256 GEOLOGY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 



the magnetic iron ore of Gifford and Congdon in the town of Salisbury, noticed in the report of 

 1840, and by Dr. Beck. There is another which Mr. Johnson, long a resident at Brown's 

 tract, said he had discovered, but the locality kept to himself : all the information given, was 

 that it was aboiit twelve miles north of the fourth lake ; that the vein was two feet wide, and 

 shows itself for thirty rods. 



The most interesting feature of the wilderness region is its chain of lakes, placed so nearly 

 upon a level that but little labor from man is required to connect those of three counties 

 together. The lakes of Herkimer and Hamilton are arranged upon a line which is parallel 

 with the St. Lawrence river and Ontario lake, and with the Ohio, &c. ; appearing not to be a 

 coincident merely, but the result of a law whose operations were in their direction, and on 

 several parallels. These lakes, were a communication opened from east to west, would be 

 much resorted to. The beauty of their waters, their elevation, and the wild scenery which 

 surrounds them, would not fail to attract visitors. The country will remain for some time 

 unsettled, in consequence of the rich lands which encircle the whole of the Primary region 

 not being fully occupied, and of the facilities given to westward travelling, where land is 

 as cheap and far more productive. A great and good result will take place, when the 

 forests of all that region are removed, and the soil opened to the sun. The mean temperature 

 will then be increased, and frost will be less common in the season of vegetation. 



Throughout the whole of the Primary region, there was little to interest in the geology of 

 its rocks, they being chiefly aggregates of quartz, feldspar and a little mica, and sometimes 

 hornblende. Its surface features were of far more interest, but of Uttle bearing upon the 

 object of this report. 



Between the Mohawk river and the Primary region, the surface of that part of the county 

 is covered mainly by the Utica slate, the Trenton limestone and the Frankfort slate ; the 

 second rock covering the greatest extent of surface, and the last named one the least ; the 

 calciferous and the birdseye are but in small amount. 



The Trenton limestone is the first surface mass which extends from the Primary region 

 south, covering the tovim of Russia and northern part of Norway, showing the birdseye below 

 it, not far from Ives' tavern near Black creek. The surface of the Trenton limestone is, in 

 many parts, thickly covered with alluvion. At Ives' the limestone rises and forms a hill 

 which appears to extend towards the head waters of Spruce creek, but the connection was 

 not followed up. On Spruce creek, not far below the parallel of the village of Norway, the 

 calciferous appears neaf the creek, upon which is the birdseye ; the Trenton limestone form- 

 ing a part of the valley, rising into the side-hill, and covered by the Utica slate, the latter 

 extending thence continuously over a large area. 



The Trenton limestone continues south along West-Canada creek, from Russia ; rising into 

 the side-hill, where the lower rocks appear from under it and cover the valley ; being readily 

 traced where not covered by soil or alluvion, until finally lost towards the mouth of the creek, 

 where the waters and Utica slate come together. The rock is exposed in Multona creek, on 

 the road to Fairfield from Middleville ; a quarry of the birdseye having been opened at the 



