bush (Benzoin Benzoin), the speckled or hoary alder (Alnus incana), and the dockmackie (Viburnum acerifolium) were among those seen. There were many herbaceous plants, but the time at my disposal would not permit of even a cursory examination of them. It would be an interesting work to prepare a list of all the plants growing wild within the confines of this park, and such a list might perhaps have its value to the public.

A generous offer has been received from Dr. John M. Clarke, State Geologist of New York; Dr. Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; Dr. John J. Stevenson, Professor of Geology at New York University; Prof. Chas. Schuchert, of Yale University, and Prof. John C. Smock, Commissioner of the New Jersey Geological Survey, to erect at their private expense a tablet to the memory of Prof. James Hall, whose classification of a large part of the New York system of geological formations gave enduring repute to the geology of New York, and whose designation of the "Portage Group" so beautifully revealed in the Genesee gorge has given the name of Portage a world-wide fame. The design and location of the tablet are now under consideration. (See page 82.)

The attention which Letchworth Park has received during the past year from the country at large, no less than the generous interest manifested in it by the distinguished individuals and institutions above named, have given eloquent testimony to the value of Mr. Letchworth's benefaction and to the wisdom of the State in accepting the gift in trust for the benefit of mankind.

In January, 1908, this Society addressed a memorial to the New York State Water Supply Commission giving at length the reasons why a dam and storage reservoir should not be built above Portage Falls as proposed in the charter of the Genesee River Company. These reasons were, in brief, that Letchworth Park had been given to the people of the State of New York for the purpose of preserving its remarkable scenery" for the benefit of man

kind;" that the gift was accepted, after the fullest public discussion which left no doubt concerning this purpose of the donor; that it is therefore a public trust; that to permit the impairment of its beauty will be a violation of that trust; that the building of the dam at the site designated by the charter of the Genesee River Company will be an intrusion upon a part of the Park; that the proposed diversion of water from the Falls will rob the Park of a cardinal feature of its beauty; that the proposed dam and reservoir will, for geological reasons, constitute a grave danger to life and property below; that owing to the wide fluctuation of the area of the reservoir it will be a menace to health; that the dam is not needed for some of the reasons alleged, as, for instance, the Erie canal; that other legitimate purposes can be subserved by building north of Letchworth Park; that the private interests of the three owners of the Genesee River Company should not weigh against the larger interests of the People in the Park; and that in any event, the regulation of the Genesee river should be done by the State, not by private parties.

In their Third Annual Report and their Progress Report presented to the Legislature, February 3, 1908, the State Water Supply Commission recognizes the necessity of State supervision of such enterprises as that in question and the liability that "the scenic beauties of the State may be obliterated or defaced where personal and private interests only are consulted by water power owners." The Commission also expresses a gratifying solicitude for the integrity of Letchworth Park and proposes to change the location of the dam from the site named in the charter of the Genesee River Company to a point entirely south of the Park. It does not, however, see the force of the objections which we have ventured to present against the reduction of the flow of water over the falls to near its minimum, nor to the unsanitary conditions liable to be created by the exposure of ten square miles of slimy

Figure 1. A-B, section shown in figure 2. Cld Genesee Valley Canal formerly occupied site of Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. C-D, proposed line of canal (approximately) which was found impracticable on account of quicksands. Horizontal lines indicate rock outlining ancient drift-filled valleys. Portageville is one of the four villages which would be obliterated by the proposed reservoir of the Genesee River Co.

A

Horizontal scale same as in

Figure 2. Cross-section at A-B in Figure 1. fig. 1. Vertical scale as indicated. 1, Glen Iris, occupying ancient valley. 2, Genesee river below Upper Fall. 3, bed of Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. 4, barrier of quicksand and clay between proposed reservoir and gorge below proposed dam. 5, Upper Genesee valley transformed into artificial lake, fifteen miles long and holding 15,000,000,000 cubic feet of water. 6-6, rock foundation.

REMARKS Referring to the barrier of quicksand shown in above diagrams at foot of the proposed Portage dam, Prof. A. W. Grabau of Columbia University says: "A break in this dam of quicksand such as is sure to occur from undermining by seepage if the lake is created, would carry the resultant flood into the present Genesee gorge near the Lower Falls and through the outer gorges to the flats below Mount Morris. It would not be difficult to estimate which of the villages of the flats would be wiped out of existence. Probably few would escape. Unless it can be shown that a dam of quicksand from half a mile to a mile in length and 2,000 feet across, and extending 70 feet below the floor of the valley which it dams, can hold in check a lake 15 miles long and 118 feet deep and about a mile in width, and containing 15,000,000,000 cubic feet of water, the project will have to be abandoned. Another barrier, or drift dam, of greater magnitude exists in the east bank of the Genesee Valley about three miles south of Portageville. This barrier divides the Genesee from the Nunda Valley, the floor of which at Nunda is 183 feet lower than the level of the Genesee at Portageville. The surface of the proposed lake would then be about 300 feet above the village of Nunda, held in check by a barrier of drift in which quicksand forms a dominant element. Surely the residents of Nunda and the other towns along the Keshequa creek should fully understand the menace such a lake would be to them." Geological diagram of Portage dam site. (See page 34.)

reservoir bottom at stage of low water, nor to the geological instability of the natural walls of the reservoir. We still have very high professional authority for differing from the cpinion of the Commission as to the safety of the proposed reservoir; but upon this and other related questions, we will, if necessary, present our arguments more fully at the proper time and place.

FORT BREWERTON STATE RESERVATION.

The Fort Brewerton State Reservation consists of one acre of land at the foot of Oneida lake, in the town of Hastings, Oswego county, N. Y., including the remains of old Fort Brewerton, built during the French and Indian War. It was purchased by the State pursuant to chapter 653 of the Laws of 1904, which provided that this Society should act as custodian. The act appropriated $2,000 for the purpose, but with the co-operation of this Society, the State secured it in 1906 for $1,250. Nothing further has been expended upon the property. A brief sketch of Fort Brewerton will be found in our Eighth Annual Report, 1903; an extended historical sketch with illustrations in our Tenth Report, 1905; and a copy of chapter 653 of the Laws of 1904 in our Twelfth Report, 1907.

TAPPAN MONUMENT PROPERTY.

In addition to the custody of the four State Reservations before mentioned, the Society, in 1905, purchased, with funds raised by private subscription, and holds title to a circular plot of ground fifty-one feet in diameter, encircled by Washington Place, at Tappan, N. Y. The purchase was made at the suggestion of the New York Times, made in an editorial published October 24, 1904. The plot lies on the top of a sightly hill, where Washington's army was assembled at the time of Andrè's execution, and contains the granite cube placed by Cyrus W. Field to mark the spot where Andrè was hanged and buried. During the past year,