WEST VIRGINIxV GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



305 



tains to the south. Gauley river is formed in the spruce 

 forests of the eastern part of the county by the running together 

 of North, South and Middle Forks. Its chief tributary here, 

 however, is Williams river, a large, swift-flowing stream which 

 empties about 6 miles above the town of Camden-on-Gauley. 

 Other smaller tributaries are Big Ditch run, Turkey creek and 

 Straight creek. The Cranberry river, which empties into the 

 Gauley in Nicholas county, flows for about 14 miles through the 

 southern part of the county. 



Original Forest Conditions. 



In view of the fact that a large area in the county is stiU 

 covered with virgin forests the usual discussion under this head 

 is included under ''Present Forest Conditions." 



The Lumber Industry. 



Webster is comparatively a new county. When it was 

 formed in 1860 there was a population of only 1,776 persons; 

 and with the exception of small, scattered openings made by 

 these earliest settlers, the whole area was an unbroken forest at 

 that time. For many years after the formation of the county, 

 settlement and the clearing up of woodland was slow. In fact, 

 as late as 1892 when the Gauley branch of the Baltimore and 

 Ohio railroad was completed to Camden-on-Gauley, not less 

 than nine-tenths of the county was covered with virgin forests. 

 From this it will be seen that the destruction of timber in the 

 clearings of early settlers was comparatively insignificant in 

 this county. 



Before the building of the railroad, above referred to, the 

 vast forests were accessible only through the channels of t.iaft 

 large rivers which course through the county. It may be 

 stated that floating of poplar logs began on the Webster part of 

 Elk river approximately 40 years ago, and on the Gauley river 

 about 10 years later. Mr. Walter Holiister, of Cowen, states 

 that the first extensive floating on the Elk river was carried on 

 by the Woodruffs between the years 1870 and 1880. This com- 

 pany cut poplar timber near the river from a point some dis- 

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