Geology of New-York Volume 2 ; Part II comprising the survey of the second geological district

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: ...concerned in its formation, are Mount Mclntyre upon the east, and the Wall-faced mountain, as it is termed by some, on the west. The route from the Adirondack iron-works is a rapidly ascending one; that is, the rise equals about two hundred feet per mile, so that the pass is one thousand feet above the level of the iron-works, and about twenty-eight hundred feet above tide. The highest point in the pass is, however, some two or three hundred feet above the base of the perpendicular rocks. The last half mile towards this place ascends with increasing rapidity; and on this part of the route lie numbers of immense rocks, thirty and forty feet high, scattered over the surface, some of which may be ascended, and upon their tops sufficient vegetable mould has accumulated to support a growth of trees fifty feet in height. The sides of the mountain opposite the perpendicular wall are literally strewed with these rocks; and as they are not properly boulders, they are objects of great curiosity themselves. Some of them have fallen partly over, or incline in such a position as would afford a safe shelter to a score of men. Others stand upright upon a narrow base; and we wonder how, upon such a narrow foundation, so large and towering a mass of stone could have been placed in equilibrium, especially upon a sloping surface. But the object of greatest interest is the perpendicular precipice of a thousand feet--a naked wall of rock. The face of this wall rises from the midst of an immense mass of loose rocks, which have been falling from its side from time immemorial; and viewing them as they now lie, they seem to fill an immense cleft between the mountains; and probably the bottom of this perpendicular precipice is really as deep below, as its top is high above the surfa...