9.26 OBSERVATIONS RELATIVE to thk 



not fuciden, but efledled by flow degrees. Whether this 

 escefs of moifture arifes from the exteuiive forefts which 

 conlLintly preferve the eartk in a flate of humidity or 

 from more permanent caufes, future obfervations muft 

 determine. 



Iron is here more fufceptible of ruft, and brafs fooner 

 tarniflied than in the Atlantic ftatcs ; but thisfufceptibiUty 

 of ruft I obferved to be greater in the forefts than in thofe 

 parts of the country that had been cleared for cultivation, 

 and from thefe circiimftances the probable caufe is afcer- 

 tained. 



The fouthern fliores of Lake Erie are generally high ; 

 in tnany places they are perpendicular, and various ftrata of 

 ilone are confiderably elevated above the fuiface of the 

 water. The ftreams which difcharge themfelves into the 

 lake over thefe ftrata form a great variety of cafcades of 

 a^ romantic appearance, which increafe the beauty of the 

 country, and muft at fome future period enhance the 

 value of the lands. 



At the lower end of the lake, and for fome diftance up 

 it, thefe ftrata confift of lime-ftone intermixed with flint 

 and marine petrifa£tions, but the other ftrata are generally 

 flate and excellent freeftone. About Frefqu' Ifle there 

 is but little lime-ftone to be feen, it lies in detached 

 pieces, and is likewife interfperfed with flint and marine 

 petrifadlions. 



In a large extent of GOuntry on the weftern fide of the 

 Allegany Mountain, the ftrata of ftone are horizontally 

 difpofed, except in fome places where that pofition has 

 been changed by the undermining of creeks and rivers. 

 In thefe places where the ftrata have been deprived of 

 their fupport, they have falkn from their original pofi- 

 tions, and therefore deviate from the general rule. This 

 law of nature is eftablifhed on the fouth fide of Lake 

 Erie, but how far weft of the mountains the fame ob- 

 tains. 



