On a Rocking Stone in Durham, JV'. Hampshire. 243 



materials for the spontaneous manufacture of salt. I say 

 the floor, because I have ascertained that all the salt-springs 

 along the canal route, from Lenox to Montezuma, are sup- 

 ported on the same continuous rock. 



It has long been a prevaiUng theory, that a vast mine of 

 salt exists in the vicinity of these springs, which is continu- 

 ally dissolving, and thus yields the supply of salt water. 

 Much time and money have been spent without success, in 

 boring to great depths with the expectation of discovering 

 this mass of rock salt. But if such rocks as that of Nine- 

 mile Creek, be found of sufficient extent, the origin of the 

 salt waters of the west will find a more satisfactory solution. 

 And there may be many kinds of rock, besides the water 

 limestone, which contain the elementary constituents of 

 common salt. I am, respectfully, 



Yours, he. 



AMOS EATON. 



Troy, March 1, 1823. 



REMARK. 



The observation made by Mr. Eaton is very interesting; 

 but (if we understand him correctly,) the water-limestone 

 forms the roo/" of the salt-springs, or, at least, is so situated, 

 that the water can percolate this stratum, by the natural ef- 

 fect of gravity. We can have no doubt, that this is Mr. 

 Eaton's meaning, although there is some ambiguity in his 

 language. Editor. 



Art. IV. — On a Rocking Stone in Durham, JVeio-Hamp- 

 shire. By. Jacob B. Moore. 



Concord, X. H. Oct. 22, 1823. 



to professor SILLIMAN. 



Sir — Having noticed in the last number of the "Ameri- 

 can Journal of Science" an account of a Rocking Stone in 

 Putnam county, New-York, in which mention is also made 

 of the rock at Durham in this State, — I take the liberty to 

 enclose you a description of that rock, which you may rely 

 upon as accurate. 



