Geological Reports on the State of Neio York. 29 



proved to be the case at several points where experiments have been 

 made. 



"At Williams College, in 1833, the variation was 6° 15' W. 

 1837, " 7° 45' W. 



Showing an annual increase of 22' 30". 



" The results annexed are deduced from observations made upon the 

 pole star at its greatest elongation, and upon the sun at equal altitudes. 



" The first station selected was at Crown Point, about two miles south 

 of the old fortification. As no deposits of iron are known to occur near 

 this point, it was imagined that the need!-e would be nearly free from the 

 influence of local attraction. The variation from the pole star, at its 

 greatest eastern elongation, was found at this place to be 10° 57'. Ma- 

 king the necessary corrections, we shall find the variation of the needle 

 from the meridian to be W. 8° 47'. This reduction supposes the latitude 

 of the station to be 43° 55', which can vary but little from the truth. The 

 next observation was made at Cedar Point, near Port Henry, about six 

 miles N. W. from the former station. Variation at this point, 9° 28'. 

 At Moriah Four Corners, about two miles west, 10° 10'. Proceeding 

 still west, to a small pond, estimated at about six miles fi-om the Corners, 

 on the main road to West Moriah, the variation was found to be 7° 18'. 

 The next observation was made at Weatherhead's inn, in West Moriah : 

 variation, 7° 1'. 



" By comparing these results, it will be perceived that the variation in- 

 creases from Crown Point to Moriah Four Corners, and from thence de- 

 creases to Weatherhead's, estimated at about 13 miles west of the Cor- 

 ners ; so small a number of miles occasioning a deviation of 3° 9'. It 

 will be perceived, also, that at East Moriah (Four Corners) the variation 

 is greater than is due to the general influence of the earth. We should 

 be led, therefore, to infer the existence of some cause of local attraction 

 between Weatherhead's and the Corners, and probably in the vicinity of 

 the latter place, as the variation at Weatherhead's is nearly that which is 

 due to the earth's influence, on that meridian." 



Mr. E. ascended a mountain in West Moriah, nearly as high as 

 Mount Marcy. In the woods on their way, they found the vari- 

 ation to be 8° 16' W. On the top of the mountain, the variation 

 was 9° 33', indicating a disturbing influence in the region still 

 farther west. It is justly observed that 



"The connexion of magnetism with geology, is more intimate than it 

 may appear to be to persons who have not informed themselves of the pro- 

 gress and present state of the sciences. In evidence thereof, it may be 

 stated, that magnetic, and electro-magnetic powers, are active in disposing 

 and arranging the materials composing the crust of the globe ; their ac- 

 tion, however, being more particularly proved in the transfer of metallic 



