The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-09-27
From the Piusburgh Commercial Journal.

yersal gloom on account of the general
drought over our country, by which the fall
crops have been so generally cut of, it may
be gratifying toyour readers to learn that
within silky days in all human probability
Pittsburgh will be brought into direct and
easy connection with one of the most fertile
valleys of the west, from which she has
been hitherto entirely cut off.
allude to the valley Of the lower Tusca-
rawas, and upper Muskingum, in the State
OF Understanding from Urichsveto Dres-
den, wi ich is l6 miles above GAINESVILLE,
and at the head Of Slack water navigation
on the Muskingum river. The Steubenville
and Indiana Railroad enters the valley Of
the Tuscarawas, near Urichsville, and pass
es thence down it IS far as Dresden, being
about fifty miles of its extent, thence pass
es the valley Of Licking, near Newark. Hav-
ing recently travelled over the line of the
Railroad, and observed this magnificent val
ley, brief description of it, and its products
mfy not be without interest.
The width of the valley is, on an average,
about one mile-ils margins formed by high
hills and its area divided by the Tuscarawas
river, which, after receiving the Walhond-
ing at Coshocton, assumes the name of the
Muskingum. The enthe valley is an alluvial
formation, and being subject to an annual
overfiow--its soil is as fertile as the valley
OF the Nile, and as nexhausta5le-andl like
the valley of the Nile it may be worked for
thousands of years and still be the land Of
cjrn.' OWNS to the annual deposits made
upon its surface by the overflow, its fertility
is yearly renewed, and virgin soil is sub
Ject to the pIow for every crop. Drought
has very little effect upon the corn crop
raised on such SOIL Hence, altough they
have had as little rain in the past summer,
IN this valley, as in many other parts of the
west, where the corn crop is said to be al
most an entire failure, the farmers through
this entire valley will have their usual i'm
menSe surplus l saw on the firm of my
friend, Geo. W. Cass, Esq, near Dresden,
one large corn field which was estimated
would produce 100 bushels to the acre this
year. asked Mr.. Cass how long this field
had been cultivated in corn, and he informed
ME that this was the 30th year since the
field had been cleared, and in that time had
crops of wheat. This is what our book
farmers term the 'skinning system of farm
ing--but such land as this bids defiance to
all attempts to skin it. The above field
indicated a larger product than the average
tie!da of the valey-but only because it had
been more thoroughly worked--tor even
here weeds and corn do not succeed well
together. My estimate Of the average pro-
duct Of the entire valley is 60 bushels to
the acre. Ir 50 miles long, and one mile
wide, we embrace an area Of 80 600 acres
aud if we add the numerous tributary
vaIeys--such as the Walhonding, &c, &e.,
we may embrace $4,000 acres Of alIuyial
IanI--and supposing three fourths Of the
area to be in corn, and the product to be
70 busels to the acre, we have gross yield
Of 2, 250 100 bushels of corn.
may be asked, what has heretofore
been done with this corn. and to what mar
ket has it been carried?
There are dislileries along this valley
which convert, eacn one of them (and how
many there are cannot say) from 500 to
1000 bushels of corn daily in WHISKY
Large quantities are also fed to cattle and
hogs. The Ohio Canal has carried the sur
plus to Cleveland.
The Steubenvie and Indiana Railroad
traverses this valey--opens it to Pltsbargh
and there remains only about 80 miles
Of the track-layipg to complete this road
from Seubenviie to Dresden--the grading
Being flushed, and the iron delivered along
the line. .. II ..., ..... ..., ~.
Has Pittsburgh any interest in the com
pletion of the Seubenvile and Indiana
Railroad? Has she taken any interest lit?
Have any of her ciIizens, and has a portion
of her press opposed il? Your journal, Mr..
editor, has not opposed it. a.,f,t. A.
Ohio, Sept. l3, 1854.