336 
[Assembly 
Salt Springs. 
There are several salt springs in the county, from which salt has for- 
merly been made, but they have been abandoned since the facilities of 
transportation have increased; and salt is now obtained much cheaper 
from Salina than it can be made from these springs. None of them ap- 
pear to have been penetrated to a great depth, and in their present state 
are so much diluted with frtsh water, that in many of them the saline 
taste is barely perceptible. Owing to this circumstance, and to the im- 
possibility of obtaining accurate local information, no estimate can be 
formed of their value. All these springs appear to have their origin in 
the indurated marl of the sandstone formation. Whether the decompo- 
sition of this marl affords muriate of soda, I am not prepared to de- 
cide; but we know that this mineral does result from the decomposition 
of the shales above the sandstone. The shale along the Genesee below 
Rochester produces muriate of soda and sulphate of magnesia. 
The water from these springs is of variable purity, in some cases more 
than half the solid matter obtained by evaporation being of other salts 
than muriate of soda. In some places the water has increased in strength 
as the depth has increased, but accurate examinations have not been 
made of sufficient extent to warrant the conclusion that this is always 
the case. 
The first salt spring which I observed is in the town of Penfield, on 
the land of Mr. Greig. Salt was formerly made at this place, though 
the supply of w^ater appears to have been very limited. At present the 
spring is full, but very little escapes; the surface immediately about the 
spring is destitute of vegetation, and covered with an efflorescence of 
muriate of soda. Near the head of Irondequoit bay is another spring, 
from which salt has been made. On the bank of Salmon creek, in 
Clarkson, two miles north of Ladd's corners, are three springs in the 
immediate vicinity of each other. At this place the sandstone or indu- 
rated marl approaches the surface. Six miles north of this place, salt 
springs occur on the land of Mr. Baxter. Salt was made at both these 
places fifteen years since. Salt springs are of frequent occurrence along 
almost all the creeks or small streams, and salt licks are found in many 
places. 
The situation of the salt springs in Monroe county, is unfavorable to 
large accumulations of water, and this may be the reason why they have 
not been more productive. Those which I have observed are along the 
margin of small streams, and the salt water as it comes to the surface is 
carried off by the fresh water, or becomes too much diluted. 
