9. MADISON TOWNSHIP. F\ 247 



9. Madison toicnship. 



Madison township, like Jackson and Toboyne, reaches 

 across Perry county from Tuscarora to the Bine mountains. 

 It is one of the large townships, measuring about ten miles 

 from north to south by six from east to west, and conse- 

 quently contains nearly 60 square miles. 



Its northern and southern portions are mountainous, but 

 the middle is open and tolerably level, except that it is 

 divided by Chestnut ridge through which, however, several 

 gaps have been cut by Sherman's creek. 



The northern part of this middle portion consists for the 

 most part of a limestone soil, and the land is strong though 

 rather cold in the spring and hard to work. The southern 

 portion lies on the shales of the Clinton and the Onondaga, 

 and is for. the most part a red warm soil. 



Chestnut ridge rising on the eastern line of the township 

 consists of an anticline which brings up the harder beds 

 underlying the red shale. The Ore sandstone and the Iron 

 sandstone form the axis. Both are thin and are conse- 

 quently cut down with ease. Hence the numerous gaps. 



The anticline which brings up Chestnut ridge passes on 

 south westward and culminates in Amber 'son ' s mountain on 

 the county line. 



Another ridge without name extends across the township 

 further north, running from Sandy Ttill southwestward. It 

 consists of the Lower Helderberg limestone No. YI, capped 

 by a synclinal outcrop of the Oriskany sandstone No. VII, 

 which latter is cut down and ends near the west line. 



Conecochear/ue mountain rises north of this last named 

 ridge. It is an anticline of Medina sandstone No. IV, un- 

 divided and even-crested. Steep and rough it forms an 

 effectual barrier between the dwellers on its two flanks in 



