The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-08-11
MISCELLANY.
THIRD PAPER.
BY rRoF. G. " HARRISON

THIRD PAPER.
From the southern side Of the Swamp
Ridge, between Sand Brook and Sergeants-
vile, extends ridge some two miles in length,
eastward to creek at VIM. Brewers, and
/ about 95 IL. above the surrounding plane,
thence N. n. w. until 1t is lost in the Swamp
Ridge again, between the Sand Brook and the
Pittstown road. This little ridge is quite uni
form in elevation and in its slopes throughout
its entire course. Atits s. 3. angle it is cut
through by the delightful little stream of
/ sparkling water known as the g Sand Brook. z
On either side of the creek--bus few yards
from its banls--the ACTIVITY is very abrupt, to
the height on the south side, of 80 it., and on
the north side, 95 #, above the surface Of the
water in the brook.
The anatomy Of this little ridge is peculiar
Its core is a dixie of Basaltic Trap, standing,
it seems, almost, If not quite perpendicularly,
fianked on either side by the red-shale, some
of which, by the escaping steam, at the time
of its injection, has been rendered porous, so
that it looks like honey-combs. Fine speci-
mems of this may be found on the sides of the
road leading from the Dunkard Church to
Sand Brook, or along the roadside leading
from Sand Brook to Copper Hill. This por-
ous stone commonly called Tufa readily crum-
bles to powder when exposed to the air and
the soil made thercfrom cannot be distinguish
ed from that formed by the disintegration of
it's neghboring stratided redshale. From ap-
| L.. Al
vertical fissure and am inclined to be-
lieve, that at the time OF its formation, the
fissure was not filled with the motion matter
to within Que or two hundred feet of the top
of the ground. Some of the considerations
that leads me to this conclusion may be briefly
stated. 1t is very evident that the crest Of
this hin is at least one hundred or two hun
drcd feet below its original level Now, had
this dixie Of hard Basaltic rock extended to
the surface, in the process Of wearing down
the hill fragments Of this rock would neces-
sarily have been distributed over consider
able portion Of the contiguous surface, and in
4 the proccsH Of sdisintegsption, would have, to
considerable extent, modified the SOIL But
such modification does not exist, except mar
row strip along each side of the dixie Again,
in some places the Trap is entirely hid from
view /; in others, it is evident it has lately been
brought to view. The Basalt of this dixie is
much finer grained than that of the Sourland
Range It's color is darker, it exists in much
smaller masses as found upon the surface
seldom finding piece inches square, while
the average size is scarcely inches, nor does
it exhibit the tendency to concentric exfoli-
alton.
/ At some places the crest of the ridge is COM
not-with these little rectangular fragments.
Near VIM. Brewers ON Che south side of
the brook, the soil has been washed off from
time to time, and the Trap rock stands out in
bold relief. This affords fine opportunity to
ascertain a few facts regarding its nature, DO.
Hemmed in by this ridge is a most beauti-
full little basin--containing some of the rich
est soil in this section Of the State. Within
its limits rises, and almost through its centre
flows the Sand Brook, a most beautiful little
stream of water, SO clear as to disclose every
pebble Upon It's bottom and to remind us of
i the trout brooks of the northern part of our
State. But as soon as it has passed through
the defile, between the two sections of this
ridge, and begins to flow through the red
shale, it becomes tinctured with the peculiar
ingredient of this SOIL and its limLidity is lost
e no LONGER seems fit home for the trout or
the salmon, but is the habitationi of the cat
fish and the swapping turtle.
The soil for the most part within this basin
is sandy, but soms Of 1t Is very deep and
fertile loan. Upon its slopes the peach tree
fourishes well, lives toa good old age and pro-
duces fruit of a superior quality Upon these
slopes, the apple tree is also unusually long
lived and produces fruit of better quality
than those growing upon the redsllale.
i Some three-quartcrs of mile west OF
Pennington, in the road, just before we reach
Mine brook a ledge formed of Basaltic Trap
and indurated shalc, in small fragments, may
Be observed, which has secured the tire Of the
wagons passing by, for untold generations. II
is but few feet in width, but so durable are
it's constituents that its centre always main.
tains an elevation above the rest of the road.
From this place upon an irregular line, trend.
fields, meadows and woodlands, until we reach
the point in the Sourland Range known al
Dilts' Peak, we may pick up pieces of rock
kindred to what we have before described as
Basalt. At present, in some places the frag
ments are small and few in number in 9th
ers, they are more numerous and of larger
size. Sometimes for the space of mile, We
could hardly find piece that would weigh II
pounds. At other places within the same
space, we will find dozen that would weigI
10 tons or more.
To be more minute, the line along which
these powders are found, may be traced from
point on the south side Of the Swamp Ridge
to the above named place in the road leatlint
from Pennington to Centre Bridge, thence il
s. e. direction, crossing the premises of -
Watson, passing to the east of Gershom- G
sergeant's buildings crossing the Wanu