History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 93

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 93

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These argillites, or limestone-schists, as I have sometimes called them, in all probabil- ity hold all the important iron ore mines of the county, outside of the formation of red sandstone and shales. It is true that some- times the iron ore banks appear to be far from the area colored as limestone, and sometimes directly within the boundaries of that area, but in neither case is it under conditions that forbid the belief that they are in the verita- ble hydro-mica schists, even if the latter may have been reduced by the weather to soft unctuous and variegated clays. It is not too much, therefore, to call this portion of the York County rocks the real iron-bearing (or ferriferous) region. The edges of the rock appear in the right bank of the Susquehanna River, where that river has cut through them, and one would hasten to the part just above Wrightsville to ascertain whether these schists were uncomformable upon the quartzite, but the following records of the dip or inclination of the two rock series, taken from Section 1 of my report on the county§, will show that

*Of course if the Potsdam have an upper member consist- ing of schists, the above assignment is correct; but I know of no instance in which the opposite supposition is not equally sup- ported by the facts. It is also to be noted that the limestone and iron-ore hearing schists are more frequently found together without the quarizite, than the quartzite and schists without the limestone.

+Cottrell & Benson's, and Smyser's mines [Nos. ]] and 112] are on the border line between the quartzite and limestone.

*This word is used for rocks which have crystalline, as op- posed to simple bedded structure. In the other case they are called slates.

+See Vol. C, 137, 2d G. S. of Pa., by the author.

#See note 3, at the end.

¿Vol. C, p. 78.

471

GEOLOGY.

both formations are so flexed or twisted, that no certainty can be obtained there. First, there are two dips in the quartzite of south 50° and almost at the contact with the schists south 20°, east 45°. Next, there are three dips in the schists which are respectively south 45°, south 10°, east 50°, south 10° and east 10°. Still there is every probabil- ity that in fact the dips of the two differ, both in direction and amount, while there are no such indications for the dips of the schists and of the limestone proper at this place.

THE YORK LIMESTONE WITH ARGILLITES.

One of the best opportunities of measuring the thickness of this limestone is afforded by the section referred to along the Susque- banna from a little run half a mile above the Columbia bridge to Kreutz Creek .* This is evidently a trough with the axis close to the bridge, and measures 2,800 feet of limestone and included schists. If the schists between the quartzite and the limestone be included, it would add some 1,600 feet to this, making the limestone and the schists below it to the quartzite 4,400 feet thick. The same beds measured by me in Lancaster County only amounted to 3,400 feet. These beds, there. fore, may thicken 1,000 feet in the twelve miles which intervene between this section and the city of Lancaster, and of this thickening 400 feet belong to the schists below the lime- stone and 600 feet for the limestone itself and its included schists. f The limestone, of which numerous analyses will be found in Reports C, CC, CCC, M and MM, is dolomitic, that is to stty, it is a carbonate of lime containing varying amounts of carbonate of magnesia. There is also some ground for believing that two kinds of limestone are represented, each having its own peculiarities of physical structure. It was noticed in many cases that two kinds of limestone were often exposed in the same quarry, and that they usually showed slight variations of dip. One, which was apparently the elder, was of a buff or grayish color and less marked stratification; the other, blue, with white streaks and spots of lighter colored limestone (often calcite). One case was recorded where, in a contact be- tween the two, pebbles of the buff were found in the blue. There seems no doubt that the great mass of limestone now under consider- ation was formed subsequently to the quart- zite, and at about the epoch of the calciferous sand rock of New York and before the Tren-

ton, or in other words in the Canadian epoch of Dana. But no fossils were found in the county to settle the question. The connec- tion between the limestone near New Market and that of York, which doubtless exists, is covered up by the beds of the Mesozoic. That which once connected that of Wrights- ville and that near Prospect, has been washed away in the general planing down of the surface by erosion.

THE MESOZOIC ROCKS IN YORK COUNTY.

None of the numerous members of Mesozoic rocks are known to be represented but the groups of sandstones and shales known as the "New Red Sandstone," and sometimes the "Triassic Sandstone."

There are many puzzling questions which arise from the study of these rocks, not the least of which is their thickness. If one as- sumes them to lie naturally without distor- tion, layer upon layer in York and Adams Counties, their perpendicular thickness in this region will be not less than sixteen thous- and four hundred feet .* The lower bed of this formation, which forms its eastern boun- dary, is very generally a conglomerate of the blue limestone pebbles imbedded in Mesozoic rocks. This can be observed about two miles west of York at Beeler's Cross Roads (Vol. C, p. 92, Sec. 2a.)

The upper bed seems to be also a con- glomerate, which forms its western bound- ary on the slope of the South Mountain. Rogers was in doubt whether the so-called " Potomac marble" was represented by the upper or lower of these (see Report CC, p. 265.) Borings with the diamond drill by Mr. Heinrich, recorded in the paper above mentioned, show that no such thickness exists in point of fact, as one might conclude from the appearance of the beds; and the proba- bility is that the actual thickness there is not above fifteen hundred feet. No such borings have been made in York County, but this thickness is not likely to be greatly ex- ceeded. But these measures in York Coun- ty are chiefly interesting on account first, of their fossils; second, of their iron ores; and third, of their coal. From the former, Prof. E. D. Cope was able to pronounce the

*In the section above referred to it is probable that a further study would enable me to abandon the hypothesis of non-con- formability at g, i, k and o, which I considered necessary to assume eleven years ago.

+See note 4, at the end.

* See Vol. CC, Second G. S. of Pennsylvania, p. 303, by the author. See also by the same "The American New Red Sand- stone." Trans. American Institute of Mining Engineers, The Mesozoic Formation in Virginia by O. J. Heinrich ; The Trans. A. I. M. E., February, 1878; Notes on the " Mesozoic of Vir- ginia " by Prof. William M. Fontaine. Am. Journal of Sc. and A., Jannary, 1879; and "Some Mesozoic Ores," Proceedings American Philosophical Society, April 20, 1877, by the writer. In the article cited second, aud in a review of the others in the American Naturalist for May, 1879, I have shown that by calcu- lating the thickness of Prof. H. D. Rogers' Yardleyville section of this formation (F'irst Geological Survey of Pennsylvania), by the ordinary metbod, the thickness of beds would appear to be 51,500 feet, or nine and three quarters miles.

472

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

beds containing them undoubtedly of Triassic age. The coal, which is found about three- quarters of a mile north of Liverpool on I. Spahn's farm, and elsewhere, represents the extensive deposits known as the Richmond Coal Fields, which have been wrought in Vir- ginia for a century to advantage, and are so still. Although its analysis indicates it to be a good bituminous coal (see CCC, p. 259)*, yet it has never been found in Pennsylvania in paying quantities.

Copper and other valuable metals have been similarly observed in this formation though in disappointing quantity in this county, though they have supplied furnaces in other parts of this State and in other States. The richest deposits of these metals is usually found near the borders of the formation.

IRON ORES.

What has just been said of the copper and other metals, may here be said of the iron ores. Although an immense amount of iron must have been consumed in providing these beds with their characteristic red color, and in fact large quantities of thin oxide scales are to be observed almost everywhere between the strata, the only localities, where iron ores appear to have been found in any abund- ance or permanence, are: first, those near the margins of the new red sandstone, when it overlies another formation containing iron ore; and second, in the neighborhood of the trap dykes, which contain over 11 per cent of oxide of iron." In the former case, it is extremely probable that the deposits of the older beds (as on the flank of South Mountain), have been torn up by the agitated waters, which laid down the Triassic rocks, and re distributed as part of the latter. In the other case it is very probable that after the decay of the exposed portions of the Trap, part of their iron oxide contents was concentrated by natural water-flow, and carried into the cava- ties and seams of the porous Mesozoic rocks. The Traps, probably, not only supplied the original material for these ore beds, but in addition protected them from being washed away, and new outbursts of molten rock very likely gave them their altered appearance and magnetic character.

THE TRAP.

Though the trap cannot be said to be of the same age as the Triassic (since it cuts through the highest beds and there. fore appeared clearly after the latest sedi- mentary bed of the Mesozoic), still there is

no reason to believe that it appeared very long afterward in a geological sense. The most interesting features of the York County Trap are, its appearance sometimes as a dyke cutting through narrow clefts of the rocks, and sometimes as mesas, or "tables," covering large areas after having been poured out from a comparatively small vent. One of these may be seen in Warrington, and one in Monaghan Township. The chief constitu- tents of this rock are Pyroxene (or Augite) and Labradorite (a lime feldspar). But mag- netic oxide of iron is almost always present, and Apatite is very generally so. The Trap in Warrington is directly counected with the mass in, and to the east of Gettysburg, and is identical in composition with the so-called "Gettysburg Granite."*

CAINOZOIC AND RECENT.

Of these, accepting the definition given above, the only representatives are the marl bed north of Dillsburg, and the gravels, fluviatile deposits, and Indian sculptures on the banks and islands of the great river. Full descriptions and phototypes of these lat- ter will be found in Vol. CCC.

NOTES.

ANALYSES OF ORES, ROCKS, MINERALS, ETC.

Note 1 .- An analysis of a mica schist, with imbedded crystals, from half a mile northwest of Cully's Station, Columbia & Port Deposit Railroad, is added here for a comparison with that of the Peach Bottom Slate, which follows. (No. 1705 in Survey's catalogue of specimens, CCC, p. 271.)

Per cent.

Silica (Si 02). 59.01

Titanic Oxide (Ti 02).

1.84

Phosphoric Oxide (P2 05). (trace)

Alumina (Al2 03).

17.02

Iron Sesqui-oxide (Fe2 03).

7.76

Ferrous Oxide (Fe O).

2.64

Manganous Oxide (Mn O).

0,96

Lime (Ca O).

2.08

Magnesia (Mg O).

0.07

Potash (K2 O).

2.68

Soda (Na2 0).

2.44

Ignition

4.42

Sum. 100.37

The rocks of which the above is an analysis corre- spond with those between Centerville and Castle Fin in York County, not far to the northwestward of the Peach Bottom District.

Peach Bottom Slates.

Note 2 .- Mr. Andrew S. McCreath gives the follow- ing report of a specimen of the Peach Bottom Slate taken from J. Humphrey & Co.'s quarry, half a mile east of Delta, York County. (P. 270, CCC.)

Per cent-

Silicic Oxide (Si 02).

55.880

Titanic Oxide (Ti 02). 1.270

Sulphuric Oxide (SO3). 0 022

Alumina (Al2 O3) 21.849

*See Note 5, at the end.

+See Note 6, at the end.

*See Note 6, at the end.

473

GEOLOGY.

Ferrous Oxide ( Fe O) .. 9.033

Manganous Oxide (Mn O) 0.586

Cobaltous Oxide (Co O). (trace )

Lime (Ca O)

0.155

Magnesia (Mg O).

1.495

Soda (Na2 O) ..

0.460

Potash (K2 O).

3.640

*Carbon (C).

1.794

Water (H 2 O).

3.385

Iron bisulphide (Fe S2).

0,051

Sum.

99.800

Note 3 .- The following analyses of two different kinds of ore from York County are given. The first is from the " lower Auroral" or limestone schists. It is from Earley & Killinger's Mine 2} mites east by north of Littlestown. It was analyzed by Mr. McCreath. (See C, p. 44.)

Per cent.

Insoluble Residue .. 12.320

Iron Sesqui-oxide (Fe2 03). 67.000

Alumina (Al2 O3). 0.950

Manganese Sesqui Oxide (Mn2 03). 2.341

Phosphoric Oxide (P2 O3). 2.804

Sulphuric Oxide (S O3) 0.277

Lime (Ca O) . 1.680

Magnesia (Mg O) 0.591

Water (H2 O) ....

11.890

Sum

99.853

In the above there were:

Per cent.

Metallic Iron .. 46.900

Manganese

0.815

Sulphur

0.110

Phosphorus 1.224

The following is the result of an analysis of the Mumper Mine in the Mesozoic Sandstone one mile northeast of Dillsburg. (C, p. 71).

Per cent. 18.643

Ferrous Oxide (Fe O).

Iron Sesqi-oxide (Fe2 03) ... 42.100

Pyrite (Fe S2). 4.093

Copper Sulphide (Cu S).

0.098

Cobalt Sulphide (Co S). 0.766

Alumina (Al2 03). 2.417

Manganese Sesqui Oxide (Mn2 03)

0.186

Lime (Ca O).

6.132

Magnesia (Mg O).

6.738

Potash and Soda. 0.350

Phosphoric Oxide (P2 05) 0.052

Sulphuric Acid (S 03). 0.119

Carbonic Acid (CO2) 1.760

Water ( H2 O) 1.080

15.120 Silica (Si (2)

Sum

99.654

Metallic Iron

Manganese

0.129

Magnetic Oxides of Iron.

59.040

Ferric Oxide

1.703

Sulphur 2.680

Phosphorus

Note 4 .- In MM, p. 344, Prof. Lesley gives some analyses which derive their peculiar interest from the fact that they are very numerous, and all from a com- paratively small thickness in the Walton Limestone Quarry opposite Harrisburg. His paper to the Am. Phil. Soc. Proceedings was presented December 20, 1877, but the article just referred to is dated June 23, 1879.

From analyses of 115 layers of the limestone exposed in this quarry, it appears that

Per cent.

The Carbonate of Lime constituted. 80.662 The Carbonate of Magnesia constituted. 14.215 The Insoluble Residue constituted 4.715

These proportions will give a better idea of the av- erage constitution of the good, merchantable, York and Cumberland limestone, than any number of scattered analyses. Prof. Lesley's attempt to ascertain a connec- tion between a given horizon and a constant proportion of the carbonates of lime and magnesia to each other, seems to have been suggested by some analyses which I made previously with the same end in view (See CC, p. 307.) in 1875.

The analyses I made are as follows:

No. 1. From the west branch of Kreutz Creek near Wrightsville.

No. 2. Upper bench of Pine Grove quarry.

No. 3. Lower bench of Pine Grove quarry.

No. 4. White limestone 100 yards east of Beeler's Cross roads, 2 miles west by north of York.

No. 5 was from Detwieler's quarry, northwest of Wrightsville.

No. 6 was

from Detwieler's quarry, south of

Wrightsville.

No. 1 No. 2 No.3 No.4 No.5 No. 6 Av.

Specific gravity

2.832 2.735

2.731 2.750

2.737 2.770 2.759

Insoluble sili-

ceous residue

4.400 12.270

12.000 3.570 0.490 41.710 *6.546

Alumina and

Ferric Oxide 1.170 1.540

0.450

0.210

1.440 6.350 0.962

Carbonate of

Lime.

49.920 75,320

81.617 91.580

91.400 43.728 72.260

Carbonate of

Magnesia.

42.980 10.750

6.400

4.110

7.290 6.450 12.996

Sulphur

0.220

0.120

0.422

0.113

0.003

1.480 0.175

Sum .. 98.690 100.00 100.489 99.583 100.623 99.718 99,850 Note 5 .- Mr. A. S. McCreath's analysis of the coal referred to is as follows:

Per cent.

Water.

4.310

Volatile Organic Matter

18.482

Fixed Carbon (by loss.). 74.358

0.528

Ash. 2.322

Sum. 100.000

Rating this coal according to the system proposed by me in a paper in the Trans. Am. Inst. of Min. Eng., and subsequently published as part of report MM (Second G. S. of Pa.):

The p. c. carbon: the p. c. Volatile Hydro-Carbons: : 80.1:19.9, and the "Fuel Ratio" would be 4, or within the range proposed for the bituminous coals (5 to 0.)

Note 6 .- The following is an analysis by Dr. Genth of the trap (Dolerite) dyke which crosses Beeler's farm two miles southwest of York:

Per cent.

Silicic Oxide.

52.53

Phosphoric Oxide.

0.15

Titanic Oxide.

0.32

Alumina.

14.35

Ferric Oxide.

5.93

Ferrous Oxide.

5.45

Manganous Oxide.

(trace)

Magnesia.

7.99

Lime. 10.27

Lithia. (faintest trace)

Soda ..

1.87

Potash. 0.92

Copper. (trace)

Sulphur

0.08

Ignition.

1.23

Sum.

101.04

*No. 6 not counted in the average.

*Average of three determinations.

Per cent. 45.880

0.023

Sulphur ..

474

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

By a mineralogical analysis of these results (C, p. 123*) it appears that there are two molecules of labra- dorite and one of pyroxene, which together essentially make up the rock.

METEOROLOGICAL.

T HERE have been a number of great floods along the Susquehanna river, Codorus and Conewago Creeks and their tributaries. The first great one on record occurred in 1744, second in 1758, the third in 1772, the fourth in 1784, the fifth in 1786. The last named was known, along the river, as the great "pump- kin flood," by which, on low places along that stream, immense quantities of pumpkins were lodged that had floated down with its current. The sixth flood occurred in 1800, the seventh in 1814, the eight in 1817, the ninth in 1822, the tenth in 1846 and the eleventh in 1884. There were a number of destructive ice floods along the river; among them were those of 1830, 1865 and 1875.

A description of some of the most disastrous rain-storms and floods is here given.

THE FLOOD OF 1817.

On Friday, the 8th of August, 1817, at about 10 o'clock in the evening, the air was uncommonly heavy, unusual darkness soon followed, and then a moderate rain. At about 12 o'clock, the rain increased, and at I A. M. it became violent. The storm continued until 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, when the sky suddenly became clear, and the sun shone brightly. Danger was not anticipated as yet, but the fallen water accumulated and the Codorus soon became a raging stream, and overflowed its banks along its entire course. Bridges gave way to the dashing current. In York, the wooden bridge at the north end of George Street, was carried with the current. The Codorus continued to swell, and soon covered Market Street, from Water Street on the eastern side, to Newberry Street on the western side. People living west of the creek were admonished of approaching danger, but did not think the results would be so dis- astrous. Believing their houses would save them they did not desire to desert them and were soon surrounded by the raging waters. Col. Michael Spangler, first with a horse that could swim the tide, and afterwards with a boat, removed many persons from imminent danger. At one time there were eight persons in the small boat so that it was almost impossible to make it move over the rapid waves. The water

finally got so high that it was impossible for the persons on land to communicate with those in the submerged districts. They were compelled to remain and endure the danger that threatened their lives. Says the History of York County: "The torrent now raged through York as though the fountains of the great deep had been broken up. The Codorus had swollen into a mighty river; it was from a quarter to half a mile wide and deep enough to float the mightiest war ship that rides the ocean. On came the torrent bearing on its broad bosom bridges, mills, houses, barns, stables, etc."

House after house either rose on the water and was borne off or was undermined and sunk beneath the waves. As the small and less strong houses were most exposed to dan - ger, their inhabitants betook themselves to those which were more fortified against the element. Many beat holes from room to room, thereby ascending to the tops of their dwellings; and then, by jumping from roof to roof, escaped.

The houses in which the people mostly collected for safety, were Mrs. Margaret Doudle's, Jesse Spangler's and Jesse Love's. There were eight persons saved in Mrs. Doudle's house; six in Mr. Spangler's; and between twenty-five and thirty in Mr. Love's. The people in these houses remained for nearly four hours in continued expecta- tion of instant death; for the houses stood in the midst of a current which was on all sides overthrowing buildings apparently as firm as they.

Helpless relatives and friends were seen extending their arms from roots and windows for assistance, expecting that the house which sustained them would instantly yield beneath them, or float down the torrent.

Penrose Robinson and John Wolf secured two colored people who were floating down the torrent on the roof of a house. Messrs. Seacrist, Eichelberger, Leitner, Cookes, Hart, Dougan. Detterman and John Miller exerted themselves in boats like heroes, fear- less of the waves, and despising danger.

There were ten persons who lost their lives by this flood; they were Hugh Cun. ningham and wife, Daniel Updegraff (for- merly editor of a paper entitled The Exposi- tor), Master Samuel Eichelberger (son of Martin Eichelberger), aged about fifteen years; a Miss Calvin, of York County; a child of John F. Williams, aged about two years, and four colored persons.

Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham and Samuel Eichelberger were found in one and the same room, lying dead side by side. They

475

METEOROLOGICAL.

were in part of Mrs. McClellan's house, which was lodged a few perches from the channel against a tree. Out of this honse Mrs. McClellan had been taken but a few minutes before it was carried away. Mr. Joseph Wren, a soldier of the Revolution, was found alive in the garret of the same house. Mrs. . Williams' child was thrown from its cradle in sight of its mother, who was herself saved with difficulty.

The following is a list of most of the buildings, that were ruined by the flood, between Water and Newberry Streets: Michael Doudel's currying-shop, tan-house, etc., and his stock of hides and leather; Jacob Barnitz's stone brewery, Samuel Welsh's brick brewery and nail-factory, Jesse Spangler's hatter shop, stable and out-house; Mr. Schlosser's brick dwelling-house, stable and out-houses; Joseph Morris' kitchen, sta- ble and out-houses; Mrs. Morris' kitchen, sta- ble and out-houses; Mr. Hantz's tavern, now Motter House (occupied by Thomas Smith), stable, sheds and out-house carried off, the tavern and back-buildings, all of brick, nearly ruined; Peter Ruhl's dwelling-house, kitchen and stable; John F. Williams' gro- cery store; Alexander Underwood's kitchen, stable and out-honses; Jessop & Davis' jeweler store carried off; Jonathan Jessop's cotton warehouse, with a large quantity of cotton; John Elgar's nail factory, stable and dwelling-house; George Rothrock's stables and out-houses; Mr. Lanius' stables and out- houses; Martin Spangler's tan house, two other houses and stable; Jacob Smyser's tan house, etc .; Mr. Ilgenfritz's stable; Jacob Gardner's tan house, bark house, barn, etc .; Israel Gardner's new two-story brick house (occupied by George Lauman); Thomas Ow- ing's back building and stable; John Love's tan house, bark house and stables; the Rev. Michael Dunn's stable and out-houses car- ried off, dwelling-house injured; Welrich Bentz's two dwelling-houses, stables and out- houses; Mrs. Margaret Doudel's tan house and out-houses, and two-story brick dwelling- house injured; Mrs. Rummel's stable, and Mr. Carnan's stable, Mr. Behler's log-house and still-house on Water Street, Mr. Sei- christ's shed full of bricks, the whole of the curtain and wing walls of the stone bridge in High Street broken down. The tenants who mostly lost their all, were Martin Eichelberger, Mrs. M'Clellan, G. K. Kane, Samuel Hartman, George Lauman, Abner Thomas, and several others.

The damage done to York and its imme- diate vicinity amounted to $200,000. About fifty families were nearly ruined. In short

many people worth from $1,000 to $7,000 on Sunday morning were in a few hours reduced to poverty.

Application was made to the legislature of the State for relief. That body at their first session after the flood, granted (on February 13, 1818) the sum of $5,000 to the com- missioners of the county, to be applied in building and repairing the public bridges which had been destroyed or injured; and likewise the sum of $1,000 to the burgesses of York, to be applied in repairing the pub- lic streets of the borough.

The expanse of several miles of water below the town was covered with ruin: roofs floating down with people on them, reaching and crying for assistance; stables with dogs, fowls and other domestic animals; wrecks covered with tables, beds, bedsteads, chairs, desks, bureaus, clocks and clock cases, trunks, cradles, sideboards, and many other articles both of furniture and cloth- ing; dry goods and groceries; barrels, hogs- heads, timber and mill-wheels, trees, wheat and rye sheaves, corn, oats, fences, etc., all passing along with lifeless bodies, down the torrent.

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 93

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104