CHAPTER LXI. 



REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OP HARRISON COUNTY. 



BY JNO. J. STEVENSON. 



Harrison county is bounded on the nortli by Carroll and Jefferson, on 

 the east by Jefferson, on the south by Belmont and Guernsey, and on the 

 west by Guernsey and Tuscarawas. It is nearly rectangular, and con- 

 tains fifteen townships, with an area of not far from four hundred and 

 fifty square miles. 



Though containing no streams of navigable size, this county is well 

 watered. Stillwater Creek and its various tributaries flow through the 

 south-western portion, the Conotton through the northern townships, 

 while Short Creek drains the eastern, and the tributaries of Wheeling 

 Creek the south-eastern portion. Of the valleys cut out by these streams 

 a few are narrow, with insignificant "bottoms," but for the most part 

 they are broad, with smaller ones entering from each side, and bounded, 

 usually, by hills rounded above by erosion. Though several of the town- 

 ships are, by this means, almost deprived of coal, the bottom lands are so 

 fertile as to more than compensate for the loss. Especially is this the 

 case in Cadiz, Archer, Stock, and Nottingham townships. In Green, 

 Short Creek, and Athens the erosive action has been energetic, but the 

 hills are steeper, and less adapted to cultivation than in the other town- 

 ships named. At the west the underlying rocks are principally sand- 

 stone, so that the soil is somewhat thin ; but in the eastern portions' there 

 is a very notable proportion of lime, which renders the soil much more 

 durable. Every where, however, good crops can be obtained in ordinary 

 seasons. 



The main source of revenue ig wool-raising. In this Harrison county 

 has been preeminent for many years, having, in proportion to her size 

 and population, produced more wool than any other county in the State. 

 This business has proved exceedingly profitable for the last two years,. 

 but, in view of the introduction of improved breeds into Colorado and 

 Nebraska, one is inclined to doubt whether Ohio will be justified in rais- 

 ing wool much longer. In our State about one half the land is kept in 



