GEOLOGY. 1 1 



gan and Superior lakes, to the Mexican gulph, this great 

 valley, every where exhibits, a deposite of great depth, evi- 

 dently derived from the action of the ocean, upon the surface 

 of the earth, north of this valley, running in currents, so power- 

 ful, that nothing of the kind, now in existence, resembles them. 

 This whole valley, is covered, to a vast depth, with the ruins of 

 a former world. This is the greatest valley, and the largest 

 tract of secondary formation, in the whole world. This vasl 

 field has been but recently visited by geologists, and books can 

 afford us very little aid, in the remarks we are about to make, 

 on this subject. Having examined no small portion of this tract, 

 we venture a few general observations on its principal out- 

 lines, as Ohio is connected with them. On the south side of 

 Lake Ontario, we find the same formation. That the surfaces 

 of all our northern lakes were originally much higher than 

 they are now, appears certain from indubitable evidence. 

 Ontario has been once so elevated, as to wash the edge of what 

 is now, a considerable ridge, about twenty rods south of what 

 is called the ridge road, between Rochester and Niagara river 

 That road, resembles a turnpike, consisting of sand and pcb 

 bles, which the waves had dashed upon the shore, with such a 

 force, that these materials rebounded, and finally settled where 

 they now repose, forming the best natural road, in the Union. 

 In process of time Lake Ontario wore down its outlet, and set- 

 tled its surface, to where we now find it. The falls of Niagara 

 began to be, at Queenston, and have ascended the river, seven 

 miles to the interesting spot, where they now roar. 



The present bank of lake Erie, on the southern side, is about 

 seventy feet above the now, common surface of the lake. 

 Running all along the present southern shore and generally 

 about two miles and a half south of it, is another elevation of 

 about seventy feet. We have said generally, because there 

 are exceptions, as to the width of the strip of land, between 

 the old and new banks of Lake Erie. Cleaveland stands on 

 the present bank of the lake. And the earth, on which it 

 stan-l?, is made up of sand, and pebbles rounded and smoothed, 

 by the action of water. The first strip of land south of the 



