No. 275. f 
167 
peat is underlaid by shell marl. Several islands are scattered within 
this tract; they are all limestone land of the best quality, and afford 
many facilities for burning lime, particularly on account of the abun- 
dance of wood in the marshes which surround them. The drainage of this 
marsh has long been an object of great interest, not only to the proprie- 
tors, but to others in the vicinity. Many years since, a large sum was 
expended for this purpose, in cutting down the bed of the river at the 
outlet, four miles west of Goshen. This trial partially reclaimed many 
acres at the shores. The proprietors are now employed in making a 
new channel for the stream, or at least for the surplus water, near two 
miles in length; the Water now flows in this new channel, and is gra- 
dually wearing it broader and deeper. Ey this channel, it is proposed 
and expected to render available nearly 30 feet fall. This amount is 
deemed sufficient to lay the whole tract dry. 
If this effort to drain succeeds, and there appears no good reason to 
doubt it, 20,000 acres of the richest land will be reclaimed, and the 
surrounding country made healthy. 
The Otter kill rises near Thompson's pond; runs through Goshen 
and Hamptonburgh northeasterly, and falls into Murderer's creek, near 
Washingtonville. Graycourt creek rises from Little Long pond in 
Monroe, runs through Blooming-Grove, receives the Otter kill, takes 
the name of Murderer's creek, and falls into the Hudson, near Cornwall 
landing. 
The Ramapo river has its origin from the Two ponds in Monroe. 
The Long pond gives rise to part of this river. Its waters run easterly 
until they enter the Highlands, near Greenwood furnace. The other 
branch of the Ramapo issues from Mount Easha's pond, winds around 
and between the mountains, passing Southfield furnace, unites with the 
other branch at Monroe works; the stream thence pursues a southerly 
course into Rockland county. 
Numerous small streams intersect the county in all directions. A 
stream called Fallbrook discharges its waters into the Neversink in the 
town of Deerpark. About a quarter of a mile before it meets the Ne- 
versink, it falls over the face of the mountain, forming a beautiful cas- 
cade; the whole fall, within the first mile, is said to have been ascer- 
tained by Col. Clinton, and found to be 600 feet. About 200 feet of 
this fall is almost perpendicular. 
Our natural ponds or lakes are numerous, and some of them of con- 
siderable dimensions. Thompson's pond, in Warwick, rovers nearly 
