538 G1.ACIAL FORMATIONS OF ERIE AND OHIO BASINS. 



inasmuch as flowing wells have been obtained along it throughout almost 

 the entire length, of the stream. The flow of water is from gravel below 

 blue till. The depth of the wells seldom exceeds 30 feet, and the water 

 rises but a few feet above the surface. The wells are all, so far as noted, 

 on the flood plain of the stream. 



TAYLOR CREEK ESKER. 



The features of greatest interest in this district are the eskers and other 

 beds of assorted material that show the work of water in connection with 

 the ice sheet. The Taylor Creek esker has already been referred to, and 

 the other belts have been well described by N. H. Winchell in his report 

 on the geology of Ohio. The Taylor Creek esker, being the best illustra- 

 tion of that class of formations found in this district, first receives attention. 

 It lies in Hardin County, nearly due south from Kenton, as indicated in 

 PL XIII, its north end being about 3 miles from that city. By the residents 

 it is known as the "Devils Backbone," and less commonly as the "Taylor 

 Creek Ridge." Its length is about 3 miles. The most prominent part has 

 a trend nearly north to south, but local variations occur, as described 

 below. It so nearly coincides in trend with the bearing of neighboring 

 striee at Big Springs and Belle Center (S. 10° W.) that it represents the 

 direction of the ice movement about as well as the striae, and yet its local 

 variations seem to be out of harmony with the direction of the ice move- 

 ment, it being scarcely probable that the great ice sheet made the sudden 

 deflections which this ridge exhibits 



For nearly a mile in its northern portion the ridge is low, seldom 

 exceeding 10 feet in height, and is subject to frequent gaps and to sudden 

 changes in trend. It then rises to a height of 20 to 30 feet or more, and 

 for perhaps one-half mile exhibits considerable winding and is interrupted 

 by short gaps. Here the main ridge sets in and is nearly continuous for 

 about 1^ miles, lying in Taylor Creek Valley on the west side of the stream. 

 Its height is 30 to 50 feet and the breadth at top sufficient for a wagon 

 road. The slopes are, as a rule, very sharp, being 30° or even greater 

 from the horizontal. At the southern end of this main ridge a low ridge 

 slightly separated from it leads off toward the southwest a few rods and 

 there dies away. About one-fourth mile to the south a sharp gravel ridge 

 with northwest-to-southeast trend appears and runs from the center of the 

 valley up to the east blufii' of the creek, a distance of about one-fourth of a 



