No. 63. J 147 , 



wilderness; active enterprise and prosperity are the leading charac- 

 teristics of this town. 



Catliu lies directly west of Veteran, and contiguous to the Che- 

 mung canal; the settlements are generally new, but rapidly progress- 

 ing; the land produces well and is advantageously situated, markets 

 being easy of access. This town is broken and hilly, but generally 

 well adapted to the growing of wool and stock; lands are cheap and 

 plenty yet in market. 



Dix is north of Catlin and west of the canal, extending to the head 

 of the Seneca lake, and adjoining Steuben county; is high and roll- 

 ing; part of this town is under good cultivation, and is productive; 

 it is favorably situated with regard to markets. Tlic growing village 

 of Jefferson is in the northeast corner of this town, from which 

 steamboats depart daily for Geneva. 



Catharine is situated east of Dix and north of Veteran, and is in 

 form of a basin, embosoming the little romantic Lake of Cayuta. 

 Johnson settlement, the first of importance, was commenced in 1795, 

 chiefly by emigrants from Fairfield county, Connecticut, who brought 

 with them the industrious habits and intelligence characteristic of their 

 native State. The buildings and other improvements are of a neat 

 and permanent character, and denote the prosperity that every where 

 follow the industrious and economical habits of the New-Englanders. 



This town is well adapted to the growing of wtieat and grazing. 

 The flourishing village of Havana is located nearly upon the ground 

 where stood the Indian village of Catharine, the former residence of 

 the Indian Queen Catharine Montour, from whom the town of Cath- 

 arine derived its name. This Indian village, at the time of Sullivan's 

 expedition, contained thirty houses; the Indians were much attached 

 to these their favorite hunting grounds. Deer and other game were 

 abundant, and the fine salmon trout taken in profusion from the inlet, 

 had strong attractions for a people whose chief object in life was the 

 enjoyment these luxuries afforded. 



The scenery, viewed from the high lands in Catharine and Dix, 

 looking down upon the villages of Havana and Jefferson, (both of 

 which are flourishing towns, the former being the chief market town 

 of the northern part of Chemung and the adjoining towns in Tomp- 

 kins county — and from the latter is shipped much of the produce from 

 p^its of this and Steuben counties,) and the chrystal and never frozen 

 waters of the far-famed Seneca, bordered on either side by sloping 

 fields as far as the eye can reach, foiming together a landscape of 

 surpassing beauty, which can only be appreciated by being seen. 

 The reasons why the waters of the Seneca are never frozen, is wor- 

 thy of scientific investigation. It is generally supposed that this 

 beautiful lake, which is navigable the whole winter, is supplied by 

 subterranean springs, thus keeping the water too warm to freeze. 

 Reflection has convinced me that this cannot be the cause; but the 

 fact that <he depth is so great that the bottom, in places, has never 

 yet been sounded, satisfactorily accounts for this phenomenon. It is 

 known that cold condenses water, and that it consequently sinks, giv- 

 ing place to that below; and our winters or cold weather, not conti- 



