Course of ihe Canal. — Marl Beds. — Massillon. 55 



The swamps and peat marshes, with the growth of trees and shrubs, 

 have gradually encroached on their hmits, until several, within the 

 recollection of old hunters, have changed their character from pond 

 to swamp ; and these, after a few years, will, by drainage and culti- 

 vation, pass into meadows. After passing the first lock, eighteen 

 miles north of Massillon, the face of the country begins to descend 

 very gently to the south, and affords fine lands for agricultural pur- 

 poses, lying on long slopes and gentle undulations, clothed with 

 beautiful forest trees. 



Course of the Canal. — After crossing the line of Stark County, 

 which we did directly after dusk, the canal enters upon the N. W. 

 border of the great coal basin. It continues near the margin of the 

 basin as it advances south, down the waters of the Tuscarawas, for 

 the distance of one hundred miles, until it reaches the waters of 

 Licking, when, turning up to the west, through " the narrows of 

 Licking," it emerges upon the great tertiary region west of the 

 coal measures. Passing over the Licking summit, through the 

 " deep cut," and down the Scioto Valley, it again enters the hills 

 below Chilicothe, and passes out through the S. W. border of the 

 coal and iron deposits, into the Ohio River. 



Marl Beds. — The eastern line of Wayne County lies near the 

 route of the canal. The two counties last mentioned contain ex- 

 tensive tracts of rich prairie and rolling uplands. In the wet prairies, 

 beneath a bed of black vegetable earth, are found immense deposits 

 of marl, so rich in calcareous material, that when burnt it answers 

 the purposes of lime, and is used in making cements and plaster, for 

 buildings. These beds will furnish inexhaustible supplies of the 

 richest manure for the sandy plains which stretch along the Tuscar- 

 awas. The marl deposits run east and west for many miles, and 

 are found near Canton, in the centre of Stark County. When these 

 calcareous beds shall be thoroughly examined, they will doubtless 

 afford many fine fossil shells of the tertiary series. 



Massillon, May I6th. — Stark County has a population of about 

 25,000, many of whom are emigrants from Germany and France. It 

 is fast rising into wealth and importance. We passed through Mas- 

 sillon early this morning. It is a town of considerable magnitude, 

 and carries on an extensive business in merchandise and agricultural 

 productions. The buildings are generally larger and better than in 

 most new towns ; many of them are constructed of brick. There 

 are four large flouring mills, an oil mill, furnace, woolen manufac- 



