TAZEWELL, Me LEAN, LOGAN AND MASON COUNTIES. 189 



Clay and loam, suitable for the manufacture of a fair quality of red brick, 

 are found in nearly all parts of the district, and have been made use of in most 

 of the principal towns within its limits. Sand for building purposes is also suf- 

 ficiently abundant. 



Mineral Springs We may, perhaps, properly mention again, under this head, 

 the artesian well sunk by Messrs. Voris & Co., on the edge of the bottom land 

 along the Illinois river opposite Peoria, in which a current of water, holding in so- 

 lution sulphuretted hydrogen, was struck at the depth of seven hundred and thir- 

 ty-four feet. When struck it was stated to have had a head of sixty_or seventy 

 feet, and the flow is said to be nearly as strong at the present time. This water 

 appears to be derived from the upper portion of the Niagara group, but before 

 the boring had reached its present depth, a strong stream of saline water was 

 met with, at a distance from the surface of three hundred and seventeen feet. 



Copperas and saline springs occur in various places in this district, and occa- 

 sionally give names to some of the minor streams. Such names as Salt creek 

 and Lick creek occur here, as in other parts of the State. These springs, how- 

 ever, are few in number, and can hardly be considered of any economic value. 



It is, perhaps, superfluous to mention at length the agricultural capabilities 

 of this district, since the capacity of its soils, etc., are so well known, and its 

 territory is so generally taken up by actual settlers and now under cultivation. 

 I may safely say, however, that, with the exception of some sandy portions 

 along the principal rivers, there are no extensive tracts of what can be called 

 poor land in the district. There are, indeed, some tracts of comparatively low 

 bottoms and marshy land, which are not at present available for all kinds of 

 agriculture, but these are generally of limited extent, and are rapidly dimin- 

 ishing under an improved system of drainage, which places them at once among 

 the more valuable lands of the district. The numerous railroads now travers- 

 ing this region, and others projected or in process of construction, by making 

 all portions readily accessible to the centers of trade, will add greatly to its 

 present wealth, and guarantee its future prosperity. 



