Lewis County 387 



county, whence it spreads out into a level, swampy tableland to 

 Lake Ontario. These terraces are occasionally broken by oblique 

 valleys from the northwest. The summit is 1,500 to 1,700 feet 

 above tide. In the limestone region, the soil is somewhat thin, 

 but everywhere productive. Near the foot of Tug Hill, in the 

 western part, is a strip of heavier soil of considerable area and 

 marked by a line of springs and swamps. The soil on the slate 

 region in the western part is deep and well adapted to grazing. 

 On the summit of the slate tableland are splendid forests of 

 spruce and birch, with extensive swamps that give rise to streams 

 flowing into Black and Mohawk rivers, Oneida Lake, and Lake 

 Ontario. 



Spring grains are readily cultivated. This county is, however, 

 particularly well adapted to pasturage, and dairying forms the 

 principal pursuit of the people. 



DESCRIPTION BY TOWNSHIPS 



Croghax : The surface has an inclination toward the west and 

 north ; in the central and eastern parts it is broken and hilly, with 

 numerous small streams and creeks. The town contains the 

 sources of Indian River and is crossed by Beaver River and 

 the Oswegatchie with its branches. Black River forms the 

 western boundary. In the eastern part of the town are several 

 lakes, notably Long, Trout, and Twin ponds on the Oswegatchie 

 River, which have been famous as deer hunting and trout fishing 

 resorts. The soil is mostly light and sandy and along the river 

 intervales it is moderately fertile. 



At Croghan the large tanneries of years ago are replaced with 

 extensive plants for manufacturing hardwood flooring and shoe 

 lasts. From the maple forests there is produced a fine grade of 

 maple sugar and sirup. Above Belfort on Beaver River are sev- 

 eral large and valuable waterpower sites, three of which have 

 been developed ; at Beaver Falls there is located the pulp and 

 paper mills of the J. P. Lewis and the Slocum and Lefevre 

 companies. The Xorthern Xew York Utilities, Inc., control two 

 developed waterpower sites and over their lines light and power 

 are transmitted to Lowville, YVatertown, and vicinity. One of the 



