14. SAVILLE TOWNSHIP. F 2 . 321 



degrees, according to hardness, has produced the low ground 

 which, under the names of Buffalo valley and Raccoon val- 

 ley, forms the most fertile part of the township. Narrow 

 at the east the rising of the axis of Conecocheague mount- 

 ain causes its greater extension in the west where the shale 

 is about two miles wide. The mountain wall of Tuscarora 

 rises on the north forming a barrier between it and Juniata 

 county and unbroken by any pass, though a ravine called 

 Run gap, cut by a small run on the south side, makes the 

 ascent to the crest somewhat easier than elsewhere. An 

 irregular limestone ridge bounds the valley on the south, 

 and the limestone is thrown up by four anticlines east of 

 Ickesburg, which cause it to occupy a great breadth, and 

 the three synclinal knobs form conspicuous objects in the 

 landscape. Backing this ridge on the south and separated 

 from it by a valley less regular than usual, in consequence, 

 probably, of the greater hardness of the lower shale, is the 

 Hamilton sandstone outcrop known locally as Bilman ridge, 

 high and rugged in the east and middle of the township, 

 but gradually flattening down as the dip diminishes, until 

 it ceases to be prominent. Nor does it regain its former 

 height until it returns wuth steeper dip at Buffalo hill after 

 rounding the end of the syncline. 



The erosion of this ridge by the Buffalo creek has formed 

 one of the longest gorges through the Hamilton sandstone 

 in the county, and produced some beautiful and romantic 

 scenery. The Buffalo coming from the north strikes the 

 sandstone and is deflected westward. It gradually cuts its 

 way obliquely into the ridge, and after passing through it 

 finds itse]f in face of another and higher one raised by the 

 return fold formed by the north side of a short anticlinal 

 axis passing south of Sandy hill. Instead of cutting 

 through this second barrier the stream evades it, and turning 

 west flows between two ridges until the anticline flattens 

 down and the sandstone sinks beneath the upper shale 

 after a course of about two miles. The whole length of the 

 gorge exceeds three miles, and it is traversed from east to 

 west by the road from Sandy hill to Roseburg, but no road 

 21 F\ 



