THE NEW MADRID EARTHQUAKE 



49 



A careful study of the whole district of the dome indicates that 

 it has been lifted above the general alluvial plain of the Mississippi. 

 We have spoken of the narrow, more or- less parallel, ridges, alter- 

 nating with narrow, irregular lakes and swamps. Frequently the 

 line between the swamp and ridge is abrupt and terrace-like. Near 

 Gayoso a striking example of this configuration occurs. Here the 

 general level of the ridge breaks abruptly in a straight line, and drops 

 some 4 or 5 feet to the general level of the swamp, forming what 

 even the countryman recognizes as a fault scarp, and describes as 

 "the place where the land sunk." 



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Fig. 2. — East side of Varney River, below Kennett, Mo. (Photographed by 

 M. L. Fuller.) 



The streams which flow through this district are very tortuous 

 and generally, though not always, follow the line of the swamps. 

 Instead of flowing into the Mississippi, they usually flow at a slightly 

 divergent angle, and empty into the St. Francis. There is a strong 

 and decided slope southwestward through this area from the Missis- 

 sippi to the White River, the valley of the latter being there decidedly 

 lower than the valley of the Mississippi. A large amount of water 

 flows southwestward through this area, and it is noticeable that, 

 while the vegetation has the characteristic luxuriance of the swamps, 

 the water is relatively clear, pure, and cool, and alive with bass and 

 other game fish supposed to inhabit only those waters which are 

 moderately pure and cool. It is further remarkable that the bot- 



