Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-01-27

Oft, the clear sky, the rich black soil where
ever It was exposed to view, the prairie
hens 1ocks, and the Wisconsin snow birds,
rising from the path before Us, all, all con-
spired to arrest the eye, and riyet the at
tentlou to the objects around US, as we
passed rapidly aloGg. Perhaps do wrong,
10 dwell so long on circumstances sOriglaI,
though, while memory holds her place in
my mind, they viii never be forgotten by
me-
The trees of this region are confined to
the banks of the water courses, and to
rough places, and oaks, red, white, and
black, are the most common growth m
high grounds, while IN wet ones, the bOta-
nyisncher.
4 The mounds are lofty piles ofrocks, in
I their natural position, except such as have
ALLEN downwards from the SUBMITS.
These piles lying in horizontal strata, are
! very eleyaled, and NAV be seen ia any
direction, from them, at the distance Of
tFirty miles.
+. I have already mentioned the most com
ZION birds ofthis region, and the beasts are
taw indeed now, having been destroyed by
the Indians, except the black wolf, the
piairia wolf and muskrat. The black
Welt Too numerous | fear for sheep al pre-
sent are confined to the groves and the
streams.
I The prairie wolf is more common than
anyoder animal in this district OF country.
/ ApPare,tly halfway between the black
wolf ahl grey fox, he IS the iackall of Asia.
Not over nice about his food; 1t IS every
thing aipost, within his reach; insects Of
ever Etd, grasses, and birds, their eggs,
and p,g5 and poultry, please his taste and
satisfy lis appetite. From Prairie du
/ Chico, Z, Peoria lake, a distance Of four
hundred miles, as travelled the route.
eyerg NIGHT when I lodged ont Of a settle
mont, vas assaied with the shrill bark
IIog Of tbs animal; he approached within a
few feet ,r me, and reused me from my
SAUNDERS He is, without exception, the
I most mjs'hjevous little animal in the world
I-robbing hen roosts, pig styes, farm yards
and harni. wherever they exist.
The mlsllrat is confined to the lakes
and tie Streams, and have a beautiful
drawing # one, taken in that country, by
an artist 'esiding at GratioPs Grove.
Having briefly described what appears
on the sultace of the earth, I will, as brief
Ily, describe what is below it. This region
fcoataiD9 the richie lead mines IN the
Known world You are aware, sir, that
although these mines have been worked
only about three years, by comparatively a
few persons, under every possible dlsad-
vantage almost, yet thirty millions OF
pounds Of lead have been made there !!
The mineral used by the miners is sui
Ipburet of lead, yielding from 56 to 81 per
cent. of pure lead. Il is found m veins
invariably running from North TO South,
or from East to West. There is one vein.
twenty rods long and sixty feet wide, and
extending downwards to an unknown
depth, filed with ore that is nearly pure
lead.
The lead ore occupies about one hun
dred miles square of surface, except about
twenty miles by four or five miles Of cop
per ore, included within the aforesaid one
( hundred miles square Thirty millions OF
pounds Of lead have been made IN the
mineral region and from what saw, ]
should suppose that notmore than one mile
square of surface has been opened for ore.
/ And further. can say. that without open
ling one new mine, thirty millions pounds
. of lead might be made there. And, / can
. further say, without any donbt of the fact,
/ that tie country now ours by the late
I treaties, VIII forever afford lead enough for
! this nation. at as low Il rate as can be de-
sired. wiz not descant upon the advau-
tares, IN peace and in war, TO be derived
] from these mines. leave that subject to
/ the statesman. the merchant, the manuiac-
turer and the patriot
A strip of land, 20 miles by ! or . miles.
I IN which Mineral Point rs situated, Is filled
with a sulphuret Of copper, l10 tons Of
which had been dug before ] left that re-
cion. on the first of September last. Not
having been melted, lis value Is not yet
tested, though, lis appearance indicates a
rich copper ore.
The soil of this region Is rich, deep
black loan, and reminded me ofthe Hermit
! tage, on the banks Of The Cumberland-ol
the central parts of Kentucky-of Piclsa-
way Plains, near me, on the delightful
banks of the slow-vinding Sciota-and Of
the Miami country in Ohio. Indian corn,
I potatoes. oats. all the garden vegetables
indeed, every tree, plant, and shrub, which
grows in the same latitude, hOurishes sur