The Washington times., 1903-02-09
DRAINAGE LINES IN
SOUTHEASTERN OHIO

the former through the ordinary pro
cesses Of stream action and modiflca-
ton due TO the discovery of underlying
structures in the down-cutting, which
would convert the old consequent
streams into subsequent ones. The
varying resistance of beds 10 erosion
as Il factor in producing the modifca-
jions is of no value in the present case
History of Streams Varied.
The relation Of present streams TO
their valley floors and to deposits with
in the valleys shows that the history OF
the principal streams has been quite va
ried The first stage was The extern
sive erosion Of the deeD valley floors 20
q depth OF from 30 to 100 feet below the
present drainage level The second stage
began with the deposition of gravel,
sand, and silt on the floors OF the deep
valleys. and continued until they had
accumulated 10 the level of the highest
terraces The third stage was inaugu-
rated sby The reduction OF the material
supplied TO the streams, and A possible
increase in the stream gradients.
This stage is supposed 10 have been
characterized by much larger volume
of water than IS carried by the pTesenr
streams, and the heavy deposits Of gray
q were then trenched approximately to
the present level. This stage persisted
u-.tu the volume OF water was reduced
to near that Of the present through
( flowing streams. The fourth stage in
cludes the activity OF the present riy-
ers since the close of the third stage.
As one stands on the ground and looks
upon the effects of each Of these four
stages, spread before the eye in a single
view. the comparison Of the time rela-
tons as represented by the work done
almost staggeTs the Imagination
Mr., Tights Conclusion.
IN discussing the historical relations
Of The Old higb-level system to the
present system. Mr. Tight considers at
length Jha operation Of all possible
forces. normal and catastrophe. and
their relations to the sequence Of events
in The circumja accent regions. and he ar
riyes al he following conclusions:
That the high-leveI valleys OF south
/ eastern Ohio and the adjacent region
represent a connected system OF an old
drainage cycle which antedates the frst
advance If the ice Of the glacial period.
ard that they are therefore OF pre-
glacial age; that the deposition Of sill
Or the old valley floors. and the de-
fecti0E IF the streams producing the
present drainage system we're accom-
plished as q result OF the action Of the
advancing ice-sheet of the first glacial
epoch. possibly the pre- ansan. that the
extensive erosion Of the present river
valleys to depths below the present
drainage lines was accomplished during
an interglacial interval Of great dura-
/ ton. and that they should therefore.
be called lnterglaCial valleys, that these
intergIacial valleys were partially fled
with debris by the 1OCd waters OF the
/ last glacial epoch and accompanying
sitting from the adjacent region. with
a partial recutting Of these deposits
during The later stages OF this epoch
aid thar the post-gIacial erosion is
! Represented by the channels cut in the
( floor Of these deposits since The waters
have acquired their present volume
From these studies it appears that
the Ohio River Valley, fro.a New
Martinsville 10 Manchester. is of inter
glacial origin and that the former con-
sideratiO1s. which have been based upon
the pre- glacial age Of this valley. are
as much in error as those which attempt
TO attribute its exterior erosion to post
glacial time"