106 
York to Virginia^ between 1804 and 
1832; but in November 1818, re- 
turning from the Western States 
when vegetation was nearly gone, I 
attended particularly to their geolo- 
gy, crossing them on foot to collect 
specimens for my friend Z. Collins. 
The result will be given in the 
form of a Journal, as written on the 
spot at the time. 
11th November 1818. From Pitts- 
burg to a tavern 24 miles E. coun- 
try rolling. Sandstone perfectly flat, 
supporting in many places Bitumite 
and Slate: many Coal mines opened 
on the sides of the hills; some fossil 
remains in the strata. 
12th. To Whitest, one tavern . 18 
miles. Near Greensburg 32 miles 
from Pittsburg, the Sandstone strata 
cease to be perfectly horizontal, and 
begin to dip a little to the W. or 
rise to the E. 
13th. To Laughlin 15 miles.’ At 
Youngstown 48 miles from Pitts- 
burg, begin the Alleghany Moun- 
tains, the first range is called Ches- 
nut Ridge, they are not high, only 
500 to 600 feet. First ridge one 
mile broad to the Loyalhanah Val- 
ley, running through the hills. Strata 
of Sandstone very thick, slightly 
dipping W. Huge cubical Sandstone 
rocks on the sides and bottom of the 
valley, disrupted from the strata. 
Iron ores and mines in the hills. 
Coal in many parts, on Coalpit run, 
&c. Near Laughlin at the foot of 
the Laurel Hills, conical knobs or 
round hills with horizontal strata, 
Coal and Iron. 
14th. To Quenehan Creek 10 m. 
The Laurel Hills are the second 
ridge of the Alleghany, beginning 57 
miles from Pittsburg. Higher than 
the Chesnut Hills, about 800 to 1000 
feet. Their structure is very differ- 
ent. They are seven, miles across, 
forming a narrow table land on the 
top, which is of bluish Limestone in 
vertical strata! with some mixture 
of white Sandstone, so friable as to 
crumble into white sand, and some 
Shistose Slate in confined layers; 
but on each side of the hills or moun- 
tains, the usual coarse Sandstone is 
found, which dips W. on the West 
side, and E. on the East side, so as 
to become nearly connivent on the 
top. 
15th. To the top of Alleghany 17 
miles. Passed several small hills and 
ridges. Rase hill is the principal, 
partly slaty nearly horizontal. Be- 
ginning of the Glades or Stony un- 
wooded places. 
The third ridge of the Alleghany 
is the main, the highest and broad- 
est, being • called the Backbone 
Mountain, and dividing the waters 
falling into the Ohio and Atlantic. 
It begins 74 miles from Pittsburg, 
Stoystown and Stony Creek are at 
its W. foot. It is about 2000 ft. high; 
12 miles across, forming a flat table 
land eight miles wide here, and fur- 
ther north much wider, as I am told, 
although the maps makes it a simple 
ridge. The Western Slope is very 
much inclined, the Eastern more 
abrupt and higher. It is altogether 
of coarse Sandstone, and Grit, with 
strata flat on the top, but appearing 
to dip W. slightly on each side. 
Some white friable Sandstone on top, 
forming Sandy tracts with Pines. 
Coal is found in many places* chiefly 
on the E. Spurs. 
16th. To Bedford 17 miles. In 
the Eastern Valley or Waters of Ju- 
niata, beginning of the Slaty Region. 
TheBlate is Silicious, dipping W. 
from the Alleghany to Schellsburg, 
E. of it becoming flat and covering 
the Sandstone. Coal is found in 
some parts of the Juniata Valley and 
near Yellow Creek. 
Between Schellsburg and Bedford 
the hills are very interesting. Tull 
hill is composed of vertical Slate 
strata, running either from E. to W. 
or from N. to S. Long hill and 
Wills Mountain run transversely or 
from E. to W. Bedford near the 
Juniata, has many important locali- 
ties around. The Mammoth Swamp', 
w r here Mammoth bones were found, 
the Mineral Springs, much resorted, 
with Limestone hills near them, stra- 
ta dipping S. E. with many fossils. 
