WHITEFORD QUARRIES There remain but two small quarries to be briefly described and these are located in the southern part of Whiteford township. Those lying above the Sylvania sandstone have been described in a previous section of this chapter. In each of these two quarries the oölitic stratum occurs in a peculiarly modified form, termed locally "bastard limestone.” This is best seen in the quarry of Nelson Bush in the S. W. 14, S. E. 14, Sec. 25, just north of the east and west road. The rock here seems much disturbed and broken and suitable only for road work, for which it has been used. At the time of the visit a portable crusher was at work preparing stone for a road leading into the city of Toledo. The uppermost strata consist of a very compact bluish-gray dolomite which passes into the oölite, both forming a bed five to six feet thick. Beneath lies a gray compact bed which has been entered but a short distance. East a few rods considerable rock has had to be blasted from the bed of Bay creek, in order to suitably deepen it for drainage purposes. Large blocks of the oölite and compact dolomite are found upon the bank, along the stream, for a considerable distance. The second quarry of this group belongs to Stephen Young and is situated in the N. E. 14, N. E. 14, Sec. 4 (T. 9 S., R. 6 E.) about twentyfive rods northeast of the owner's residence. The excavation is an irregular quadrilateral about fifty feet long and has a depth of five feet. Near the center of the quarry the rock strata are said to have been horizontal, but about the sides appear much disturbed. The rock is the compact, modified oölite of a buff color and gritty feel, so that it is easily mistaken for a sandstone, upon superficial examination. CHAPTER XXII PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY CLIMATE OF MONROE COUNTY-CONTOUR OF THE COUNTY-ELEVATIONS The author wishes to express his grateful acknowledgments to Prof. W. H. Sherzer, of the Michigan Geological Survey, for valuable and interesting information and scientific data contained in his "Geological Report on Monroe County," a work of the highest order containing the fullest and most elaborate description of the general configuration and of the resources of the county that has been made public. He also desires to especially thank Prof. R. C. Allen, director of the Geological Survey of Michigan, for his courteous assistance, and permission to make use of the numerous fine illustrations accompanying this chapter, which is appreciated no less by the author of this history than by its readers. The tables of climatic data are from the same source up to 1871, to which are added the observations of Mr. John W. Morris of Grape, Raisinville township, kindly supplied by him for this chapter. Mr. Morris has furnished the observations at Grape, which is the geographical center of the county, for many years, and his tables are perfectly accurate and reliable. He has been most obliging and courteous in furnishing to the local press from time. to time such information as would be of value and interest to the public. CLIMATE OF MONROE COUNTY (1871-1911) The geographical position of Monroe county, its proximity to Lake Erie, its topography and the prevailing direction of wind combine to make it one exceptionally favored so far as productive climate is concerned. It corresponds in all essential particulars with the noted fruit belts of western New York and northern Ohio. Lying low and flat, hemmed in on the west and northwest by morainic ridges, with the great body of water, which forms its entire eastern boundary, slowly radiating its summer heat, fall frosts are delayed sufficiently for crops to mature. Upon an average not until October 12 does the first killing frost occur in the center of the county. During the past ten years the earliest date at which this has occurred was September 21 and the latest was October 30. During the greater part of each year the wind blows from the quarter of the compass lying between south and west. In consequence, the mean temperature is higher than it might otherwise be and the annual precipitation is abundant. According to statistics published in Walling's Atlas of Michigan by Dr. A. Winchell, the average annual precipitation at Monroe for eighteen years (1853 to 1870 inclusive) was 31.8 inches, with a minimum of 26.17 inches. This was distributed through the seasons as follows: Spring, 8.11 inches; summer, 9.85 inches; fall, Year. 8.27 inches; winter, 5.56 inches. During the past twelve years at Grape the precipitation has averaged about three inches less, being 28.724 inches. At Toledo where approximately the same weather conditions prevail, as in the southeastern part of Monroe county, the mean annual precipitation for the past twenty-nine years is 30.68 inches, rather evenly distributed throughout the year. During the winter months, of course, some of this is precipitated as snow, ten inches of which are regarded as equal to one inch of rain. The average snowfall for the fifteen years previous to 1900 has been 33.6 inches, the greatest fall occurring during the winter of 1895-96, giving a total for the year 63.7 inches. The least snowfall during this period of years occurred during 1889-90, when there fell the surprisingly small amount of 6.0 inches. It is evident from the figures that even during winters of greatest snow fall the bulk of the moisture received from the air is precipitated as rain. During the twelve years over which the records have been kept at Grape the maximum amount of rainfall in twenty-four hours, consecutively, equaled 2.94 inches, which fell on September 13, 1892. This was nearly equaled in August 21, 1890, when 2.92 inches fell. February is generally regarded as the snow month" of our winters and observation records show that the minimum is reached during the last week of the month. Following is the average monthly temperature and precipitation, 1871 to 1909: Of great importance to the agricultural interests of the county is the question of temperature, particularly its distribution through the year, and the minumum reached during the winter. At Grape, during the ten years ending in 1870, the mean annual temperature as determined by standard instruments has averaged 49.14° and for twentynine years the average was 49.6°. The lowest temperature recorded at Grape from 1890 to January 20, 1892, was 18° below zero, while the highest temperature at the same place was 99° on June 4, 1890. The summer isotherm of 70°, which marks the theoretical position of the sugar beet belt, cuts diagonally across the county. The annexed table shows the mean temperatures and snow-fall and total precipitation, 1871 to 1909: This may be assumed to approximately represent the meteorological conditions that prevailed in Monroe county during the period named. Passing over the intervening time between the last date given and the year 1911, the present year offers some characteristics of temperature and meteorology, which are of interest and which are taken from Mr. Morris's observation at Grape. It is a noteworthy fact that during 1911 there was no zero weather and for six months and six days consecutively there was no frost. The record for 1911 is tabulated below. TEMPERATURE |