Topogra]}hy of the Valley of the Muskingum, 9 



which they pursue we are led to conclude that the dividing ridge at 

 the heads of these streams is the highest land west and north of the 

 Alleghany range. Between the head branches of several of these 

 streams, are considerable tracts of- " Glade" or table lands, affording 

 from their elevation a soil and temperature suitable to the growth of 

 trees and shrubs of a more northern climate. Large tracts of tol- 

 erably level lands, covered with a heavy growth of forest trees, are 

 found in this elevated region between the head branches of the 

 Gauly, the Elk, and the western forks of the Monongahela. The 

 ranges of mountains, although members of the same family, have 

 received different names, and are the interrupted portions of the 

 Laurel, Chesnut and Cheat mountains ; while the same ranges far- 

 ther west are called the Sewell mountains. On the tops of the 

 mountains themselves, there is sometimes a considerable extent of 

 level land. One of the branches of Cheat river runs for a distance 

 of fifty miles on the top of a mountain ridge, through a tract of 

 level land, six or eight miles wide, clothed with hemlock and lau- 

 rel. On the heads of some of the western branches of the Mo- 

 nongahela river, are found beautiful and fertile valleys. Tygart's 

 valley is one of the most extensive, and will be more fully described 

 when we speak of the topography of the valley of the Mononga- 

 hela. The stream is here called the " valley river," and affords 

 many valuable scites for mills. It is of the most permanent char- 

 acter, having its sources in the mountains, and it is fed by never 

 failing springs. The face of the country on the Monongahela, to 

 its junction with the Alleghany, is hilly, but affords vast tracts 

 of fertile and arable lands. On the Youghiogany and Conemaugh 

 it rises into mountains, with fine tracts of land between. The re- 

 gion on the Alleghany river is hilly and broken, and on all the 

 streams which run into the Ohio on the north, the same uneven sur- 

 face is continued. 



Topography of the Valley of the MusMngum. 



The general aspect of the country through which the Muskingum 

 river passes, is hilly and broken, especially all that portion where 

 sandstone rock prevails. On the head branches the surface is 

 more level, with occasional ridges of hills. The water is limpid, 

 being more highly charged with carbonate of lime than that of 

 the Ohio river. Its bottom is, in many places, covered with 

 quartz pebbles and gravel of various hues, but mostly white, giving, 



Vol. XXIX.— No. 1. 2 



