THE UPPER OR HERMAN BEACHES. 323 



of section 19, Wheatland, a half mile east from the main beach, and it 

 passes thence north-northeastward through sections 18, 7, and the east 

 edge of section 6, having an elevation of 1,081 to 1,084 feet. It becomes 

 merged with the main beach in the southeast quarter of section 32, Empire. 

 Between these beach ridges is a depression, approximately 1,075 feet, partly 

 occupied by a grassy slough, which is all used as mowing land, having no 

 area of water or bog. 



The Herman beach in the southwest quarter of section 28, Empire, at 

 a height of 1,094 to 1,096 feet, is not so distinct as usual, being intersected 

 by Swan Creek and having no well-marked depression along its west side. 

 Farther north in this section it is a ridge of the ordinary type, with its 

 crest at 1,096 to 1,098 feet. In section 21 it is narrowed to 8 or 10 rods 

 in width, but continues as a very distinct ridge with a slight ascent north- 

 ward, from 1,097 to 1,101 feet. Its east slope falls 15 to 20 feet in about 

 20 rods, and there is a depression of 3 to 6 feet on the west. Thence a 

 surface of undulating till, seeming nearly flat in a general view, rises gradu- 

 ally westward to about 1,150 feet at a distance of 2 or 3 miles. 



This beach ridge passes onward through section 16 and the south part 

 of section 9, Empire, with an elevation of 1,095 to 1,100 feet; but, having 

 been followed thus continuously in a north-northeast course for more than 

 15 miles, it ceases in the east part of this section 9. Its north end abuts at 

 1,100 to 1,105 feet upon a terrace slope of till, which rises about 10 feet 

 higher. This forms the east boundary of a slightly undulating expanse of 

 till, which thence gradually rises to 1,150 and 1,200 feet in 2 to 5 miles 

 west and northwest. From section 9 northward through the east part of 

 section 4, and in the west edge of section 34 and the west part of sections 

 27, 22, and 15, Erie, passing close east of Erie railway station, the Her- 

 man shore of Lake Agassiz is marked by such a terrace or escarpment 

 formed by wave erosion, and the usual deposit of beach gravel and sand is 

 absent. The base of the escai-pment is at 1,095 feet, approximately, and it 

 rises with a moderate slope 25 to 40 feet. 



About a half mile east of this escarpment, however, lies a broad, low 

 ridge of beach sand and fine gravel, having an elevation of 1,085 to 1,090 

 feet. Its course is from the west part of section 10 north-northeast through 



