SECOND REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 1905 



39 



Probably the earliest publication on the caves of New York 

 occurs in the Medical Repository of 1804, and describes a cavern 

 in Ulster county, 14 miles southwest of Esopus, which is re- 

 garded by the anonymous writer as "greater in the extent of its 

 dimensions and more remarkable than any other yet explored in 

 this country." It appears that this is only the underground course 

 of a stream entering the Rondout creek and remaining concealed 

 for a distance of about £ mile ; of such phenomena there are many 

 instances over the limestone regions of the entire State. 



The limestone country about Watertown is perforated with cav- 

 erns generally of slight dimensions so far as known, but we have 

 no definite information concerning them. 



Enough has been said, however, to indicate that New York is 

 freely supplied with caverns, both large and small, of which we 

 have practically no knowledge. The problems of their origin, 

 hydrology, and biology all await solution. It is proposed to under- 

 take these if conditions permit, selecting for test of the work the 

 most promising; to make an exact magnetic survey of its course 

 and extent, to study the cause of its origin, its relation to both sur- 

 face and subterranean drainage and to investigate the effects of 

 cave conditions on such organisms as may be found inhabiting it. 



Seismograph. The entire region of eastern and southeastern 

 New York is either a constituent part or lies within the sphere of 

 influence of the Appalachian mountains. The fact is now recog- 

 nized that most, if not all, the earthquakes which in greater or less 

 magnitude are occurring constantly, are due to displacements of 

 rock masses in the readjustment of the crust in regions where it 

 has been put under great strain by upfolding into mountain systems. 

 The Appalachian mountain system is of most ancient date but the 

 rock strata which were turned up in its making have not even yet 

 adjusted themselves to the stress and tension put upon them. On 

 a previous page I have referred to the existence along the Hudson 

 river of faults and displacements in the rock masses so recent in 

 age as to disorder the soil accumulations above them. In other 

 words, these gentle and gradual displacements of crustal masses 

 are going on today. Accompanying them are the earth jars and 

 shocks which are a matter of public attention whenever severe 

 enough. Many of these rock displacements, however, produce 

 tremors which escape ordinary observation. The great northeast- 

 southwest lines of faulting running through eastern New York and 

 causing displacements in some instances of several hundred feet, 

 such as traverse Saratoga and are the probable occasion of the 



