The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1901-01-26

maximum breadth is in the neigh
borhood OF 200 miles. the areal ex.
tent is about $4,000 square miles
In elevation, this central di-
vide is from 400 to 1900 feet above
the margin, and from 1900 to 2100
feet above mean tide"
Although this pen picture gives in
anexeellent and very graphic form
interesting facts, it is by no means
capable of conveying to the mind
lucid understanding of the relief of
this extremely ancient landmark.
The curves and double curves may
be poetic, but they do not afford a
complete realistic relief and outline
by any means.
The writer very much regrets the
limited space which will not permit
of n more extended view of the topo-
graphical features that prevailed be-
fore the sedimentary rocks were
formed and thereby expose the
whole as one grand, entire system.
II, as biologists tell us, time exist
ed when the whole of that portion
of the United States drained by the
Mississippi river and its tributaries
was once a vast. rather shallow in
terror sea, it undoubtedly was at a
very early period. That such was
l
the condition is we'll shown in differ
ent manners and it is also evident
that the bottom of the sea at the
more elevated places was not far be-
low the water surface, while tops of
the granite knobs of Southeast Mis-
souri, projected INTO the air, the tall
est OF them some 500 feet or more.
These were the only exposed emf
nences south OF the Lake Superior
and Rainy Lake river regions. The
average altitude of the floor OF this
sea must have been at least 500 feet
above ocean level, while the depress-
ions, in forms OF basins, differed
and reached perhaps to 1000 feet or
more.
In evidence of the claimed altitude
of this sea surface and its later re-
cession, reference will be made to the
old water line marks and present
water levels. The present surface of
Lake Superior above ocean tide is
given as COS feet. Near the top of
the rock bound ridge at Duluth there
are distinct evidences of former old
beach which is about 600 feet high
er than the present lake, or say 1908
feet above tide. Some 800 feet low
err there is another, approximately
900 feet above the ocean. At Iron
Mountain station, on Missouri Pa
cihc r. k. the elevation gwen is 1877
tses..Here the porphyry is immsd;
lately underneath, with hills of seds
imentary rocks perhaps 100 feet
higher. The whole OF this then was
submerged during the highest water
stage and, as reasonable to suppose,
all the sedimentary rocks were that
escaped an upward movement until
after the water first receded. To
contain this vast liquid mass there
necessarily was combining rim OF
sufficient height This consisted Of
the Appalachian chain which extend
ed from Maine to Alabama on the
east, the old prominences Of Ontario
and Quebec, Canada and Northern
Minnesota on the north, the noun
tain ranges near the Pacific coast on
the west and the closing one on the
south that was much inferior and
comprised the entire Ozark Uplft, a
breach evidently was later effected
through this encompassing wall at
the weakest part of the southern
portion through which the impound-
ed waters rolled and emptied into
the abysmal depth OF the Cult arm
that then extended up the Mississip-
pi valley to Cairo. The waters had
now lowered some 800 feet to the
line as indicated by the middle
beach at Duluth and so much more
in vertical height OF dry land APP
peared.
The deeper central portions of the
basins are the areas marked on the
sketch map by numbers 14-15-16.17-
IS, and contain the bodies of natur-
al gas. oil and coal that have been,
and in future will be, found. The
lower numbers, 1-2-3-4-5, and, with
the course of the Mississippi river,
Nos. 10. indicate the rims of the bas-
ms that appeared after the lowering
OF waters, which now were confined
to separate lakes with narrow and
shallow connecting channels in a
manner similar to that OF our pres.
ent northern lakes. The information
thus given will perhaps aid the read
er in contemplation OF the marvel
GUS ground plan as projected by the
All Supreme Architect, and upon
which later he saw fit to construct
and fill to overlooking a store house
of mineral wealth that, for cores
ponding area, perhaps is not sur
passed in any other portion Of the
world. He can form his individual
conclusions, irrespective of old or
new, hide bound, theories that have
been, and are still being taught
without one particle more, if near as
much, ineligible reasoning, and no
direct evidences to prove them 1t is
a free field for all thinkers.
That these basins, with their con.
6ning walls should be classed as
wrinkles and folds, due TO the