Remarks on the Geology of Western JVew York, 247 



To me these facts seem conclusive evidence that the gas originates 

 above the saHferous sandstone. Otherwise, it should find its exit 

 through the sandstone itself, near the shore of Lake Ontario, where 

 the least possible resistance would be opposed to its escape. Is it 

 not far more philosophical to conclude, that this gas is formed in 

 these strata, where we know the elements requisite for its composi- 

 tion exist, than to suppose it comes from coal beds deep seated in 

 the bowels of the earth, the bare existence of which is altogether 

 hypothetical ? 



In passing south, towards tho coal beds in Pennsylvania, the higher 

 strata are brought into view. They gradually become more arena- 

 ceouSj and the limestone entirely disappears. In Steuben and the 

 other counties in that range, to Lake Erie^ the principal surface rock 

 is a close, fine grained sandstone, or graywacke, frequently contain- 

 ing encrinites, and some other marine fossils. I have not, myself, 

 had the pleasure of examining the bituminous coal beds in Pennsyl- 

 vania, but we are informed by Dr. Hildreth, in his admirable treatise 

 on the coal deposits of the valley of the Ohio, that at their most 

 northerly limit, they crop out on the northerly slope of the high 

 grounds in which some of the head branches of the Allegany, the 

 Susquehanna, and the Genesee rivers take their rise, at which place 

 the coal strata dip towards the south, or in the direction of the 

 streams that fall into the Ohio River. It would seem, therefore, 

 that these coal beds overlay, and rest conformably upon this shale and 

 sandstone, which, as 1 before remarked, seems to form an interme- 

 diate hnk between the transition rocks, and those which properly 

 belong to the coal formation. 



If, as is taught by Bakewell, all rocks which underlay the regular 

 coal formation, are older than the secondary, the transition character 

 of this region does not admit of doubt ; unless, indeed, it should be 

 contended, that the immense deposits of coal in the Ohio valley do 

 not belong to the true coal formation. To doubt this, after reading 

 the luminous account of Dr. Hildreth, before adverted to, would be 

 to doubt the fundamental principles of the science itself. 



