324 Geology of Lewis County. [June, 



The limestone lands betray their extent by the improved culti- 

 vation of the farms, and the air of comfort and often of opulence 

 around the dwellings of the inhabitants. 



Every village in the county is underlaid by limestone, and 

 probably four-tifths of the surplus products are derived from its 

 soil. 



As we ascend from the limestone to the slate, the change is 

 slight until ^ve approach the Loraine shales, which furnish a soil 

 somewhat inferior to the Utica slate, and when we arrive at the 

 gray sandstone, enterprise is checked, and but little encourage- 

 ment exists for the expenditure of time and labor. 



It would be possible to make out a tolerably accurate geological 

 map, without once seeing the rock, from the agricultural aspect of 

 a country. 



Having enumerated and described the rocks of Lewis county, 

 it remains but to notice the drift formation, recent deposites, and 

 mineral springs. 



Reference has been made, when speaking of the Trenton lime- 

 stone, of the lateral valleys that come down obliquely into the 

 main valley of Black river. 



The first of these on the south, is south of Martinsburgh village, 

 where the upper terrace of limerock crossing the State road makes 

 a turn towards the west, and returning passes around just south of 

 the village, forming the hill on which it is situated. 



This valley and its western margin are deeply covered with 

 drift, and a multitude of large boulders occur; more particularly 

 on its eastern side. A similar excavation in the rock, and filled 

 in like manner, occurs between the north town line and a point 

 half way to the village. Lowville village is situated in a wide 

 and irregular valley formed by the complete removal of the 

 Trenton rock. 



One mile south of Denmark village is another remarkable val- 

 ley, formed in like manner, with a multitude of drift hills around 

 itj while cast of it the birdseye is covered for a long distance by 

 a wide and deep deposite, constituting a low range of hills par- 

 allel with the river. Along the base of the range of highlands 

 composed of slate, drift hills are of constant occurrence, particu- 

 larly in Turin. 



Along the base of the first terrace of limestone near the river 

 there is observed a succession of drift deposites occurring with 

 considerable regularity, and constituting as it were buttresses, 

 resting against the terrace. The primitive region every where 

 abounds with drift deposites, particularly in the neighborhood of 

 the High falls, and in the south eastern corner of the county. 

 These hills are often of considerable height, but no continuous 

 range of them was observed. They continue south to the valley 



