Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-07
formations but the ones given are good

formations but the ones given are good
types of them.
As Is probably known to all of you.
Augusta is built on three ancient river
terraces The upper. or Oldest Que Is on
the level of Malta hill and Burnt hill
respectively; the second or middle one on
which is state street and all the streets On
this plateau back to the foot of the high
gravel bank of which Winthrop bill is
familiar object Oh the west side and on
the east side the level tract along which
Bangor street runs north and south and
Cony street and the streets parallel to it
run east and west. The last or lower one
is Water street and the site OF the factory.
At the north end and the railroad and
buildings south of the Rines hill crossing
at the south end On the east side of the
river Howard and Arsenal streets, the old
Fort Western and all the adjacent build
ings, the Allen Lambard house, Willow
street and Clark's carriage factory all
being built on this terrace The railroad
follows the river through Augusta, Vas
salboro and Winslow to Waterville on this
same terrace and also through Farming
dale and Gardiner. This terrace above
the factory and dam on the west side
ends abruptly at the high gravel bank
which extends some four miles up the
river forming the steep bank till the level
interval south Of the Paine brook is
reached where it has the same level as
along Water street.
All have noticed the position of the
clay banks in cur city and the earth over
lying where not uncovered, as on the hill
near the Hicks backyard and other clay
hills. These clays belong to the tertiary
age, the everything mass to the quaternary
or drift period. If one comes down the
Brook road from Coomb's Mills he at once
comes to high gravel bank on the left
and, on the right, the winding of Bond
brook. Some fifty rods below the road
passes through a notch swept out of
another high bank which at one time
formed IA complete barrier There Is little
reason to doubt these were formed by a
glacier drifting slowly down this valley.
Following down to the gas house we
come to another, the top of which is on a
level with Sand hill, but in geologic ages
past was broken through by mass of
water when what Is now Bond brook was
at much higher head than it has been
since man came to occupy the valley.
This gravel bank near the gas house is
very interesting from the fact that the
north side was formed by slowly flowing
water, the different level at which it
rested being plainly shown by the strata
one above the other. On the south side is
only a solid mass of clay, rising forty feet
above the present level of the Kennebec.
Upon this is deposit of sand many feet
thick. The same condition exists on
Cushnoc Heights. The gravel bank, back
of the State House, is formation of the
same character as the north side Of the
gas house bank.
Winthrop hill has this stratified deposit
with the glacial gravels drifted over it
In regard to formation of these different
terraces, it is believed by some biologists
that all were formed, geologic ages ago, on
the highest level and as the water subsidized,
formed the valleys and beds of the present
rivers and streams, diminutive remains
of what were once mighty rushing tor
rents
The three types of remains of the ice
age found in our city and vicinity are
found in many other places than those
cited but the general appearances are
similar.