FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 
Of the Geological Survey of the Fourth District of 
the State of New- York, by Lardner Vanuxem. 
This District comprises the counties of Otsego, Chenango, 
Broome, Tioga, Chemung, Cortland, Tompkins, Seneca, Yates, 
Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauque, Erie and Niagara. 
In conformity with the letters and instruction otherwise receiv- 
ed from your Excellency, no attempt at a detailed survey was 
commenced the past season, confining myself merely to that kind 
of reconnoisance best calculated to obtain such general geological 
> information, as would enable me knowingly and satisfactorily to en- 
ter upon the detailed surve} the coming season ; a knowledge highly 
important for a survey of the magnitude contemplated, the import- 
ance of which, from the means furnished; the judicious distribu- 
tion of its several parts; the facilities afforded by the horizontal 
position of a large portion of the rocks; the great extent and num- 
ber of the valleys which intersect them; the abundance of fossils 
and the well marked order of the succession of the fossils, form a 
combination of circumstances so favourable, as to be without pa- 
rallel; and should its execution be commensurate with the spirit in 
which it was conceived, cannot but place New-York in a position 
as enviable for scientific distinction, as she stands pre-eminent for 
boldness of conception, and for the promptness with which she 
executed her truly noble public works. 
In consequence of the inexpediency of commencing the detailed 
survey the past season, from want of concert of views with those 
who had the charge of the other districts, and from other circum- 
stances of importance, no annual reports, embracing objects of 
immediate utility as was contemplated, could be expected; for a 
a district comprising 15 counties, containing 11,594 square miles, 
could not from a travel of less than three months, that being the 
