Bedford and Bath or Berkeley Springs. 97 



Art. XIII. — Notices of the Geology of the Country near Bedford 

 Springs in Pennsylvania, and the Bath or Berkeley Spring in 

 Virginia, with remarks upon those waters ; by Dr. H. H. II ay- 



dent. 



TO THE EDITOR. 



Bear Sir — Having had occasion to visit Bedford Springs (in 

 Penn.) during the month of August, 1829, and having observed 

 some peculiarites in the geology of that district of country, not hith- 

 erto described (to my knowledge,) I am induced to offer a few re- 

 marks on the subject, which, if they appear to possess any interest, 

 you are at liberty to use as you may think proper. 



The borough of Bedford is a growing and healthy place, the 

 population of which may be estimated at about fifteen hundred. It 

 is the seat of justice for Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and is situa- 

 ted a few miles east of the principal elevation of the Alleghany 

 Mountains, on the great western turnpike, which passes from Phila- 

 delphia to Pittsburg. In approaching Bedford from the east, we 

 pass, on the margin of the Juniatta, through a deep gorge which di- 

 vides a bold and extensive ridge called Derming's Mountain, a 

 subordinate member of the Alleghany, and runs nearly parrallel 

 with it. This mountain appears, at least in that region, to be 

 composed of a sandstone, or what some perhaps, would denom- 

 inate millstone grit. 



On the west side of the valley in which Bedford lies, another 

 bold and extensive ridge, likewise a branch of the Alleghany, runs 

 parallel with Derming's, and is called Wills Mountain. Not having 

 had an opportunity of visiting this range of mountains, I can say 

 nothing of its geological structure. The whole region however, 

 may, I believe, be considered as secondary. 



At the distance of one mile south of the town of Bedford, we 

 pass between two round hills of about one and a half miles in length, 

 at their base, and of an elevation of about four or four hundred 

 and fifty feet. Between them lies a valley, through which runs a 

 copious stream called " Shover's creek" and which discharges itself 

 into the Rays-town branch of the Juniatta river at the distance of 



one mile east of Bedford. 



The hill on the east side of Shover's creek, (and valley) is called 

 Constitution hill, and at its base arise, within a short distance, the 



Vol. XIX.— No. 1. 13 



