The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-08

classes: az Those formed by the ac'
tion of currents, the force Of waves, and
the grinding of shngle against cliff on
a rocky seacoast, which forces gradually
hollow out caves in the weaker places
Of which those found near Bar Harbor
Me, may serve as examples; ~ those
4 found in volcanic regions, formed by the
subterranean flow Of lava or by the ex-
pansion of steam and gases. such as
those in the Klamath lake region in Ore
gon which are so large that they often
served as effectual hiding places for the
Indians in the early days OF the conquest
lof 1.-THE West, and (3) those which have
| been cut out of calcareous rocks by the
! chemical action of carbonic acid in raiI
water, combined with the mechnical fric-
tion of the sand and stones set in forci-
bic motion by the streams of water
which have flowed through them for
ages These last are the most numer-
Gus and most important in size, and it
is to this class that Mammoth cave be-
longs.
As most people know, the cave is in
Edmonson county, Kentucky about IS
miles southwest of Louisville, and not
far from Green river, into which the
caves subterrean waters empty. This
section of Kentucky, where may be
found limestone beds frequently reach
ing thickness of 500 feet. is noted for
its rocky grottoes, sink holes, and cav
ems. The rocks in the vicinity OF Nam.
moth cave gave evidence of but little
disturbance by the dynamic forces of
agt Il. g
deposits, with comparatively level strata
and located somewhat above a drainage
level, with small crevices or joints, that
furnish the conditions for the forma-
tion of underground passageways and
chambers by the chemical and mechani- |
cal agency of underground waters.
From geological viewpoint Mammoth |
cave is OF comparatively recent origin /
its formation having begun something 1
less than 100000 years ago, in the \
Plioceno age. The cave action began /
after Green river had cut its channel /
down into the limestone stratum which
this section. The rain water,
with its carbonic acid content. seeped
through the everything earth and passing
into and through the crevices and Joints
Of the stone, at that time above the level
of the river, began the work of solution
and erosion. These underground wat
ers gathered along the planes OF least
resistance, and as the ereyices grew in
'ize more and more OF the surface water
vas drained into them, and as Green riv.
T cut its bed deeper into the liemstOne
the cave waters kept pace with
he process until what had once been
mere subterrancan rills grew into that
emarkable underground stream known
IS Echo river, which now flows through
he lowest levels of the cave and emp ,
les into Green river. During the ages
has been at work dissolying the stone
nd cutting its way along where resist I
nee was least. ever seeking lower levels. !
has left behind il the twisted. tortu-
ur passages and large galleries and
hambcrs which form this mightiest OF
7 known cayerns. According TO geol.
gists, IL took Green river 100000 years
3 cut away it, present bed, 30 the cave ,
estimated 70 be almost az old. IL !
rst came into prominence during the t,
ar Of 1872. when the United states !,
overnmcnt needed nitrate TO make pow
er. some Of the large entrance cham
srs Of the cave had formed the winter
abitations for myriads Of bats for many
PES, and a. a consequence the soil had ],
scome converted into guano beds with 4
large nitrate content. AZ result J,
.e cave became a nitrate mine whence
uch Of the powder supply for the =,
Jung nation was obtained a