An Unnoticed Ph37siograpKic Feature 

 in Tennessee 



By L. C. Glenn. 



(Abstract.) 



Safford and others have long since made us familiar with two 

 prominently developed plains in Tennessee; the lower one known 

 as the highland rim and the higher one as the Cumberland Pla- 

 teau. In the vicinity of Sparta, Bon Air, Cookeville, and north 

 toward Livingston, where these two levels are well developed, the 

 Cumberland Plateau being some 800 to 1,000 feet above the high- 

 land rim, there is also an intermediate level well developed that 

 has heretofore escaped notice. It consists of numerous flat-topped 

 areas, some of considerable extent that rise 300 to 400 feet above 

 the highland rim. They are prominent just north, east and south 

 of Livingston. Just east of Algood is another area well seen 

 where the Tennessee Central Railroad crosses it, in its climb from 

 Algood to Monterey. They are again seen well developed about 

 Sparta in numerous spurs and ridges. 



An inspection on the ground shows, as does the geological map 

 of the Standingstone area, that they are due to the resistance to 

 erosion offered by a sandstone found in the Newman formation. 

 This sandstone forms a flat surface that is often poorly drained 

 and has a thin, poor soil that is much less desirable agriculturally 

 than the surrounding limestone soils of the highland rim. These 

 flat sandstone areas are in consequence not inviting to settlers and 

 have been largely left uncleared. 



The level marked by these sandstones has not been traced 

 southward toward the Alabama line, but it is believed not to be 

 prominent in that direction and may disappear altogether before 

 the state line is reached. 



