No. 275.] 
71 
During the next season it is my intention to make the detailed sur- 
veys of Ulster, Delaware, Greene, Schoharie and Schenectady counties. 
This intimation of what counties it is contemplated to examine dur- 
ing the next season, is given at this time, in order that persons owning 
property in those counties and wishinoj examinations made, may give 
notice in due season. Letters, fost paidj addressed to W. W. Mather, 
Geologist of the First District, Albany, and requesting him to examine 
the mineral resources of property in those counties, will be attended to 
in the course of the season. 
In discussing the geology of the counties examined during the past 
year, we will consider first, that of New-York, Westchester and Put- 
nam, and afterwards, that of Rockland and Orange counties. 
The general geological features of these groups of counties, except the 
ranges of mountains called the Highlands, are widely different. Al- 
though I have spent twelve years of my life in the midst of the region 
explored the past season, and although in the habit of spending most of 
my leisure during that time in unravelling its complicated geological 
phenomena, I feel that I have but begun to develop those facts that are 
of high importance, not only in scientific, but in economical geology. 
The general geology is very simple, but w^hen we come to examine par- 
ticular strata, veins and beds of useful minerals, and trace out the con- 
nection of the different localities, it is found to require much time and 
an intimate practical knowledge of the subject. The strata, in many 
places, are transverse to the general direction of the strike of the rocks, in 
consequence of transverse upheaves, of which there are several striking ex- 
amples. Again, faults are numerous, and in many of these the heaves are 
not only vertical but lateral, and sometimes to a distance of 1,000 to 
6,000 feet. These counties present one of the finest fields in our country 
for the investigations of physical geology. A life-time might be well 
spent, and w^th advantage to the community from its economical re- 
sults alone, in developing the geology of the counties explored this sea- 
son. The time for the completion of the survey is so limited, that to 
do equal justice to all the counties, superficial and slight examinations 
only can be made. These, however, have been sufficient to develop a 
vast amount of mineral treasures that were unknown before or not ap- 
preciated. 
