l8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



discussion. The most complete continuous section of the 'formation 

 is here shown, which according to Prosser and Cumings has a 

 measured thickness of 270 feet with neither top nor bottom ex- 

 posed. The work of the writer to the west and northwest of 

 Trenton Falls shows that the upper coarse crystalline beds are 

 nowhere much over 35 feet thick and that the Utica shale rests 

 directly upon these beds. Hence the uppermost beds of the Trenton 

 Falls section must be within a few feet of the actual top of the 

 Trenton. 



The bottom of the Trenton is also not shown at Trenton Falls^ 

 although the dip of the strata and the presence of Beekmantow^n 

 and Lowville limestone a few miles to the southeast make it appear 

 very probable that the lowest beds at Trenton Falls must be close 

 to the bottom. Allowing for the necessary addition to the top and 

 the bottom, the thickness of the complete section at Trenton Falls 

 is at least 280 feet and probably not more than 300 feet. In the 

 section of the Globe Woolen Mills well at Utica the Trenton shows 

 a thickness of 510 feet, while in the Rome well "the thickness is 

 given as 375 feet. Thus the Trenton shows a greater thickness 

 both to the southward and the southwest ward. 



Because of the importance of the Trenton Falls section a some- 

 what detailed description is here given, although many more details 

 may be found in the writings of Vanuxem,^ Darton,^ T. G. White,* 

 Prosser and Cumings,* and Clarke.^ 



For 2 1 miles between the villages of Prospect and Trenton Falls,, 

 West Canada creek has cut a deep narrow gorge through the Trenton 

 limestone. This gorge, with nearly vertical walls, varies in depth 

 from 100 to about 200 feet and is commonly known as "Trenton 

 chasm." In all there are six waterfalls varying in hight from a 

 few feet to 128 feet. The principal falls are: Sherman fall, about 

 30 feet high and a short distance above the power house; High 

 falls (J mile south of the railroad bridge) consisting of an upper 

 and a lower part with a total fall of 128 feet; the falls at the dam 

 (just north of the railroad bridge) about 40 feet high ; and Prospect 

 falls (at the upper end of the gorge) 25 or 30 feet high. According 

 to the topographic map the total drop of the stream within the 2 J 

 miles is about 360 feet. At the time of high water especially, the 

 falls present magnificent sights. In spite of the steep slope of the 



1 Vanuxem, L. Gcol. N. Y. 3d Dist. 1842. p. 45-56. 



2 Darton, N. H. N. Y. State Geol. 13th An. Rep't. 1804. 1:616-2^. 



3 White, T. G. N. Y. Acad. Sci. Trans. 1895-96. 15:71-96. 



* Prosser & Cumings. N. Y. State Geo]. 15th An. Rep't. 1898. 1:615-27. 

 « Clarke, J. M. U. S. N. Y. Hdbk 15. 1899. p. 64-67. 



