334 
[Assembly 
posed, cannot be effectual. A more feasible one would be to confine 
the water flowing from the two lakes to a channel of sufficient width, by 
walling or embankments, and to conduct all minor streams through 
the marshes in the same manner, or by ditches cut for the purpose, 
where several could be joined in one. Ditches should also be con- 
structed along the margin of the marshes, so that all water rising from 
springs in the upland or other sources, could be conducted into them, 
the whole communicating with an outlet at a lower level than the sur- 
face of the marsh. By this means there w-ould be no more water on 
the surface than that produced by rain or snow; and the present water 
on the marsh, with any surplus which might arise afterwards, could be 
removed by several windmills, working pumps placed in different parts 
of the mafsh. This plan would doubtless be an effectual one for drain- 
ing many marshes w^hich are now entirely waste, and is possibly worthy 
the attention of those who wish to deepen the outlet, and thus effect 
a lowering of the lakes by several feet. 
In the north part of Ontario county, along the range of the saliferous 
group are extensive deposits of marl, but none of them that I am aw^are 
have been much examined. South of the village of Bethel, along the 
valley of Flint creek, there is an extensive deposit of lake marl, ex- 
tending for several miles in length, and from half a mile to one mile 
wide. The whole area is now a cedar swamp, and the fall in the stream 
so gradual, that there is no means of drainage except by an embank- 
ment along the stream, and ditches cut through the swamp; which would 
be amply repaid by the reclamation of a valuable tract of land, and an 
inexhaustible supply of material for lime; besides improving the health- 
fulness of the situation. 
South of Naples, and near the head of Canandaigua lake, are several 
beds of marl, which have not been much explored. 
In Tompkins county, in the south part of Hector, there is a very ex- 
tensive bed of marl on the land of Mr. Petrie; it embraces an area of 
more than six acres, being of variable depth, from a few inches to more 
than twelve feet. At Reynoldsville are several beds, all in the same 
valley; from one of these two thousand bushels of lime are burned an- 
nually. On the land of Abraham Wood, six miles from Ithaca, there 
are several beds; and others near Newfield. 
In Chemung county several beds have been noticed near Millport, 
and the water flowing through the soil and rising from springs, is so 
highly impregnated with lime, that on standing a few hours, while the 
