256 
GEOLOGY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 
the magnetic iron ore of Gifford and Congdon in the town of Salisbury, noticed in the report of 
1840, and by Dr. Beck. There is another which Mr. Johnson, long a resident at Brown’s 
tract, said he had discovered, but the locality kept to himself: all the information given, was 
that it was about twelve miles north of the fourth lake ; that the vein was two feet wide, and 
shows itself for thirty rods. 
The most interesting feature of the wilderness region is its chain of lakes, placed so nearly 
upon a level that but little labor from man is required to connect those of three counties 
together. The lakes of Herkimer and Hamilton are arranged upon a line which is parallel 
with the St. Lawrence river and Ontario lake, and with the Ohio, &c.; appearing not to be a 
coincident merely, but the result of a law whose operations were in their direction, and on 
several parallels. These lakes, were a communication opened from east to west, would be 
much resorted to. The beauty of their waters, their elevation, and the wild scenery which 
surrounds them, would not fail to attract visitors. The country will remain for some time 
unsettled, in consequence of the rich lands which encircle the whole of the Primary region 
not being fully occupied, and of the facilities given to westward travelling, where land is 
as cheap and far more productive. A great and good result will take place, when the 
forests of all that region are removed, and the soil opened to the sun. The mean temperature 
will then be increased, and frost will be less common in the season of vegetation. 
Throughout the whole of the Primary region, there was little to interest in the geology of 
its rocks, they being chiefly aggregates of quartz, feldspar and a little mica, and sometimes 
hornblende. Its surface features were of far more interest, but of little bearing upon the 
object of this report. 
Between the Mohawk river and the Primary region, the surface of that part of the county 
is covered mainly by the Utica slate, the Trenton limestone and the Frankfort slate; the 
second rock covering the greatest extent of surface, and the last named one the least; the 
calciferous and the birdseye are but in small amount. 
The Trenton limestone is the first surface mass which extends from the Primary region 
south, covering the town of Russia and northern part of Norway, showing the birdseye below 
it, not far from Ives’ tavern near Black creek. The surface of the Trenton limestone is, in 
many parts, thickly covered with alluvion. At Ives’ the limestone rises and forms a hill 
which appears to extend towards the head waters of Spruce creek, but the connection was 
not followed up. On Spruce creek, not far below the parallel of the village of Norway, the 
calciferous appears near the creek, upon which is the birdseye; the Trenton limestone form¬ 
ing a part of the valley, rising into the side-hill, and covered by the Utica slate, the latter 
extending thence continuously over a large area. 
The Trenton limestone continues south along West-Canada creek, from Russia ; rising into 
the side-hill, where the lower rocks appear from under it and cover the valley ; being readily 
traced where not covered by soil or alluvion, until finally lost towards the mouth of the creek, 
where the waters and Utica slate come together. The rock is exposed in Multona creek, on 
the road to Fairfield from Middleville ; a quarry of the birdseye having been opened at the 
