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The geological features of the Hempstead plains disclose a remarkable 

 analogy to those of every part of the Island that I was able to explore. 

 Mr. Harold thus describes the soil: "The level portions of the plain has 

 generally a good soil, the top being from six to eighteen inches of vegeta- 

 ble mould, with a subsoil of loam varying from one to four feet in depth, 

 underlaid in most places by a coarse gravel." The superficial soil is com- 

 bined with a black humus, which must impart to it great fertility. The 

 theory of som(^ intelligent persons is, that this humus may be the deposit 

 from the subsidence of a lake which they suppose covered these plains. I 

 conjecture, however, that it is formed by the decomposition which the mas- 

 sive turf must be constantly undergoing. That streams of water have 

 flowed along these plains is very apparent, but whether they were rivulets 

 of fresh water such as now exist, or inlets of the sea, which at a remote 

 period existed, cannot now be decided. The "dry rivers," as they are 

 called, are peculiar features which prevail extensively on the Island, and 

 are particularly distinct on the open plains. In Hempstead they are com- 

 monly used for the track of roads. They exhibit the meandering course 

 and high banks common to all streams, and have hard bottoms and a thin 

 soil. Common marine shells abound in these "dry rivers." Another 

 striking peculiarity of these plains is the circumstance of streams gushing 

 out on the surface in a full volume from their fountains. These streams 

 are of considerable size, and afford water sufficiently soft for domestic pur- 

 poses. Nearly all the mill-streams of the district are formed by these rivu- 

 lets. Although the plains are not affected generally by dampness, the 

 earth in the vicinity of these head springs is so saturated, without however 

 exhibiting any appearance of a springy or swampy character, that water 

 rapidly collects and remains in excavations dug on the surface. The terri- 

 tory known as the Hempstead plains formerly included a much more extended 

 area than it now embraces. It was owned in common by the original town of 

 Hempstead, and spread nearly from the base of the ridge to the village of 

 Hempstead, and from Brushville, now Queens, to the Bush plains on the east. 

 This town was divided in 1784 by a line running near the track of the Long 

 Island railroad, into North Hempstead and what is now Hempstead. The 

 policy of the two towns in regard to their common lands has been widely 

 different. "While Hempstead, by its popular vote, has persistently refused 

 to sell that part of the common which lies within its boundaries ; North 

 Hempstead at an early day disposed of the portion which belonged to that 

 town. Although such sales were made at very inadequate prices, the bene- 

 fit to the town has been incalculable, by the increase of its cultivated area 

 and the addition to its positive wealth and resources. It is not my pro- 

 vince nor purpose to animadvert upon the course of the town of Hempstead, 

 in respect to this policy, but I may remark, that an impressive practical 

 commentary is presented on the subject in the aspect of fine and productive 

 farms on the North Hempstead side of the plain, contrasted with the wild and 

 uncultivated waste, only occupied by scattered herds of cattle, on the Hemp- 

 stead common. The sale of this vast domain, at a just valuation, might create 

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