i04 jYotlces of Fossil Wood in Ohio. 



Art, XIII. — Notices of Fossil Wood in Ohio ; in a letter from 

 Rev. Sayrs Gazlay, dated Cincinnati, April 30, 1833. 



TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAST. 



In a former communication respecting wood found in digging a 

 well in Palmyra, Ohio, it was stated, that such facts are so common, 

 in the vicinity, as to excite no surprise.- As this last remark seemed 

 to eKcite your surprise, I have collected the following faqts, which I 

 have the pleasure of furnishing you. 



About two years ago, a second instance of a similar kind fell under 

 my observation. While the stage stopped at Palmyra, I examined 

 the limb of a tree most resembling elm, taken up the' preceding week 

 in digging a well, at the depth of twenty-six feet. It was nine feet 

 long and five inches in diameter. Three pieces of it are now in my 

 possession. It has lost half of its diameter in drying. 



Having no further acquaintance with the fossils of Palmyra, I fur- 

 nish you with a few of the many facts of this kind that might be col- 

 lected in Springfield, which lies twelve miles south-west of the for- 

 mer place, and fifteen miles north of Cincinnati ; it is elevated one 

 hundred feet above the highest river-bottoms, and is seven miles east 

 of the Great Miami. 



Mr. Anthony Hills, innkeeper, in the lower part of the village of 

 Springfield, found wood, in digging a well, at the various depths of 

 sixteen, eighteen and twenty feet. 



Dr. Jeremiah Braden, in the autumn of 1831, found near that 

 place, several small pieces of wood at the depth of thirty feel ; the 

 largest of which was a litde less than a man's, arm; but he found no 

 more, although he sunk his well to the depth of sixty-five feet. 



John Miller, one mile north of Springfield, on ground about fifteen 

 feet lower, found wood at the depth of twenty feet. Between this 

 place and Springfield, the ground is forty feet lower, than at those 

 places. Near Mr. Miller's, and where the surface is about. twenty 

 feet lower, Archibald Martin found wood, sticks and leaves, twenty 

 feet from the surface. His well is forty feet deep. Mr. Miller, 

 upon another farm of his, found also a part of a tree, five inches in 

 diameter, which, from the knots being numerous upon it, he judged 

 to be pine or spruce. This was three miles east of Springfield. 



Michael Long, a mile southwest of the last mentioned place, dug 

 two wells, and found wood in each, the trees lying quite across the 



