Cave Regions of the Ozarks and Black Hills | Page 7

together, one from the west
and another from the south-west. A point of the bluff on the south-west
fork spans the northern fork, and terminates about sixty feet beyond in
a sharp point; a few large masses of rock lie near the termination of the
promontory, and fifty feet beyond, the bluffs of the opposite hills rise
abruptly from the bottoms. The bluffs, both above and below, are very
precipitous, the middle and lower beds of the Third Magnesian
Limestone forming perpendicular escarpments, frequently studded with

cedar, some occurring on top of the bridge. A perfectly clear stream of
water courses through this valley. The bottoms near are overspread
with a dense growth of trees and vines, among which latter I noticed
the Muscadine grape. The valley at this part being shut in by its
perpendicular cliffs with not a path to guide the traveler through the
dense thickets, is wildly picturesque and romantic in its loneliness."
Of the cave he says: "This cave is a quarter of a mile east of Cave
Spring Creek, and has a wide and elevated entrance; passing into it a
hundred yards or more, the passage narrows, and in order to go further
a stream of water has frequently to be waded through; this passage has
been followed by some persons several miles without finding any
object of interest; but a few hundred yards from the entrance, by
diverging to the right, we enter a large chamber, studded with
stalactites and stalagmites, many uniting and forming solid columns of
support. Many of these are very beautiful, and often as white as
alabaster. There are other large rooms, but they possess no peculiar
interest. Found large deposits of earth on the floor having a saline
taste."
Of the extensive pine forests in Ozark County, he says: "The size and
quality of the timber will compare favorably with that of the celebrated
pineries of Wisconsin and Minnesota."
In several other counties the pine is equally good, and other valuable
timber everywhere abundant, although in a school geography published
in 1838, the following descriptions of this region occur:
"The lowlands of the Mississippi are bounded by the region of the
Ozark Mountains. With the exception of the alluvial tracts on the
borders of the streams, it is extremely hilly and broken. The mountains
rise from eight hundred to eighteen hundred feet above the streams,
with rounded summits and often perpendicular cliffs, and have a rocky
surface, which admits only a scanty growth of timber." * *
"Missouri is generally a region of prairies and table lands, much of
which, as already described, is almost destitute of timber and water. It
is crossed by the Ozark Mountains, which form a rugged tract of

considerable extent. Earthquakes are not infrequent in some parts of
this state. The soil is not generally productive."
A comparison of these curious views with the latest official reports is
highly amusing, as well as suggestive that early impressions are liable
to require modification.
In addition to the wonderful springs of pure water, there are numerous
fine mineral springs, among which are a number of Epsom salt springs.
At Jacksonville, in Randolph County, there is a large mineral spring
from which it is said an over-heated horse may drink all he will without
injury. Epsom-salts, or Epsomite, frequently occurs, as does the Niter,
in a crystalline form of the pure mineral, as an efflorescence on rocks in
many of the caves and in other sheltered positions.
[Illustration: The Surveyed Portions of Marble Cave Stone County
Missouri
Surveyed and Plotted by Fred Prince. 1894
Scale of 100 feet]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Lead and Zinc. Prof. C.R. Keyes.
CHAPTER II.
MARBLE CAVE.
Marble Cave, which is the finest yet explored in Missouri, is southeast
of the center of Stone County, a short distance north of the picturesque
White River. The nearest station is Marionville on the St. Louis and
San Francisco railroad, and the drive of forty miles is delightful, but
can be divided, into two of twenty each by a stop at Galena. The road,
for the most part, is naturally macadamized and is through a most
charming country whose roughness and beauty increase together as the
journey advances. At first it winds along fertile valleys between

wooded hills, crossing many times a shallow stream of water so clear
as to afford no concealment for an occasional water-moccasin, whose
bite is said to be not poisonous if inflicted under water, and which must
be true because the horses showed not the least uneasiness.
The second week in May found the vegetation in its summer beauty;
strawberries were ripe, and the weather without a fault.
Galena is pleasantly situated on the hills overlooking the James River,
and is entirely invisible from the road by which it is approached until a
slight