The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-09
Neys of Important Happenings in Zndiana
BROWNSTOWN AND ITS
SURROUNDING COUNTRY
Good Position and Immense Nat
ural Resources OF Jackson Coun-
ty-Railroad Facilities.
GOLD IN THE STREAMS
pecIaI 70 the Inaianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
BROWNSTOWN, Ind, March s.-With
the fading from memory Of the enmities en-
gendered by forty years of county seat war
In Jackson county, BrOwnstown. the coun-
u seat, is attracting the attention it de-
serves by reason Of it's location. its natural
facilities and the rich resources of the sur
rounding country. and is taking an active
part in the prosperous growth of the
county.
Jackson county is located about seventy
miles directly south Of Indianapolis. 1t
Is OF rectangular shape. The east fork Of
w mite river enters the northeast corner
ana nOWS through il in q sOuthWesterly d.
rection, forming two triangular districts,
which are for the most part unlike in
typography and geological features In
the southeast district the country IS most
10 feet high. The northwest district Is
broken and IS traversed in northeasterly
anu southwesterly direction by ridges that
nave an average elevation of several hun
dred feet. The valleys through which the
small streams find their way 10 White
river are generally narrow. Along White
river and bottom lands are wide and very
productive
From the best authorized information,
Peter Adrian settled with his family in the
county IN 1855, and with him the nrst au-
thentc settlement OF the county begins.
Brownstown, the county seat, is located in
the b. & o. S. w. Railway, 100 miles west
or Cincinnati The county contains eleven
townships BrOwnstoWn, DriftwoOd, Grassy
Fork, Washington, Vernon, Jackson, Red
Creek
All the roads of the county are we'll
grayeled and macadamized. aggregating be-
tween 400 and 500 miles I'm length. All the
streams are well bricged. Every part of
the county Is thoroughly connected by tele-
phone. Three railroads pass through it
the Pennsylvania louisville division). the
- q o. 5. w. Railway and the Southern
Indiana. Several traction lines are contem-
plated, some having been surveyed and
SUBSIDY voted. The population at the last
Census was 26, 533.
The county is very we'll supplied with
industries, consisting of Touring mills, ele-
NatOrs. paper mills, furniture factories, hub
and spoke factory. canning factories, suck
or rod factory, band saWmill. Vitrthed brick
factory cooper shops, coiled hoop factory
plow beam factory, planning mills, ice
plant. wooden factory. machine shop. ma
chine repair shops, telephone arm and pin
factory. stave and heading factory, slack
stave factory, harness factories, overall
factory. water works, electric light plants.
carriage factory, chair factory, gas FAC
tory. hub factory, creamery, spoke mill
The courthouse was begun in the year
1870 Ii is trimmed with stone quarried in
this county and il is of the finest; the long
er IL IS exposed the whittier and frmer il
becomes. The contract for the first court
house and Jail was let TO John Parker for
$50, but as the contractor lost money at
these figures, he was allowed SIG more,
making the total amount $40. The first
county officers were Joseph KitchelI and
John Ketcham, associate judges; John Mil
roy clerk; Wickliffe Kitcheil sheriff; Isaac
Scott. coroner, and Alexander g. Craig,
treasurer. The judges received $50 per year
each for their services; the clerk $50 sheriff
500 and treasurer $50 per annum. The poor
asylum IS a very crecitable brick building,
costing 1880. The Jail is fairly good and
IS now being remodeled at a cost of $20,-
600.
There are many large deposits of shale in
the county and recently this has come into
use for vitrified brick. Natural gas and
oil have both been developed in the
county, but not yet in very
large quantities. A good amount of
gold has been washed IN the northwestern
part of the county. II is of a very fine
quality. The county is noted for the very
fine quality OF watermelons raised.