No. 50.] 
449 
Carhurettcd Hydrogen.^This gas, rises from springs and streams 
in many places in the southern counties ; and can be detected by ap- 
plying the flame of a taper to the bubbles, which readily ignite. 
The oil spring of Cuba, was noticed in Mr. Vanuxem*s Report of 
1837. There is a similar one in Freedom, Cattaraugus county.* 
Springs slightly impregnated with saline matter occur in a few pla- 
ces ; one of these is on the land of Mr. Davis, in Greenwood. Mr. 
Horsford mentions one near Rutledge village, Conewango. 
The most copious, and strongly impregnated saline, which I have 
found in the fourth geological district, is in a marsh, in the town of Elba, 
Genesee county, on the land of John G. Satterlee. This spring rises 
from the true saliferous formation, and therefore merits a more extended 
notice. When I saw it, the water was flowing from one place in quan- 
tity, about as much as a common pump would supply ; decidedly, and 
strongly salt to the taste. The vegetation is destroyed for several rods 
around the opening, and there are indications of another spring com- 
ing into this from the west. In the adjoining lot east, there is a spring, 
and several more in the vicinity ; all however far inferior to the first 
mentioned. Salt was formerly manufactured from the water of this 
spring, or from wells dug in the margin of the marsh. 
The rock is eighteen feet below the surface, and the portions brought 
up in digging, are a grey marl, with gypseous seams and nodules ; and 
it is apparently the marl below the first regular bed of gypsum. Se- 
veral years since a well was dug to the rock, and below a boring of 
four inches diameter was made fifty feet further. A wooden tube of 
two inches calibre was then placed in the hole, and the water immedi- 
ately rose several inches above the surrounding surface, and flowed 
out, keeping the tube constantly filled. At this period, and for some 
time a larger quantity of water flowed off than had risen in the well 
previous to the boring ; and the vegetation for some distance was en- 
tirely destroyed. Since that period it has fallen into neglect. 
Being in the same rock as the springs at Salina, it may at some time 
be thought worthy of investigation ; especially if those waters diminish 
or deteriorate. 
The acid spring mentioned by Dr. Beck, in the Report of 1838, and 
previously by Prof. Eaton, lies in the S. W. corner of the town of By- 
* See Appendix. 
[Assembly No. 50.] 57 
