West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-05-25

/ tOuS Oh the IOluS forming the ridges
and the troughs between the folds
the long valleys. So, that in pass
my from east TO west one quickl,
passes from one geological forma
ton to another. while in passing
toward the southwest or south, on,
travels a long distance OH each for.
nation, and it is soon evident that
each Formations extends IN long.
narrow belt in the direction of the
mountain ranges Of the Appalachian
system.
Where the great sandstones stand
at an angle, the streams have cut
their channels far below the general
level OF the surrounding country.
The ridges are sharp, the sides
steep and the whole topography is
rough, and farming is impractical
bic. When the principal rocks are
limestones and shales, these wealth
er down more regularly, the slopes
OF the hills and valleys are rounded,
the outlines softer, the surfaces
smoother and the topography more
suitable for farming. Shales and
limestones hold moro fertilizing
materials than sandstoues, and
also yield their soluble parts more
readily for the use of plants hence
they make more fertile soils.
With these preliminary general
remarks we will now proceed TO
sketch roughly the parts OF our
State occupied by the principal geo.
logical formations that are Of most
Importance to the agriculturist.
To make this more Ineligible, a
good geological map of the State
should accompany his report, but
unfortunately, as the State has
never had a survey made, no accu-
rate map is in existence.
Beginning in the east with the
loves and consequently the eldest
rocks of our State, the first forma
ton of Importance to the farmers IS
the great Trenton limestone. 1t is
named Trenton from Trenton Falls.
New York, where it WAS first studied
and described. 1t extends entirely
across Pennsylvania and Maryland,
through Jefferson and the eastern
half OF Berkeley counties, West
Virginia. and continues on through
Virginia, making the Valley of the
Shenandoah, between the Blue
Ridge and North Mountains
region excellcd by none fer it's
farming capabilities.
The Limestone stands usually at
an angle of about 30 degrees, which
csuses the surface water to seek
underground channels, until sud
denly it gushes forth from some
large spring with power enough to
turn mill. Such is the Big
Spring that furnishes water for the
city of Martinsburg. The surface
is also characterized by sinks here
and there, which often are filed By
ponds OF water, the explanation
being that subteranean drainage
has dissolved passages and caves
through the limestone, which final
~, growing larger. allowed the
surface To "caye in" forming the
sinks we sec. Fhe area made by
this limestone 10, all things consid-
cred, the best for farming purposes
in the State. Most Of the cereals
grow well, but 1T is particularly
adapted for wheat, 40 and 45
bushels often growing on an acre.
The following analysis Of this lime
stone from near IIarpers Ferry we
find in Rogers report on the survey
Of Virginia: Carbonate Of lime,
1886 per cent; carbonate Of mag
nesia, Lac per cent silica, 1.S3
per cent oxide Of alnmina, water
and loss .85 per cent. Near Shep-
herdstowu it has a larger per cent
OF magncsia IN it, and is cOnse-
quentlY valuable for cement. 1t is
gratifying to know that limekilns
fine the railroads passing through
this district aud that yearly hun
dreds Of carloads Of lime are
shipped over this aud other States
from ibis exhaustless source.
Above this liz. estone arc dark
cOlored bands OF shaIes that weather
into q regular topography, and the
estate farms lying upon these are