CHAPTER LXI. 
REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF HARRISON COUNTY. 
BY JNO. J. STEVENSON. _ 
Harrison county is bounded on the north by Carroll and Jefferson, on 
the east by Jefferson, on the south by Belmont and Guernsey, and on the 
west by Guernsey and Tuscarawas. It is nearly rectangular, and con- 
tains fifteen townships, with an area of not far from four hundred and 
fifty square miles. 
Though containing no streams of navigable size, this county is well 
watered. Stillwater Creek and its various tributaries flow through the 
south-western portion, the Conotton through the northern townships, 
while Short Creek drains the eastern, and the tributaries of Wheeling 
Creek the south-eastern portion. Of the valleys cut out by these streams 
a few are narrow, with insignificant “bottoms,” but for the most part 
they are broad, with smaller ones entering from each side, and bounded, 
usually, by hills rounded above by erosion. Though several of the town- 
ships are, by this means, almost deprived of coal, the bottom lands are so 
fertile as to more than compensate for the loss. Hspecially is this the 
case in Cadiz, Archer, Stock, and Nottingham townships. In Green, 
Short Creek, and Athens the erosive action has been energetic, but the 
hills are steeper, and less adapted to cultivation than in the other town- 
ships named. At the west the underlying rocks are principally sand- 
stone, so that the soil is somewhat thin; but in the eastern portions there 
is a very notable proportion of lime, which renders the soil much more 
durable. Every where, however, good crops can be obtained in ordinary 
seasons. 
The main source of revenue is wool-raising. In this Harrison county 
has been preéminent for many years, having, in proportion to her size 
and population, produced more wool than any other county in the State. 
This business has proved exceedingly profitable for the last two years, 
but, in view of the introduction of improved breeds into Colorado and 
Nebraska, one is inclined to doubt whether Ohio will be justified in rais- 
ing wool much longer. In our State about one half the land is kept in 
