of bottom land, instead of which (398) Its bani |he oth to 30 m fhanne pected |iundre< ^reas of llie^btg ihe low This In Dak( to Wini Vheat 1 Ancient feveral liouth ei Ifled bo the adj( lormatii |eason f as to f< through large tr '-■ On al 4rift is i ft)und, a The dei fcpogra the und< of some' Erosi< and con broad, r United ftlopes 8 ward fr( above t Falls to cJer find Moorhe: form of of the I] bead to ftet in Qt' a ter I [BULL. 39. fill AM. J INTRODUCTION. 13 5d the upper ace of Lake at this time 50 feet deep :e Traverse, ssed by the >nitoba Bail- auesota. iize, and ma- cse has been termiued by rman beach, lugh to form been eroded but was still Galley. The •ssed by the 8 northwest itlet of Lake evel of Lake .kes its name lern part of est to north - outflowed to Dwering the vation of its es. My first luleyville (T, I were thu.s iug its proc ard. :he limits ot au oxceed- o from each ug the axial ). It is bor- ad of which its banks usually rise steeply on one side and by moderate slopes on %\xe other to the lacustrine plain, which thence reaches nearly level 10 |o 30 miles from the river. Its tributaries cross the plain in similar fhannels, which, as well as the Red River, have occasional gullies con- liected with them, dry during most of the year, varying from a few hundred feet to a mile or more in length. Between the drainage lines $,reas often 5 to 15 miles wide remain unmarked by any watercourses, fherbighcst portions of these tracts are commonly from 2 to 5 feet above the lowest. This vast plain, 40 to 50 miles wide, lying half in Minnesota and half tn Dakota and stretching from Lake Traverse and Breckenridge north i|o Winnipeg, is the widely famed Red River Valley, the most fertile irheat land of the continent. The material of the lower part of this Ancient lake bed, shown in the banks of the Red River and reaching feveral miles from it, is fine clayey silt, horizontally stratified, but its fouth end and large areas of each side of this plain are mainly unstrat- Iped bowlder clay, which differs from the rolling or undulating till of |he adjoining region only in having its surface nearly flat. Both these Ibrmations are almost impervious to water, which therefore in the rainy feason fills their shallow depressions; but these are very rarely so deep IJs to form i)ermanent lakes. Even sloughs that continue marshy Ihrough the summer are infrequent, but where they do occur they cover large tracts, usually several miles in extent. On all the area drained by the Red River in Minnesota the glacial 4rift is so thick that no exposures of the underlying rocks have been ft)und, and they have only few outcrops within this basin in Dakota. The depth of the drift varies from 100 to 250 feet. The prominent topographic features of all this region are doubtless due to the form of the underlyiDg rock surface, upon whi h the drift is spread in a sheet of somewhat uniform thickness. Erosion, before the ice age, had sculptured the rocks that are buried and concealed under this universal drift sheet and had formed the broad, nearly level depression of the Red River Valley, which in the United Stat'^'' ^s 1,000 to 800 feet, from south to north, above the sea. Slopes and terraces of these rocks beneath the drift cause the rise east- ward from this valley to the lake-sprinkled platoan, 1,300 to 1,500 feet above the sea, which reaches from Glen wood, Alexandria, and Fergus Falls to the sources of the Mississippi. For example, though the trav- eler finds no ledge of rock in going from the Red River at Fargo and Moorhead 75 miles east-northeast to Itasca Lake, it yet appears that the form of the surface, marked by two remarkable terraces, is due to that of the bed rock. The flat of the Red River Valley extends from Moor- bead to about 6 miles east of Glyndon, with a slight ascent of about 50 ftet in these 15 miles. The next 2 or 3 miles rise 200 feet to the top Ot' a terrace, which reaches from south to north the whole length of (399) ■) Jl^. w^ <^ - ' 1 r 14 UPPER BEACHES OF LAKE AOASSIZ. [BULL. 30, I ffpiIAM. f63 A tho Bed River Valley iu Minnesota, though it is not all the way so (lis tiuct nor so high as here. Beyond this ascent the surface is again nearlj level, being a sheet of slightly undulating or rolling till,„with arrrsF oi perhaps 4 or ITfeeF per mile^ throtrgh 25 miles eastward. Next is a terrace, also reaching a long distance from south to north, which i> ascended in 3 or 4 miles, rising about 300 feet, to the White Eartli Agency, which thus commands a very extensive western prospect, Thence a more rolling plateau extends, with little change in the average height, .'iO miles eastward to Itasca Lake. Iu like manner the elevation of the Coteau des Prairies, 1,500 to 2,00(i tije "m feet above the sea, and the terracelike ascent at the west side of the flat JL JqcJo! Red River Valley iu Dakota, lying at a distance of 20 to 35 miles west Ljieg i( of the Red River and stretching from the south bend of the Sheyennt jkrQbab] River north to the British line, where it is called Pembina Mountain, tpiiat ci are due to the contour of the bed rock, rather than to differences in the |[epth is thickness of the drift. The till upon each side of Lake Agassiz has a moderately undulating; and rolling surface. Within the area that was covered by this lake it has a much smoother and more even contour, but has been onl;\ slightly stratified. The action of its waves gathered from this deposit Igarlv of till, which was the lake bed, the gravel and sand of its beaches ; and British corresponding deposits of stratified clay, derived from the same erosion iufire e of the till, sank in the deeper part of the lake. But these sediments i^riiich r were evidently of small amount and are not noticeable upon the greater Lyiucr j part of this lacustrine area, which consists of a smoothed shset of till The position of the thick beds of stratified fine silt and clay in the cen tral depression of the Red River Valley shows that they were not do posited by the waters of Lake Agassiz, which must have spread them more generally over its entire area; but, instead, proves that they wert brought by the rivers which flowed into this hollow and along it north ward after the glacial Lake Agjissiz had been reduced to its present rep resentative, Lake Winnipeg. Theoccurrence of shells Jjud remains oi vegetation in these stratified beds at McCauley ville 32 and 45 feet below the surface, or about 7 and 20 feet below the level of the Red River, anr numerous other observations of remains of vegetation elsewhere alon;; the Red River Valley in these beds, demonstrate that the valley was ii ii „" i land surface, subject to overflow by the river at its stages of flood, whei these remains were deposited. Even at the present time much of tin area of stratified clay is covered by the highest floods, and probably ni portion of these stratified deposits is more than 10 feet above the liigl water lino of the Red River and its tributaries. THE OUTLET OF LAKE AGASSIZ. The excavation of the remarkable valley occupied by Lakes Traversi and Big Stone and the Minnesota River was first explained in 1808 h\ General G. K. Warren, who attributed it to the outflow from this aucieu (400) \ \ i [UL'LL. 30. way so dis again nearly itb arrisF 01 Next is a th, which h Vhite Eartli ru prospect, the average ,500 to 2,00(1 de of the flat 5 miles west be Sheyeniit Mountain, rences in the y undulating by this lak( IS been onlj this deposit >eaches; and same erosion se sediments n the greater sheet of till, ly in the cen were not dc spread them lat they wen ong it north ! present rep d remains oi 45 feet below Ml River, an( Bwhero alonj; valley was n f flood, whei much of tilt probabl}' in >ove the hij^l Ifiiam.] INTRODUCTION. 15 ke that filled the basin of the Ryd River and Lake Winnipeg. He made careful survey of this valley from Lake Traverse to its mouth, and his ai)S and descriptions, with the accompanying discussion of geologic uestions, are most valuable contributions to science.* After his death 1 recognition of this work, the glacial river that was the outlet of Lake gassiz was named River Warren.^ The heights of Lakes Traverse and Big Stone are, respectively, 970 and 62 feet above the sea, and the lowest point of the divide between them only 3 feet above Lake Traverse. These lakes are from 1 to 1 J milos ide, mainly occupying the entire width of this troughlike valley, which Is inclosed by blufi's of till about 125 feet high. Lake Traverse is 15 |iiles long ; it is mostly less than 10 feet deep and its greatest depth |)robably does not reach 20 feet. Big Stone Lake extends in a some- firhat crooked course from northwest to southeast 26 miles ; its greatest epth is reported to be from 15 to 30 feet. The portion of the channel etween these lakes is widely known as Brown's Valley. As we stand pon the bluff's here, looking down on these long and narrow lakes and )he valley which extends across the 5 miles between them, where the asins of Hudson Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are now divided, we have early the picture that was presented when the melting ice sheet of ritish America was pouring its floods along this hollow. Then the ntire extent of the valley was doubtless filled every summer by a river hich covered all the present areas of flood i)lain, in many places occu- ying as great width as these lakes. General Warren observed that ake Traverse is due to a partial silting up of the channel since the outflow from the Red River basin ceased, the Minnesota River at the Bouth having brought in sufficient alluvium to form a dam, while Big ptone Lake and Lac qui Parle are ^ lilarly due to the deposits of strati- lied sand and silt which the Whetstone and Lac qui Parle Rivers have ispread across the valley below them. I THE NOETHEKN BARRIER. The northern barrier by which the water of Lake Agassiz was re- iBtrained from flowing in the direction of the present drainage to Iludson iBay was supposed by General Warren to have been an elevation of ithe land much above its present height northeast of Lake Winnipeg. kes Traversi ;d in 18(58 h\ a this aucieu ' "On cortain physical features of tbc Upper Mississippi River," American Naturalist, .Vol. II, pp. 497-502, Noveiiihor, 18(18. Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, for 1808, pp. ;U)7-314. "An essay concerninj? important physical features .exhibited in the valley of the Minnesota River, and upon their signification," with ^laps, Report of Chief of Engineers, I87r). " Valley of the Minnesota River and of the IMississippi River to the juncti(»n of th*e Ohio. Its origin considered — depth of the Sltod-rock," with maps. Report of Chief of Engineers, 1878, and American Journal of .?Scionce, (3) XVI, pp. 417-431, Pecember, 1878. (General Warren died August 8, 1832. ) * Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Vol. XXXII (for 1883), pp. 213 to 231 ; also in American Journ»I of Science, (3) XXVII, January and February, 1884 ; and Geology of Minnesota, Vol. I, p. C22. (401) 16 UPPER BEACHE8 OF LAKE AGASSIZ. [HULL. 89. fJU'A" He thought that this elevation was shared by other northern portions of North America and that these regions have recently been depressed at least several hundred feet. The depths of the great lakes and man} topographic features of the interior of the continent, besides this chan nel of Lakes Traverse and Big Stone and the Minnesota River, appeared to him to support this opinion. On the contrary, my belief is that tin; surface of the continent had nearly the same form then as now and that the continental ice sheet, resting on the land in a solid mass of great depth, formed the northern shore of Lake Agassiz and was the barrier that prevented it from flowing into Hudson Bay.* The four series of beach deposits which mark the shores of Lako Agassiz at as many stages of its height are ibund to have a gradual ascent northward, as compared with the present level line or the sur face which a body of water would have now if confined in this valley, As before stated, these beaches were formed at epochs when the lako level was nearly stationary for a considerable time during the excava vation of its channel of outlet at Lake Traverse and southward. Exploration ind leveling along the upper beach in Minnesota extended from the north end of Lake Traverse about 25 miles eastward to Her- man, and thence about 140 miles north to Maple Lake. Through this distance it lies from 15 to 30 miles east of the Red River. The ascent of this beach northward is at a rate that increases from 6 inches to 1 foot a mile in its southern portion for about 75 miles. Farther nortli its rate of ascent increases from 1 foot to 16 inches a mile. In all, the surface of Lake Agassiz in Minnesota at this time of its greatest heiglit cascended northward, above a line now level, 125 feet in these 140 miles, from 1,045 feet, very nearly, above sea at Lake Traverse, to 1,170 feet, very nearly, at the north side of Maple Lake, 20 miles east- south east from Crookston. Through this distance the upper beach clearly marks one continuous shore line. Before Lake Agassiz had fallen below the line of this beach in the south half of its explored extent, it had formed a slightly lower parallel beach, three-fourths of a mile to 1^ miles distant, through the northern third of Clay County ; and this secondary beach, sometimes double or treble, was noted at several places along the next 30 miles northward, At the northwest side of Maple Lake definite beach ridges were foriiHMl when Lake Agassiz had fallen in that latitude successively about 8, l.">, 30, and 45 feet from its highest level. Yet all these beaches were accu mulated while the lake remained with only very slight depression of 'That this lake existed because of the barrier of tbe receding ice sheet was pointcil out by Prof. N. li. Wiuchell lu his First Annual Report of the Geological and Natural History Survey of Miuuesota, for 1872, p. 63, and in his Sixth Annual Report, for 18T7, p. 31. He also explained in like manner the formerly higher levels of the great lakes, Popular Science Monthly, June, 1873 ; and the same view is stated by Prof. J. S. New- berry in Report of the Geological Survey of Ohio, Vol. II, 1874, pp. 6, 8, and 51. (402) 1 [HULL. 89. IjI-HAJI) INTRODUOTION. 17 Bru portions m depressed es and man} )8 this Chan- er, appeared if is that the low and that ass of great 8 the barrier •res of Lakp :e a gradual e or the sur- 1 this valley, len the lake f the excava- ward. Ota extended rard to Her- rhrough this The ascent 5 inches to 1 farther north . In all, the eatest height sse 140 miles, to 1,170 feet, ist- south east learly markij beach in the ower parallel the northern les double or 3 northward, were formed ^ about 8, 15, iS were accu- lepression of ?et was iK)int«'(l al uud Nutiiral Report, for 1877, the great liikvH, Prof. J. 8. Now- i, and 51. level, not suflicient for the formation of any secoiidiiry beach ridge, along ts southern part for some 75 miles northward from Lake Trav^erse and llerman. I The Norcross beach in Minnesota has been explored and its height Ineasured through the same distance of 140 miles, in which it ascends northward about 02 feet by a slope that increases slightly from south to north, averaging nearly inches a mile. The snrtace of Lake Agas- hvA had fallen at this time from its highest level 20 feet at Lake Trav- erse, 50 feet in Northern Clay County, and 83 feet northwest of Maple Lake. Itsfi'*'! in this extent had been thus 03 feet more at the north lliaii at the soutli. Double and multiple ridges occur along the northern lialt' of this distance and show that the lake level at the time of forma- •iion of the Noniross beach fell 5 to 1() feet northward, while it remained !twith()ut change or with less change than was required to form additional flunich ri«lges southward. The heights of the Cani,pbell an: from the |ni>l>er or Herman beach to the McCauley ville beach was 85 feet at its |mouth and 185 feet near Maple Lake; and, instead of the northward |ascent of the nj^jcr beach 125 feet in 140 miles, this had been gradually l«liniinished to 117, 110, 1)5, 80, 02, 50, 37, and finally 25 feet at the time |of the formation of the McCauley ville beach. I In Dakota the same series of beaches ar«» found and they have been f trailed along the whole or parts of their course, with determination of itheir elevations, to a distance about 75 miles fiirther north than in ^Minnesota. In 224 miles from Lake Traverse to the international jbounbe]l and ^IcCanleyville stages it was reduced to only and 4 feet in about 50 miles; yet it continues through all these stages ap- proximately half as much ]nn' mile as the ascent toward the north. The rate of ascent eastward also increased, like that northward, in proceed- ing from south to noith. At the latitude of Wahpeton ami IJrecken- ridge, o."* mihs north from the month of Lake Agassiz, the ascent of the lake level in its highest s1ag<^ was 10 feet from west to east in 45 miles; at the latitude of Fargo an, ]>aptir before J AREA AND DEl'TIl Ol' LAKE ACiASSlZ. i The beaches of Lake Agassiz, as here described in Dakota and from iTiake Traverse and Herman north to Maple Lake, in Mluiu\sota, extend i|throngh a prairie region very favorable for exj)loration and leveling, tt'lio farther course of the upper beach turns to the east and northeast lind lies in a trackless forest, much of which consists of almost iiupass- '^ble tamarack swamps. It is therefore quite impracticable to trace its iDourse exactly through this wilderness; but, from the known elevation i)f Red Lake (about 1,150 feet above the sea), of the Lake of the Woods ;(1,(M)2 fi^et), and of Kainy Lake (about 1,120 feet), the outline of Lake lAgassiz when it had its greatest height can be mapped appioximately. _; From the north side of Maple Lake this outline extends eastward, |)a8sing south of lied Lake, across the ]>ig Fork of Kainy IJiver, and Jialong the south side of Kainy Lake, its height above Ked and Kainy ^jakes being i)robably about 50 and 150 feet, respectively. Thus Lake lAgassiz fit this time of greatest height reached along tlie international |[)oundary farther east than the meridians of Minneapolis :iiid Saint |^*aul. Its expanse included only few islands, these being of small area and near the shore. When this glacial lake attained its greatest extent, it probably ex- peede s n « 2 = 5 s, J ^ .tJ S fcs ^ a 2 -=3 01 •* 1> b ^^ o =3 <" tc - « •a — ©■ 00 13 -^ jd o C3 A ^J M S J, •^ 2 ►« li •3S « a o i 1: a ^ <« V o -^ Si. w V o T. > .« « ® « -a 's^ ^^ 00 *■ tn « a-2 o o « ^ f^ •n « * ■* ^ ss ; 11 ^S : « c I ^^ '^^ ^^ J ~~s' a> CO Cl ^ o s 2 o 3- "^ ^^ «9 ^ 'c S e, ^ O « ^ CI 3 o o 3 3 i-« t- to CO t" M CO rt r-( .a u 2 .a _^§ __ ■"■s : - — ^ _^ CI o ^ ^' ■A l. CO &1 5o CO o CO S •^ o o o o s c i- •"• t-H 1-H O I— I f— 1 1— 1 125 § « ~ 3 5 :? CI f Ci -TO f— < ■■ y^ o o f-T 5 •—1 f-T t-T -rr r^ ,,^ "^ "^ e -^ c ^ "^"^ ^.^ _^ ,— V ^ h- CO o ^ __^ — » "^ ^^ lo o c o :S?g § 5 S o e> 00 <0 I 2 o S ■* ?5 ^ Cl »^ 1^ '-f ^ —t <-H ~ I.-5 O CI -H g 00 _. r- r-t -^ ** « * • -^ _ _^ ,_^ Ift o ;^ ~ S ' " £ s r-* i «li i : CO c^ CI CI _^ j—^ i"^ ^.^ O CO i* — -^ ~ ^^ ^^^ o -* ir 1.-5 O CJ t^ «o ■* S? C in TD ou o 1- t4 CI o 00 t-H r-t 1-t rH Cl l- o '^" o O a C» CI ^H . *— 1 f-* l-( f-H V»4 »^ »-< i-i" I— I— t t— ' \M CI CI rt i "e »0 "^ ^ - i 3 s 5^ 1- 2 Cl CO »-« r-T .a ^ 13 £ o m i^ 1! ^^ « a a 01 O ,D % •3 lO en -I 41 1 » s i ■a « 1 "-S 2 — • o •2 ^ ^ pi? r^ rt © o 3 ■3^0 - * '"■■ C r| -2 O iU o u Pi t -^ 2 1 iH I' s H c 4 c« O 1 ia C! tn o If 4) O a i ^ o a ^ -^ -C o o - 1 ^'3 ® o 5 « ^^ a o 2 o a .s 4/ 3 S) a O c: i-J tM o ja o en a lO S .9 -2 4) ^ a) 3 I.O CO «r to ? a 41 1 ^ 5 .a <. £ *- ° a - 1 s Ml s "^ fe a ^ 2 o ii a a 1 e =• "^ --, s '» ^ a .9 if ■a . « H ^ n H ct ei CO CO H ■* (406) T flll'Ll,. y.t. t'i'lUM,] HERMAN HKACII IN MINNESOTA. 21 t- i o o o <1; i .9 <" A a * " te « © 9 « '3 in '2 B CO S 2 S I-" a V i; o £i g -^ M H 1 THE UPPER OR HERMAN BEACH IN MINNESOTA.' [Sen the ao'oniiiaiiyiiip; iii;ip, I'lato l.\ FROM LAKK TRAVEUSE EAST TO HERMAN. . * Lake Traverst', elovatiou 970 feet above tbe sea. IJlutls next to Lake Traverse south from the Mustinka Rive: , eleva- j?tiou 1,072 to 1,075 feet above the sea. ' IJhilfs opposite to tlieso and for 3 or 4 miles northward, on the west -^ide of Lake Traverse, 1,090 to 1,070 feet. IMuff or ridge forming tlie highest land between the Mnstinka lliver Imd the J3ois des Sioux Kiver, from Sec. 35 to Sec. 13, T. 12S, 11.47 i(the west part of Monscn), an island beach ridge of Lake Agassi/. Idai'iiig its maximum stage, about 1,050 feet. Upi)er or Herman beach in Sees. 2 and 11, T. 12G, E. 47 (Walls), 1,000 fto 1,002 teet, 4 to 5 miles east from the north end of Lake Traverse, Hvhere the steep eroded bluff gives place to Hhe gentle 8loi)e of the natural surface, allow- ing the accumulation of a distinct beach ridge ^of gravel. This is smoothly rounded, 15 to ;20 rods in width, bounded eastward on the •side toward the ancient lake by a moder- Jately steep slope which descends 10 or 12 ifeet, the land 1 ti- 4 mile ; distant northeast- ward within the area tliat was covered by the lake being 20 to 4C feet below this beach. On the other side this ridge is succeeded by a slight depression 2 to 5 feet deep, beyond hvhich the land soon rises 10 to 15 feet above the beach. The material ^of the beach is gravel, containing pebbles up to 2 or 3 inches iu diam- 'eter, but all the surface elsewhere on each side is till. • Beach in Sees. 30 and 32, T. 120, K. 4G (Croke), passing southeast- Hvard near the southeast corner of Sec. 30, 1,000 to 1,067 feet. I Beach near the middle of Sec. 9, T. 125, K. 40 (Tarrah), 1,057 feet. I Its contour and material and those of tiJie adjoining areas are nearly ■the same as at the lo(rality already described. The width of the gravel Ibeach here is 25 or 30 rods ; the smoothed surface of till which descends I thence northward is 10 to 20 feet lower iu its first mile ; on the south ' the sheet of till is at first for 40 or 50 rods about 5 feet lower than the f top of the beach, but beyond this it gradually rises to a height 10 to 25 land 50 feet above the beach. The average height of its moderately uu- f dulating surtjice, miles to the south at Graceville, is nearly represented I by the railroad at the depot there, 1,107 feet. B s l)eriiig the sections i3 shown by Fig. 2, above. I (^07) •>'} IJPl'EK JJEACHES OF LAKE AGASSIZ. (hull. 39. PHAM.] Tkiicli at Deiiwis AV. O'lJiieii's lioiise, in the SW. ^ of Sec. 11, T. 125, U. 10, 1,001 to ],O0L»A feet. Northwuid from O'Brien's, as far as tlu; view reaches, across" T. iLMi, II. 4(} (Croke), and T. 120, IL ir> (I)oleys nioniit), Lake A^assiz was very sliallow, the sniootli and nearly level surface of till beiii^- 1,01.") to 1,035 feet above the sea. For the next 3 miles eastward the beach is less conspicuous than usual, in the northwest part of Sec. 8, the SE. ^ of Sec. 5, and throuj-h the middle of Sec. 4, T. 125, li. 45 (Leonardsville), this shore line i.s aj:iiin distinctly marked by a slight terrace in the till, descending north- ward in a, moderately stee[> slope 5 to 10 feet, rather than by the usual accumulation of gravel. The top of this terrace is at 1,050 to 1,057 feet. The house of I'atriek Leonard is built upon the edge of this terrace at tlu? middle of tlie east side of section 4. Ucach, low gravel ridge 20 rods wide, 5 feet high above adjacent level, in the southeast part of S(;c. 21, T. 120, li. 45 (Doleysmount), 1,000 to l,()(»l feet. These deterniiuatious indicate that in Traverse County the surface of Lake Agassi/,, during its maxinuun stage, Avas very nearly 1,045 to 1,055 feet al>o\e our present sea level. In the northwest corner of Stevens County this upper or Herman bea(;h is well displayed In the XW. ^ of Sec. IJ), T. 1 20, li. 44 (Eldorado), having an elevation of about 1,003 feet. Through Sec. 18 it is 20 to 25 rods wide, with its crest at 1,003 to 1,000 feet, being a gently rounded ridge of sand and gravel, containing pebbles up to 2 or 3 inches in di- ameter. Its height is 7 to 10 feet above the land next west and 5 feet above the depression next east. The surface ou each side is till, slowly falling westward and rising eastward. In the southeast i)artof Sec. 7, same townshii), the crest of the beach is at l,0ii7 to 1,070 feet. Here and onward the next two miles, through the XW. I of Se(5. 8, the southeast part of Sec. 5, and the \sestern and northern i»art of Sec. 4, this formation is finely exhibited in a ridge of gravel ami sand 20 to 30 rods wide, 15 feet or more above its base westward, where lay the glacial liake Agassi/, and 8 to 10 feet above the dc[)ression cistward, which divides it froni the higher, moderately undidatiug exjianst? of till b(!yoiul. In the east part of See. 5 its eleva- tioM is 1,005 feet, and through Sec. 4, 1,005 to 1,072 feet. Sill of l<]/A-.i S. Diinuiug's hou.se, Sec. 3, T. 120, li. 44 (Eldorado), 1,074 feet. Wiiter in the S»Mith lli'anch of iMustiidca liiver, 5 feet deep, in the NVV. ^of Sec. .31, T. 127, It. 41 (Logan, CJrant County), 1,0.">3 feet. Upper or llerinan beach, in the northwest i)art of Sec, 27, same town- ship, 1,0()7 t . 1 ,001) feet; in thci S W. [ of Sec. 22, 1,007 ; in the north ])art of this See. 22 and the south part of Sec;. 15, forming a broad, smoothly rounded graxcl ridge, 1,0(J8 to 1,071 feet. This beach luMr the middle of Si'. 15, a th ird of a mile southwest from Dr. C. O. Pacpnu's, about 30 rods wide, with a broad, nearly Hat (408) |op, 1,0 ) the i ice tin yiie bei Beac Bouthei |jown.^,h fe)r -0 1 iJepi tods fr ' Surii thirdo of the 1 est par ^ile pf * Sain eion, t mile p( Jose jBec. IJ Jiere, o ■ IL 1 %U teach Bea the w« feet. Iibout ^lul 1< l L. ! •jieigh Bei Usual J ,070 ^race Band, iVet ; ;jfeet; il. 44 j^iortl ,1 mi this ( Be Sec. piui.i,. ao. (!. 11, T. 125, i far as tin; ir> (DoIe^s nearly level )iciious than and through shore line is iiuling nortli- by the usual to 1,057 feet, lis terrace at Ij.iceut level, mt), 1,0G0 tt) he surface of uly J, 045 to r or lleruiaii 4 (Eldorado), it is 20 to 2r, utly rounded 1 inches in di- .'st and 5 feet is till, slowly of the beach liles, througli I \s esterii and id in a rid{^o bove its base 10 feet above I', moderately e. 5 its eleva- lorado), 1,074 ), intheNW. it. 7, same town- he north ])art lid, smoothly le southwest I, nearly Hut PPHAM.] HERMAN BEACH IN MINNESOTA. 23 lop, 1,070 feet, having* ii descent of about 15 feet on its northwest side ) the area of Lake Agassiz and half as much on the southeast, the sur- ce thence rising very gradually in the 1^ miles eastward to l[ennaa. he beach ridge is gravel ; the land at each sid«?, till. I Beach, equally well exhibited, close to Br. Paquin's house, at the Ijoutheast corner of Sec. 10 and in the southwest part of Sec. 11, same |«)wnp,hip, 1,009 to 1,071 feet J and in this Sec. 11, at ihe railroad, and j|)r '^O rods south westward, 1,004 to 1,000 feet. ; Depression, 40 rods wide, next southeast at the n^'roail (lowest 20 tods from the top of the beach), 1,000 to 1,003 feet. . Surface of till at the southeastern snow fences of the railroad, ;ibout a fjliird of a mile southeast from the beach, 1,073 feet; at the nortii west end pi tiie northwestern snow fences, about 25 rods northwest from the high- est part of the beach, 1,054 feet; and at the one nundred and eightieth |uile post, about a quarter of a mile north- ^t from the last, l.Oli) feet, f Saint l*aul, Minneapolis and Manit(j^ii Kail wax . Breckenridgc divi- sion, track at Herman, 1,070 feet; at the one '-iundred and eightieth Jiiile post, 1,051 feet.* iniOSl TIEUMAN NOUTII TO TIIE RED lllVEIl. I Joseph Moses's house, lloor of piaz/a, in the SW. j oi" the N\V. [ of j&ec. 18, T. 128, II. 43 (Delaware), 1,007 feet; upper or Herman beach jbere, on which this house is built, 1,000 to 1,007 fec^t. I JI. 1). Kendall's house, wt the cash side of the SK. [ of Sec. 12, T. 12S, J{.. 44 ((Jorton), on the western slope of this beach, 1,0()2 ieet ; top of the beach ridge, about 25 rods east of Mr. Kendall's house, 1,007 feet. Beach through the next 1} miles north from INFr. iMoses's house, along the west side of Sees. 18 lud 7, T. 128, K. 43 (Delaware), 1,00(; to 1,008 feet. The bisich for this distance is finely exhibited, having a, width of ■jibout 25 rods, rising 5 to 8 feet above the tlepressiou at its east side and 10 to 15 feet above tlivi land west. L. [. IJaker'shousesill, in the SW. .{ of Sec. (5, same township, of same ■jieight with tlui top of the beach ridge, on which i(, is l)uilt, J,OOS feet. ^ Beach in Sec. 31, T. 12!), 11. 13 (Elbow Lake), not so considcuous as lisual, 1,(U)(J feet ; in (or near) tlie SW. .[ of Sec. 10, same township, Jl,070feet; in the VAV. \ of Sec. L8, at the house of Henry Olson, a jgracefully rounded low ridge, as elsewhere^, composed of gravel ami Band, including pebbles u[> to 3 inches in si( |>;utly land adjoining' this ridgo on the east and about 10 feet above the fla' f nridgf land near on tlie west; in ycc. 1*3, .same towiishii), 1,070 feet ; and ueai lis a t"'i the south side of Sec. 10, same township, 1,000 to 1,074 feet. Extensive sloughs or marshes oocuir in Sec. 30 and in Sees. 25 and 21, same townshii», each being about a mile long, lying on the east side c the beach ridge at Dr. Tucker's and reaching 2i miles northward ; tin elevation of tliese abovcj sea level is about 1,000 feet. In the north part of S(H',. 10 and the south part of Sec. 3, sanu township, this shore lino of Lake Agassi/, is not marked as usual by gravel ridge, but by a somewhat abrupi: ascent or terrace in the drill most. sheet of till, the elevation of the top of which, composed partly nilt <» to 1,050 feet. IMiis escarpment, the eroded shore lino of the lake, passo> |^orlh 1 about 40 rods west of N. S. Denton's house, at the north side of Sec. Id, |^i Sec. Beach in Sec. 34, T. 131, K. 44 (Western), the southwest townshif I Ueac of Otter Tail County, near John F. Wentworth's, 1,070 to 1,075 feet; aurt;u;e at IMr. Wentworth's barn, 1,072 feet. Beach 25 rods east of Albert Copelandc's house, in the SW. j of Sec, 28, same townshii), 1,070 to 1,000 feet; where it is crossed by the old road from Fergus Falls to Campbell, near the northwest cornci of this Sec. 28, 1,072 feet; through the next 2 miles north, finely dc veloi)ed, with nearly constant height, 1,072 feet, being 7 to 10 fvv\ above the depression at its east side aiul 20 feet above the area west ^ MH^i' ward, which was covered by Lake Agassiz ; at Michael J. SliorteIl'.<. ^^ ^''^ Sec. y, same township, 1,073 feet; one mile farther north, 1,078 feet; I '•^''^' and at A. J. Swift's, in the SE. \ of the NW. .{ of Sec. 4 , 1,070 fee 1. Th. |,'^ '- ' beach at Mr. Swift's, and for half a mile farMier north, is well exhibited ^'i ^'^ and, as in many other places, is bordered ju its east side by a narrow floites strip of marsh. '»*'^ Beach in the SW. \ of the NE. \ of Sec. 33, T. 132, \i. 44, 1,070 feet ; B"''fli top of large aboriginal mound, situated on the beach here, 1,082 feet; t^'i'l' land 30 rods west, 1,000 feet; lakelet 2.i0 feet in diameter, about an X^''^.'^' eighth of a mile northeast from the large mouiul, 1,0 51 feet. J^'il^ Eed Iiivor of the Korth, near the northeast corner of Sec. 33, T. 132. 1'"^ • K. 44, 1,014 feet; on the linc^ between this township and T. 132, K. 4.1 f*^^'''" (P.use), 1,011 feet; at Dayton bridge, in the KE. J of the SW. j of Sec 20, T. 132, U. 43, 1,004 feet, being 8 feet below the bridge. S. A. Aus tin's house, foundation, in the N\V. [ of the SW. j of Sec. 20, same town shi]), 1,147 feet. Old grade for railroad at Dayton britlge, about 1,10- feet. No noticeable delta was brought into Lake Agassiz by the lied liiver, *^'^* ''^* Ihe b FROM TirFi llEl) RTVFIl NOTM'II TO MUSKODA. ft disi Beach near the south side of Sec. 21, T. 132, It. 44, 1,077 feet; in this •^ ''' Sec. 21, an eighth of a mile north of the road from Fergus Falls to Breck- •^**"^ (410) 30 ro( :l^t' a I t Kai l^om $to 1 iBUH. 39. #rliAM. I HERMAN' BEACH IN MINNESOTA. )ove the fiai et ; and neai t. C8. 25 and 24, e east side o 'til ward; tlu Sec. 3, saiiu 18 usual by ;i e ill the drili sed partly v: id westward ^gassiz, l,()(iii elake, passim lideot'Sec. ](i, rest towiisLi[ to 1,075 feet; 6W. .i of Sec, OS sed by tlu' hwest coriH'i »rth, finely do 7 to lo" feet the area west J. Sliortell's, h, 1,078 feet; )70feet. Tli( veil exhibited e by a narrow 44, 1,070 foet; re, ] ,(KS2 feet ; iter, about an set. lee. 33, T. 132. T. 132, U. 1.1 SW. I of Sec. S. A. Alls !0, same town e, about 1,10J he Ked liiver. V. J feet; in tlii» alls to Breek- 25 i|nridge, 1,070 feet; and for the next mile north, 1,077 to 1,080 feet. This is a t"»ncal beaeli ridi>e, gently rounded, composed of sand and j^ravel, ioiitaining pebbles up to 3 inches in diameter; its width is 30 to 40 lods, and its hei},;ht above the very flat area on its west side, which yas covered by Lake Agassiz (usually somewhat marshy next to the Seach), is about 15 feet. On the east tiiere is first a depression of i |o feet, suc(;eeded within a fourth of a mile eastward by a jjentle as- lent, which rises 5 to 10 or 15 feet above the beach. Tlie material ifn each side of the beach is till, slightly modified by the lake on the tjrest. It is all fertile prairie, beautifully green, or in many places ellow or purple with Mowers during July and August, the months I wliicli this survey was made. In August, 1881, no liouses had been ;^uilt on this beaeh, nor witliin one mile from it, along its first II miles -|orlh from the* Red liiver, the first liouse found near tlie beach being |i Se(!. 20, T. 134, 11. 45 (Akron), in Wilkin County. Ueach at a low portion, probably in the SM \ of Sec. 5, 1. 132, K. 4, 1,075 feet. A lake, nearly a mile long, lies on the Hat lowland about |iie and a half miles west from this low part of the beach. Tlie eleva- |ioii of tliis lake was estimated at 1,055 or 1,050 feet; it is only a few iLH't lower than the general surface around it. it Heacii, probably near the north side of this Sec. 5, 1,078 feet. On its iast side liere and for a lialf mile botli to the soutii and nortli is a slough, |>artly filled with good grass and partly with rushes; its width is about $ (luaiter of a mile and its elevation about 1,070 feet. Tlie land west ff the beach descends, within 1 or 2 miles, from 1,0(J0 to 1,050 feet. I lleaeh a Iburth of a mile north from the point last noted, 1,071 to 1,072 ieet. This is a tyiiical gravel beach, only 4 feet aliovc the slough 011 the easi, and bonlered on the west by marshy grassland, which « ilojies gently down 5 to 15 feet below this beach ridge Ueach at its lowest [)ortion for this vicinity, within a third of a mile Borth of the preceding and near the center of Sec. 32, T. 133, K, 44 (Carlisle), 1,070 to 1,0(»S feet, being only 2 feet above the marsh or |lough on its east side. A railroad grade, abandoned, lies a third of a J^iile east of this. Ueach a fourth of a mile farther north, 1,077 feet, ^iid, about one mile north from its lowest portion, 1,075 feet, (uit by a iavine, the bottom of which is nearly at l,Oi53 ti^et. This ravine is some 80 rods west of the abaiidoneil railroad embankment. l>e:icli a Iburth ©f a mile north-northwest from the last, 1,077 feet, i Railroad giiule where it crosses the beach, about a mile northwesterly Sfrom the ravine mentioned, 1,077 feet. Beach here, 1,070 feet, being ^ to 10 feet above the slough on its east siile and having about the |he same height above the marsh next to it westward. The material of the beach, shown by the railroad emban'iment, which is made of it along a distance of a third of a mile, is coarse gravel, with abundant pebbles $f all sizes up to inches in diameter, fully half of them being lime- |tone. J (411) 26 UPPER PEACHKS OF LAKE AGAS.SIZ. [liVhU 30. tJjfHAM.] Beach near the west side of Sec. 7, same township, at the west liiu of Otter Tail Comity, 1,083 feet. Here it is a smoothly rounded gravel ridge about 15 feet above the ed,i;'e- of the Hat area that was covered b.v Lake Agassiz on the west and 10 feet above a marsli or slon<;h that lies a few rods distant on its east side. Sill of Kudolph Nifijjreler's house, in the SFi. | of See. L*(5, T. 134, l;, 45 (Akron), 1,070 feet Tliis is on a i)ortion of the beach extending: about a third of a mile from south to north; a (juarter of a mile lo tin north its elevation is 1,082 feet. In the northeast [>art oi* Sec. 35 and in the north half of Sec. 1*0 this beach is interrupted by sloughs, which take its place for a (pnirter of a mile. Beach in the south half of Sec. 23, same townshi]), 1,071) to l,OSi' feet; in the NVV. \ of this Sec. 23, 1,075 to 1,080 feet. Through Sees. 14, 10, and 3, same township, tlie beach does not hav( its ordinary ridged form, but is mostly marked by a dei)osit of gravel and sand lying upon a slope that rises gradually eastward. Us elevation liere is 1,075 to l,08ij feet. In the southern part of this distance, proh ably in the SW. | ot Sec. 14, the margin of the Hat, sonu>what marsh.v area that appears to have been covered by Lake Agassi/ is very deli uite at 1,075 feet, whi(;h thus was probably the height of the lake here. Beach in the SW. [ of Sec. 31, T. 135, K. 45 (Tanberg), eomi)osed <>i gravel, nearly flat, 25 to 30 rods wide, 1,084 to 1,087 I'eet, bordered li\ a depression of 2 to 5 feet on the east and by an expanse 10 to 15 fett lower on the west. Beach in the N W. | of this Sec. 34, 1 ,084 to 1 ,087 feet. Here the lan is 1,080 to 1,050 feet, being consi east border. The highest land westwartl in the west edge of T. 135, Jl. 45 (Tanberg), between these marshes and Manston, is about 1,000 feet, Along most of this distance the ordinary beach ridge is wanting. (412) Sail i^n, tr ic.3; Smih beenl epd so which The el and sa b^t wi ftlie, a il| dial Bea north Beac 99uth belt 2.' ward, of a m townsl 1,095 t severa TJIie dc feet ab , Beat aw.i house, fEnti: ill the t|e sea not hi|. eastwa diBrs ui rplling throng moder; beach <^ the l^]lev (puml Qiver, iMTea tl JH-ojecl by the ; Sain 1^0071 [11ULU30. I^AM.] HERMAN BEACH IN MINNESOTA. 27 the west liiK jjSiiiut ruul, Mimitiapolus and Manitoba Uaihvay, lYnj^uis Falls divis- uundc'd gravel Wi? tra(;k at Lawndale water tank, in or near the southeast corner ot" as covered l\v ^c. 33, T. l.'itj, li,. 4:5(t*rairie Vie\v),G miles northwest Ironi liothsay and >r slono'U that ^"''^*^'* southeast from Jiarnesville, 1,().S8 feet. Here a sidetrack has li^eu bid, extending about a third of a mile northward, with its northern L*(> T. 134, Jt, C#*l some 50 rods east of the main line, to take ballast from the beacjh, leh extendini; ^J^i^^^ ^'^ ^^'^^^ exhibited here and onward, having its typical ridged form. f a mile to tlit Olie elevation of its crest is 1,091 to 1,094 feet. It is composed of gravel iL* Sec. 35 and ^^ sand in about equal amounts, interstratitied mainly in level layers, ;lotighs, which ^^^ ^^'i*^^^ these often obli(iuely laminated. Most of the gravel is osit of gravel IBeach about 3 miles north from Lawndale water tank, [U'obably in the Its elevation ^^^^h part of Sec. KJ, T. 130, K. 45 (L'rairie View), not ridged, but a listance pro!)' ^^^ -^'^ ^^^^'^ wide, of gravel and sand, on a slope of till that rises east- ewhat, marsliv ^^^^^j 1,080 to 1,102 feet. lUiach, a ridge of gravel and sand, a third li/ is very deli ^ '^ "^''^ north from the last, 1,105 jeet. The beach in Sec. 9 of this ' the lake here, ^^^''"^'^U^ i^ spread more broadly than u>ual, its higher parts being comi)osed oi li|l^'J5 to 1,107 feet. Here the beach deposits are crossed oblicpiely by t bordered bv 8#veral broad depressions 10 to 15 feet dee[), runiting south-souUiwest. e 10 to 15 feet 'W^ depression east of all these banks of gravel anil sand is about 1,090 filet above the sea. Here the land .I^tiach, a well marked ridge of gravel of the usual ehara(;ter, in the in*"" the beaili ^l.^. ^ of Sec. 4, same township, 1,090 to 1,09S feet, and at John Hart's y belt niostl\ h.**"***-'? i'^ ^''^ N\V. \ of tiiis Sec. 4, 1,103 feet. t)ve the belt o\ f;l^ntering Clay County, the eh;vation of this upper or Herman beach e the ''•enenii ^ ^''•^ ^'^^^ ^^^^*^ '^^ '^^'^' '''''' ^- ^''^' ^^" ^'^ (lluml)oldt), is 1,100 feet above m part of tlii> ti|^sea. The land thence for two-thirds ofainile east is low ami smooth, h about 1 OSd IPt higher than the l)ea(;h. IJeyond this the next third of a mile north- led by a sur #!^tward, in the north part of Sec. 34, is very rocky, with many bowl- astwa'rd ^'^^^ "1* ^^ ^* '^'"^^ rai-ely 10 feet in diameter, the contoni' being moderately ^ same town- ^^^^^'» l^^to30 or 10 feet abovi^ the hea(;h. I'\irtlier I'a.s' svard here and of a mile w«',si t^rt>"JJf'' th^ "•'•'^l 1^^ miles north to liie Xo' hein l'a(;i(ic liailroad, the larked bv am moderately rolling or smoothly hilb '•■' rises 100 to 250 feet above this b^ach within the distance of about 10 miles between it and the eastlino wat(«,r all tli. ^ ^^"^ ^'«""ty. liore line and I'ilevation of the beach ridge in the east half o!" Sec. 28, T. 137, It. 45 miles froii (pii"»l>oldt), one-lburtii to three-fourths of a mile s(»uth of NV^illow to the soul! fl^^'^'N 1,098 to 1,100 feet. In tiie 3 miles westward to l>acne,sville the »elt()f slou<'li> '^^'^ ^^^''^^' ^^''•'^ covered by Lake Agassi/, shows here and there bowlders t than (Hi^it^ IJ^ojecting 1 to 2 feet above the surface, which is til!, slightly smoothed : of T. 135, li,^ the lake. )ut 1 000 feet ^'^'*'i"t Paul, Minneapolis, and ManitobaUailway, track at Barnes ville, anting. 1.007 feet. f 28 UPPEK BEACHES OF LAKE AGASSIZ. [BULL. 3! HllAMj The luisich for three- fbiirths of a mile north from Willow River coi sists of a belt of gravel and sand, lying on an eastwardly ascendin slope of till. Throiiyii tlio next lA miles northward, in the NW. |( Sec. 2li and in See. 1."), T. 137, K. 45 (Humboldt), the shore of Lai; Agassiz is not marked by the usual beach of gravel and sand, bnt ii stead becomes a belt of marsliy and .springy land 20 to 50 rods wi(l^ rising by a gentle sloi)e eastward, rough with many hummocks ain hollows, in some, portions forniing a (piaking bog, in which horses ain oxen attempting to cross are mired. In the next 13 miles nortliward, through Sees. 10 and 3, same towi ship, the beach is nowhere well marked as a ridge, but is mainly a Ixi of gravel ami sand, lying on a slope of till, which gradually rises 30 1 40 feet higlier ;it the east. Tlie lack of typical beach dei)0sits on tli: shoi-e tlirough the north half of this township is probably due to it sheltered situation in the lee of islands on the northwest. The coui> (►f the shore currents, determined by the ])revailing winds, seems to hav been southward, as on the shores of Lake Michigan. Iligli(;st part of southern island in the east edge of Lake Agassiz, i the Nl'i. I of Sec. 5, T. 137, K. 45 (Humboldt), extending northwai into T. 13S, 11. 15 (Skree), 1,117 to 1,122 feet. This islan-i was about mile long from south to north. Beach on its west side, a well develops ridge ot gr; vel, near the middle of the north line of Sec. 5, 1,005 feci and for a third of a mile northnorthwestfromthis, 1,094 to 1,090 feet. tlic east side of the beacili, as it continues northward, is a slough twi thirds of a mile long from south to north and about 30 rods wide, 1,08 feet. Tills was evidently filled by a lagoon, sheltered on the southeii^ by the island and sei)arated from the main lake by the beach. Ti ward the northeast it widened into a shallow expanse of water, 8 to I feet deep, about U miles wide, divided from the broad lake on the wo by two islands and this beach, or bar, which connected them. Lak Agassiz here api)ears to have stood at the height of 1,090 to 1,095 fei Lieach or bar in the north part of Sec. 32, T. 138, K. 45 (Skree), broad rounded ridge of gravel, with pebbles up to 3 or 4 inches in dian eter, 1,103 feet, ami through the next half mile, in the south half ( Sec. 29, 1,102 to 1,101 feet. Along ])art of this distance the bear rieea ^qjec ^ring •|The Mver s, seems to hav iuke Agassiz, i Wug northwai m'l was about I Avell deveUiiti'i id. 5, 1,095 fee! ^) 1,090 feet. (J s a slough t\v( ods wide, 1,0^ 1 the southea^ he beaeh. Ti f water, 8 to 1 ^ke on the wo d them. Lak )0 to 1,095 foi I. 45 (Skree), iindies in diaii 5 south hair ( mce the boat isual, the laii s beaeh or \n\ 9 and 20, sum lof the SE. 1 ( farther nortl s, near the mil a very dehnit et. ravel and saii s'as situated i eeast half of this section and extended also eastward in a long, low qjection nearly across the south side of Sec. 10, and nortliward iialf ,y across Sec. 8. Highest part of this island, in or near the NE. -^ of e N W. i of Sec. 17, about 1,125 feet. The old shore of the north half this island has no l)each ridge nor other deposits of gravel and sand, t is plentifully strewn with largo bowlders up to 5 and 10 feet in di- eter, and many of these project 2 to 5 feet above the general surface. ||ie lake waves eroded here and deposited the sand and gravel gath- S|ed from this till as a beach a little farther sontli. iNorth and northeast from this northern island a lower expanse, "arly level and in some portions marshy, resembling tlie broad flat lley of the Ked Eiver, extends li miles to tlui east shore of Lake assiz, its height being 1,075 to 1,090 feet, or 10 to 25 feet below the rface of the ancient lake. The distance between these ishuuls was 2 ^les, and the distance from the summit of the tirst to that of the sec- Cptil, nearly due north, 4 miles. Each of them rose about 25 ieet above !^keAgassiz. The strait between them and the mainland eastward lias 10 to 20 foet deep and from 1 to U miles wide, ex(;epting a. narrow ce i:ear the southeast corner of Sec. 10. East of the northern island e main shore of the lake was indented by a bay a third to a half of die wide and about 10 feet deep, stretching 2.i miles southeastward |)m the lake at the northwest corner of Sec. 10 to the w(!st part o! c. 23, same township. The shore of the lalce east of its islands along is bay and northwesterly to the north line of this township lackf e beach deposits which elsewhere distinguish it. fin its contiiniation northwestward the shore line of the old lake run; gonally across Sec, 32, T. 139, \t. 45 (Hawley), where it again presents iO anomalous character of a very springy and nnirshy belt, 20 to 40 Is wide, rough with hummocks and in many places so deeply miry at it is dangerous for teams. This boggy tract has a gentle descent |Bstward,its lower portion being about 1,085 feet, and its upper b(U-dci', l|ry nearly level across this entire section, being 1,098 to 1,100 feet, tiftiich was almost exactly tlie height of Lake Agassiz, as shown by its tinct beach of gravel and sand at the south and mnth. Next east- rd rises a moderately undulating slope of till, strewn with abundant wlders; and rarely a bowlder, 2 to 5 fVet in diameter, is seen on the ringy land that marks the border of tlie ancient lake. DKLTA OP THE IIUPFALO UlVFJl. (The delta brojight into the east side of Lake Agassiz by the Buftalo ver extends about 5 miles south westward from JMuskoda, forming a Ofntinuously descending plain of stratili«Ml sand and fuu^ gravel, de- Caning from 1,100 f«'('t near I\ruskorthward along a distance of 3 miles to the Butlalo Uiver, this delta (415) so tIPPEU MKAOITMS OK f.AKE AGAHST/ riltTf.T. T Wll'AM plain is tormiiuitcil by a steep slope like the face ot ji terrace ; the ont( ^•''■♦' portion of the ori 'J- ^ finely FROM IMUSKODA NOKTll TO TIIK WJLD KICK RIVEU. The de rlii(\s a Beach in the next 2 miles north of Mnskoda, mainly 1,11.'? to Ijl-'j.*^. , feet; at its lowest depression, about 1 mile north of Mnskoda, 1, id _^ ' ' 1,105 feet very approximately above our present sea level. Within to 10 miles northward, its height seems to have been 1,110 to 1,115 fee sdilted nc|kr th wk\ mr Beach through the north half of Sec. 30, T. 110, R. 45, 1,128 t.^^^ . 1,131 feet, and through the west part of Sees. 19 and 18, same towi i . nor m ship, 1,125 to 1,130 li3ot, composed of sand and line gravel, not generall. :.^.^ iu a typical ridge, but often with a depression 2 to 5 feet lower castwui W" , and boniuled on the west by a descent of about 30 feet within an eight .-T ' of a mile. A surface of slightly undulating till rises very graduall * from this beach eastward. . T [ ^ \ In T. 139, 11. 40 (lliverton), and in Sees. 35 and 20, T. 140, U. "^1 J^^^ the eroded western border of the delta of Bulfalo Hi ver marks the whoi i ,. of Lake Agassiz at the time of the Norcross beach. In the west part of Sec. 24, T. 140, II. 40, and for 4 miles "ortl:^., . ward, the Norcross beach lies ojjly 1 mile to a halt mile west of tli. ^_: ., rom till upp'^r bea(!h and is about 50 ftM't lower. Tin; terracelike area betwcr ^^ , . these beaches is strewn with occasional bowlders up to 0, 8, or 10 <'«''i^ o() iu diameter and rarely of larger size, nnnih more abundant than "l*",f Ajf, the average surface of the till in this region, indicating that the surfar (410) ruru fl! #"A^' I FfKRMAN nFAOTT fN MIXNRSOTA. 31 i'iicc tliconti 'fl^'"'"*' '"^"^ ''*''^'" <'<>n.si(U'r{ibly eroded by tlie waves of tho lake. The 1 carried aw;i wi'P'^t l)o\\i(ler seen in Clay County lies about 50 rods west of the up- od at tho lo\v( Ipi Ixiucli, in or near Sec. 12, T. 140, E. -40. Its dimensions are 15 by ]§ by 5 feet and ils top is 1,005 feet above the sea. It is gneiss, mi- >et. Threshol ll|ib^ly ])orphyriti(', witli white feldspar crystals up to au eighth or a la depot, 1,11 #i>^^<'i" "*■'»" i"^'l' 1*>'>S- Balfalo Ilivcr ; The elevation of the foot ot the western slope of the upper or Her- of tho churcl: tt|i" beach along the north part of the east line of T. 1-40, R. 46, is 1,095 ng 14 or 15 fci ti 1,100 feet. (Vest of the [N^orcross beacli in Sec. 12, T. 140, R. 40, 6 ed drift on tli n^h'"^ noith of Muskoda, 1,080 feet, and along the distance of 3 miles 5ion at its eas m»o'i{?h Sih;s. ID, 12, and 1, it varies from 1,075 to 1,085 feet. In Sec. the former pi'( 31, T. 141, K. 45 (Keon), its height is 1,085 feet. Like the Herman ely G or e "ii bijjacli, it is a low, smoothly rounded ridge of gravel and sand, usually s of these i)f!h||vi'ig a d('pr(\ssion of ;> to 5 feet or more at its east side. ey found in an f^^PP^'i" <>i' 1 b'rmau beach at a high porticm in or near the SE. ^ of Sec, l|fr. 1 40, 11. 40, 1 ,1 .'5(1 feet. For a mile next south from this point, it is j fliftely rounded ridge of gravel rising northward from 1,130 to 1,136 feet. RiVEii. Th<> depression at its east side is 4 to feet lower; then the surface gently .... - , ,ril)<''^ i»l !i (juartei- to a third of a mile from the beach to 1,135 or 1,140 L,' /' 1 ^'.r^'W^ beyond which eastward this nearly level but slightly undulating Muskoda, l,ltl j! ,.,.,1 • ^ r irwx- i. -1 ,,, , ^c '., e*t)anseot till rises only 5 or lOleet amde. 5K. 1 of Sec. -> IL , ,. ,.. ,. ., ,, ., \ , .. I'each a loui'tu ot a inilo north-northeast third of a IHlLsii..., ^,..^.^..i.. .1... -VTA\- 1 „/.ci n m i „ . .. _._ , . _„, _. , „. .„ ^_ ,, Herman M "i" 1*^'^ Nor(;ross beaches, here about two-thirds of a mile apart, are inter, as at ^l^^'^j^|"'gectcd by a, watercourse. At its north side the upper or Herman beach, a l.!2 te(-t. m. , . , JBeach three-fourths ot a mile farther north, probably near the north rithin an eighl .^^ ^^^. j^^^^. ^,, ,^ typical gravel ridge, 1,134 feet, 10 feet above the land very graduall^^^^^,,i^j. . ^^^^^ ^ sixth of a mile farther northeast this beach ridge is lelpressed to 1,12.'5 feet. T. 140, K. II ^],,^v,>,.l),..„.l^(.o,it;em])oraneouswith the Herman beach farthersouth, narks the «l'^'i,at formed when thesurCace of the lake inthislatitude had fallen slightly rom its liighest level, is linely exhibited, at a distance of one-third to 4 miles i>or" vi^i,.ti,i,.,].s of a mile west from the upper beach, through tho 4 miles lile west ot tli.j,^^ ^^^^^ ^,^^ii^,i ^j^j^, ^^^. j^^,^.^ oq |^-, ^]^^^ northeast corner of Sec. 4, same area betwei^^i^^ijj^ rp|„, (q^^yation of this secondary beach in the south part of ) (), 8, or 10 It'ij^ o() is 1,1 15 I'eet; thence to a stream near the east line of the SB. ^ hint than "P^iift^y, 17, 1,118 to 1.123 feet; at each side of this stream, 1,118 feet; ihat the surhu •$ (41 <) 32 VPVVAi I'.KArilllS OV L/VKK AOASSIZ [HUM.. :;' 0IIAM tlia vor Jiea 1,1 Ent iiul 7iortliwiii(l, in the iiortliwost part of Hoc. 10 iuid in tlio SW. \ of St'c. I' ||i uv 1,118 to 1,121 foet J and in tlio iHH-tli part of Soc. 9, 1,121 to 1,127 foct. |pe hi Tlic elevation of the upper beach in T. 1 H, U. 45 (ICeon), 1,123 to 1,1.;; c|ose feet, shows that the height of Lake Atijassiz liere, dnriii<>- its maxinnii. jlorcr stage, was about 1,120 feet. The secondary beach was made by the lak after it had falleu to 10 feet. Surface of ground at Christian Sether's house, in the SW. ^ of Sec. H 1,129 feet. Upper beach through the west part of this Sec. 10, 1,130 1 1,137 feet, increasing iu height from soutli to north. This is a tyi)i(M beach ridge of grave;!, witli a rather al)rupt descent on its east side t land G or 8 feet lower, which thence ascends with a slightly uudulatiii, i»|ik(;) surface eastward. <» son Upper beach in Sec 3, same township, 1,134 to 1,137 feet, 10 feet abov tbl,14 the laud next east. SecHtndary beaith. parallel with this and about thrci J^j^bbh fourths of a mile distant to the northwest, iu Sees. -4 and 34, 1,123 t l^ach, 1,127 feet, being thus 10 feel lower tlian tlie highest j)arts of the eastei T^stw beach. Extensive sloughs, inclosing lakelets, lie between these beachc dSbis i in Sees. 3-4 aud3.~>,T 142, 11.45 (IJagen), atan elevationof l,115tol,li; ij| T. ] feet, but sinking northward to 1,105 feet. The secondary beach eoiraehi' tinues to the northeast corner of Sec. 20, declining i?i height northoiist tftiber ward as it approaches the South IJranch of the Wild llice lliver, beiii 7»ea< at 1,125 to 1,115 feet. 24 T. ] Upper beach in Sec. 35 and in the south part of Sec. 25, T. 142, liii|«the 45, 1,140 to 1,142 feet. Tliis is a ty|)ical beach ridge of sand and gra vi 1^' rii about 30 rods wide, with the land next southeast 5 to 8 feet lower, an '|u o divided from the secondary beach northwesterly by a slough about siye hi mile Avide, this slough being at 1,115 to 1,105 feet. pCNRed IJeach at B. O. Helde's house, iu the south half of the SW. :|;of Sci jThn .30, T. 142, 11. 44 {i:\( n), 1,138 feet. The flat expanse of the Ued l^iv't# be Valley reaches east on the South IJranch of the Wild Kice Jliver to Si lij52 f 10, T. 142, K.45 (TIageu), probably being there about 975 feet above tleJijBtwa sea, or 100 feet below this upi)er beach of Lake Agassiz, 4 or 5 milrii||r at southeast. aflirt 30 Beach through Sees. 30 and 29, T. 112, li. 44 (Ulen), extending lw,4st si miles east-northeast from IMr. ilelde's to the South Bianch of the Wi! ^^eacl Kice lliver, in a low, gently rounded ridge of gravel, 30 rods wide, 5 tl^yfianii 8 feet above the area of till next southeast and about 15 feet above tlfpj^i tl surface close at its northwest side, 1,138 to 1,142, mostly 1,140, fee |^. (>. Beach at Nels Wiger's house, piobably in the NW. | of Sec. 28, l,M.i43, feet; about 40 rods west from this, 1,140 feet. Iiejre is South Branch of Wild liii^e lliver, in theSW. jof Sec. 21, same towa pope ship, 1,095 feet. Ante lieae.h, a typical gravel ridge, ni or near the west half of Sec. lr, \vhi(th is the fartlu'st land in sight ade by the hik. i'b that direction, about 3 miles distant, beyond which lies the tlat lied ■feiver Valley. W. i of See. Ill [ Jieach, a well defined ridge, in Sees. 9 and 4, T. 1 12, R. 11 (TJlen), 1,139 ^ec. 10, 1,13() t t| 1,144 feet. ihis is a typi(M Entering Norman County, an unusually high i)ortion of the beach is its east side t fsaud in or near tlu^ SI.^. \ of the SE. { <.f Sec. 3.'?, T. 113, K. 41 (Home litly vindulatiii, tiiik(^), having its (-rest at 1,149 feet. It holds thiselevation for an extent of some 20 rods, on each side of which its height is mostly from 1,139 't, 10 feet abov tol,145 feet. Its material is coarse gravel, principally limestone, with md about tlirtM jijjjbbles up to 4 and <5 inches in dianieter. Surface close east of this md 34, 1,123 i 06«'it;h, 1,1.'{7 feet. A slight swell above the general descending slope tsof theeastf'i ulstward, about 2 miles distant, has a height very nearly 1,125 feet, n these beaclnlKbis maybe the continuation of the secondary beach that was seen lof l,115tol,li: i|| T. 141, R. 45 (Keon). It hides the view farther west, except from lary beach coi t^c highest point of the beach (1,149 feet), where the distant belts of 3ight northeasitilaber along the lied and the Wild Ilico llivers are visible, ice Kiver, bein ^lieach at.l. T. lluseby's house, in the SW. [of the NW. | of See. 24 T. 143, II. 44 (Home Lake), 1,147 feet; through 1| miles next north, ;e. 25, T. 142, Un the NW. :[ of Sec. 20 and the west part of Sec. 23, forming a broastly 1,140, fee % G. Aurdal's house, foundation, in the NW. \ of the NE. 1 of Sec. fl, of Sec. 28, 1,11. '!I43, R. 43 (Fhmi), 1.148 feet. This is situated on the beach, whicli here is a deposit of gravel and sand 8 feet or mori' in depth, lying upon 3. 21, same towii doi)e of till that ascends southeastward. Anton Johnson's store, fouiulation, on this beach, in the SE. | of the alf of Sec. \i>M. \ of Sec. 31, T. 144, R. 43 (Fosum), 1,142 feet. •10 to 1,113 fee Ci't't'k flowing northwesterly between the last two, about 1,105 feet, east, 1,135 h'< Wild Rico River, 2 miles north of Johnson's store, approximately >ause of till lil,d75 feet. Bull. 39 3 (419) 1 d4 ITrl'Kft BteACUfcH 01'^ LAlCE AOASSlZ tHUU,.,15 »?"^'' Secondary ITormau heuc-li, a well marked, broad, smoothly roundpi ^'^'' gravel rid^e, extending' from southwest to northeast, crossed by thi *9*' B.11 A broad belt of timber borders the Wild'llice River, lying mostly oi Its north side, in T. 144, It. 43 (Fosnm), and T. 144, K. 44 (Wild liiec, and at tlie time of this survey, in 18S1, no road nor bridge aftbrded, crossing here. Therefore this series of Levels was resumed north of tin "Wild Kice liiver by starting from Itolette Station of the Saint I'aul j^i),,^ IVIinneapolis and Manitoba Railway, 890 feet above the sea, near tlii jj^j^j. ^, middle of Sec. 17, T. 14(5, K. 40 (Lockhart), about IJ miles north of tlit plain ( Lockhart farm. Proceeding eastward from this i)oint, the lirstobserva tatioii tions of th(^ upper beach were in T. 145, li. 43 (Waukon); T. 140, R. ii, , ],, j (Sundal) ; and T. 147, R. 44 (Garfield). W.licli This beach is intersected by the Wild Rice River near the middled ^i|.,, T. 144, R. 4'> (Fosum), and thence it passes north-northwesterly thron;,'! f^t in tlui west part of T. 14.5, R. 43 (Waukon). In Sees. 7 and 0, same town ^\^\f^ .,] sliip, it is a low smooth ridge of gravel and sand about 25 rods wido, hui.,. vj rising 5 to 10 feet. In the west half of this Sec. and in Sec. 30, T aeries 1 10, R. 44 (Sundal), the old Pembina trail lies on it. miles i« About 2 miles west of the ui)per beach, a secondary Tlerman beacli ofSec. of similar nmterial and contour, probably 20 feet lower, was observed,! B^ntliv few rods oast of the stake at the ^liiUUe of the north side of Sec. 14, T of the; 145, R. 4 1: (Strand), having a heighi ^ ' ~ « feet above its base, with ;, 18^ t. ] smaller ri'"' I TIKUMAN MKAfMI F\ MINNKSOl A. 35 )Othlv roundci ■Jf'^^'^ff '*' ^^ ^^ ^^^^^ bclovr tlio beach. Farther castwiud tlic land is irossed bv tin BltMb'iatt'ly undulating till, rising 20 to 30 feet abovts the beach and NW + of 8t'i tjtaiinj; friMjuent j^rovea of small implars, bur oak, and canoe birch, rods wide ain ^V'^t^''" ''i Sand Hill lliver, at the ford of the old IVnibina trail, in the j^Ip ' ' west part of Sec. 28, T. 147, R. 44, ordinary low stage, July 20, 1881, 1^71 feet. K LAKE. Kvcn (Iriidvig's house threshold, at the top ot the blulf north of this ford, in the north half of the NW. .^of this Sec. 28, l,i;3() feet, ying mostly oi avikmi T;ake Agassiz stood at its greatest height, the Sand Hill lliver 4 (Wild Itiec, li^onght into its margin a delta G miles long from south to north an le lirstobserva tation had spread over this area after the withdrawal of the gbicial lake. ); T. 140, R. 4;. ]„ ti,o Nouth half of Sec. 32, T. 147, R. 44 (Garfield), aiul in a belt W,Li(!li thence extends approximately north and south, the sand of tliis ,r the middled ^ifj,^ j,s originally deposited, rises eastward with a slope of 25 or .'>(> esterly throu;,'L ftjet in 1 mile, from 1,100 to 1,125 or 1,130 feet above the sea. IJeiieatii 1 0, same town i\^\^ plane, however, channels have been eroded by the winds ami sand- t 25 rods wide, jjjjjis i>5 to 75 feet above it have been blown up in irregular groups and I in Sec. 30, T 8eri<'s, s(!attered over a tract about a mile .3 and extending 3 or 4 mjles southward from the Sand Hill River, in Sec. 29, the northeast ])arfe erman beacli ©fSci^ lU), and iu Sees. 31 and 32, T. 147, R. 44 (darlield), and reaching was observed,! s^rtithward iu Sees. 5 and 8, T. 140, R. 44 (Sundal). The most southern e of Sec. 14, T of these hills is an isolated group in the east part of the NE. '\ of Sec. its base, with ; 18, T. 14(5, R. 44 (Sundal). Another isolated group Hes north of the laso, clo.se wes- Siind HiU River, in the NW. ^ of Sec. 10, T. 147, R. 44 (Garlield). These )rtheast cornci sarn