DAEKE COUNTY. 617 



ffleen in the last census, which gives Darke county more miles of good 

 pike than any other county in the State. 



The ungainly bowlders everywhere present on the surface, though seem- 

 mgly an obstruction to good farming, perform many useful functions 

 in the economy of the eoianty. The county being entirely destitute of 

 native building stone, their utility can scarcely be estimated in the con- 

 ■struction -of foundations and other rough masonry. They can be worked 

 with measurable facility, and can not be excelled for hardnoes and dura- 

 bility. Mr. Bierley has just constructed a large new "monitor" kiln of 

 them, and he finds them much superior to limestone for that purpos 

 These bowlders are likewise very serviceable for building mill-dams, cel- 

 lars, abutments, and the lik«, but above all in their decomposition re-sup- 

 ply the soil with many of the necessary minerals tkat are constantly 

 being extracted by exhaustive growths of v«getation. 



Lime, too, in considerable quantities is produced within the county. 

 In fact, the Guelph limestone here is fit for nothing else but the produo- 

 duction of limo, and in this it stands without a rival. Bierley & Son are 

 most estensively engaged in the business. Other kilns are owned and 

 operated by Dr. Oard, of Greenville, and by Roesser and Hershey, Adamg 

 township. The easy market which this article finds, will undoubtedly 

 induce many others to engage before long.* 



The surface clay before spoken of afibrds excellent facilities for brick 

 and tile manufactories, and a number of them already exist in different 

 parts of the county, a good quality of r«d brick and tile always being pro- 

 duced. Clay for pottery purposes is not so abundant. An extensive bed 

 of red clay is reported in the northern part of the <X)uaty, but of what 

 value or quality I axa unable to say. 



Tlie water supply of the county is both good and sufficient, the best 

 quality of well water being obtained from beneath the sand and gravel 

 deposits upon the surface of the blue clay. This probably includes a 

 range of from 30 to SO feet of depth. Many excellent springs are scat- 

 tered over th« county. Along the water-shed, however, they are mostly 

 sulphurous, and the well-water of that region is almost unfit for use. la 

 the south-western part of the county, near Weaver's Station, New Madi- 

 son, and that region of kamee, occur many springs which have their 

 origin upon tho surface of the magnesian limestone constituting the 



'Under ttj« directions of yonr local geologist, Mr. Dickey made another experiment 

 •with the limestone on his place near Weaver's Station, and the result was as surmised 

 an this report. The lim« w-Ul compare with the best. H« has already begun work on a, 



