2-l:4 The American Geologist. October, isfls 
The excursion to Portage and Mt. Morris proved exceedijigly 
pleasant and instructive. Running alongside of the beautiful 
gorge of the Genessee the geologists could not fail to be struck 
with the immense work that had been done by the river during 
post-glacial time. Miles of canyon, hundreds of feet in depth, 
passed in review as the country rapidly rose toward the higher 
table land of central New York. At the head of the gorge was 
seen the cutting-engine at work under the Erie viaduct in the 
.form of the Upper Fall, which is continuing the task of excava- 
tion to the southward. A few miles lower down the Middle Fall, 
as a second cutter, is following suit and deepening the groove 
while the Lower Fall, hidden in the forest and accessible only 
with difficulty, is slowly coming up stream in the wake of the 
other two, and completing the work. Below these three follows 
a run of comparative peace until the river reaches Rochester and 
throws itself over the great Silurian escarpment where another 
series of falls exists and another consequent canyon is in course 
of excavation. 
The party were received and hospitably entertained by the citi- 
zens of Mt. Morris at dinner, after which carriages were in wait- 
ing which took them to the winding and most picturesque part of 
the gorge about two miles from the town. Here a very fine view 
was obtained over the country. The Genessee has cut since the 
Ice- Age a serpentine groove through the shale several miles long 
where the cataracts once existed which have now receded up stream 
to Portage. The river here flows several miles to accomplish 
what in a straight line is only a short distance. At a point just 
above Mt. Morris it is proposed to erect a solid dam of masonry 
130 feet high across the river and pond, back the water for eleven 
miles, forming instead of a canyon a winding narrow lake 150 
feet deep at its lower end and gradually shoaling upward. The 
plan is intended to equalize the flow of the Genessee, holding 
back the water in floods and supplying more effective and constant 
water power to Rochester and other towns along its course. Its 
effect on the scenery of the valley may not be improving but in 
this utilitarian age few stop to consider this aspect of the under- 
taking. A hasty stop at the salt-works concluded the da}''? ex- 
cursion. 
Another party and a large one spent the day at Niagara chiefly 
to enjoy the scenery and the change. Here also they were well 
