38 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



indicates, has a definite historic association. It is the place where 

 Captain John Stark established a little redoubt and effectually 

 obstructed the movements of General Burgoyne during the battle 

 of Saratoga. Its scientific interest, however, is quite as great, 

 perhaps greater, than its historic. It has been described at length 

 in the reports of the Geological Survey as a volcano or volcanic 

 plug and as such is the only geological phenomenon of this kind 

 known to occur in the State of New York. The question as to the 

 origin of this plug, the stage at which the lavas penetrated the 

 rock and the relation of the mass to all the surrounding geological 

 terrane, has been much investigated and much discussed. There 

 appears now to be very excellent reason, quite acceptable to those 

 who have studied the phenomenon most closely, for assuming that 

 this volcanic plug is not autochthonic, that is to say, is not now in the 

 place where it originally appeared, but that in the great earth move- 

 ments occurring in eastern New York during the time of the 

 Taconic revolution, this volcanic mass was carried over on the 

 crest of an earth wave from its original situs, possibly as far to 

 the east as from the Connecticut valley in Vermont. This fact is 

 not at the present time fully demonstrable but, as intimated, it 

 seems a reasonable explanation to those who have studied the 

 occurrence most closely. There are thus two elements of interest 

 in this small and somewhat obscure topographic feature, of interest 

 so extraordinary and unusual as to demand that some degree of 

 public consideration be given to the preservation of this spot. 

 Unfortunately some years ago the volcanic rock, which is a diabase, 

 was thought to be available for highway construction, and the knoll 

 or knob was leased for the purposes of producing road metal. The 

 rock has decomposed so badly, however, that it has never well 

 served any such purpose. 



The writer has made an earnest effort to bring this spot under 

 protection and control and there is a hope, perhaps not too remote, 

 that the place may eventually become the property of the State 

 under the custodianship of the State Museum. If this can be 

 effected it will be a partial realization of a general public appeal 

 made some years ago by the Director of the Museum for the 

 preservation of objects of unique or noteworthy natural interest.' 

 This appeal met with many warm responses, but could be supported 

 only by the activities of local societies or interested individuals, as 

 no State money was available. 



