Gypsum^ found in the State of Nero York, 139 



tained ; for agricultural purposes, this is thought by 

 many who have tried it, to be superior to the Nova 

 Scotia plaster, and it is generally agreed, that its eft'ect 

 on vegetation is earlier perceptible : — the ground 

 where it is found is very uneven, and broken into ab- 

 rupt hillocks, the timber, fine, thrifty white oak, soil 

 very rich, and the gypsum lies generally so near to 

 the surface, as to be within reach of the pick. Its 

 shistose appearance, the strong marks it bears of hav- 

 ing been once worn by the waters, evince that it is a 

 deposition, — and tends to strengthen the theory ad- 

 vanced by the chevalier De Lamanon, of its formation. 



The piaster is here dug and delivered at the water's 

 edge for three dollars per ton — the water carriage to 

 Ithaca, at the head of the Lake, brings it to four dol- 

 lars ; from thence there is a portage of 30 miles to 

 Owego, on the Susquehannah, to this point it is 

 brought in great quantities, principally during the win- 

 ter season, where it usually sells, at 10 dollars ; — 

 these prices yield a great profit to the owners of the 

 land, and afford a lucrative trade to all engaged in it. 

 From Owego it is brought down the Susquehannah in 

 arks and on rafts, the former generally about 75 feet long, 

 and carrying about 40 tons, and the latter from 10 to 

 12 tons. At VVilkesbarre, Berwick, Sunbury, and other 

 places on the river, it is eagerly bought up at 15 and 

 16 dollars per ton. At all these places, owing to its 

 comparative cheapness and excellent quality, it has en- 

 tirely superseded the use of imported plaster. 



Another bed has been lately found at the outlet of 

 the Seneca Lake ; it was purchased in the fall of 181 1 

 by Mr. Thomas Grant, of Sunbury, and opened the 



