Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-22
An Interesting Lecture-The Story Of the Rocks

LeCLuFe-lue
On last Thursday night. Maj. Jed Hotchkiss
delivered another very interesting lecture in
the Hall of the Y. NJ G. A. to an Intelligent au-
dience. His subject on this occasion was enti-
tied "The story of the rocks" and he gave in
succession the order and character of their for
nations, beginning at the primary.
The theory in reference to the geological his
tory Of Virginia is, that from tiaewater to the
Blue Ridge mountain was dry land for thou
sands OF years whilst all the other portions of
the State were under water-the shores of the
ancient ocean or oceans being the Blue Ridge
on the one hand and tidewater on the other
The true "old Virginla"-as revealed in the
STORY of the rocks''-is that portion embraced
in the divisions of Middle and Piedmont Vir-
GINA. The formation is granitic. When the
Blue Ridge was the Eastern shore of the ancient
ocean which extended to the West, there were
Warm Springs in the Blue Ridge mountain
The mountains are all made of sandstone rocks.
The Valley is underlaid with the Cambrian and
Lowe Silurian rocks, in geological technicali-
ty, forming in order the LIST, End, and 3rd forma-
tions. The LIST formation, the Cambrian, is a
sandstone, which makes the western side of the
Blue Ridge. the detritus from which makes the
quicksands. along the margin of its base, thro
which, during the war, Gen Jackson had SO
much difficulty in transporting his army,
when on his march from Swift Run Gap to Nc
Dowell.
The End and Bird formations belong to the
Lower Silurian-the End being limestone form
ed by the coral insects, and the 3rd being Slate
formed in shallow water.
No. 4 is Upper Silurfan, sandstone forma-
ton, and crowns the SUBMITS Of the Massanut-
ton and North Mountains. -
No. 5 is the Clinton rock and in this forma-
tion7 there are fossils of beautiful growths
resembling coins. In this formation there is
much iron ore.
No. contains beautiful marble, with the
fossil remains of encrinites, formed of many
joints, and presenting the appearance of a lily
The Craigsville marble is in this formation, and
it would have been more appropriate to call il
.'encrinite"- than "coral"-marble.
No. is the formation in which the greatest
quantity of iron is found. Nos. and belong
to the Devonian division. In this, the beauti-
ful bronzed butterfly shells are found.
No. is a slate formation, and, there being
considerable sulpur in it, it is the Of sui
phur springs.
No.. is a sand rock and forms the ribs o.
mountains. r.
No. 10 contains the semi-anthracite coal found
in this and Montgomery counties.
No. IL is composed of sand rock, limestone
and red shale.
No. IL is a great sand stone rock in which the
New River coal is found, The Falls of Kanaw.
ha are formed of this rock.
No. Ii is the formation in which the rick
mines of Kanawha coal are found.
The newest part of Virginia is that portion
from tidewater to the ocean shore.
The lecturer exhibited section across the
State from East to West, showing how the va
rious strata of rocks were disposed after being
| twisted and turned up and broken and Sided
| over each other by some force inconceivably
great which operated from the East Westward
The earth was in the course of growth or process
| of formation millions eff years before it was
prepared for the introduction of man.
This very imperfect notice can give no one
| who was not present anything like an adequate
idea of the interest Of the lecture. Though iti
delivery consumed an hour and three-quarters
the Lecture became more and more interesting
to the close.
| Our Roasted C0fsee1 ere by far the best
sold in Staunton, always waffsas4ad fresh and
good. For sale by c. A. RICHARDSON,
II RIA ATTIC hEADING.-On last THURSDAY
night, in the Lecture Room of the Grange Hall
building, Prof. Henry Scharf gave a pleasant
and pfosAable entertainment by reading in his
excellent style Che following pieces: Charge o.
the Light Brigade. Feaayson; Mrs. Caudle gives
Mr.. c. a lecture about the ia'ffily umbrella, D.
Jerrold; Buck Fanshaw's funeral, Mari Twain
Bardell VS.. Pickwick, G. Dickens; Hunting Z
Mouse, Josh Jenkins; Schlossers Ride, Amen.
| ymols.
| 1t was an1srN4xEate that the appointments fol
| this entertainment assd that Of the lecture o.
NAL Jed Hotchkiss ON geology were made fol
the same time, as many desired to attend both
The rooms for both these intellectual enter
| tsinments adjoined and both contained good
audiences, which reflected credit upon the