No. 112.] 719 



a high range of mountains, from other sections of the county, 

 connected with them by imperfect communi^-ation and with litile 

 associations in their business afiairs, this most valuable and in- 

 teresting town has been little known or appreciated. De}.re^sed 

 by a combination of adverse circumstances previous to 1848, since 

 that period a new career lias marked its } rogress. In the general 

 improvement of the town, in the appearance of the farms, the 

 erection of jiew buildings and tlie renovation of the old ones, no 

 part of the county exhibited to my observation, more decisive 

 and gratifying evidences of prosperity and advancement. 



The physical formation of Minerva is peculiar and striking. 

 The whole territory of the town is elevated, rising in a gradual 

 ascent of a succession of lofty valleys, formed by deep, broad, 

 and sweeping undulations. This formation, viewed from an 

 eminence, communicates a rich rural aspect and great beauty to 

 the landscape. In the language of one of its inhabitants,* 

 "Minerva is a rugged and mountainous town, containing about 

 one/ third mountain, one-third feasible land, and the residue 

 rough and stony." A good road connects it with Warren county, 

 where it would communicate with the contemplated railroad. 



The soil of this town is chiefly a strong and warm sandy loam. 

 Large tracts of rich and desirable land remain unappropriated. 

 These lands are in the market at exceedingly low prices. The 

 town of Mewcomb, which embraces the mass of tlie Adirondac 

 group of mountains, forms, essentially the great waten- shed, from 

 which flows tributaries of the Hudson, St. Lawrence nd Lake 

 Champlain. It is high, spreading over an elevation, (a j^art from 

 the altitude of the mountains) ranging fiom 150U to 18UU feet, 

 which presents a broken and rocky surface. Yet its slopes and 

 elevated valleys comprise tracts of much natural vigor, with great 

 depth of soil. These qualities of the earth, are exhibittd by the 

 dense and stately growth of its primitive and magnificent hard- 

 wood forests. Isolated farms liave been occupied in dilTerent i)art3 

 of this town, since an early period of the present centuiy. 



Newcomb embraces many districts of arable land, which are 

 admirably adapted to meadow and grazing, from the vigor of the 



• A. p. Morse. 



