The Van Buren press., 1876-03-28
aAA.la a.l.v a...s ..l!lel N U

of Lees Creek, with its tributaries. i.
probably wider than that of any othel
tributary running into tbs Arkansas o,
the north, within the Safe, but grea
hills and high hlufs Of the mills one
grit sabdstoncs everywhere inteisect it
and yet there are great bodies Of ief,i(
bottom and upland, and thousands o
homes awaiting the immigrant and the
advent of your road As elsewhere and
repeatedly remarked, the railroad lands
pierce this valley from Little Rock 10 Ft
Smith, and a general and swift deserp.
ti"n OF the country is Il general and swi,
description of them. =sz-.
AT Dripping Springs and vicinage, s.
%, I. 10, Il 80, the sllale is very thick,
and has an oily and glistening touch and
look. Limestone is found here in mass
IS protrnding from the earth; wide
tract of fertile land surrounds it 1t is
nine miles northward from Van Burcn.
At Mrs Forts S. II, I /, 4 32, or
Lees Creek, coal is visible in its bed the
thickness Of this coal is INFESTED, and so
is its quality Ponderous blocks, water
worn, of carbonate iron are abundant !,
there is some pine on the hills. which are
lofty. sa @
At Natural Dam, S. g. I. II, K. 80,
which is on aud crosses the Mou tain
Fork of Lees Creek, the eiin or q" dam ="
is about thirteen feet high, OF dark,
water resisting, ferfugiHoua sandstone,
and is an effectual and eternal barrier to
the volume of the stream t is I, most
eligible natural mill site, and an old mill
has been here run for many years. Rich
and wide bottom lands lie around it and
its nei guborhood; springs are frequent
aud the timber iine coal slales are dis
closed in many places, it is distant from
Van Burcn eighteen miles northward.
On LEGS Creek, still nortAward from
Van Buren, is fine coal bed, OF the
thickness of twenty. eight to thirty two
inches. Goa! has been tried 10y smiths,
and by them termed fine. 1t is easily
qHarsicd and in quantity. 1t is known
as the Wooten bank This coal, like all
the coal in this field, improves in quality
and thickness as it is penetrated.
Near Robert Sathefland's, on Lees
Greek, $ II, T. IL, r 81, is u coal bed
which has been worked, its thickness we
do not know The bottom and upIands
here are fertile Grapes abound on the
hillsides. as they do elsewhere in GRAVY
ford. The water is abahdan and rood
shales occur from this to Joseph Bry
ants, on Lees Creek. Mt the foot of Bos.
ton Mountains, S, 90. L, L, r. 81, with
occasional outerop af limestone. Great
bluffs Of sandstone rise up, aud are full
Of iron, and Yield good bnildlng rock.
The timber is excellent, white oak being
among the prevalent oaks, and pine be-
ing absent A short distance from Bl'v.
ant S. from the Boston Mountain. runs
the Elackhurn's Fork of Lees Creek.
rich in coal banks This is Il good, work
allie coal. exposed for thirty inches has
been used by smiths for years, and into
which haze been sunk fourteen pits This
coal. Ike the great body Il the ceal sol
lar used in this valley. is SEM biunnin
oas, Coal has also, for years, been QUAR-.
ried and transported from pits ON Cove
Creek. a tributary OF Lee Creek. III the
corner Of Crawford; it has
been hauled by smiths forty miles. This
coal Is very good, its thickness is about
twenty seven inches Boston Mountain
is famous for its very rich benches, hin
slopes and table land, the soil being en-
riehea by the limestone aud the terru.
ginous earths therein it Is covered with
bottom growth Of timber, such as ash,
walnut, pawpaw, oak, rich underground.
vines and shrubs Ii is peculiarly adap-
ted for grape, tobacco, and pas ures, the
numerous springs affording plenty OF
water. In early times cane (reeis) grew
on their tops; itprodnces eXtraord,nari
~ Of all the grains, corn and grasses,
Pine is absent
In the neighborhood of Shannou 5
Mill, s. 10, 4, 10, Il 80. on Cedar Creek
which EN- ties into Frey Bayou, quartz
fragments have been discovered, and lead,
ais0 The water is Sufficient for the sup
ply of mills, and the lowlands rich, Coal
shales also display IN this tact of the
county.
There is 4 saline spring ia S. 81. r. II.
X. 81, from which the brine. many years
age. was worked, ana tue Yield of sale
good. Boring, without doubt, would
bring stronger brine, and make its boil
ing profitable TO the salt manufacturer,
even IN this close proximity To the rx-
hanstless Saline waters, springs and dc.
posts Of the east Cherokee county In
sections 80 and "a are 'Heard's aud Pen
nywit's sulphur springs from which
run health giving waters, aud which sre
famous in their locality. The lrerip-
tates are white, and were they improved
by digging, cleansing them out and wall
Ell. they would probaht eqaal springs in
Virginia and Kentucky, and become u
resort for sfriug vtitors There are
other " Sulphur and chaIyhrate spriuas
in this county.
Oa Frog Bai ou, or Clear Geek, near
Fra1iers Gin the land is fine, as Frr.,r
BaA on land always is.
The land is exceedingly fertile. the
timber most excellent, The rance nn.-
qnaled aud the water wholesomr--ycn
eraily obta;ned for house use bv digging.
or III cisterns, and abundance of stock
water everywhere, There is 40 better
tract inviting the Immigrant, none better
for The occupation to be made bN the IA
oorers on yoa road"
The county seat of Crawford county.
and also the principal town, is
VAN BuREN.
II is a thriving and fast-improying
town pleasau |, Sttna,,a -, ~ .i