The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1910-07-20
Rowan County.

Rowan county was TO med in 1886
taken from parts of Morgan and Elem
! ing counties. and was named in honor
! Of Judge John Rowan, who was We
: distinguished jurist and was also United
States Senator from Kentucky from
1924 10 1880.
Rowan county is situated in the
Northeastern part of the State and is
bounded on the North by Lewis, on the
East by Carter, on the South by Elliott,
Morgan and Menifee, and on the West
by Menifee, Bath and Fleming coun'
ties.
It is one of the thirteen counties in
the Ninth Congressional District and
in politics is Republican.
The entire county is drained by Lick
ing river and Triplett creek and their
tributaries.
Licking river borders the Southern
and Western part of the county for
distance of about 100 miles.
The Licking, while not navigable in
that region, carries on its tawny
bosom at high tide, vast supply. Of
timber crossties, slaves, etc, products
of the vast forests that lie along its
winding banks.
The Licking is the longest stream Of
its kind in the world and travels its
way through probably one OF the rich
est regions in natural resources in the
nation.
A system of locks and dams would
prove of inestimable value, as it would
make navigable the stream the entire
year and open up to the market a
very fine field of camel and bituminous
Goals. It would also facilitate the
marketing of farm products of the
Western and Southern parts Of the
county. The soils of Rowan county
are made up of black loan, sand and
Limestone. The fiat and bottom lands
are very fertile and produce fine crops,
such as corn, wheat, oats and wide
variety Ct grasses.
Rowan is quite billy and presents
picturesque beauty that surpasses any
along the c. & o. f,om Louisville to
Ashland. Her rugged mountains are
pine clad, suggestive of the foot hills OF
the Al!eghenies.
From her mountains are drawn
wealth of gas and oil, part Of which
embraces the famous Ragland fields.
In the county a vast and profitable
store of fine stone is quarried, where
large plants operate, sending a high
grade superior quality of dressed stone
to the markets Of the nation.
There are a number of quarrles con-
tanning seven and eight stratas of
stone, ranging from three inches to
three feet in thickness.
This product is high grade and finds
a market in all parts Of the country.
Rowan has nearly 100000 acres Of
timbered land, making numbering A
very profitable business, also an abun-
dance OF high quality fire clay is i'm
bedded in her omuntains and valleys.
All these natural resources are being
developed and active operations are in
evidence all over the county, increasing
the population, business activity and
general prosperity of that region.
AS a fruit growing and stock raising
county, Rowan affords superior advan-
tages. Considerable fruit, such as ap-
pies, peaches, cherries and plums and
this industry, if operated on high
scale, could be turned into q very
profitable and wealth producing enter
prise. Her schools are conducted on a
high plane and are above the average
in the mountains. There are 40 public
schools, 46 churches and one normal
school in the county.
Rate of taxation is low, being so
cents on the 800.
Two newspapers are published in
the county. Labor is plentiful and
splendid manufacturing prospects are
presented the enterprising investor,
especially does this apply to the de-
velopment of the fire clay interests.
Fire clay plants are needed and
could thrive here and prospects for
active operations at an early date look
exceedingly blight. Our recent visit
at Morehead, the county seat, disclosed
a splendid administration of Rowan's
affairs.
Her officials are generous and active
and an inspection IF the county's
records in the various Offices revealed
the most complete and we'll kept
lrecordS in thic end of the State