JO DAVIKSS COUNTY. 27 



The agricultural resources, stock raising capabilities, and mineral 

 wealth hidden away in the underlying rocks, are all leading elements of 

 wealth in this county. 



The county has an abundant supply of timber, for its own consump- 

 tion, for many years to come. The oak family is largely represented 

 among its trees : bass wood, hickory, walnut, and, in short, all the trees, 

 wild fruits and shrubs, catalogued for this part of the State, may be 

 found in the bottom timber, barrens and groves. 



Fruit growing and vine raising may both be carried on successfully. 

 The hills about Galena, and in many other portions of the county, pro- 

 duce the hardy fruits and grapes in great abundance. The business 

 has not been gone into extensively, but there is no reason why wine 

 making might not be made to pay in favored localities. On the Galena 

 hills I have seen grape vines purple with thick hanging clusters, while 

 apple trees near by bent beneath their ripened fruit. The garden fruits 

 attain also to great perfection. 



A prominent feature in the landscape of portions of the county, is a 

 number of natural mounds, rising to a considerable hight above the 

 general surface. 



Pilot Knob is the most conspicuous of these. It is about three miles 

 south of the city of Galena, and about two miles from the Mississippi 

 river. It is a conspicuous landmark to tourists and river men, passing 

 up and down that stream. Towering above the surrounding high bluffs, 

 it reaches an altitude of 429 feet above ordinary water mark in Fever 

 river, according to barometrical measurements, made by WHITNEY. 



There is a chain of some half dozen of these mounds, running north- 

 east of Pilot Knob four or five miles, among them Waddel's and Jack- 

 son's Mounds, well-known local elevations. Around the city of Galena 

 there are several mound-like elevations and ridges, the most conspicuous 

 of which terminates in a group of castellated rocks, near the residence 

 of a Mr. HALLET. These rocks overlook the city, and crooked valley of 

 Fever river, for some distance. 



Charles' Mound, near the north line of the county, is supposed to be 

 the highest point of laud in the State. Its ridge-like, rocky backbone 

 is 295 feet above the Illinois Central Kailroad track, at Scales' Mound 

 station : 951 feet above low water in the Mississippi river, at Cairo ; 

 and 1226 feet above low tide in the Gulf of Mexico. These are the fig- 

 ures given by WHITNEY. 



lies' Mound, about a mile south of the last, is a well known locality. 

 Around this latter, and within a radius of two or three miles, there are 

 several other similar but smaller mounds. 



East and south-east are Woods' Mounds, in the south part of Apple 

 River township ; Bean's Mound, near Apple river; Powers' Mound, in 



