UNITARIAN CHURCH

CHURCH METHODIST EPISCOPAL STATE STREET

the church was dedicated. At this Unitarians same service three persons stepped State Street forward professing "conversion to Christ. So the new ahufch early become known as a church with an In Ithaca evangelistic spirit. Church In 1877, during the pastorate of the Rev. Robert Hogaboom, it was Since 1865 decided to sell the Seneca Street Started in '51 property and move to the present site on the corner of State and Al This article is based largely on a bany Streets. Here the present brick statement prepared in 1924 by was erected and dedicated Methodism started in Ithaca in building Mrs. John H. Barr in February, 1879, by Charles the year 1793 in the McDowall log Bishop

Fowler. . cabin located where the Senior The First Unitarian Society of Church Redecorated High School now stands. In 1820 the Ithaca had its beginnings in the During the pastorate of Rev. J. C. First Methodist Church was built period immediately following the B. Moyer the church was com and in it was installed the first Civil War. These were the days, pletely repaired and redecorated. A church bell heard in Ithaca. too, when Ezra Cornell and Andrew new pipe organ and new pews were At a in the First Meth D. White were organizing the edu meeting installed. On Jan. 24, 1915, the odist Church in the Seneca cational enterprise that is now 1851, church was reopened with Cor-^ Bishop ! Street Methodist Church was or- nell University. It was a time when William Burt preaching the sermon. ganized with the trus many were breaking, with old cus \ following Last year the church was again tees: H. Benjamin toms and turning new ground in , Henry More, redecorated throughout. On Palm Tabor, Daniel Hugg, Charles Miles education, in science, and in re-] Sunday it was reopened with an ap jand Joseph Burritt. This church ligion. propriate service dedicating at the j [later become known as the State It was not strange then that! same time the new Hymnals which [Street Methodist Church. had when in 1865 a series of meetings been installed in the pews, was announced in the town hall, j Most second churches cf the same each one in honor of a friend of the of the Ameri denominations in the same town State Street Church. under the auspices owe origin row," can Unitarian Association, they at their to "a church Thirty-three ministers have but not the State tracted attention and were well at ! Street. The second served this society as pastors: preached Methodist Church in this city start- Albert tended. Among those who J' Graves, Ephrim Hoag, C. ministers ed in the days when Methodists D. S. G. Fitch were seme of the leading ' Burritt, Lathrop, at least believed in multiplying Reed, W. N. Hiram E. of the Unitarian denomination, up were' Cobb, Gee, of I churches. Not only the njem- C. Curtiss, Thomas Harroun, Simon to that time little known outside iden ;bers of the First Methodisi Church Gray, Benjamin Shove, John Crip- New England, and especially greatly, in favor of this movement pen, D. D. Buck, Theron Cooper tified with Boston. To Ithaca came of of New York placing another church in the (two different pastorates), O. A. Dr. Rufus Bellows western part of Ithaca, but the an Houghton, R. Hogaboom, Milton City, Edward Everett Hale and nual conference were delighted with Hamblin, R. D. Munger, T. F. James Freeman Clarke from Bos the plan. Clarke, E. M Mills, W. H. Giles, ton, Samuel J. May from Syracuse, Conference Held Here Hoemer from C. L. Connell, S. F. Sanford, Ward and G. Washington The conference was meeting in Mosher, E. J. Roseengrant, J. C. Buffalo. the in so on a city 1851, July day Nichols, D. D. King, J. C. B. W[oyer, The result was the formal or a large of Methodist A. group people E. Atwater, D. W. Baylis, Fred ganization of Oct. 15, 1865 of the gathered on the corner of Seneca erick Maunder, H. G. Burley, and First Unitarian Society, with the and Plain Streets to witness the lay Raymond H. Cox. installation, just a year later, of the cornerstone of the Church ing of new The old Seneca Street the Rev. E. C. Guild as the first church the which years had man by presiding bishop, building for many regular minister. A Harvard Edward Janes. At this same con been used for a store was taken the and a graduate of Meadville, ference the Rev. Albert Graves was down fall and the corner stone last Unitarian Theological School, Mr. appointed pastor. The new given to the State Street Church started." society Guild "got things baptismal held its meetings in the town hall ; which will make it into a while their church was being erect- ; font. ed and on Thanksgiving Day, 1851, Among the active members of | Long Pastorate Held the early parish the names of these Perhaps no minister of the First are remembered: Wells, Unitarian families Society has made a Moral Bossed Ithaca Delano, Perry, deeper impression on Walbridge, Donnelly, the people of Society The late Morse. Edwards, Wyckoff. Ithaca within and without his Edward Guild Wyckoff was named parish than did the Rev. Cyrus W. In 19th After two for the first minister. Heizer. His pastorate lasted from Early Century moved to 1901 years the Rev. Mr. Guild till his death in October, 1914. Baltimore. During all this time he entered The society had a great local1 Pastor heart and soul CLAREY Greek Second into the life of the By B. M. spirit. It picked on John city and gave know it but only He was followed the Rev. himself unsparingly Most folk don't "strangers" by and local to need. characters C. Zachos, a Greek, who had come every It is remembered Ithacathis seat of culture and who no Samuel how on one had important sponsor. to this country with Dr. Sunday when the In education was once a juvenile let was Tribute was accepted from those Howe of Boston, the founder of the in flood and the lower delinquent. was" who could method of the levels of the town pay because that modern instructing awash, he ap Even after Simeon De Witt, the business^ the husband of Julia peared in the good and anyone who blind and pulpit in rubber named Ithaca after a Zachos' surveyor, Ward Howe. Mr. boots, and dismissed the congrega wasn't interested in amassing a During beautiful Grecian city, no one pastorate the young people of the tion a brief but fortune as quickly as possible after, stirring ap-| bothered to call Ithaca Ithaca. It active. church were particularly "Sodom," wasn't worth the salt the Indians was known as "The Then for a number of years the peal for volunteers. He was in City" were down the lake. (in quite hiding Rev. Rufus P. Stebbins was min disparaging strumental in the of Pit." Ruler Established the establishing or "The These refer ister, until 1877. In these days a tones), separate courf for juvenile offen Americana offers no more des co-operative spirit that ences to our little com friendly and ders. He was lovely believed by the en potic group than the Moral So characterizes the Ithaca ministers would lead one to think tire community. munity raisin' ciety. Greater crimes, perhaps, had not developed. On the it was 'a snortin', hell today Mr. Heizer's successor was the rip then Presbyterian min may be attributed to gangster contrary the Rev. Howard A. town in the early 1800s. It was. Pease, 1915-1917, and an able and influential man, forces the Ku Klux Klan, but ister, who was followed the Rev. J. Land promoters boosting the by the not often preached against the Unitar cattail- Moralists in their day only A. C. Fagginer-Auer, 1917-1924, an sale of swamp, swale, and ians and also "that Godless institu policed the community but estab other brilliant who covered soil referred to Ithaca as hill." preacher, tion on the But once, when East." lished the rules of conduct. moved from Ithaca to a professor "The Chicago of the A hun he was ill! Mr. Stebbins went to see Heaven the violator. For ship at Tufts College and who is dred years later when Al Capone help him and was so sympathetic and two decades their iron hand now professor of church in and Bugs Moran with their helpful that the good doctor said history trig crushed the the loaf the Harvard School. ger companions were drunkards, when he you may not Divinity happy left, "Well, exhibitionists and those with During the past 12 years the First someone (if ers, be a Christian, but you're the first shooting up Chicago, Unitarian has had four min bad manners. The society was or minister in town to come and see Society he'd ever thought of it) could me." isters, the Rev. John from ganized in 1806 and lasted until After that, while they seldom Lewis, have called Chicago "the Ithaca for a short pastorate in Midwest." 1837 or lateribut in its days agreed about anything, he and Mr. England, of the dying 1924-1925; the Rev. Frank S. Gred- the punch gone, Stebbins were always friends. Slumber Aften Disturbed was Everyone Stebbins' pas ler, 1926-1931; the Rev. Leslie T. referred to the as the It was during Mr. was not the group Homicide, society" and however, first church of the Pennington, 1932-1935, then, "chaotic and torate that the motive in Ithaca's days. mounting after an interval when on of shooting Unitarian was in 1873. many ridicule of less important persons Society built, boys%rould fire at on the Sundays the services were con The will It stood on East Buffalo Street, what was once occasion and the slumbers ended tolerated ducted by various laymen in the disturb nearly opposite what is now the because of the social prestige of $13,- society, professors in Cor of little children and old folks Unitarian parsonage. It cost mostly their predecessors. Then in nell University, the present minis now and then. A loud and too, and was free from debt when bang 500 the peace Ith ter, the Rev. Abbott Peterson the peculiar whine of a early 1800s, loving Mr. Stebbins left Ithaca. Jr., closely acans believed the Moralists were who took up his duties here on gave an Then followed a series of minis passing pellet strangers Jan. 1, 1936. combatting more evil forces. ters who are still remembered and unfair impression of community While in the early days of the That page in Ithaca's is beloved by the older members of spirit. Word got around the coun history Henry' history of this church the word a black one, its a the society: the Rev. Messrs. tryside about these happenings. Likewise blank Unitarian was more than once con one. In the Old Court House,; the C. Badger, Joseph Henry Allen, Al Strangers, alighting from .the jured with in i the pulpits of the De Witt Historical has fred E. Goodnough, John W. Day, stage at Grant's Coffee House,'; Society city as synonymous -vith and John F. Dutton. This brings being voluminus records. There one wpuld dash right .to the desk any heathen or atheist or up the down to the nine non-Christian, can find out much story early and ask: "Is it of what hap much misunderstanding is now a breathlessly safe; ties. night?'' pened around to remain over here since the time thing of the past, and the place here Old Church Destroyed General of this church in the great corpor A visitor's concern was two Sullivan, acting on^ the time of the next min During ate He was worried body of Christianity is clearly fold. about the orders from George. ister, the Rev. John W. the Washington, Scott, recognized. "Imposing no doctrinal boisterous boatmen and teamsters ' booted the Indians off Cayuga 'old church on Buffalo Street was tests and no acceptance requiring who had been attracted here by Lake. But when you start destroyed by fire. What seemed at digging of any written creed, this church the War of 1812 blockade. Ithaca first to be a catastrophe proved not for facts on community affairs welcomes all in the cordially who, offered the gypsum and salt to be altogether such, for it united young from 1816 to all you get is love of the truth and in the spirit 1830, America needed and it could be the society in the desire to build a a lot of biographical dope on a of Jesus Christ, desire to worship moved ways new and better and what, fellowmen.' two up Cayuga railroad or steamboat church, God and to serve their promoter, was even and Erie more significant because Lake along the Canal who, if not a member of the it out sym- over brought expressions of or toted the hill to Owego 20 Moral was a can 1 Society, likely and good pathy will, including of miles away. From Owego it didate for the same or for its fers of material from help, many moved down the navigable water punishments. in no connected way with the so ways to Baltimore and the At Three Were Influential ciety. lantic Coagt. . One and it is a true During this historical blackout story, one, Society Organized is that while the flames were still three characters were influential These noisy, tobacco chewing, actively at work, one of the lead in community life. They were hard drinking, fighters ing merchants of the town handed gouging overlooked in the historical con were enough to the prudent to the minister a check for a sub keep centration on others who amassed away. Yet they were less feared stantial sum, saying, with a smile, fortunes by thrift and shrewd fund." other "For your than the element, an ele building ness. A few of the wealthy turned ment mobilized to establish law The lot at the corner of Buffalo philanthropist before dropping and Aurora and order where none existed. It Streets was secured into the grave and if they hap and the present church wae the Moral Society. erected in pened to be a member of the 1893. William the archi The Moral took upon Miller, Society Moral Society chances are their tect, donated the plans and W. H. itself the task of this making largesse could be traced to re superintended construction. inland port a more Perry thriving peace morse. Damaged by smoke from a fire in ful place in which to live. Of this trio Tecumseh was the basement in of out-, the autumn , of Composed 40 business and standing. By day he was Ben 1935, the auditorium was corn- professional men, all from the Drake, an affable merchant whose completely redecorated and re upper social the level, Society the was lighted the standing in community during summer of 1936 ran the town. Its members be indicated the fact every one in a which makes it by way more came drunk with power Ben." and the called him "Unele At night than ever a place of worship. raw liquor distilled along Casca of In 1898 the Rev. he assumed the role Tecumseh, Ulysses G. B. dilla Creek. They imposed their of the Pierce came to Ithaca and for sovereign leader Moralists. will on everyone. And a it is the most three years attracted large congre few, He issued frightening used suspected, their standing, as left the gations by his brilliant sermons proclamations. It politi society members in with and pleasing personality. Since dealing cians particularly and the public their clients. 1901 he has been minister of the generally in a dither. Unitarian Church in Washington. D. C. \3 "Members of the Ithaca Moral woufld snappy clutch he bring Castigator" publisher of "The at your posts. I Another was Dr. William Wis- the nose and hat together while Society in: Puckr." obviously was cahoots with "Whereas it has come to my Ijner, a martyr toPresbyterianism yelling "Snitchr It was Uncle Ben, the nocturnal Tecum knowledge that certain of our and temperance. The good doctor always good for a laughand seh. who. It is difficult, however, to ancient enemies, known and de was all but crucified in the usually a fight. The stranger tell from the old "Castiga nominated as circus wild and the,. never reading equestrians, woolly Ithaca of won. tor" publications when Caleb was riders, mountebanks, jugglers etc.; times is believed to have put the Even more, fun was derived "chaotic" serious or facetious. Suffice it to have the audacity and temerity to stamp on the Moralists from getting two drunks to sit on say he was always interesting and avow, manifest and make known he despised with the same fervor the floor with the feet braced he mighty mad at those who spon their audacity and temerity to felt toward all "Sabbath heel to toe and hands clasping a Breakers." sored antimasonry. Caleb Cudgel avow, manifest and make known stick. The game was to se-3 which would not tolerate such thinking. their determination to enter with 'The Castigator' Published could pull the other to his. feet. Whether the Moral Society in the bounds of this ancient and But the Moralists never could The third and lesser character Ben" died with "Uncle on Feb. 4, honorable society, willfully, ma was a practical printer, James M. wait to determine who won be 1835 or earlier is hard to tell. He and wickedly for the cause in liciously Miller, who came back east after their excitement over was the motivating force and so purpose of exhibiting, perform a spell at Fort Detroit. He called the contest thejr wouldn't refrain long as he was actively engaged in ing, acting and practicing certain himself "Captain Caleb Cudgel" from droppingV^, few bucketsful edicts sleight of hand and Castigator," portraying Tecumseh, his feats, tricks, and published "The of water on the contestants. The were generally Well adhered to. other juggling, thereby filching an irregular sheet that collapsed climax came when the pair was There was a second Tecumseh from the worthy citizens of our in 1823 after 13 issues. Captain jroped and hauled to the nearest operating in 1837 who, removed ancient village the lastRemaining Cudgel pledged himself to "shoot convenient stream for a ducking. a ban on the "limping beef and small change left them in the at expose Needless to Dr. Wisner did folly, and say, inspector" of- hypocrisy pork who had been days pressure and scarcity, cor lash the rascals naked through ' ' pot suc- placed "beyond the protection of their world." like these goings on. He rupting morals, vitiating the . ' Laws." .tastes their |ceeded in. 1816 a Dr. G. Mande this Moral Society's their and picking With and quill work Caleb his and whereas these same ville who gave up the fight for Outcast Paid Off pockets ing overtime the Moralists bore 'decency in Ithaca. Wisner made The disconsolate inspector who mountebanks. . . | down on all who offended their it known from the start he was had been denied "shelter, com Warned to Be on Alert sensitive tastes. Of course a great j em here to fight "intemperance, li munication, cohabitation, There was a great deal more deal of sin could be overlooked * ployment or trade with of centiousness an,d concommittant; any redundancy in the proclamation upon the deposit of a fee. But an citizens," vices the track of his fellow the outcast marking Sab-j Which wound up with an order to out-of-towner came with two desecration." here paid off to win a bath What annoyed apparently re-| liege subjects in their vari strikes against him. The Moral "my most in work was the prieve. the him his Anyway ous departments, Engine, Hook as gener Society, acting umpire, church &n the second Uncle horse racing past the by Tecumseh, and Ladder, Rope and Bucket fanned and the poor ally him guy read Ben's pointed out the Sunday mornings when he successor, Companies, Sappers, Miners and was struck out both literally arid the, gospel,, It was not only victim was most disconsolate and Perfumes with their various figuratively. a wicked but he said. had seen the error of his ways. distracting, equipments ... to be on the; alert games were played with its not." Gay The good doctor inherited a The ban was lifted accord being > . . hereof fail It should be victims. Running the gauntlet was pronouncement and the congregation of 31. He promptly ing to the noted that Uncle Ben was ; cap one punishment. The offender excommunicated six, four men public might again speak to the tain of Hook and Ladder Com against society was. forced to dash from who "could and two women. Starting limping inspector pany $> through a line of double, hardy there he created a going organiza be traded with and employed in Tecumseh's orders weue spe who men took turns punching on tion that he addressed in 1866 his official and natural capacity cific insofar as sheriffs, bailiffs, with occasion1 him their fists as he tried 50th anniver beef and pork the of his of inspecting constables, judges and justices of to reach the other end before be further." sary sermon. Meantime he was and no the peace were concerned. They ing clipped with a knockout the treated cruelly by unruly. . Ben Drake was a masculinely were not but ordered to punch under the ear. this Actually His first temperance sermons handsome man. He was impec halt any performance the society was worse than the running were delivered in the village's cably dressed in the fashion of disapprpved. Once a traveling gauntlet when firearms were roll- em original schoolhouse. Ignoring the day with the upturned showman disputed the society's ployed to impress a wrongdoer. warnings to desist, he continued away collar and long dark coat, authority and staged a show, in The latter, knowing he, was up until some group tore the build tighfc.fitting pants and boots. His the Hotel Ithaca. He had a collec against expert marksmen, jiijst ing down. The mane and tail of Tecumseh outfit could have been tion of wax figures and a monkey ran, confident that all these tor his horse were shaved. then Daniel Boone in the flesh had it for entertainment. A good crowd mentors would do was shoot his someone whitewashed the horse not been for the hat. The latter had gathered when the Moralists hat off with from along the heels of before stealing the wheels, was wide brimmed and low burst in. They started a fight. his boots. carriage and them in crowned like the comic his hiding strip During the melee the exhibitor Later an attempt was gangsters the Li'l Abner series. the woods. in was roughly handled and tossed throat but made to cut the horse's A fringed buckskin coat, leggings iftto the street. The crowd dis So far as is known the Moral reveal historical records do not and moccasins made up the en persed after the wax figures " ists never shot or hanged anyone this was circumvented. semble. Whether Drake wore this how i were smashed. The monkey, but once they nearly drowned a \) or as head of Crowning Insult putfit as Tecumseh scared to death, hopped through drunl. in anyone to Dr. Insobriety The crowning insult the wolf and deer hunting so an open window with Uncle Benl these among yvhose white framed also commanded isn't hard-drinking, re-, Wisner1, ciety he Tecumseh in pursuit. The monkey] ligious men was not to be toler site of the house stood on the known. It doesn't male any dif ran up a tree from which it glared ated. j They grabbed intoxicated was of present Cornell Infirmary, ference, regardless what he at Tecumseh. The latter yanked non-Ithacans whenever possible the work of unknown elements; wore he outdictated Adolph Hit out his horse pistol and shot the; and dragged them to the nearest his home. The Stalin in their better .who boarded up ler and Joe little fellow. "A wild and danger creek where were given sign animal," they the l vandals would swipe a from, days. ous he explained to the treatment that dunking English! Ian inn advertising liquors and, onlookers. bounced' its popula jurists used to order for the com other Ythaca had Inail it across the door. All Saturday night was "Harvest 5,000 in 1830 and had a Evening" mon scold. One night a even tion up to group of passages from the house, the to the Moralists. On this connection with Owego Moralists a nailed tight. railroad tossed drunk bodily windows, would be yeekly occasion they rounded gypsum and salt up into swollen Six Mile one from where its Creek. Dr. Wisner, on more than all the drunks and tossed them be transported water to When it obvious he pounded his could by became was morning, sawed or into the Hog Pound, a wallow the Atlantic Coast. That put the going to drown in water rather to freedom. 30x40 feet with upended planks liquor,' way teamsters out of business but the than the leader of the band Despite all this abuse and per creatipg an 18-foot barrier. For ' boatmen were still going strong and those dived in. rescued him a quar secution suffered from, a drunk it was as tough to escape was the Moral Society. and so as a ter mile away from the launching. whose ideas of life differed from from modern prison and few declared the curren Tecumseh free- *"At times the Moralists would his the minister hung on in sober men could have gained own, of a Pennsy^ania licensed! strip a drunk after dousing him his fight to make the "Lord's cy dom from incarceration in it&L and threatened any Day" bank invalid and expose him in the streets, more than "a the1 something day its I slimy depths. It stood where dissipation." one possessing or passing conforming to Captain and thereby of idleness punishment. old Crescent now paper with dire "We Theater, an Ith admonition Exposed authority," Cudgel's to lash the Hypocrisy Not aca College of our sovereign gymnasium, is located. naked through the determined i, rascals world. So far as can be "declare the Many of those engaged in dis lxe proclaimed, The Moralists invented the cute Cudgel never ex Captain Caleb the Silver Lake Bank pensing the liquor that befuddled Puckr." money of "Snitchr all game of posed hypocrisy. He had its drinkers were Moralists after any no good . . strangers. the material right in hours and to confine such This was a greeting to necessary Here's an example of what he helped with the Moralists. But the characters as A member would tap an unknown 'his lap oroclaimed: Jaconiah, Old Ga Bar- visitor at some inn on the back lote, Barney Spry, Corporal . ber and and when the person turned he others. would grab the brim of his, hat with thumb and forefinger and I place the little finger of his hand Wnal Jan. 1*51 ! under the victim's nose. With a l+4ca One Saturday night in 1813, ai group of "Moralists were drink-l ing in the Gere Hotel, puzzling! over the fact the town was so quiet. They wondered where Ja- coniah, Old Galote, Barney Spry and Corporal Barber could be.j After all it was their night for! incarceration. They had let the society down. While this unusual occasion was being deliberated over rounds of drinks, an urchin Top," MEETING OF EXCISE BOARD called "Red came in and April 1874. asked, for Mr. Grant of Coffee From The Journal, 9, House fame. No one had seen The Board of Excise of the Village of the urchin since he him, reported, Ithaca held their first meeting in the had gone out at 10 p.m. on an er Trustees' at rand. room, this morning, 9 o'clock, The Moralists weren't too con for the purpose of taking into considera cerned about Grant for his busi tion the matter of granting license. They ness demanded he be roaming were called upon by a large delegation about on a Saturday night. They Woman's continued drinking. Sometime lat from the Temperance Band,

mained" temper- er a "slip shod (that's an and delegations from the various old burst in ance who presented peti- historian's opinion) , organisations, on group. She was and the crying j tions appealing to them to not grant "Has anyone wringing her hands. license. The room was crowded almost Benjamin?" i seen Squire she to suffocation, and in the middle, inside pleaded. one had. The squire's N^ a small semi-circle, formed the desks absence from the bout wasn't par by of the sat the three Commis ticularly unusual, the fellow trustees, might be engaged otherwise. sionersPresident A. S. Cowdry, Mr. Others Missing Amos Smith and Mr. L. Maurice. At midnight when the Moralists! Professor Russell stepped forward and drained the dregs from their presented a petition signed by 22 members the fact cups, someone mentioned of the faculty, and in behalf of the signers that not Joe Benjamin and! THE FAMOUS TRIPHAMMER only FALLS he proceeded to lay before the Board Jesse Grant were missing but that photograph which The from this illustration was made was taken about 1872, before dynamite their views in a most able and touching Cheesbrough and Zacariah Peleg and the hand of man tore to pieces the original charm of Triphammer Falls to make way for address. The faculty had under their Hogan hadn't put in an appear-| the hydraulic plant that now furnishes Cornell University with its tremendous water power and charge he said, five hundred young men ance. Most ^inusual, they thought.! Campus water supply from Fall Creek. On the left is shown the old winding stairs at a time They hadn't been home, it was, when Triphammer Falls was one of the most enchanting views of scenic Ithaca. and women, to whom they stood partially learned. Then the Moralists did! in the relation of parents. He said "We get excited. Village bells were! beseech you to. look upon these young Ithaca'si rung and torches lighted. people as though they were your children. hunt was under: greatest man Guard them as in your power lies, by not way. The search spread through one." granting license to any out the village and into every; At the session of the board this after alleyway. It continued for hours noon the follpwing applications for Ucense before the society boys, somewhat were presented: Samuel A. Holmes, hotel; woozy and very tired, decided to Edwin resume their quest, on Sunday. Carl Schallowitz, saloon; Simpson, They believed this to be a worth saloon; William H. CJark, saloon; Moses while effort that couldn't by any VanDroof, saloon; George W. Schuyler, stretch of the imagination be re and druggist. druggist; , White Burdick, garded Sabbath breaking. as The board adjourned at 4 o'clock without But the town's leading lights having taken action. were discovered long before the last Moralist's snore. It was the custom in those days for all youngsters to dash out at the crack dawn on Sunday and peer into the Hog Pound. Then they would race back home with information about the "Harvest Evening" haul. Imagine the mop- j pet's surprise at peering through | the knotholes and observing i bound and gagged and utterly ; filthy four of Ithaca's most | prominent citizens. The Moralists and no one else, Hog' ever thought to look in the Pound for, after all, that was re served for the not so nice people.] Who perpetrated this crowning! offense against the society was never determined. And where; Uncle Ben and his horse pistol were on this night is a mystery. OLD HYDRAULIC POWER PLANT IN FALL CREEK GORGE There is no further reference in The power house was built in 1892-93 at a cost of approximately $100,000. The turbines the DeWitt Historical Society's developed 800 horsepower at full which was used head, to generate electricity for lighting and records to power the water carried to the Jacohiah, Barney Spry, purposes, being turbines in a six foot iron pipe with a fall of 70 feet. The plant Corporal Barber or Old Galote was a dual ODe, having two steam boilers installed for use at seasons of the year when water power was not available. The plant was nor is there any evidence they destroyed by fire in 1905 and never rebuilt. were members of a rowdy gang that treated their betters with such disrespect As was men THE POWER TUNNEL

the through in 1830 Ezra tioned earlier, historians This tunnel was put by picture. have much to appears the The tun didn't say about Cornell, who in attractions of Ithaca. this era. nel was for years one ofthe But after the Hog Pound epi It is still in use. sode, Ithaca never again took the Moralists so seriously as they did themselves. THE END THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE *

By 0. D. von Engeln ITHACA REGION Professor of Physical Geography, Cornell University

Ancient Geography of the Region Tertiary Physiography During much of the most ancient geo I - Thus once again made the PART INTRODUCTORY logic time, the Ithaca Region was the a^hjg^land, region also again became the scene of THE geographic description of a bottom of a shallow interior sea. This active stream which continued region from the modern point of sea varied in dimensions during the dif cutting until ridges between streams were rounded view of the science involves ferent subdivisions of these early geologic and valleys were worn and weathered something more than the mere enumera ages, was at times widely connected with broadly open. The slight slope of the tion and presentation of the natural the open ocean, at others had only a con strata to the south sufficed to make north- features of the country and its inhabi stricted outlet and seems to have at least the' facing cliffs by action, the tants. Both the country and way oncebeen converted into a saline, desert weathering most conspicuous of which, south of the , the people in it live must be interpreted. basin when salts leached from surround Niagara cliff, was that due to the resistant The region must be explained. When ing formations were precipitated in thick, top layers of sandstone in the Portage this has been done the intelligent reader horizontal layers over its bottom. These formation, To the east of Cayuga should have a clear understanding of the layers of sodium ehloride are the basis Lake, this Portage escarpment or cliff is well natural processes by which the landscape of the present-day salt industry of the developed in the Ithaca region along the has been given its present aspect and how region and from the days of early settle north front of Turkey Hill and quite dis the inhabitants of the region have adapted ment furnished, by the medium of salt tinctly bisects the region into north and themselves to their surroundings; histor springs, the local supplies of this com south halves. The part lying to the north ically, in the present and how the en modity. 1 belongs in general to the central lowland vironment will affect their future. It isxevident, however, that the sea of North America, that to the south is It is not always possible to make such bottom must on the whole have been part of the Applachian Plateau. Hence, a geographic description complete. Some progressively sinking while clay, sand, this small region lies on the boundary of the facts may be missing, others not salt and lime layers, were being laid down, zone between two important physiographic. understood, still others misinterpreted. for while these have shallow water char- provinces.* To the west of Cayuga Lake From these sources come defects and for jacteristies throughout, their vertical sec the Portage escarpment fades out as a such as appear in this article the writer tions, they nevertheless aggregate- thou-! distinct topographic feature and the sands of feet in at the outset asks indulgence especially ! thickness, as now existing, merging of the plain and plateau upland because in the discussion of a limited and that despite the fact that much of is inconspicuous. Apparently the main region much detail is included and on their original upper mass has been re drainage of the region at this time was certain topics certain readers will be moved by erosional processes. These by a stream to the north the line of and sand layers were along , more con much ^fully informed than the clay eventually the Cayuga Lake trough. At Ithaca a author who attempts to treat the whole verted into shales and sandstones by the number of streams flowing in broad, open subject. j3*e$sure of later deposited material of valleys were confluent both from the east the same kind and processes of ce i It is certainly worth while for any com by and south and these seem to have afforded mentation. munity, that is the inhabitants of a given most of the volume for the north-flowing region, to see themselves geographically. Appalachian Revolution Cayuga stream. Coming from the east Their neighbors near and far will also be In the closing epochs of the ancient was the Fall Creek following the base of glad of a chance to get acquainted. If geologic periods,, the extensive during the north-facing Portage, escarpment. this paper gives such opportunities its earth movements that have been termed The valley next south of the divide formed purpose has been accomplished. Perhaps the Appalachian Revolution, and hi which by the Portage escarpment was developed a less formal manner of presentation the Appalachin mountains were first up by Cascadilla Creek also flowing from the would have been more in with its this region in common with, wide keeping lifted, east and in its lower course parallel to local publication: But if it is remembered adjacent areas to the east and west was Fall Creek. Two other streams, Six Mile that there will be a number of raised high ubove sea level. The uplift probably Creek from the south and the Cayuga this' i readers unacquainted with Ithaca in particular locality seems to have wholly Inlet from the southwest, occupied similar scenes it will be appreciated that the been essentially uniform, slow, and nearly valleys.- mature The closely spaced formal method has its advantages. More vertical in as the layered sedi direction, points of junction of these streams re the formal discussion will the ments were neither much fractured or over help sulted in the development of an extensive Jocal reader to imagine himself a stranger disturbed. A (comparatively) slight com interstream plain by the lateral wearing as such to consider himself and his pressive force was, however, exerted for :and and weathering away of the spur ends of disin- east- surroundings an impartial and tlhe rocks were folded into a series of in the divides valleys. forming^ separating their A undulations i.terested way. West striking low remnant of , | this plain is now occupied by Marches and troughs in the rocks. The the campus of Cornell and the IITHE ITHACA REGION University PART original slant to the south and west of the East Hill section of Ithaca with farm Location of the Region I 'sediments deposited on the floor of the t~ lands in the rear. The end of the Portage The region to be described 'is located in interior sea was increased by the uplift, Escarpment is known as Turkey Hill, its central New York at the southern as this was greater in amount to the east Pleasant,' 'western, continuation eastward as Mount second of Cayuga Lake (the largest and but the total departure from end north, the divide between Cascadilla Creek and Finger Lakes that characterize the t horizontal onlv a few degrees. the is I of the Six Mile Creek is Bald or Eagle Hill, thkt and about the i general district) centering and j Cretaceous Peneplanation between Six Mile Creek and the Cayuga which has a population of | city Of Ithaca, J Tertiary Uplift Inlet constitutes South Hill. The sum 1915 state i 092 people (unofficial, cen-j the uplift came a period mits of these 16 Following long divides as they.extend southy of Cornell University;;! and is the site at the end of in ward are sus) of denudation which, slightly rolling (in a broad sense], confined discussion will be to geological The , the^ Cretaceous (more recent) time, level-topped) Uplands and on their ;wid %n&*ge0$$$&0&

^c^iions of the jgeographic the region in common with much exgaases-peoWbly preserrt-wtfi^^Titt: itself oir operative in the city in continent been worn down Cretaceov^f* rest of the had change the tocography of the territory. featureless south.1 its immediately tributary by rain and rivers to a nearly wearing down -to a plain. To the like the fron- plain. Another uplift followed, possibly some fifteen or sixteen miles

compression. first without the present east- practically head ofCayuga Lake, an During the existence of the high level earlier interstream plain that the ice depositee lakes a large amount of drainage de* freshly west divide separated the erosion failed to cut away. are Nearby material was available into the morainic peculiarly scribed from streams flowing many other east-west streams that show for stream transportation and this plus Susquehanna. The physiographic de the same hanging condition with refer that brought streams out-flowing from velopment in so far as it is by described, ap ence to the north-south Cayuga valley under or in the ice furnished a great parent in the present is day topography, and a similar later development of gorges quantity of sediment for deposit on the indicated in the block diagram Fig. 3, and falls. lake bottom. At the stream mouths will serve to make clear the im which A further complication in the develop huge deltas of gravel and sand were portant relations. ment of the valleys must be considered. formed at each successive level of the Glacial Invasion There were probably two if not more ice! lakes. These deltas are now conspicuous There is some evidence of another invasions of the region. After the with up topographic landmarks as they project in lift the development so far de drawal of the first ice, glacial debris, following well developed steep-front and flat-topped scribed but if this took place its moraine, deposited in the valley bottoms terraces on the valley sides. After any effect has been much obscured commonly diverted the streams from the ing by one of the lowerings of the lake the stream axes of the to one side or the other shortly subsequent invasion of the region troughs ' would cut through the delta just formed of glacial ice in recent geological the valleys. After cutting through the by very and use this material in part to build the time. The advance of the ice was almost : thinner veneer of morainic stuff at sUch new, lower mass. Thus all the deltas are directly from the north in the Ithaca [points the streams were let down on bed bisected by the later channel of the stream region so that it thrust its front into which proceeded to cut squarely rock; they that built them. When the bottom of against the rising slopes and escarpments side gorges. the interval between During any one delta was reached the stream of the Appalachian Plateau border. The glaciations these gorges developed to a found itself superimposed on the bedrock breaches in the plateau front however much larger size than has been possible and started the erosion of a rOck gorge. time.1 made the north-flowing streams af in post-glacial A second ice ad by t Enough time has elapsed since the com forded low altitude channels which the vance resulted in further morainic de by plete disappearance of the ice barrier and

ice could project lobes in advance of the posits not disposed as ..the first had been. the establishment of the present drainage main front for considerable distances into the previously developed Consequently levels for the extension of the delta build the highland area. Hence, these north- gorges were in part filled up and the ing, at the mouths of the various streams south valleys were first occupied by the streams once more started along new confluent at the head of Cayuga Lake, to glacier and as the ice thickened they be channels over the valley bottoms. In join and completely fill in the end of the came also the main channels of ice move places they found the earlier gorges and basin. Over this delta filling later flood- ment southward; were, in other words, rapidly scooped out the unconsolidated plain and alluvial deposits have been the routes of the thickest, most powerful glacial material, elsewheres they entered spread and by this combination of pro and most rapidly moving ice currents. on gorge cutting anew. Tmis the middle cesses the mile and a half long, level- The erosive effect of the ice was thereby and lower sections especially, of the east- topped Inlet Plain has been formed. On concentrated in the north-south valleys west streams are at present marked by this plain the main part of the of and these valleys were much overdeepened [amphitheatre hollows where the stream is City Ithaca has been built. by ice erosion and thus the basins of the [flowing along the line of an interglacial (?) As early as 1656 white men, two Finger Lakes, with bottoms in some in pride gorge and these are connected by Jesuit Fathers, entered the Ithaca region stances below sea level, were developed, I short sections of yOung, post-glacial gorges and dwelt among the Indians for some of which Cayuga Lake is one. At the leut into the bed rock of the galley side. nine months. east- They departed because of heads of the north-south valleys the A cross-section diagram Fig. 5 will serve anticipated difficulties with the natives west Susquehanna divide was shortly to make these relations more clear. and it was not until 1668 that the mission * overtopped 'and the ice passing over pro Though much lowered the east-west was re-established and continued- until ceeded to cut this comparatively narrow divides between the Susquehanna and the 1684 at Cayuga, N. Y., on Lake Cayuga. barrier completely away. Thus through north-flowing drainage were not ; wholly^ In 1671-72 Father Raffeix was temporarily valleys joining the northern drainage to swept away in the formation of th& stationed there and wrote an account of the southern drainage low through valleys. Furthermore a some by very gaps; "canton." the natural aspect of his From were developed of which the Cayuga Inlet what prolonged halt in the withdrawal of this it appears that while most of the,, and Six Mile Creek valleys in the Ithaca the ice resulted in the development of a was forested the Indians are notable examples. across country had! region pronounced , moraine-loop barrier made considerable clearings, the larger end of Cayuga Inlet these valleys in the former divide region. The lower the openings" ones "oak which were morainic plus so much of the being valley, in part possibly because it was I Thus ridges, burnt over annually for pur original rock divide as remains below hunting originally larger, in part also. because it poses, while smaller tracts near the vil was more directly in line with the ice them, formed water-partings of consid lages were planted to corn. erable elevation later Apparently movement was eroded more deeply by during the retreat these rather extensive cleared areas were the ice than the Six Mile Creek valley of the ice and have continued so since. located almost entirely to the north of the when the ice current coming in through In the period immediately following the line of the Portage escarpment. Over of the the Cayuga valley was divided by the building moraines, north-flowing the dissected plateau area from Ithaca nose of South Hill. Hence while the water from these divides was ponded back south to the Susquehanna the forest was that still occupied lower Cayuga Inlet valley now enters the main by the ice the practically unbroken, dense, and tangled, accordant with the present ends of the valleys and in this fashion a Cayuga valley forest," the "dark according to the testi the Six Mile Creek that was number of proglacial lakes were created. grade, valley observers.2 of this and other both the Cayuga and the mony earfy less effectively ice-eroded has been left in At first Inlet On the upland summits white had separate rolling, a hanging condition. (See Fig. 4, p. 19.) The Six Mile Valley its lake (as pine predominated. In the valley bot same relations are much more conspicu well as some of the other valleys) standing toms at near the head east- different levels to the height Ithaca, particularly ously apparent in the case of the at according of the delta-floodplain the white pine at the south over the west valleys, those of Cascadilla and Fall of the divide head merged into! oak, elm and maple woods, Creek. These troughs were at moraine barrier. In the Cayuga Inlet , nearly though there were also extensive cleared; right angles to the line of ice movement, Valley this was at about 1040 feet above fields cultivated by the Indians on this hence were occupied by and the sea, in the Six Mile Creek valley at onjy orchards,1 ground, together with apple 980 feet above sea level. A , further re feeble glacial currents. Con relatively this fruit been intro treat of the ice resulted in the junction of apparently having sequently as streams once more flowed in duced the Jesuits. The same type of the two lakes, the waters of the one in by these east-west valleys they plunged at the Cayuga Inlet around their lower ends in a series of cascades to Valley flowing the nose of South Hill in to the the levels of the much more overdeepened falling 1 lower level of the lake in the Six Mile It is possible that these larger gorges were north-south Cayuga Valley. As time Creek Valley. These relations are il developed during a preglacial uplift of the region went on the difference in resistance of the and were obscured the ice invasion and its lustrated in the photographs of relief by layers of the horizontal bedrock structure remits. Fig.'s6,p. 19. Astheicemeltedback became effective in developing step {alls models, lower and as these wore back further to the north, successively progressively up 2 information in re These accounts and other channels of escape for the water were stream the gorges were cut that now mark region are sum gard to the primitive flora of the bared and the lakes in accordance fell to Flora," W. R. Dud the north and south boundaries of the marized in "The Gayuga by levels. (Science). Cornell University campus which occupies lower and lower ley. Bulletin of the Cornell University the western border of the portion of the Ve\. II, 1886. farm land produced nearly $5.00 per acre, I \n hence a growing season of only 132 days. forest continued northward along the annually, in natural regrowth of timber,; This is almost a month's difference and shores of the lake and on the lower lands without care, for the 22 years required to The- forest;6 there is reason to believe that in locations to the east of its shore. front of the produce the otherwise favorable and nearer to the delta was marsh land, Lake Cayuga was The primitive forest abounded in game. "Tiohero" lake than the Weather Bureau station at called or the "lake of flags and Deer were very plentiful, as were also

rushes" Ithaca the season may be even longer. by the Indians because of such bear; these animals supplied the early It may be noted, in that the growth at both its northern and southern settlers with most of their meat. In 1789 comparison, growing season around New York is ends. Extensive swamps were also present the first trading was done by the Ithaca City 200 days, at Buffalo, N. Y, 174 at at all the water partings. In these divide community and consisted of the exchange days, 183 days. In central swamps the black spruce and of maple sugar and marten, otter, Columbus, Ohio, tamarack, beaver, ' New York state latitudes hillsides with balsam fir were native and still occur, as fox, bear, and deer skins, for tea, coffee, southern exposure are warmest, next well as the hemlock; though the last is crockery, hardware, lead, gunpowder, and come those still facing east, then west, and ; much more abundant in the region and liquor. In 1823 it was thought last those to the north. From (has its especial habitat on the sides of the worth while to organize a "Grand Deer looking Drive" this it would appear as because in the southern that Cayuga Lake pOst-glacial gorges. The tamarack, spruce and Wolf extends north set- and south, a slope sheltered ,part of the the "repose of the and balsam as well as the wild prim county fir, from the prevailing wind on the west side tier is disturbed the midnight howl of rose (Primula Mistassinica) which is | Jay of the lake has a distinct advantage of Panther." the Wolf yell found on the cold, wet, south walls of the and of the On location with regard to the duration of this gorges are to be regarded as subarctic occasion some 800 men during two the growing season. This may be of more species which migrated from the north December days closed in on a section of than usual importance in the Ithaca re before the glacier and were country about 19 miles in circumference gion because the locality lies within the left behind in such isolated but congenial located some 10 miles to the southwest of belt of the average track of most of the habitats on the retreat of the ice. Primula Ithaca around Newfield. No record : cyclonic storms that pass over the north Mistassinica for example, now has its seems to be available as to the results of eastern United States. The resulting natural habitat about the shores of a this hunt. By 1853 three fourths of the cloudiness reduces the amount of sun lake of the same name on the Labrador area of the county was reported as im shine received at Ithaca to 8% less an proved peninsula. On the and knolls land but in 1832 deer skins were dry sandy nually than that received at New York still of the high-level deltas other an article of considerable importance dissected, City (expressed in terms of the percentage exceptional forms as for in the list of exports. occur, instance, of that possible in each place) and in the pitch pine and the red or Norway pine. Climate April to 12% less. Accordingly hours of special instances the native flora In these The average and extremes of tempera sunshine count for more in Ithaca than in shows adaptations to its geo ture in interesting the Ithaca region vary several New York City, especially during the graphic environment. degrees according to the, exact locality, month of April at the beginning of the Thus all the region (for the the chief practically factors of this difference being growing season. It further appears on clearings were to the Indian largely relative elevation and distance from examination of the local weather station had a dense forest cover. Cayuga Lake. average records9 north) originally The annual tem that for the past 5 years, 1909-13, Of this little remains. perature at comparatively Ithaca (campus of the Uni from 4 to 10 hours more of early morning still dot 47 Clumps of trees, farm woodlots, versity) is F., that for the six summer sunshine, than of late afternoon sunshine 60 the lower slopes and valley bottoms, and months being a trifle below F, and for were received during each April. In May 33 a ribbon of forest marks the course of each the winter months F. In the upland- the reverse is the case. But as April is the of the gorges. Larger tracts of woodland valleys to the south and west the annual critical month when the soil is being and '2 occupy the higher parts of the uplands average temperature is F. lower than warmed up and growth started it would slopes of the the glacially over-steepened at Ithaca, though the difference in alti seem that the slopes which face the morn through vallej-s to the south; and are also tude between the observing stations is ing sun have the advantage in this also. found on the swampy divide areas and only a little over 100 feet. This relation The reference to its position with re over rough Sand stony morainic ground. holds essentially for all the months of the gard to the average track of cyclonic Practically all of this is, however, second year, as it does also for the average dif storms will suggest that the Ithaca region ference in is not deficient in rainfall. At growth timber. temperature between the two Ithaca As early asll853~it was stations on the hottest days for a number itself the average annual precipitation is noted in a local pamphlet3, that three of years. But the 34 at the upland station fourths of the upland valley station inches, valley county (Tompkins) was ' record an it is. 38 improved shows average of 6F. greater nearby 'inches; New York City land. In 1886 the only virgin cold for the coldest has 45 inches. While New York has tract of days in a number of City white pine consisted of an area years. a greater it is not so about From this it would appear that rainfall, uniformly forty acres in extent that occupied distributed as the Ithaca the the effect on average temperatures of precipitation, hillocky moraine at the head of the Ithaca 155' days on the Inlet greater elevation and remoteness from having average Creek, and this has since been com a the lake is a slight annual lowering of the annually with precipitation of .01 inch pletely cleared. Much of this timber was temperature accentuated in winter ex or more while New York City has only undoubtedly converted into lumber, in 18324 tremes. The highest summer tempera 128. However, New York City gets 26 the export of lumber from the 102" ture officially recorded at Ithaca is county had an annual value of $400,000, lowest20 F., the F. This shows the but in the same year ashes brought climate to be one of great extremes in $27,000, that much 3 Was," indicating timber "Ithaca As It H. C. annual temperature and the from Goodwin, Ithaca, (estimated at range, 60%) was burnt in clearing N. Y., 1853, p. 3. day to day is also great; thus it extended land for agriculture. The ashes were 4 30 "Facts Relative to the over F. in the 18 hours mid Trade, etc;, of the following Tompkins," used to make an of potash, industry that 1915.7 County Ithaca, N. Y., 1832, p. 7. night The average as 1804.6 January 30, began as even 6 Ithaca." early Latterly "Early of H. temperature for the months when the History King, Ithaca, the small timber on the steepened slopes N. Y., 1847, p. 13. university is in session, October to May and uplands is being cut and the land al 6 40 An Agricultural Survey of is only slightly below F. (part) Tompkins lowed to stand idle or used for inclusive, N. Y. pasture. No., Warren, G. F. and Livermore, K. C, I the optimum average temperature for Formerly the thick woods on the uplands et al. Bull. 295 Cornell Univ. Exp't. Station, mental activity as defined by Hunting held back the melting of the winter snoWs, don.8 Perhaps the students and faculty now the water goes off very rapidly after have not appreciated this geo first sets in. Much of the favoring spring land now it' graphic influence but no doubt has 'These and other climatic data that follow are cleared ought to be replanted to forest. most, part from: been exerting its due effect. for the Climatic Summary for Neither the or later clearing, early had Ithaca, N. Y. Published Sept. 1914, Local Office The influence of Lake Cayuga is par- much reference to geographic conditions. TJ. S. Weather Bureau, Ithaca, N. Y. and: Frosts marked connection with the I'tjicularly in in New W. M. Bulletin Woodlots still occupy rich lowlands; York, Wilson, 316, Cornell length of the growing season as delimited I University Agr. Exp't Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 1912. barren hillsides too steep even for good JdllinxJrosts-.-- last first At 8 by the and Climate and pastures were cleared. About , thirty! Civilization, Huntingdon, E., Ithaca the average date of the last killing Harper* Monthly, Vol. CXXX, Feb. 1915, p. 367. years are required to regrow merchantable | and the first one "frost in spring is May 4, writer timber on land that has been cleared and I "Compiled at the suggestion of the by 'in fall October 10, giving a season of 159 Mr. L. A. Hausman, instructor in Meteorology, as this is a long time investment it would days. In the upland valley station, pre LJKllO.SiietBii2r, be well to exempt such lands from taxa viously referred to, the corresponding tion until the forest is cut. Land that dates are May 18 and September 27, would not sell for over $15.00 per acre as settlements were destroyed and the In Economic motives, a desire to improve inches during its growing season whila dians themselves driven toward Niagara their fortunes, led the settlers to emigrate. Ithaca receives only 17. Even if thfl in and although had geographic considerations, how amount of precipitation received at Ith 1779, they formally Purely ceded their lands to the state in 1789, it ever, must have determined their choice aca during the two months of New York's seems that a considerable number of the of a new home. This is a nice distinction longer growing season are added, the total natives remained in the Cayuga Country but one that may very be made. It falls below New York City's; only 2a fitly for some years as are mentioned is also safe to iassert that would not inches at Ithaca as compared to 26 inches later, they they in the accounts of the first white settle have pushed on for 29 miles from Owego at New York. As the soils of the Ithaca ment of the 1788-1790. Thus it so without good reason. While region have poor drainage conditions; region, arduously is related that in winter the natives the through of Six Mile Creek has are apt to be too wet in spring and to dry valley pitched their wigwams on the level lands since developed an ample acreage of cul- out in summer it would appear that a within the mouth of the interglacial tivatable it must be remembered higher summer rainfall would be of ma Six lands, Mile Creek gorge near State secur that this section was terial benefit to the agriculture of the Street, primitively densely rather complete protection from cold forested while to the north the Indians area. The annual snowfall averages 56 ing northwest storms under the and Cleared large areas. But it was prob inches as compared to 35 inches at New steep had rock walls. With the advent of the wide expanse of York and 47 inches at Binghamton. This high ably almost perfectly the Indians moved to higher ground level on the delta-fioodplain at the snowfall generally persists for considerable spring land head" to the site ofVthe earlier town of Lake with its area of periods and affords good sledding, thus particularly Cayuga of Coreorgonel where there were native and well drained soil on its materially facilitates country hauling in fertile, deep, orchards. Thus it appears that geographic eastern view of the rich winter. The prevailing wind direction is side, in and im conditions exerted some influence on the mediate agri<ural returns these acres from the northwest, 30% of the time, fol habits of the Indian residents of the promised,, that exercised the lowed by winds from the southeast for controlling 23% of the time. region. influence in the choice of a site for settle-] In September, 1789, three white fam ment. Visions of a future populous town Several mmor climatic influences may j comprising 19 individuals, removed because of the location at the head of the be noted here. Though possessed of ilies, from Kingston, N. Y. to the present site lake and the abundant water powers ad romantic scenery, a lake, gorges, water of Ithaca, bringing with them some house jacent may also have had a bearing on the falls, and hills, and though readily acces hold chattels. A month was consumed decision. sible from several large centers of popula by ( this party in their journey from Kingston The immediate location of the first tion the region has never had as , great a to Owego. Their route in the main fol places was guided geographic vogue as a summer resort as might be dwelling by lowed geographic lines and is now par conditions. Three large streams, expected, the primary reason being the Fall; alleled for the most part by railways. Creek, Cascadilla and Six Mile Creeks cloudiness and coolness, of the early sum From Kingston they went northwestward emerge from the steep rock gorges that mer months. This has made lakeside along a route that is now followed the terminate their upper valleys hotel ventures in general unprofitable as by hanging Ulster and Delaware railway. Crossing onto the lake-head plain on its east side, such enterprises go. Then, too, bathing the divide of the Catskills they arrived at no 'stream of any size on the west side. is not good, partly because of the general the headquarters of the East Branch of Because of the abrupt change of grade absence of good beaches and the abrupt

the Delaware river, probably near the , at the ends of their gorges these three deepening of the water offshore, also be present village of Arkville. Here canoes |tie^g;s have built alluvial when, coalescing fans cause a warm south wind blows the " were in which surface fashioned they floated down the of ;the . warm surface waters are drifted to the ^ggp deltja-floodplalri, the Delaware River to a point a little be ihs land higher and dryer on its north end of the lake and the water ia low the junction of the East and West eastern side and pushing the Inlet stream cold; while on days when the waters are Branches of that stream. This portion of over to the base of the western bluff. Ac warm, a north wind usually makes the the route is now followed by the Delaware cordingly, as an early writer remarks, the air too cool for comfort. While the open and Northern railway and the New York, exact, location of the first cabin was de reaches of the lake are admirable for sail Ontario and Western road. From the termined the power of sudden squalls are common "by transporting ing, because Creek." Delaware they portaged across the divide Cacsadilla At this point an In of air drainage coming down the hanging ietwoerithatjteeamjmd the Susquehanna dian clearing existed and here, too,, the valleys and first striking the lake surface at what was called its Great Bend near first crops were planted. This first dwell at a distance from the shore. Because of Pa. No railroad crosses this ing, moreover, was just to the north of the this phenomenon and because of all year- Lariesboro, divide just at this point but the Erie rail rhouth of the gorge of Cascadilla in which round low temperature of the deeper were road makes the climb from the Delaware there considerable .waterfalls only waters of the lake, a number of drownings to the Susquehanna valley just a few a short distance upstream. The immedi from upset sailboats and an even greater miles further north and continues west ate utility of such waterpowers to the number from overturned canoes have oc ward in the valley of the Susquehanna settlers is suggested by the fact that as curred, and this record also adversely river to Owego and beyond. At the early as the second year a flour mill, affects the popularity of the lakeside as a Susquehanna the settlers once more con crude to be sure, but capable of summer resort. grinding structed canoes and floated down stream 25 bushels of grain per day was erected at Early Settlement of the Region to Owego. While modern traffic between the mouth of the Cascadilla gorge. In In September, 1779, detachments from the east and the west has abandoned the Six Mile the waterpowers were further General Sullivan's sent settlers' army out by route in large part, it is neverthe upstream, less accessible; the immediate Washington to ^'Ojpstiite arid JJumbb the less of geographic interest to note its di mouth of Fall Creek seems to have been Six Nations" utterly destroyed the Indian rectness and the extent to which the very swampy, but these streams, too, villages Cayuga Lake along and wasted stream courses were utilized in making were put to work at an early date. It is the native plantations and orchards. the trip. (See Fig. 1.) interesting to note further that the busi One of these con ness center of Ithaca has grown on the villages, Coreorgonel, Nineteen days more were needed to up houses" sisting of 25 "elegantly built was tract of land between the Six Mile and complete the last stage of the journey, situated on the morainic hillocks that Cascadilla Creek gorge mouths that was the part from Owego to Ithaca, a distance terminate the delta-flood plain area on first settled. ( of only 29 miles. While an Indian trail, the west side of the Inlet Creek. The settlement acquired succinctly described as a well beaten The young early path, Flats" Indians who occupied it were not of Iro the name of "Maricles or "The marked the way between these points, it Flats" quois stock, but of environment. Its Tutelos, originally in seems that the settlers secured horses and because its habitants of the piedmont country of Vir present name was_bestowed onJt stock at Owego, presumably wagons also, Jtbaca_ ginia and the Caxolinas. This is of interest in. DeWitt who in consequently it was necessary for them to about 1808 by Simeon in connection with the place names of Geographer of the clear off the forest in advance of their 1780 was appointed chief region the 1784. for Tutelos removed to this and in march, hence the long time it took to the Army of the Revolution point in 1753 (after a York State concluding peace cover the short distance. The highway Surveyor General of New eu- the Iroquois Flats" jwith who had harried not a very long they opened in this manner followed one While. "The was in company with an allied jthem) tribe, of the lowlying gaps across the upland the Saponis, who had suffered like tribula country due to glaciation, the through tions. The Saponis settled in one of the 10 American Indians, Bulletin3a valley of Six Mile Creek, which was later See Handbook of American Ethnology, through valleys on the upland to Parts I and Bureau of the destined to become an important factor II, for reference southwest of Ithaca and this Smithsonian Institution 1907, 1910, today ia in the development of the region. Hollow" i to literatim. called "Pony a corruption of tha Hollow.10 original Saponi Although their Ithaca. On a single day (between 1812- phonious appelation, it did express a geo the Pennsylvania district/ directly to the 1815) it is recorded that as many as 800 graphic relation, hence it seems unfor 'south, of Ithaca, began tp be ^CSigmSSMZ teams passed over the Ithaca and Owego tunate that this geographer, , at least by Iron ores also had been discovered and tjUrnpike engaged in hauling the "plaister" one-time title, who later resided in the the huge traffic that promised to de I'? (land plaster) to the Susquehanna River settlement, should not have chosen a velop in these commodities gave a further on which it was floated to the south and pleasing geographic name rather than incentive to the project of connecting east. This commodity continued to be of Ithaca. This name has, however, since the Erie Canal with the Susquehanna importance in 1825 and the traffic in it. is the founding of the university, a degree highway by some more adequate means urged in 1862 as a reason for building a of appropriateness he could not have fore of transportation than by wagon. It was canal the foot of Lake Cayuga seen. not ship from state should aid the While DeWitt himself - proposed that the in may . ... __ j have been responsible for the many other to Lake Ontario. Salt Was j building of a canal over the divide be classical part mineral tween the head and river navigation place names found in this product shipped in quantity from lake of the state, it appears that this example Ithaca at an early date, 8,000 barrels in and the Ithacans Urged that this canal of his served as a precedent. 1825 and 2,250 tons in 1832.13 In the should follow one or the other of the two Routes11 valleys their as Transportation latter year nearly 2,000 tons of lumber leading south from town

routes.14 and 8,700 tons of wheat and flour were these were the shorter There The Jesuit missionaries who were sent out of the region. At that time were, however, rival claimants for the probably the first white men in the region and most of this merchandise Was sent route from the head of Seneca Lake undoubtedly came by way of the St. being north-south north and Cast through Cayuga Lake and it was in this valley that the Lawrence and Gt. Lakes route from the con the Erie Canal and it was estimated that canal was dug, the Chemung Canal, east, entered the northern end of Lake with the this freight paid canal tolls to the amount necting the head of Seneca Lake Cayuga and followed its extension south River at completed of $150,000.00 annually. At an earlier Chemung Elmira, ward in their explorations. The first date Governor Clinton describes 1833. merchant of the an itinerant (1810) region, trader, reasons the shipment of flour from Ithaca to There were good geographic brought a small boat load of goods (tea, for the route as Baltimore, Montreal and New York. For selecting Seneca-Chemung coffee, earthenware, drygoods, hardware, will appear later. Meanwhile the Ithacans |Baltimore it was conveyed overland to gunpowder, lead and liquor) up Cayuga "arks" and undeterred their failure Owego where could be Owegans, by Lake and exchanged these articles at (barges) to secure the canal and faith in had for $75.00. On these the flour was retaining Ithaca for fur and maple sugar. The very advantage of their shorter floated down the Susquehanna the geographic first settlers came of the north and River, by way organized a and with arriving at its destination in from 8 to 12 route, company south of Six Mile Creek through-valley private capital built a horsepower railroad days. At Baltimore the arks were sold from Owego on Susquehanna River the. through the Six Mile Valley. While the for half price as "the rapids of the Sus to the site of Ithaca at the head of Cayuga Six Mile route is at least 10 miles quehanna are fatal to ascending naviga Valley Lake. These facts suggest the im early tion." shorter than the route To Montreal the route was over Seneca-Chemung portance of the north-south lines of travel to the the geographic hand that lake and the St. Lawrence River to Susquehanna, and communication in the region. It of the Six Mile route that more than the Canadian port. Montreal was con icap should be that a mentioned, however, offset the advantage of less distance be sidered the more certain expense considerable number of the pioneers market, early came manifest when the railroad of transportation about the same plainly who settled at Ithaca came from the east being was built. As the mouth of the valley is to either Baltimore or Montreal. Goods course of along the Fall Creek and that above the Ithaca level (due to were also shipped to and from New York hanging was this route road it along that the first differential glacial erosion as detailed in way of Cayuga Lake, Seneca and through the forest was completed in [City by cut, an earlier paragraph) it was necessary to Oneida rivers, Oneida Lake and Wood Oxford on the Chenango slope from 1795, connecting convey the cars down the steep Creek, canal (completed 1797) across River with Ithaca. by the hanging valley lip on an incline. The the divide between Wood Creek and the cen In the first third of the nineteenth trains were hoisted and lowered by a sys Mohawk River at Rome, down the Mo tury water routes were considered all im tem of pulleys and ropes, operated at hawk (canal around Little Falls completed portant. At an early date nearly every i first by horsepower and later by a sta 1794) to Schenectady and from thence stream was utilized as a highway and with steam engine, through a vertical overland to the Hudson at Albany. It tionary the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 a distance of 405 feet within a horizontal required six weeks to make the round trip further impetus was given to water trans distance of only 1733 feet. The grade of from Ithaca to Schenectady with a boat portation. Railroads were then consid this incline can still be een on the nose carrying from 100 to 150 barrels of flour. to note ered useful primarily as a means to effect of South Hill. It is interesting The boats used were small and were pro portage between water routes. From that the same cumbersome device was pelled for the greater part of the way ' by and Hud- central New York the Susquehani also employed on the Mohawk ] poles. a portion River was the great highway to the es son Railroad, the earliest (1831) In view of the slowness of such trans until after the opening of the Erie Cam c of the present New York Central System, portation it is not that the ad surprising the When the Erie Canal was complete c to raise trains from Albany into Mo vent of. the steamboat brought a decided while the grade and opened the way to the west, it w r hawk Valley. But at stimulus to lake traffic and seemed to the felt that a north-south route connectik^ Albany was readily overcome later, emphasize further the importance coming (Owego Branch D. the canal highway to the west with the modern railroad line as a terminal point on the short of Ithaca the Susquehanna River route to the east L. & W. R. R-) that has succeeded est route from the east to the west. Pas Mile enterprise is at! would be of great importance. Ithaca, original Six Valley senger business was affected. particularly descend to the Ithaca because of its geographic position at the present able to Thus in The Ithaca Journal of June j 7, switchback spurs. lake-head terminal of western navigation, level only by a series of it was stated that passengers from 1820, Another (E. C. & N. on the shortest overland route to the Sus (See Fig. 3.) road, New York for Buffalo could leave City built later in the same valley does quehanna, seemed destined to become, a R. R.) the former at 5 p. m., go boat to city by attempt to make the descent but I great commercial center. As early as not even there take stage and arrive at ! wrote,12 Newburgh, freight and passengers 1810 Governor Clinton "The sit discharges Ithaca Ithaca on the evening of the second day. East Ithaca a station on the level of uation of this place (Ithaca) at the head "Enterprise" at on the (the Embarking the valley lip. of Cayuga Lake, and a short distance hanging Cayuga streamer) that evening they (from the descending waters to the At- would be landed at the foot of the lake and about 120 miles to the de 4antic7 11 Towns and Cities of Central New next morning and resuming the stage Location of waters to the must S. Bull. Amer. Geog. Soc. Vol. scending Mississippi, that the York. Tarr, R. importance." arrive at Buffalo night, making pp. 738-764. render it a place of great XLII, 1910, in 3 one less than topic as 'whole journey days, day Contains an admirable survey of this For this prediction and similar fond Albany. 1837 there were broader area in which the Ithaca by way of By affecting the anticipations later there was in those 100 situated. three steamboats and from 70 to Region is ample because Clinton times justification, chiefly Lake. and Writings of DeWitt (The), canal boats in service on Cayuga "Life region was then the N. 1849. the Ithaca originating engaged in W. W. Campbell, Y The latter were in large part considerable bulk of export point of a Ithaca to the Erie conveying coal from the routes in question. traffic that utilized im 18 "Facts Relative to the Trade (etc), of the I Canal and this coal traffic was a very Tompkins," and 1811 a turnpike or toll N. Y. Pamphlet printed Between 1808 apparent of County of portant factor in the destiny N. p. over the Six Mile in 1832 by Mack and Andrus, Ithaca, Y., 7, was built Valley center. road Ithaca as a great commercial the war of 1812 the 14 "Considerations of the Claims of the Southern route. supply importance of the During about 1825 the In Counties." "Addressed to the Repre from Nova Scotia was cut off Tier of of gypsum (princjpaJJy. anthracite) in coal deposits, sentatives of an Intelligent Public.': Pamphlet.! and this fertilizer materia! from the States N." Albany, Y.. 1825. quantities the was secured in large along Cayuga Lake to the north of east shore of was shorter and supplied with The glacial soufc* of better through-valley the uplands and their rapid melting off, water. The SenecR Lake is not furthermore, Ithaca project, however, hanging, the low lime content to the shaly bedrock seemed of its bottom is aggraded with morainic and likely realization in 1829-1835 from which it was derived and the poor out-wash material throughout its length. and led to a fever of real estate specula drainage to the compaction of the material tion the Hence the cutting of the Chemung Canal in community which abruptly the weight of the ice and to the fact 1837. by through it was a comparatively easy task. collapsed in the national panic of that its clayey nature lends itself to pud was to be The canal had, too, the advant When first agitated this canal Chemung dling. These soils are the famous Volusia horsepower age of an adequate feeder in the Chemung used in conjunction with the whose worn out condition has been 1862 the series River whose flow was in part diverted for Six Mile Valley railroad. In held in part responsible for the decline of the lockage down to the level of Seneca project was revived with the idea that farming in central New York. The up Lake. Then the divide at Horseheads is the waterpowers from the hanging valleys land country to the south of Ithaca has in only 900 feet high and the level of Seneca could be used to grind western wheat and fact been described as an abandoned farm Lake 444 feet, while the divide in the Six that Lake Superior copper ores could be district. Mile Valley has an altitude of 980 feet and, smelted at Ithaca with anthracite coal The characterization as an abandoned the Cayuga Lake level is 384 feet. The brought over the Six Mile Valley railroad farm district rests on the evidence of de Seneca-Chemung route has, therefore, a from the Pennsylvania fields to the south. crease in rural population and the number lower divide and the rise from the lake But coke from bituminous coal shortly of unoccupied houses. For these facts level is much less. A canal in the Six supplanted the use of the costly anthra the nature and condition of the soils are Mile Valley would have been a practical cite for smelting and the wheat country not wholly responsible. There are no if not a physical impossibility. The moved still further westward. abandoned farms in the sense of abandon horsepower railroad with the system of The Inlet harbor of Ithaca has been ment of title. Th Exp't Station, Bull. 296, March, season and the coolness of summer which lana swampy has been filled in with of corn for grain un makes the growing dredged material pendent on local | secured in enlarging the supplies of rags. At certain. The normal climatic sequence stream to barge canal depth and width. early dates, however, there were numer for the region of a wet spring followed by This filled land has ous textile been planted in large enterprises, woojen fcarding a summer is a particularly unhappy part to and dry peach orchard. This is an inter MLing mills, cotton factories and silk combination for the thin* clayey upland rniflrwntqrr esting experiment as peaches usually fail mTisfrlravfe-Teceived thrV^sup- and cold soils. are boggy in spring the region pfies of raw material They in on account of frosts. In from other regions tends to puddle planting time, ploughing such close and depended for success on tie in" proximity to the lake the utiliza and then the summer droughts them influence of tion of the local water powers or equalizing the waters may be cheap out and because they dry bake, partly sufficient to make labor. A and furnace ; the crop reasonably foundry for iron are thin and because the they partly certain. smelting was established in 1822, by 1834 condition prevents the vertical puddled there were three such enterprises in Ithaca. Industry bl^tnese- rise of water. ^ TFTs. significantTEat buOew The industries of the ^ In addition to the the hills early region were handicap oi, industries have survived. Those which all founded on the in milk to market there is a further nearly waterpowers were hauling justified geographically in that they the furnished by Fall, and Six disadvantage in that average farm is Cascadilla, were founded on the of local, Mile Creeks in supply raw over miles frcm the station. How plunging through the post 3 valley materials and local demand were emi glacial gorges to the lake level from their nently prosperous in their be day. The important a factor distance is may hanging valley lips. In the aggregate others in almost every instance had appreciated when it is stated that a the volume of these powers is considerable. illstarred and short careers. can farmer within 3 miles of a market Fall and Cascadilla Creeks descend some The output of the local factories make a labor income four times as large 400 feet within a distance of one half today [consists of very specialized products of as that of the farmer 7 miles or more mile. Because of the early development [high^value as compared to their away. difficulties a large bulk, are Despite these of these powers and the parcelling out of i furthermore largely the creations of local proportion of the farm incomes are de the rights to numerous individuals it has, inventive talent and mechanical skill. rived from cattle production; 40% of however, to date been impossible to util This is quite fitting in view of the modern the total farm receipts, of which is ize the full head provided the abrupt 33% by i topographic remoteness of Ithaca from from milk and butter and 7% from stock descent of these streams. With a single centers of papulation, routes of commerce sold. This is due to the fact that a com hydro-electric power plant and distribut and supplies of bulk raw materials. A bination of milk and crops for sale pays ing station located at the foot of the factory making a patented chain drive, a better than the exclusive production of gorge of Fall Creek supplied by the full shot gun works, a calendar clock com- either the one or because labor can volume of the a other, stream much greater ; Pny, a^paper .riiiu-specializing in waxed; be kept more continuously employed. amount of power could be secured than papers, an^adyertising.sign plant and an From the geographer's point of view it is now or has been. The same thing can aeroplane company are now the important would seem that sheep could be profitably be said of Cascadilla. But even in this andustfijE of the place. The last men produced on the steep slopes. But the event at least two separate power plants tioned concern was attracted to Ithcaa land values are apparently too high for would be required. In other words it is a on their own statement by the geographic successful sheep raising. geographic disadvantage that the drain advantages of the site in that the level, age of the small area In the bottoms and on the slopes comparatively that valley unoccupied lands of the delta flat and the centers at Ithaca should be divided of the north-south valleys the among below, open expanse of the lake, gave oppor three streams. The does thousand foot level as well as over the disadvantage tunities for starting and alighting safely not stop at the power plants. To utilize plain to the north of the Portage escarp and/in trying put hydroplanes. Very the fall a large reservoir is Wide of soils exists. effectively ment a diversity recently, too, a motion picture company needed in the upper valley of each stream, These have essentially the same bed rock has established its studios on the lake particularly now that the forest has been origin as the upland soils but consist of shore. This enterprise utilizes to the removed and their volume fluctuates mingled morainic accumulations, glacial fullest possible extent the manifold scenic from floods in spring and fall to mere the* outwash gravels and sands and clay and attractions of Ithaca region and has threads of water in summer. The sitgjL delta deposits of sand and gravel made probably done more than any other ifor such reservoirs available on the bottoms of the proglacial lakes* are, however, agency in bringing Ithacans to a realiza land steps are taken to In contrast with the hill soils these soils nowbeing develop tion of the, natural beauty of their locality. the Fall Creek power in an adequate way. are usually deep for the wash of material Two industries making bulk products from over and under the melting glacial Even with such development it is still exist. These avail themselves of front, tended to concentrate the deposit doubtful whether the available power abundant supplies of local raw material, sufficient. of its morainic load around the margins from these streams would be of the facilities for cheap water transporta Because center will of the projecting -valley lobes. to supply a considerable industrial tion (which be much enhanced by the soils as was barge and of : of this greater thickness the valley anticipated in 1835, when, during canal) the exceptionally condi preceded conditions are free from the poor drainage the period of speculation that favorable of location for the construction of a manufacture of their tions and drying out exhibited by the i/hin the contemplated ship respective materials complete canal of Lake to that the region affords. are upland sdiis. The -partial ?r from the foot Cayuga They the

~tri'e: 'watet;"^ssortnTeiIt'"Of mate^iat ppjSs?? Lake Ontario,, the sum of $220,000.00 salt plants and the cement plant situated a portion on the east side of the near suited in better'^textural conclitfons and was paid for only ("sundry lake Ithaca. of the Fall Creek power In earlier years salt was made- their diversity permits of a wider variety water-powers") in the rights. OrTtEe scale that region the brine of crops. Thus apjJie orchards and vege manufacturing by evaporating flowing enterprises were then conducted this price from natural springs or from wells. Now table gardens succeed on the Well drained, might have proved a profitable double tube wells are sunk 1,800 feet or lighter soils. On the Whole, however, possibly investment if raw for conver more to the salt beds themselves the crops are much the same as on the materials, which sion into finished products had flowed are 300 or more feet thick. Water sent uplands but with better yields and greater into Ithaca from the outside as was an down one tube issues from the other as a profit to the farmer. Only one or two ticipated. saturated salt solution, and is conveyed to crops deserve special notice. tanks on the The dependence of the mills and settling steep hill-slope. Grapes are produced to a limited ex early After precipitation of gypsum and factories on the waterpowers is indicated other tent on the east-facing slopes just above impurities the concentrated the were all brine is the level of Cayuga Lake. The soil con very clearly by way they evaporated with the salt scattered the stream courses. Their artificial heat, ditions are essentially the same on the along dried and accumulated on nature indicates that were also de centrifugally other side of the lake but there few or no they the floor of a store house at lake pendent on local supplies of raw material level, vineyards are found. This seems to be a whence mills it is readily shipped either to a very large extent. Grist came by response to more genial climatic condi water or on the that parallels the then plaster mills; chair, sash and railway on the west side, and is first, tions especially shore line. door factories using the local lumber sup interesting in connection with the statis boat The cement plant is a conspiauoua: ply, also saw mills; yards, building tics of an excess of morning sun in April canal a (local corn) tan example of the positive influence of a earlier paragraph. boats; distillery given in an The dry dependent at first on combination of geographic factors were cultivated neries, probably favoring alluvial farms that by the hides of Flats" the nearby supply of but later in conducing to the prosperity a par first settlers on "The and planted the regional resources of ticular enterprise otherwise handicapped. potatoes are utilizing only to corn and now almost oak and hemlock; oil mills (local The margin of profit in the cement in occupied the of Ithaca. bark, wholly by city a papeismilL the capitaliza flax seed?) probably de dustry is relatively small, On the west side of the Inlet near the tion required perJjortof oroduct is a part of the edge of the delta originally community. These "circumstances con ings. It is a rather adventitious geo the same as that in the pig iron industry, have developed the condition of graphic advantage that this limited area jointly but the finished iron product has a value high prices for lands, and exceedingly of farm land should have very diversified from three to four times greater than high rents for apartments in what is in glacial lake silt cement.17 soils, till, moraine, sands, that of the same amount of other respects a village residential center. and clay and delta material, giving op The tremendous modern use of cement The hillside site has also made the matter portunity for tests under a variety of soil has made possible large scale production of fire protection a difficult problem which conditions. The flat tops of the delta in plants of maximum industrial efficiency. is- further aggravated the fact that terraces that flank each of the boundary by The Cayuga plant is comparatively dis most of the apparatus is housed in the creeks have also provided admirable sites tant from the large centers of consump because the is exempt for a number of the buildings. valley university tion but has other advantages that out fr.om taxation. Modern motor fire trucks The west edge of the quadrangle is just weigh this handicap. have however done much to overcome above the over-steepened slope of the Its of raw material is furnished supply this .difficulty. glacially-eroded Cayuga Lake the limestone and the Hamilton Valley, by Tully The water was for a hence commands a view of the supply, too, long shale which underlies the limestone. At country time inadequate but itself for miles around. To the north one looks by availing the exact site of the plant the rocks have on a proper scale of the over a expanse of to the west recently really been folded into a low arch which has, long lake; excellent afforded the down on the in the valley and opportunity by resisted erosion because of the durable city below, geographic conditions for a across it on a wide extent of field and creating limestone formation that caps it. The sufficient reservoir woodland chequered hillside. On the the community has glacial erosion of the north-south Cayuga solved the water problem. will re southeast the prospect is even more dis It be Lake trough has created a steep slope called that the characteristic tant and extends far into the bold and features of from the lake shore to the crest of the the of rugged Of the uplands. It is bottoms the hanging valleys, just arch which is just behind the mill at an topography felt that no inconsiderable above their lips, are a succession of am altitude of 259 feet above the lake level. commonly fraction of the institution's cultural and phitheatres, and connecting rock gorges, Glacial erosion has removed practically educational influence is to its developed as the streams flow in and out all the weathered rock material and the owing of their earlier aesthetic surroundings, and the site is interglacial courses. (See practically complete absence of residual Fig. One of these gorges in Six Mile considered by many to be the most at 5.) clay in the joint and bedding planes ren Creek has been closed a tractive of all the seats of higher learning by high dam and ders unnecessary the washing operation in America. To this scenic attractiveness the amphitheatre in the interglacial gorge to remove such substance that must be above1 must also be added the unique oppor it flooded; providing an ample adopted in some cement quarries of the tunities for natural in reservoir at low cost. Moreover, as the United States that are located outside history studies, that the complicated drainage area of , the upper section of the the zone of notable glacial erosion. The cluding geography, physiographic development of the region creek is comparatively small, it can be limestone is 18 feet thick at the quarry, affords, and which entails the existence of conveniently guarded against contamina thus of ample bulk for large scale pro extremely varied habitats for both flora tion. At an earlier date much of the water duction. As much larger quantities of and making it in consequence an supply was secured from artesian wells limestone are needed than of the Hamil fauna, exceptionally rich and compact collecting and such water is now used to some ex ton shale at its base (into which it passes ground for the botanist and zoologist; as tent for making artificial ice. Owing to abruptly) it is of considerable significance was early remarked by the celebrated an unwillingness to recognize the local that the shale is below, for if it were above naturalist, Louis Agassiz. origin of these artesian waters they were the cost of its removal or timbering would Itself admirably situated, the univer overdeveloped in an attempt to make the enterprise much less profitable. supply sity, as stated before, is responsible also the whole community With them. The steep slope and the amount of ele fbr the modern growth of Ithaca as a Geographical vation above lake level make possible the Index of the Future residential center. This dates from about use of an aerial trainway to carry the rock It is comparatively simple to recount the time when the city's dreams, of future directly from the quarry face to the upper and point oui the\ geographic influences commercial greatness had been finally story of the mill for grinding without ex S^BJ^jfegga. aad are ; coateaipoyaTieously dissipated. Since then the interests of penditure of power. exerting- an effect oh the individual and the population have been divided between This series of geographic advantages collective fortunes of a community. To the business district on the valley flat and have made possible the profitable opera predict what conditions Will be important the campus at the crest of the over- tion of a small cement mill in competition in the future or to suggest better utiliza steepened slope, separated primarily by a with "much larger plants less favorably tion of resources at hand is more difficult difference in altitude of some "400 feet. and' situated, but possessing more up-to-date open to critieism as opinions may The result has been the development of a equipment. The geographic disadvant differ. But such efforts constitute a phase hillside town in a place where, there was age of being comparatively remote from of applied geograp'ny and one that has ample room for residential growth on centers of consumption, Buffalo on the been much neglected, hence is deserving i level lands to the south; west and New York on the east is offset comparatively of some exposition in this connection even hillslope' west. all the in large part by the availability of a water land Practically though unskilful. between Fall and Six Mjle Creeks is transportation route to those points. The transportation prospect of the! covered with residences. The actual dis Without these geographic advantages the future for the region is the maximum tance from the campus to the business plant could not have survived, possessing utilization pf the Ithaca terminal of the them it has attracted the attention of a center of the city is short, but the direct barge canal. It is extremely likely that down hill streets are so as to be ex large corporation which proposes to de steep the salt and cement companies will avail it from a local ceedingly tiresome to climb and dangerous velop enterprise to an themselves of this to a very large extent to descend in winter when there is an ice industry of state wide importance. in shipping goods both east and west. and snow cover. This steepness has also The dominating factor in the develop Water transportation is so much cheaper made the transportation problem difficult. ment of modern as a than railroad transportation that the Ithaca , residential if The grades are too for trolley lines center has been the selection of the place heavy cargoes were available there could be no to negotiate directly. Hence circuitous as the site of Cornell University. The question of the barge canal being profita routes are necessary, with diagonal ascents founder, Ezra Cornell, was indifferent to ble. Bulk cargoes other than salt and of the slopes. Even under those condi the honor of having his name attached to cement would need to be furnished largely "onTEe" tions the motors must be geared very low, be-ktatitutioQ -but ^ras ""insistent by agricultural and lumber products. It high rates of speed are impossible. The site at Ithaca in preference to Syracuse might be feasible also to maintain a pas combination of roundabout routes and where it was urged that senger steamer the of the the university ' plying length low speeds make anything like :; rapid should be located. In this he was amply lake if by arranging circular tours out of transit from the valley to the campus out justified if beauty and natural interest of New York City by way of Ithaca, Cayuga of the question. Moreover, even with situation count for anything in the plac Lake, Niagara Falls, Lake Ontario, the their routes the trolleys do not serve ing of an institution of learning. long St. Lawrence, Lake Champlain, Lake a wide area. The upshot of this, in con The campus occupies the interstream nection with the utilization of practically plateau between Fall Creek and Casca all plateau area the is the by university, 17 Iron and dilla Creek. This is of ample dimensions Eckel, E. C, A, Comparison of the residential that the extent of available Cement Cement Age, March, 1911, to accomodate the buildings Industries, university of lion Industries, tracts is quite limited: Conservation pp. 139-143; also The Cement and and grounds and to provide also on the a Eng. Mag. March, 1911J time and energy necessitates living at Comparative Study. acreage east the farm necessary for the W>. 854-867, some place convenient to both the town Agricultural College experimental plant and the campus for a large part of the George, and the] Hudson River, enough tourists could be attracted to visit the

steamer' Finger Lake Country. Such a 2^3 would need to be fast and commodious to be successful. The development of the agricultural bulk products would necessitate providing roads upland to the , sections with low enough grades for the operation of tractors capable of hauling a string of wagons to the lake terminal. It would also need co-operation among the farmers to pro vide an adequate quantity of shippable products. But potatoes, apples (properly graded and packed) and beef cattle in view of rising meat prices could be shipped, and are all adapted to production in quantity in the region. .With proper reforestation of the hillslopes and sum mits there would also be a constantly in creasing supply of valuable pine lumber to send out. . For return cargoes western corn for cattle fattening and perhaps bituminous coal and coke from Lake Erie ports could be secured. Industrial expansion ought to be largely along the fine of specialized manufactures, requiring intelligent labor, such as are now successfully established at- Ithaca. The presence of the University would provide an incentive for the removal of; skilled artisans to an inland center. Other salt and cement i companies might find it profitable to establish plants. An in creasing volume of high value small bulk products would compensate the railroads} at least in part, for any loss in traffic on Fig. 1. THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE ITHACA REGION. account of barge canal shipments. The of New York State of consolidation of the waterpowers of both Hap Showing Location Region Described and Route Followed Fall Creek and Cascadilla Creek by by First White Settlers reservoirs and central converting plants

a;.-.,- r" would be of screat industrial advantage* -...-. -

OF THE Fig. 2. THE GEOGRAPHY ITHACA REGION (See page 21)

model of North America I Photograph of a illustrating an interpretation of the geography of the time when the salt layers j continent at the were being laid down at Ithaca and elsewhere in the same basin. Fig. 3. THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE ITHACA REGION.

Block Diagram of the Ithaca Region Showing its Geological Structure and Physical Geography and Their Relation to a the Human Occupation of the Area

Fig. 4. THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE ITHACA REGION. (See page 21) Hanging Valley of Six Mile Creek from west side of Cayuga Valley.