NIAGARA COUNTY. 
445 
Fibres (apparently vegetable) extend from the surface to the depth of three or four (sometimes 
twelve) feet; and around these fibres, as a nucleus, the deposit is made. The grey loamy 
clay is pervious to water, while the blue clay is not; and the fibres never extend into the blue 
clay, but always terminate at its surface. We find the clay stones surrounding the same fibre 
at different depths, andean often trace the connection of several; sometimes these are merely 
rings of calcareous matter, the internal part still being clay. Those formed directly around 
the fibre are usually perforated; but. others are often attached on every side of this one, which 
are entirely solid. It appears as if the water had been conducted downwards by this fibre, 
and the solid material deposited, forming a ring. But when the accumulations are large, or 
where the stratum below is impervious, the calcareous matter is forced out on every side, and 
produces the fantastic forms which we so often find. 
This deposit of clay is found on the Niagara river, and extending nearly a mile from its 
mouth. At this place, the grey or yellowish clay above attains a much greater thickness than 
at any other place. 
Sands. 
No extensive deposits of siliceous sand occur in this county. In many places along the 
lake shore, it appears in small quantities. 
Water and Springs. 
The county is well watered throughout, both by springs and streams. Along the foot of 
the mountain ridge, numerous springs of fresh water gush out from fissures in the limestone, 
or at the junction of the shale and limestone below. Water is readily obtained in almost any 
situation, by penetrating a few feet below the surface. North of the mountain ridge, it is 
sometimes necessary to penetrate a few feet into the marl or sandstone, before a sufficient 
supply is obtained. 
Springs of hydro-sulphuretted water, — “ sulphur springs,” are of frequent occurrence in 
many parts of the county, but few of them have any celebrity. Some contain sulphate of 
magnesia in solution, in sufficient quantities to affect the taste very sensibly. 
Near Lewiston a copious spring rises from beneath the stratum of grey sandstone, about 
one hundred feet from the top of the formation. The water of this spring is slightly 
charged with sulphuretted hydrogen, and contains a notable proportion of sulphate of mag¬ 
nesia. Its situation, however, is almost inaccessible, and for that reason will not soon become 
a place of resort. Other similar springs, but less copious, occur in the vicinity. “ Sulphur 
springs ” are found in many places in the shale and limestone along the northern slope of the 
mountain ridge. They occur wherever iron pyrites is disseminated through the rock. At 
Lockport, in the limestone above the shale, a spring of this kind, when opened, discharged 
gas sufficient to support a constant flame from a small tube. On the Tonawanda creek, 
about two miles from the village, on the land of Mr. Vandenburgh, is a spring of this kind, 
