The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-09-28
REPORT
On the Geology Of Monroe County.
BY E. B. ANDREWS.

south OF Belmont. 1t has the Ohio River
for its eastern boundary The river
margin is about 29 miles in length. In
this distance, according to report of W.
Miner Roberts, United States Civil En-
gineer, the river falls 20557 feet, or
about 20 feet 81 inches; making an ave
rage fall Of 0 70S inches per mile. Most
oil the fall, however, pertains to the rip
pies, which, in the aggregate, fall Is %
feet, while the descent in the pools is
2,277 feet. There are $50 miles of rip.
pies and 20.44 miles of pools. The av-
erage fall in the ripples is feet l 6 in
ches, and that of the pools LILA in
ches.
Nearly all Of the southern half of the
county, except-a narrow strip along the
Ohio, is drained by the Little Muskin-
gum River and its branches. The ex
treme northwestern portion finds its
drainage by Wills Creek Sunfsh Creek
drains the larger part of the northern
portion. Thus there are three distinct
systems Of drainage, or, more properly,
drainage slopes, viz: southwestern, north
western and eastern.
Tie soil of the county is generally
good In many sections there is con-
siderable limestone of much fertilizing
value. Tee character of the tillage of
the soil is superior to that in many Of
the counties in the Second Geological
District In the survey of the county !
have been much indebted to Hon. James
D. Amos, of Woodsfield, now Adjutant
General of Ohio, for valuable informa-
ltion and assistance. He accompanied
me through many townships. The coun-
ty lies not only within The Coal Meas
ures, but nearer the summit of the series
than any other county in the district
The highest seam of coal found in the
district is on very high hill near Bsres.
vile, Ohio township loo
| The determination.of the relation of
the Goals in this county 10 those of No
bic and Belmont is attended with anusu.
al difficulties The Pittsburgh, or Pom
leroy, seam Of coal, if continuous, is
Everywhere below the level of the val.
Ileys, and the Cumberland, or upper Bell
aire, seam is generally thin and unim
tportant There are no coal seams, we'll
marked and of ready identification, and
4 no fossiliferous limestones, like the Ames
or Cambridge limestoncs of other coun.
ties Indeed, there'is nothing Of wide
range that may serve as datum line by
which the geoloeist may be guided. The
dip OF the strata, moreover, is not uni
form, and, consequently, is not a 1elia
be guide until it is determined for a
given area; and Identification of the
same seam of coal or other stratum at
1.-TWO or more different points is pre-
requisite of this determination Of dip
Hence in large part of Monroe County
1.-THE chief geological factors are unknown
terms. The supposition that the Evans
coal, near Woodsfie!d, is the diminished
equivalent of the Cumberland, or upper
Barnesville seam,appears the more prob
able one, and have so given it on the
map of grouped sections The other
seams of coal are all, think, accurately
brought into their proper relation to this,
as shown on the map.
i ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
4 This township lies east of Center, and
directly upon Sunfsh Creek, which pass
es through the middle of it from east to
: west. The geology of the township is
simple, for the cement limestone of Cen
ter township, with the seam of coal about
80 feet above it, is easily traced all the
way down the creek through the town
I. ship. In some places tt is 80 feet above
the stream, while at Cameron it dips be
= low it. At one place well-defned arcl
is made by the limestone group. @
A geological section was taken on tht
land of Jacob Weekly, section 25, which
!. is given in Map XIII, No, Is.
Here we have one of the very best de
g velopments of coal seen in the county
There are 8 feet 4 inches of coal, exclu
sive of two thin partings, one . inches
}. and the other l inch thick. Over th,
coal is foot of slate, and over the slat,
sandstone. II there were railroad uI
the valley of Sunfish to Woodsfeld, thi
would be the source of supply for tn,
/. region west @
In the neighborhood of Cameron, an,
: partly on the land of John Boughner, il
section 13. a geological section was ia
ken, which is given on Map XIII, No
: ia In this section are three seams q
coal above the cement limestore-on
the jacob Weekly seam, about 80 fee
s above, another only seen in its blossom
or stain, 96 feet higher, and third, re
ported 10 be feet thick, "a feet aboy
. the second. The lower seam is mire
successfully for the supply of sewers
|neighboring villages and mills. The uI
|. per seam is probably thick enough to b
10 worked. ad1
, At Cameron the cement limestone dip
below Sunfish Creek, and does not,
think, reappear at any point down th
stream.
On the lands of Mr. Mobley an
s Leonard Twinem, the same shales foun
: north of Woodsfield are seen, with sim
lar promise of iron ore. The nodule
appear to be of larger average size,
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
This township is situated upon th
southern border of the county. 1t
east of Washington and west of Jacl
son townships. The Little Muskingul
River flows through it.
No very interesting geological fac
were obtained here, the only coal sea-
mined, so far as could be learned, bein
one OF the higher ones The upper pa
'ie of the seam is often quite slaty. On tt
land of Eli Eddy, section IL, the sea-
is mined, and found to be feet thick
Id This seam is believed to be the same {
that found on the land of VIM. Rap
and George Shy, section "a, Jacksc
ey township. ar .H
he About 80 feet below the coal in Jacl
son township is found nodular iron or
1t is worth looking for in the same ge,
: logical horizon in Benton, for it may
3. found to exist in a regular seam of muc
: value. a- d8E
o: In section Is seam of coal is repor
IN ed to be 4 feet thick-3 feet of it slaty-
is overlain by 80 feet of sandstone.
u lts ~ ...