486 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 



and generally every advantage can be taken of the dip for drainage and 

 easy delivery of the coal to the mouth of mines. The general dip is to 

 the south, but this is locally modified ; indeed, the strata all through the 

 east half of Washington county are more or less undulating. At one 

 point in the township the level line or line of no dip was found to be 

 north 60° east. This would give the dip at this point south 30° east. 



Petroleum. — Several years since this township laid claim to the posses- 

 sion of good oil territory. On Pawpaw Creek several alluring little wells 

 were obtained, enough to quicken the pulse of the oil fever. That there 

 is considerable oil in the region there is no doubt ; and if the price would 

 justify small wells, the Pawpaw region might be worked. Among the 

 many minor undulations which have caused subterranean fissures, and 

 thus made it possible for the oil, probably in the form of vapor, to rise 

 and accumulate, one such undulation, as an anticlinal, probably crosses 

 Pawpaw Creek in lots 55 and 145 and in that neighborhood. Most of 

 these undulations are so slight as not to make their detection on the 

 surface possible except by a very careful instrumental survey. Toward 

 the north line of the township, on the East Fork, some quite deep wells 

 were bored and a little oil obtained, but not in remunerating quantities. 



Salt. — It is almost certain that brine of good strength may be obtained 

 almost any where in this township by boring wells. On the West Fork, 

 in Aurelius township, and in Noble county, brine has been obtained in 

 the oil wells. In Noble county salt works have been established. Should 

 the making of salt be found a profitable industry, I have no doubt that 

 immense quantities could be made in Salem. Fuel at the minimum 

 cost could be obtained for the evaporation of the brine. 



AURELIUS TOWNSHIP. 



This township lies directly north of Salem, on the West Fork of Duck 

 Creek. It differs from Salem little in the general character of its soil, 

 and the geological features are essentially the same. The lower Salem 

 coal, "the limestone seam," was no where seen in good development, and 

 probably it thins out to the northward ; but the upper and larger seam 

 of coal is to be found. On the land of Hugh Jackson, near the south 

 line of the township, this coal has been opened and mined. Where our 

 measurement was taken the seam presented the following structure : 



Ft. In. 



Coal _ 1 9 



Fire-clay 3 4 



Coal 34 



(See Map XI., No. 18.) 



This is an unusual thickness of the middle clay, and makes the mining 

 of the coal difficult. Further north the lower bench of coal attains a 



