Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1854-09-01
From the Indiana Farm y.
Letters from X. r Browne.NO s.

wardv from New Albany will traverse the
knobs formed of the argllacious sandstone This
belt of sandstone, IN lis course across the State
ranges from 10 10 90 miles in width. \ line
drawn from the Sugar Greek bridge. on the Mad
ison and Indianapolis Railroad, in the direction
Of Gosport, viii cross this formation at its widest
point in this SAFE On the line from New Alba
nv, in the direction of Corydon, the sandstone
region is about l2 miles wide, but following the
meanders of the Ohio river, its width is much
greater. On denomination | am convinced
that this series will. with proper in the
lection furnish much valuable building materi-
ais The ease with which it can be quarried and
cut into any desirable shape. will always make it
cheap where the transportation Is not too heavy
an item Of expense. The varieties of this stone
which are blue or lead coored though much
harder when first quarried than the buff or drab.
are not TO be trusted They will disinte CRATE By
atmospheric influences, and in few years
tirely crumbie down TO mass OF sandy clay;
while the other varieties will harden exposure.
and when placed in a wall will be very durable.
The Portsmouth stone. much used In Cincln-
natl. and the Nova Scotia stone. frequently met
with along tie Atlantic coast, from Boston TO St
John are but varieties of this sandstone.
Westward Of this, and extending through the
principal part of the counties of Harrison and
Craw ford We find the mountain limestone series
fully developed Along the Ohio river it fire.
quently rises in bold and precpitous walls to the
height Of one or two hundred feet, adding much
of the picturesque and romantic to the river
scenery of this region. l was surprised to find
a building material of such great value living in
position where il can be lifted Immediately from
the quarry on boats that will float 1t TO all the
re.ious southwest of this, and yet but single
quarry is being worked aon. shore Of more
than 40 miles. To saw this stone, by steam pow
er. into blocks proper for building purposes, and
introduce it into cities of the lower Mississippi,
would be a business that think would most GER
tainly pay u,N.
A characteristic feature in the topography Of
the country underlayed by the mountain lime
stone is the frequent occurrence Of what IN the
common language of the country are denOmina-
ted 'sink holes" They are inverted cones
funnel shaped conca, tiles, sometimes irregular in
their outlines. but most generally approaching to
circular form At the bottom there is always
an opening communicating with subterranean
passages through which the surface water IN
times of heavy rains, is conducted downward to
supply the great reservoirs which discharge them
selves at the large springs peculiar to this tor
nation.
The principle which these excavations are
made, is a very simple one. AT first . mere ts-
sure exists in the stone beneath. through which
the rxinw ater from the surface. fully saturated
with earbonc acid finds its way fs S1oces the
exposed surfaces of the fissure are dissolved and
carried away, thus at once saturatng all the
spring water with carbonate Of lime and widen
ing the assures until the aperture becomes SO
large that the incumbent earth begins to fall into
1t, which IN turn Is borne away by the increased
volume Of water collected BY the funnel shaped
depression on the surface thus produced until the
face OF the country becomes dotted over with
these "sink holes and subterranean caverns
abound
II Is in this formation, and induced bv these
processes, no doubt that the great Mammoth
cave Of kentucky is found Numerous caves
are known to exist in the counties Of Crawford,
Harrison and Orange Many Of these remain
but partially explored, yet enough is known of
some OF them 10 warrant the assertion that in
hem the great Kentucky cavern will at some
day not very far distant, find formidable rival
On a recent tour through this section, we had
he pleasure of spending day in Wyandotte !
ave. situated in Crawford county, about five
mics northeast from Leavenworth, or, the Ohio
l'er A minute description Of this great sub
erranean world, would perhaps be out of place
n this report. Suffice it TO say that the extreme
iisance attained from the most soutbwardlv r.
he most northwa-tlv point is about seven miles
he passage Is generally wide and lofty. In but
wo or three places We're we compelled to stoep
md IN but a single instance is the explorer
'rouSht to the creeping position. We passed
esera magnificent chambers whose ample pro-
oriohs ana lofty domes Were decorated with the
nost fancliu tretwork Of s,alacttes sometimes
eautlfully varieyated, but commonly Of the pu-
est white, were indeed sublimely beautiful. We
VII give the dimensions Of one Of these cham
erS, as We received it from our guide, Mr.. Rath-
ock, who Is the owner Of the cave 1t is called :,
ne Grand Dome and Monament Mountain" It
rotunda or circular room 236 feet in diane
er with dome shaped ceiling rising in the CEN
e to the height of gas feet 4 pyramid of rough
tone roo feet high stands in the centre, and oc-
upies with its base nearly the whole area. On
1t dizzy summit Of this mountain stands three ,
alagmltes Of the heights of g. 5 and feet
he highest one, which occupies the centre cf 8
1e group, is colored brown by the presence Of :
on In the dripping water, while the other two j,
re Of the purest white. Viewed from below by !
le dim light of our candles, it required but little
"a from the imagination 10 make Of these fam .
Y group, consisting Of man dressed in celored !
othes and woman and child in white
A lizard. about three inches long. and with .
Ut eyes, was the only living inhabitant that we :
'und IN this great underground city. He was ,
,cupving niche in the rock about two miles q
ON the entrance How he came there-what :
IS business was, and on what he subssted, we're :.
aesflGns that we were permitted to depart with |
fF fro The number Of avenues branching 6
ave been explored to their tei.M o. =. ~ &
'hole number of miles Of explored cave is le4. ,
ne Uniform temperature Of the cave is 50 Far. I
he rock IN which the ca-e is excavated is the )
Pper members of the mountain limestone As the
ummlt Of the hIt above the entrance Is crouned ,,
With the new red Sandstone. The ro~ax in r.rv .
,ts->es presents the Iitholooicl cha aracfar oF..