Kemp — Geology of Essex County. 



605 



country is very wild and but slightly opened up. The Hudson passes out <>n 

 the southwest, receiving an important tributary from the Chain lakes. The 

 western border has the same character of moderate elevations and exhibits the 

 topography more typical of Hamilton county in w hich the high peaks disap- 

 pear except as an occasional one breaks the general stretch of moderate 

 elevations. Mount Goodnow, Mount Baldwin, Catlin mountain and Moose 

 mountain, are the chief eminences. Catlin lake, a rather large body of water, 

 is right on the line. This lake and its tributaries drain south into the Hudson, 

 but on the northwest and north, the Cold river, rising in Preston ponds, flows 

 westward into the outlet of Long lake and ultimately into the Raquette river 

 and the St. Lawrence. The northerly town line passes along the south slopes 

 of Mount Seward, and of Wallface mountain, crosses the Indian pass, which 

 is one of the finest gorges in the mountains, and runs over Mount Mclntyre 

 to the northeastern corner. The central part of the town is a comparatively 

 open valley with lakes Andrew, Neweonib, Rich and Harris and across a 

 divide of moderate elevation, lake Sanford, all of which together cover a 

 good part of its area. The change in topography is largely due to the 

 presence of crystalline limestones which have furnished an easy mark for 

 erosion. The highway to Long lake passes along the shores of lake Harris 

 and Rich lake, and in this portion is the village of Newcomb and the only 

 settled part of the township, except as regards summer visitors. 



Geology. Field work in this town is still very incomplete. I have 

 crossed the northeast corner at lake Colden, have visited the iron prospects 

 around lakes Henderson and Sanford, and the outcrops along the Hudson 

 from lake Sanford to Newcomb. I have gone from Newcomb post office to 

 lake Newcomb and coasted around it, and have made another trip to the west 

 boundary of the town on the Long lake road, and again along the highways to 

 Minerva and to North Hudson, but the northwestern and the southwestern 

 portion I have not explored, as they were not accessible in the time at com- 

 mand. Specimens of anorthosite have been received from the hills around 

 the Preston ponds, through the kindness of Mr. Charles A. Macy, 2nd. 



Series I and II. It is not feasible with present knowledge to attempt 

 to differentiate these two, if, indeed, it ever will be. The crystalline limestones 

 are widespread and have beyond question been a prominent factor in bringing 

 about the lake basins in the central part of the town and in determining the 

 river courses. After crossing the Minerva line the outcrops are buried in 

 gravel until one passes the next cross-roads. At No. -49 is an outcrop of white 

 crystalline graphitic limestone that was quarried forty or more years ago for 



