MCHENRY AND LAKE COUNTIES. 135 



the district, this material has been used to a slight extent as a fertilizer, and 

 when composted with other substances and allowed to stand for a season before 

 using, it has been found beneficial to some of the varieties of soil. 



None of the more useful minerals have as yet been discovered, in any quan- 

 tity, in this district, nor is it probable that any extensive deposits will ever be 

 discovered. The soil, however, is generally productive, and the lands in all 

 parts of the district are generally readily accessible to good markets. Timber 

 is generally abundant, and, except in the vicinity of the several railroads, 

 scarcely less so than when the country was first settled. 



In closing this report, I must here express my indebtedness to various citi- 

 zens of McHenry and Lake counties, and especially to Mr. J. W. Milner, of 

 Waukegan, for kind assistance and information voluntarily afforded during the 

 prosecution of the field work in this region. 



