16 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



nies, are more acute than the eastern ones, just as our lake 

 rivers have more descent in them, in a given distance, than 

 those have falling into the Ohio river. We say it is so, with- 

 out knowing or caring, why it is so. 



MILLSTONE. 



The burghstonc, of which millstones are made, in considerable 

 numbers, in the counties of Muskingum, Hocking, Jackson 

 and Gallia, occurs in amorphous masses, partly compact, but 

 this rock always contains in it, more or less irregular cavities. 

 These holes are occasioned sometimes, by the seashells which 

 originally filled them having fallen out of their places in the rock. 

 The aspect of this millstone is somewhat peculiar, resembling 

 paste, which had been in a state of fermentation, when moist, 

 and warm; but when the the heat had ceased to act, the mass 

 became dry, hard and compact, with all the marks of fermenta- 

 tion remaining in it. The cavities are sometimes, filled with 

 crystals of quartz. The fracture of this burghstone is com- 

 monly dull, and its colour is whitish or redish brown. Its hard- 

 ness and cavities, when not too numerous, render it very use- 

 ful for making mill stones, many of which are manufactured, 

 and sent all over this state, and to the western ones generally. 



FLINT FAMILY. 



We have, perhaps, every species of the flint family, in our' 

 sandstone region. In the counties of Licking, Muskingum, 

 Perry, Hocking and Athens, the several species of this family 

 exist in considerable quantities. The nodules of flint, occur 

 in thill layers, between compact limestone, and sandstone. 

 They are so connected with the rocks above and below them, 

 that the flint partakes of the color of the nearest rocks 

 with which it comes in contact. These flint rocks, are some- 

 times made up of Zoophitae, or, of the most ancient sea shells, 

 which have now become silicious. They generally lie in hori- 

 zontal lines, though sometimes, gently declining, towards the 

 southeast. They are of every colour from a deep red or black, 



