The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-29

CoOPERsrOwN, August 20, 1853
Otsego County, eology-Soa and Productions
Otego Lake oopersfoicn, RS attractions as a
Watering Place Historical Notices, &c.
Otseeo Is one OF The most important of the central
counties of the Empire tate. Although it is CEN
trally Satisfactorily about sxtysix miles from AL
bany, and 200 miles from the city of New York-it
has As vet been but little affected by the progress of
internal improvement 1t is about equi distant from
the two great lines of railroad which traverse the
State from east TO west, and there is not mile of
railroad or navigabe sanal within the bounds Of the
county
The area of otsego is about 800 square miles, and
s surface is diversified by mountains, hills Valleys
and some small tracks of champaign country. The
Kaatsberg, or Shawangank range of mountains
extend along the eastern boundary Of the county,
upon the border of Schoharie, connecting three
miles north Of Cherry Valley village, with
Mount Independence; from whose summit, more
than two thousand feet above tide, and seventeen
hundreA above the valley of the Mohawk, beauti
tul prospect opens in some directions, nearly one
hundred miles in extent The Mohawk valley, with
large portion Of the central part Of the State, is
spread out as map before the spectator whilst far
in the northeast are dimly seen the tops Of the
Green Mountains blending with the horizon. At this
elevation narrow table land runs northwest upon
the confines OF this county and those Of Montg ,me
~, Herkimer, and Oneida, forming the water shed
between the Mohawk and Susquehannah rivers.
From this table land the surface Of Otsego county
declines s0utherly but is cut into high ridges and
deep valleys, whose general inclination is west of
south, terminating in the valley Of the Susquehan-
nah river, which. after souherly course Of about
twenty miles, turns southwest, and forms the south
ern boundary Of the county for nearly twenty five
miles. The valley Of the Susquehannah, commenc-
ing ct the Summit Pond is l,346 feet above
tide. That pond or lake lying in ravne, its waters
in season Of food, flow also to the Mohawk. The
valley includes the Otsego Lake, which is l4s feet
below the Summit Pond, and 1,1SS feet above the
ocean and Schuyler's Lake in the vicinity, is but
little less elevated than the Summit Pond Schuylers
Lake is five miles long and one mile wide, sur.
rounded by hills, and Astounding with fish. Its
outlet unites with the Susquehannah, three miles
below CooperstoWn
Otsego Lake is nine or ten miles long from north
to south, and from one to three miles wide. The
bills which encompass it have an elevation of from
400 to 500 feet above its surface. The purity of its
water and the rich and varied scenery about it,
give II the highest claim to the attention of tho
lovers of the beauties Of nature II Is replenished by
several small streams and numerous springs, and
affords an abundant supply of salmon trout, pike
pickerel and bass The Otsego bass have a re.
markable delicacy of flavor, which commend them
to the choice OF the epicure, and they are said to
be peculiar to this lake. Before the course of
the Susquehannah was interrupted by mill dams,
shad and herring made their way to the lake. Coop
ers romance of the Pioneers, the Sources of the
Susquehannah" contains the finest description of
the scenery Of the lake and the surrounding region
to be found, and has contributed much to their &C.
lebnty as among the most attractive of American
landscapes
The Susquehaunah river, in its course of forty.iye
miles through this county, though lively, is not a
rapid stream. Its fall in that distance does not pro-
badly much exceed five feet to a mile The length
Of the river from the outlet of Otsego lake. at Coop
erstown, to the head of Chesapeake bay, Is abou
four hundred miles, Below the Otsego lake. the
valley of the Susquehannah expands rapidly to
the width of several miles in some places, with
gentle descent, and waving aspect. Upon the
west Of the Lake and river the CONFORMATION O
the country is like that of the east present
ing nearly the same elevation, to the north, and
SOUTH and is also cut by the streams into beautiful
rolling hills. The banks of Otsego lake, on the
western shore are less precptOus than those on the
east and the lands are more susceptible Of cultiya
ton There several beautiful peninsulas jutting
into the lake from the west, which add much to the
attractions Of the scenery. Between the valley of
the Susquehannah and the Unadilla river the
Osego and. Butternut creeks divide the surface into
three ridges broken by the tributaries Of the creeks
and having broad valleys along the main streams
Thus, every river and streanIet in this county has
its valleys and its hills, the latter gaining elevation
as the stream advances. The county is underaid
with clay slate, which is gray wacke slate and
sand stone, and in the north limestone comprehend
ing the various species OF the secondary forma-
tion Marble, Of good quality, abounds in several
parts of the county and the gray wacke suppl es
an excellent building material.
The soil of this county is generally excellent and
most Of the hills may be proftaby cultivated to their
summits The valleys are remarkable for their
fertility. Portions of the county are productive of
wheat. but it is not fayorite crop. Indian corn,
oats barley and potatoes, are raised to more advan
tage; and for the cultivation of hops Otsego ranks
as the first county in the State This crop is gene
rally profitable and this year the prices range far
above the ordinary average. But, altogether, OF
sego county must be considered as best adapted to
grazing and in this character it is inferior to none
In the State. The abundance and excellence of the
products Of the daries the large quantity of cattle
sent to market and the focks Of sheep the most nu
mer0us Of those Of any county in the State, IA
miliar to many of our readers. 1t should be men
Toned that this part of the State is well watered
and numerous springs in all directions supply the
wants of man and beast in this favored region.
The inhabitants of this section of our State are
mainly Of New England origin. Portions OF Otsego
county were settled at an early period during the
last century In 1873 patent was granted for some
eight thousand acres, ten miles south of the Mohawk
and fifty two miles west from Albany, to Mr. Lind
say and Others who introduced q company Of Scotch
emisrants in ISL. The progress Of population vas
slow previous TO the revolution and the whole
county of Tryon, as it was called, when formed in
I772 including all Of the State west of line running
through the centre of Schoharie, amounted to few
thousand only. New England emigrants came in
after the revolution and Judge Cooper the father Of
J. Fenimore Cooper removed from Burlington
New Jersey, with colony Of emigrants abont 1885,
and settled the village Of Cooperstown.
Cooperstown was made the county seat Of Otscgo,
when the county was formed, and il nearly CEN
trslly situated. II became a hourishng
village but although it has always remained