246 Remarks on the Geology of Western New York. 
It is also from this slate or shale that carburetted hydrogen gas is 
evolved, at the numerous places denominated “burning springs.” 
But a single instance has come to my knowledge of this gas issuing 
from any of the inferior strata. At Gasport, six miles east of Lock- 
port, and of course below the limestone strata, gas is said to rise 
from the bed of the canal; from which circumstance the place 
doubtless takes its name. Ihave not examined the place in par- 
ticular reference to this subject; but from the descent of the canal 
at Lockport, and the relative thickness of the limestone formation 
at vay I have no doubt it issues from the shale immediately 
beneath, which at the falls is partially bituminous. I am aware that 
Prof. Eaton has cited the burning springs in the vicinity of Canan- 
daigua as issuing from “ beneath the saliferous rock.” Now from a 
long residence in that village I am quite sure that the saliferous rock 
no where comes in view near that place. The village itself is un- 
derlaid by limestone, which, I have good reason to believe, passes 
under the superincumbent shale, about half a mile southwest of the 
principal street. The nearest place where the gas issues is in the 
town of Bristol, about eight miles in the same direction. The shale 
is there in sight, and constitutes nearly the whole range of hills which 
extend from there, southerly, to the high grounds in Allegany county. 
Thin seams of coal have been found at no great distance from the 
spot where the gas issues. Large quantities of gas are also dis- 
charged ten miles south of Canandaigua, near Rushville. There it 
was conveyed by logs into one of the farm houses, and was used, 
not only for the purpose of procuring light, but for culinary purposes, 
and likewise to warm the apartments; no other fuel being used 
when I visited the place during severe winter weather. It was also 
used to boil down the sap of the sugar maple in the manufacture of 
sugar ; but some accidents occurring, it was discontinued. I have 
traced the same formation from this place, likewise, to the high 
grounds in Steuben county, where one of the head branches of the 
Susquehanna takes its rise. At Fredonia, where gas is collected in 
sufficient quantity to light the whole- village, it issues directly from 
bituminous shale ; at which place the saliferous rock must be seve- 
ral hundred feet below the surface. The same gas at Niagara Falls 
on the Canandaigua shore, comes from this shale, or from the upper 
layers of the cherty limestone ; the seams of which are there filled 
with a black, bituminous matter, which can be removed in scales 
from the thickness of a knife blade to one fourth of an inch. 
= ‘ - 4 — mieten 
