44 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The industry in connection with the production and sale of 

 spring waters has attained to large proportions and promises to 

 show continued growth. The quantity marketed at present may 

 be estimated at fully^ 8,000,000 gallons a year with a value of 

 about $1,000,000. Approximately one half of the total value is 

 represented by sales of mineral waters from Saratoga co. The 

 figures given are estimates based on a partial canvass of the in- 

 dustry. A more accurate statement of the production is im- 

 practicable owing to the many changes that take place in the 

 industry each year. The commercial utilization of many springs 

 is transitory and others are employed only locally for supplying 

 hotels, sanatoriums, etc. It is believed, however, that the esti- 

 mate is close to the actual production. 



NATURAL GAS 



The production of natural gas for lighting and heating pur- 

 poses has been carried on in New York since the first part of 

 the preceding century.. It is recorded that the village of Fre- 

 donia, Chautauqua co., was illuminated by gas supplied from 

 local wells as early as 1825, an event attracting widespread in- 

 terest at the time and no doubt a precursor of the extensive 

 exploitation of the natural gas fields in other sections of the 

 country. Following this development came the discoveries of the 

 pools in Cattaraugus county which began about 1865, and later 

 those in Allegany county, a result of explorations conducted for 

 petroleum. Within the last 20 years there has been a great ex- 

 pansion in the industry and gas wells are now scattered over 

 most of the western part of the State, including 15 counties which 

 are active producers. 



Geological occurrence. The range of the productive gas pools 

 geologically may be said to extend from the base of the Paleozoic 

 sedimentary formations, the Potsdam sandstone, to the Chemung 

 and Portage formations of the Devonic which are near the top 

 of the Paleozoic series as represented in New York. Certain 

 formations, however, are more prolific than others, and the wells 

 in each field, as a rule, derive their main supply from a definite 

 horizon. 



Though small amounts of gas have been found in sandstones 

 correlated with the Potsdam, the lowest beds which are the 

 source of any considerable flow are the limestones of Trenton 

 age. The wells of Oswego and Onondaga counties now supply- 



