OUTLINE OF PREVIOUS PUBUICATIONS. 25 



prepared by Mather, Whittlesey, Locke, Foster, and Briggs. Hall and 

 Horsford had given it attention in southwestern New York in 1838 and 

 1839. As early as 1838 it had become established that the drift extends 

 to the Ohio River in southwestern Ohio, and to the "hill country" of 

 southeastern Ohio. It was also known equally early that it extends to the 

 hilly districts of southern Indiana and southern Illinois. At that date its 

 limits in northwestern Pennsylvania were perhaps less definitel}' known. 

 Striae were reported at Sandusky, Ohio, by Oranger in 1823; near Lock- 

 port and Brockport, N. Y., by Thomas in 1830; near Buffalo, N. Y., by 

 Hayes in 1837; at Rochester, N. Y., by Dewey in the same year; and near 

 Dayton, Ohio, by Locke in the succeeding year. 



In explanation of the drift and of the strias, it seems to have been gen- 

 erally recognized as early as 1839 that currents from the north were the 

 agency of transportation, and that these currents carried large masses of 

 ice which were laden with rock material. It was early recognized that 

 stripe could not be the result of ordinary currents of water. In reference to 

 the striation at Sandusky, Granger reniarked in 1823: 



The surface is pohshed as if bj- friction. It has the appearance of having been 

 formed by the powerful and continued attrition of some hard body. The flutings in 

 depth, width, and direction are as regular as if they had been cut out bj' some groov- 

 ing plane. This running water could not effect, nor could its operation have produced, 

 that gloss}^ smoothness which in manj' parts it still retains.^ 



Locke remarked in 1838, concerning strise. near Dayton, Ohio: 



It is impossible to account for the phenomena by supposing them to be the effect 

 of alluvial action. The motion occasioned bj' a river ma}' wear a surface in general 

 smooth, but not to any extent to a perfect plane. It may roll stones or slide them 

 along, but seldom, if ever, so as to engrave lines so perfectly straight and parallel. 

 I deem it proper here to observe that I did not come to the conclusion that the above- 

 described grooves were ancient or "diluvial grooves" without caution and particular 

 examination. '^ 



Dewey remarked, in 1839, concerning strias in western New York, that 

 they apparently support the glacial theory of Agassiz. He thought, how- 

 ever, that great masses of floating ice might produce the phenomena, and 

 that floods were required to account for the transportation of bowlders 

 across high ridges.^ 



1 Am. Jour. Sci., 1st series, Vol. VI, 182.3, pp. 179-180. 

 '' Second Ann. Kept. Geol. Survey Ohio, 18:38, pp. 2.31-2.32. 



■' Am. Jour. Sci., 1st series, Vol. XXXVII, 1839, pp. 240-242; idem, 1st series, Vol. XLIV, 1843, pp. 

 146-150. 



