1GG 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



paratively narrow bands. The Salina, Lockport, Clinton, and 

 Utica formations are all of considerable extent. Both of these 

 streams are practically without forests, although slight exception 

 to this statement may be noted on the extreme headwaters of the 

 Genesee river in Pennsylvania, where there is still a small area of 

 partially cut forest. 



It is an interesting circumstance that the geologic formations 

 in which the Genesee and Oswego rivers lie all have a slope to the 

 south or southwest of from 10 to 30 feet per mile. The main 

 trend of the Genesee river is south and north, while the two main 

 branches of Oswego river — Seneca and Oneida — lie east and west. 

 The Mohawk also flows from west to east. On this basis the 

 Portage, Hamilton, Onondaga, Oriskany, Helderberg, and Salina 

 groups lie mostly south of the Seneca and Oneida rivers, while a 

 portion of the Salina, Niagara, Clinton and Medina groups lie 

 mostly to the north. It is interesting, therefore, to speculate as 

 to whether it is possible that considerable water escapes through 

 these formations, finally appearing far to the south, but in the 

 lack of any certain evidence this must be considered as merely a 

 speculation. 



It may be also noted that for tributaries of the Mohawk river 

 lying to the north, the stratified formations — Utica shales, Tren- 

 ton group, Calciferous sand rock, etc. — slope toward the stream, 

 and hence may be expected, if there is anything in this view, to 

 deliver more water than that merely due to the rainfall of the 

 catchment as measured on the surface. 



On the Upper Mohawk there is some evidence that this is true. 

 The limestones here are open, and at several places streams on the 

 surface sink, 1o reappear, in one case at any rate, with greatly 

 increased volume several miles farther down. This condition is 

 specially marked on the headwaters of the main Mohawk a few 

 miles south of Boonville. Again, at Howe's Cave, in Schoharie 

 count}", there is a large stream of water flowing in the cave which, 

 so far as known, does not appear anywhere on the surface. 



The Muskingum river may be mentioned. This stream lies in 

 the unglaciated region in southeastern Ohio, mostly in the horizon 



