296 GEOLOGT OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 



twelye and more hundred feet, to attain the source of the salines of Onondaga, should the 

 thickness of the intervening masses continue in that direction, of which there is no reason to 

 doubt, from observations along Cayuga lake, and the reappearance of the same rocks in 

 Pennsylvania, if not wholly, yet in greater part. 



No error could be more natural than the one which was made. Salt water existed in the 

 valley, being perceptible at many points. The position of the valley was directly south of the 

 Onondaga saUnes, the slope of the country being also the same, and the source of the salt 

 water not correctly understood, the number and thickness also of the whole of the interposed 

 rocks unknown. 



Nothing can be more laudable than that spirit of enterprise which leads to hke undertak- 

 ings ; but to ensure success, it is requisite that all preliminary knowledge should first be 

 obtained. The failure in the valley of Halfway brook conclusively proves, that had the sur- 

 vey preceded the boring, the latter would not have been made, excepting as a matter of 

 experiment, and with superfluous funds. 



The Catskill group covers the highest grounds on the south side of the Susquehannah, and 

 the high grounds also to the east of the valley of the Chenango, extending over to Delaware 

 county. But Uttle red rock is to be seen, and that chiefly in the northeast part of the coiuity. 

 The group consists principally of greenish and greyish sandstone, and shale ; the sandstone 

 more abundant than in the group below. 



In the county are many excavations in the group, made for coal ; two or three of which 

 are on the farm of Mr. Brunson, near the top of the hill, at the foot of which the Old Ran- 

 dolph road passes from Windsor to Binghamton. The sandstone shows the peculiar diagonal 

 and curved structure common to this rock. The coal which was discovered, were small 

 accumulations, owing to the presence of a few of the flag-Uke leaves so often met with, from 

 the Ithaca group upwards : their material being in the state of coal. 



Another locality of supposed coal is on the road from Harpersville to Binghamton, near 

 Colesville, in a small brook on the farm of Mr. Waters. Numerous similar impressions of 

 plants there occur, converted into coal ; the rock being the same, and the coal in no great 

 amount. 



13. TlOOA CotJNTY. 



This county embraces the tovras of Berkshire, Newark, OwegOj Candor, Tioga, Nichols, 

 Barton and Spencer. Its surface is broken into high ranges of broad hills, and valleys ; 

 some of which, like the Susquehannah, and the east and west Owego creeks, are broad 

 and deep. 



The excavation and removal of rock has been immense in this county, especially near the 

 junction of Cayuta creek with the Chemung and Susquehannah rivers : a broad alluvial plain 

 there exists, extending up the creek beyond Factoryville. The plain shows from three to 

 four distinct terraces of alluvion, the highest rising some sixty or eighty feet above the 



