New York State Museum 



PRELIMmAKY REPORT OF FIELD WORK IN THE TOWN 

 OF MINERVA, ESSEX CO. 



BY GEORGE I. FIXLAY 



The town of Minerva in Essex county covers an area of 

 approximately 175 square miles. The Hudson river is here the 

 principal stream. Its course holds strongly to two directions. 

 It comes into Minerva on a very straight course 15° west of 

 south. At the point where Indian river, which flows along this 

 same direction, joins it, the Hudson turns abruptly and flows in 

 a line 15° south of east to Dutton mountain, where it bends 

 almost at a right angle to resume its former course. This is 

 also the direction taken by the Boreas ri^er, which flows down 

 from the north to join the Hudson river near Dutton mountain. 

 Minerva creek and Trout brook in the southeastern part of the 

 town are strictl}^ parallel with the main course taken by the 

 Hudson, whereas Cedar river, which joins the Hudson from the 

 northwest, Jones brook and the lower part of Trout brook in the 

 southeastern corner of Minerva are all parallel with the middle 

 branch of the Hudson. This direction is nearly that of the 

 grain of the country. The other direction is at right angles 

 to it. 



The surface of Minerva shows very considerable relief. Van- 

 derwhacker mountain in the north reaches an altitude of 3385 

 feet, while Wolf creek at its base drains a swampy area lying 

 at a hight of 1650 feet. Polaris, Beaver, Bad Luck, Casey, 

 Black, Venison, Dutton and Moxham mo-untains are all well 

 above 2000 feet, as are also Hewitt Pond hill and Oliver and 

 Snyder hills. There are about 40 lakes and ponds within the 

 limits of Minerva, situated chiefly at low levels, in the north and 

 west. Olmistedville and Minerva in the southeast are almost the 

 only villages. Probably three fourths of the town is a wilderness. 



The country rock is a gneiss having the composition of gran- 

 ite. With it is associated a larger amount of crystalline lime- 

 stone, accompanying schists and hornblendic rocks, than is usual 

 in other parts of the Adirondack area. Much of northern Minerva 



