Mr. Pierce on the Calskill Mountains. 97 



of similar appearance is situated near the Platterkill ravine. 

 Numerous small precipices are presented on the mountain's 

 eastern face, some of them of great altitude ; ihose of a south- 

 ern promontory bordering on the town of Woodstock, are par- 

 ticularly striking; they rise tier above tier in amphitheatric 

 order from the base to the suttimit of the mountain, in quick 

 succession and great regularity. Upon the summit of each 

 natural terrace is a narrow plain on which the soil accumu- 

 lates. Many of the ledges of this promontory are in a crum- 

 bling state from embracing saline minerals. In some of the 

 higher rocks, wide strata had mouldered away, leaving tab- 

 ular masses of firm gray wacke slate, projecting twelve 

 and in some places twenty feet. It is probable that this 

 mountain is uncommonly rich in materials for the manufac- 

 ture of alum and copperas. 



From the above mentioned promontory which is situated 

 about ten miles south of the Kauterskill clove, the Catskill 

 mountains tend to the south west and sweep vi^ith diminish- 

 ed height to the Delaware. About four miles to the west of 

 the village of Woodstock, a spur of considerable elevation 

 strikes off to the south east, leaving a rich and extensive in- 

 terval of semi-circular form. At the angle of intersection of 

 these ranges, the Bristol glass works are situated. Window 

 glass is the principal article manufactured, and four miles 

 north east of this establishment in an elevated and secluded 

 mountain valley, another manufactory of glass has been 

 erected. Sand for these manufactories is procured from Phil-* 

 adelphia and the sea coast, and the other materials from 

 a distance. The advantage resulting from the cheapness 

 of wood and soil, will not compensate for the enhanced ex- 

 pence incurred in transporting the ingredients of glass, and 

 the bricks, stone lime and clay, for the furnaces and cruci- 

 bles, and many of the necessaries of life, sixteen or twenty 

 miles over mountain roads. 



A small hamlet of about thirty houses has been erected 

 adjacent to the upper or mountain glass house, on ground 

 favorable for gardens and meadows. North of this village, 

 an elevated, wood clad and steep mountain, ranges to the 

 westward ; its wildly irregular waving summits are several 

 miles in view. 



Vol. Vr....No. I. 13 



