on and near the Erie Canal. 237 



^en,) had appeared in the canal. On the 18th of May, 1826, 

 in company with twenty-one Rensselaer students, (whom I 

 took through the canal from Albany to Lake Erie, on a ge- 

 ological tour,) I tested this gas. I found it to resemble that 

 of Vernon; but approached nearer to the character of the 

 light carburetted hydrogen gas. A large proportion of the 

 flame towards the base is blue. The quantity which issues 

 through the basin at one place exceeds a gallon in a minute; 

 but we did not make sufficient trials for perfect accuracy. 

 From a consideration of the surrounding district, we believe 

 the saliferous rock to be between twenty and thirty feet be- 

 low the basin. 



The building of a village had commenced here, without a 

 name. I proposed to the students to offer a name. They 

 did so, and it was readily accepted by the proprietors. On 

 our return we found the bridge and public houses labelled, 

 Gasport. It is now the established name. 



Another locality of this gas is described by Dr. Hays of 

 Canandaigua, in the New- York Medical and Philosophical 

 Journal, as being of the same character, within six miles of 

 that village. Its geological relations appear to be similar to 

 those described. 



It will be recollected that this gas issues from the salife- 

 rous rock, or from a stratum which overlies it, in all the ca- 

 ses described. On the Eastern Continent, the largest coal 

 measures lie under the saliferous rock, which is sometimes 

 six hundred feet thick, and generally gives off the same gas. 

 These facts should induce the legislature of the state of New- 

 York to cause extensive boring to be made at proper inter- 

 vals from Vernon to the Niagara river at Lewiston. 



4. Carbonic Acid Gas. 



This gas is so common and so well known that it is unne- 

 cessary to mention it, in reference to its ordinary appearan- 

 ces. That it is heavier than atmospheric air, and sinks down 

 into, and remains in dry wells, and dry caverns, is well 

 known. But the immense quantities issuing from the earth 

 in combination with water in Saratoga county, require par- 

 ticular investigation. Not being prepared with facts for do- 

 ing justice to this subject, I will state a few geological obser- 

 vations connected with it. 



The small quantity which is found in combination with 

 the waters of Mr. CuUock's well in Albany, and the immense 



