AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 145 



stratv;m of salt water. The rain water in the soil percolates directly 

 downward, and accumulates in the earth and underlies the surface at 

 variable depths as is proved by the level of the different wells. In making 

 excavations on reaching this level further progress in the downward direc- 

 tion is prevented by quicksand, which is nothing but the material of which 

 the island is composed, partially floated by the water in which it lies. 



Baislev's Pond is a natural excavation into this bed of water some ten 

 miles back of Brookljm. When my friend Mr .T. W. Fields suggested the 

 plan of providing water for Brooklyn by sinking wells and pumping by 

 steam, the project was looked upon in certain quarters as little better than 

 lunacy, but the excavation now made a mile or two back of Brooklyn, has 

 confirmed in a remarkable manner the practicability of his suggestion. In 

 fact the surface of Baisley's pond has been already reached at a point 

 almost in the suburbs of the city, and it has become necessary to pump out 

 and conduct away from the excavation more water than Brooklyn requires 

 in order to carry on the works, and there is no doubt that by making the 

 excavation deeper, any quantity of water could be obtained. 



In clearing Baisley's pond of muck, some very interesting scientific 

 matter comes to light concerning the origin of peat, and probably also 

 that of coal. The peat has been formed of a floating sod or turf resting 

 on the surface of the water and going to the bottom at certain periods — 

 the fibre of wood, lignine being specifically heavier than water, and float- 

 ing in this fluid only by virtue of the air mechanically contained in its 

 structure. Immersed in water the woody matter seems to undergo a 

 partial combustion, like that of wood in a charcoal pit, consuming the 

 hydro carburets and leaving the cai'bon in a comparatively isolated form. 



There is a range of fresh water ponds in the north-western edge of 

 Delaware county, in this State, where the red sandstone formation of the 

 Catskill mountains merges into the Chemung group, in which the same 

 process of making a lake into a swamp is now going on. A kind of sedge 

 growing on the surface of the water forms a floating sod which extends 

 from the shore out over the surface of the pool. This floating meadow 

 will bear the weight of a man almost to the margin, though he sinks at 

 every step, and near the edge is obliged to make his way by means of two 

 pieces of board, alternately standing on one and moving the other. A 

 small shrub takes root in the floating sod a few rods back from the open 

 water and still further towards what was originally the shore. This is 

 succeeded by trees. Through this " fly " as it is called, a pole may be 

 readily thrust down into the water beneath, and one can hardly venture on 

 it anywhere without reflections on his probable fate if he were to break 

 through. There are very good reasons for believing that the forests which 

 formed the coal beds, grew where they are deposited, and I will venture 

 to suggest the theory that they grew like the trees I have described, rooted 

 in a floating mass on the surface of fresh water ponds, and that when the 

 superincumbent vegetation became sufiiciently heavy, it sunk so far as to 



[Am, iNsr.] 10 



