120 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



which borders on New Jersey. Many peat deposits are found in 

 the Adirondacks, and, as exploration is carried on farther, the 

 recorded number will be much greater. The depth of the Adiron- 

 dack swamps is likely to be greater than that of most of the swamps 

 in the central and western portions of the State, though the few 

 visited by the author are not very deep. 



Bibliography 



Beck, Lewis C. Mineralogy of New York. 1842. 



Hall, James. Geology of New York: Report on Fourth District. 1843. 

 Mather, W. W. Geology of New York : Report on First District. 1843. 

 Parsons, A. L. Peat, its Formation, Uses and Occurrence in New York. 



N. Y. State Geol. 23d An. Rep't. 1904. 

 Ries, H. Uses of Peat and its Occurrence in New York. N. Y. State Geol. 



2-ist An. Rep'f. 1903. 



PETROLEUM 



The oil-bearing territory of New York embraces the northeastern 

 part of the Appalachian field and is limited to the counties of 

 Cattaraugus, Allegany and Steuben. The first well was drilled in 

 Cattaraugus county in 1865. The Allegany county field was not 

 developed till some 15 years later. In 1902 there was a total of 

 8443 producing wells in the State. ^ The productive strata are fine 

 grained sandstones, locally called black sands, belonging to the 

 Chemung formation of the Upper Devonic. The oil varies from 

 amber to black in color. 



The Cattaraugus county oil wells are located on an extension of 

 the Bradford district which lies mostly in Pennsylvania. The pro- 

 ductive area within New York State comprises about 40 square 

 miles, the g: eater part being in Olean, Allegany and Carrollton 

 townships. The pools occur at several horizons from 600 to 1800 

 feet below the surface. Some of the more notable ones are the 

 Ricebrook, Chipmunk, Allegany and Flatstone. Though very pro- 

 lific when first opened, the daily yield now averages less than one 

 barrel per well. 



The oil field of Allegany county extends across the southern town- 

 ships of Clarksville, Genesee, Wirt, Bolivar, Alma, Scio and An- 

 dover. It is divided into several pools, which have been considered 

 to be more or less independent. The Bolivar, Richburg and Wirt 

 pools were first opened and have been the most productive. The 

 oil sand is found at depths varying from 1400 to 1800 feet. The 

 Andover pool, discovered in 1889, lies partly in the town of West 

 Union, Steuben co. The wells are from 850 to 1000 feet deep. 



^ Bureau of the Census, Mines and Quarries. 1902. 



