April, 1916] 



Reames Cave 



215 



of them, especially the larger ones. It occurs in those composed 

 of both minerals and those of only one. A constriction should 

 occur where stalactite and stalagmite meet. Most of the large 

 stalactites show two however. The question might be raised 

 whether an increased water supply would cause more rapid 

 deposition. This might be brought about by glaciation or a 

 number of other ways. Figure 3 of the stalactite and stalagmite 

 "Evangeline and Gabriel," two of the largest columns in the 

 cave are without any suggestion of constriction. They are 

 not, however, in the main cave, but off at the extreme end of a 

 narrow side branch which is quite dry at present and may have 

 been so for a long time. 



Figure 4. "The Graveyard." 



The smaller stalactites are simple in form. Hundreds of 

 them, about the size of a cigarette, are hollow thin walled tubes, 

 that hang from the roof in the wider part of the cave. They are 

 still covered and filled with water and probably started their 

 growth at a not distant past. The larger ones are from three 

 to five feet long. Figure 4 of the "Graveyard" is a good 

 illustration of the abundance of the small ones. 



The time when the cave began to be formed is unknown. 

 The only evidence as to its age is derived from comparing it 

 with other solution cavities in the Columbus limestone, known 

 to be pre-glacial.* These are so much smaller that it seems 

 probable the cave was in existence long before glaciation. 



The cave had no surface opening until in August, 1897, when 

 the ground sunk at the present entrance. 



*Hubbard, Geological Survey of Ohio, Bulletin 14, p. 63. 



