PAPERS OX GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 395 



ing of what seem to be parallel tracks. One of 

 the most wonderful formations is that of the Pipe 

 Organ. The Manager, who guided me through the 

 labyrinthian passages of the Cave, struck several of the 

 stalactites which resounded with musical tones. Other 

 beautiful and curious stalagmites are Washington's 

 Monument and Washington's Plume. 



In one part of the Cave beautiful stalagmites resem- 

 bling bouquets of flowers or stalks of celery may be seen. 

 To me they were the most wonderful of all formations. 

 The way in which calcium carbonate trickling from the 

 ceiling forms crystalized stalactitic and beautiful stalag- 

 mitic columns with glittering domes is certainly inter- 

 esting, and the floral-like formations are exceedingly 

 wonderful. The underground water of that locality 

 contains much dissolved limestone. Upon seeping 

 through the roof of the Cave it begins to evaporate, 

 losing its carbonic acid, and limestone is deposited 

 on the ceiling around the edge of the drop of water. 

 'Other drops form below this one until a tubular 

 pendant develops, which at lirst is hollow but later 

 the opening is filled and successive layers are formed 

 on the outside. When the stalactite thus formed 

 reaches a certain stage, if the seepage is sufficient, the 

 drops will fall to the floor and build up a stalagmite. 

 These, meeting the pendants from the ceiling, form col- 

 umns as shown in The Visitor's Wonder or Haines's Al- 

 cove. The general yellow color of cave formations is 

 caused by the presence of iron oxide. Most of those in 

 Marengo Cave are translucent and some are almost snow 

 white. 



Marengo Cave is one of Nature's greatest works of art. 

 It is a sight of beauty and of wonderful ornamentation 

 that makes a lasting impression on the mind of the ob- 

 server. J. S. Diller in a Governmental Publication says : 

 "All caves are not so beautifully ornamented. Mammoth 

 Cave of Kentucky, although remarkable for its size, con- 

 tains a very small amount of cave deposits such as are 

 shown by the two illustrations," referring to Luray Cave 

 in Virginia and Marengo Cave in Indiana. A trip to 

 Marengo Cave is well worth one's time. The expenses 

 while there are reasonable. 



