Litchfield enquirer., 1854-02-16
BY DR. HrcAG.

Examples in America.
 Examples on the eastern continent.
 / The agency of spting water. A. (A) Le, us notice several examples Of the agency Of water.
 The cataract of Niagara has receded nearly fifty Jards during the past forty years. The ptecipice is composed of a stratum of limestone, which rests upon shale. The latter is rapidly decompo, sed. hence the superintendent portions are undermined and precipi,ated. The backward movement must have been formerly muchemore rapid. as the river below, was confined in much smaller space, hence it is probable that the falls have gradually worn. away and carried to Lake Ontario the entire mass of rock which once occupied the gulf (extend.ng from the foot of the falls to Lewiston, seven miles) th,ougl, which the liver at presen, flows. The Hume, a deep gorge in the White Mcun,ains, has probably been wo,n out of the solid rock by the brook which no~ fo~s through It. The pool, gulf in tie same stream. vas un> doub,edly formed in like manner, and the Basin of circular form scooped out Of solid rock by the water of one of the branches of the Saco. affnrds a beau'iful illustration of the manner in which wafer affords materials fo, transportation.
 l A stream of water called tine Bashbisl, which originates nearly 2 900 feet above the level of tie sea in the Tayconnic Mountains, has under mined and carried away large portion of lhe mountain down whose side il flows, thus excava- ting an enc, nous chasm in which it is s,illconiinuing is gradual process of de- struction. The Bashbish ai this point falls over 600 feel in advancing mile, and in it's numerous falls which vary from mere riprles 10 cataracts a hundred feet in height, the wea,ing and carrying pro. cesses of water are beautifully illustrated. The part of the mountain which was thus excavaied has been carried over wide extent of the valley below, and forms an easy grade 10 the foot of the last fall. The action of running water is displayed on the grandest scale by lls Mississippi. The mean rate at which the entire river flows is variously estimated. bat proba> ply does not exceed one mile per hour. It's banks are constantly changing. Great quantities of matter are torn away and carried to its della in the Calf of Mexi- 1 co, while the iriau5s UnCc CxiSttug Haye been swept away. or joined to the shore. New islands have been formed as the channel has shifted from place to place. At one time. 1t seeks again some old channel once selinquished, and as anolh> CT. it sweeps away ihe lard between the 1 nearest points of it's numerous cures and carries it down 10 form backs, or 10 de- posit upon its deliR. Opposite to each curve is a sand bar corresponding in shape to the bend. The banks of the liver are periodically soitened by fscsheis. and are then much more liable 10 be deairoyed and carried dcwn the Iiyer. Often. acres at . time. wi.h their forests. aie precipi
 tated into Che stream and bourne away. When lhis siver Or Us branches overflow their banke. lhe sand and mud the wafer contains is d,iiled away from the chan' nel tO tbe base of ths cliffs. thus forming "a siiG. unctuous. black soil. 1" while tho ecafseF portions og the rock and eartl together With tho tEees aAd diff wood faFm as length . solid mass neaF the bed ol tas SsstHs st Ast