GAS SPRINGS. 
129 
of several acres of ground adjoining the chief spring. The underlying rocks are fields or 
patches of ferriferous rock, resting on the saliferous rock. The gas burns with a flame of a 
reddish white colour, and blue at the base.”* 
Ontario County. Carburetted hydrogen is evolved in considerable abundance in various 
parts of this county. The most noted locality is in the town of Bristol, about nine miles west- 
southwest from Canandaigua, where it issues in a ravine on the west side of the valley of 
Mud creek. 
Dr. Hayes, from the experiments which he made upon this gas, arrived at the conclusion 
that it consists principally of the light and heavy carburetted hydrogen; and that it contains 
carbonic acid, but no sulphuretted hydrogen. Mixed with a small proportion of olefiant gas 
obtained from alcohol, and inflamed in a proper burner, it forms a brilliant gas light .f 
At Cheshire, five miles east of the preceding, there are several places from which jets of 
this gas issue from clefts in the rock. It is observed, however, in much the largest quantities, 
according to Mr. Hall, in Manchester on the east side of Canandaigua lake, its occurrence 
being manifested for a considerable distance along the same range. The earth around the 
openings where the gas issues is of a dark colour, owing to the copperas which is formed by 
the decomposition of iron pyrites4 
In Yates County, a mile or a mile and a half from Rushville, in the town of Middlesex, 
Dr. Hayes, in the paper already quoted, states, that on the southeastern side of a valley called 
Federal Hollow, there are numerous jets of this gas. “ In a field near the northeastern extre¬ 
mity of this tract, and at an elevation of forty or fifty feet from the bottom of the valley, seve¬ 
ral hillocks may be seen of a few inches in height, and from two or three to ten or twelve feet 
in diameter. They consist of black mould, and are destitute of vegetation; from these gas 
issues, and on digging into the earth beneath, may be obtained in considerable streams. These 
hillocks have appeared successively, within a period of seven or eight years, although the 
ground has been cleared much longer. The first indication of their formation is the disap¬ 
pearance of vegetation at a particular point; this is enlarged, the mould accumulates and the 
hillock is gradually formed. In very cold weather, the gas is said to issue from the tops of 
hollow cylinders of ice, sometimes two or three feet in height, forming when lighted in a still 
evening, a beautiful illumination.” 
In Monroe County, in the town of Riga, inflammable gas rises from a spring, in sufficient 
quantities to supply a constant flame from a half inch tube. 
Niagara County. In the town of Royalton, six and a half miles east of Lockport, carbu¬ 
retted hydrogen issues through the water of a basin on the south side of the Erie canal. This 
is said by Prof. Eaton not to have been observed until the water was let into the canal. Upon 
testing this gas, it was found to resemble that at Vernon, but it approached nearer to the cha¬ 
racter of light carburetted hydrogen. A large proportion of the flame is blue. The quantity 
* American Journal of Science, XV. 236. 
t Account of the Inflammable Springs of Ontario County, by Dr. P. Hayes. New-York Medical and Physical Journal. III. 49. 
| New-York Geological Reports, 1839. 
Part I. 17 
