Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-10-27

country it NAV be observed tina. as far as the base
of it has been exposed tn view. its structure rs Sc
condary, correctly, fats or flat. The :
component parts of its rocks, are in most parts ,
argllaceous schist or State chis,ose sandstone, bit
luminous schs;, carbonate of lime, in all its spe-
cific forms, from fine grained marble TO the most
recent shell limestone, some partial admxtures
Of other bodies occur, bu, in too small quantities
to be included in the grand components of the
great range now before
Like all secondary countries, precipices arc
frequent, and IN proportion To the general eleva-
ton of considerable height, waterfalls we have
shown to be rare, and, where occurring, Of little
pitch or grandeur; and only found IN the higher !
parts of the valley
The strata is in much the greatest part formed /
/ of lime stone, particularly in the lower extremity
of the valley. The Ohio, and almost all its con-
flluents, expose enormous mural banks, composed
/ of this stone As low down the interval be- |
t tween the mouths of the Wabash and Cumber- !
land rivers, these lime stone precpices protrude
their imposing front along the Ohio river They
rise in similar manner the Missouri, and skirt
that river. occasionally, as high as ,ts junction
with the Mississippi. The town ct St LOUIS
stands upon deposit whose base is lime stone
ltmay be safely concluded, that this immense
chistose base underays the whole region before
rs, and, 10 an uncertain extent, beyond ITS bounds
! The Cataract of Niagara affords one OF the bes,
positions TO eXamlue its structure and composition
In the sections we are now surveying, an au-
vial deposit rests upon the secondary base. The
plains OF Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, according I"
DR.. Atwater, composed of materials unknown
in the sub-s,ratu.. They siliceous, qusrrzose;
and primitive; they afford specimens OF granite,
hornblende, groenstonc, primitive trap, rhombo'--
DIAL spar Sc. and in all sizes from grain OF sand
TO that oil many In fact the subject of roun
ded pebbles, either separate IN aggregated mas
of Breccia, is one of the most curious and IN
.eresing parts OF Geology 1t does not excite
: our astonlshment much, to trace the vast naiu-
. raj foundation which rests the superintendent,
strata of secondary region, as does the view OF
ponderous bodies Of rocks, whose smooth surfaces
and foreign aspect announce them to have been
removed, by violence, from distance, beyond
l. our powers of research to determine. The reg
e ularty and uniformity of the sulstrata, in tho
v Ohio valley, forbid us 10 suspect the probability
= of disruption. The volcanic origin OF cxirane-
Gus bodies the carth's surface, is at war with
common sense. When we find order IN the dis'ri-
re button of secondary strata, it is strictly logical
l. inference that repose has been commensurate and
~ resting upon ITS surface, are In position posterior
- to the substrata. Wherever masses of sound and
rounded pebbles formed water must have ell
Id Their flown, rested; therefore the basin of the
T. Ohio was covered to great depth by that flu
:, i'd. 1t on the retiring OF this flood, that the
=. original plain commenced 10 be worn down by tn,
~ water Of rains, springs, and primitive lakes, ant
nt that the first traces e the present physiognony
~ began to appear. The process must have beer
xe extremely SLOW bat it is not necessary to in
suits can be drawn we may, III conclusion, sun
UP the residue we have to say, Mt this time, Oh
that which regards particularly Ohio and Indiana
in few words. 1t has been sufficiently show
that on entering the Ohio Valley, find ouI
bv selves in the bottom Of a ravine upwards of 40
;, feet Deep steep hills Astounding this vale on a
> sides Its width about mean of Il mile, exclt
We sive of the river, whose margin is seen skirte
lis on one side by the advancing hill, and III
me other by alluva fiat whose cxubcrant fertilt
re- and gigantic vegetation, are every moment exc
ting wonder and admiration. Descending til
We vale We find the hills becoming daily more hun
Is, BILE in elevation, and arrival at the low
RITZ depression of the valley, they have entirely di
appeared and one monotonous landscape exten,
its unbroken circle around US.
Leaving this valley the channel Of the Nh
'"- kingum, Sciota, Miami, Wabash, and ascendir
M their beds TO their sources, find similar ira
"cr sitiou, which awaie ed US, descending the OH
though in the second case we are, in regard
to the streams, erting the progress taken in Il
first instance; in both the changes alike. Ne
Il. the Ohio RIVER the hills and bottoms alternate
~ that stream; but ms we rise into the int
t or, they gradually apparently depress, and VIII
80 arrived at the sources, all apparent elevation
hall w ,o 80. o. r,: - -. ::
IL ly diversified by hill, dale, and fat where if sta
49,. nation was known, it was seen in a very limit
-, degree; we are now upon region where nat,
A. seems TO have deposited her most recent spoi
ii; and yet. we are upon spot. whose features
IA, ancient than those of the river, the hi
- the vale, or auSial plans we have left
Finally, to encompass by mighty effort
thought, the vast extent of country. situated wi
in the limits given in the outset of subjt
the mind necessarily becomes absorbed in do
reflection. that il Is whose destinIes pr
nant Of important results to the great family
mankind. What can be consoatorv
=. mind, than the conception OF probable events,
ess nature of which augIr superative felicity IN
Ey- Tha, this will be realized by future generate
e in who will inhabit this extensive region, we
mon, sumo to have abundant reason for concluding,
!, it has commenced under the auspices Of WI,
''''" some laws and of we-regu!aied communities
ense large ajority Of whom favorable to the
rged mitigation of principles, which they esteem
snds Whatever may be the prediction Of any one
e, the numerous classes of Christian professors, 4
appear to manifest a conImendable degree of
q spect for each others religious tcneis, which
OFF, have an inyariable tendency to preserve, IN
hem, ken, from generation to that of the next,
five bond of peace. Thence have ample res
- ., for predicting. that this portion Of the couI
- - will have tremendous influence, the m
fe'e and political condition Of the human family. in