1879.] **Vi- [Stevenson* 



and, as it were, breaks down into a broad level country, known as the 

 "Glades," wbich stretcbes over into West Virginia and Maryland. 

 Though thus breaking down, the ridge loses little of its height, and the 

 " Glades " are not far from 2200 feet above tide. In general character this 

 plain is precisely like the benches. 



A fine series of benches was seen near Indian creek at Springfield in 

 Fayette county, but no way existed whereby the exact altitude could be 

 determined, and no measurements were made. 



Near the Loyalhanna. Between Ligonier and the village of Stahlstown 

 in Westmoreland county, on the divide between Four-mile run and the 

 Loyalhanna, the following benches were found : 1690, 1570, 1520, 1480, 

 1390 and 1245 feet above tide. These measurements were verified by ref- 

 erence to the levels of the Ligonier and Latrobe Railroad at Ligonier. 

 The last three are remarkably near three seen on the National road not far 

 from Hillsborough, and the last two undoubtedly represent the ninth (?) and 

 twelfth of the series. 



Benches in Somerset County. 



The elevation of Meyersdale on the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad 

 has been well established at 2063 feet above tide. Within sight of that 

 village are three fully defined benches at 2123, 2288 and 2323 feet above 

 tide, as determined by barometer from Meyersdale. 



The first bench is the floor of the country away from the Castleman's 

 river ; is shown on the hill between Elk Lick creek and the Castleman's ; is 

 the first bench on the road to Berlin north from the River, where it is beau- 

 tifully distinct ; and is again reached on the summit beyond the crossing of 

 Blue Lick by that road. At each of these places the bench is seen to be 

 persistent over a wide area. 



The second bench is at the hill-top on the property of the Cumberland 

 and Elk Lick coal company, and its place southward from that locality is 

 shown by flat-topped hills. The same bench was seen on the road to 

 Berlin. 



The third bench was seen on the road to Berlin at the Pine Hill church 

 as well as at Berlin, where its existence is proved by the flat-topped hills. 

 All of the benches are distinct at Berlin, and the second and third are well 

 preserved along the west face of the Alleghanies. 



East from the Alleghanies. 



The observations here are not in detail. For the most part they were 

 taken hastily along Wills creek and in the vicinity of Cumberland. 

 Enough, however, was ascertained to show that a series of benches similar 

 to that already described, exists along the east side of the Alleghanies in 

 Maryland. 



Fine river terraces were seen along the Potomac and on Wills creek, 



which enters the Potomac river at Cumberland. The chief terrace of the 



Potomac is easily traced from Cumberland to Piedmont, and has even more 



rapid rise than along the Youghiogheny or the Castleman's river. The 



piioc. ameu. riiiLos. soc. xviii. 104. 2m. pkinied sept. 2(i, 1879. 



