K:^:Nrs^s city 



Review of Science and Industry, 



A MONTHLY RECORD OF PROGRESS IN 



SCIENCE, MECHANIC ARTS AND LITERATURE. 

 VOL. VI. MARCH, 1883. NO. 1 1. 



GEOLOGY- 



THE ANCIENT MISSISSIPPI AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. i 



J. W. SPENCER, B. A. SC. , PH. D., F.G.S., PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY IN THE STATE 



UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI. 



Physical geology is the science which deals with the past changes of the 

 Earth's crust, and the causes which have produced the present geographical feat- 

 ures, everywhere seen about us. The subject of the present address must there- 

 fore be considered as one ot geology rather than of geography, and I propose to 

 trace for you the early history of the great Mississippi River, of which we have 

 only a diminished remnant of the mightiest river that ever flowed over any terres- 

 trial continent. 



By way of intrdduction, I wish you each to look at the map of our great 

 river, with its tributaries as we now see it, draining half of the central portion of 

 the Continent, but which formerly drained, in addition, at least two of our great 

 lakes, and many of the great rivers at the present time emptying into the colder 

 Arctic Sea. 



1 This lecture was delivered in the Chapel of the State University, at Columbia, as an inaugural ad- 

 dress on January 10, 1883, and illustrated by projections. The author has purposely avoided the very lengthy 

 details of scientific observation, by vifhich the conclusions have been arrived at, relating to the former wonderful 

 condition of the Mississippi, and the subsequent changes to its present form ; as a conhideration of them would 

 not only cause him to go beyond the allotted time, but might, perhaps, prove tiresome. 



VI— 39 



