14 



lakes indicates that a great elevation would be possible, and that even 

 a slight elevation would cause the inundation of a large extent of 

 territory. 



(d) The topography of the outlets is such that the supposition of 

 former elevation would cause no inconsistency in this direction. There 

 a*e even indications of former barriers now broken away which must 

 have raised the level of the lakes when they were in existence. 



From these reasons, which might be easily extended and particular- 

 ized, there is abundant evidence for supposing that most, if not all, of 

 the lakes of this region formerly occupied more surface and possessed 

 much greater depth than at present. The absence of topographical 

 maps of this portion of the state has covered the fact that a compara- 

 tively slight elevation of water would cover a vastly greater area than 

 the lakes now occupy. It is not improbable that some of these lake 

 basins were once connected with each other. 



It may not be unprofitable to speculate concerning the future of 

 some of these lakes, knowing that m the past they covered greater areas. 

 The operations of nature going on before our eyes are tending to 

 decrease the depth and superficial area of all the smaller lakes. The 

 lacustrine deposits in the lake bottoms are constantly increasing, and 

 where the water is shallow, aquatic plants are encroaching each year 

 on the lake margins and are building up land where formerly water 

 existed. Carpenter's Pond in the town of Pompey illustrates finely the 

 method that nature employs in filling up her water basins. The pond 

 is situated in the midst of a large swamp, which was once wholly 

 covered with water. Around the margin of the pond is a border of 

 grass and aquatic plants from one to eight rods w r ide which has 

 encroached on the shores of the pond even where the water is of 

 considerable depth. This surface of turf overlying, as it does, the deep 

 water of the pond will tremble and shake as one walks across it ; in 

 time it becomes more firm and is ready for the encroachment of shrubs 

 and forest trees which soon follows that of the weaker plants. Not 

 many generations hence the turf will cover the entire surface and 

 Carpenter's Pond will be known only by tradition. A similar formation 

 may be seen near Pecksport, Madison County, where there are two 

 ponds, one of which has become entirely overgrown with aquatic plants 

 and moss. This pond has received the fanciful name of " Fiddler's 

 Green." In like manner we may expect that all our inland lakes will 

 become extinct, though it may be generations hence that the inevitable 

 result will be accomplished. 



D. A review of the existing glacial regions of the world and the 

 evidence derived from former glacial regions like Scotland and Sweden 

 that have been most thoroughly and carefully studied and mapped, 

 seems to indicate the explanation of so many parallel valleys in our 

 own country. By consulting Geikie's maps of the glacial regions of 

 Scotland and Sweden it will be seen that the direction of the glacier 

 flow and of the present river and lake valleys almost exactly coincides. 

 That glaciers deepen and widen channels and valleys may be inferred 

 from a knowledge of their nature and action, and the inference 

 entirely accords with observations among the Alpine glaciers. Fiords, 

 the deep narrow inlets cut in the northern coasts in high latitudes, are 

 considered due to glacial action, and the same agency that would erode 

 a tiord would erode a valley in a similar way. 



All our valleys show more or less glacial action in the form of rock 

 polishing and striating, as well as in the arrangement of the drift between 

 parallel ridges. It is probable that, as there are two series of valleys, 

 one having an axial direction in general north and south and the other 

 east and west, there were also two series of glaciers traversing the 

 state in these two directions. Evidence, at present, is not sufficient to 

 demonstrate which one was earlier yet certain indications seem to 

 point to the one with the north and south motion as the later. Further 

 evidence must be accumulated, the drift must be more carefully studied, 



