The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-05-18
Correspondence Of the Herald.
PENCILINGS In OHIO.
BY THE EDITOR.

Upon further examination | found, that
my former remarks in regard to the Agri-
culture of Licking county, though correct
in so far as my observations had then ex-
tended, would not apply to the county
generally. In some sections corn is pro-
duced in great abundance, and many as
sert that their soil and climate are as well
adapted to the growing of wheat as any
in the State. The Licking Valley is very
level and productive; but it is here that
lever and ague are most prevalent. As
to the population Of this county, it is
made up of Workers, Jerseymen, Mary
landers, Virginians and Pennsylvanians,
with a slight sprinkling Of Dutch, Scotch
and Irish. Newark, the county town, is
q place OF considerable business, and is
rapidly advancing in improvement and
population.
Leaving Newark, | passed en- to the
National Road at a village called Jackson.
From here to GAINESVILLE the country is
broken and the soil inferior, though | am
informed that the lands along the Mus
kingum are amongst the best in the
State. At GAINESVILLE there is magnili-
cent %ralPARrITE bridge, which / consider
as the best superstructure that | have ever
seen. From a strong pier in the centre,
run three different branches, one 10 The
east, another to the west. and a third to
the point formed by the junction of the
Licking Greek with the Muskingum Riy-
ct. GAINESVILLE contains many fine bull
dings and has q population of 5000; and
the Canal passing it, renders it the bust
ness focus of this section OF country.
From GAINESVILLE 10 Cambridge, the seat
of justice of Guernsey county. the dis
lance is % miles-the country billy, but
the soil good. Cambridge contains a
population of I,400; and though the town
is SAID to be healthy, | was informed that
In the course Of a few months last fall,
four hundred deaths had occurred in the
vicinity on an area OF four miles square.
| do not wish to say anything in regard
to any place that would be calculated to
injure it; but it my business 10 state FACTS
as | find them to exist, whether they be
favorable or otherwise TO the place or
community to which they relate; and in
this connexion | may mention also, what
| should have stated before. that in the
village of Utica, having a population of
about 500, there are eight practising ply
%sicians.
From Cambridge to st. Clairsville, q
distance of 40 miles, the country is very
billy; indeed, as much so as any over
which | have passed. But the soil is Of
excellent quality, limestone are abundant,
and the crops had a good appearance.-
Here, too, you see some very fine Or
chards and a great number Of tobacco
houses, many Of the owners of the lands
having abandoned the raising Of whea;
AID turned their attention 10 hat Of to-
bacco. 81. Clairsyille is the most ordi-
nary town have seen in Ohio, the bull
dings being generally Of the inferior
class, old and dilspidated; the streets mar
row and dirty. From this place to the
Ohio River opposite Wheeling, the coun-
try is mountainous and the soil not very
good.
Having p~assed-rather leisurely-through
eleven counties IN Ohio, | find that, upon
the whole, this section Of the State has
many advantages. Generally speaking.
the soil is good, and producers and busl-
ness men have reasonable facilities for
the transportation Of their produce and
merchandise; but 1t has also lis disadvan-
tages, which consist in the want Of good
timber in one place, of coal and limestone
n another and Of good water in a third;
and OF the prevalence, more or less, Of
the shakes" everywhere. These latter
seem to be regarded but little, it is true,
BY many of the Buckeyes; but for nay
own part, have no relish whatever for
such sort of ~GALyANIsm.