Geology of New York; Survey of the second geological district (by Ebenezer Emmons)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 Excerpt: ...having exceeded the reality. The conception of this imposing mass of rock necessarily falls greatly short of what is experienced when it comes to be seen. Those who visit this Pass ought by no means to be satisfied with seeing it from below: they should look down from above, and over the hanging precipice. This may be done safely, by using due caution in approaching its edge. No one, however, will attempt it without being supported, Geol. 2d Dist. 28 or venture to act under the impression that they have sufficient nerve to balance themselves over such an abyss, where all objects below become indistinct, and nothing remains on which to rest the eye, and thus give certainty and precision to the movements of the muscles concerned in maintaining the equilibrium of the body. The geological facts revealed in this great exposure of rocks, do not differ materially from those which are exhibited on all sides in this region. We are taught, however, something of the dynamics of geology, and of the inconceivable powers of those agents once active beneath the crust of the earth; for this immense mass has not only been elevated, but broken from one once continuous with it, and probably we see only a small part of that which has been thus broken and elevated. The whole rock exposed is the hypersthene; and on examining the surface as far as possible, only a few mineral substances were found. I have not observed trap dykes any where in the face of this wall, but the whole is very uniform in kind and texture. In conclusion, I remark that I should not have occupied so much space for the purpose of describing merely a natural curiosity, were it not for the fact that probably in this country there is no object of the kind on a scale so vast and imposing as this. We look upon th...