54 J. D. Dana on the origin of some of the 



from near the southern extremity of the Beaver Pond basin, but to the 

 eastward. One passes near Webster street, and the other by Munson 

 street, and the two unite in the valley of the former East CreeJc^ 

 now occupied by the Canal Railroad. They are evidently contin- 

 uations of the Beaver Pond depression, and it may be questioned 

 whether these were not also courses of the Beaver Pond glacier 

 excavation. But although broad, they are comparatively shallow 

 and have gently sloping sides ; and the course of each is east-and- 

 west, or transverse to that of the glacier moi^eTnent. We conclude 

 therefore that they were probably a result of the tidal currents and 

 waves of the following or Champlain epoch, and of the later action 

 of sui'face waters. It is to be remembered that the glacier made 

 its excavations in the strata underlying the superficial alluvium. 



We should naturally look also for a northern continuation of 

 the Beaver Pond depression. But we have already stated that 

 the appearances at its northern extremity indicate its rather abrupt 

 commencement at that point. Half a mile to the eastward of the 

 depression, and as far south of its northern end, there is a broad 

 channel leading northward which is the course of what is called on 

 the map Pine Marsh Creek ; and the question comes uj) whether 

 this was not the northern part of the Beaver Pond depression, and 

 therefore whether Mill river did not once discharge its waters through 

 it and thence enter the bay by West Creek valley. The southwest- 

 ern part or extremity of this great depression (situated near the 

 junction of Goodrich street and the Canal railroad and close by the 

 present terminus of the Shelton Avenue railroad), reaches within 300 

 yards of two broad northeasterly channels leading down into the east- 

 ern bays of the Beaver Pond basin. The valley is so broad, and so 

 abrupt in the slopes which bound it, that it appears as if large enough 

 to be the course of a river. Through its now sluggish waters, .clumps 

 of bushes rise in most parts from the shallow bottom.* 



These facts seem to favor the conclusion that we have here actually 

 found the northern continuation of the Beaver Pond channel. But the 

 valley widens northward instead of toward the Beaver Pond depres- 

 sion, and the creek flows at the present time in that direction, start- 

 ing just south of Mill Rock and entering Mill River l^ miles north 

 of Whiti>eyville (V.) Another view with regard to it we regard as 

 much more probable. 



* Owing to the dam at Wliitneyville, the water of Mill River is not only set back 

 for two miles and more up the valley, but also flows back into Pine Marsh Creek val- 

 ley for njpre than a njile, to within a short distance of Mill Rock (See Map.) 



