316 [Assembly 
Tiace, which was erected for the purpose of working the argillaceous 
iron ore of the vicinity. 
Marshes and Swamps. 
The Cayuga marshes occupy a part of the town of Savannah, sur- 
rounding both sides of Crusoe island, and extend beyond Crusoe lake 
into the south part of Butler. These marshes contain a deposit of 
calcareous marl apparently equal in extent to that of the marshes. The 
Erie canal is cut through them for several miles, and penetrates the 
marl to the depth of five or six feet. This contains fresh water shells. 
The Cayuga marshes are gradually being filled up, so that part of 
them are occasionally reclaimed, and put under cultivation. The im- 
portance of reclaiming the extensive surface occupied by these marshes 
has long been understood, and measures were early adopted to effect 
this object. In 1825 the Legislature appropriated $80,000 for the 
drainage of the marshes, which was attempted by lowering the bed 
of the Seneca river in the vicinity of Jack's rift. The river makes a 
bend at this point, forming a peninsula, and a new channel was cut 
across the neck of this, by which the bed of the river was lowered some 
two or three feet, and the level of the Cayuga marshes reduced, as we 
are informed, about one foot. The success was only partial, and not 
so great as had been anticipated. 
In the same year, 1825, a company was authorized by the Legisla- 
ture to drain Crusoe lake " by cutting one or more ditches or canals 
from said lake to Wolcott creek;" and in 1837, some new or addition- 
al powers were given to the same company, whose object appears to 
have been, to obtain enlarged water power upon the creek which passes 
through Wolcott village. We believe that nothing has been effected 
by this company. The route or course of their canal, is the same that 
we have referred to in the preceding remarks under the head of Valleys j 
and is the only one that we consider can be adopted with success for 
the effectual reclamation of the Cayuga marshes. 
A cranberry swamp was noticed at the head of Port Bay, about three 
miles in length and one and a half in breadth; its shakes, is movable, 
and at times an acre or more has become detached and floated into the 
water. Cranberries grow on some parts of it; also rushes and grass. 
Hay has been made upon it occasionally. 
Soil. 
South of the ridge the soil consists of a sandy loam, lightest, as the 
farmers say, on the west side of hills, and strongest and best on the 
