Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-28
p - .a..t fIne. Tha locality then be

. nayf AZ 4 coast line. The locality then be-
came . locality of commissions, and its shores
and shallow sea bottoms became strewn with
hroken rocks, over which the waves of this
old ocean broke with tremendous fury. AS
the land continued to rise, the sea undermin-
ed and broke down its walls, and the undertow
carried the water worn pebbles and boulders
away from the shore. Ages passed away,
and this coast line begins to subside-to ire
turn back into the sea; for the land like a
duck, is the better for good immersion now
and then, for by this method it renews its age
The process of degradation goes on as before,
when the land was rising from the sea.
Boulders, gravel, sand and clay were formed
and heaped together in the order of nature,
till no land appeared where once was high,
bold coast line, perhaps. In process Of time
cementation is effected while the deposit is
under the sea, and the whole is converted
into solid mass.
Land, in the meantime, has risen not far
of. Strong currents from this land passed
over the submerged bed of quartzoid con-
glomerates, and deposited thereon clay min
gled with micaceous sand, to the depth, per-
haps of thousand feet. That also became
transformed into stone. In natures due time,
these two formations. the quartzoid conglom-
crates and the micaceous sandstone began to
approach the surface of the sea. Around
them where the depth of the water permitted,
In localities known as Rockland. Thomaston,
st. George, Warren, Union, Hope, Camden,
Liuconlnyille, Appleton Searsmont, Deer
Island and other places, coral and coraloid
animate, and various shell-fish were thriving,
and were the source of all the lime in those
regions. 1t is probable that while this marine
life fourished, there were many periods OF
upheavals and depressions of this ancient
Lana aud taali in
its animal life. Perhaps not tree, nor a
bush, nor plant, grew upon any dry land at
this time.
The Anal growth-the mountain aspect OF
Battle took place long after this period-per-
haps before the great coal age, or soon there
after. 1t is very doubtful, l think about it,
being elevated by single "convulsion of ma
ture," as Prof. c. II. Hitchcock suggests. 1
may have had some considerable spasmodit
uplifts, but imagine the elevatory action wal
continued through hundreds of years, ant
even through many millions. There are fault
(fractures of the rocky crust of earth,) al
around Camden, eight or nine from Battle
south along the shore, in the distance of three
or four miles. These show where the rock
gave way before the upheaving forces beneath
This force tipped the mountain mass towards
the southeast from twenty to thirty degrees
i am inclined to locate the great fault which
left Battle on the north, to be about the local
ity of Msgunticook stream. great portion
of Battle on all sides, as well as in height
has been worn away by glacial action. The
hill extended in the pre-glacial age, much
father south, and no doubt, had then per-
pendicular wall on that side.
Wonderful have been the changes which
have swept over this mountain since the ac-
tive upheaving forces have ceased. Before
its presence has passed panorama of strang,
. lite on the land and Iii the sea, of gigantic
reptiles and birds--of fish in the sea tina
made the deep to ''boil like pot" of tn
transformation of landscapes, of hill, dal
and waving forests, of the retreat and ad
vance of the sea in great extended periods o
time, while as yet no lordly man had walked
the earth. Then came the last great event
time brought fierce giant from the north
who laid his leveling hand upon the rough
mountains, and tortured and rent them tc
pieces, treading the fragments beneath his
feet, and casting them into the yawning sea
This son of Boreas, with mountains Of ice
and terrible winds, at last passed away into
the land from which he came, and the country
once more became green and peopled will
innumerable forms Of life, with nan amoni
the multitude.
JOHN DELAsKI.
CARvER's HARBoR, Sept. 1871.