11. OLIVER TOWNSHIP. F 2 . 277 



11. Oliver township. 



This, one of the smallest townships in the county, con- 

 tains the largest town, Newport. 



It borders on the Juniata river for about 6 miles from the 

 southern line of Tuscarora township to the great bend be- 

 tween Newport and Baileysburg. It is bounded on the 

 west by Juniata and Centre township and on the south by 

 Miller, and its entire area does not much exceed 20 square 

 miles. 



Excepting the margin of the river where some flat and 

 alluvial land occurs, the whole surface of the township is 

 hilly and much of it wooded. No heavy timber exists, the 

 demands of the charcoal furnaces in years past having 

 caused its destruction. Since, however, they went out of 

 blast a young growth of wood, chiefly chestnut, has sprung 

 up and covered the hillsides where the plow does not visit 

 them. 



The principal ridges in this township are in the south. 



Limestone ridge, extending from Centre township, passes 

 through its southern angle and affords the only supply of 

 limestone of any value that is contained within its limits. 



The Buffalo hills run parallel to and a short distance 

 north of Limestone ridge. They are not continuous but 

 broken by deep passes or gaps. There is consequently no 

 gathering ground of sufficient extent to produce a consid- 

 erable stream. All the runs that issue from the springs 

 among these hills find their way through one or another of 

 these gaps into the basin on the north side of the range. 

 This basin is bounded on the north by Middle ridge, which 

 differs from most of the ridges in being completely cleared 

 and cultivated to its very top. A road runs west-southwest 

 from Newport along its summit giving a wide view over the 

 adjacent country. 



