MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 305 



ridge of which Roman jSTose is the highest peak. The eastern and 

 longest ridge extends entirely across the county and bears the names 

 of Savage and Backbone mountains. Savage river breaks through 

 this ridge in the eastern part of the county, the northern portion of the 

 ridge being known as Big Savage Mountain and the southern as 

 Great Backbone Mountain. Winding Ridge, which is the fourth and 

 most western, extends parallel to Negro Mountain from the Pennsyl- 

 vania line to a point near Sang Run. Here its distinct ridge-like 

 character is lost in an irregular group of peaks and table-land on 

 both sides of the Youghiogheny river. These four main ridges have a 

 general elevation above sea-level of from 2500 to 3400 feet. They 

 often rise abruptly to elevations above the river beds of from 1000 

 to 1800 feet. The river channels through the mountains are deep, 

 narrow ravines, with sides so steep and strewn with boulders as to be 

 difficult of ascent. 



The agricultural valleys between the ridges and along the streams 

 have a general elevation of 2500 feet above sea-level. They are 

 seldom moTe than 500 feet below the crests of the highest ridges and 

 are usually 500 to 1000 feet above the river beds. 



Garrett county is well drained. The streams start on the high 

 mountain slopes and flow rapidly to the rivers below. The principal 

 streams of the county are, the Youghiogheny, Potomac, Savage, and 

 Castleman rivers. The Youghiogheny and Castleman rivers unite 

 in Pennsylvania and join the Monongahela. Their waters, through 

 the Ohio and Mississippi, finally reach the Gulf of Mexico. The 

 Savage and Potomac rivers unite and send their waters to Chesapeake 

 Bay. 



The rivers are from thirty to one hundred feet in widthj and their 

 beds are usually filled with a mass of rounded stones and boulders. 



The depth of water varies with the width of the stream and the 

 season of the year, from a few inches to three or four feet. The 

 boulders in the stream beds make navigation of any kind impos- 

 sible. It is therefore necessary to remove the timber along the 

 streams by means of railroads following the watercourses. 



The area of Garrett county is 435,200 acres. The agricultural 

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