13 



power as well as a lack of uniformity in its supply. It is a well known 

 tad that the clearing of forests diminishes to a like degree the supply 

 of water in streams of all sizes. The forests must be saved or steam 



must eventually take the place of water power, and railroads the place 

 of river navigation, while agriculture must correspondingly suffer 

 from lack of frequent and uniform rains. * 



III. VALLEY FORMATIONS. 



A. It is remarkable that nearly all the valleys of the counties of 

 Onondaga and Madison extend north and south, the only marked 

 exception being the basin of Oneida Lake, which has its axis at right 

 angles with this usual direction. Skaneateles Lake, Otisco, Onondaga, 

 and Ca/.enovia lakes, the Tully lakes, and others have their greatest 

 length from north to south, and all are situated in a basin of far greater 

 area than that now covered by their waters. The streams of both 

 counties for the most part occupy deep broad valleys that extend in the 

 same direction as the lake basins. Any one crossing the counties from 

 east to west through their central portion would alternately cross 

 valleys and ridges of greater or less extent, and for a long distance the 

 view would be unobstructed to one looking north or south, up or down 

 the various valleys. Thus a marked uniformity is prevalent, naturally 

 suggesting uniformity of cause in their formation. This uniformity 

 however, is not confined to these counties. 



B. Throughout the central and western portions of the State of 

 New York the north and south axial direction for lakes and water- 

 courses prevails to so great an extent as to be almost a geographical 

 law. Of lake basins west, Hemlock, Conesus, Honeoye, Canandaigua, 

 Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, and Owasco all conform to the law, while east 

 are Schuyler's and Otsego lakes with lakes George and Champlain. Of 

 river basins the Genesee, Oswego, Black, Tioughnioga, Chenango, 

 Otselic, L'nadilla, Schoharie, and Hudson rivers, with innumerable 

 smaller streams all extend nearly north and south. Some streams like 

 the Mohawk and Seneca rivers present an axial direction at right angles 

 with the usual one as is also true of a few of the smaller lakes. 

 Looking beyond our own state it will be observed that the greater 

 number of the rivers of Xew England, Ohio and other states north of 

 40° X. Latitude conform to the same law as the rivers of Xew York. 

 Lakes Huron and Michigan have their longest axis extending north and 

 south while Superior, Erie, and Ontario extend east and west. 



AVhat means this marked uniformity? Similar geological forma- 

 tions generally indicate similarity in the causes and forces producing 

 them, and often contemporaneity of formation. It is only acting in 

 accordance with the old law that "Like causes produce like effects," 

 which, if applicable anywhere must apply to the formation of so many 

 parallel valleys. 



C. There is every reason to believe that most or all of the lakes of 

 Xew York formerly stood at a much higher level than at present. In 

 "Sketches of Creation," Chap. XXII, Wmchell has given the evidence 

 supporting the theory of the former higher level of the great lakes. 

 There seems as clear evidence of a similar, though less extensive, 

 elevation of the lakes of smaller size. 



The evidence briefly summed up is as follows: 



(a) The rainfall was formerly greater, consequently the quantity of 

 water in the streams contributing to the supply of these lakes was much 

 larger than at present. 



(6) The low land bordering on the shores of the lakes gives evidence 

 in lacustrine deposits, fresh water shells, and general appearance of the 

 former presence of fresh water. 



(c) The topography of the land in the immediate vicinity of the 



