The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-02-13
How Caves arc Formed.

IL becomes an interesting question to
find out how this subtcrranean system
was made for in so many cases valley
passes into ravine, and that into cave,
that the cause which has formed one
must have formed all. 1t requires but a
cursory glance to see at once that running
water was the main agent. The lime
stone is 20 travcrsed by joints and lines
Of shrinkage that the water sinks rapidly
down into its mass, and collects in small
streams, which owe their direction to the
dip OF the water and the position Of the
assures. These channels are being con-
tinually deepened and widened by the
mere mechanical action Of the passage Of
stones and silt. But this is not the only
way in which tho rock is gradually erod-
ed. The limestone is composed in great
part Of pure carbonate of lime, which is
indissoluble in water. 1t is, however,
readily dissolved in any liquid containing
carbonic acid, which is an essential part
of our atmosphere. and is invaribly pre-
sent in the rain.water, and is given off BY
organic bodies. By this invisible agent
The hard crystalline rock is always being
attacked in some form or other. The
very snails that take refuge in its Gran.
nies leave an enduring mark of their
presence in surface fretted with their
acid exhalations, which very often pass
current among geologists for the borings
of pholades, and are the innocent cause Of
much speculation as to the depression Of
the mountaln-tops beneath the sea IN COM
paratively modern times. The carbonic
acid taken up by the rain is derived in
the main from the decomposing vegeta-
BILE matter which generally forms the
surface soil on the limestone. Its effects
are to be seen in most marked degree
in the bare, grey masses Of rock formed
"pavements, that stands out like rorhes
montonnees from the purple heather, and
are worn and fssured into the strangest
possible shapes. Sometimes the surface
is made up of number Of sharp points
that look life sheaf of sword-blades ; at
others are ravines and caves in miniature;
and very generally the strata are divided
into series of large angular blocks,
which work with the greatest freedom.
The minute fossil shells and fragments OF
crinoids standing out in bold relief testi-
fy that the agent which removed SO much
rock is chemical not mechanical. This
invisible agent is equally at work in the
caves as well as above ground. every
where attacking the surface, even out CT
reach of the streams. The endless va
rieties of stalactite and stalagmite are
merely 30 much solid matter taken by it
out OF the rock, and re-depositcd where
the excess Of carbonic acid in the water
happen' to We taken up by free current
Of ait. TO it, then, as well as to the me.
chancal power Of the stream, the forma
tion and enlargement Of caves must be as
signed
1607--Virginns settled by the En-
gish.
16l4-New York settled by the
Dutch.
! Massachusetts, settled by .he
Puritans.
l624-New Jersey settled by the
Dutch.
l627-Deaware settled By the Swedes
and Firms.
l635-Maryland settled by the Irish
Catholics,
} l636-Connectcut settled by tn Puri-
tans.
1639-Rhode Island settled by Roger
: Williams.
, l650-North Carolina settled by the
English.
1670-South Carolina settled by the
Huguennots.
6 l6s2-Pennsylvania settled William
l Penn.
Q l732-Georgia settled by General
3 Oglethorpe.
a 179l-Vermont admitted into the
= Union
;. l792-Kentucky admitted into the
: Union.
i l796-Tennessec admitted into the
u Union.
e 1S02-Ohio admitted into the Union
;, l8ll-Louisiana admitted into the
D.. Union.
F.. 181G-Indiana admitted into the
t Union.
e 18lS-Illinois admitted into the Unior
z 1S19-Alabama admitted into tn,
t Union.
!, lS20-Maine admitted into the Uniol
q 182l-Missouri admitted into tn,
s Union.
lS3O-Michigan admitted into thu
;. Union.
f l836-Arkansas admitted into th'
n Union.
n 1S45-Florida admitted into the Uniol
: 1S46-Texas admitted into the Unio.
Q 1847-Iowa admitted into the Uniol
IS 184S-Wisconsin admitted into tn
IS Union.
= lS50-California admitted into tn,
Is Union,
b lS59.-Oregon admitted into th
y Union.
J. DRUNKENNESS IN HIGH LIrE.-Recent
q ly gentleman living in an aristocrati
!. part of Second street set out to searcl
,f for his wife, who had been absent iron
N home several days. Going into q row o
huts located between Madison and Eas
ia Floyd streets, he was filled with unutter
n able anguish at finding her in one of thos
n dirty huts, occupied only by colored peo
!. pie, and evidently very much intoxicated
q All his efforts to induce her to return t
d her home and to the six living children
q with which their marriage had been bless
.e ed, were unayailing. The woman en-
} treated to be alone, or else permitted t
If 20 where she would never see his fac
d again. She had on her person the sun
"a of $500, which she stated would take he
% where she pleased. A carriage was sen
N to the door, and an officer, whose assist
10 ance was required, went into the house
!, and finally neran adad har 10 ratnrn hnnf