FAYETTE COUNTY. | 435 
north was above water, as well as when the deposits above the sand- 
stone were made; at least, whatever material, organic or inorganic, was 
ever deposited here, has long since disappeared. We have some evi- 
dence, however, that the slate which immediately underlies the sand- 
stone extended somewhat further north than the sandstone itself has 
been found. In Fayette county, near Rock Mills, about one hundred 
and twenty-five feet above the bed of the stream, on the farms of A. J. 
Yeomans and Aquilla Jones, as also on the farm of Mrs. McElroy, a mile 
west of Paint Creek, and near the southern line of the county, @ slate 
formation is to be seen capping the highest point of land in the south- 
ern half of the county. This material must once have been continuous, 
and may have extended further than any traces of it are found at present. 
We have abundant evidence in both of these counties of agencies which 
have operated in comparatively recent geological pericds, and which have 
worn away deposits formerly existing here. We find that the surface of 
the existing bedded rock has been worn away and channels have been 
cut init. Where the loose material which now overlies the bedded rock 
' has been removed, we find markings upon the surface of the exposed roc k, 
if this is of such a nature as to resist atmospheric and other agencies 
which would cause the surface of the rock to disintegrate, which indicate 
that some agency has been at work to grind down and wear and smooth 
the surface. But unfortunately the nature of the stone underlying the 
clay in these counties is such that it would not generally retain any strie 
of a delicate character. We do, however, find stone well polished and 
delicately striated in Paint Creek. The exact locality is in Ross county 
above Greenfield, on the Indian Creek road, about 800 feet up stream from 
the beginning of the head-race of Smart’s Mill, the last place on the east 
side uf the road where stone has been quarried and about 80 feet above 
low-water in the creek. I removed the sand and gravel myself from the 
exceedingly well polished surface of the rock. Mr. John Sollars reported 
striated rock in a locality on his place, and another locality was visited 
by me on the same stream above Rock Mills. At Roger’s below Rock 
Mills the gravel contains many blocks of well smoothed stone, and at 
Rock Mills, just north of the village, many large bowlders of quartz'and 
granite are mingled without stratification with the gravel, and constitute 
no inconsiderable part of the extensive beds. At J. C. Sinsabaugh’s, 
near Bloomingsburgh, I saw a block of stone one foot thick, two feet long 
and sixteen. inches wide, which had been taken from a gravel bank on ~ 
his farm, and which was well worn on a portion of one side, was very 
smooth and marked with stris, but the edges or corners were not rounded 
or broken. This was a hard, dark colored stone which gave out a ringing 
