414 
GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 
4. The extent of the rocks has been diminished by the action of water in different states 
and circumstances ; the general effect has been to break up, and afterwards disperse the frag¬ 
ments of the rocks. > 
5. The boulder region is near the base of the highest hills in the county, and extends south 
from Watertown towards Mannsville. 
6. The surface at some period (j^robably recent) has been elevated, so as to produce a 
change in the direction of the rivers. 
7. The minerals, which are confined principally to the north and northeast part of the 
county, are the same as those of St. Lawrence. 
8. The county is adapted to agriculture ; the soil, exposure and temperature fit it for grain, 
grass and pasturage. The quantity of soil derived from the underlying rocks is much greater 
than in St. Lawrence, as both the limestones and shales have assisted in forming the soil of 
Jefferson county. 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 
Hamilton county is situated in the central part of that division of New-York which is north 
of the Mohawk valley. As one of the civil divisions of the State, it is cut off from any of 
the great natural channels of communication with commercial cities ; it touches nowhere upon 
any outlet, by which its productions can find a market. It has therefore the fewest natural 
advantages, and is the most insulated county of any in Northern New-York. 
Mountains ; Surface ; Lakes. 
This county is traversed by two ranges of mountains which pass nearly centrally through 
its territory, and by a third which passes through the southeast corner, touching upon the 
township of Hope, and extending northeast through Day, Athol and onwards, and finally ter¬ 
minating at or near Crown-Point on Lake Champlain. The second range lies between Hope 
and Lake-Pleasant: it is the range which is crossed in going from the former to the latter 
place. It varies from six to ten miles in width ; its elevation, in this county, probably never 
exceeds four thousand feet; but in its northern extension through Essex, it forms the highest 
mountains in the State. It forms the Clinton range, which has been described in the preced¬ 
ing pages of this report, and the central and highest part of which composes the Adirondacks. 
In this county, the highest land is in township No. 19, and the whole of this range traverses 
the county southeast of its central part. 
