458 
[Assembly 
But in their continuation southward, their depth constantly increases, 
the hills become more and more elevated, and the declivities more and 
more precipitous. The extreme top of some of the highest points of 
land can not be less than eight hundred feet above the low grounds of 
the surrounding valleys. 
Along the northern border of the county, there is spread out a body 
of alluvium totally distinct in character from that prevailing in the south- 
ern portions ; and the difference between the two is manifest, as well 
in the vegetation with which they are clothed, as in the materials of 
which they are composed. The ravines and gorges of the one have 
fewer evergreens, and of these the hemlock is the most abundant, while 
the valleys of the Allegany and its tributaries are distinguished for their 
forests of pine. 
No region of this State, and probably none of any other in the Union, 
was originally covered with an equal amount of valuable timber. Some 
of the trees have measured two hundred and thirty feet in height, and 
five of them have been known to furnish an hundred " lumberman's" 
logs.* Shingles and boards for the supply of the whole western world, 
from one extreme of the Union, Louisiana, quite half way to the other, 
have been manufactured in the shingle shanties and saw-mills upon 
the Allegany and its tributaries. 
The lands of the valleys, and indeed of the entire county, with the 
exception of now and then limited areas, are susceptible of cultivation. 
The only swamps worthy of notice are the Conewango and the large 
one northeast of Waverly. Clay underlies a considerable proportion, 
and we were informed, the whole of the former. Deep ditchings 
would reclaim large portions, if not the whole of both, and will with- 
out doubt, as the country around becomes more settled, be adopted. 
Hitherto, the lands having upon them groves of timber, and contigu- 
ous to mill-sites, have been more valued for the lumber they furnished, 
than for the crops they might have been made to produce. The occu- 
pation of the lumberman, however, must soon be much less productive 
than it is at present, and ultimately give way to the duties of the hus- 
bandman. When it shall, and when the lands of the valleys enjoy the 
cultivation given to the flats of the Genesee and Mohawk, there are 
portions of Cattaraugus that will present fine farms and yield valuable 
incomes. As grazing lands, they possess attractive features in the 
This item of information was furnished by Mr. Ewing, of Randolph. 
