296 
GEOLOGY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 
twelve and more hundred feet, to attain the source of the salines of Onondaga, should the 
thickness of the intervening masses continue in that direction, of which there is no reason to 
doubt, from observations along Cayuga lake, and the reappearance of the same rocks in 
Pennsylvania, if not wholly, yet in greater part. 
No error could be more natural than the one which was made. Salt water existed in the 
valley, being perceptible at many points. The position of the valley was directly south of the 
Onondaga salines, the slope of the country being also the same, and the source of the salt 
water not correctly understood, the number and thickness also of the whole of the interposed 
rocks unknown. 
Nothing can be more laudable than that spirit of enterprise which leads to like undertak¬ 
ings ; but to ensure success, it is requisite that all preliminary knowledge should first be 
obtained. The failure in the valley of Halfway brook conclusively proves, that had the sur¬ 
vey preceded the boring, the latter would not have been made, excepting as a matter of 
experiment, and with superfluous funds. 
The Catskill group covers the highest grounds on the south side of the Susquehannah, and 
the high grounds also to the east of the valley of the Chenango, extending over to Delaware 
county. But little red rock is to be seen, and that chiefly in the northeast part of the county. 
The group consists principally of greenish and greyish sandstone, and shale; the sandstone 
more abundant than in the group below. 
In the county are many excavations in the group, made for coal; two or three of which 
are on the farm of Mr. Brunson, near the top of the hill, at the foot of which the Old Ran¬ 
dolph road passes from Windsor to Binghamton. The sandstone shows the peculiar diagonal 
and curved structure common to this rock. The coal which was discovered, were small 
accumulations, owing to the presence of a few of the flag-like leaves so often met with, from 
the Ithaca group upwards : their material being in the state of coal. 
Another locality of supposed coal is on the road from Harpersville to Binghamton, near 
Colesville, in a small brook on the farm of Mr. Waters. Numerous similar impressions of 
plants there occur, converted into coal; the rock being the same, and the coal in no great 
amount. 
13. Tioga County. 
This county embraces the towns of Berkshire, Newark, Owego, Candor, Tioga, Nichols, 
Barton and Spencer. Its surface is broken into high ranges of broad hills, and valleys; 
some of which, like the Susquehannah, and the east and west Owego creeks, are broad 
and deep. 
The excavation and removal of rock has been immense in this county, especially near the 
junction of Cayuta creek with the Chemung and Susquehannah rivers : a broad alluvial plain 
there exists, extending up the creek beyond Factoryville. The plain shows from three to 
four distinct terraces of alluvion, the highest rising some sixty or eighty feet above the 
