5i2 CLAY, ROAD MATERIALS, ETC. 



MINERAL WATERS. 



No medicinal springs are being exploited in the two coun- 

 ties and none are known to exist. No sulphur springs of any 

 consequence were observed, such as are often found in coal 

 counties. The Alum spring at Alum Bridge, Lewis, previ- 

 ously described under the Lower Pittsburgh Sandstone, page 

 135, has a strong alum taste, and flows throughout the year, 

 but, so far as known, has not been used as a curative spring. 



FORESTS. 

 Lewis County. 



In Volume V, pages 174-176, of the State Survey Reports, 

 by A. B. Brooks, State Forester, there is a description, both 

 of original timber conditions and present forest conditions, 

 that is of pertinent interest and is here republished, not only 

 to show what timber is now available, but also to show what 

 is likely to thrive, should reforestation be taken up : 



"Original Timber Conditions. 



"The original forests of Lewis County were essentially hardwood. 

 Hemlock was never plentiful as in some adjacent counties and other 

 softwoods, such as pitch pine and red cedar, grew only in small scat- 

 tered clumps. Yellow poplars, oaks, black walnuts, locusts, maples, 

 hickories, beeches, and many other hardwoods grew in every locality. 

 In the fertile valleys of Hackers Creek and West Fork River, the 

 stand of timber was once enormous, as indicated by a few remnants 

 that still remain. The broad meadows of the bottom lands are almost 

 everywhere adorned with magnificent specimens of such trees as 

 black maple, white elm, sweet buckeye and white oak. Along the 

 slow-flowing streams, black willows, sycamores, box elders and many 

 other water-loving trees grow in profusion. These individual trees 

 and small areas of timberland furnish the most reliable 'and satis- 

 factory information regarding the original forests." 



"Present Forest Conditions. 



"There are no extensive virgin or cut-over forests left in the 

 county. Approximately 100,000 acres still remain in forest of some 

 kind, but all or nearly all of this is in small woodlots connected 

 with cleared lands. The farmers in most sections own sufficient tim- 

 ber for domestic use, and in some cases have reserved excellent 

 stands of oak and other hardwoods." 



