OHIO

OHIO, one of the principal states in the North American union, is situated between 38. 30. and 42. 0. of north la-

titude, and between 80. 28. and 84. 42. longitude west from Greenwich. On the north it is bounded by Michigan and Lake Erie; on the east by Pennsylvania and the river Ohio; on the south by the Ohio River, which separates it from Virginia and Kentucky; and on the west by Indiana. Ohio may extend about 220 miles from north to south, and as much from east to west; but as Lake Erie projects considerably into the northern borders, and the Ohio cuts off much of its southern quarter, the area of the state cannot be computed at more than 200 miles square. Ohio occupies about one third of the plane which declines from Pennsylvania to the Mississippi, and may be considered generally as a surface of table-land, sloping in one direction towards the Ohio, and in the other towards Lake Erie. The state is divided by nature into four grand divisions, which are named after the principal waters on which they are situated. These are the Miami country, the Scioto country, the Muskingum country, and the Lake country. The interior and northern parts of Ohio are generally level, but the northern belt has large tracts of wet and marshy soil. They are however placed in such positions as render them easily drained; and when they are cleared of the forests which cover them, they will form not the least valuable parts of the state. In its primitive condition, Ohio was, with the exception of some central prairies, overspread with a dense forest, to which the great fertility of the soil gave a stupendous development; indeed the size, majesty, and variety of the trees of the Ohio basin has been a theme of just admiration. There are still extensive tracts of land heavily timbered, and which are as level as prairies. The forest-trees are the same as those of Kentucky and Indiana, excepting that the pecan tree, which is common on the waters of the Wabash, is seldom found here. The forests are deep, and some of them are in the richest soils, where, however, the trees are less remarkable for their size than for their straightness. On the head waters of the two Miamis, the Muskingum, and the Scioto, there are rich and extensive prairies, some of which are low and marshy, and others are elevated and dry, the latter being by no means so fertile as the former. Immediately on the borders of the Ohio, there are numerous tracts of intervale or meadow-land of exuberant fertility. In the interior parts, bordering on both sides of the Scioto, and on the two Miamis, are the most extensive tracts of rich and level land. About one quarter of the eastern and south-eastern divisions of Ohio is hilly, in some places too broken, and precipitous to admit of cultivation; but in no parts are the hills very large or high, and nine tenths of the surface of the state are susceptible of cultivation. "On its whole wide surface," says Mr Flint, "there is scarcely any land so hilly, sterile, or marshy, as, with moderate labour, may not be subdued, drained, or cultivated. The whole region seems to have invited a hardy and numerous body of freeholders to select themselves moderate and nearly equal-sized farms, and to intersperse them over its surface. In respect to the smallness of the farms, the number, equality, and compactness of the population, not confined, as farther west, to the water-courses, but diffused over the whole state, it compares very accurately with New England."

The principal river of Ohio is the noble and beautiful stream to which it owes its name; but this will demand a separate notice. The next largest and most interesting river in this state is the Great Miami, which rises between 40 and 41 degrees of north latitude, and interlocks with the Massachusett's way of the Wabash, and the St Mary's and Au Glaize, branches of the Maumee and Scioto. It has a south-westerly course of above fifty miles, flowing in a strong but generally smooth and unbroken current, through a valley of uncommon width and fertility, receiving several tributaries in its course. The Little Miami rises in the south-west corner of Madison county, and, after traversing several

counties, joins the Ohio seven miles above Cincinnati. It is of little importance as a navigable stream; but it is valuable in a manufacturing point of view, there being upwards of sixty mills upon it. It has a number of branches; and about one hundred miles from its mouth it forms singular rapids, the stream being compressed to ten yards in width, and falling two hundred feet within no great distance. The country between the Great and Little Miami is in general finely watered, healthy, pleasant, and fertile, and may be characterised as the garden of the state. The Scioto is a considerable river of Ohio, and has the whole of its course in the state, being little short of two hundred miles, one hundred and thirty of which are navigable. It rises in a morass north of Logan county, in the southern division of the state, and has generally a south-easterly course. The banks of the Scioto now rank amongst the most fertile, eligible, and pleasant parts of the state. Between this river and the Muskingum is situated the great Hocking and its waters. It has a deep and still but narrow channel, and is navigable for boats forty miles above its mouth, having also a number of mills erected on it. The Muskingum rises near the sources of the Cuyahoga of Lake Erie, in the southern part of Connecticut Reserve. Its course is remarkably sinuous, but its general direction is to the southward. It has a long course, traversing a number of counties, is boatable in good stages of the water one hundred miles by the course of the river, and enters the Ohio at Marietta by a mouth two hundred and fifty yards wide. The Mahoning is also a large stream, which, with those already described, may be considered as belonging to the southern division of the state. In the north there is the Maumee, which rises in the north-eastern angle of the state of Indiana, and flows in a north-eastern direction, across the north-western borders of the state of Ohio, into the western extremity of Lake Erie. This important river has a course of one hundred miles, and is a broad, deep, navigable stream. It has a valuable fishery, and its banks in the season of vegetation are remarkable for the luxuriance of their verdure. The St Joseph, the St Mary's, and the Great and Little Au Glaize, are considerable tributary streams of the Maumee. The Sandusky rises in the western limits of Richland county, and runs in a general north-west direction ninety miles to the lake. It is more rapid than the other lake streams, but yet affords good navigation. Cuyahoga rises in the central parts of Geauga county, and falls into the lake at Cleveland, after a course of sixty miles, for the greater part of which distance it is boatable. Chagrin, Grand, Ashtabula, and Coneaught, are considerable streams, which rise near the lake, run in a northerly direction, and discharge their waters into it.

Ohio possesses an extensive and rich coal region in its eastern and north-eastern divisions, on the Muskingum, the Hocking, and the Scioto. The mineral is not only in great abundance, but of the best quality; and in the same region vast quantities of iron ore are found. Limestone, marble, and freestone abound; they are easily accessible, and are admirably adapted to building and public works. The useful earths and fossils are also in abundance. Specimens of gypsum are procured from Sandusky Bay. Salt springs are common, and some of them contain as much saline matter as the waters of the ocean. Nearly half a million bushels of salt are annually manufactured in the state. Those springs the waters of which are drunk for medicinal purposes are most of them more or less impregnated with muriate of soda. The Yellow Springs, the most celebrated watering-place after Harrodsburgh Springs in the western country, are situated near the falls of the Miami, sixty-three miles from Cincinnati. The antiquities which belong to this state are somewhat similar to those described in the article New York; mounds of earth, in which have been found domestic utensils, pottery, vases, and trinkets.

Instruments of warfare have likewise been dug up, amongst which Mr Flint mentions a curious sword and an iron horseshoe of a diminutive size.

Except along the deep valleys of the Ohio, and those of the other streams near their influx into that great recipient, the climate is as uniform as the surface, and considerably more severe in the winter season than in corresponding latitudes on the Atlantic. But the other seasons are warmer, and the nature and luxuriance of the vegetation indicates a temperature of greater mildness in general. The summers are warm, and pretty regular, although to a certain extent subject to tornadoes. The central parts of the state are in the same latitude with Philadelphia. The mean temperature of the year at this city was found to be 53°; but during the same year that of Ohio was two degrees higher. As we recede from the Ohio, the temperature diminishes in a greater ratio than the latitude would indicate; but in general throughout the state there is a striking correspondence between the two. Whilst the summers are warm, the winters are very severe, and the river Ohio has occasionally been crossed at Cincinnati for nine consecutive weeks. At other times this season of the year is mild; but during the winter months the transitions from heat to cold and the reverse are frequent and violent. In that part of the state which slopes to the south, the snow seldom falls deep or lies long; but in Connecticut Reserve, and in the points which slope towards the lakes, they have deep and durable snows. Autumn is almost uniformly temperate, dry, and beautiful; and spring is also a pleasant season. The winds of Ohio, whether high or low, generally blow from the west and south-west at all times. In some parts, near marshes and stagnant waters, fevers and agues frequently prevail; but the climate in general is decidedly healthy.

The soil and the climate of Ohio together are admirably adapted to the most valuable vegetable productions which grow in such a latitude. The soil is very productive, without, however, being so remarkable in this respect as some parts of Illinois and Missouri. After the severity of winter abates, which is early in February, vegetation begins to put forth its powers; and as the heat of spring and summer takes effect upon the soil, it advances with astonishing rapidity. Ohio, generally, has a soil admirably adapted to wheat. Indian corn is the staple grain, and it is nowhere raised more easily, or in greater abundance. On rich alluvial soils 110 bushels have been produced from an acre; but fifty may be considered as about the average crop. Rye, barley, oats, spelts, buckwheat, and all other grains, are raised in great abundance and perfection. Melons, squashes, pumpkins, the pulses, garden vegetables both bulbous and others, as potatoes, onions, beets, carrots, parsnips, asparagus of the best description, and various culinary products of the soil, attain the highest development. From its stiff, clayey nature, the soil retains moisture well, and is better fitted for gardens than the soils farther west. Fruits of all kinds are raised in the greatest profusion; and apples in particular are very plentiful. Pears, plums, peaches, cherries, strawberries, grapes, and what not, are cultivated to such an extent as amply to supply the markets. "In a few years," says Mr Flint, "this state will take place of any in the Union, in the abundance and excellence of its fruits of all kinds. From the fulness and richness of the clusters of cultivated grapes, it is clear that this ought to be a country of vineyards. The Germans have already made a few establishments of the kind with entire success. Apricots, nectarines, and quinces succeed; and this state is the appropriate empire of Pomona. Recently, tobacco has been added to the articles cultivated. Hemp is an article of cultivation in some parts of the state. Agricultural improvement, however, proceeds with slow pace. The people generally are not at all given to ex-

periment, and continue to farm in the old and beaten routine.... Besides trees, shrubs, and vines, this state produces a great abundance of indigenous productions that are useful in medicine. We may mention actea racemosa, squaw root, Virginia snake root, Indian turnip, ginseng, which is dug in considerable quantities as an article of commerce, colombo, labelia, valerian, blood root or sanguinaria, canadensis, and various other herbaceous medicinal plants."

This state, being more populous than any other in the Commerce west, and possessing in many respects manufacturing capabilities, has taken precedence of all the rest in manufactures. Cotton yarn, cloth, and woollen goods, are already manufactured to a considerable extent, as are also flour and spirits; and family manufactures are likewise industriously prosecuted. The principal domestic articles of trade are horses, cattle, swine, whisky, flour, and tobacco. Those articles which are exported from the northern and some interior counties are frequently sent to Montreal and New York markets, by way of Lake Erie. From the southern parts of the state they are transported down the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans. Foreign goods are received from the same place by the steam-boats, and from Philadelphia and Baltimore across the Alleghany Mountains. "The surplus produce of the state of Ohio," says Mr Pitkin, in his Statistical View of the Commerce of the United States, "it is believed, may be calculated at about ten millions. The exports of Cincinnati alone, in 1833, were valued at five millions of dollars. This amount does not probably exceed the truth, when it is considered that the number of hogs slaughtered in that city in 1833 was 123,859, which would make as many, and probably more, barrels of pork, and, in the same year, 21,880 barrels of pork came to that city by the Miami Canal, making about 150,000 barrels in the whole, and which, at nine dollars per barrel, would be 1,359,000 dollars; and that in 1834, the number slaughtered was 150,000. And we cannot but here remark, that the whole quantity of pork exported from the United States in 1833 was only 105,870 barrels, leaving in favour of Cincinnati 45,000 barrels." It is of course taken for granted, that of the 150,000 barrels of pork said to be made at this city, all above the 45,000 entered as having been exported was reserved for home consumption. Mr Pitkin continues, "the exports of Cleveland on Lake Erie, in the same year, was 1,794,000 dollars coastwise, and 250,000 to foreign places, and from Huron 274,840 dollars; and from the country of Muskingum, on the river of that name, and from the flourishing village of Zanesville, with her numerous flourishing mills, as ascertained by those well acquainted with the facts, was 500,000 dollars. The value of the exports from these places alone make about seven millions and three quarters; and when it is considered that the quantity of tobacco raised in Ohio in 1833 was 10,000 hogsheads, only 3000 of which is included in the above exports from Muskingum, and when to these are added the exports from the Sciota valley, and from many other places on the Ohio River, and on the lake, we apprehend that the surplus produce of Ohio cannot be less than ten millions of dollars."

The following account of the statistics of Ohio for 1836 Statistics is taken from the American Almanac for 1837.