350 Geological Survey of the State of Ohio. 



land have been formed within four years. As the coast west of Cleveland is 

 rock-bound, very little detrital matter is swept eastward, while the coast 

 to the east of Cleveland, to Fairport, composed of earthy materials, is 

 mostly in a state of rapid degradation. The northeast winds sweep this 

 detrital matter along to the westward, and deposit it behind the obstacles 

 which create eddy currents. The long pier at Cleveland has caused 

 such currents, and the deposit of the alluvial sands just mentioned. 



" One evidence that the lake has been making encroachments on this 

 part of the coast for a long time, is an isolated hillock, a part of the ori- 

 ginal shore, which was also the boundary of a bluff on the Cuyahoga river. 

 This bluff turned the river westward, so that its mouth was a mile or 

 more west of Cleveland, and remaining without degradation on the river 

 side, (as is evident by its moderate slope,) was washed away on the lake 

 shore, until it was cut through at the bend, and gave the river a shorter 

 course to the lake through a new mouth. The old mouth is closed by a 

 sand beach, and the alluvial ground mentioned as having been formed 

 west of Cleveland, is partly in front of the hillock, which presents a nearly 

 vertical escarpment towards the lake. 



" The evidence of the degradation of land by the surf on the shore, 

 may be seen at any time by standing on the cliff at Cleveland (and at 

 many other points on the coast) and looking off upon the lake. At the 

 the distance of one-half to one mile from the shore, a distinct line may be 

 seen to mark the division between the muddy water, produced by the 

 washing away of clay and the grinding up of pebbles on the coast, and 

 the clear blue water of the lake. All the water between that line and the 

 shore is tinged with finely divided matter in a state of suspension. This 

 matter setdes in still water, and probably forms clay on the bottom of the 

 lake, imbedding shells and other organic remains." pp. 16, 17. 



We should be pleased to multiply extracts from this report, but 

 our limits forbid. In it, we find the same accuracy of observa- 

 tion and the same scrupulous regard to facts, unbiassed by theory, 

 which characterize the productions of that gentleman. 



The next report is that of Dr. Hildreth. This gentleman, we 

 regret to say, has resigned his situation in the survey, in conse- 

 quence of ill health. He has long been an assiduous and suc- 

 cessful cultivator of the natural sciences, and his several contribu- 

 tions to this Journal, have introduced us to a rich geological field, 

 which has been hitherto, but partially explored. While we ac- 

 cord to him as a general thing, the character of a judicious and 

 accurate observer, from some of his conclusions, we must be al- 

 lowed to dissent. Thus, page 26, referring to the rocks which 

 overlie the coal, he says : — " They are the new red sandstone, 



