763 MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ALLEGANY COUNTY MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ALLEGANY COUNTY BALTIMORE THE JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS 1900 ^6e jfrnbenmafS Company BALTIMORE, MD., U. S. A. COMMISSION JOHN WALTEE SMITH, President. GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND. JOSHUA W. HEEING, COMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND. DANIEL C. OILMAN, . Executive Offickk. PRESIDENT OF THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. E. W. SILVESTEE, Secretary. PRESIDENT OF THE MA-BYLAND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. SCIENTIFIC STAFF Wm. Bullock Clark, . ... State Geologist. SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SURVEY. Edward B. Mathews, . Assistant State Geoi.ogist. Charles S. Prosser, Chief of Division of Appalachian Geology, L. A. Bauer, . Chief of Division of Terrestrial Magnetism. C. C. O'Harra Assistant Geologist. E. B. Eowe, Assistant Geologist. Also with the cooperation of several members of the scientific bureaus of the National Government. LETTER OF TRANSM1TTAL To His Excellency John Waltee Smith, Governor of Maryland and President of the Geological Survey Commission. Sir:—I have the honor to present herewith a report on The Physi- cal Features of Allegany County. The Volume constitutes the first of a series of reports on county resources, and is accompanied by an Atlas with large scale topographical and geological maps. The infor- mation brought forward in these publications is of both economic and educational significance and I believe will prove of interest and value both to those who are residents of the county and those from a distance who may be considering sites for homes or for the investment of capital therein. I am, Very respectfully, Wm. Bullock Clark, State Geologist. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 'November, 1900. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE 17 INTRODUCTION 33 THE PHYSIOGRAPHY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY. By Cleveland ABBE, JR. 37 Introductory 37 Physiographic Divisions 28 The Plateau District 38 The Topography of the Plateau District 38 The Drainage of the Plateau District... 30 The Structure of the Plateau District 33 Stream Adjustments in the Plateau District 33 The Ridge District 34 The Topography of the Ridge District 34 The Drainage of the Ridge District 37 The Structure of the Ridge District 40 Stream Adjustments in the Ridge District 40 Topographic History 49 Stages in the Topographic History ... 49 The Present Stage 49 The Terrace-forming Stage 50 The Shenandoah Plain Stage 51 The Schooley Plain Stage 53 The Paleozoic Period and the Appalachian Revolution 54 THE GEOLOGY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY. By Cleophas C. O'HARRA. , 57 Introductory . 57 ■Geographic and Geologic Relations 57 Historical Review . 60 Bibliography 69 Stratigraphy and Areal Distribution 85 The Silurian 86 The Juniata Formation 86 The Tuscarora Formation 87 The Clinton Formation 89 The Niagara Formation 91 The Salina Formation 93 The Devonian 94 The Helderberg Formation 94 The Oriskany Formation 98 The Romney Formation 103 The Jennings Formation 106 The Hampshire Formation 108 12 CONTENTS PAGE The Carboniferous 109 The Pocono Formation 109 The Greeubrier Formation 110 The Mauch Chunk Formation 113 The Pottsville Formation 113 The Allegheny Formation 115 The Conemaugh Formation 118 The Monongahela Formation 124 The Permian 128 The Dunkard Formation 138 The Pleistocene 130 The Alluvial and other Late Deposits 130 Structure 133 The Orleans Anticline 133 The Town Hill Syncllne 136 The Stratford Ridge Anticline 138 The Oldtown and Pratt Valley Folds 139 The Polish Mountain Syncline 141 The Tussey Mountain Anticline 143 The Martin Mountain and Collier Mountain Anticlines 144 The Big Spring Run Syncline 144 The Martin Spring Branch Syncline 144 The Collier Run Syncline 144 The Evltts Mountain Anticline 145 The Evitts Creek Syncline 146 The Wills Mountain Anticline 148 The Rawlings Syncline 149 The Fort Hill Anticline 150 The Georges Creek Syncline 150 Dip, Strike and Pitch 153 Faults 153 Structure Sections 154 Interpretation op the Sedimentary Record 155 General Character and Variation of Sediments 155 The Early Paleozoic Period 155 The Tuscarora Period ISC' The Later Silurian Period 158 The Helderberg Period 159 The Oriskany Period 160 The Devonian Shale Period 160 The Lower Carboniferous Period 163 The Coal Measures Period 163 Subsequent History 163 THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF ALLEGANY COUNTY. By WM. B. Clark, C. C. O'Harra, R. B. Rowe, and H. Ries 165 Coals 166 Description of the Coal Basin 166 MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 13 PAGE History of its Development 167 Names used for the Coal Basin 168 The Coal Veins 169 The Pottsville Coals 169 The Allegheny Coals 171 The Conemaugh Coals 175 The Monongahela Coals 176 Clays 180 Fire-clays 181 Shales 183 Sedimentary Clays 184 Residual Clays 184 Lime and Cement Proddots 185 Building Stones 187 Road Materials 188 Iron OKB 189 Mineral and Ordinary Springs 191 Miscellaneous Materials 193 THE SOILS OF ALLEGANY COUNTY. BY Clarence W. DORSEY 195 Introduction 195 The Formation of Soils 195 External and Internal Conditions of the Soil 197 Historical Sketch 198 Soil Formations 300 The Juniata 301 The Tuscarora 301 The Clinton 303 The Niagara 303 The Sallua 303 The Hefderherg 304 The Oriskany 306 The Romney-Jennings 307 The Hampshire 308 The Pocono 309 The Greenbrier-Mauch Chunk 310 The Pottsville 310 The Allegheny ... 310 The Conemaugh . 311 The Monongahela 311 The Dunkard 313 Alluvial Soils 313 THE CLIMATE OF ALLEGANY COUNTY. By Oliver L. FASSIO 317 Introduction 317 Temperature 319 14 CONTENTS PAGE Rainfall 223 Description of Stations 228 Cumberland 228 Boettcherville 229 Westernport 229 Flintstone 230 Frostburg 230 Mount Savage 230 Oldtown 230 THE HYDROGRAPHY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY. BY F. H. Newkll 233 THE MAGNETIC DECLINATION IN ALLEGANY COUNTY. By L. A. Bauer 253 Description of Stations 254 On the Establishment of the Surveyor's Meridian Line at Cumber- land 250 THE FORESTS OF ALLEGANY COUNTY. By- GEORGE B. Sudworth 263 Introduction 263 Location 264 Topographic Features 264 Soil 265 Water Flow 265 Wooded Regions • 267 Character op the Forests 267 Composition of Forests 368 General Distribution of Forest Trees 269 Distribution of Principal Timber Trees 270 Distribution of Subordinate Timber Trees 273 Distribution of Occasional Timber Trees 274 Important Timber Trees: Their Abundance and Uses 275 Relation of Lumbering and Mining to Reproduction 379 Forest Fires and Their Relation to Reproduction 282 Management and Utilization oi: Forest Resources 385 Protection of Forest Lands from Fire 286 Exclusion of Grazing from Forest Lands 287 Regulation of Indiscriminate Cutting 288 Regulation op Indiscriminate Clearing 290' THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF ALLEGANY COUNTY. By C. Hart MER- riam and Edward A. Preble 291 The Life Zones of Allegany County. By C. Hart Merriam 291 The Summer Birds of Western Maryland. By Edward A. Preble 296 ILLUSTRATIONS PLATE FACING PAGE I. Cumberland and the Narrows of Wills Mountain, from Shriver Ridge 33 II. View of Model of Allegany County 2& III. View from Wills Mountain, showing Escarpment of Tuscarora Sand- stone 36 IV. Anticline in Salina formation at Cement Mills, Cumberland 40 V. Georges Creek Valley, near Barton 48 VI. The Narrows of Wills Creek, near Cumberland 53 VII. Views of Allegany County 60 Fig. 1.—Toll-house on the National Road 60' " 3.—Pulp-mill, near Westernport 60 VIII. View of North Branch of the Potomac, near Keyser, W. Va 64 IX. View from Dans Rock, looking across the Potomac Valley 86- X. Geological Sections in Allegany County 98. Fig. 1.—Characteristic Exposure of Clinton Sandstone 93 " 3.—Hard Strata in Helderberg Formation, Devil's Backbone. 93 XI. Geological Sections in Allegany County 100 Fig. 1.—Fold in Oriskany Sandstone, near Mouth Of South Branch of the Potomac 100 Fig. 3.—Oriskany Exposure, Monster Rock, near Keyser, W. Va.. 100 XII. Geological Sections in Allegany County 113 Fig. 1.—Exposure of Jennings Sandstone, Corriganville 113 " 3.—Exposure of Pottsville Sandstone, Westernport 113 XIII. Geological Sections in Allegany County 130 Fig. 1.—The "Railroad Seam," near Piedmont 130 " 3.—View of " Big Vein " Coal, In Ocean Mine No. 3 130 XIV. Geological Sections in Allegany County 136- Fig. 1.—Faulted Anticline in Silurian Strata, five miles southwest of Cumberland 136' Fig. 3.—Sharp Fold in Devonian Sandy Shales near Little Orleans. 136 XV. Dans Rock, showing Pottsville Conglomerate 148 XVI. Structural Sections in Allegany County 160 XVII. Coal-mining in Allegany County 176- Fig. 1.—Pumping Station, Consolidation Coal Co 176> " 3.—Mining Plant at Ocean No. 1 176 XVIII. Hydrography of Allegany County 333 Fig. 1.—Car used in Measuring Velocity of River Water 333 " 3.—Measuring Velocity of River Water from Boat 33? XIX. Price Electric Current Meters, with Buzzers 336 XX, Hydrography of Allegany County 340 Fig. 1.—Georges Creek at Westernport, near the Confluence with North Branch of Potomac 340 16 ILLUSTEATIONS PLATE FACING PAGE Fig. 2.—Georges Creek at Westernport, looking up-stream from Washington Street Bridge 340 XXI. Wills Creek at Cumberland 344 XXII. Dam at Cumberland for Diverting Water Into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 848 XXIII. Map of Allegany County, showing the lines of equal Magnetic Declination 254 XXIV. Map of Allegany County showing Wooded Areas 364 XXV. Forests of Allegany County 366 Fig. 1.—Thin Forest Cover, Potomac River 366 " 3.—Farm and Forest Land, Martin Mountain 266 XXVI. Forests of Allegany County 370 Fig. 1.—Wooded Hill In Southwestern Allegany County 370 " 3.—Narrow Agricultural Valley in Southeastern Allegany County 270 XXVII. Forests of Allegany County 274 Fig. 1.—Scrub Pine, near Oldtown 374 " 3.—Defective Large White Pine in Young Hardwood, Fifteen- mile Creek 374 XXVIII. Forests of Allegany County 380 Fig. 1.—^Neglected Farmland, Eastern Allegany County 380 " 3.—Shortleaf Pine and Pitch Pine, Town Hill 380 XXIX. Forests of Allegany County 284 Fig. 1.—Pitch Pine, near Pine Plains, Eastern Allegany County ... 384 " 2.—Table Mountain Pine, Dans Mountain 384 XXX. Forests of Allegany County 388 Fig. 1.—Shortleaf Pine and Hardwood, near Piney Grove 388 " 3 Cut over Hardwood Forest, Savage Mountain 388 FIGURE PAGE 1.