The Van Buren press., 1879-04-05

Is n most eligible natural mill site and an old
mill has been run for many years ken anu
wide bottom-lands lie around 1t ana its
neighborhood; springs are frequent ana the
timber line; coal shales are disclosed in many
places; it is distant from Van Buren, eight
cen miles northward.
On Lees Creek, still northward from Van
| Buren. is fine coal bed, of the thickness OF
twenty light to thirty-two inches. Coal has
been tried by smiths, and by them termed fine,
1t is easily quarried 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 Sutherland's on Lees Greek. >.
Il. Il. II, II. 81, is coal bed, which has been
worked; its thickness we do not know. The
bottom and uplands here are fertile. Grapes
abound on the hillsidcs rs they do elsewhere
in Crawford The water Is abundant and
good shales occur from this to Joseph Bry-
ants on Lees Greek, at the foot OF Boston
Mountain, 5. 30, I, II. K. 81, with occasional
outcrop of limestone. Great bluffs of sand
stone rise mp. and are full of iron, and yield
Il good building rock. The timber Is excel
lent, white oak being among the prevalent
oaks and pine being absent. a short distance
from Bryants. from the Boston Mountain,
runs the Backburn's Fork of Lees Creek, rich
in coal banks. This is a good, workable coal
exposed for thirty inches; has been used by
Smiths for years. and into which have been
sunk fourteen pits. This coal, like the great
body OF the coal so far used in this valley, is
semi bituminous. Coal has also, tor years
been quarried and transported from pits on
Cove Creek. Il tributary of Lees Greek, in the
northwest corner OF Crawford; it has been
hauled by smiths forty miles. This coal is
very good, its thickness is sabout twenty seven
inches. Boston Mountain is famous for its
very rich benches, hillslopes aud table land.
the soil being enriched by the limestone and
there frugenous earths therein; it is covered
with bottom growth OF timber, such as ash,
walnut, pawpaw. oak rich underground. vine
anG shrub. Its peculiarly adapted for grape.
tobacco. and pastures, the numerous springs
aifording plenty of water. In early times
cane (reeds) grew on their tops; il produces
extraordinarily of all the grains, corn and
grasses.
In the neighborhood of Shannon's Null, S.
10, 7. TO- Il 30. on Cedar Creek which empties
into Frog Bayou. quartz fragments have been
discovered, and lead also. The water is sutli-
Gent for the supply of mills, and the low
lands rich Coal shaes also dis play in this
tract Of the country. There is i saline spring
in 5. 32 T. II. K. 30, 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 eXhaustess saline
waters springs and deposits of the east Ghero-
kee country. In sections - and "a are Heard
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 ont and walled they would
probably equal springs in Virginia and Ken
lucky, and become Il resort for spring visitors.
There are other sulphur and chalybeate
springs in this county. On Frog Bayou or
Clear Creek, near Frazer's gin, the land is
very fine, as Frog Bayou land all Is.
The land is exceedingly fertile, the timber
most excellent. the range unequaled 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 tue immigrant,
none better for the occupation to be made by
the laborers on your road"