Stevenson.] 1«^^ • lNov.21, 



the bordering ridge, avoiding the stream, the presence of terraces is dis- 

 tinct. The higher benches, which apparently have no relation to the 

 river terraces, are equally distinct. Only one measurement of a higher 

 bench was made. 



A few measurements of river terraces were made on Clinch, which are 

 approximately correct.* In descending Copper ridge, in Scott county, to 

 Osborn's ford, a bench was seen, 640 feet above low water, at Morton L. 

 Harris' house, somewhat more than a mile from the river. It carries a 

 detrital deposit, containing small waterworn pebbles of quartz and other 

 materials, none of them larger than a hen's egg. No other terrace or 

 gravel deposit was seen along the road on this side of the river until the 

 "bottom," fifteen feet above low water, was reached, as the road follows 

 an irregular ravine ; but a terrace was ^een on the northerly side of the 

 river at eighty feet above the "bottom," on which is a thick deposit of 

 clay, sand and gravel, with many large bowlders of Coal Measure con- 

 glomerate. This terrace is conspicuous on the opposite side of the river at a 

 little way above the ford, where there is an intermediate terrace, whose 

 altitude was not ascertained. In descending Copper ridge to Nash's ford, 

 almost due north from Lebanon in Russell county, river terraces were ob- 

 served at 155, 40 and 15 feet above low water at the ford, and tbe highest 

 one extends a long way southward from the river. Each bench bears a 

 thick deposit of detrital matter with great quantities of bowlders. What 

 the condition is on the north side of the river was not determined, as the 

 road follows a deep ravine for several miles. 



The only satisfactory measurement obtained along the North fork of 

 Holston was near Laurel fork, seven miles east from Saltville. The de- 

 posit is from 85 to 90 feet above low water and contains bowlders of large 

 size in sand and clay. The river road follows for nearly a mile. Well- 

 marked terraces were observed along this river at many places, but no 

 good measurements were obtained. 



Sufficient evidence has been secured by measurement and observation to 

 prove that the streams in this region are as handsomely terraced as are 

 those of Western Pennsylvania and the adjoining parts of Maryland and 

 West Virginia, both east and west from the Allegheny mountains ; and 

 the writer's observations in the Flat Top region of Tazewell county and 

 the adjacent part of West Virginia satisfy him that the geologist who enters 

 this region with time to make detailed observations, will find the higher 

 system of parallel benches as beautifully preserved as they are in the areas 

 of Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, described by the writer.f 

 It is very interesting to note that these higher benches are well preserved 

 only in softer rocks, the shales and sandstones of the Devonian and Car- 



*The writer's barometer became deranged early in the examination and was 

 useless; so that the trustworthy measurements are few. 



t Stevenson. Surface Geology of Southwest Pennsylvania and Adjacent Por- 

 tions of West Virginia and Maryland. Read before Amer. Phil, Soc, Aug. 15, 

 1879. 



