There are various mineral springs, as well as other springs, yielding in some water of singularly pure quality, The latter being utilized for cases with commercial profit. A well-known mineral spring, whoso waters medicinal virtues are claimed, is the Chappaqua Spring, _ three miles east of Sing Sing. disinteof product the is The prevailing soil of Westchester County grations ofthe primitive rocks, and is of a light and sandy character, for the most pari not uncommonly fertile naturally, although the methods of scientific farming, which have been pursued from very early times, have rendered it highly productive. It is not generally and adapted to wheat, summer crops succeeding best. Drift deposits alluvium occur along the Sound and in some localities elsewhere, with been the reprea consequently richer soil. Agriculture has alwayscentury extensive sentative occupation, although daring the last half manufacturing industries have been developed in several localities.

CHAPTER

ABORIGINAL

INHABITANTS

f was not until 1609,, one hundred and seventeen years after the discovery of the New World, that European enterprise, destined to lead to definite colonization and development, was directed to that portion of the North American continent where the metropolis of the Western hemisphere and the Empire State of the American Union have since been erected. The entire North American mainland, in fact, from Florida to Hudson's Bay, although explored by voyagers of different nationalities within comparatively brief periods after the advent of Columbus, had been practically neglected throughout the sixteenth century as a field for serious purposes of civilized occupation and exploitation. The early French attempts at settlement in Canada, in the first half of that century, and the colonizing expeditions sent by Sir Walter Raleigh to the shores of North Carolina, in the second half, were dismal failures, and in the circumstances could not have resulted differently.