GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCES IN OHIO 479 



GEOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT 



OP OHIO 



By Professor FRANK CARNEY 



DENISON UNIVERSITY 



OHIO leads the states in its clay products, and its workable clays are 

 practically inexhaustible. Ohio leads also in the number of 

 presidents furnished the union, with unimpaired prospects for the fu- 

 ture. Both ratings are consequences of geographic causes, as will appear 

 in later discussion. 



This state lies between 38° 27', and 41° 57' north latitude; it is 

 bounded by the meridians reading 80° 34' and 84° 49'. Por its width 

 in latitude and its lack of great range in altitude, it has a marked range 

 in mean annual temperature ; in southern Ohio the mean annual range 

 is 54°, Avhile in northern Ohio it is 49° ; its range in average temperature 

 is about 40°. Lake Erie exerts an appreciable influence on climatic con- 

 ditions for the northern part of the state. 



The Ohio Eiver bounds the state for 436 miles, and the lake shore 

 gives it 230 miles more of natural boundary. About one half of the 

 state line is artificial. 



A rock section of the state gives in its lower half a predominance of 

 limestone and shale formations; above this are wide-spread horizons of 

 sandstone and conglomerate. These more resistant formations, belong- 

 ing to the late Mississippian and early Pennsylvanian periods, are reg- 

 istered in the relief by a mild escarpment or cuesta sweeping to the 

 south and west from the northeastern corner of the state. The north- 

 ern and western parts consist of shale and limestone formations. There 

 is slight relief particularly in the shale areas. The region of the lime- 

 stone extends across the western portion of the state coinciding in 

 longer axis with the orientation of the Cincinnati anticline. The 

 drainage pattern resulting from this arching has given the west and 

 southwest part of the state much more relief than would be the case 

 with more horizontal strata. 



The general dip of these formations is to the south and east. It is 

 probable that the original consequent streams flowed in this direction. 

 It would be futile, however, at the present time to attempt to sketch the 

 drainage history of Ohio from the Pennsylvanian period, since which 

 time the area has been continuously subject to stream work. Dias- 

 trophic movements have introduced some complexity. Several erosion 

 cycles have been inaugurated, but there is evidence that few were 



