198 
[Assembly 
Sthly. To the want of elevation in the New-York rocks, as was 
remarked by Mr. R. C. Taylor, in his survey of the region of Bloss- 
burg, having levelled the whole distance between that place and the 
Chemung feeder. Mr. Taylor' found that the dip or inclination of 
the layers of the rocks, was constantly to the south, there being no 
anticlinal line, other than the slightly elevated one which has given 
rise to the division of the northern and southern waters. This 
dipping of the rocks to the south, though it diminishes the geogra- 
phical height of the coal series, correspondingly increases their 
thickness. The position, however, of the coal, is of considerable 
elevation, Blossburg being seated on the dividing line of the waters 
of the west branch of the Susquehannah and the Tioga rivers. 
The coal beds of Towanda, we did not visit; no doubt they are on 
the same great elevation with those of Blossburg. The coal at 
Whites, though not on head waters, yet occurs on a very high 
ridge, which separates the Allegany from its tributary, the Co- 
newango, they uniting at Warren, about eleven miles below. 
Since this article was written, I have had the pleasure and satis- 
faction of seeing Mr. Taylor's admirable drawings of the Bloss- 
burg coal measures and underlying series, showing the connection 
of the latter with the rocks of Steuben county. These drawings 
fully confirm the superior geological elevation, which the bitumi- 
nous coal of Pennsylvania holds relatively to the New-York rocks. 
Of the Metallic Minerah met with in the Fourth District, 
As in other countries, so in the fourth district, iron is the most 
abundant metallic mineral. It is found in the state of red oxide, 
of a hydrate, called brown oxide, in combination with sulphur, as 
iron pyrites, and as a carbonate. 
The red oxide forms the coloring matter of the red sandstone 
and shale, always occurring in these rocks, and accompanying them 
in many localities. We did not visit a great number, nor make 
any particular examination, confining our attention merely to its 
existence, and the position it holds in the rocks. 
The hydrate, or bog ore, owes its colour to water, of which it 
generally contains about twelve per cent. When heated the wa- 
ter disappears, leaving the ore of a red colour. This ore is of the 
most recent kind, forming, under our eyes, by the decomposition 
of pyrites, and in almost all low grounds where water and vege- 
table matter exist. The decomposition of vegetable matter in the 
