124 PASSUMPSIC PJVEPv. 



Plate II. We should have been glad to have given an enlarged map of the Surface Geology of White 

 River. 



Between White River Junction and Barnet we have very few notes upon the Surface Geology of the 

 tributary streams of the Connecticut. We will mention, however, all the facts in our possession. In Nor- 

 wich there is a small stream from the northwest, upon which the village is built. Near the sources of this 

 stream there are interesting beaches and moraine terraces, and at the village of Norwich there is at least 

 one distinct terrace, namely, the plain upon which Norwich is built. It is sandy and quite extensive. 



The Ompompanoosuc River has a few well marked terraces near its mouth, and probably they extend in 

 perfection for several miles along its banks. We crossed the river in the west part of Thetford, but did not 

 observe any facts worthy of mention. 



Wait's River promises finely for terraces. A glimpse of a few in Bradford is the only view we have been 

 permitted to have of them, except a few in East Corinth. We regret much that we were unable to 

 explore them. 



Wells River is another very promising stream, but we have been unable to examine its terraces. 



TERRACES ON PASSUMPSIC RIVER. 



We are now approaching that part of Vermont where the accumulation of water-worn materials is very 

 great. The northeastern counties are almost entirely covered up with alluvium, in the form of terraces, 

 moraine terraces, sea beaches and sea bottoms. Their thickness is greater than in other parts of the State, 

 and their distribution over the entire surface is much greater ; so much so, in fact, that in many places it 

 as difficult to ascertain what kind of rock occurs below the surface accumulations. The upper part of the 

 Passumpsic River is in the midst of such accumulations. The materials are often coarse, but are very 

 abundant, as the traveler upon the railroad from St. Johnsbury to Barton will easily see. They are to be 

 ascribed to some general causes for their formation, rather than to rivers, and it is a matter of regret that 

 our researches among them have been so limited. 



Notwithstanding the size and number of terraces on the Passumpsic, we will not at present venture to 

 specify more than two or three basins, so connected with one another are all the lateral terraces. The first 

 of them extends from the mouth of the river in Barnet to the northwest corner of the town of Waterford, 

 near the Passumpsic station, on the Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers Railroad, and is about four miles 

 in length. The river passes through a narrow valley in Barnet, a kind of gorge, with no terraces. Then 

 there may be seen narrow terraces, which at Passumpsic expand and form a beautiful basin. The fourth 

 terrace on the west side of the river passes into the next basin, which is embraced in the towns of St. Johns- 

 bury and Lyndon. Upon this high terrace is the beautiful village of St. Johnsbury, designated as St. Johns- 

 bury Plain. A. D. Hager states that the base of the terraces at St. Johnsbury is composed of clay. The 

 same terrace occurs on both sides of the valley beyond Lyndon, and the lower terraces may be seen at 

 intervals. At the principal village in Lyndon a remarkably high terrace exists, which may have formerly 

 extended across the valley to form the end of a basin. Its lower strata are clayey, and are remarkably 

 folded and curved. West of this terrace the level is lower, and here is the course of an old bed of a tribu- 

 tary stream from the west. At the upper village of Lyndon the first terrace is about a mile wide, and the 

 amount of terrace materials adjoining it is very great, and most of the materials are sand and fine gravel. 

 Every tributary stream from either side has its large terraces to correspond with those of the Passumpsic ; 

 and it is a characteristic of these terraces, in distinction from those on the Connecticut and its other tribu- 

 taries, that while they are very large, their number is small : in no case did the number exceed five, while on 

 the latter streams the number often amounted to seven, eight and ten. 



The third basin, whose limits are not marked, comprises that part of the Passumpsic River (east branch) 

 which flows through the territory of Burke. At the village of East Burke, several distinct terraces were 

 observed, and near it there are four on the west side and No. 1 and No. 4 on the east side. Above East 

 Burke the valley rises, so that its bottom appears like a terrace, with its steep slope crossing the valley at 

 right angles ; and there are indistinct terraces upon its sides. It seems to be too wide a valley to correspond 



