GAS SPRINGS. 129 



of several acres of ground adjoining the chief spring. The underlying rocks are fields or 

 patches of ferriferous rock, resting on the saliferous rock. The gas burns with a flame of a 

 reddish white colour, and blue at the base."* 



Ontario County. Carburetted hydrogen is evolved in considerable abundance in various 

 parts of this county. The most noted locality is in the town of Bristol, about nine miles west- 

 southwest from Canandaigua, where it issues in a ravine on the west side of the valley of 

 Mud creek. 



Dr. Hayes, from the experiments which he made upon this gas, arrived at the conclusion 

 that it consists principally of the light and heavy carburetted hydrogen ; and that it contains 

 carbonic acid, but no sulphuretted hydrogen. Mixed with a small proportion of olefiant gas 

 obtained from alcohol, and inflamed in a proper burner, it forms a brilliant gas light.t 



At Cheshire, five miles east of the preceding, there are several places from which jets of 

 this gas issue from clefts in the rock. It is observed, however, in mucli the largest quantities, 

 according to Mr. Hall, in Manchester on the east side of Canandaigua lake, its occurrence 

 being manifested for a considerable distance along the same range. The earth around the 

 openings where the gas issues is of a dark colour, owing to the copperas which is fonned by 

 the decomposition of iron pyrites. J 



In Yates County, a mile or a mile and a half from Rushville, in the town of Middlesex, 

 Dr. Hayes, in the paper already quoted, states, that on the southeastern side of a valley called 

 Federal Hollow, there are numerous jets of this gas. " In a field near the northeastern extre- 

 mity of this tract, and at an elevation of forty or fifty feet from the bottom of the valley, seve- 

 ral hillocks may be seen of a few inches in height, and from two or three to ten or twelve feet 

 in diameter. They consist of black mould, and are destitute of vegetation ; from these gas 

 is.sues, and on digging into the earth beneath, may be obtained in considerable streams. These 

 hillocks have appeared successively, within a period of seven or eight years, although the 

 ground has been cleared much longer. The first indication of their formation is the disap- 

 pearance of vegetation at a particular point ; this is enlarged, the mould accumulates and the 

 hillock is gradually formed. In very cold weather, the gas is said to issue from the tops of 

 hollow cylinders of ice, sometimes two or three feet in height, forming when lighted in a still 

 evening, a beautiful illumination." 



In Monroe County, in the town of Riga, inflammable gas rises from a spring, in sufficient 

 quantities to supply a constant flame from a half inch tube. 



Niagara County. In the towii of Royalton, six and a half miles east of Lockport, carbu- 

 retted hydrogen issues through the water of a basin on the south side of the Erie canal. This 

 is said by Prof. Eaton not to have been observed until the water was let into the canal. Upon 

 testing this gas, it was found to resemble that at Vcruon, but it approached nearer to the cha- 

 racter of ligiit carburetted liydrogen. A large proportion of the flame is bhie. Tlie quantity 



* American Journal of Science, XV. 23G. 



■f Account of the Infliutimable Springs of Ojitario County, by Dr. P. Hayes. Neui-York Medical ami Physical Journal. III. 49. 



X New- York Geological Reports, 1839. 



Part I. 17- 



