WOOD COUNTY. 385 



parts of its course, as in Wood county, and its original height and pecu- 

 liar character greatly modified, or perhaps destroyed, by the action of the 

 lake waters. It is noticeable in the cases of isolated knolls, that the 

 sand prevails most on the southerly or south-westerly side of the lime- 

 stone ridge, as if the resultant action of the waters was in that direction. 

 The limestone uniformly has most exposure on the north or north- 

 eastern sides. 



At a point two miles below Otsego the right bank of the Maumee is 

 fifty feet above the summer stage of the river, consisting entirely of hard- 

 pan. No stratification can be seen. The materials are perhaps a little 

 finer and more sandy at the bottom. At another point, about a mile 

 below Perrysburg, the same bank is forty-eight feet. Its contents, ex- 

 posed by the entrance of a ravine, are seen to consist of hard-pan from 

 the top to the bottom. Near the base of the exposure thp materials are 

 finer, but contain occasional stones. The whole acts under the hammer, 

 especially in a moist state, like putty. Mr. Briggs, of the Survey of 

 1838, reports a laminated condition of the upper portion of the Drift ex- 

 posed along the excavation for the canal near Perrysburg, on the left 

 bank of the Maumee. The layers were of fine sand and clay, alternating 

 in thin, nearly or quite horizontal, laminations, like those already de- 

 scribed at Toledo. 



The material resources of the county consist first in the soil, which is 

 destined to make Wood county one of the first in agricultural wealth 

 and importance in the north-western part of the State. Its favorable 

 location for reaching .market at Toledo, and for obtaining an outlet for 

 its products by lake transportation east, will make it a favorite resort 

 for enterprising farmers, while its nearness to the Lake will enable them 

 to command the best prices for their farm products. The full develop- 

 ment of these resources can only be brought about by carrying to com- 

 pletion the plan of artificial drainage that has been wisely adopted, and 

 by the construction of railroads to facilitate communication and trans- 

 portation. At the present time the public roads are not in good condi- 

 tion, and there is a lack of railroads. While gravel is not common in 

 the county for roads, there is abundance of stone, which can easily be 

 rendered of great service in macadamizing the public roads. 



Next to the wealth which lies buried in an undeveloped and undrained 

 soil, may perhaps be mentioned the heavy forest with which the largest 

 portion of the county is yet covered. Various species of oak, hickory, 

 maple, ash, elm, with some cottonwood, sycamore, black walnut, chest- 

 nut, and beech, make up the principal forest trees. The chestnut was 

 seen only at one point. Large fruiting ; rees of that kind occur near 



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