OTHER RESOURCES 133 



Salina formation has a series of heavy salt beds in its 

 lower part that are drawn on mostly by wells in the 

 counties from Onondaga through the Finger Lakes 

 region to the Genesee Valley. In the latter region 

 at Eetzoff, rock salt is mined by means of shafts about 

 1200 feet deep. 'New York has long been a leader in 

 this product, recently outstripping Michigan which 

 formerly stood at the top of the list. 



Close to salt in value is petroleum. It comes from 

 wells that reach the Devonian sandstones in the Olean 

 district. Gas is found in a series of pocket-like areas 

 in the western third of the State. The gas-producing 

 areas have been estimated to have a total area of 550 

 square miles. Gas comes from a variety of forma- 

 tions. As early as 1821 a well was drilled at Fre- 

 donia and the product used for lighting. In 181:1, 

 natural gas was used in the manufacture of salt for 

 evaporating the liquid. These items are of interest 

 since they antedate the general use of this fuel in the 

 states to the west and south that have so far out- 

 stripped Xew York in later years. Another impor- 

 tant product in which New York has been promi- 

 nent, and in which the manufacturing operations 

 have a large place, is cement. In the production of 

 the water-lime or natural cement rock that preceded 

 the use of Portland cement, j^ew York was pre- 

 eminent and has four centers, Rosendale in Ulster 

 County, Akron in Erie County, Fayetteville and Man- 

 lius in Onondaga County, and Howes Cave in Scho- 

 harie County. 



The Portland cement which is usually a more 



