96 1>K0CEED1NGS 01*^ TflJO ALBANY MEETING 



While many influences were at work which led to the improvement of 

 topographic maps, not the least of these were the concise methods of 

 geologic field-work introduced by Hayes and his colleagues in the Appa- 

 lachians. Unfortunately Hayes was not personally able to profit greatly 

 by the improvement of base maps, for his field-work was for the most 

 part completed before the new maps became available. Therefore (and 

 this is not generally known) the detailed stratigraphy and structure that 

 lie worked out was practically all accomplished without the use of base 

 maps. All observations were located by traverses, and these were com- 

 bined and the geologic problems worked out independent of any topo- 

 graphic map. For publication the geologic boundaries were then ad- 

 justed to the inadequate base maps so far as possible. It should be added 

 that in many instances the topographic surveys were revised before the 

 geologic maps were published. These results were, however, not available 

 for use in the field. The lack of base maps also resulted in delay of 

 publication, and several of Hayes's folios did not appear until many years 

 after the field-work had been completed. 



Hayes's first published contribution to geology was a description of 

 some overthrust faults in the southern Appalachians, published when he 

 was 33 years old. It was characteristic of his careful methods of work 

 that one of these faults (the Eome) should have been completely mapped 

 two years before the results were published. The delay was not dilatori- 

 ness in preparation of the paper, but because Hayes must satisfy himself 

 as to the correctness of the important conclusions by checking and re- 

 checking the field observations. This method of procedure gave a finality 

 to his scientific conclusions, which was characteristic of his researches as 

 a whole, and therefore they have stood the test of time. Though greater 

 detail of observation and subdivision has led to changes being made in 

 some of Hayes's geologic maps, yet the principles set forth by him have 

 been found to be correct. 



No one reading the modest statement contained in Hayes's "Overthrust 

 faults of the southern Appalachians," unless conversant with the previous 

 geologic literature, can realize the epoch-making character of the an- 

 nouncement. The structures there described have proved to be one of 

 the most important clews to the geology of the eastern part of the con- 

 tinent. Eogers, to be sure, had described some thrust-faults connected 

 with close folding; but no one had suspected the presence of the broad, 

 flat overthrusts established by Hayes. Somewhat similar structures had 

 been recognized in the Alps and the Scotch Highlands, and McConnell 

 had then recently found evidence of a thrust-fault in the Canadian 

 Rockies. Hayes's proof of the presence of these great overthrusts fur- 



