No. 161.] 
175 
It will be proper here to remark, that salt water was found in 
connexion with the whole of the strata.* 
The gypsum found in association with rock salt is generally an- 
hydrous, or contains no water in its composition. That which 
occurs near our salines is of the common kind, containing a due 
proportion of water of crystallization. We examined specimens 
from three different layers which occurred in the well at Monte- 
zuma, one of which under the blow pipe presented the phenomena 
of the anhydrous variety. The importance of determining a posi- 
tive connexion between the gypseous strata and those containing 
the saline springs, would consist in establishing an analogy between 
our salt district and others in Europe, and consequently in increa- 
sing the probability of the existence of fossil salt in mass. Should 
this association not be established, or should we not be able to dis- 
cover salt in a solid state, New-York will not be the only instance; 
as in several salines in Europe no beds of rock salt have been dis- 
covered, neither has it yet been found in Virginia or Ohio. Salt 
springs occur in several of our western counties, at a distance from 
the known deposiies of gypsum, and appear to rise immediately 
from the surface of the I'ed sandstone. In company with Governor 
Marcy, whose polite attention merits our sincerest thanks, we vi- 
sited a brine spring near the head of Little Sodus Bay, on the farm 
of Mr. Switzer. It has been slightly protected from the influx of 
fresh water, and is the most strongly impregnated with salt of any 
natural well we have tasted. Mr. Switzer has sunk a hollow log 
in the site of the spring and erected a pump, which enables him at 
any time to make the amount of salt required for the use of his fami- 
ly. He supposes about 70 gallons are requisite to make half a bush- 
el of salt. The well is said to be elevated between 30 and 40 feet 
above the level of Lake Ontario, and is about one mile distant from 
the head of Little Sodus Bay. A brine spring equal in volume and 
strength to that at Salina, would in this most eligible site be of im- 
mense value, where there is a superabundance of wood, and naviga- 
ble waters communicating with Lake Ontario; but we fear there is 
* The foregoing section of the salt well at Montezuma is the result of my investiga- 
tions, made some years since, at which time I procured characteristic specimens of each 
individual stratum throughout its whole extent. For the thickness of each, I must cheer- 
fully acknowledge my obligations to Asher Tyler, Esq. a gentleman at that time a resident 
of the place. 
Yours, &c. 
JAMES EIGHTS. 
To T. A. Conrad, Esq. \ 
State Geologist, 3d District. J 
