156 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



THE MOUNTAINS. 



The mountain section proper has an elevation from 1,300 to 2,500 feet above 

 the sea level, including Preston, Tucker, Randolph, Ilardy, Pendleton, Poca- 

 hontas, Greenbrier, and Monroe counties. Those north of Greenbrier and west 

 of the summit of the main ridge may appropriately be considered together. 

 They are covered with heavy timber, with isolated patches of improved lands, 

 including but 226,632 acres in the four counties. Springs are abundant, though 

 comparatively scanty in summer, and fall abruptly over precipitous ledges 

 near their sources, and expand into quiet rivers, with occasional rapids in the 

 lower valleys, forming valuable mill seats. 



The soil is excellent for grasses, much of it containing a good admixture of 

 clay. With indifferent culture it produces from thirty to fifty bushels per acre 

 of corn ; in some cases a much larger yield. Wheat usually gives fifteen to 

 twenty bushels. But the greatest value exists beneath the soil, in iron and 

 bituminous coal, and other minerals. 



High among the western ridges of the Alleghanies, south of the Cheat 

 mountains, and between the Alleghanian backbone on one side and the Black 

 and Droop mountains on the other, lies Pocahontas county, 76 miles in length 

 by 17 to 20 in breadth. The mountain springs of this elevated region con- 

 tribute to swell the waters of the James, Potomac, Mengetia, Elk, and New 

 rivers, while the Greenbrier flows through the entire length of the county, at 

 certain points through a beautiful valley. 



In their rough mountain heights, remote from railroads and navigable rivers, 

 dwell 3,958 hardy mountaineers, occupying 828,921 acres in farms, (less than 

 ten per cent, improved,) worth $2,051,780. Sheep husbandry flourishes here, 

 (numbering 10,338 animals, producing 23,041 pounds of wool,) and cattle 

 abound. The total value of live stock is $328,002. The production of 121,310 

 pounds of butter and 6,225 pounds of cheese, in addition to liberal supplies of 

 milk for prolific households, indicates no mean capacity for dairying. Of In 

 dian corn the product is 48,229 bushels ; rye, 10,778 bushels ; wheat, 8,933 

 bushels; flax fibre for the supply of the old spinning wheels, 1,684 pounds; 

 and of home-made sweets, 65,725 pounds maple sugar, 2,559 gallons molasses, 

 and 866 pounds of honey. The value of their animals slaughtered is $41,554; 

 of their home manufactures, $14,846. These few figures are given merely to 

 show that the Alleghany mountain tops, among the most remote and inaccessi- 

 ble portions of West Virginia, may and do contain the homes of comfort and 

 plenty, and sturdy independence. 



The mineral resources of Pocahontas are valuable. Iron ore is found, said 

 to produce 83 per cent, of pure metal; and lead, copper, and silver exist. Coal 

 crops out along the ranges of mountains on the western boundary, which is the 

 eastern border of the great coal basin. 



The heavy and valuable timber of this region, and abundant water-power 

 everywhere at hand, will at some time combine to add materially to the wealth 

 of this mountain region. 



Randolph is the next county north, upon the western declivity of the Alle- 

 ghanies. It is still large, though its former proportions are much reduced, 

 having now, in farms, 48,249 acres improved, and 278,083 unimproved, with a 

 population a little less than five thousand. It has, of course, immense tracts 

 of wild lauds not included in farms. The soil is productive in grasses, and the 

 few patches in cultivation support 8,103 cattle and 7,565 sheep. The live 

 stock is valued at $244,857. Of maize there is produced 55,225 bushels, 20,248 

 bushels of oats, besides wheat, rye, potatoes, &c.; of maple sugar, 43,692 

 pounds, and 1,351 gallons molasses, and 1,370 pounds of honey. 



The headwaters of the Cheat and Tygart's Valley rivers drain this county 

 The valleys produce good wheat and corn, and the mountains make fine pas- 



