The Van Buren press., 1879-08-30

/ Is most eliribl e, natural mill site and an old
mill has been run for many years. I.leh anu
wide bottom-lands lie around it and us
neighborhood; springs are frequent ana the
timber fine; coal shales are disclosed IN many
places: tt is distant from Van Buren eight
cen miles northward.
On Lees Creek still northward from Van
Buren, is fine coal bed. of the thickness oI
twcnty-eght to thirty-two inches. Coal mas
been tried by smiths, and by them termed iihe'
1t is easily quarried and in quantity. it Is
known as the Nootcu bank. This coal, Ike
all the coal in this field, improves in quality
and thickness As It is penetrated.
Near Robert Sutherland's on Lees Greek, >,
u. r. II. *. y, is coal bed, which has been
worked; its thickness we do not know. Inc
bottom and upiands here are fertile. Grapes
abound on the hilsdes as they do elsewhere
in Crawford The water IS abundant ana
good; shaes occur from this to Joseph Bry-
ants on Lees Greek, at the foot OF Boston
Mountain, $. 20, T. II K. 81, with occasional
outcfop Of limestone. Great hluts OF sand
stone rise mp and are full of iron, and yield
n good building rock. The timber is excel
lent, white oak being among the prevalent
oaks and pine being absent. n short distance
from Bryant's, from the Boston Mountain.
runs the Blackburn's Fork of Lees Creek, rich
/ in coal banks. This il Il good, workable coal,
exposed for thirty inches; has been used by
smiths for years, and info which have been
sunk fourteen pits. This coal like the great
body of the coal so far used in this valley Is
emi-bituminons. Coal has also, lof years
been quarried and transported from pits on
Cove Creek. tributary of Lees Creek, III the
northwest corner of Crawford; it has been
hauled by smiths forty miles. This coal is
very good, its thickness is about twenty y-seyen
inches. Boston Mountain is famous for its
very rich benches, hllslopes and table land.
the soil being enriched by the limestone and
> h tInpgip
with bottom growth of timber, such as ash,
| walnut pawpaw, oak, rich underground, vine
and shrub. It's peculiarly adapted for grape.
tobacco. and pastures, the numerous springs
aflording plenty of water In early times
cane tfeeds) grew on their tops; it produces
extraordinarily Of all the grains, corn and
grasses.
In the neighborhcod of Shannon's Mill, s.
10, Y 10, Il 80, on Cedar Creek which empties
into Frog Bayou, quartz fragments have been
discovered, and lead also. The water is suii-
cient for the supply of mills, and the low
lands rich. Coal shales also display in this
tract of the country. There is Il saline spring
in 5. 81, I. H. Il. 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 cXhaustless saline
waters, springs anddepesits Of the east Ghero-
NEE COUNTY, III eCttlots % anu % aIt htaFu
and Pennywitt sulphur Springs. from which
run health giving waters, and which are fa-
nous in their locality. The precipitates are
white. and were they improved by digging,
cleansing 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 uneqaaled and the
water wholesome - generally obtained for
house use by digging, or in eistcrns. 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"