xt7x3f4kmn8t https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7x3f4kmn8t/data/mets.xml Lyon, Sidney S. (Sidney Smith), 1808-1872. 1856  books b96-11-34698950 English A.G. Hodges, state printer, : [Frankfurt, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Topography. Topographical geological report of that portion of Kentucky including Union and part of Crittenden counties surveyed during the years 1854 and 1855  / by Sidney S. Lyon. text Topographical geological report of that portion of Kentucky including Union and part of Crittenden counties surveyed during the years 1854 and 1855  / by Sidney S. Lyon. 1856 2002 true xt7x3f4kmn8t section xt7x3f4kmn8t 


















      TOPOGRAPHICAL GEOLOGICAL REPORT

                 OF THAT PORTION OF



                    INCLUDING

UNION AND PART OF CRITTENDEN COUNTIES,

     SURVEYED DURING THE YEARS 1854 AND 1855,

                       BY

             SIDNEY S. LYON,
                TOPOGRAPHICAL ASSISTANT.

 


     To DR. DAVID DALE OWEN,
                 Principal Geologist of K6entucky.
  Sni:-In compliance with your instructions, bearing date Septem-
ber, 1854, I herewith submit my report of the detailed Geological Sur-
vey, made by my corps, of Union and part of Crittenden counties,
Kentucky, with the maps, profiles, &c.
                                          SIDNEY S. LYON.

 


               TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT.




  Having received the appointment of assistant to the Geological Sur-
vey of Kentucky, approved June, 18-54, and having qualified by the
8th of that month, it was not until the September following that I
was ordered into active service, when having received instructions
to take the field, I proceeded to make a reconnoisance of part of
Union, Crittenden, and Livingston counties, mainly to ascertain the
most eflctual method of correcting the very imperfect and false plats
of those counties, as they were exhibited on the best known and ap-
proved maps of Kentucky. An actual linear survey having been de-
termined upon, it was proposed, if practicable, that a survey of the
nature of the present coast survey made by the government of the
United States should be adopted.
  The features of the country were found, by examination, to be in
many respects favorable to a survey of this character, there being a
sufficient number of commanding ridges with many subordinate isolated
knolls well situated for stations for a primary triangulation; but the
expense necessary for the establishment of such stations, and especially
the immense labor that would be required in removing the primative
forest around and in the lines between stations, would involve the out-
lay of sums entirely beyond the control of this branch of the survey.
  The rectilineal method of surveys was then considered. This
method divides a territory into squares of one square mile each, by
lines intersecting each other at right angles, supposed to be due north
and south and east and west. Practically this method hlis been found
to abound in errors, and requires corrections, both in course and quan-
tity at the beginning of every township or square of thirty-six square
miles. This method would require that there should be carefully sur-
veyed, and marked eighty-four miles of line and a travel of at least
as many additional miles, or one hundred and sixty-eight miles of
travel for every thirty-six square miles, equal to four hundred and sixty-
six miles of travel to every square mile of territory examined. This

 


384         TOPOGRAFPICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



method was therefore rejected as too expensive for the limited means
appropriated for this branch of the work.
  It was therefore determined that a traverse survey should be adopted
as the only method within the reach of this branch of the service by
which approximate results could be obtained.
  This method having been determined upon, and the mode and man-
ner of carrying the same into execution being left to my discretion, I
proceeded to organize my corps for field duties.
  Owing to the unusual duties required it was found exceedingly diffi-
cult to procure the necessary assistants, and it was not until the 4th
day of December, 1854, that the field work was commenced in form,
the topographical corps consisting of Sidney S. Lyon, Walter A. Nich-
olson, sub-assistant, Win. Carr, James M. Price, and IL C. Sherman,
this corps being provided with a van for carrying the camp from point
to point as the progress of the work required.
  From the facts obtained during the reconnaissance it was deemed
advisable that the survey should commence at some one of the best
established points on the Ohio river near the margin of the Great
Western coal field; Caseyville, in Union connty, was selected as the
point at which the work should commence.
  Owing to the very unsystematic manner in which the early land
surveys of Kentucky were made, there are few or no well established
geographical points in the State; the boundary of the State formed by
the Ohio river, having been established approximately by the surveyors
of the United States lands lying in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, has been
copied firom those surveys and applied to the maps compiled for Ken-
tucky.
  The lines of Green, Kentucky, Licking, Big Sandy, and probably
some of the smaller rivers surveyed under the direction of the State
Board of Internal Improvement of Kentucky, are perhaps also ap-
proximately correct, but I have no accurate information as to the char-
acter and extent of these surveys. Indeed I am not aware that any
surveys at all reliable have even been officially published of Kentucky
geography.
  With the exceptions above alluded to there are probably no surveys
in Kentucky that have had any further object in view, than giving
boundaries to land, and the surveys for this purpose have not generally

 


TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



been returned for record in such form as to be of any practical utility
in the construction of maps of the territory so surveyed.
  On the 4th of December, the topographical corps took the field,
starting at the shore of the Ohio river at low water mark, and extend-
ing the lines in various directions, making special note of such mat-
ters as were of topographical and geological interest met with on the
lines, and when practicable observing angles from the lines to all in-
habited houses. The lines were run with reference to the geological
or topographical character of the country.
  On the 21st of December it was deemed advisable to increase the
force employed, and run lines of levels simultaneously with the com-
pass lines. Mr. Sherman having fillen sick, was paid o0 and Frank.
lin Armstrong and John Cawthon were added to the corps, and com-
pass and level put into active operation, and the work continued until
the 21st day of January, 1855. The weather being now unfavorable,
the corps were directed to report to you at head quarters, and were paid
off and discharged for the season.
  I then proceeded to make up the field work. The topographical
oorps again took the field on the 26th day of April, reduced, however,
in force in consequence of our limited means, now consisting of my-
self and two chainmen.
  With this force the work was continued until June 8th, 1855, when
the assistants were paid off and discharged, after which the field work
was continued until the 1st of July, when active field operations
ceased.
  In October the office work was resumed, and the entire field work
laid down on a scale of 3.8 inches to the mile. This map has been re-
duced to a scale of s   or 1.2672 inches to the mile.
   For convenience in referring to this map, as well as for a systematic
division of the territory, it has been laid off into squares of one mile
each, and the larger divisions into squares of thirty-six miles or town-
ships. These townships are the result of the extension of the town-
ship lines from the neighboring States of Indiana and Illinois, east-
wardly and southwardly, and yave been marked eastwardly and wesb-
wardly from the meridian of Uniontown; and northwardly and south-
wardly from the township line, passing from Indiana into Union coun-
ty, where it nearly intersects the mouth of Highland creek; the latter
line, if reduced eastwardly into a base line, will run nearly centrally
                49



385

 


386        TOPOGRAPHICAL REORT OF GEOLOGICAL SRVEY.

through the State. This mode of dividing the map will greatly aid
the eye in judging of distances, and will facilitate all references made
to it, and is probably the best division of the State that can be
adopted.
   It will be seen that the territory covered by the map embraces an
area of about five hundred square miles, of the counties of Union and
Crittenden.

                            TOPOGRAPHY.
   The principal and highest range of hills in Union county is known
as the Bald Hill Range. It rises in Township 2 S., Range 2 W., and ex-
tends due four miles, to the flat lands known as the Scatters of Cypress.
   This range again makes its appearance in section 1], T. 2 S., R. 1
W., extending eastwardly to that part of the range known as the
Cbalybeate Hills, having passed through sections 11, 12, 13, and 14,
T. 2 S., R. 1 W., entering T. 2 S., R. 1 E., in section 18, passing
through that section, and sections 17 and 16 of the same township;
here the range inclines slightly to the south, passing into sections 21
and 22, which it crosses diagonally south-east and north-west into and
through section 23, crossing the last section by the same course, form-
ing what is known as the Sulphur Spring Hills. From this point the
range branches, and throws off long spurs on the south; one spur
encircles the head of Eagle (creek) fork of Cypress, and is connected
by low undulating hills. On the south side of this creek, to the di-
viding ridges between Eagle and Wash creeks, another long spur is
thrown off southwardly, which forms the dividing line between the
waters of Dyson's and Ramsey's creeks; on the north, low spurs are
thrown off, dividing the waters of Lost creek and the waters of Cypress,
Lost creek and Big Mason, Big Mason and Casey's creek, Casey's and
Anderson's creek, with a number of minor spurs dividing the smaller
branches, near the head of Highland creek. Eagle, Dyson's, Ander-
son's and Casey's creeks have their sources in the Sulphur Spring
hills. Lost creek rises on the north side of the same range near the
Chalybeate Springs. From the Sulphur Spring hills the Bald hill
range is broken into a number of nearly parallel ridges, which extend
into Hopkins county by a course nearly east and west. The greatest
elevation ascertained along this range being equal to 325 feet above
low water of the Ohio river in 1854.

 


TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



   North of the Bald hill range there is an irregular range of hills rising
in altitude in section 20, T. 1 S., R. 1 W., extending in a north-east-
wardly direction through sections 21, 22, 23, and 13 of the same town-
ship, and into section 18, T. 1 S., IR. 1 E.; here this range is separated
by the valley of Lost creek, rising again in section 8, same township,
the range is continued along the north side of Little Mriason creek to
and east of the Morganfeld and Henderson road, on Highland creek,
while the west end of this branch of the range runs from section 8
northwardly, and terminates in bold escarpments against the flat in-
undated river bottoms above Highland creek which meanders sluggishly
at their base.
   The "Anvil Rock" range of hills rise in section 10, T. 3 S., R. 2
W., where this range of hills attain their greatest height, (245 feet
above high water,) running with a gradually decreasing elevation
through sections 11, 11, 14, and 13, T. 3 S., R. 2 W., entering T.
3 S., R. 1 W., in section 18, which it crosses, and enters the rich flat
lands at the head of Locust Lick creek, and is only indicated by
symmetrical knolls of various sizes, sometimes rising sixty-five to
seventy feet in height, having a base varying in area from five to
seventy-five acres, terminating in a rounded irregular hill in section
21, Eame township; here it has a less elevation and passes through
sections 22, 27, and 26, forming a sloping table, abrupt on the south,
with a gradual inclination on the north, to Cypress creek. This range
again appears on the east side of Cypress, where it occupies a greater
base and is most favorably seen at "Poplar Ridge," and "Coal Hill,"
in sections 25 and 26, same township; continuing in the same course
it extends through section 31, T. 3 S., R. 1 E.; sections 5, 9, 10 and
24, T. 4 S., R. 1 E; sections 19, 30, 29, and 32, T. 4 S., R. 2 E;
passing into Hopkins county, the direction changes more to the east
extending into section 33, and same township.
  "Bethel H'ill" form a bold and well defined range in sections 7 and
8 in T. 3 5., R. 1 W., extending eastwardly into sections 1 and 12, T.
3 S., R. 2 W., and is lost and obliterated by the Scatters of Cypress; it
appears again in sections 27 and 21, T. 2 S., R. 2 W., where it attains
an elevation of 255 feet.
  In this township the masses forming the Anvil Rock, Betbel, and
the Eagle creek, or JeruEalem school house range () are crowded to-



387

 


TOPOGRAPHCAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



gether and form apparently a confused range of bills and ridges, which,
however, are susceptible of separation.
  The bills occupying section 15, N. E. corner of 24, S. W. of 14,
and N. W. of 23, being formed by all the masses lying below the An-
vil Rock range, and above the rocks of the millstone grit series, which
form the southern slopes of Bald hill. There is also a well marked
line of division between the masses forming the ranges of the Bethel
hill and Jerusalem hill. This line enters section 24 on the east side,
with the line of a nameless branch; then by a north-west course
crosses section 24, and enters section 15; and down another nameless
branch, a tributary of Cypress of the Ohio. Between the sources of
these two streams the hilts are reduced from two hundred and fifty-five
feet to about thirty-five feet above high water, or seventy-five feet above
low water of the Ohio river.
  Eastwardly the Bethel hill range rises again in section 9, T. 3 S., R.
14, and extends in a course due east across the township, when it is
lost in the low rich flats of the Pond fork of Crab Orchard creek; ap-
pearing again in section 30, T. 3 S., R. 1 E., when it attains an eleva-
tion to the same range in section 7, T. 3 S., R. I W., when it was found
to be 247.84 feet above low water at Caseyville, 1854. Further east-
wardly this range has not been satisfactorily determined.
  On the Ohio river, at Caseyville, the millstone grist rises in a bold
range of hills, having a course nearly north and south, capped in many
places by the masses of the lowest workable coal beds. This range
extends to Trade-water river, making a bold rocky bluff on either side
of the gap through which this stream finds an outlet into the Ohio.
On the south side of Trade-water these bold rough masses extend in a
course varying to the east of south. In section 20, T. 4 S., R. 1 E.,
they attain an elevation of about four hundred feet. At this point
the line of these hills changes its direction and runs parallel to the
general direction of Trade-water, running boldly up to that stream in
section 16, T. 5 S., R. 1 E., defining with a strongly marked outline
the limit of the productive coal measures.
  This range of hills having no general name, may be appropriately
denominated the conglomerate range.
  A very marked peculiarity of this district is that all of the ranges
of hills enumerated are severed by low lands, crobsing these lines



388

 


TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



nearly at right angles with their direction. The subject will be no-
ticed more in detail in the course of this report.

                             DRAINAGE.
  The drainage of this district necessarily depends on the configura-
tion of the hills and dividing ridges, therefore, the lines of the princi-
pal streams conform nearly to east and west courses, except when the
dividing ridges have been severed by denudation, or when they have
sunk so far below the general elevation of the range to which they be-
long that the water courses find their beds above the rocks which along
other parts of the ranges form their summits.
  Trade-water.-This river enters the Ohio two and a half miles be-
low Caseyville, in T. 4 S, R. 2 W. The general direction of this
stream is from south-east to north-west, but it is remarkably crooked;
and the current very gentle, being in fact a succession of pools, sep-
arated by gentle ripples, having a fall of less than four inches to the
mile.
  Cypress Creek.-Tbis creek takes its rise in the "Bald Hill" range,
where it is known as Eagle creek, and for some distance of its course
receives most of its tributaries from the north side, all rising in the
Bald hill range. It runs southwardly about two miles over the up-
turned edges of the coal measures, which abut conformably on the
western slopes of this range, the main body of the hills being formed
by the tilted rocks of the millstone grit and sub-carboniferous lime-
stone, which are protruded through the masses of the coal measures,
and may be found in many places in this range dipping south, south-
east, and south-west, at angles varying from 710 to 180, the angle of
dip gradually decreasing to the south of this range as the elevation be-
comes less. The upper part of this stream having had a course to the
north-west for several miles, with a well formed bed in section 15, T.
2 S., R. I W., reaches a flat known as the Scatters of Cypress, where
for several miles no regular defined bed can be traced; the waters of
the stream, speading far and wide, make a great curve to the west, and
pass around and through the gaps in the Eagle creek or Jerusalem
School House hills and the Bethel hill range.
  After being thus deflected they flow in a line nearly parallel to the
latter range, along its south side, in a south-east course, until it reaches
section 26, T. 3 S., R. 1 W., when it is turned to the sothwest by a



389

 


390       TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



sharp bend, when in contact with the Anvil Rock range, and by that
course reaches Trade-water in section 33 of same township.
  The levels carried along Cypress show a descent of only two-tenths
of a foot per mile. It is worthy of remark that in the course of this
stream, from the head of "the scatters" until it again finds an imper-
fect bed in section 12, T. 3 S., R. 2 W., there is abundant evidence of
a general depression. From the lower end of "the Scatters" the creek
evidently has its bed on the out-cropping shaly beds which form the
base of Bethel hill.
   Crab Orchard creek is formed by a number of confluents, the most
northwardly of which-Dyson's creek-rises in theSulphur Spring bills
of the Bald bill range, runs south-west, enters and is lost in a succes-
sion of flats known as the Pond fork, which having received a number
of minor tributaries from the hills south of Eagle or head of Cypress,
passes off by a south-east course; receives Ramsey's creek from the
north side, and having reached section 2, T. 3 S., R. 1 E., it takes a
direction nearly south for about five miles, crossing in its course the
members composing the Anvil Rock range. Its course is then nearly
due west for four miles, when it enters Trade-water.
   Cypress creek of the Ohio rises in the Grundy hills, the west end
of the range north of the Bald hill range, having its course parallel
with the Ohio river; running through a succession of ponds and flat
swampy lands, being subject to overflow throughout its entire course,
receiving from the east a considerable number of nameless creeks and
drains, enters the Ohio river in section 8, T. 3 S., R. 2 W, having a
length of about sixteen miles.
  Lost creek rises in the Chalybeate bills of the Bald hill range, runs
north through a rich flat county, but without a defined bed for eight
miles, until within half mile of the Ohio river, where it is deflected
westiuardly, and runs six miles parallel with it, entering it opposite Wa-
bash island.
  Anderson's, Casey's, and BilgMason rise in the Blue hill range, and
run off in courses diverging from each other, emptying into Highland
creek.
  Ilighlaid creek rises in the Bald bill range, and runs northwardly
about fourteen miles, receiving Anderson's, Casey's, and a number of
minor streams; it is then deflected to the west, and after a course of
nine miles enters the Ohio river at Uniontown.

 


TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



                       FLATS AND LOW LANDS.
  The bill land approaches the Ohio river at Uniontown and Casey-
ville. With these two exceptions, the Ohio bottoms vary in width from
one-half a mile to three miles, subject, in floods of the Ohio, to be cov-
ered by the waters of that river, the bottom being generally lowest at
the base of the high land, abutting against the river bottom; the val-
ley of Cypress creek varies in width from one-half a mile to four
miles, generally of a rich black loam, requiring draining, by ditching,
to bring it into cultivation.
  The valley of the Pond fork is also very wide for a stream of that
size, being from three to four miles wide in its greatest expansion.
The same remark will apply to Lost and Casey's creeks. A portion
of the rich flats of both Lost and Pond creeks have already been re-
claimed and brought into cultivation, yielding an ample reward for the
capital and industry bestowed on what has been, until recently, con-
sidered waste land; and the same remarks will apply to the wide, rich
bottoms on the minor streams of this county, which are now in pro-
gress of reclamation. The soil of this county, except on the summits
of the ridges, has been derived chiefly from the rich quartenary loams,
and the lands having suffered but slightly from denudation are conse-
quently of superior quality.
  The primitive forest in the flat lands is cotton wood, swamp ash,
box alder, pecan, red oak, white oak, sweet gum, black gum, red bud,
and in swampy places crooked wood. On the upland and sloping
lands, poplar, ash, white and black oak, with occasionally red oak,
sweet and black gum, hickory, (several varieties.) There are a few
localities where the sugar maple flourishes. Undergrowth: dogwood,
hazel, spice-wood, sassafras, pawpaw, grape-vines, &c. The soil gen-
erally is loose and friable, and of a deep black or mulatto color.
  There are two ranges of post oak flats, running eastwardly through
the county, south of the Bethel bill range. One range occurs where
the shaly beds between the third and fourth coals of the lower coal
measures have been denuded of the loose loams of the quartenary
deposits.
  The other range occurs from the exposure of similar beds, which
occupy a position between the first and seconds beds of the coal
measures reposing on the "Anvil Rock." Wherever either of these



391

 


TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



beds have been observed, they were invariable accompanied by a post
oak flat, soil light colored, and nearly impalpable silicious earth. With
the exception of the post oak glades, and the steeper hill sides and
summits of the Bald hill range, and the hills of the millstone grit,
seen in the south-west corner of the county, and one or two points
where this range crosses to the north side of Trade-water, as at Longs-
port and Montezuma, the soil is of a superior quality, not difficult of
cultivation, yielding abundant crops of corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley,
clover, tobacco, potatoes; orchards thrive well; not much attention
has yet been bestowed on the cultivation of fruits.

                              SPRINGS.
  There are but few springs of water rising to the surface; those most
worthy of note are the Sulphur Springs, rising in section 26, T. 2 S.,
R. 1 E. The Chalybeate Springs, rising on the Southern slope of
the Bald hill range, where they come to the surface between the beds
of the mill stone grit series, which at this point dip at the rate of 710
to the south. These springs are in section 21 of the same township.
Another spring, remarkable for its boldness and constancy, and the
character of its waters, rises in the black flats of the Pond fork, and
after spreading eastwardly a distance of about seventy yards, is swal-
lowed by the loose materials composing these flats. In section 12,
T. 2 S., R. 1 W., a bold spring rises from a bed or vein of barytes or
heavy spar; this mineral appears to be very abundant in this locality;
very palatable water can generally be obtained in sufficient quantity
by sinking wells, both for domestic uses and stock water, within fifty
yards of the surface, or even at a much less depth in many places.

                              GEOLOGY.
   The great distinguishing geological feature of this district consists
in its coal measures, which are co-extensive with the county. The
southern and western out-crop of the deepest seated coals conform to
the line shown upon the map of this county, running through sections
20 and 19, T. 5 S., R. 2 E.; sections 24, 13, 12, 11, 2, 3, 4, 9, 8, 7
and 5 of T. 5 S. R. 1 E.; sections 32, 31, 30 and 19, 54 S., R. 1 E.;
sections 24, 25, 26, 23, 22, 15, 14, 10, 9, 4 and 5, T. 4 S., R. 1. W.;
sections 32, 29 and 31, T. 3 S., R. 1 W.; sections 36, 25, 26, 23, 22,
15, 16, 9, 4 and 5, when it enters the Ohio river and again appears on



392

 


TOPOGRAPH[ICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



the Saline creek in Illinois.  From section 26, T. 3 S., R. 2 W.,
though the out-crop is covered by the alluvial bottoms of the Ohio,
and is not seen, the out-crop line may be relied upon as approximately
correct, the tops of the hills on the neighboring shore of the Ohio
river in Illinois being covered by the wasted materials of the Bell and
Cook coals of the lower measures, which are distinctly recognizable.
Southwardly of the out-crop line the rocks are dipping much more
rapidly than north of it; the rate of dip not being constant, seldom
agreeing in any two localities; the direction of the greatest dip also
varying with the constantly varying direction of the out-crop line.
  The line runs through the sections 9, 3, 11, 5 and 6, 55 S.,
R. 2 E.; sections 311, 3( and 19, 34 S., R. 2 E.; sections 21, 23, 14,
1-5, 10, 9), 4, .5 and 6, T. 4 S., R. 1 E.; section 31, T. 3 S., Pt. 1 E.;
sections 36, 35, 26, 27, 21, 20), 19 and 18, T. 3 S., R. 1 WV.; sections
13, 14, 15, 10, 9 and 4, T. 3 S., R. 2 WV.; sections 31 and 30, T. 2
S., Rt. 2 W., when it also passes into the Ohio river, and again appears
on the Saline creek, marking the line of division between the upper
and lower series of coals. The out-crop line of the deepest seated
coals of the same coal measures may be distinguislhed along the foot
of the Bald bill, in sections 9, 15 and 14, T. 2 S., R. 2 W., when they
have been brought to the surface by the uplift, carrying with them the
rocks of the mill-stone grit and sub-carboniferous limestone, which form
the body of the hill. West of Cypress creek, no openings have been
made into the coal beds. East of Cypress creek, along the southern
face of the Bald hill range, coal has been worked in several places,
which doubtless are the coals of the Lower Coal Measures.  On the
north side of these workings the body of the hills is based upon the
sub-carboniferous limestone, which out-crops, near the foot of the hills,
while the hills themselves are compased of the rocks of the mill-stone
grit. In every locality observed, the rocks have in all parts of the
hills uniformly a southern dip, evidently uplifting the deepest seated
coal beds, which are on the south side of the range. dipping at high
angles to the south, while on the north side or the Bald bill range the
coal bed.: near the axis of the hills are also dipping south, and toward
this range lying in great confusion, no beds being identified near the
hills. These hills appear to have been raised from below, and thrust
through the superincumbent coal beds, by a succession of dome-like
waves.  The centre of the Bald hill in section 11, T. 2 S., R. 1 W.,
               .50  



393

 


TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



being the anticlinal axis of the first wave; near the north-west cor-
ner of section 17, T. 1 S., R. 1 E., being the anticlinal axis of the
second wave; near the south-west corner of section 26, T. 2 S., R. 1
E., being in like manner the point of greatest elevation of the third
wave. It will be seen by an examination of the accompanying map
that there is a very great difference in the length of the waves here
alluded to-the distance between the first and second being equal to
nine miles, while the distance between the second and third is equal
only to about four miles. It is possible that the Coal Measures south
of the Bald hill range may be connected by a neck or isthmus, lying
in a line north and south, occupying the great valley of the Cypress,
extending across sections 7, 8, 9 and 10, T. 2 S., R. 1 W. In case
they are not connected through this valley, then the Coal Measures
south of the Bald hill range form an out-lyer, being severed from the
great body of the western coal field, by this remarkable and hitherto
little known fault, which, from all the evidence observed, appears to be
cotemporaneous with the disturbance producing the fractures, now the
beds of the Ohio, Trade-water and Saline rivers. To the effective force
producing this fault may also be traced certain waves of elevation and
depression in the materials of the Coal Measures. The lines of these
waves may be traced. One of the most remarkable begins at the head,
or northeast end of the Scatters of Cypress, and continues down that
stream to the west end of Bethel hill in section 12, T. 3 S., R. 1 W.,
when it is intersected by another synclinal fold, coming into the coal
fields from the mouth of "Cypress of the Ohio," the line of apparent
greatest depression running diagonally through sections 9, 5, 6 and
2, where the folds become one, running through the entire valley of
Hine's creek. Another great fold of depression enters the productive
coal field between Locust Lick creek and Trade-water river, having a
course nearly north until it reaches section 9, T. 3 S., R. 1 W., when
it appears to divide, one branch of the fold entering the line of Beth-
el hill and running up the valley of Pearson's branch until it reaches
section 2, T. 3 S., R. 1 W., when it changes its direction to the east
and south-east, passing down the valley of Pond fork until it reaches
section 19, when it joins the other branch of the same fold or valley,
which has passed down the valley of Cypress, having a width of near-
ly six miles; the two folds having united, they are continued as one val-
ley, until it reaches section 11, T. 4 S., R. 1 E., when it is intersected



394

 


TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.



by another narrow valley of depression, one of which is parallel with
the Bald hill range, about two miles south of it in T. 2 S., R. 1 XV.
Another enters the coal field at Half Moon Lick, on the Trade-water,
and running nearly east enters the fold of Crab Orchard creek in sec-
tion 15, T. 4 S., R. 1 E. Between each of these valleys are corres-
ponding lines, wherein the measures are elevated, forming as it were a
succession of waves, the rocks being alternately elevated and de-
pressed.
   It should have been noticed that there are patches of the lower
measures lying outside or south of the line, making the out-crop of the
lower measures south of Trade-water. That in sections 6 and 24 may
be cited as one of these out-lyers, the precise boundary of which, not
having been determined, it has not been laid down on the map.
   At the head of Pond fork there is an extensive bed of the highest
of the Coal Measures, embracing the south-west part of T. 2 S., R. 1
E., and the north part of T. 3 S., R. 1 E., being the beds associated
with the Carthage rock in T. 1 S., R. 1 W., and equivalent to the
Grundy ridge series.
   From the mouth of Highland creek up the line of that stream, the
rocks dip southwardly, and meet a northwardly dip on the Ohio
river, in section 2, T. 1 S., R. 1 W. The synclinal axis of this fold has
a direction of about 15' west of south, and if not severed by the
Bald hill fault is connected with, and forms a part of the series lying
in sight at the head of the Pond fork of the Crab Orchard creek. The
fold that lies between the Bald bill ra