464 
[Assembly 
Cattaraugus alluviums, would uproot every expectation of finding mine- 
ral wrealth in the soil. It might be quite possible to find a single piece 
of silver ore, as there have been found masses of primitive iron in such 
position ; but when it is known that the metals are by far the smallest 
component parts of the earth's crust, and that most soils are fragments 
of this crust, gathered together by currents from widely separated loca- 
lities, it will be no longer expected that, because a single piece of a 
precious ore is fallen upon, there are therefore indications that large 
bodies of ore, freed from admixture with foreign material, will be found 
in the same associations ; or that even another piece may be procured 
at the same locality. And above all, it will be deemed the height of 
folly, to waste treasures in mere search, with no evidence of the near 
existence of the object looked for. 
Boulders. 
Of these there are more profuse distributions on the Cattaraugus, 
near Lodi, and in the course of the alluvium southward than any where 
else in the county. Trappaean, hornblendic, gneissiod, granitic and 
sienitic, and some others, are the representatives from more northern 
latitudes. One boulder of hypersthene was seen at the sulphur springs 
near Randolph. 
Two boulders of iron, resembling the compact, fine grained, primi- 
tive ore, of the veins of Mclntyre iron in the Adirondack lands, were 
found on the south branch of the Cattaraugus, near Little's mills. 
One weighs thirteen pounds. Both have been procured for the State 
collection. 
Springs. 
Springs of Saline impregnation are occasionally found. Several near 
Rutledge attracted attention in the early settlement of the town, from 
the numbers of deer who came to Zzc/c" about them. Near one of 
these a shaft was sunk, in the hope that lower down the strength of the 
solution would be found greater. The proportion of salt was, we are 
informed, about a teaspoon full to a pail of water. 
The Oil spring of Freedom, is in many respects like that of Cuba, in 
Allegany county. Its diameter is somewhat less, and the quantity of 
oil which in a given time rises to the surface is in proportion to its ex- 
tent the same. But the association almost directly above of a sand- 
stone, more highly bituminous than any other rock in the district, gives 
