The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

174 STATE OF THE
truely an Inland sea, of greater breadth than can be seen by the
eye, communicates with Lake Erie, the Lake of the Hurons,
Lake Michigan & the Upper lake, all of them Inland seas, By
means of these Lakes, & the Rivers which fall into them, Commerce may be carried from New York, through a vast Tract of
Land, more easily than from any other maritime Town in North
America.
These advatages I am sensible, cannot be sufficiently understood, without a Map of North America. The best which I have
seen, is Mr. De L'Isle's Map of Louisiana, publishedI in French
in the year 1718. For this reason I frequently use the French
names of places, that I may be better understood.
There are great Quantities of Iron oar in several parts of
the Province, Large Quantities of Sulphur in the
Minerals.
Mohawks Country Salt Springs in the Onondaga.
Country. Lead oar has likewise been found in several parts of
the Province, but no where as yet sufficient to pay the Expence
of working.
The Soil is less uniform, as the Surface is more unequal, than
in the more Southern Provinces; & consequently
Nature of the soil.
there is a great variety of soil in several parts of
the Province. It is generally proper for most sort of Grain, as
wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Maiz or Indian Corn & Buckwheat.
The wheat of this Province is generally heavier than that of the
Provinces more to the Southward & yields a larger quantity &
better kind of Flower.
The soil is likewise more fit for pasturage running naturally,
assoon as it is clear'd of the woods into clover and other good grass,
& is almost every where intermixed with good meadow grounds.
These in several parts are of a deep rich black mold & have when
sufficiently drain'd produced Hemp to great advantage. What
I say of Hemp is grounded on what has been done in New Jersey,
& tho' the experiment has not been sufficiently tried in this
Province, I can see no reason to doubt of the like success.
On many of the Branches of IHudson's River, & near Albany
on Hudson's river it self, there is a kiind of soil made by. the
Rivers & extends about half a mile in breadtlh along the Rivers.
This being made by the soil, which the Rivers let fall is exceed