/Suburban Geology of Richmond, Indiana. 281 



Art. VI. — Suburban Geology, or Rocks, Soil, and Water, about 

 Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana; by Dr. John T. Plum- 

 mer. 



There is perhaps not a " nook of earth" which would not fur- 

 nish some interesting geological facts to persevering inquiry. 

 But it cannot be expected that those who act under the auspices 

 of our legislatures, comprehending large territories in their -ex- 

 aminations, whose researches are limited to a given period, should 

 do more than to give us the great outlines of their subjects ; the 

 minuter delineations must be left, chiefly, to those whose perma- 

 nent location gives them an opportunity of closely scrutinizing 

 the features of their immediate neighborhoods. Many valuable 

 specimens will find their way into the cabinet of the curious 

 resident, which would not meet the eye of the transient exam- 

 iner ; and many useful facts may be developed in a series of 

 years, but they will escape the glance of the passing inquirer. 



The geology of Wayne County is so simple, that three para- 

 graphs sufficed to tell its story to the state legislature, yet, to de- 

 tail the discoveries made within less than a twentieth part of its 

 area, pages will be required. 



Richmond is situated about four miles from the eastern limits 

 of the state, in latitude 39° 51'. The surrounding country, par- 

 taking of the general levelness of the western states, is without 

 a hill of any note for many miles ; the greatest elevation I have 

 ascertained, is at the dividing line between this state and Ohio, 

 near the route of the national road, where the land rises about 

 one hundred and seventy six feet above the average level of the 

 town. Three small streams, by their confluence half a mile 

 north of the town, form the east fork of Whitewater River, which 

 flows on the west side of Richmond, through a deep cut in the 

 blue fossiliferous limestone. The national road passing through 

 the main street of the town, intersects the river nearly at right 

 angles, by an artificial cut through its banks. Two small streams 

 called Short Creek and Elkhorn, run westwardly into the White- 

 water, several miles south of the town. Clear Creek, another 

 diminutive stream, also south of the town, supplies the river with 

 water on the western side. The annexed sketch will serve to 



Vol. xliv, No. 2.— Jan.-March, 1843. 36 



