lo4 H. L. FAIRi HILD PLEISTOCENE IE F SEW YORK STATE 



Page 



Epeirogenic movement : diastrophism 159 



Postglacial erosion 160 



Glacial time 161 



Work of the State Survey 162 



Ixtboduli: n 



The primacy of Xew York among the States in population, wealth, 

 manufacture, and commerce is based on its physical characters — geo- 

 logic structure; physiographic relief, and geographic relations. Nen 

 York State has the greatest range and perfection in its stratigraphic 

 series and the greatest variety in physiographic features. In scenery 

 other States may possess single features of surpassing grandeur and 

 beauty, like the Colorado Grand Canyon. Yosemite Valley, Crater Lake, 

 the mountains of the Cordillera, or the snow-capped volcanic cones of 

 the northwest, but for abundance and variety of beautiful scenery of 

 educational value Xew York may claim first place. In the variety and 

 excellence of Pleistocene phenomena the State probably excels any other 

 equal area of the earth's surface. This is due to the varied and unusual 

 physiography, combined with a favoring attitude of the area in relation 

 to the continental glacier. The features of special excellence occur 

 largely in the western part of the State. These are the series of more 

 than twenty parallel, north-sloping valleys which hold the unique series 

 of twelve so-called Finger lakes; the remarkable succession of glacial 

 lakes in the Ontario drainage area : the conspicuous, abandoned channels 

 of the rivers that drained those lakes : the surpassing display of druni- 

 lins. of kames and eskers: the fine series of moraines, and the large 

 number of postglacial ravines. 



The purpose of this writing is to utilize this remarkable display of 

 Pleistocene phenomena in illustration of the glacial history and in brief 

 discussion of some problems in the philosophy of glaciation. 



Multiple Glaciatiox 



The accepted facts of multiple glaciation in the Mississippi Basin, 

 coupled with proofs of pre-Wisconsin drift in Pennsylvania and Xew 

 Jersey and on Long Island, with accumulating evidences in Xew Eng- 

 land, demands the theoretical acceptance of at least dual glaciation for 

 Xew York State. But the positive proof, in the field, of a pre-Wisconsin 

 ice-sheet has not been found. In several localities the deeper till is 



