USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 1 > Part 7
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We shall take a brief notice of the streams that fall into the Mohawk.
They are Deerfield, Oriskinny and Sauquait, in the county of Oneida ; Staring's, Myers', Steel's and West Canada creeks, · in the county of Herkimer; East Canada, Caroga, Osquake, Canajoharie, Little Canada or Cayadutta, Schoharie and Chuc- tononeda, in the county of Montgomery ; and the Aelplas be- low Schenectady, near the Saratoga border.
Deerfield creek comes from the north and enters a little above the Orskinny. It is not over fourteen miles in length. Or- iskinny enters on the south nine or ten miles east of Rome. It heads in the county of Madison, near the source of the Che- nango, and pursues a north northeasterly course about twenty- five miles. Westmoreland creek falls into it.
The Sanquait, an inconsiderable stream, rises near the sour- ces of Unadilla, a water of the Susquehannah, and flows north porthwesterly sixteen or eighteen miles, where it mingles with the Mohawk, a little to the northeast of the village of Whites- borough ; it is a beautiful stream, bordered by fertile lands.
Staring's creek, on the north, and Myers' and Steel's creeks on the south, are not over ten or twelve miles in length ; Ful- mer and Nowadaga are also on the south side.
West Canada creek heads among the mountains in the south- western part of the county of Hamilton, very near the sources of the west branch of Sacondaga river, and takes a southwester- ly course for about thirty-four miles, to the head of the cele- brated Trenton Falls. Here it turns and takes a southerly course about three miles, inclining to the southwest. It then turns to the left and runs southeasterly about thirteen miles. After that, its course is southerly to its mouth, eight miles ; its length is nearly sixty miles. From its source to the head of
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Trenton Falls, it runs very nearly parallel with Black river, and ' at the variable distance of from four to eight miles. As far as. Trenton Falls, its course is on the Highlands; it now flows through mountains and then through hills or across plains. Its current, thus far, is active with occasional exceptions ; from the head to the foot of Trenton falls, upwards of two miles, it is one tremenduous torrent, abrupt precipices, and rugged crags present themselves on all sides, and the stream rushes with fearful impe- tuosity through a deep chasm. From the foot of the falls to its mouth it is in general a very rapid stream, bat uninterrupted by cataracts. The country at the sources of West Canada creek, falls little, if any, under 1600 feet above the surface of the ocean. Black creek, enters West Canada creek, five miles above Tren- ton Falls, and Cincinati, about one mile below. In length these streams are not over twelve or fifteen miles. The Agoneasean . name for this stream was Cayoharie.
East Canada creek, which falls into the Mohawk seven miles below Little Falls, likewise heads very near the west branch of . Sacondaga river, in the county of Hamilton, seven or eight miles south of Lake Pleasant, and runs southwesterly about twenty- four miles, where it is joined by Spruce creek, from the north- west ; the remaining part of its way is south ; its entire course, by its bed, is about forty miles.
' Spruce creek is about twenty miles long; both streams are extremely rapid. The bed of East Canada creek, in the two last miles of its course, sinks nearly 200 feet.
Caroga creek enters the Mohawk about seven miles east of the latter stream ; it is eighteen or twenty miles long, and heads in the northern parts of the county of Montgomery, near some of the south branches of West Stony creek.
Osquake creek falls into the Mohawk on the south, a little" east of Fort Plain; it is twelve or fourteen miles long, and is formed by three large springs, in the southwest part of the town of Starke. There are numerous petrifactions and tufaceous rocks in the upper part of the valley through which it directs its course. The waters of these springs are highly impregnated .with the carbonate of lime.
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Canajoharie* also enters on the south side, three or four miles eastwardly of the Osquake, after a course of about fifteen miles ; in the last two or three miles of its course, it descends several hundred feet, forming in its way several cascades.
Cayadutta, or Little Canada, falls into the Mohawk, nearly a mile west of Caughnawaga, after a course of fifteen miles ; it rises on the eastern declivity of Clip hill, or Clinton mountain, and passes by the village of Johnstown.
Schoharie creek, the largest vassal of the Mohawk, heads on the, northern declivity of the Kaatskillt mountains, in the county of Green, near the sources of Kaater's-kill, a branch of Cats- kill creek, and after a course of seventy miles, empties at Fort Hunter,# eighteen or twenty miles west of the city of Schenec- tady. Its courses are first northwesterly about twenty-eight miles, and thence northerly ; Brakabin and Cobuskill from the west, and Fox creek from the east, are the main streams that fall into it.
'The Schoharie flows with an impetuous current through a deep winding valley ; its rises and falls are very sudden.
Chuctononeda§ rises in the town of Providence, in the county of Saratoga, and takes a southwesterly course into Montgomery county ; its entrance into the river is at Veddersburg, sixteen iniles west of Schenectady. When it reaches the declivity of the 'Mohawk valley, it falls "about 120 feet in eighty rods, in drouths it disappears in the fissures of the limestone rocks, at the foot of the declivity.
The Aelplas|| falls into the Mohawk about three miles be- low Schenectady, after a serpentine course of fifteen or sixteen miles ; its origin is in Gallaway, county of Saratoga.
. The pot or kettle that washes itself. On this stream, at the foot of one of its falls, there is a rocky basin which is kept clean by the circular motion of the waters ; hence the Dame.
t The Kanjearagore of the Mohawks.
· # Tbe Icanderago of the Mohawks.
¿ Chucionoceda, in the Aganuschioaian tongue, signifies the ninth bill.
#'Aelplas ts Dutch -. Itssigaification is the place where Eels are taken.
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. Having described the Mohawk and its main branches, we · shall resume the description of the other streams which descend into the Hudson.
Poestenkill, from the east, enters a little below the city of Troy, after a winding course of upwards of twenty miles. The depression of this stream, in the last two miles of its course, is between 2 and 300 feet. The High falls, near Troy, in fresh- - ets have a romantic appearance.
Norman's-kill is about twenty-five miles in length, and enters the Hudson two miles south of the city of Albany, its source is in a small pond situated in Duanesbush, in the southwest part of the county of Schenectady.
Kinderhook*, a considerable stream, discharges itself into the , Hudson on its left bank, six miles north of the city of Hudson, after a course of about thirty-five miles ; it heads in the town of Hancock, in the westerly part of Massachusetts, near the south branch of Hoosac river. Its direction is southwesterly, it · crosses the southeasterly part of the county of Rensselaer, and the northwesterly part of the county of Columbia. New Leba- non pool, Klinekill and Claverack creeks fall into it ; the latter is about thirty miles long, and constitutes nearly half of the stream at the union, four miles from its mouth.
Ancram rises in the eastern part of Columbia county, in the town of Hillsdale, and after a winding course of about thirty- four miles, falls into the Hudson nearly opposite to the mouth of Catskill; its course is first southwesterly, about twenty miles, and then westerly about fourteen ; it crosses the boundary be- tween Columbia and Dutchess counties three times.
Catskill, which enters on the west bank of the Hudson, nearly opposite to Ancram, heads in the county of Schoharie, in a marsh, situated on or, near the summit of the mountain, bound- ing the Schoharie valley on the east, and descends southeasterly about thirty-five miles ; Kaater's-killt and several other small streams augment it ; its course is mostly in Green county, the marsh is between 1,100 and 1,200 feet above tide water.
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The Childrens hook. Dutch.
+ Kaatskill is Dutch, and signifies Cats creek-Kaaters-kill means he Cats creek.
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Esopus creek falls into the Hudson nine or ten miles south of the Catskill, after a devious way of upwards of fifty miles: it rises in the northwestern part of the county of Ulster, among the Kaatskill mountains, near the head waters of Papacton, a main branch of Delaware river ; its courses are northwest eight or ten miles, southeast twenty-three miles, and northeast about eighteen miles : it flows through nearly the whole county ; its character, till it has reached the country, in the vicinity of the Hudson, is that of a mountain torrent. Sawkill falls into it about seven miles above its mouth.
The Wallkill, which next claims our attention, has its origin in the county of Sussex, in the State of New-Jersey, and runs north northeasterly, between seventy and eighty miles. Its mouth is about east of the village of Kingston, in Ulster county; after entering this State, it crosses the county of Orange, and penetrates Ulster.
Shawangunk, or Ridber's-kill, a branch of Wallkill, exceeds thirty miles in length : it leads on the confines of New-Jer- sey, and runs along the eastern foot of Shawangunk moun- tain, and parallel with the Walihill, to the convergence.
Rundout* river, another branch of Wallkill, originates in the county of Sullivan, and descends southeasterly fitteen or twenty miles, where it is forced by the Shawangunk mountain into a northeasterly direction, which course it keeps till it joins the Wallkill. Part of the Hudson and Delaware canal is in the valleys of the Rundout and Wallkill.
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The drowned lands are on the borders of Wallkill river. They are mostly reclaimed, and comprise nearly 50,000 acres of very valuable land. In the northern part of Orange the bed of this stream is broken by falls of 40 or 50 feet descent. The bones of the Mastodon have been found in these flat lands.
Wappinger's creek rises in the northeastern part of the coun- ty of Dutchess, in Stissin's Pond, and falls into the Hudson a little above the Highlands, or Matteawan mountains, after a serpentine course of nearly forty miles.
. nundout is a corruption of the Dutch word for Redout. The early settlers from Holland erected a small fort on this river, which they called the Redout. Afterwards they applied the name to the stream. VOL. I. 9
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Moordenar's, or Martler's-kill, is entirely in Orange county, and is about twenty-five miles in extent. It is very crooked.
Fishkill is about as long, and falls into the Hudson a little below Wappinger's creek, and on the same side.
Wappinger and Fishkill are in Dutchess county.
Croton discharges itself into the Hudson from the east, at the northern extremity of Tappan Bay. It rises on the western declivity of Taconic mountain, in the southeasterly part of Dutchess county. In its way to the Hudson it crosses Putman county diagonally, and passes through the northwestern part of Westchester county. Its length, by its sweeps and curves, is about forty miles.
After Croton river the Hudson receives no stream worthy of notice.
The Bronx, a small river of Westchester county, issues out of Rye Pond, and runs southerly about twenty-five miles, and falls into East River near Hell-gate.
Harlem river, or strait, is eight miles long. It extends from the Hudson to East River, and divides Westchester from Manhatten Island. In some places it is half a mile broad, while in others it is not over one hundred yards.
Hackensack heads in the county of Rockland, a few miles west of Haverstraw Bay, and after a southerly course of nearly forty miles, dilates in Newark Bay, in the State of New-Jersey. Its course is mostly in the latter State. The Newark marshes, or Salt Meadows as they are commonly called, border upon it and Passaick river. Sloops, and other small craft, navigate it about fifteen miles.
The Ramapough, or Ramapo, one of the main branches of Passaick river, rises in a small pond in the county of Orange. In its way it crosses the west angle of Rockland. Its entire course, in this State, by its bed, is about twenty-fives miles.
The Delaware has its source in a small pond, called Utsay- antho, situated at the base of the principal ridge of the Kaats- kill mountains, in the southern part of the county of Schoharie, and runs southwesterly through the county of Delaware, to the eastern bounds of the county of Broome, a distance of about
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fifty miles. In its way it is enlarged by Little Delaware, and several other streams. Little Delaware comes from the northeast, and joins it at Delhi, after a course of eighteen miles. At Broome the Delaware makes a large sweep, and takes a . southeasterly direction to the mouth of Neversink river, sixty miles. In this part of its way it constitutes the boundary between this State and Pennsylvania from north latitude forty-two. At the mouth of Neversink, it turns and flows southwesterly to the mouthi of the Lehigh, a distance of about sixty miles. Here it changes its direction to the southeast, and pursues that course for forty miles, to Trenton, where it shifts its direction again to the southwest for about seventy miles. The remainder of its course, to the head of Delaware bay, is sontheast.
The principal rivers and streams which fall into the Delaware river, are Papacton, Mongaup and Neversink, in this State ; Lackawaxen, Broadhead, Lehigh, and Schuylkill, in Pennsyl- vania ; Brandywine, in Delaware State; and Flatkill, Pawlins- kill, Musconecunk, Pequest, and Aneocus, in the State of New- Jersey.
The Papacton is formed by the coalescence of two streams, called the North and East branches. The former rises on the northern borders of the county of Delaware, in the Kaatskill mountains, and the latter in the western part of the county of Ulster. At the coalescence neither exceeds twelve or fifteen miles in length. From thence, the Papacton pursues a south- westerly course to where it meets the Delaware. Its whole ex- tent is nearly parallel with the parent stream. About nine miles before its entrance into Delaware river, it receives Beaver creek from the county of Sullivan. This stream is about thirty-five miles long by its windings.
Papacton has nearly its whole course in Delaware county, and is between fifty and sixty miles long.
Mongaup rises in the county of Sullivan, and takes a south- easterly course for twenty-five or thirty miles.
Neversink falls into the Delaware at the northwest angle of the State of New-Jersey. Its length, by its tortuous bed, is about sixty miles. It has its source in the county of Ulster,
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and runs southeasterly through the county of Sullivan, and across the northwesterly corner of the county of Orange. Bas- ler's-kill falls into Neversink about eight miles above its mouth, after a course of about eighteen miles, twelve of which are in the valley of Shawangunk. Its course, after entering the valley, is southwest. The Hudson and Delaware canal runs through the valleys of these streams for about twenty miles.
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The Lackawaxen rises not far from the Lackawannock, a water of the Susquehannah, and runs in a general southeasterly direction upwards of forty miles. In the last twelve miles of its way, it is enlarged by the West and South branches. Its mouth is over against Lumberland, in the county of Sullivan. The Hudson and Delaware canal extends up the valley of this stream about twenty miles. The upper parts of the coun- try through which the Lackawaxen. flows, abound in coal of the kind called anthracite.
Broadhead is about thirty miles long.
The Lehigh rises in the county of Northampton, and after a devious course through the mountains, falls into the Delaware at Easton ; its length is about one hundred and ten miles, it is boatable from its mouth upwardly, about thirty miles. Its sour- ces are in a region abounding with coal.
The Schuylkill enters the Delaware five miles below the city of Philadelphia, in a straight line, but seven by the windings of the river. It is formed by the confluence of West Schuylkill and Little Schuylkill, about sixteen miles west of Reading. The former is twenty-eight miles, and the latter twenty-four miles in length, in straight lines. The general direction of the Schuylkill, from the confluence, is southeasterly-its head wa- ters also rise in a region of coal.
The Brandywine enters Delaware river, about twenty-four miles below Philadelphia. Most of its course is in Pennsylva- nia-its length is between thirty and forty miles.
Flatkill is about twenty-five miles in length. It falls into the Delaware thirty miles below the Neversink, on the New-Jersey side.
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Pawlin's-kill rises near Shawangunk, or Ridber's-kill, on the confines of New-York, and runs southwesterly nearly fifty miles, and enters below Flatkill.
Musconecunk falls in five or six miles below, after a winding course. which is southwesterly fifty miles.
Pequest, which enters six or seven miles lower down, is not over twenty-five miles in length-its course is southwesterly.
Arcyrus river has its source in the county of Monmouth, and dows westerly about forty miles. 1
Delaware river is upwards of three hundred miles in length. The largest ships ascend it to Philadelphia, about fifty miles ; sloops and schooners go up to Trenton, thirty-five miles higher. From thence it is navigable for boats, when swelled two or three feet, up to Delhi, in the county of Delaware, within twenty mil's of its so rce. Arks, a temporary kind of craft, descend in fresbets.
The descent of Delaware river, from its source to its mouth, is about 1,896 feet. At the mouth of Neversink, its surface at low water mark, is 460 feet above the tide waters of the Hudson.
The Delaware and Susquehannah rivers, near the Pennsyl- vania border, might be united by means of a canal, provided there was water : the distance, in a straight line, is only eight miles. A rail road may be substituted, which perhaps would auswer every purpose. The distance from the Susquehannah, in the county of Broome, to the city of New-York, by the pro- posed rout, Delaware river, the Hudson and Delaware canal and Hudson's river, would not vary materially from two hundred and fifty miles ; one hundred of which is composed of the na- vigable part of Hudson's river. Philadelphia is distant from the same place about two hundred and twelve, but the rout is far more difficult.
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The entire basin of the Delaware embraces an area of about 13,000 square miles, but only 2,224 are in this State.
The Susquehannah, the second river, in a commercial view, in the State, issues out of Otsego lake, a beautiful expanse of
Note .- The Lenni Lenape, called this river Chihohocki. The tribe Chihe- hocki lived on the west side, between the Lehigh and Duck creek.
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water, nine miles long, situated in the northern part of the coun- ty of Otsego, and runs a southerly and southwesterly course, into the southeasterly part of the county of Broome, a distance of six- ty-four miles, where it turns and flows southerly eleven miles, crossing the boundary into Pennsylvania ; here it wheels to the right and takes a westerly and then a northwesterly course, eigh- teen or twenty miles, recrossing the boundary into this State, and forming what is called the Great Bend. It then changes its course and flows westwardly about twenty-four miles ; and then southwestwardly about eighteen miles, and repasses the bounda- ry for the last time. Thence, to the mouth of Tioga river, three or four miles, its course is southerly.
The Susquehannah, after its union with Tioga river, turns and pursues a southeasterly direction seventy miles, to the entrance of Lackawannock creek. Its direction then to the mouth of the West branch, sixty-five miles, is southwesterly. Below the mouth of the West branch its course is southerly, to the mouth of the Juniata, thirty five miles. Immediately after the reception of this stream, it bends away to the southeast, and pursues that direction to its dilatation, into the head of Chesa- peak Bay, about eighty miles.
: The entire length of the Susquehannah, from its issue out of Otsego lake, to its mouth, computing it by its bed, is about four hundred miles. Its extreme sources are seven or eight miles north of the lake, aud within seven miles of the Mohawk ; these, including Otsego lake, would give an extent of four hun- . dred and sixteen miles. In its passage from Otsego lake, it is increased by many rivers and streams. It is a broad shoal river, usually made up of long stretches of slack water and short ra- pids : It has no abrupt falls. -
The country around the extreme sources of the Susque- hannah, has an elevation of 1,400 or 1,500 feet above the surface of the ocean. This estimate is founded mainly on data, taken from canal surveys. The hills on the east and west sides of Otsego lake, are from 300 to 400 feet higher. Otsego lake is 1,198 feet above the level of the Atlantic Ocean.
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We shall note its tributaries :-
Oke's creek, the outlet of Schuyler's lake, enters three miles below Otsego lake. It is from the west, and is eight' or nine' miles long.
Ten miles below the mouth of Oak creek, Sheneva creek en- ters from the east, after a course of about twenty miles.
Charlotte river rises in the town of Cobuskill, in the county of Schoharie, and runs southwesterly about thirty miles. Its entrance is on the left bank, eighteen miles below Otsego lake.
Otego creek rises in the town of Exeter, in the county of Otsego, and flows southerly about twenty-five miles, and enters on the right bank.
Ouleout creek is upwards of twenty miles in length, and runs southwesterly about twenty-five miles, and enters on the left bank.
The Unadilla* enters about twenty-three miles below the mouth of Charlotte, on the right bank. It rises in the town of Bridgewater, in the southeasterly corner of the county of On- cida, near the source of the Sauquait, and runs southerly nearly fifty miles. During its progress it is enlarged by several streams, such as Wharton's and Butternut creeks. The for- mer joins it after a course of about twenty miles, and the latter after a course of about thirty miles. Both enter on its left bank.
The Unadilla is a beautiful stream, bounded by rich flats. It forms the division line between the counties of Otsego and Chenango.
The Chenango, a river of considerable magnitude and much beauty, has its source in the town of Smithfield, in the county of Madison, near the head waters of Oneida and Oriskinny creeks. It pursues, firstly, a southwesterly course about twenty- four miles, and then a southerly, and lastly, a southwesterly one of about fifty-six miles.
Ten miles before its entrance into the Susquehannah, it is joined by the Tioughnioga, sometimes called Onondaga river, from the northwest.
" The Agoneasean name was Tianaderha. See Laws U. S. I vol. p. 316.
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The Tioughnioga is upwards of fifty miles in length, and and is made by the union of two forks, denominated the north and the northeast. The former rises in the town of Tully, in' the southern part of the county of Onondaga, and the latter in the southwestern part of the county of Madison. These forks meet at the town of Homer, in the county of Courtland. The general course of the Tioughnioga is southeasterly. It flows through the whole county of Courtiand.
The Otselick, its main tributary, issues out of a pond in the town of Eaton, in the interior of the county of Madison, and flows southwesterly nearly forty miles, entering in Broome county. In its course it crosses the northwestern part of the county of Chenango, and the southeastern part of the county of Courtland.
The Chenango and Tioughnioga are navigable for boats, when swelled, the greater part of their courses.
Choconut and Nanticoke creeks fall into the Susquehannah, in the county of Broome. They are short streams.
The Owego takes its rise in the county of Courtland, and runs southwesterly thirty miles, forming in its way a part of the boundary between the counties of Broome and Tioga. A little above its mouth, it is joined by the Catetant, a stream from the north part of Tioga county, which is about twenty-five miles long.
The Chenango and Owego enter the Susquehannah on its right bank.
The Cayuta falls into the Susquehannah on the same bank, a little below the Pennsylvania boundary, after a south south- easterly course of thirty-four miles. Its source is near the head of Seneca lake.
The Tioga, sometimes called Chemug river, joins the Sus- quehannah four or five miles south of the boundary between this State and Pennsylvania. It is formed by two branches denominated the South and West branches. The South branch, by its windings, is fifty or sixty miles in length, and the West forty or fifty. The course of the South branch is northerly, and is about forty miles in a straight line. The West branch,
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