62 Agricultural Manual 



An interesting fact concerning the old Indian trails is that even 

 our modern road makers have been unable to make many improve- 

 ments either in the way of shortening the distance or in securing 

 a better grade. As a consequence, -the railroads of the state, with 

 a few exceptions, follow quite closely the original trails. 



PROGRESS OF INDUSTRY 



The water power of the numerous streams of the state was 

 utilized as early as the settlers were able to construct their rude 

 homes, plant 'their small crops, and build mills. A number of 

 grist mills and -saw mills sprang up at an early date. Asheries 

 and tanneries were common in many places until the destruction 

 of the forests made them unprofitable. On account of the cost of 

 carrying- grain to the markets, distilleries were also built at an 

 early date. In the more remote sections, especially in the north- 

 ern and western portions of the state, the production of ashes or 

 black salts were almost the only products for which cash could be 

 obtained, and payment for goods purchased was usually made in 

 products of the farm. 



Since the country was covered with forests, lumbering or the 

 production of black salts was generally the chief occupation until 

 the land had been cleared. When the land was put under culti- 

 vation, grain, hay, and potatoes were the principal crops, accom- 

 panied by the raising of live stock to some extent. The raising 

 of cattle gradually became prominent in the northern, central, and 

 western portions, and, while the dairy industry is of great import- 

 ance throughout the state, it is particularly prominent in those 

 sections at the present time. 



DAIRYING 



Until recent years most of the milk furnished for the city of 

 New York was principally supplied from the near-by counties, 

 including Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Columbia, Greene, 

 and Delaware, as well as those on Long Island. The milk pro- 

 duced in the other sections of the state was nearly all manufac- 

 tured into butter and cheese. In 1870 New York produced more 

 buttor and cheese than all the rest of the states in the Union. 



