Science, Geology and Physics 



examining the upper layers of the water lime in Herkimer, the 1838 

 difficulty was solved; specimens were discovered with the striae, anuxem 

 and with carbonate of lime in minute fibres as to thickness, but 

 not in length, clearly proving that the phenomena in question 

 was caused by the crystallization of a saline substance in fibrous 

 crystals at the joints of the rock, analagous to those beautiful 

 productions which all are familiar with, namely, the congelation 

 or crystallization of water in loose and spongy soils. This 

 explanation meets its confirmation in a specimen recently exam- 

 ined, which I brought last year from the Falls of Niagara, in 

 which the striated appearance is finely exhibited, the specimen 

 being exceedingly fresh and unaltered; on the top of the black 

 or carbonaceous coating there are two small groups of fibrous 

 sulphate of magnesia, which the force of crystallization has 

 ejected since being in the cabinet, to the height of a quarter of an 

 inch, and for want of a support the ends coil over, as we find 

 in the black part of the banks of our ditches and other low 

 grounds. 



1839 



Hayes, George E. Remarks on the geology and topography of 1839 

 western New York. (Am. jour, of sci., Jan. 1839. 35:86-105.) "■**• 



Deals with the geological history and formation of western New York. 

 The origin of the cataract and the old gorge are described and the reces- 

 sion of the cataract is discussed. 



1841 



BLACKWELL, E. R. and ALLEN, Z. On the volume of the Niagara 1841 

 river, as deduced from measurements made in 1 84 1 by Mr. E. R. B "—"* „ 

 Blackwell and calculated by Z. Allen. (Am. jour, sci., (Oct.-Dec. 

 1843) 46:67-73.) 



From these calculations it appears, " that the motive power of the cata- 

 ract of Niagara exceeds by nearly forty-fold all the mechanical force 

 of water and steam power, rendered available in Great Britain, for the 

 purpose of imparting motion to the machinery that suffices to perform the 

 manufacturing labors for a large portion of the inhabitants of the world, 

 including also the power applied for transporting the products by steam- 

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