ONONDAGA COUNTY. 
283 
The fact of the greatest development of gypsum being south of the northern outcrop, as 
conclusively shown at the quarries above Springport on Cayuga lake, and the constant asso¬ 
ciation of gypsum with rock salt in all its known localities, are circumstances highly favorable 
to the existence of this mineral in New-York, since its location would be to the south of its 
salines, where no boring has yet been made ; a position which would harmonize with the con¬ 
sequence which results from the depth of the ancient Onondaga valley, requiring that the 
source of the salines should be beyond the direct influence of free percolating waters, whose 
outlets were in the valley. 
And finally from the discovery of rock salt in Virginia, though it be true that the deposit is 
of a different age from that of New-York, the additional fact of the concomitance of salt and 
gypsum at that place favors the opinion advanced by Dr. Beck, that rock salt would be disco¬ 
vered in Onondaga, but not in that part of the group in which the deep boring was made. 
It is to be borne in mind, that there is no intention to restrict the salt and gypsum to any 
particular part of the group, as matter of opinion, but as matter of fact purely, which limits 
these products through the three counties, and gives to them a defined position. 
The dip of the group, as determined by a level made near Syracuse, is within twenty-six 
feet to the mile; which appears to be smaller than the apparent one, and the one which the 
appearance of higher rocks south seem to require. Should it be the true one, and there is no 
reason to doubt its accuracy, it extends the excavation of the ancient Onondaga valley some 
miles south, from the softness of the mass. 
The Water-lime group rises upon the Onondaga salt group, forming the base of the lime¬ 
stone range, and is an important group in the county for water cement and common lime. 
Numerous quarries for the former, and for both, exist along the whole line. The principal 
expositions are, near Manlius square, and along the creek below Jamesville ; in the hill at 
Split rock ; on Nine-mile creek, below Marcellus ; and at the outlet of Skaneateles lake. The 
two drab layers exist throughout the county, and are those which are burnt for water cement. 
This product, from the numerous useful purposes to which it can be applied, promises to 
become an all important article of commerce. Care, however, should always be taken to 
select stone of a good quality, and that the proper degree of heat be given to it; and the finer 
it is ground, the better will be the cement. South of Manlius square, is the best locality in 
the district to see the greatest extent of surface of one of the layers of water-lime proper. 
Oriskany sandstone. This is the next rock in the county to the Water-lime group. At the 
limestone quarry near Manlius, a few inches of it may be seen in the road above the Water- 
lime group, and beneath the Onondaga limestone ; also at Jamesville ; and in Onondaga val¬ 
ley, to the south of the village, showing, on the west side of the valley, in the side-hill, a 
ledge of about seven feet thick. Its greatest thickness in the district is on the old Seneca 
road between Elbridge and Skaneateles, appearing to be about thirty feet thick. Not far 
from thence, on a parallel road, is the quarry from whence this rock was quarried for the 
lock at Jordan; which, though an inferior stone to some of the limestones of the county, yet 
resists wear and weather tolerably well, as is evidenced at the lock. 
