320 Geology of Lewis County. [June, 



into one, forming a commanding bluff", with a steep descent. The 

 average breadth of surface occupied by this rock is about two 

 miles, being wider at its northern extremity, and becoming an 

 important rock in Jefferson county. 



Along its western margin, the Utica slate, the next rock in the 

 ascending order, appears; covering the limerock for a distance of 

 about half a mile in width, with a thin deposit of slate, and forni- 

 ing the slope oT the range of hills that extends through the coun- 

 ty, nearly parallel with the river, and which is known in this sec- 

 tion as Tug hill. This range of highlands, commencing in Jef- 

 ferson county, gradually rises as we proceed south, attaining its 

 greatest height (about five hundred feet) in Turin, and passes 

 into Oneida county, it being in the same range as the hills north 

 of Rome, and the Deerfield hills near Utica. 



From the softness of the rocks of which it is composed, this 

 hill has not that abruptness which characterizes the limestone ter- 

 races in the county; and its surface is uniformly covered deeply 

 with a soil derived from the decomposition of the slate. 



The only exposures of the rock occur along the beds of streams 

 which have worn deep chasms in the hill-side; and so easily is 

 the slate acted upon by the water, that the most insignificant rills 

 have worn deep ravines in the rock. 



Some of these ravines are noted for the magnificence of their 

 scenery, which is unsurpassed by that of more noted places of re- 

 sort, which lie nearer the great lines of travel; and the day will 

 come, when the wild scenery of Lewis county will become an 

 object of interest, and attract the attention of the lovers of Na- 

 ture's works. 



The falls on Deer river have been already referred to. Two 

 other localities will be mentioned, which are worthy of particular 

 notice, in the town of Martinsburgh — " Whetstone gulf," and 

 " Chimney point." The former of these forms the channel of 

 Whetstone creek, and is about three miles in length, the last mile 

 being the only part of special interest. 



The stream has here worn its way through the rock, to the 

 depth of about two hundred feet, leaving the sides nearly perpen- 

 dicular; and as the visitor winds his way along the tortuous ra- 

 vine, every turn presents a new prospect, and every step a new 

 object of interest. As he advances up the stream, the cliffs ap- 

 proach nearer each other, until at length they can be reached on 

 each side by the outstretched arras, and the torrent is forced into 

 a deep and narrow channel; while far above him rise in towering 

 grandeur, the threatening cliffs, with a thick growth of evergreens 

 upon their summit, casting their gloomy shadows down the fright- 

 ful abyss. Into these dark recesses the sun never shines, and snow 

 and ice are found until late in summer. 



