Observations on the south side of Ontdrio Valley. 215 
At the head springs of the 18 mile creek, it is shown to be 
otherwise. From 3 of these indents, the west branch of. the 
18 mile creek is formed as sketched below. 
Into the westernmost one a stream of water runs from 
the table. land above, and here is no bad miniature of the 
Niagara Falls, except that the solid lime rock, projecting far 
over the underlay of brittle slate, leaves more space behind 
the sheet of water. The middle one is the most remarkable. 
Tt cuts farther back beyond the general line of ending, and 
rest the Tonawanta creek—has no 
falling into the south end of it, but is to be seen as a ihe val- 
leys were “* E’er moving spirit bade the waters flow.” 
The junction of these three streams was found to be more 
than 200 feet below the level of Lake Erie, cut down through 
the several strata of lime, slate, gray and red ree all 
exposed to view in the precipitous sides of the 
From these observations I have bee led to dns: that 
the cataract of Niagara first be t th a 
indent, which reaches south to cahie= 70 or 80 chains of 
where the falls now are. This length of 70 chains, forms 
or basin into which the water is shot from the great 
pitch, and is much deeper than the falls are high. The head 
or south end of. this chasm was probably once not as much 
below Erie level asthe 18 mile — one = the rocky bot- 
tom over which the water now runs fro this basin, being 
on the same level = the 18 mile seat 
Tis eapecseate to which the cataract pours, 
somes over 240 feet icep, and the surface of the oles 
all the way from the cascade to to the north edge 
sei p 
€ approach, ) 
ing of solid granite. 
* West branch of the 18 mile creek. 
