New York State Education Department 



New York State Museum 



John M. Clarke Director 



Bulletin 84 

 GEOLOGY 8 



ANCIENT WATER LEVELS OF THE 

 CHAMPLAIN AND HUDSON VALLEYS 



PREFACE 



Several years ago a preliminary study of the Hudson-Charn- 

 plain valley excited my interest in the historic problems involved 

 in its Quaternary geology. The contributions published at that 

 time were recognized as a very imperfect presentation of the sub- 

 ject and the importance of more extended and detailed investiga- 

 tion was strongly felt. Therefore, as soon as an opportunity was 

 afforded in the service of the State, the aid of an expert in Pleis- 

 tocene geology was invoked to take up the inquiry in detail and 

 carry it to a conclusion. ^SYe had the good fortune to secure the 

 services of Prof. J. B. Woodworth of Harvard University and he 

 has carried out this plan with thoroughness while Dr. G. K. 

 Gilbert has kindly given the use of his notes, based on several 

 seasons of 'work in the St Lawrence valley. The following report 

 is, therefore, a summary of Professor Woodworth's results 

 obtained from 1900 to 1903, prepared after extended consultation 

 with Mr Gilbert. A\ nile much thorough work has been done, the 

 area is so vast and the details so complex that the report can not 

 be regarded as final, specially many details of evidence lie beyond 

 the national boundary. It is, however, certain that many import- 

 ant observations have been made, the conclusions from which con- 

 stitute a substantial addition to our knowledge of Pleistocene 

 geology. 



F. J. H. Merrill 



