SKETCH OF FLINT RIDGE, LICKING COUNTY, OHIO. 853 



iu no other formation is the flint so abundant. Land-locked basins 

 seem to have existed along the border of the ocean in that period, wherein 

 our little plants flourished, while farther out the limestone was being- 

 formed by such animals as find their most suitable surroundings in 

 open salt water ; so that one has only to lay before him a section of a 

 coal-shaft, suppose this shaft to have been made through rock of which 

 some limestone layer was formed near the shore in quiet water, substi- 

 tute "flint "for "limestone," and the explanation of flint-beds is at 

 hand — such, at least, as are due to this vegetable agency. It is not to be 

 inferred, however, that all flint should for this reason present the same 

 appearance ; there are to be taken into consideration the chances of oc- 

 casional slight changes of level ; tides and storms bringing iu a supply of 

 Salter water, with, it may be, many lime-producers ; the swelling of a 

 tributary stream, where-by various organic and inorganic impurities are 

 carried in to a greater extent, coming sometimes from one kind of soil, 

 sometimes from another — all these i)oints, and others, are to be remem- 

 bered in accounting for the different grades and colors found even in 

 a limited space. 



These are the most common explanations. Recent investigations go 

 to show that chemical changes at the bottom of the ocean have much 

 todo with flint formation ; and the process of substitution, whereby 

 silica replaces other material iu decaying substances, as is seen in the 

 petrifaction of woody fiber, adds its mite to the limited knowledge of 

 the subject; but the question is far from being definitely settled. 



Throughout Eastern Ohio there are numerous deposits of flint of vari- 

 ous descriptions ; and in several counties places are to be found in which 

 the "ancient arrow-maker" practiced his calling with the material so 

 abundantly supplied. 



Pre-eminent among them, on account both of its great extent and the 

 vast amount of aboriginal labor evident throughout nearly its whole ex- 

 tent, is the deposit lying in the southeastern part of Licking and west- 

 ern part of Muskingum Counties, Ohio. This has been known for many 

 years as " Flint Ridge," and, numerous as are similar deposits in other 

 places, it is by all odds entitled to be called the " Flint Ridge " not only 

 of Ohio but of the whole country. 



Its most western point is on the road leading from Newark to Zanes- 

 ville, about 8 miles from the former place and half a mile from the east- 

 ern line of Franklin Township. From here it extends eastward across 

 Hopewell Township and about 2 miles into Muskingum County, making 

 its entire length very nearly 8 miles, counting by section lines, and 

 fully 10 miles following the turns of the road. At about 2 miles from 

 its western end, north of the village of Brownsville, it reaches its great, 

 est breadth, -2^ miles. Owing to the extensive erosion that has taken 

 place since its final emergence from the ocean (the summits of the hills 

 being more than 300 feet above the streams), its outline is exceedingly 



