136 
GEOLOGY OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT. 
indications of another spring coming into this from the west. In an adjoining field on the 
east there is another spring, and several more in the vicinity. All these however are inferior 
in strength to the first. The principal spring rises in a marsh, on the margin of which for¬ 
merly were several wells, and from these salt was manufactured. 
The rock is eighteen feet below the surface, and the portions brought up in excavation and 
boring are a grey marl, with nodules and seams of gypsum, being apparently the rock below 
the lowest range of plaster beds. Several years since, a well was dug as far as the rock, and 
a boring was made of fifty feet deeper. A wooden tube of two inches in diameter was then 
placed in the opening, and the water immediately rose in it several inches above the surround¬ 
ing surface, and flowed over the edge, keeping the tube constantly filled. At this period, and 
for some time afterwards, a larger quantity of water flowed off than had risen in the well pre¬ 
viously, and the vegetation for some distance was entirely destroyed ; even small trees, for a 
quarter of a mile along the course of its outlet, were so much affected as to destroy the leaves. 
The situation of this spring, the copious supply of water, and the numerous smaller ones 
around it, show a concentration of the saline matters which nowhere else appears in the Fourth 
District. The quantity of water is greater, as well as stronger ; and it is very probable, from 
all the facts in the case, that it will eventually prove valuable as a saline for the salt manu¬ 
facture. Since the supply of this article so essential to the wants of man, is one of interest 
to the State, and since the salines of New-York are superior to any others in the country, it 
is very desirable that a little attention be given to increasing and extending this source of State 
wealth. 
Wells and Springs. — Along the southern borders of this formation, the water, which has 
accumulated in the fissures of the limestone above, finds its outlet in springs which are copious 
and abundant. This part of the formation is well watered; but in its middle and northern 
extension, however, this group produces few springs or running streams, and the wells, unless 
dug to great depth, fail in dry seasons. The strata are pervious to water, by the numerous 
seams and fissures, particularly that portion containing gypsum beds, and the division next 
below. Water is not readily obtained, unless by sinking to the level of the water courses of 
the surrounding country. This often requires great depth of boring or excavation, and from 
some of these we have derived much information of the character of the strata. Wide fis¬ 
sures, evidently water-worn, are often met with in the excavations ; and these have probably 
resulted from the enlarging of the natural joints of the rock, by which the water first found 
access. 
Agricultural characters of the Onondaga salt group.. 
The belt of country occupied by this group in the north part of Seneca, and in Wayne 
county, is mostly covered by a series of parallel hills and valleys. The hills consist of gravel or 
a mixture of gravel and sand, and sometimes are entirely arenaceous ; while the valleys are of 
clay, with varying proportions of gravel and sand. Farther west this regularity ceases, though 
as a general characteristic the surface is one of low hills and valleys, the latter presenting a 
