282 
Frank Carney 
In the vicinity of the intersection of Ansel road and Superior 
avenue, I noted a conspicuous development of rather fine sand. 
Sand of the same level may exist v^estward, but on account of 
extensive building operations, tracing it v^as not at all satisfactory. 
Eastward from Doan creek, however, this broad, low ridge of 
sand may be followed without a break to the intersection of Pen- 
obscot and St. Clair avenues; from this point eastward, St. Clair 
avenue is located on this ridge of sand and gravel, and continues 
thereon to Nottingham. For three-fourths of a mile east of 
Nottingham, the gravel ridge is but slightly developed, but reap- 
pears again just before St. Clair avenue crosses the Lake Shore 
tracks; thence for one and one-fourth miles the gravel ridge swings 
a little north of the avenue and continues to the edge of the Euclid 
sheet. From Nottingham eastward, this ridge is not over three 
feet high, even where it is best developed, but west of Nottingham, 
the ridge in places is 5 feet to 10 feet high, and contains some rather 
coarse gravel. 
This St. Clair avenue beach ridge is about 30 feet lower than 
the proper Warren level; its shape and continuity suggest a lake 
stage. West of the river nearly to Edgewater Park there is much 
sand and fine gravel at the same altitude. If, however. Lake 
Warren declined slowly, or by short stages, it is probable that the 
St. Clair ridge is only a barrier beach. 
LIFE RELATIONS OF THESE SHORE LINES. 
The flat region bordering Lake Erie has been likened to a 
coastal plain. There are several reasons for seeing a similarity. 
In the first place, the escarpment due largely to inequality of rock 
texture serves as a border for the low smooth strip that belts the 
lake. This flat bordering strip, as we have seen, is a terraced 
lake plain. Furthermore, the successive lake-stages have given j 
the streams corresponding local base-levels, hence they have had 
a drainage history very unlike that of coastal plain streams. Or- 
ganisms, flora and fauna, have been influenced by this particular 
physiography with its stretches of gravel ridges, rock cliffs, wide 
strips of sand and marshes, and extensive clay areas. And man, 
both Indian and white, dwelling here, has also experienced physi- 
ographic reactions. It is our purpose to look briefly into some 
of man’s responses. 
