A)i Ancient Channel 0/ the Ohio River (7 f Cincinnati. 97 



these investigations that at a not very remote period, geologically 

 speaking, the southwestern, the central and the northern parts of 

 of the State were cut up in much the same manner, though on a 

 smaller scale, as the Colorado Plateau region now is. Deep 

 caiions alternated with narrow ridges of land; or wide valleys 

 swept in majestic course' for miles, bordered on either side with 

 steep declivities or abrupt precipices. The mass of debris brought 

 by the glaciers, or resulting from their erosive powers, has filled up 

 the narrow canons and wide valleys; has buried the perpendicular 

 cliffs to their summits in sand, gravel and clay; and has left 

 rounded hills or has formed level plains, upon which now stand 

 the residences of civilized man. The amount of money expended 

 in the search for oil and gas is scarcely proportionate to the ])ecu- 

 niary return; but the result from a scientific standpoint has been 

 most valuable. One thing, at least, it has shown us, and that is, 

 how much we owe to the recent past. Without the action of the 

 glaciers m grinding the rocks up, or tearing away the disentegrated 

 surface material; without the mixing up of the many ingredients 

 which now form our soil, it may be questioned whether the State 

 would ever have produced the crops which it has. Without 

 the filling of valleys and the rounding of hills, it may be 

 questioned whether Ohio would ever have attained the position 

 she has in the galaxy of States. 



The valleys of the Ohio River and its tributaries are in many 

 instances terraced in a peculiar manner. Upon these terraces 

 have been built many cities. Among these are Cincinnati, Ham 

 ilton and Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Covington and New- 

 port, Kentucky. It is to the surroundings of one city, Cincinnati, 

 as influericed by comparatively recent geological changes, that 

 attention is now directed. 



While most of our streams have occupied portions of their pres- 

 ent valleys for long periods, there are others which have cut 

 comparatively new courses for themselves. Still others that flow 

 partly in the old and partly in a new channel, cut since the begin- 

 ning, or perhaps even since the close, of the Glacial Era. The 

 Ohio itself flows in part in an old and in part in a new bed. A 

 portion of this old bed is now known as Mill Creek, an insignificant 

 stream which empties into the Ohio, after flowing through the 

 western side of Cincinnati. 



In early days its waters were pure, and swarmed with fish of 

 many kinds; but, with the growth of a great city along its banks 



