118 



THE SAND HILL REGION. 



mountain. This hill consists of horizontal layers of sand and kaolin 

 cla3's, similar to the prevailing formations of the sand hills, aud lias been 

 preserved from denudation by blocks of ferruginous sandstone covering 

 its top and sides, identical in character with the same sandstone, known 

 as ironstone, found on the summit of these hills in many otlier localities. 

 The following diagram presents a view of the relative elevations of this 

 region : 



Se.\. Level. Aiken. Lexington. Richland. Kershaw. Chesterfikld. Sea Level. 



A Savannah River ; B South Edisto River ; C North Edisto River ; D Congaree River ; E Wateree 

 River; i^Lyneh's River ; G Pee Dee River ; i/ Ailcen Court House; /Sugar Loaf Mountain. 



Scale— 35 miles per inch. Elevation 100 feet per xV inch. 



This longitudinal section of the sand hills illustrates once more the 

 law already noticed as prevailing elsewhere — that the long slopes face 

 west and south, and the short slopes face east and north ; and, also, that 

 the western portion of the State is more elevated than the eastern. It 

 will also be noticed that, notwithstanding their just reputation for great 

 dryness, these pine barrens are well watered. They are crossed by seven 

 rivers of considerable size, having an aggregate length among these 

 hills of more than two hundred miles. Of creeks, not counting lesser 

 streams and branches, there is an aggregate length in this region of 

 eleven hundred and seventy miles, capable of furnishing a large amount 

 of water power. For instance, one average creek out of the seventy-eight 

 found here, Horse creek furnishes in the single township of Gregg, in 

 Aiken county, power for a large paper mill and three cotton mills, being 

 1300 horse power utilized, and estimating the power not employed, 

 the stream can furnish 2500 horse power. Showing that the streams 

 of medium size in this region have a capacity for work, now scarcely 

 utilized, greater than that of all the work stock of the State. On the 

 margins of these streams there are more than 100,000 acres of bottom 

 lands, for the most part uncleared, but capable of being rendered, by 

 drainage and irrigation, in the highest degree productive. The water of 

 these streams, which are little subject to freshet, but maintain a flow of 

 great uniformity throughout all the seasons of the year, is as clear as that 

 of the purest springs. Spring branches, and even streams of considerable 

 size, sink sometimes into the loose sands of this region and disappear, to 

 appear at distant points as " boiling " springs, that is, springs bubbling 



