88 Geology and Topography of Western New York. 



that extensive uplifts have been produced on the northern slope of 

 the valley of the Mohawk, '^' which have deranged the surface, 

 and destroyed the continuity of strata and rock, and created to the 

 casual observer, where the uplift exists, the greatest apparent con- 

 fusion as to their superposition or order of arrangement." This 

 being the case on the flank of this primitive range, where the sedi- 

 mentary rocks come in contact with it, is conclusive evidence that 

 they were deposited before the uplifts took place, and may there- 

 fore have been spread out, and occupied the whole district. 



Whether this were so or not, there can be no doubt that the 

 rock strata in the western part of New York, have been disinte- 

 grated and removed, from extensive tracts north of their present 

 limits. It would be absurd to suppose they were deposited in 

 such ridges, with steep escarpments, as we now find them. Na- 

 ture does her v/ork less artificially. The outcropping edges of 

 these strata ; the waterworn and somewhat polished surface of 

 the limestone rocks ; the deep valleys which penetrate the shale ; 

 and the precipitous escarpments of the more enduring strata, bear 

 the unequivocal impress of secondary causes. All must admit, 

 that the present surface has been shaped by the process of remo- 

 val, long since that of deposition was completed. 



That these rocks were deposited at the bottom of an ocean, is 

 evinced by their fossil contents ; that they have been elevated from 

 its watery bed, requires no additional evidence other than their 

 present altitude above its permanent level. If we seek for the 

 cause of this gigantic phenomenon, and trace the ascending strata 

 in a direction opposite to their dip, we invariably come to primi- 

 tive rocks, or other proofs, equally unequivocal, of volcanic agency. 



If, then, as is now very generally admitted, these primitive dis- 

 tricts were the original centres of elevation ; if the process was 

 gradual and continued for an indefinite period ; or was intermit- 

 tent, being active at one point while dormant at others ; these 

 vast changes, as well as those of a like character in other parts of 

 the world, may be explained on rational principles. We need 

 no longer be driven to the poor necessity of supposing a train of 

 causes which may never have existed, and which if admitted to 

 have operated, would probably have produced results far different 

 from those usually attributed to them. Why not then lay aside 

 the fashion of attempting to explain such phenomena by invoking 

 the assistance of the Noachian Deluge, or of tremendous inunda- 



