The Van Buren press., 1878-05-21

Is n most eligible natural mill site, and an old
mill has been run for many years. Rich ana
wide battom-lands lie around 1t and its
neighbofhood springs are frequent ana the
timber fine; coal shales are disclosed in many
places; 1t Is distant from Van Buren, eight
cen miles northwArd.
On Lees Creek, still northward from Van
Buren,. Is a fine coal bed. of the thickness of
twenty eight to thiftY-two inches. Coal has
been tried by smiths. and by them termed tine,
It Is easily qnarried and In quantity. II is
known as the Wooten bank. This coal, like
all the coal In this field, improves in quality
and thickness as 1t Is penetrated.
Near Robert Suthefland.s on Lees creek, D
u, T. II, Il. 81 L. coal bed, which has been
worked; its thickness we do not know. Ihe
bottom and uplands here are fertile. Grapes
abound on the hlllsides rs they do elsewhere
in Crawford. The water is abundant and
good shalcs occur from this to Joseph Biy-
ant'sson Lees Greek, at the foot OF Boston
Mountain, >. 20, I, r. il. 81, with occasional
0uterop Of limestone. Great bluils o. sand
stone rise up and are full of iron, and yield
good building rock. The timber IS excel
lent, white OAK being among the prevalent
oaks and pine being absent. \ short distance
from Bryants. from the Boston Mountain,
runs the Blackbnrn's Fork of Lees Creek, rich
in coal banks. This Is good, workable coal,
exposed for thirty inches; has been used by
'SN''
sunk fourteen pits. This coal, like the great
BODY of the coal so far used in this valley, Is
semi bitumnous. Coal has also for years,
been quarried and transported from pits on
Cove Creek. a tributary Of Lees Greek, in the
north west corner OF Crawford; 1t 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, hillslopes and table land.
the soil being enriched by the limestone and
there frugenious eafths therein; it Is covered
with bottom growth Of timber, such as ash,
walnut, pawpaw, oak. rich underground, vine
and shrub. Its peculiarly adapted for grape.
tobacco, and i,astnres the numerous springs
ailorting plenty of water. In early times
cane (reeds) grew on their tops; it produces
extraordinarily of all the grains, corn and
grasses.
In the neighborhood of shannon's Mill, S.
10, T 10, L 80 on Cedar Creek which empties
into Frog Bayou, quartz fragments have been
discovered, and lead also. The water is sul-
cient for the supply of mills, and the low
lands rich. Coal shales also display in this
tract of the country There is saline spring
in S. 81, 7. II, K. 80, from which the brine
many years ago, was worked. and the yield
of salt good, Boring, without doubt, would
bring stronger brine and make its boiling
profitable to the salt manufacturer, even in
this close proximity to the eNhaustless saline
waters, springs and deposits of the east hero
kee country. In sections 80 and "a are Heard
and Pennywitt Sulphur Springs, from which
run health giving waters, and which are fa-
nous in their locality. The preeipitates are
white, and were they improved by digging,
them out and walled they would
probably equal springs in Virginia and Ken
lucky, and become resort for spring visitors,
There are other sulphur and chalybeate
springs in this county. On Frog Bayou or
Clear Creek, near Frazier's gin the land is
very fine, as Frog Bayou land all Is.
The land is exceedingly fertile, the timber
most excellent. the range anequaled and the
water wholesome generally obtained for
house use by digging, or in cistcrns. and
abundance of stock water everywhere There
is no better tract inviting the immigrant,
none better for the occupation to be made by
the laborers on your road"