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CONDITIONS BY COUNTIES. 



Topography. 



The surface of the county is ridged with long, and not 

 greatly elevated mountains, lying several miles eastward from 

 the main crest of the Alleghanies and conforming^ in general, 

 to the trend of the Appalachian System. The principal moun- 

 tains are named and described below: Sleepy Creek mountain 

 forms the natural boundary between Morgan and Berkeley 

 counties and has an elevation of 1,800 feet. This mountain ex- 

 tends unbroken for about 18 miles from the southeastern corner 

 of the county. Cacapon mountain extends into the county from 

 the south and terminates at the Potomac river a few miles be- 

 low the mouth of the Great Cacapon. The greatest elevation 

 of this mountain is 2,196 feet. Sidling mountain lies in the 

 wetsem part of the county between the Potomac and Great 

 Cacapon rivers. It has an average elevation of about 2,000 

 feet. Between the mountains named there are numerous ridges 

 from 800 feet to 1,200 feet in height and all extending, like the 

 former, in a northeast and southwest direction. 



The Potomac river, which separates Morgan county from 

 •Maryland for a distance of about 50 miles^ is the principal 

 stream and receives all the drainage of this area. The princi- 

 pal tributaries of the Potomac here are the Great Cacapon river, 

 which enters on the south from Hampshire county and flows 

 at the western base of Cacapon mountain; Warm Spring run, 

 which empties at Hancock Station, and Sleepy creek, which 

 empties about 5 miles below. 



Original Timber Conditions. 



George Washington owned lands in Morgan county at 

 Bath (now Berkeley Springs) and farther west near Orleans 

 Crossroads. During an excursion to the "West" in 1784 Wash- 

 ington visited and reviewed" his 200 acre tract at the latter 

 place. The following entry in his journal under date of Sep- 

 tember 8th, gives us some facts concerning the original timber 

 in that locality: "Set out about 7 o'clock with Doctr. (Craik) 

 his son William, and my Nephew Bushrod Washington, who 

 were to make the tour with us, — about ten I parted with them 



