SECOND REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 1905 



19 



Surficial geology 



The study of problems presented by the surface deposits and 

 recent topography of the State has been carried on principally in 

 western and central New York and in the Lake Champlain basin. 

 In the former region the work has been conducted by Prof. H. 

 L. Fairchild, in the latter by Prof. J. B. Woodworth. 



Glacial waters of the Erie basin. Because of a complexity in the 

 history of the glacial waters which had arisen from a study of the 

 conditions prevailing in northern Michigan where the higher 

 waters had outlet and control, it became desirable to review 

 some of the shore phenomena of the glacial lakes in the Erie basin. 

 It appears from the present reexamination that the oscillation of 

 level of the Lake Huron basin did not extend into New York. 



Ice border drainage between Leroy and Syracuse . The channels 

 made by the waters draining away from the edge of the ice sheet 

 still form conspicuous features of the topography and these have 

 been fully traced and mapped. These east leading channels which 

 are utilized by the Erie canal and the railway lines were formed at 

 the ice edge during the retreat of the glacier in the Wisconsin stage. 

 As the lowest are under 400 feet altitude it follows that the outlet 

 of these waters by the way of Rome and the Mohawk must have 

 been at lower level than now. It is believed that the impounded 

 waters constituting glacial Lake Warren did not enter New York 

 until after these channels were formed and that subsequently a 

 readvance of the ice from the north blocked these channels, held 

 up the Lake Warren waters and caused the high channels and ex- 

 tinct cataracts now to be seen in the region of Jamesville and 

 Fayette ville. 



Drumlins of New York. The counties of Wayne, Monroe and 

 Ontario afford the most remarkable development of oval hills or 

 drumlins in the world. The origin of" such topographic features 

 has never been satisfactorily explained, but Professor Fairchild 

 has now brought together evidence of their constructive origin 

 which appears to be satisfactory and final and will presently be 

 presented for publication. 



Gilbert gulf, the marine waters of the Ontario basin. The incur- 

 sion of ocean waters into the Ontario basin after the breaking up 

 of the ice sheet has long been recognized, but the bars, spits and 

 beaches of these old waters have not before been noted with pre- 

 cision. Professor Fairchild has proposed, in accordance with pre- 

 vailing usage, to name this body of marine waters which pressed 

 its way into New York by way of the St Lawrence channel and by 



