414 GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 



4. The extent of llie rocks has been diminislied by the action of water in different states 

 and circumstances ; the general elfect has been to break up, and afterwards disperse the frag- 

 ments of the rocks. 



5. Tlie boulder region is near the base of the highest liills in the county, and extends south 

 from Watertown towards Mannsville. 



6. The surface at some period (i^robably recent) has been elevated, so as to produce a 

 change in the direction of the rivers. 



7. Tlie minerals, which are confined principally to the north and northeast part of the 

 county, are the same as those of St. Lawrence. 



8. The county is adapted to agriculture ; the soil, exposure and temperature fit it for grain, 

 grass and pasturage. The quantity of soil derived from the underlying rocks is much greater 

 than in St. Lawrence, as both the limestones and shales have assisted in forming the soil of 

 Jefferson countv. 



HAMILTON COUNTY. 



Hamilton county is situated in the central part of that division of New- York which is north 

 of the Mohawk valley. As one of the civil divisions of the State, it is cut off from any of 

 the great natural channels of communication with commercial cities ; it touches nowhere upon 

 any outlet, by whicli its productions can find a market. It has therefore the fewest natural 

 advantages, and is the most insulated county of any in Northern New-York. 



Mountains ; Surface ; Lakes. 



This county is traversed by two ranges of mountains which pass nearly centrally through 

 its territory, and by a third which passes through the southeast corner, touching upon the 

 township of Hope, and extending northeast through Day, Atliol and onwards, and finally ter- 

 minating at or near Crown-Point on Lake Champlain. The second range lies between Hope 

 and Lake-Pleasant : it is the range which is crossed in going from the former to the latter 

 place. It varies from six to ten miles in width ; its elevation, in this county, probably never 

 exceeds four thousand feet ; but in its northern extension through Essex, it forms the highest 

 mountains in the State. It forms the Clinton range, which has been described in the preced- 

 ing pages of this report, and the central and highest part of which composes the Adirondacks. 

 In this county, the liighest land is in township No. 19, and the whole of this range traverses 

 the county southeast of its central part. 



