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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Genesee river. This river issues from the highlands of the Alle- 

 gheny plateau in Potter county, Pennsylvania, a few miles south 

 of the New York State boundary. Entering Allegany county, it 

 first runs northwesterly for upward of 30 miles to near the village 

 of Caneadea, at which point it turns northeasterly, this direction 

 being generally maintained to the mouth. It flows entirely across 

 the county of Allegany and then for several miles forms the 

 boundary between Livingston and Wyoming counties, after which 

 it crosses the northeast part of Livingston into Monroe county, 

 through which it continues to its mouth at Charlotte. Above 

 Portage its course from the State line is chiefly through an alluvial 

 valley. 



From Portage to Mount Morris the river flows through a deep 

 and in some places narrow canyon for a distance of over 20 miles. 

 The Portage falls, with a total descent including the intervening 

 rapids of about 330 feet, are at the head of this canyon. The 

 Upper Portage falls have a descent, including the rapids, of about 

 70 feet. Half a mile below are the Middle falls, with a descent of 

 110 feet; while 2 miles below begin the Lower falls, consisting 

 of a series of rapids about half a mile long with an aggregate 

 fall of 150 feet. These three falls may be taken as aggregating 

 about 270 feet, exclusive of the rapids. At present no power 

 developments exist. Formerly a sawmill was located at the Mid- 

 dle falls, but on account of the extinction of the lumber business 

 on the stream it has not been operated for many years. 



At Mount Morris, Genesee river issues into a broad, level, allu- 

 vial valley from 1 to 2 miles wide, which continues to near Roch- 

 ester, w here there is a descent of 262 feet in about 3 miles. The 

 Upper falls at Rochester, 90 feet in hight, are a cataract in the 

 Niagara limestone, while at the Lower falls, 91 feet in hight, the 

 Medina sandstone appears. The foregoing figures do not include 

 the dams above the falls. 



The principal tributaries of the Genesee river are Canaseraga, 

 Boneoye and Conesus creeks from the east, and Oatka, Black and 

 Wiscoy creeks from the west. Honeoye, Canadice and Hemlock 

 lakes are tributary to the Honeoye creek, and Conesus hike to 



