PHYSICAL AND CLIMATIC SETTING 2d 



thiril class city. Kochester and Little Falls are 

 the most notable examples of this effect. 



Agriculturally, the glacial epoch had a profound 

 influence by its effect on the soils and on the lines of 

 travel. Mostly, it improved by producing better soil 

 and by smoothing the grades. A few grades it 

 steepened and gave a certain minor unevenness. 

 Such are the rises out of the deep north-south val- 

 leys and the over-hill roads through the drumlin re- 

 gions. Over the western part of the State, a general 

 mantle of till and rock debris was left and rock ex- 

 posures are infrequent. In the northern and east- 

 ern parts where the rock relief is more bold and where 

 the formations are more resistent, the earth cover- 

 ing is not so general and rock exposures are com- 

 mon and cut the country into irregular areas that are 

 difficult of agricultural development, especially in this 

 latter day when operations may be carried on with 

 large machines. 



DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND LINES OP 

 COMMUNICATION 



New York State is well watered and well served by 

 waterways. It has ocean frontage, an extensive 

 shore line on two of the Great Lakes, many large 

 and small interior lakes and navigable and important 

 rivers, and other channels connecting the best parts 

 of the State with the ports of the world. 



The gatew^ay to the ocean is at New York City 

 where, although the effective shore-line is short, the 

 harbor facilities are remarkably good. The long 



