HENDERSON COUNTY. 28? 



while worthless for other uses, make a most excellent material for macadamiz- 

 ing roads, and for this purpose, are much more valuable than the limestone. 



Coal. The supply of this useful mineral in this county, is very limited. It 

 is confined to one thin seam which has been found only in sections 23 and 26, 

 township 9, range 4. But little coal has been mined at either opening, and 

 what has been taken out, is reported to be of inferior quality. It is quite 

 likely that this seam may be found extending from here to the south line of the 

 county, at least in places, but probably does not extend much to the westward, 

 unless it be in the northern part of township 8, range 4. Under the most 

 favorable circumstances, the amount that can be obtained from this seam in 

 this county will be comparatively small, and the inhabitants will have to de- 

 pend mostly upon more favored localities for their supplies of coal. Along the 

 line of the railroad it may be obtained, at reasonable rates, from the coal re- 

 gion to the east. 



Other Minerals. Clay, for brick-making, may be obtained from the subsoil 

 of the uplands, at convenient points, throughout the county. 



Iron Ore. The variety called limonite, was noticed at several localities^ but 

 not in sufficient quantities to be of any importance. 



Sulphuret of zinc, or Sphalerite, is of frequent occurrence in the geodiferous 

 or concretionary masses of the Keokuk limestone. 



Crystals of calcite, (carbonate of lime) are found in the different limestone 

 beds lining small cavities. 



Soil and Agricultural Products. The prairie soil is a dark colored loam, 

 everywhere productive where properly drained and cultivated. It contains a 

 large amount of humus, which has resulted from the growth and decay of ani- 

 mal and vegetable matter upon the surface for untold ages. The soil of the 

 timber lands or "oak barrens," is a clay loam, frequently containing but a 

 small percentage of humus, and partaking largely of the nature of the subsoil, 

 which usually lies but a few inches below the surface. The timber found upon 

 these lands is principally red, black and white oak, and shell-bark and bitter- 

 nut hickory. Along the slopes, the soil is usually much richer and darker col- 

 ored, except near the top, where it has been nearly or quite washed away, and 

 the subsoil appears. Here the timber is much more varied than on the ridges, 

 and we find the common varieties of oak, hickory and elm, sugar and white 

 maple, linden, wild cherry, black walnut, butternut, red-bud, and several other 

 kinds. Wild grapes are abundant, and would seem to indicate, from the luxu- 

 riance of their growth, that they had found a soil adapted to their wants. A 

 few vineyards have been started along the bluffs and on the uplands, which ap- 

 pear to be doing well. The finest orchards in the county are found along these 

 bluft' lauds, which are much better adapted to fruit growing than those of the 

 prairie. 



