Topographical Features of the New Haven region. 107 



sin, lying to the north of tlie High street region and but three-fourths 

 of a mile from the College Square, is supplied through springs with 

 an abundant and perpetual flow of water, making a stream of consid- 

 erable size, whicli has its mill })rivileges like the rivers from the hills 

 (p. 53.) The lerel is constant at about 22 feet above the bay. For- 

 merly, before the deepening of its outlet, it stood at 24 feet, and 50 

 years since its ponds often afibrded good skating in winter. To what 

 height the springs would carry the water, if the outlet were dammed 

 up to a higher level, is not known. 



In this position of the Beaver Pond Meadows with reference to the 

 plain, and in that of the adjoining Beaver Hills, we appear to have a 

 partial explanation of the facts observed. The Beaver Ponds lie at 

 the eastern foot of the Beaver Hills, and just southeast of the Pine 

 Rock ridge. Now the dip of the sandstone in the New Haven region 

 is almost uniformly either to the eastward or southeastward ; it is 

 southeastward, as observation shows, in the western part of Pine 

 Rock ; and probably south of east in the layers (now nowhere expo- 

 sed to view) that underlie the Beaver Hills. There can hardly be a 

 doubt that the Beaver Ponds owe their waters chiefly to the dip or 

 inclination of the strata in these hills, this being just such as would 

 throw the main part of the water that falls upon them in that direc- 

 tion. Further, the Beaver Hills extend southward and cross Whalley 

 Avenue in the vicinity of North and Norton streets, and probably 

 extend under ground much farther south. They consequently make 

 a western boundary to the northern part of what we have called the 

 High street area. Hudson street and the jail are east of the line of 

 the Hills, and therefore, within the high-water area ; while Hamilton 

 Park is to the icest and far outside of it. It would seem natural there- 

 fore that this area, having the water works of the Beaver Hills and Ponds 

 on the north to aid the rains that fall over the surface in the wet sea- 

 son, should be supplied with water freely, and at a considerable height 

 above the level of the sea ; and at the same time that the region to- 

 ward West River, to the west of the Hills, or of its line, failing of 

 benefit from the dip of the rocks, or from the Beaver Ponds, (or deri- 

 ving less benefit, if any) should require deeper excavation to reach 

 water. 



But the condition here explained can hardly be the sole cause of 

 the difierence between these regions ; for the existence of so free a 

 supply of water over the former would seem to require a partially 

 hardened gravelly, or else a clayey, layer, ("hard-pan,") beneath to 

 prevent waste ; and the position of this layer would naturally aflect 



