WEST VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



207 



ries of the Cheat river in the county are very small, the largest 

 being Morgan run and Quarry run which flow in from the 

 mountains on the east. 



Original Forest Conditions. 



The original forests of the county were essentially hard- 

 wood, including almost every species common to the hilly part 

 of the State. Oak, poplar, chestnut, beech, maple and walnut 

 are listed by some as the principal timber trees. There were in 

 addition to these, however, many others of considerable com- 

 mercial importance. The wood specimens exhibited at the Cen- 

 tennial Exhibition in 1876 and furnished by Fairchild, Law- 

 head and Company and by Walter Mestrezat, of Llorgantown, 

 were cedar, white walnut, black walnut, white oak, sugar maple, 

 hickory, poplar, locust, black cherry, white ash, linden and 

 chestnut. Other common' hardwoods were honey locust, syca- 

 more, slippery elm, white elm, hackberry, sweet buckeye and 

 red maple. Hemlock grew plentifully in some sections in the 

 Cheat river basin and to some extent in the deep channels of 

 Deckers creek and other tributaries on both sides of the Monon- 

 gahela. Red cedar, scrub pine, pitch pine and white pine grew 

 sparingly in some sections. Scrub pine still grows in pure 

 stand on several acres near Dellslow on Deckers creek, and a 

 few white pines are still growing near the mouth of Cobun 

 creek. 



The Lumber Industry. 



Much of the best timber, particularly on the west side 

 of the Monongahela river, was destroyed during the period of 

 early settlement in the clearings made by farmers. The only 

 lumber used by the pioneers was manufactured on water saw 

 mills or by hand. All of the old saw mills have long ago been 

 abandoned and their locations and owners in many cases have 

 been forgotten. A list of the industries in existence in 1835 

 includes 6 saw mills, 10 cabinet shops, 2 chair shops, 4 wheel- 

 wright shops, 2 wagon-maker's shops and 2 tan yards. A list 

 dated 1860 gives 7 saw mills and one of 1870 lists only 3 saw 

 mills. 



