54 / Tygart's Valley. 



ranges. In descending into the valleys, the various oakS; locusts, 

 hickories, walnuts, sugar trees and buck eyes, clothe the sides of 



the hills. 



Monono*ah 



paw and spice wood, flourish at an elevation not common in other 

 parts of the valley, which can arise only from the superior fertility 

 of the soiL 



Tygart^s Valley. 



One of the most Interesting spots in the topography of this re- 

 gion, is Tygart's valley. It lies near the heads of ''the Valley riv- 

 er/' twenty miles S. E. from Clarksburgh ; Beverly, the county 

 seat of Randolph, lies in this valley. It is about seventy miles long, 

 including that portion on Leading creek, and in breadth, it varies 

 from one mile to three. Its boundaries are formed by ranges of the 

 Cheat and Laurel mountains, rising to a great height, and affording 

 many proofs that this valley has once been occupied by a lake. 

 The accumulated waters, rising above the elevation of the Laurel 

 . range, bave here forced a passage, and the Valley river, and Lead- 

 ing creek have formed for themselves channels in tlie bed of this 

 ancient lake., This passage is about three miles in length, and from 

 three to four hundred yards in breadth, cut down to the base of 

 the mountains. The cliffs of rock on each side are of a stupendous 

 height, not less than one thousand feet, affording a most grand and 

 picturesque view, and may not inappropriately be called " the gates 

 of the mountain." The fissure in the rocks, and strata on each side 



The rock itself is of the coarsest conglomerate sandstone. Addi- 

 tional evidence of this valley having formerly been the bed of a lake, 

 is also found in the fossils brought up In excavating the earth for 

 wells. At the depth of twenty feet below the surface, pitch pine 

 logs have been discovered, and what adds to the interest of the fact, 

 is the circumstance that pines of this species, do not at present grow 

 in this region. Petrifactions of shells are common in the rocks, 

 and the lower portion of an os femoris, eight inches in diameter, was 

 also found in the earth, detached, no other bones being discovered 

 with it. Salt water is discovered in this valley, but not of sufBcient 

 strength to^ make the manufacture of salt profitable. The base of 

 the valley rises very gradually as it advances towards its head in the 

 Cheat mountains. The river meanders through Its whole length 

 with a calm and placid surface. Environed by ridges of lofty moun- 



