THE PIEDMONT REGION. 145 



twelve inches to fifteen inches, and in this regard it holds the same rela^ 

 tions as in the former to the regions south of it and to the United States. 

 The summer rains are ten inches to fourteen inches less than in the 

 regions south of it, and third or midway between the areas of greatest 

 and of least summer precipitation in the United States. The autumn 

 rains are eight inches to ten inches, and in the counties east of Broad 

 river, they are ten inches to twelve inches, being about the same as in the 

 region to the south, and midway between the areas of greatest and least 

 autumn precipitation in the United States. The winter rains are ten 

 inches to fourteen inches, something more than in the lower country, and 

 a little above midway between the areas of greatest and of least winter 

 precipitation in the United States. In the whole j^ear, and in each 

 season of tlie year, the rainfall is less than in the Alpine region north of 

 it. As suggesting a possible connection between meteorological condi- 

 tions and the interior of the earth's crust, it may be mentioned that it 

 has been thought that the synclinal axis running northeast, near Allston, 

 on the Greenville railroad, has been, during some years past, a line of 

 demarkation between areas suffering from drought to the south of it, and 

 areas having seasonable rains to the north of it. The first occupying 

 surface under which the rocks dip northwest, and the latter one under 

 which they they dip southeast. Along this same line, during the months 

 of drought, tremors were observed and ascribed to slight shocks of earth- 

 quake. 



In point of healthfulness, this region leaves little to be desired. When 

 first settled, the country was entirely free from all malarial influences. 

 Subsequently, during the period when the first clearing of the forest was 

 in'active progress, the hitherto clean-bordered channels of the streams 

 became obstructed, in part with fallen timber and brush from the clear- 

 ings, and in part by the washings of the hill sides, under the injudicious 

 use of the plow. These washings occurred to such an extent as to alter 

 the original level of the surface, and to pile the dirt up around the trees 

 in the bottoms until they were killed. Such operations were attended 

 with the prevalence of malarial fevers. Later, the uplands having been 

 cleared and partly exhausted, attention was directed to the drainage and 

 reclaiming of the low grounds for agricultural purposes, and the health- 

 fulness of the locality was restored. It has thus happened that, with the 

 extension of the settlements, a belt of malarial influences has moved for- 

 ward with them, vanishing below and advancing above, until it reached 

 the wooded slopes of the mountains before dis'appearing. 



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