350 
[Assembly 
As before mentioned, the country north of the ridge declines towards 
the lake, with an uniform and gentle slope, and we noticed that this 
northern slope is regular and undisturbed in places where the summit of 
the ridge is broken and uneven. Generally, too, w^e see the southern 
slope of the ridge quite distinct, although it is not so regular as the 
other. 
The ridge road passes through Orleans county on the summit of the 
lake ridge, which is level on the top, and of just the proper width and 
shape for drainage. At Oak Orchard the road leaves the ridge for about 
two miles, and also at Otter creek and Sandy creek for a shorter dis- 
tance, where the ridge forms a bend to the south. 
Lake Shore, 
The shore of Lake Ontario forms nearly an uniform straight line from 
east to west, and presents a bank of moderate height, in general protect- 
ed by a beach. The bank in Yates, immediately north of the Centre, 
is about ten feet in height, and consists of sand and clay, resting on red 
sandstone, which is here exposed for some distance. There is also a 
narrow beach. 
At the mouth of Oak Orchard creek, the bank is eight to ten feet high, 
and composed of earth, clay, and sand. No rock is visible, although 
one mile west, layers of sandstone are exposed on the shore, and have 
been wrought for the works at Torry's harbor. Operations are now in 
progress for the formation of this harbor at the mouth of Oak Orchard 
creek, by authority of the general government. Two piers are to be 
constructed, which will be 1,200 feet in length, and when the bar is 
removed, the creek will be navigable to Stillwater, a distance of five 
miles. 
During the summers of 1836 and 1837, the lake encroached on the 
land. On the east side of the creek, three or four rods were removed, 
together with a fine beach oi two or three rods in width, so that at pre- 
sent the waves dash against and undermine the bank, which is constantly 
falling into the lake. In the course of the last summer, (1837,) the 
bank, for a limited extent, and to the width of 30 feet, has been swept 
away by the waters of the lake. 
At Torry's harbor, we noticed several small mounds, considered to be 
of Indian origin, and similar ones are said to be numerous in the town 
of Shelby, a short distance south of the canal. 
