350 Geological Survey of the State of Ohio. 
Jand have been formed within four years. As the coast west of Cleveland is 
rock-bound, very little detrital matter is swept eastward, while the coast 
to the east of Cleveland, to Fairport, composed of earthy materials, is 
mostly in a state of rapid degradation. The northeast winds sweep this 
detrital matter along to the westward, and deposit it behind the obstacles 
which create eddy currents. The long pier at Cleveland has caused 
such currents, and the deposit of the alluvial sands just mentioned. 
“One evidence that the lake has been making encroachments on this 
part of the coast for a long time, is an isolated hillock, a part of the ori- 
ginal shore, which was also the boundary of a bluff on the Cuyahoga river. 
This bluff turned the river westward, so that its mouth was a mile or 
more west of Cleveland, and remaining without degradation on the river 
side, (as is evident by its moderate slope,) was washed away on the lake 
shore, until it was cut through at the bend, and gave the river a shorter 
course to the lake through a new mouth. The old mouth is closed by @ 
sand beach, and the alluvial ground mentioned as having been formed 
west of Cleveland, is partly in front of the hillock, which presents a nearly 
vertical escarpment towards the lake. 
“The evidence of the degradation of land by the surf on the shore, 
may be seen at any time by standing on the cliff at Cleveland (and at 
many other points on the coast) and looking off upon the lake. At the 
the distance of one-half to one mile from the shore, a distinct line may be 
seen to mark the division between the muddy water, produced by the 
washing away of clay and the grinding up of pebbles on the coast, and 
the clear blue water of the Jake. All the water between that line and the 
shore is tinged with finely divided matter in a state of suspension. This 
matter settles in still water, and probably forms clay on the bottom of the 
Jake, imbedding shells and other organic remains.” pp. 16, 17. 
We should be pleased to multiply extracts from this report, but 
our limits forbid. In it, we find the same accuracy of observa- 
tion and the same scrupulous regard to facts, unbiassed by theory, 
which characterize the productions of that gentleman. 
The next report is thatof Dr. Hildreth. This gentleman, We 
regret to say, has resigned his situation in the survey, in con 
quence of ill health. He has long been an assiduous and suc- 
cessful cultivator of the natural sciences, and his several contribu- 
tions to this Journal, have introduced us to a rich geological field, 
which has been hitherto, but partially explored. While we a& 
cord to him as a general thing, the character of a judicious and 
accurate observer, ftom some of his conclusions, we must be al 
lowed to dissent. Thus, page 26, referring to the rocks which 
overlie the coal, he says :—“They are the new red sandstone, 
