66 THE PHYSIOGRAPHY OP CECIL COUNTY 



entirely within the peninsula of Elk Xeck. Only a narrow strip lies 

 on the mainland west of it. This district is a rolling upland nearly 

 four times as high as the surface of the Eastern Shore district. The 

 Yalleys of this region, particularly those occurring on Elk Xeck, are 

 much deeper and more precipitous than any occurring on the Eastern 

 Shore. A careful examination has revealed the fact that the rolling 

 surface of the Western Shore district is composed of four plains which 

 rise, one above the other, from tide to an altitude of over 300 feet. 

 The two lower ones are identical with the two plains of the Eastern 

 Shore district. They occupy the same relative levels and positions, 

 and almost entirely encircle the district. Above and within these 

 levels two more plains are developed occupying the higher lands. 

 These extend from 90 to 180 and 180 to 311 feet respectively. They 

 are not as continuous or as well developed as the two lower plains, 

 and when absent, the hills are composed of the underlying materials 

 on which they formerly rested. A range of high hills extends down 

 the centre of Elk Neck, attaining an altitude of 300 feet among the 

 Hog Hills, 311 feet at Black Hill, 306 feet at Bull Mountain, and 

 240 feet at Maulden Mountain. On the mainland, the highest 

 altitude attained in this district is 420 feet at Eoys Hills. This marks 

 also the highest point in the entire Coastal Plain region of Cecil 

 county. 



The Drainage of the Atlantic Coastal Plain Region. — The drain- 

 age of the Atlantic Coastal Plain region is divisible into two great 

 types of rivers; the estuaries and the creeks. The estuaries are 

 branches of Chesapeake Bay, which extend well back into the sur- 

 rounding country and ebb and flow with the tide. They are in reality 

 valleys of ancient rivers, which have been depressed to such an extent 

 as to be submerged below the surface of Chesapeake Bay and to per- 

 mit the encroachment of its waters. In all there are ten of these 

 estuaries which either lie wholly within or set their courses across this 

 Coastal Plain region. They are the Susquehanna river, Eurnace 

 Creek, Northeast Eiver, Elk Kiver, Back Eiver, Bohemia Eiver, Cabin 

 John Creek, Pierce Creek, Pond Creek, and the Sassafras river and 

 its tributaries. The Sassafras river, which marks the southern border 



