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430 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 
of which he may read the history of the life and changes of the past, or 
of those products of the earth, which are so indispensable to mankind, as 
ores, fossil, coal, and valuable stone, which elsewhere offer such induce- 
ments to geological investigations. Still I hope that what I shall pre- 
sent of the geology of those counties will not be utterly devoid of interest 
to those most concerned, and none the less because I have not attempted 
to startle them by any inventions of my own, but tell only what I have 
seen, and that in a “‘plain, unvarnished” way. In these counties one 
will not fail to observe how the character and employment of the people 
depend upon the geological formations which underlie their habitations. 
Here are no rapid streams affording power for manufacturing purposes, 
and no iron or coal upon which to build the industries which depend 
upon them. No cities teeming with pressing throngs employed in the 
arts of busy life. The level surface of underlying rock, with the no less 
level superficial covering, the deep, black loam point to agriculture as 
the chief employment of the citizens of these counties. The character 
of the soil also determines the kind of agricultural products which may 
most profitably be produced; and thus the range of human employment 
is doubly limited. The soil of the larger portion of these counties, in- 
cluding nearly the whole extent of Fayette, is finely adapted to the 
growth of the most nutritious grasses, as well as the principal cereal 
grains. Hence stock-raising has very naturally been the chief occupa- 
tion of the people. It is thus that the geological character of a country 
modifies the employments, and, to a certain extent, determines the char- 
acter of those who dwell in it. Where good roads are easily constructed, - 
and where ready access is had to all parts of a district, there is apt to be 
a high development of social qualities, and of the refinements of civilized 
life. 
The land is held in large bodies, causing a sparseness of population, 
which has had, in times past, an unfavorable influence upon the charac- 
ter of public education. The great energy displayed in constructing 
public roads has rendered large school districts less inconvenient than 
they would be where good roads are impossible. 
DRAINAGE. 
The parting-line of the water-shed of the Little Miami and Scioto 
Rivers runs a little west of the line separating Clinton and Fayette coun- 
ties. Consequently Clinton county is mostly drained into the Little 
Miami River, and Fayette county wholly into the Scioto. The drainage 
of Clinton county is mostly effected by Anderson’ 5 Todd’s Forks, and 
the Hast Fork of the Miami. 
