348 
[Assembly 
Clarendon centre, continues still south for about two miles, and then 
turning to the east again, passes into the county of Monroe. This ridge, 
or terrace, has a pretty uniform elevation of about 50 feet. 
From Maple ridge southwardly, the country has a very gentle rise 
for about two miles, when we arrive at another distinct, but more mo- 
derate step, which is about 30 feet in height. South of Shelby this 
rise bears the name of Windfall ridge, and in other parts of the county 
is known as Limestone ridge. Its course is east and west, parallel with 
Maple ridge, with which it preserves a distance of about two mileSj and 
can be followed from the western part of the town of Shelby, passing 
by Barre Centre eastward to the transit line. After ascending this ter- 
race we are on the summit of the limestone range, and on the highest 
ground in the county. The country now continues quite level for 
about two miles to the south, and then descends gradually to the Ton- 
newanta marshes, which in this county are only 90 feet above the level 
of the Erie canal. 
With the exception of these two steps, or ridges, as they are called, 
which traverse the county from east to west, the whole of Orleans pre- 
sents a nearly level and uniform surface, unbroken by hills or valleys, 
and in some places north of the ridge road the descent to the lake ap- 
pears hardly sufficient for effectual drainage. 
The only irregularities we noticed are as follows: A little east of Al- 
bion, and almost in sight of the Erie cajial, the surface is broken, and 
composed of sand hills for about a mile or so; this is the most uneven 
spot we met with in the county of Orleans. A short ridge occurs about 
half a mile north of Barre Centre, running east and west; it is about 
two miles in length, and terminates at each end in a swamp. 
Lake Ridge. 
This ridge, upon which passes the ridge road, requires a more par- 
ticular description. It passes through the county of Orleans at a dis- 
tance of from six to eight miles south of Lake Ontario, preserving an 
uniform elevation above the lake, and continuing unbroken and unin- 
terrupted except where cut through by the streams on their way to the 
lake. It is composed of sand, gravel and pebbles. The elevation 
above Lake Ontario, as near as could be determined in Orleans county 
without actual measurement, is over two hundred feet. 
Where the ridge enters the town of Ridgeway from the county of 
Niagara it is eight miles distant from the lake. Its course for about 
