OF DENISON UNIVERSITY. 27 



4. THE CALIFORNIA VALLEY. 



This is the name which Dr. Edward Orton gave to a portion of an 

 old deserted drainage line which extends from Sciotoville to Waverly 

 along the line indicated on the map Plate III and which will be de- 

 scribed more in detail. Dr. Orton, in his report on Pike County, in 

 the Ohio Geological Survey, Vol. II, page 6ii, says: " In the ex- 

 treme northwestern and southeastern corners of the connty, near Cyn- 

 thianai and California respectively, there are conspicuous examples of 

 surface erosion that do not belong to either of the systems thus far 

 named, but which are connected with the drainage systems of adjoin- 

 ing counties. Neither case, in fact, is explicable by existing agencies 

 of erosion. The California valley, which is very broad and deep, is 

 occupied by an insignificant stream that flows with a sluggish current 

 upon the surface of the deep drift beds by which the valley is filled. 

 The Drift in the vicinity of Cynthiana often exceeds fifteen feet in 

 depth, and the origin of the great excavation which has here been ef- 

 fected must be sought in the glacial epoch, or in pre-glacial times." 



Whether Dr. Orton recognized the continuation of this old drain- 

 age feature southward from California through Scioto county to the 

 Ohio valley is not stated. But that he recognized the main features of 

 the northern portion of the valley is very clear, so that the name which 

 he gave to the part is here retained for the whole valley. In company 

 with Mr. Wiltsee, of the department of geology, I examined this drain- 

 age line from the Ohio to the Scioto. The valley of the Ohio from 

 Greenup to Wheelersburg continued northward would follow directly 

 into the Ohio end of the California valley. North of Sciotoville and 

 Wheelersburg the gradation plain of this valley lies about 150 — 175 

 feet [by aneroid] above the present Ohio. The rock floor gradually 

 descends as the valley passes in a great sigmoid across Scioto county 

 to California. Here it is estimated from well depths that the rock floor 

 is about 100 feet below the surface. The valley next makes a great 

 bend to the eastward into Jackson county and then westward to the 

 Scioto. The southern portion of the valley floor has been much cut 

 up by recent drainage lines but in many places the gradation plains are 

 preserved and on the old valley floor was found river rubbish exactly 

 similar to that of the Teazes and Flat Woods valleys. The little Scioto 



'See description, Bulletin, Vol. IX, article III, this series. 



