Reports
The caves of Maryland
1950, Davies, W.E.
Bulletin 7
Preface
Maryland caves are practically unknown to the public, yet there is widespread popular interest in caves. The Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources has received many general inquiries concerning the existence of caves in Maryland and many inquiries concerning specific Maryland caves, but has had little information to give in reply.
The published references to and descriptions of Maryland caves are very incomplete and are widely scattered in little known and not easily obtainable publications. This report presents an account of all known caves in Maryland, combining the information previously published with that obtained through field investigations and explorations conducted during the last four years.
The report consists of two parts. The first part discusses the geologic and other scientific features of caves and the significance of the geology of Maryland in the development of Maryland caves. The second part describes the Maryland caves.
The explorations of Maryland caves were carried out under the leadership and direction of Mr. William E. Davies with the assistance of members of the National Speleological Society. Mr. Davies has been interested in caves since 1940. The Maryland explorations were conducted while he was Chief of Map Research for the United States Army Map Service to keep in touch with geology while he was employed in cartography. He is now with the United States Geological Survey. The explorations were purely a labor of love, despite the physical effort and discomfort and the potential dangers of penetrating unknown underground passages, and the results have very generously been made available in this report to the people of Maryland and to others interested in caves.
The Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources is indebted to Mr. Davies and his associates for this interesting and valuable contribution to the natural history of Maryland.
-Joseph T. Singewald, Jr., Director
