350 EARL R. SCHEFFEL 



continues unchecked by beds of resistant rock. As limestone and 

 coal members are generally weak, the interfering rock is practically 

 limited to the thick sandstone beds. 



IMPORTANCE AS A BASE-LEVELING FACTOR 



The importance of these slides as a base-leveling factor can 

 hardly be overestimated. Widespread changes are observable 

 as a result of a^ single season of activity. No other single agency 

 produces comparable results except as associated with this factor. 

 In this sense streams are of highest importance as by their removal 

 of slide masses, a continuency of the movements is permitted. 



INFLUENCE ON DRAINAGE 



GuUy-Iike forms and similar depressions due to sHdes are such 

 common features of hillsides or at the edge of sHde or stream 

 terraces, that they furnish the readiest Hnes for drainage of nearby 

 surface areas and for the ground water. It is very probable that 

 most of the minor streams whose courses have been determined 

 under present stratigraphic conditions have had these courses 

 determined in some measure by such depressions. 



SIMILARITY OF THE CONEMAUGH TO OTHER FORMATIONS 



The Monongahela and Dunkard formations which were laid 

 down following the Conemaugh, show a somewhat similar strati- 

 graphic arrangement with shales of unstable character. Their 

 outcrops, like the Conemaugh, lie in the Alleghany Plateau. 

 Gently dipping northwest, with usually mature topography, sHde 

 conditions throughout their outcropping extent do not differ 

 greatly from those of the Conemaugh, though the Dunkard shows 

 some interesting differences. 



ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS 



While most of this territory is subject to surface modifications 

 on account of slides, the damage within the city of Morgantown is 

 less serious than might be inferred. This is due in large measure 

 to the situation of most of the city on the several comparatively 

 level terraces of the Monongahela River and tributaries. By 

 utiHzing the connecting slopes as well as some of the land rising 



