42 [Assembly 
In our excursion thus far, we passed almost in sight of the track of the 
contemplated rail-road from Catskill to Canajoharie, and it was natural 
that we should make some mquiries and form some opinions in regard 
to this enterprize. The route seems to be feasible enough, and those 
who arc particularly interested in the work build their hopes of its suc- 
cess upon the fact that the distance from the city of New-York to the 
West will be shortened by some 30 or 40 miles, and that the navigation 
of the Hudson is free at Catskill some two or three weeks earlier and 
later than at Albany. I doubt whether the result will answer the san- 
guine expectations of its friends. The idea is certainly a good one, 
but I think it will be very difficult to divert through this channel, the 
great current of travel which now passes through Albany for the West. 
Still the increased impetus which it will give to business, the increased 
value of the lands adjoining the track, and the facilities which it will 
furnish for transporting the products of Greene, Schoharie and Mont- 
gomery, may be sufficient to warrant the expenditure, which will be 
required for its construction. A part of the road, say 15 or 20 miles, 
was nearly completed last fall, but the tremendous freshets of the win- 
ter and spring carried away several bridges, and greatly injured the 
track in various places. The cost of repairs will be several thousand 
dollars. 
On leaving Schoharie we passed through Schenectady into Saratoga, 
our object being to obtain specimens of some rare minerals found in 
the vicinity of the Springs. As our stay here was limited to two or 
three days, we devoted ourselves chiefly to one or two localities. By 
means of a powerful blast we succeeded in obtaining a supply of the 
chrysoberyl and other accompan3dng minerals, for which this place has 
been celebrated among minteralogists. The chrysoberyl, you know, is 
one of the gems, of a beautiful green color, and exceeded in hardness 
only by the diamond and sapphire. Saratoga Springs and Haddam in 
Connecticut are, I believe, its only localities in the United States. As- 
sociated with this rare mineral, we found tourmaline, garnet, feldspar, 
mica, &;c. 
In a ledge of limestone, near the car-house at the Springs, we found 
handsome specimens of ribbon agate, and calcedony, and from a locali- 
ty about four miles distant, we added to our collections specimens of 
oolite, similar in character to the celebrated English Bath or Portland 
stone of which I believe St. Paul's is built. 
