Aj;^c of the Pt. P/casatit Beds. 93 



ON THI-: AGK OF TIIIC PT. I'LKAvSAXT, OHIO, HIU)S.* 

 Bv Pkof. Josici'ii K. Ja.mI'S, M. vSc, F. O. S. A. 



(Ass't Geologist, U. S. Geoloj^ical Survey.) 



The rocky strata in the vicinity of Cincinnati have been 

 observed and studied for many years and by many persons. 

 It is probable that even the very early settlers noticed the 

 rocks exposed in the hills, and used them for the foundations 

 of their houses. The hill slopes could not have presented the 

 same aspect they now have, for the easily disintergrated rock 

 and shale must have formed a regular slope with few, if any, 

 rocky ledges projecting. The streams between the liills prob- 

 ably exposed the character of the formation ; and it could not 

 have been man}- years before the main features of the strata 

 were shown. Not only were practical men attracted to the 

 rocks, but as time passed students came from various parts 

 of the world to see and collect the fossils so abundant in the 

 vicinity. The locality now has a world-wide reputation as a 

 spot abounding in wonderfully preserved organic rocks. 



A mere list of the authors who have written upon the rocks 

 and fossils of Cincinnati and its vicinity would be a long one. 

 It would include the greater number of the early geologists of 

 our own country, and not a few of those from abroad. As far 

 back as 181 5 Dr. Daniel Drake, in his " Picture of Cincinnati," 

 described, in a general way, the characters of the rocks, noting 

 that they were in layers from one to eighteen inches thick, 

 the limestone alternating with clay or slate. He also men- 

 tioned various fossil corals and shells that had been found, 

 but gave no definite description of them. 



In 1 81 8 the same writer published another paper entitled 

 " Geological Account of the Valley of the Ohio,"t in which he 



-Published by permission of the director of the U. S. Geolo,?ical Survey. 

 +Am. Phil. Soc. Trans., new ser., vol. 2, 1818, pages 124-139. 



