RIVERS. 49 



and lived here in greater numbers, in towns. Here, the Avild 

 animals lived in the greatest numbers, and we have placed our 

 Capitol, on the most beautiful spot of the whole Scioto country. 

 Nature has already done her part, for this region, and man 

 has done, is doing and will continue to do his, to make it all 

 that man can ever desire it to be, forever, " a hojie, sweet 



HOME." 



Next in order, as we descend the Ohio river, one hundred 

 miles below Portsmouth, near the small town of Columbia, the 



LITTLE MIAMI 



Pays its constant tribute, to the Belle Riviere. It rises in 

 Madison county, in a small spring, a few miles from London. 

 Some of its branches, rise in Clinton, but most of them in 

 ; Green county. This river passes through a limestone region. 

 Its length is nearly eighty miles, and its average breadth of 

 valley, may be estimated, at about twenty miles. Originating 

 in durable springs, it is for its size, one of the best mill streum;:, 

 in the state. Though its valley is not much longer than that 

 of the Hockhocking, yet, in summer, while the latter is dry 

 in its bed, at its mouth, and for many miles upwards, the Little 

 Miami rolls along, its good sized volume of water, to its mouth, 

 fertilizing and adorning the earth along its banks, and furnish- 

 ing a water power, which the people of that region, are con- 

 stantly using for mills of all sorts, and for other machinery, 

 moved, by its power. On this river, Jebemiah Morrow, our 

 former member of both houses of congress, canal commissioner, 

 and governor of the state, owns and superintends, himself, sev- 

 eral excellent mills. Along this stream, more sea shells are 

 found, than any where else, in the limestone region of Ohio. 

 Many specimens of them, are perfectly uninjured and entire. 



The soil of this region is warm, especially on its western 



side and is very productive of grass and grain. Green and 



Warren counties, lying in the Little Miami valley, are among 



the best watered, most fertile counties in the state, and they 



7 



