720 [Assembly 



soil, and the humidity of the climate. The resuscitation of the 

 Adirondac works, will render this neglected mountain tract, for 

 these purposes, a valuable agricultural district. 



Jay was settled as early as 1 798 ; ] emote, and at that time nearly 

 inaccessible from Lake Champlain, i s great natural fertility and 

 beauty attracted the emigrant, who, passing by lands contiguous 

 to that great artery of the country, penetrated to this wilderness by 

 a mere bridle path, and transported thither, on horseback, his fami- 

 ly and effects. A lar_e porti )n of this town is formed of high and 

 precipitous hills and mountains, and its whole territory is elevated. 



In the valleys, the soil is light, but usually vigorous. Upon 

 several parallel ridges, which traverse nearly its entire length, 

 ranges of land occur, distinguished by a warm, quick, and highly 

 productive soil. These tracts allured the early emigration to 

 this region almost sixty years ago, and they still preserve their 

 high character for great and enduring fertility. 



Wilmington and St. Armarids recently separated from it, occu- 

 py the north western angle of Essex county. They are generally, 

 in their topographical aspect, elevated, rough and mountainous. 

 TJie soil is sandy and gravelly, with occasional alternations of 

 loam. These towns comprise numerous bosoms and flats of excel- 

 lent land. The long slopes gradually descending from the moun- 

 tains to the valleys of the streams, present a highly picturesque 

 and beatiful scenery. Settlements commenced in Wilmington in 

 1800, and in the district now forming St. Armands, not untiJ 

 1829, by any permanent occupancy.* 



CHAPTER XII. 



SETTLEMENT CONTINUED. 



The town of North Elba is environed, upon all but its western 

 borders, by a lofty Sierra, which separates it from the other sec- 

 tions of the county, by an almost insuperable barrier. It is 

 now approached only by a circuitous route, through Clinton and 

 Franklin counties, or by the State road, which passes through 



• 



Ellas Goodspced. 



