The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-09-12
iii VIZ STORY OF
POTOMAC core E.
Is Published by Federal Geo.
logical Survey with
Maps and Data.

WASHINGTON D. G., Sept. g.
The great Potomac gorge was not
always. as it ia today, one of the
most beautiful and picturesque or
river valleys. The United States
Geological Survey has recently pub
lIshed a geologic folio describing
about 46O square miles, including
portion of the Potomac valley
the areas known as the Pawpaw and
Hancock quadrangles, in Pennsyl-
yania. Maryland and West Virginia.
This folio (No. 1870. which was
written by George W. Stose, con-
tains a most interesting account OF
the gradual cutting down by the riv-
er OF this deep gorge during thous-
ands of years.
The area is located in part OF the
Potomac valley where the river
winds in great curves through a
deep gorge with densely wooded
slopes. AS the railroad traveller
swings around these great bends
which almost meet before. they re-
verse, and realizes that it takes
three times as long to ride between
two points as It would to go in a
straight line. he may wonder why
the river acquired such a course
Stream Once Sluggish.
In a view from the top OF the
ridges. 1t can be seen that many or
the hilltops are flat and of about
the same altitude, and that II the
valleys were filled up they would
form nearly level plain. This
feature is also excellently shown by
the topographic map which forms a
part of the folio. Mr.. Stose says
that many thousand years ago the
Potomac flowed toward the sea up
on this plain, which at that time was
much lower in a1titude-in fact, SO
near the level of the sea that the
stream was very sluggish and wan
dered about in its valley, as is the
custom of streams with low grade,
such as the Mississippi. Later,
when the interior of the continent
was somewhat elevated. the streams
became "rejuvenated" and cut
down their channels, first into the
soft detrltus which had accumluat-
ed in the valley and eventually into
the hard rocks beneath. AS the con-
tlnent rose still higher, they cut
deeper INTO the rocks, and, as re-
suit the Potomac is now deeply en-
trenched in these winding gorges.
One stream in the area, however.
is making a channel by cutting off a
meander and taking a short cut
through a hill. producing a beautl-
full cataract. This stream Is shown
in the Photographic illustrations of
the folio. as are also the remnants
of the elevated plain ON the hIlTtops,
once the valley of the Potomac.
Crushed Under Great Pressure.
Other marvellous features which
the traveller may observe from the
car window in passing through this
area are the great rock folds. One
arch of rock that has been truncated
by the river and is visible from the
train and canal is of such interest
to biologists that it has attracted
visitors from all parts OF the world
and is illustrated in some text books
on geology. other folds, not visible
from the train but readily accessible
to those interested have the form
OF great saw teeth rising above the
crest of a hill. All these folds are
well illustrated in the folio. These
rock folds are the record Of the
great mountain making forces
which crushed and folded the rocks
as they were raised out of the sea.
Many of the rocks are full Of well
preserves fossil shells. Some that
have long, banded. fluted wings are
called butterflies blythe natives. How
did they get into the rocks and what
do they mean? r
Shells From an Ancient Sea.
These fossile were shells OF living
creatures that inhabited the sands
and muds of sea that covered this
region long ages ago. All the rocks
now at the surface of this area are
hardened sediments that were de-
posted on the shore and on the
bottom. of the sea, and the shells
of the animals that lived in these
waters Twere buried IN these sedi-
ments and were hardened with
them. Now we find them beautiful
ly preserved in stone.
The beauties ond wonders OF ma