436 
GEOLOGY OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT. 
Springs and Mineral Waters. 
North of the Erie canal, the springs and wells furnish good soft water. On the limestone 
range, and in the county south of the canal, the water is hard, containing lime. 
At South-Barre, limestone is found at the depth of seventeen feet, and water is generally 
obtained at the surface of the rock, or upon penetrating it for a short distance. 
The salt springs of Orleans county are in every instance upon the range of sandstone. 
In the town of Ridgeway, one and a half miles north of Medina, near Oak-orchard creek, 
is a saline spring, now neglected and nearly filled up, where salt was manufactured in the 
early settlement of the county, more than twenty years ago. 
A small salt spring is also known in the town of Gaines, at Fairhaven. 
In the town of Kendall, lot 137, now occupied by Mr. Hamblin, there is a brine spring, 
at which salt was formerly made. 
Near Scofield’s mills, Johnson’s creek, in the town of Yates, salt was formerly manufac¬ 
tured from a spring now neglected and filled up. 
A salt spring was discovered in the east bank of the Oak-orchard creek, at the village of 
Oak-orchard, where salt was manufactured by Mr. Bennett. He bored to the depth of one 
hundred and forty feet, and obtained a stronger brine, but the quantity was not increased. 
The rock is red sandstone, of a soft, slaty nature. The works have been discontinued, and 
gone to decay, and no taste of salt can at present be perceived in the water. 
At Holley are three salt springs, formerly used for the manufacture of salt. They are all 
situated in close proximity, in the bed of Sandy creek, immediately at the south side of the 
culvert. One spring or well is now seen on the west side, and on a level with the bed of the 
creek; having been neglected for some years, and having been exposed to overflow from the 
creek, its proportion of saline matter could not be determined, but it has a decided brackish 
taste. Another small spring is immediately opposite, on the east side of the creek ; and here, 
about four years since, borings were made to the depth of about thirty feet, but no subse¬ 
quent operations were performed. A third spring was discovered immediately under the cul¬ 
vert, and a wooden log was laid to conduct away the water. At present all these springs are 
neglected. About the year 1821, considerable salt was made at these springs, and was sold 
at five dollars per barrel; but when the Erie canal was constructed as far as Holley, salt 
was brought from Salina, and furnished at a rate so low, that the works at this place and 
others along the canal were at once discontinued. 
* There are two sulphurous springs at Holley village, the water of which has been used as 
a bath in cutaneous affections. 
