BROOME COUNTY. 295 



canal also, are found. These fossils belong to the Hamilton group, and unless they have 

 a high range, which I am disposed to beheve, would bring the Hamilton and the Chemung 

 groups together in two or more localities. They are anomalies, which further observations 

 are required to explain or remove. For were the fact as above supposed, then this conse- 

 quence would follow, that the whole of the rocks of these counties present a series of curves 

 or undulations, in some of which one or more of the different masses from the Hamilton to 

 the Catskill group existed, and in others were wanting ; these instances, like the quarries at 

 Port Crane, &c. belonging to an undulation where the Portage or Ithaca groups were ex- 

 tremely thin, bringing the Chemung and the Hamilton groups within a few rods vertically of 

 each other, far above the mass which contains the fossils of the Hamilton group, the well 

 known Graphic fucoid appears. 



A fact of some interest, and which shows the importance of a knowledge of the structure 

 of the earth before commencing expensive undertakings, is the salt-boring which was made 

 in this county. In that part of the county generally known by the name of the Triangle, in 

 the town of Barker, about five miles north of Chenango forks, a boring for salt water was 

 made, which is every way worthy of record, as showing the importance of geological know- 

 ledge in hke enterprises. In the valley of Halfway brook, water showing a perceptible saline 

 taste had been discovered in many points along the line of the brook for seven or eight miles. 

 The place chosen for boring, was an old deer-lick, which had been an Indian camping ground 

 of some note, and where salt in small quantities had been made by them. 



The boring was first commenced in 1827, and continued at intervals until 1838, when it 

 was suspended for want of funds, the amount expended being about five thousand dollars ; 

 and the depth attained was about four hundred feet, all which, with the exception of the first 

 twenty-nine feet, was in the rock, consisting of hard and soft dark olive and bluish shale, 

 with alternations of sandstone. A journal was kept of the different kinds of hard and soft 

 rock which were penetrated, and of their thickness, and the strength and quantity of water, 

 which increased in both respects with the depth of the boring, but not to that degree which 

 would make it an object of importance. A small quantity of salt was made, which was very 

 white, and appeared to be of good quahty. A portion was handed to Dr. Beck for examina- 

 tion. Had the water been stronger, and abundant, it would be a matter of some importance 

 for that country, where wood is cheap, and a ready market existed south for salt. 



The boring was conunenced, upon the supposition that the salt water of the springs or 

 marsh was furnished by the same source which supplies the Onondaga salines ; and to obtain 

 a like supply, all that was required, was to obtain the same geographical level ; not aware of 

 the dip of the rocks, their number and thickness, and that the boring must extend to the gyp- 

 seous mass in order to obtain success, bebg wholly independent of geographical level. 



It is very certain, that had correct information of the rocks of the county been possessed, 

 the boring would not have been undertaken, unless superabundant means existed, and as an 

 object of experiment merely. The boring in all probability commences near the bottom of the 

 Chemung group, and does not go through the Ithaca group ; requiring from a thousand to 



