WARREN COUNTY. 389 



• 



carried to inconvenient depths, fifteen to twenty-five feet being the gen- 

 eral depth of the water-sheet. 



The distribution of the water is, very often at least, if not generally, 

 in horizontal sheets, which fact helps, perhaps, to account for the fre- 

 quent success of "water-witches" in finding, by their arts, the "veins" 

 of water. There are, without doubt, underground channels, by whirfi 

 the water moves in its established circuits, but it would seem that if they 

 could be found it would be better to avoid them, and make our appeal to 

 the reservoir instead for our supply. 



Among the springs of the county, perhaps the strongest and most 

 serviceable is one that rises in the land of Edward Heston, near Spring- 

 boro, and which is turned to account in running the machinery of a 

 flouring mill and woolen factory. Its origin is in heavy deposits of 

 Drift. 



Bowlders, of northern origin, are everywhere distributed through the 

 county. There are several of unusual size, and one of them deserves 

 especial notice. It is found three miles to the south-east of Lebanon, 

 near the residence of John Stephenson, and gives a name to the school- 

 house located near, which is known through the township as the "Rock 

 School-house." The bowlder is composed of gneiss — in which rosecol- 

 ored felspar is a large element— a composition shared by most of the 

 largest erratics of the region. It weathers very rapidly, and must have 

 had considerably greater dimensions at an earlier day. It now measures 

 above ground seventeen feet in length, thirteen feet in breadth, and 

 eight feet in height. Examination shows it to be sloping outwards 

 under ground in all directions. It is fair to conclude that at least one- 

 half of it lies buried. Its weight above ground will not fall below one 

 hundred and forty tons. 



Mention has already been made of the enormous block of Cliff Lime- 

 stone found near Freeport, and which deserves to be counted among the 

 bowlders of the county. 



The eroded river valleys of the countj' constitute a district by them- 

 selves — whether occupied by rivers to-day. as in the case of the two 

 Miami valleys, or whether marking the presence of greater streams in 

 the earlier chapters of the hibtory of the country. To this latter divi- 

 sion belongs the broad tract stretching from Lebanon, westward, to the 

 Great Miami. These lowlands of the county constitute agricultural 

 tracts of very great value. An excellent example of them in their best 

 estate, is to be seen in the Shaker farms around Union Village. 



These lowlands are to be divided into at least two well-marked divi- 

 sions — the bottom lands proper, and the gravel terraces. 



