376 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



peaks of which rise to an altitude of over 5,000 feet. The second water centre includes 

 Catskill mountains, where the highest points rise to an altitude of over 4,000 feet. 

 The third is the elevated region in Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Steuben counties, 

 where the highest points are at an elevation of about 3,500 feet. This may be 

 designated as Allegany centre. The Adirondack water centre is separated from 

 Catskill by the valley of Mohawk River, which receives drainage from both — West 

 and East Canada creeks and other tributaries of Mohawk on the north side of the 

 valley rising in Adirondack centre, while Schoharie Creek on the south side is an 

 important tributary from Catskill centre. 



In addition to Mohawk River other important streams of the State issuing from 

 Adirondack centre are Black, Oswegatchie, Grass, Raquette, St. Regis, Chateaugay, 

 Great Chazy, Saranac, Au Sable, Bouquet and Hudson Rivers. 



From Catskill centre, in addition to Schoharie Creek, we find issuing the head- 

 waters of Susquehanna, Delaware and Wallkill Rivers and Esopus Creek. 



The Allegany centre supplies the headwaters of Cattaraugus Creek, 

 Genesee, Chemung, Canisteo, Tioga, west branch of the Susquehanna and Allegany 

 Rivers. 



There are three other secondary water centres in the State, but for present 

 purposes Adirondack, Catskill and Allegany centres may be considered the 

 more important. 



The Adirondack centre is a rugged region, consisting of primeval granitic rocks, 

 interspersed with sand areas. Here appeared the first dry land on the Western 

 Continent and thus was laid, in earliest geological time, the basis of those fine river 

 systems which, issuing from this water centre, have created water powers of untold 

 value to the citizens of New York. From the very beginning nature had foreordained 

 the State of New York as the seat of future empire. 



The geological history of Catskill and Allegany water centres is quite different. 

 In both these regions the sedimentary sandstone rocks of Catskill and Chemung groups 

 have attained their greatest development. In Catskill mountains these rocks are still 

 almost absolutely horizontal, as originally deposited, and in places several thousand 

 feet in thickness. Limestones and other hard rocks, underlaid by shales and soft 

 formations, are found beneath the sandstones on lower stratigraphical horizons. This 

 circumstance has determined, in the process of erosion, the great falls and rapids of 

 Niagara River amounting to nearly 220 feet; the six falls and the intervening rapids 

 of Genesee River at Portage and Rochester of about 750 feet; the high falls of Big 

 Salmon River of 110 feet; Trenton Falls on West Canada Creek of 500 feet; 

 Beardsley Falls and Cascades of East Canada Creek; the little and great falls of 

 Mohawk; the falls of Oswego; Bakers Falls and Glens Falls of Hudson together with 



