148 GEOLOGY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 



The occurrence of coal in very small quantities is a very common character of the lower 

 ahales. Along the whole line of its outcrop, every few miles present an excavation which 

 was made in these shales, in hope of discovering coal. The dark color, and the actual pre- 

 sence of this fossil product, were considered sure signs of its existence in body. The failure 

 to discover coal has been no small disappointment ; so great would have been the immediate 

 gain to individuds and the pubUc, placed in so accessible a position as it would be for home 

 use and commerce. 



The first favorable point to the east of the district, for the examination of the lower shales, 

 is at Cherry- Valley, on both sides of the valley. At the ashery just below the village, it rises 

 upon a surface of limestone, showing a series of irregular but parallel beds of very impure 

 limestone, their surface on both sides presenting rounded elevations and depressions ; each 

 bed separated by friable slaty shale, containing iron pyrites, and numerous arborescent 

 fucoids, with smooth surfaces, and about six inches in length, apparently of one species. 

 Above these thin layers, there is a mass of about five feet thick of the same kind of lime- 

 stone, upon which are the upper shales, rising to the height, as may be seen up the brook, of 

 one hundred feet. 



The creek on the opposite side of the valley exposes a greater mass of the rock, and fossil 

 shells are more numerous than at the ashery. There is there a less quantity of limestone, 

 and greater tendency to show itself in the form of septaria. The upper thick mass forms the 

 low falls of the brook. 



The road west over the limestone range through Springfield, and the road across the same 

 to Cooperstown, show at a Utile distance low hills, the base of which is of the lower mass : 

 several attempts for coal were there made. 



The hills which range on both sides of Bridgewater flatts, resting upon the corniferous 

 limestone, are composed of these shales. On the land of Paley B. Babcock, there is an exca- 

 vation for coal ; portions of the shale being highly glazed, with here and there an accumula- 

 tion of coal, rarely exceeding a few inches in length and a quarter of an inch in thickness, 

 and an inch or so in width. In the slate is the Slender orthocera, a modiola, etc. This 

 excavation is near the beautiful Elm, which for a great distance attracts the eye by its height 

 and graceful form. 



Further south, about a mile and a half distant, another attempt for coal was made, at a 

 higher level, on the land of Peter Crandel, but with no more success. A portion of the shale, 

 from its color, was supposed to be plaster. It was ground for such, and spread, and with 

 benefit as was said. No doubt a Uke result would have been observed, had any other shale 

 rock been used. 



Near Waterville is the digging made by the Messrs. Bacon, and noticed by Mr. Conrad. 

 It is by the side of the road to Cassville, and by the side of a brook up which for some dis- 

 tance the Marcellus shales appear. They have a tendency to massiveness ; in parts con- 

 torted, and glazed with coaly matter, showing specks or particles of coal in the joints or 

 cracks in the rock, the parts where it is usually seen in this rock. 



