88 Geology and Topography of Western New York. 
that extensive uplifts have been produced on the northern slope of 
the valley of the Mohawk, “which have deranged the surface, 
and destroyed the continuity of strata and rock, and created to the 
casual observer, where the uplift exists, the greatest apparent con- 
fusion as to their superposition or order of arrangement.” This 
being the case on the flank of this primitive range, where the sedi- 
mentary rocks come in contact with it, is conclusive evidence that 
they were deposited before the uplifts took place, and may there- 
fore have been spread out, and occupied the whole district. 
» Whether this were so or not, there can be no doubt that the 
rock strata in the western part of New York, have been disinte- 
grated and removed, from extensive tracts north of their present. 
limits. It would be absurd to suppose -they were deposited in 
such ridges, with steep escarpments, as we now find them. Na- 
ture does her work less artificially. The outcropping edges of 
these strata; the waterworn and somewhat polished surface of 
the limestone rocks; the deep valleys which penetrate the shale}; 
and the precipitous escarprnents of the more enduring strata, bear 
the unequivocal impress of secondary causes. All must admit, 
that the present surface has been shaped by the process of remo- 
val, long since that of deposition was completed. 
That these rocks were deposited at the bottom of an ocean, is” 
evinced by their fossil contents ; that they have been elevated from 
its watery bed, requires no sabdiadiaad evidence other. than their 
present altitude above its permanent level. If we seek for the 
cause of this gigantie phenomenon, and trace the ascending strata 
in a direction opposite to their dip, we invariably come to primi- 
tive rocks, or other proofs, equally unequivocal, of voleanic agency. 
If, then, as is now very generally admitted, these primitive dis- 
tricts were the original centres of elevation ; if the process was 
gradual and continued for an indefinite period ; or was intermit= 
tent, being active at one point while dormant at others; these 
vast changes, as well as those of a like character in other parts of 
the world, may be explained on rational principles. We ne 
no longer be driven to the poor necessity of supposing a train of 
causes which may never have existed, and which if admitted_,to 
have operated, would probably have produced results far different 
from those usually attributed to them. Why not then lay aside 
the fashion of tad to explain such phenomena by ne 
the Noachian Deluge, or of : 
the assistance of 
* 
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7 Sy eS eee = Salt 
