GLACIAL WATERS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK 



21 



Lyons and 3 miles southeast; and from 2 to 5 miles southeast of 

 Clyde. 



The problems of the glacial history raised by the relations of 

 the drumlins to the open spaces and passes has been briefly con- 

 sidered in a former writing, describing the drumlins of New York 

 [see title 39, p. 426]. 



Jordan- Skaneateles meridian to Syracuse 



Early west-leading channels. Lake Hall 

 On plate 4 is depicted the more evident records of a complicated 

 and remarkable drainage history, which can not as yet be fully 

 translated with certainty. This is the critical district in the study 

 of the glacial waters of central New York, since it was here that 

 the ice sheet reposed the longest against the high ground of the 

 southern plateau, and made its last efforts to block the glacial 

 waters from eastward escape. 



The reader will apprehend the main events in the history more 

 readily if the fact is at once made clear that the channels west of 

 the Syracuse meridian, as shown on plate 4, belong in three distinct 

 episodes of the glacial drainage. In time order these are repre- 

 sented by: 



1 The few and comparatively small west-leading channels, on 

 the southern edge of the map. 



2 The close-set series lying north of the parallel of Marcellus 

 Falls, Howlet Hill and Onondaga Hill. 



3 The two great channels east and west of Marcellus, corre- 

 sponding to the latest occupation of the low passes west of Onondaga 

 lake. 



The reasons for the discordance between the chronologic and the 

 geographic order will appear in the description following. 



Earlier in time than even the first in the above outline was the 

 overflow of the high-level glacial waters to the southward by the 

 cols at the heads of the large valleys. This earliest glacial drainage 

 being outside the scope of the present writing is not included in the 

 field of the map; but will be found described in former papers 

 [titles 16, 25]. 



When the ice sheet receded to the northward on the crests of the 

 north and south ridges lying between the great valleys a westward 

 escape for the valley lakes was opened toward Lake Newberry [see 

 p. 8] and lower waters. The very lowest and latest of this episode 

 are the two channels of group 1, leading to the Otisco valley. 



