OIL IN THE REELFOOT AREA. 



19 



It is established by the writings of numerous men of high 

 standing, as well as handed down by tradition, that during 

 this series of earthquakes, numerous changes took place in this 

 area and in near-by portions of Arkansas and Missouri. These 

 changes consisted mainly in the subsidence of certain parts, 

 converting them from a condition of more or less dry land to 

 lakes. 



The area of Reelfoot Lake, approximately 25 miles long, with 

 a probable average of five miles in width, was previous to the 

 earthquake, one of low land probably containing a good many 



FIG. 2. Dead cypress trees in Reelfoot Lake. (A. H. P.) 



old sloughs, and certainly one or more streams. Without the 

 witnesses of tradition and literature, that of dead trees yet 

 standing in the lake is convincing proof that the area recently 

 has been submerged. The submergence could have come about 

 either by sinking or by an elevation of the land immediately 

 to the south, thus ponding the water ; but if there was any such 

 elevation it was not great enough to have formed the lake; 

 besides the stream flowing out of the lake to the south would 

 probably by this time have cut its bed down through the soft 

 material over which it flows, and thus drained most of the area. 

 So we must conclude that sinking took place. 



