USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 1 > Part 9
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. The Te-ho-scro-ron of the Agonesseab. See U. S. laws, col. 1 p. 307.
The Agenescan name is Tontewants-The people cow living in that part of the Stato call it by the Indian name,
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Ellicot creek, a branch of Tonnewanta, rises in the western part of Genesee, and pursues a northwestern course for about thirty-five miles. Its entrance is just above the canal dam. In its descent from the upper to the middle plain, it forms a cascade.
Tonnewanta and Ellicot's creeks have tame banks.
Cascaw enters about twenty miles above Ellicot's creek, and on the same side. Its length is twenty-five miles, and its course north northwest.
The following streams fall into Lake Ontario :---
Tuscarora; after a northwesterly course of fifteen miles, en. ters a few miles east of Niagara.
Eighteen Mile creek falls into the lake, eighteen miles east of the mouth of the Niagara river. Its origin is on the middle plain, its general course is northerly, and its length, by ite windings, about twenty-five miles. Small vessels, drawing five or six feet of water, occasionally enter its mouth.
Johnson's creek is eighteen miles long, by its bed-its courte is northwesterly.
Oak Orchard* rises on the upper plain, and expands into Fish Bay, twenty miles east of Eighteen Mile creek. Its gene- ral course is northerly, but on the whole, very serpentine. It is about forty miles long, by its bed. On descending the steeps . of the plains, it forms cascades.
Sandy creek, after a winding course of eighteen or twenty miles, falls into the lake, about nine miles cast of Oak Orchard.
Salmon creek, of Lake Ontario, falls into Braddock's Bay. Its length is eighteen miles, and its course northeasterly. All of the preceding creeks have cascades where they descend from one plain to another.
Genesee river rises in the State of Pennsylvania, between the head waters of Owago, one of the branches of the Alleghany, and the head waters of Cawanisque, the west branch of Tioga, and runs northwesterly nearly fifty miles, where it changes its direction, and flows north northeasterly about sixty-three miles, and then enters Lake Ontario. Its entire length, by its tortu- ous bed, is about one hundred and fifty miles. Its course is
* Oak Orchard was called by the Agoncascah, Kes-nau-hau-sent.
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mostly in this State. After crossing the boundary, it passes through the counties of Alleghany, Livingston and Mouroe, and crosses the southeasterly corner of Genesee.
The chief streams that empty their waters into it, are Canasa- raga and Angellica creeks, Canesus and Honeoye outlets, Al- len's and Black creeks.
Canasaraga heads in the county of Alleghany, and winds through parts of Steuben and Livingston, &c. Its length, by its bed, is not far from thirty miles.
Angellica has its origin in Steuben county, near the head waters of the Conhocton, and runs northwesterly, and enters in the town of Angellica, Livingston county.
Canesus outlet, a small stream, next enters.
Honeoye outlet, in its way to Genesee, is joined by the outlet of Hemlock lake-its length is about twenty-three miles, and its general direction northwesterly. The course of this stream is in the counties of Ontario, Munroe and Livingston.
Allen's creek heads in the southern part of the county of Genesee, and takes first a northerly and then an easterly course, inclining northeasterly, and falls into Genesee about eighteen miles southerly of Rochester. Its length, by its windings, ex- ceeds fifty miles.
Black creek originates in the town of Stafford, in the county of Genesee, and pursues a northeasterly direction-its length is about twenty-five miles.
We shall note the ascents and navigation of Genesee river : from its mouth to the head of the upper falls, at Nunda, the ascent is estimated at about 520 feet. The data upon which this estimate is predicated, are as follow-First, from the mouth of the stream to the head of the rapids, at Rochester, 270 feet- second, from thence, up to the foot of the lower falls, at Nunda, 80 feet-third, to the head of the upper falls, withont including the rapids, 150 feet.
The falls at Carthage, five miles from the mouth of the river, have an abrupt descent of 106 feet, those just above 20 feet : those at the village of Rochester 97; the lower falls; at Nunda, 90 feet, and the upper 60.
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Lake vessels, drawing eight or nine feet of water, ascend to Falltown, three miles and a-half. Batteaux, and other boats, · with a swell, proceed from the feeder. which commences two . miles 'above Rochester, to the foot of the falls at Nunda-the distance, by water, is between eighty and ninety miles; and by · land about fifty. lu a decreased state of the stream, boats only go up seventy miles.
The country, at the sources of the Genesee, has an elevation · exceeding 2,300 feet above the ocean.
: Irondequot takes its rise in the town of West Bloomfield, in the county of Ontario, and runs northerly into the head of Teoronto Bay. Its length is about twenty-miles-the canal crosses it on a lofty embankment.
Oswego river is formed by the junction of Seneca and Oneida rivers, at a place called Three River Point, in the town of Ci- cero, in the county of Onondaga, twenty-four miles south south- easterly from lake Ontario.
The Seneca is the principal branch. 'This river is formed by the union of Seneca and Canandaigua outlets, in the Montezuma marshes.
Seneca outlet issues out of Seneca lake, at its northeastern corner, and takes an east northeasterly course for thirteen miles, where it expands into the northern extremity of Cayuga lake. Then issuing out with the waters of Cayuga lake, it flows north- erly to its union, five or six miles, with a very gentle current.
Canandaigua outlet, the other branch, issues out of the lake . of.the same.name, and runs in a general northeasterly direction, to the village of Lyons, in the county of Wayne, where it is · joined by Mud creek from the west.
This stream rises in the town of Naples, in the southwestern part of the county of Ontario, and runs northeasterly to the . town. of Palmyra, in Wayne county ; and thence, eastwardly toats mouth. The whole length of this stream, by its wind- · ings, exceeds fifty miles. .
. . From Lyons, Canandaigua outlet, or river, pursues an east- erly course, to its union with Seneca outlet. Its length, from
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its issue to its union, by its numerous windings, is about sixty miles. It is navigable for boats up to Lyons.
Flint creek, a small stream, falls into the Canandaigua at the hamlet of Vienna. Its source is in the county of Yates, and its course northerly.
Below the union, Seneca river flows northerly about five miles, where, after separating into two branches, which short- ly afterwards rejoin, it bends around to the right, and pursues an easterly course, passing through the southerly end of Cross lake to the outlet of Onondaga lake, twenty-three miles in a straight line, but thirty-four by its sweeps and curves. Here it wheels to the left, and rolls north northwesterly, inclining to the north six miles, to its junction with Oneida river.
Seneca river, from the union to Three River Point, is a tame stream with low banks. It has no falls and but few rapids. Before the Erie canal was constructed, it afforded good navi- gation up to the union, and from thence, by its branches, up into Cayuga lake, on the one hand, and to Lyons on the other.
Seneca, in its way from the Montezuma marshes, to Three River Point, receives Owasco, Skaneatelis and Onondaga outlets.
Owasco outlet issues out of Owasco lake, lying in the interior of the county of Cayuga, and flowing in a northwesterly direc- tion, thirteen miles, enters on the eastern border of the Monte- suma marshes. Its descent is estimated at 300 feet.
Skaneatelis outlet issues out of the lake of the same name, lying in the western part of Onondaga, and pursuing a north northwesterly course for ten miles, falls into the Seneca a little west of Cross lake. Its descent is about 460 feet.
Onondaga outlet enters Seneca after a short course of about one hundred rods. It is artificial, the old drain having lately been shut up. Nine Mile, or Otisco and Onondaga crecks, which fall into Onondaga lake, furnish nearly all the water of the outlet.
Oncida river, or outlet, as it is sometimes called, the other branch of Otswego river, issues out of the west end of Oneida lake, and takes a westerly course, to its junction with Seneca river, making three large sweeps, besides several curves. The
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distance from the issue to the junction, by the course it pursues, is about eighteen miles, but in a direct line not over nine. It is a dull stream with low banks. Its whole descent is twelve feet six inches,
Oneida lake, which gives origin to Oneida river, is the re -. servoir of several streams-we shall notice them.
Chitteningo enters the south side of the lake, seven miles east of the outlet. Its source is in Linklin's lake, in the western part of the county of Madison. After it has passed the village of Cazenovia, in the vicinity of the latter lake, its general di- rection is northwesterly. Canasaraga and Limestone -creeks join it. Its length, by its flexures, exceeds thirty miles.
Oneida creek heads towards the central part of Madison county, near the sources of the Chenango, and runs eastwardly ten or twelve miles, and then northwesterly about fourteen miles, where it opens into the southeast corner of the lake. For fourteen miles it is the boundary between Madison and Oneida counties.
Fish creek, of Oneida lake, has its source in a small pond situated into the county of Lewis, a few miles west of Martin's- burg, near the head of the Mohawk. Its general course, to its disemboguement, is southerly. West Fish creek joins it seven or eight miles above its mouth, and Wood creek very near its entrance into the lake. The whole length of Fish creek, by its course, is fifty miles.
The Oswego, from the junction to the head of the falls, eleven or twelve miles, is a very gentle stream, but from thence to near its mouth, it is broken by falls and rapids. For its navigation we refer the reader to article Canals.
The Oswego drains an extent of country containing about 4,500 square miles .*
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We shall subjoin a table of elevations :-
1st, The level at the junction, above the surface of Lake Ontario, is . 117 feet 6 inches.
* This river abound« with eels .- One thousand barrels have been taken in a season at the falls. Salmon, Boss, Pike, &c. are taken in great numbers. VOL. I.
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2d, That of Oneida lake, is 130 feet,
3d, That of Onondaga lake, is 124 do.
4th, That of Cayuga lake, is . 150 do.
5th, That of Seneca lake, is 199 do.
Seneca and Oneida rivers usually rise in March and April, six or seven feet.
Note-From Montezuma, where Seneca and Cayuga and Canandaigua outlets unite to Three River Point, is thirty-eight miles according to a computation made by Mr. Giddes, and the descent twenty feet. The rise in Spring is much more in some places.
Little Salmon river enters Lake Ontario about seventeen miles easterly of the Oswego. Its source is near that of the West branch of Fish creek, and its direction northwesterly about twenty-five miles.
Big Salmon river falls into the lake four or five miles east- wardly of the preceding. It originates in the Highlands of Black river, near where Fish creek does. It, in the first place, runs northwesterly about fourteen miles; and in the second, westwardly about twenty-two miles. Most of its course is in Oswego county. The falls at Orwell, nearly midway between its source and mouth, have a perpendicular descent of 107 feet. Its mouth affords a tolerable harbour for vessels of fifty or sixty tons. It abounds with Salmon, Trout and Pickerel.'
Little Sandy has its course and source in Oswego county. Its mouth is in a small lagoon, four or five miles north of that of Salmon river.
Big Sandy, which next enters Lake Ontario, has its source in the town of Denmark, in the county of Lewis, and runs "in a westerly direction through the county of Jefferson. By its windings, its length is about thirty-five miles. A little above its mouth, Ellisburg creek joins it. Boats ascend about two miles. The mouth of Big Sandy opens into a lagoon-vessels drawing six or seven feet of water enter this stream.
Black river issues out of a small lake, situated in the unin- habited parts of the county of Herkimer, and runs southwest- erly into the northeastern part of the county of Oneida, where it turns and takes a northwesterly direction, inclining some to the north, to the Great Bend. From thence, to its mouth, its di-
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rection is westerly. Its first course is about twenty-eight miles, its second fifty-three, and its third twenty, all in direct lines. It crosses the county of Herkimer, winds across the northeast- erly corner of Oneida, and passes through the counties of Lewis and Jefferson.
Black river opens into the head of Hungry Bay, four miles northeast of Sacketts Harbour.
The following streams are its tributaries :-
1st, Black creek, which falls into it on its left bank, near the confines of Herkimer and Oneida counties. Its course is west- erly about twelve or fifteen miles.
2d, Moose river, which nearly equals it in size, enters on the right bank at the High Falls in Lewis county. Its source is in the county of Herkimer, and its course westerly. In its way it passes through several lakes and ponds. It is between thirty and forty miles in length.
3d, Otter creek enters on the same side, after a westerly course of twenty miles.
4th, Independence creek enters ten miles below the High Falls, after running westwardly twenty-five miles.
5th, Beaver river derives its sources in two small lakes, situated in the northeastern part of the county of Herkimer, near the head of the Oswegatchie, and runs westerly about thirty miles. Its entrance is also on the right bank.
5th, Deer creek comes from the southwest, and enters a few Iniles below Beaver river, on the left bank. Its bed is broken by cascades. The largest has a perpendicular descent of 170 fect. Deer creek is not much over twenty miles in length. Its course is in Lewis county.
Most of the streams which fall into Black river, are very precipitous. They are little else than mountain torrents.
Black river, for a considerable part of its way, flows through a deep valley. Its current is often accelerated, sometimes slug- gish. Its bed is broken by the High Falls at Turin, in the county of Lewis, where its waters drop abruptly 63 feet : By the Long Falls at Champion, in Jefferson county. The latter
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consist of a series of rapids and cascades, which, together with several stretches of slack water, extend twelve miles. In the first two miles, it is computed that the water descends 60 feet. At the foot of these there is a smooth stretch of water for four miles, where other rapids occur for two miles, in which the descent is about 200 feet. Here a stretch of boatable water begins, which extends to the Great Bend, four miles. From this place to its mouth, it consists of reaches, rapids and falls. At Watertown there is a fall of 12 feet, and at Brownville an- other of about 24 feet. Black river is navigable for large boats, from the High Falls at Turin, to the head of the Long Falls at Wilna, forty-five miles. The whole of this distance is slack water or nearly such.
The region from whence this river derives its source, is nearly or quite 1,400 feet higher than the liquid plain of Lake Ontario.
Perch creek and Chaumont river are two small streams that fall into Chaumont Bay, a few miles north of the mouth of Black river. Both have their rises and courses in Jefferson county. They are severally eighteen miles in length.
Between, Chaumont river and the outlet of Lake Ontario, there are no streams deserving of notice.
Mullet Otter Hyde Plesses and Crooked creeks fall into the St. Lawrence.
The Oswegatchie has its sources in three small lakes, situated in the north western part of the county of Hamilton, adjacent to those of Beaver river. Its general courses may be set down as follows :- First, northeasterly sixteen miles, to its dilatation in Cranberry lake-second, northwesterly to the Ox Bow, about forty miles-third, northeasterly to the natural canal, twenty-seven miles-and fourth, north northwesterly eleven miles, to its mouth at the village of Ogdensburg. From its source to its mouth, by its windings and turnings, it is about one hundred and twen- ty miles, but in a direct line not over sixty. At the west end of the Ox Bow it and Indian river approach within four miles of each other ; they afterwards recede. At the natural canal it is only six miles from Grass river. The natural canal unites these streams. Nearly the whole course of Oswegatchie is in St.
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Lawrence county. Its bed is broken by several falls and ra- pids. In general between these there are stretches of slack water. Boats ascend it to the falls at De Kalb, about forty-five miles.
The strip of land within the Ox Bow, is eight miles long and from one to two and three-quarters broad.
The natural canal is from five to ten rods broad, and has enough of water in freshets for loaded boats. The current sets in from Grass river. There is a descent of about four feet, which is eight inches to the mile.
The streams of most note which fall into Oswegatchie, are the West branch and Indian river.
The West branch rises in the north part of the county of Herkimer, and pursues a northwesterly direction thirteen miles, and then a northeasterly one seventeen. Its course is mostly in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
Indian river has its origin in the northeastern part of Lewis county, a little northwesterly of the sources of the West branch of Oswegatchie, and takes a northwesterly direction about seven- teen miles, then a northeasterly one about five, then a southwest- ly one about six, then a northeasterly one about eight, then a southwesterly'one about fifteen, and then a northeasterly one about twenty-three, where it opens into the southwesterly end of Black lake, a fine basin of water eighteen or twenty miles long. Then issuing out of the northeast end of this lake, in a fuller stream, it joins the Oswegatchie, after a progress of six miles. The junction is about six miles above Ogdensburg.
The course of Indian river is through parts of Lewis, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. It is a remarkably crooked stream. It nearly equals Oswegatchie at the coalescence.
The falls at Theresa are about 60 feet. Boats of ten or twelve tons go up as far as the cascade at Rossie, near the head of Black lake. From its mouth to its head, in a straight line, is about fifty miles.
About forty-one miles northeasterly from the mouth of Oswe- gatchie, Grass river enters the St. Lawrence. Its general di- rections is northeasterly. It heads near where the Oswegatchie does.
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Its entire course is in St. Lawrence county, and is about one hundred and ten miles. It, like the preceding rivers, is very winding, especially in the upper part of its course.
The Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence, Grass and natural canal, form an island forty miles in length, and from one to eleven miles in breadth. The canal connects the first and third of these rivers.
The Racket issues out of a lake eight or nine miles long, and from two to three broad, situated in the northwestern part of the county of Hamilton, and runs easterly five miles, and spreads into a lake ten or eleven miles long, and one broad, stretching from northwest to southeast ; then leaving this lake it takes a northeasterly direction eight or nine miles, crossing into the southwesterly part of Franklin, where it turns to the left, and pursues a westerly one about ten miles, and then enters Tupper's lake, lying in Franklin and St. Lawrence counties. . On quiting this lake, it enters another after a northeasterly progress of two or three miles. After its departure from this lake, its course is northwesterly about thirty-five miles. The residue of its course, which is northeasterly, is about thirty-five miles. Its entrance into the St. Lawrence is about three miles below that of the Grass. From its mouth upwardly, till it has nearly transcended the sources of Grass and St. Regis rivers, its course is parallel with them. The entire length of the Racket, by its windings, is little, if any, under one hundred and sixty miles. It is navigable for small boats up to Lewisville, eighteen or twenty miles. . From thence upwardly for thirty miles, its na- vigation is said to be interrupted by falls. Above these it is continued some distance. In Clarkham are falls which depress the bed in a short distance, nearly 200 feet. At its mouth it is about one hundred yards broad.
The Racket has its source in the elevated country between lakes Ontario and Champlain, and after the Hudson, has the greatest length and volume of water of any river having its ori- gin in this part of the State. We are but little acquainted with the dreary and desolate region through which this river flows, be- fore it reaches the low country neighbouring the St. Lawrence.
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St. Regis has it entrance into the St. Lawrence about four miles below that of the Racket, and just after it has passed our northern boundary into the Province of Lower Canada. Its length is not far from eighty miles, reckoning it by the course which it pursues. Its sources are in some small ponds situated towards the southern part of the county of Franklin near Loon lake, from whence the Saranack flows. It proceeds northwester- ly fifteen or twenty miles, where it is joined by the South branch, which heads in the same region. It still continues nearly in the same course, about twenty-five miles, when it turns and runs about twenty-four miles in a northeasterly one, receiving in its way the South branch, which is about forty miles long.
The St. Regis is one hundred and twenty yards broad at its mouth. It is a rapid stream, and affords no navigation for boats till near the St. Lawrence.
Salmon river is about fifty miles in length, and falls into the . St. Lawrence a few miles beyond the boundary line. It is con- stituted by two small streams that issue out of two ponds situat- ed not far from the head of the West branch of Saranack. Its direction is inclining some to the northwest. Boats carrying eight or ten tons, navigate it to French mills, nine or ten miles. Its course to the boundary is in the county of Franklin.
Trout river, an inconsiderable stream, falls into the St. Law- rence soon after it has passed our northern boundary. Its source is in the eastern part of the county of Franklin, near that of Big Chazy.
Chateaugua river opens into Lake St. Louis, a few miles above the town of Montreal. Its source is in Chateaugua lake, lying in the counties of Franklin and Clinton. Upon leaving the lake it runs north northwesterly about fifteen miles, and then northeasterly to its mouth. It has several cascades. The sur - face of Chateaugua lake is upwards of 1,200 feet above that of the ocean.
The Great Chazy heads in the Chateaugua mountains, in the eastern part of the county of Franklin, and runs northeasterly within three miles of latitude forty-five, which is our northern boundary, and then turns to the right and proceeds southeasterly
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to its mouth, which is in Lake Champlain. Its length, in two direct lines, is about thirty-six miles, but by its windings up- wards of fifty. Almost the whole course of this river is in the county of Clinton. Its mouth is about twelve miles south of the boundary.
The Little Chazy comes from the interior of the county of Clinton, and enters the same lake about three miles south of the Big Chazy.
The Saranack discharges itself into Lake Champlain at Plattsburg, thirteen miles south of the preceding, after running a course of more than sixty miles. About twenty miles from its mouth, it separates into two branches, called the West and South. The former rises in a small lake situated in the county of Franklin, and flows easterly upwards of twenty miles : the lat- ter heads in Loon lake, in the same county, and passes through Saranack lake. On leaving it, it runs northeasterly about thirty miles, where it is met by the preceding. The courses given are direct. Both streams pass through Sable mountain.
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Ten miles south of the mouth of Saranack, the river Sable commingles with Lake Champlain. Fifteen miles above its mouth it divides into two branches, denominated the West and South. The West issues out of a small lake lying in the north- western part of the county of Essex, and proceeds northeasterly about twenty miles : the South originates in the town of Keen, in the same county, and also proceeds in a northeasterly course to the coalition, upwards of twenty miles. This river, from the coalition downwardly, is the line of division between the counties of Clinton and Essex.
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