718 [Assembly 



our county fairs, has borne off more prizes on both crops and 

 * animals, than Lewis. Many of the citizens of Lewis occupy the 

 first rank, in their position as farmers. 



Norih Hudson and Keene, while they include seyeral fine 

 fariiis, are in the aggregate, broken and mountainous. The ter 

 riturld limits of Schroon equals ihe area of some counties, and is 

 exceedingly diversified in the face of the country and the nature 

 of tlie soil.* The centre of the town forms a beautiful ricli val- 

 ley of warm alluvial soil, through which flows, along high and 

 even banks, the waters of the upper Hudson. Successful culti- 

 vation has been extended into the ravines and reces^es of the 

 mountains traversed by tributaries of this stream. Fertile and 

 cultivated tracts occur in various other sections of the town. 

 Oil each side of the Schroon valley, lofty and rugged mountain 

 tracts spiead over a large proportion of the territory. 



The local position of Schroon, remote from Lake Champlain, 

 and separated from it hy a range of high and almost impenetrable 

 mountains, and sequestered from all other natural avenues, is 

 unfavorable to the development of its vast native resources. A 

 plank road extending from Glen's Falls to Chester, in Warren 

 county, approaches its borders, and partially opens an access to 

 market of the products of its industry and agriculture. Strong 

 considerations of general interest are now directed to the subject 

 of constructing a railroad through this important valley. Few 

 public improvements are contemplated, which would evoke more 

 varied and extended elements of business and wealth. 



The town of Minerva was organized from a part of Schroon, 

 and incorporated in 1817, when it comprised a few log cabins 

 scattered over its wide surface. It is situated in the extreme 

 south-western corner of the county. A very large proportion of 

 this town is still occupied by the original forest. Separated by 



* This town derives its name from the love'y lal;e which it embraces. The legend is, that 

 the hike was visited by the French in their militaiy expeditions and in fishing and hunting 

 excursions from Crown Point and Ticonderog^, and was named by them "Scaron,"' in honor 

 of "the widow Scaron," the celebrated Madam Maintenon, of the reign of Louis XIV. 

 Col. Andrew L. Ireland, of New-York, has a very beautiful si at on an island in this Like, 

 which he calls '* Isla bella," and which is embellished with great taste. The islands of thi« 

 lake aford sites for elegant and retired villas and country seats, unsurpassed by the waters of 

 Cumberland and Westmoreland, in picturesque beauty and romantic seclusion. 



