446 
GEOLOGY OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT. 
which has some celebrity. About three miles below Niagara falls, near the margin of the 
river bank, there is a sulphur spring, which is prepared with accommodations for visitors. 
1 observed but one chalybeate spring in the county. This is on the farm of Capt. Leonard, 
two miles north of Lewiston. There are several other springs at the same place, and the 
water of some is said to yield salt on evaporation. Two miles east of Lewiston, a copious 
sulphur spring rises from the shale on the mountain ridge. 
Salt Springs. 
In Niagara county, as in Monroe, we find salt springs along the course and in the beds of 
almost all the streams in the northern part of the county. These springs are not copious, but 
we frequently find three or four in the distance of half a mile. Several of these springs occur 
along the course of Eighteen-mile creek, between Lockport and Lake Ontario. Salt springs, 
affording small quantities of water, occur along Golden-hill creek and Johnson’s creek. Salt 
was formerly made from a spring within three miles of Lockport; which, at the time I 
examined it, was filled with fresh water. 
It is the general belief that the water of these springs increases in strength on descending 
into the rock, but this may be doubted. At St. Catharine’s, U. C., a boring of five hundred 
feet was made in the same rock, and it was found that the water at three hundred feet was 
27° (hydrometer), and at four hundred and twenty-five feet, 29° ; but this degree of strength 
was not constant at the same depth at different times. 
Tufa — Marl — Materials for Agriculture. 
Tufa is found in small quantities in many places, particularly along the north slope of the 
mountain ridge ; but it nowhere occurs in such abundance as in Monroe county. 
Shell marl is found in swamps between the mountain and the lake ridges. An extensive 
deposit of this substance occurs in a swamp five miles east of Lockport: it has been used at 
this place as a substitute for lime, but not as a manure. Several other swamps of a similar 
character occur on the south side of the Ridge road. In the south part of the county, along 
the Tonawanda creek, are found beds of marl, but the condition of the country will not 
admit of accurate examinations. These beds being in low grounds, cannot be available till the 
land is drained. 
The lower part of the gypseous rocks extend into Niagara county, and where they approach 
the surface, can be used to great advantage on sandy soils. 
The partially decomposed calcareous shales on the northern slope of the mountain ridge, 
are a good material for manure on sandy lands ; but the large proportion of argillaceous matter 
precludes their use where there is already sufficient clay in the soil. 
