WEST VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



309 



Topography. 



A description of the surface of this area is included under 

 a similar head in the discussion of Tyler county. The lowest 

 point, 588 feet, is at the Ohio river in the southwestern comer 

 of the county, and the highest, 1,650 feet, at the summit of 

 Honsocker knob in the opposite corner. The hills in most parts 

 are very rough and steep. 



"Wetzel fronts on the Ohio river for about 13 miles. The 

 largest tributary of this river in the county is Fishing creek, the 

 whole basin of which lies within the area and drains 220 square 

 miles. The remaining area of 140 square miles is drained by 

 Fish creek, which flows northwest into Marshall county, and by 

 several small creeks and runs. 



Original Forest Conditions. 



Yellow poplar, oaks, walnuts, and other hardwoods, reached 

 the same degree of excellence here that they did in the other 

 counties of the Ohio river valley. Yellow poplar was abundant 

 in the rich land of the creek bottoms. A tree of this species 7 

 feet in diameter once stood on Nettle run south of Jacksonburg. 

 White pine was found on Piney Fork, Brush run, and State 

 Road run, all southern tributaries of Fishing creek. Yellow 

 pine grew locally in the southern part of the county, principally 

 on the ridges at the head of Piney Fork of Fishing creek. Hick- 

 ories, birches, and chestnuts were not common except in a few 

 localities. 



The Lumber Industry. 



Following is a statement made by Mr. S. I. Robinson, of 

 New Martinsville, an old resident surveyor and lumberman: 



''It may be said that the lumber industry really began 

 about the year 1844 ; that is, 2 years before the county of Wetzel 

 was cut off from Tyler. Before that time there was a demand for 

 a limited amount of lumber at home, and a little traffiicking in 

 lumber was done here and there along the Ohio river; but in 

 a majority of cases the trees that were cut down were split into 



