Course of the Canal_—Marl Beds.— Massillon. 55 
The swamps and peat marshes, with the growth of trees and shrubs, 
have gradually encroached on their limits, until several, within the 
recollection of old hunters, have changed their character from pond 
to swamp ; and these, after a few years, will, by drainage and culti- 
vation, pass into meadows. After passing the first lock, eighteen 
miles north of Massillon, the face of the country begins to descend 
very gently to the south, and affords fine lands for agricultural pur- 
poses, lying on long slopes and gentle undulations, clothed with 
beautiful forest trees. 
Course of the Canal.—After crossing the line of Stark County, 
which we did directly after dusk, the canal enters upon the N. W. 
border of the great coal basin. It continues near the margin of the 
basin as it advances south, down the waters of the Tuscarawas, for 
the distance of one hundred miles, until it reaches the waters of 
Licking, when, turning up to the west, through “the narrows of 
Licking,” it emerges upon the great tertiary region west of the 
coal measures. Passing over the Licking summit, through the 
‘deep cut,” and down the Scioto Valley, it again enters the hills 
below Chilicothe, and passes out through the S. W. border of the 
coal and iron deposits, into the Ohio River. 
Marl Beds.—The eastern line of Wayne County lies near the 
route of the canal. The two counties last mentioned contain ex- 
tensive tracts of rich prairie and rolling uplands. In the wet prairies, 
beneath a bed of black vegetable earth, are found immense deposits 
of marl, so rich in calcareous material, that when burnt it answers 
the purposes of lime, and is used in making cements and plaster, for 
buildings. These beds will furnish inexhaustible supplies of the 
richest manure for the sandy plains which stretch along the 'Tuscar- 
awas. ‘The marl deposits run east and west for many miles, and 
are found near Canton, in the centre of Stark County. When these 
calcareous beds shall be thoroughly examined, they will doubtless 
afford many fine fossil shells of the tertiary series. 
Massillon, May 16th.—Stark County has a population of about 
25,000, many of whom are emigrants from Germany and France. It 
is fast rising into wealth and importance. We passed through Mas- 
sillon early this morning. It is a town of considerable magnitude, 
and carries on an extensive business in merchandise and agricultural 
productions. ‘The buildings are generally larger and better than in 
new towns; many of them are constructed of brick. There 
ate four large flouring malls, an oil mill, furnace, woolen manufac- 
