The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-28
THE OHIO VALLEY.
THE GLACIAL DAM AT CINCINNATI
Prof. wAI.s, Of the state uair.r.l.y, On Some
latsrs,!lns Phases Of Local 6tOlOsy-rhe
Terrace Deposits Of the MoaoaEs.
htIa ald How They Came.

The following able aud interesting paper
by Prof. l. q. White, OF the University Of
West Virginia, was read at the recent meet.
ing Of the American Association for the Ad-
vAncemont OF Science, at Minneapolis:
Ia a paper read before the Boston Society
OF Natural History, March Z, 1883, Rey. q. +.
Wright haS shown that the soulhera rim OF
the great northern ice sheet, crossed the Oaio
river near the site OF New Richmond, n few
miles above Cincinnati. Mr.. Wright believes
that one effect OF this invasion OF the Ohio
Valley by thB glacial ice, was to form an i'm.
mense dam OF Ice aud morAinic debris 500 or
600 feet nigh, which etfsctually closed the
old channel way, and sat back the water OF
the 0aio and It's tributaries until rising to the
level OF the Licking river divide, 1t probably
found IN outlet through Kentucky around
the glacial dam. AS this diylde Is 900 or 600
feet higher than the present bed OF the OHIO
al Cincinnati, Mr.. Wright states that the site
OF Pittsburgh would have been submerged
to the depth OF 800 feet; aud adds: ut re-
mains 10 be seen how much light this may
shed upon the terraces which mark the Ohio
aud It's tributaries In Western Pennsyiva-
MAJ
HsyiDg rasiied for nearly score OF Yeas
In the valley OF the Monongahela river, the
writer is necessarily familiar with its ter
races and surface deposits in general; aud in
reply 10 the above query Of the eminent
gIacla!iSt, would answer that his admirable
work throws a)od Of light upon the M0non-
gIhela terraces, and prOher for them and the
deposits along other tributaries OF the Ohio,
the only satisfactory explanation that has
ever been advanced.
OF course, II the Ohio river was eyerso OBJ.
n. aFad fAr nr ontiliHAra hIa mn urinH NJ TINA
1t would follow, as necessary result, taal
m iny OF the tributary streams and the Ohio
Itself, above the limit ofthe dam, would have
their old valleys silted up with vast heaps Of
trAsh-cIay, sand. gravel, bouldars, drilted
logs and other rubbish.-carried dowo by the
streams from the region not sheeted win ice,
aud dumped into the great inland lake
stream which eK ended from Cincinnati far up
toward the sources OF the Monongahela.
That the valley OF the latter stream has
been reiiiled with trash during some period
OF It's history to height OF $50 or 800 feet
above its present bed, tue evidence is mest
conclusive, for the remnants OF this deposit
still cover the surface 10 great depth In long
lines OF terraces extending from Pittsburgh,
Pa, southward along the river 10 Fairmont,
probably much further, as | have never ex-
amined the river valley above the latter
town.
IHEsTRfEtSG REGULARITY
OF these terrace deposits Is that they sudden
Iy diSappssr at an elevation Of 1860 or 1916
feet above tide, not single ROUNDED and
transported boulder ever being found above
the latter hotiz ~, though occurring in count
less numbers below this lsvsl.
The hills along the river OF en- rise 800 or
400 feet higher tnan the upper limit OF the
deposits, so that there Can be no mistake
about the elevation at Thicn the terrace de-
posits dlsRppear The composition OF these
great heaps OF surface debris Is, along the
Immediate valley OF the river, htt Brogsne-
Gus mixture OF sand, clIy, gravel, rounded
bOulde OF sandstone OF every 8 "a, from an
inch in diameter up TO four feet, pieces OF
coal, l!ayes, logo Of wood, and every other
species OF rubbish usually transported by
streams. Back from the channel OF the
river, however, and especially where the sur-
face con Hguration would make quiet water,
th re- occur thick deposits Of very fine, blush
white clsy, In which great numbers Of leaves
are most beautiful y preserved. Thtse clays
have been extensively used for the manu-
faCture OF pottery at Geneva aud Greensboro,
Ia. and also 10 some extent at Murgantown
and Fairmont, w. Va. Though the clay de-
po.its occur at nearly every horizon they are
pure.st near the upper limit OF the terraces,
and thess are cons quently the only ones
that have hitherto bsen much explored.
In the vicinity Of MOrgantown, terraces Of
transported material occur at the following
Approximate measured by barometer)
elevations: