26 SURFACE GEOLOGY. 



Wells river. Sometimes I noticed four, or even more. But with one or two 

 exceptions, I have marked only three on the map, and I fear that I have but very 

 inaccurately represented the position and relative width of these. Neither do I 

 suppose that the basins above Charleston, are accurately laid down. In some places, 

 as at Wethersfield, and above Haverhill, the terraces' are very perfect and beautiful. 

 33. My son, Charles Henry Hitchcock, measured this section at White river junc- 

 tion, with the aneroid barometer, and I have thought it worthy to be added in 

 this place, especially as I know from my own observations that its outlines are 

 correct. It commences at Connecticut river, and passes west, near the railroad 

 station. The old river bed, on its west part, was probably formerly occupied by 

 White river, which entered the Connecticut, a little below its present junction. I 

 am not certain, however, that this was the case. 



Terraces cliosen as tlie Sites of Towns. 



It is a curious fact that the most attractive villages in the valley of Connecticut 

 river, owe their chief beauty to being placed upon terraces. Among these towns 

 we may mention Wethersfield, Ct. ; Hartford, East Hartford, Windsor, East Wind- 

 sor, Springfield, West Springfield, Northampton, Hatfield, Deerfield, Greenfield, 

 Northfield, Hinsdale, Brattleborough, Westminster, Walpole, Bellows Falls, Charles- 

 ton, Wethersfield, Vt. ; Windsor, Hanover, Oxford, Haverhill, and Newbury. Pro- 

 bably but few of the inhabitants have ever thought as to what they are indebted 

 for the beauty of their towns. 



Terraces and Beaches out of the Connecticut Valley, hut in Neio England or 



New York. 



I have already described the terraces on Westfield river, among the mountains 

 west of the Connecticut valley. But they occur on almost all the rivers of New 

 England, and I have not attempted the Herculean task of measuring or even 

 mapping but a small part of those which I have visited since engaged in these 

 researches. After finding the features of them to be essentially alike on all rivers, 

 I became convinced that the measurement of great numbers was not important. I 

 will only refer to those on a few rivers, which I have observed with special interest, 

 as well as to beaches, which I have noticed on the adjoining hills. 



Merrimack river abounds with terraces, the most perfect of which are in New 

 Hampshire. They give great beauty to many of the towns along that river. 

 From the south line of the State to Franklin I have traced them, and with some 

 interruptions, two or three of moderate height may be seen on one side or the 

 other, or both sides, nearly the whole distance, as I have shown without much 

 accuracy on Plate III. Near the mouth of the river I found terraces, but could 

 rarely find more than one well defined, and so have I represented them on the 

 same map. 



Plum Island, stretching along south of the mouth of the Merrimack, is a good 



