GLACIERS (NOT RIVERS AS STILL ASSERTED) SURMOUNTED AND SPREAD THE DRIFT AND BOULDERS UPON THE MID-ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN REGION

For 115 years the theory exists that rivers spread drift and boulders ubiquitously upon the MAC Plain. The writer presented his first paper at the 1970 GSA/SE meeting in Lexington, KY entitled "On the Glaciation of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain" and subsequent papers to no avail.

Is it possible that "Everybody must be out of step but you" the writer - an unknown and non-glacial geologist? Yes! because the river theory is impossible for three reasons-rivers do not: flow uphill; flow across oceans; create many glacial features. The emphasis here is on NJ drifts beyond the WI glacial moraine due to six years of study in the 1890s. In 1891 NJ engaged Prof Salisbury U of WI glacial geologist part time as senior author of NJ annual geologic studies. In his first 1891 report he wrote eloquently on glacial characteristics. He concluded that older drifts beyond the WI moraine in west NJ were glacial due to striated and erratic boulders and till. However for the SE deposits he stated "There is no evidence now in hand which indicates that ice ever invaded southern NJ." He presumed the ice sheet calved into the sea, but there the ancestral Hudson crossed SW to surmount NJ. In the 1891 report he described phenomena in southern NJ and PA similar to older glacial drift in west NJ. In PA he found till like materials and clay with striated boulders. In southern NJ "glacial striated boulders," and the "topography in these regions is very much like that of a subdued terminal moraine." Also he pointed out that generally "where one of these marks is found some or all of the others accompany it and in such cases the evidence is overwhelming." Later he rejected his geologists' suggestions to consider glaciation, because "evidence is insufficient," "proof is wanting."

Following is a list (nine in NJ reports, one by the author) of glacial features on the NJ coastal plain: erratic boulders and sediments; till like deposits; heterogenous physical and lithologic materials; glacial striated boulders; moraine like topo with depressions; gravel and boulder trains; esker like ridges; distorted folded shale; a few large boulders up to 15'; the writer discovered the only striated bedrock ever found beyond the WI moraine in NJ. Similar features exist in PA, DE, MD and VA.

For 115 years has "everybody" overlooked the river aphorisms and abundant glacial features on the MAC Plain? Comments pro/con are welcome!