Fulton County, Ohio - Chapter 8: Resources and Early Enterprises, 1905

S the main source of wealth in Fulton county is agriculture, a chapter descriptive of the resources of the county may appropriately be prefaced by an account of the land.

The features of topography are the few streams and the almost total absence of hills, but very few eminences rising above the general level. The county can hardly be said to be a well watered district. The largest stream is the Tiffin river, or, as it is commonly called, "Bean Creek." The general slope of the surface of the county is to the southeast and quite moderate. The lowest land in the county is in the township of Swan Creek, where the surface lies 668 feet above sea level, while in northwestern Gorham the altitude reached is about 825 feet. In the central part of the county, embracing the northern part of Clinton, nearly all of Dover, about three-fifths of Chesterfield, the southeast part of Royalton, the west half of Pike, and the northwest corner of York, is an elevated sandy plateau with an average elevation of about eight hundred feet above sea level. Prior to about the year 1858, there was a vast amount of land lying within the county that was wholly unfit for agricultural purposes, on account of its swampy character, and inasmuch as there were no streams within the county available for water power, there was but little prospect for advancement or progress by way of manufacture, and the inhabitants must, perforce, seek some channel or adopt some means whereby the county might be built up and made productive. This peculiarity of situation, if it may be properly called such, was not entirely single to this locality, but there were several counties similarly situated. Here the climate, the soil and the natural situation of the land showed favorable for good results in agricultural pursuits as soon as the surface of the land could be properly drained of its surplus and sluggish water.

"The Legislature made provision for draining by the ditching process, and by this must the county stand or fall. It can hardly be within the province of this chapter to enter into a detailed narrative of the laws passed by the Legislature from time to time, bearing upon the subject of ditch draining, but sufficient it is to state that such was the fact; and under this act and its several amendments and supplements has the vast amount of draining been done within this county. While by far the greater part of the draining done in the county has been of that kind known as ditching, still there has been laid by the commissioners, or those acting in the work for them, a large amount of tile, or pipe made from the native clay. ' The latter is used where it may be laid to advantage. Tile draining is usually done by the individual in cases where he desires to carry the water from some depressed portion of land to some already established ditch or other stream."

It was in the year 1859, that ditching commenced in this county under the direction of the county commissioners, and since that time there are but very few square miles of the surface of the county but has in some manner been opened for this purpose. Of course there are localities where this is not necessary, on the more elevated lands of sandy character.

It is a well established fact, the result of scientific research, that the whole country about this region has at some time, ages ago, been covered with water of unknown depth, and that these waters were constantly changing as if in motion, or by under currents, tides and waves. In the course of ages these waters receded, having found some outlet into the vast bodies of water that now so largely cover the earth's surface. Again, the labors of those who, during the last two hundred years, have devoted themselves to the study of the structure of the globe, have resulted in the creation of the science of geology, and the claim which this department of human knowledge has to science, depends upon the symmetry which has been found to prevail in the arrangement of the materials forming the earth's crust. By the slow process of adding fact to fact and by comparing the observations of the devotees of the science in different lands, it has been found that the rocky strata of the earth hold definite relation to each other in position, and hence in age; that many of them are distinguished by constant or general features, and contain characteristic or peculiar remains of plants or animals by which they may be recognized wherever iound. This sequence of deposit forms what has been aptly termed the Geological Column.

The indurated rocks, being everywhere covered by a heavy bed of drift, have been reached in this county only by boring, and this only at a few places. A well drilled for oil at Stryker, near the line between Williams and Fulton counties, after traversing 129 feet of drift, met the Huron shale, with a thickness of sixty-eight feet, and underlaid by limestone. Comparing this record with the railroad levels, the base of the Huron shale is shown to be here fifty feet below the level of Lake Erie. Comparing this, again, with the altitude of the same horizon at various points along thfe Maumee river, it appears that its dip is to the north, 6r northwest, at the rate of seven or eight feet to the mile. In adjacent portions of Michigan, the dip, so far as known, is in the same direction ; and it is hence presumed to be continuous through the unexplored interval. There is reason to believe, too, that the gradual rise of the county toward the northwest is accompanied by a corresponding and equal aetivity of the rock surface. It follows as probable that the higher land is underlaid by 500 feet of strata superior to the base of the Huron shale, and that the upper portion of this base belongs to the next succeeding base - the Waverly. The lower margin of the Huron shale is in every direction beyond the limits of Fulton county. The stratagraphical data are so unsatisfactory that the map of the county has been made to represent, instead, the features of the surface geology, which in their relation to the distribution of soils are of more interest and importance.

As before stated, the bedded rocks of Fulton county are covered with a heavy sheet of drift, to a depth of from fifty to at least two hundred feet. These are mainly on or near the line of the Air- Line railroad, and the rock struck in each case was the Huron shale - either the characteristic black shale or associated masses of pyrites. At Delta it was drilled through in boring for oil, and found to have a thickness of fifty-five feet. Under it was found twenty feet of soft gray shale, representing the Hamilton group, while the upper part of the Corniferous group appeared to be quite argillaceous. Comparing the altitudes of these beds in the neighboring counties, Henry and Lucas, where they outcrop, the general dip* is found to be to the north and west, and it is probable that its continuance carries them under the Waverly group within the limits of the county. So far as can be judged the greater part of the county is underlaid by Huron shale, and this is covered in the northwest portion by the beds of the Waverly group. In boring for water near the south line of Gorham township, cannel coal was struck, and was said to have been penetrated to a depth of three and one-half feet. Overlying it was the blue clay of the drift, but as the underlying material was not determined, it remains uncertain whether the coal was in its original position, or was merely a drift boulder transported from the Michigan coal field. All present information or knowledge tends toward the latter theory, although the nearest outcrops of the coal measures are about forty miles distant.

The geology of the soil is independent of the underlying rocks, and referable exclusively to the drift. Long after Fulton county was raised above the sea, as a sort of plain, topped by the oceanrippled shales of the Waverly series; long after the depressions and up-raisings that accompanied the deposit of the carboniferous or coal-bearing rocks to the eastward ; and long after the streams of that ancient time had cut away the rocks to form the valleys nearly as they are today, throughout a period of erosion when the Alleghany mountains were reduced from a height of five miles to something near their present modest altitudes - after all this, the ice age came and covered the greater part of Ohio with a glacier sheet which completely enveloped what is now Fulton county. This county, therefore, has the same glacial history as has all the northern part of the State. Not a summit is. there that stood above the glaciers, and the clay and boulders that mark the drift overlie all the ordinary high land of the county. The areas covered by the drift furnish far more varied and fruitful soils than the native rocks, and hence the lands in Fulton county take their place among the best lands in the State of Ohio.

During the early settlement of this region, an unexpected source of water wealth developed itself, being artesian or flowing wells. These famous wells, the first of which were developed in Bryan, in 1842, have their source in the .Erie clay. They have become so numerous, and the search for them has been so general, that their distribution in this and the adjoining counties is pretty well defined, and some explanation of them may be given. They are found in a belt of country which, in common with the other geological features of the vicinity, has a northeast and southwest trend. Its western limit is the more definite, and, through Defiance county and the southern part of Williams, follows close to the upper beach line; the belt then follows more to the east, and terminates in Gorham township, Fulton county. Its width varies from two to ten miles, and seems to be affected by the proximity of a deep cutting stream, as the Maumee river, or the lower course of Bean Creek. The beds of sand are sometimes isolated and dry, and sometimes connected in broad systems, through which water percolates, following the descent of the land west of the upper ridge, it finds its way to the .surface at many points, forming springs along the streams; and the water, in neighboring deep wells, rises no higher, or but little higher, than these springs. East 0 A the ridge, the unbroken lacustrine clay cuts off the discharge through springs, as far as the qearest deep-cutting stream. This taps the sandbeds, and lowers the bead for some distance ; but the sand, through which the water seeps, affords sufficient resistance to maintain an artesiah head near the ridge. The discharge, though copious, is sensibly limited. Every new fountain well diminishes the flow of those near it, and, as the number of wells in a locality increases, the head is lowered. It is said by older citizens that the fountain head at Bryan has fallen several feet in their recollection, and that many wells, which originally flowed, now have to be furnished with pumps. The source of this ever-welling water, artesian and otherwise, is, of course, higher than the discharge, and, consequently, west of the lake ridges. Its perennial flow suggests a distant reservoir,- while the small percentage of its mineral constituents, and their variable, character, point to one near at hand. The superficial, yellow portion of the Erie clay, is, in great part, permeable, and, storing a portion of the water that falls on it, yields it gradually to the underlying sand beds whenever it touches them. -

The mineral impurities of the well and spring .water of the country are as variable .as the' constitution of the clay from which they are derived. The usual earthy carbonates, constituting it "hard" water,' are always present, though not often in great amount. Oxide' of iron, accompanied by sylphydric acid, is very common, and frequently in considerable force, giving a yellow coating to the spouts and troughs that convey the water. A few wells, in various localities, afford what is -called "bitter water." This is rendered noxious, and fortunately, at the same time, unpalatable, by the presence of iron, alum or perhaps copperas.

The data of the development of agriculture in Fulton county is the life story of the pioneers who cleared away the forests, and of the sturdy and faithful workers who have been their successors. Concerning them, much information is given in the township chap* ters of this work. What has been achieved in the fifty-five years since the organization of the county, as well as what are the principal lines of farm work, are told in th^* figures of the crops of the present, according to the statistics of the year 1904. The great crop of Fulton county is corn, to which 32,831 acres were devoted in the spring of 1903. The crop of course varies from year to year, tiut, in 1903, it was 1,353,100 bushels. The wheat crop comes next, for as is well known this cereal does best in the drift lands of the northern part of the State. In fact, the glacial drift throughout the Old Northwest territory makes possible the great wheat crops and the wealth of the country. Fulton county had 9,966 acres in wheat in 1903, and the yield was 173,507 bushels, according to the agricultural statisticians. Over twelve thousand acres are devoted to meadow hay, with a product of seventeen thousand four hundred tons, and 14,371 acres to clover, with a yield of 23,772 tons of that sort of hay. These figures we suppose are given approximately, as everyone is aware that statistical figures of this sort are no more than approximations at the best. The potato crop in 1903 was about 102,000 bushels, the onion crop 2,020 bushels. The yield of oats was 858426 bushels, of rye 11,- 229, and of buckwheat 1,233. There was no broom corn reported in the county, but there were 529 gallons of 9orghum made. The maple syrup production was estimated at 380 gallons, and the bees made eight hundred pounds of honey.

In the way of live stock the county had 6,056 horses, 15,108 cattle, 23,147 hogs, 12*202 sheep. The wool clip was 70,011 pounds. The milk sold was 227,058 gallons in addition to that used by owners of cows, and over 500,000 pounds of butter were made. The eggs gathered were estimated at 922,792 dozen.

According to the figures of the state board of equalization of taxes there are 143,600 acres of arable or plow land; 57,843 acres of meadow or pasture land, and 52475 acres besides, classed as uncultivated or wood land, making a total of 253,918 acres of farm lands, which were assigned a value for taxation by the State Board of $5,042,043.52.

than does the county of Fulton. Except the waters that form river and creek channels, there is not a waste acre in the county. An agricultural society was founded, in 1858. D. W. H. Howard, Oliver B. Verity and L. L. Carpenter were prime movers in the enterprise and were prominent in the organization. The first meeting or exhibition of the Fulton County Agricultural Society was held in the fall of the year 1858, on a ten-acre tract of land which the society held under a ten year lease. The place of meeting was at a point in Dover township, about a half mile east and nearly a half mile south from Ottokee, then the county seat. Suitable buildings were erected for keeping the exhibits and other purposes of the society. The grounds were laid out with a trotting course for competition in trials of speed of horses. At the expiration of the lease of these grounds, the society purchased, in 1865, a tract of about forty acres of land situate on the "west road" leading from Wauseon to Ottokee, and with money borrowed and additional donations of both money and labor, the grounds were fitted so that the first exhibition was held there the same year. At this place fairs have been held annually, since. The present officers of the society are as follows: A. F. Shaffer, president; D. W. Williams, secretary; G. W. Howard, treasurer; directors, S. W. Sipe, W. H. Standish, G. W. Lee, B. F. Prickett, L. Buxton, L. Shadle, G. W. Howard, W. L. Biddle, H. G. Zeller, T. H. Fraker, A. F. Shaffer, B. F. Gasche, Byron Brink, F. H. Lamed, C. A. Hayes, and D. W. Williams.

In 1883, the Northwestern Ohio Fair Company was organized, mainly by W C. Kelly, J. S. Newcomer and E. S. Callender. The association secured a tract of land just north of Wauseon, at a place efcsy of access and within convenient walking distance. Meetings were held annually for a few years, when for some reason or other they ceased and the society went out of existence.

The first efforts of the pioneers were, of course, after providing . a shelter, to raise something to eat. There was game in abundance - venison, wild turkey and bear meat. Corn was the great cereal crop, and out of it was made a coarse meal and corn bread, and a good deal of whiskey. Wheat was grown, and in time took the place of com as an article of human food. Potatoes were easily grown but were not so popular then as now. Fruit was, of course, very rare at first, but there was an abundance of wild berries which served very well.

Next to food the great necessity was clothing, and it was no small task to obtain it from "back east" unless one were content with what the new country afforded. The home manufacturer of buckskin clothes was not uncommon, as well as the weaving of flax shirts. "Linsy-woolsy" suits were considered full dress, except for the dandies or the city men of imposing rank and station. Buckskin was considered good material for moccasins until tanneries were introduced, and then men skilled in the handling of leather went from cabin to cabin to make footwear for the people.

The pioneer farmers in some sections engaged in tfie manufacture of com meal themselves, using what was facetiously termed the "Armstrong" mill. A solid stump was cut square on die top and a cavity burned out in it, and when cleaned out this became the mortar, in which com was put and vigorously pounded. The product was sifted through sieves made by stretching deer hides, when green, over hoops, and puncturing with small holes when dry. Coffee mills of good size were brought into Ohio by many settlers, and some member of the family was kept busy at the grinding.

The first water power mills of the settlers were "com crackers," supported by two large canoes anchored in some stream where the current was rapid. Between the boats was left a chute for the water, in which the motor wheel hung and revolved. Primitive methods, such as have been described above, may not have been employed by the first settlers in the present limits of Fulton county, but the older people will call to mind by the descriptions

Water power was, of course, chiefly depended upon for the early industries, wherever the same was obtainable, but as Fulton county was sadly deficient in that particular, water mills were not very plentiful. The introduction of steam power, however, overcame the difficulty, and the early grist mills were mostly run by steam.

No grist-mills were ever run in York township, outside of the village of Delta, and the one there is a roller process mill which does a large and profitable business, both in home and foreign trade. A water saw-mill was built on Bad Creek, above Delta, in the early 4o's, which was later moved to Delta and used in making plank for the "plank road." It could be run during only a small part of the year, because of insufficient water. It was owned by Thomas Bayes and James McQuillen.

Clinton township never had a grist-mill until the laying out of Wauseon, to which point all the subsequent industries of the township have centered. The early settlers usually went to Canandaigua, Michigan, to mill, and sometimes to Medina, Adrian or Palmyra, all in Lenawee county, Michigan. At some seasons of the year they would go to Maumee, Waterville or Texas, upon the Maumee river, and to Brunersburg, using three or four days to make the trip. John H. Williams, an early settler, in speaking of those trips, said: "The nights were very dreary, caused by their darkness. We often started from these points after the commencement of nightfall, and traveled all night, and in the thick timber often lost oui^way, but in the 'oak openings/ as they were known, the light was generally better. We always had plenty of music in those long nights of our journey homeward, and reached the cabin at various hours of the morning. This music we did not always enjoy, especially when alone. In the dark forests at night might be seen the driver holding on to the end of the yoke, and the cattle making their own way, and if undisturbed all would reach home in safety."

In 1856, Rensselaer S. Humphrey built a steam grist-mill in Gorham township and operated the same for a few years in partnership with Dr. Joseph O. Allen. It was the first grist-mill in the township and the only one at this day located at Fayette. Inhabitants of that section, in 1836, and for a number of years thereafter, who desired to get to a grist-mill, had to carry their grain to Tecumseh, where, without doubt, was built the first mill north of die Maumee river, unless near Detroit.

The early German settlers of German township had little to eat for a long time except corn bread, and they ground a large portion of the meal between two stones, one above and one below, and manipulated the same by hand. They had no place to get grinding done in the whole country, short of Maumee. This journey was long, expensive and tedious, and seldom undertaken. Soon after this German colony was settled they found themselves nearly out of provisions, and flour at Maumee at that time, 1834, was worth fifteen dollars per barrel, and some of the men started on the long journey in quest of food. This was about the Jast of August, 1834, and during their absence there came to the settlement one Captain Williams with a party of chainmen and axmen ; also with the party was Ambrose Rice of Perrysburg, who was the surveyor, laying out the State road from Maumee through the Six Mile Woods, via Delta, through York, Clinton and German, to West Unity. They were weary and suffering for something to eat, and seeing a fine baking of bread, dean and tempting, wanted to buy it, but the women would not sell it as that was all they had. But the surveying party must have the bread, and after making the women all reasonable offers to no avail, they took all the bread that was necessary for a few days' use, leaving a generous compensation therefor, and went on with their work. George and William Johnson came to the German settlement in

1836, from England, and bought a large property on Bean Creek, on which they afterward built what was called Johnson's Mills, a saw and grist-mill. These mills were built in 1841, and were located on the State road, two miles west of Burlington. They were both water mills, situated on the bank of Bean Creek. Johnson's Mills had the reputation of making forty-two pounds of good flour and twelve pounds of bran and shorts from a bushel of good . wheat, besides the toll.

grist-mill built and run in the township, and was owned by Mr. Bird until his death, in 1842. It was abandoned at a very early date, 1849 or 1850. This was, without doubt, the first regular gristmill in Fulton county. In 1850, George Kibler built a grist-mill in connection with a saw-mill, and run them until his death, in 1864, when they passed to other parties, and were soon abandoned. These were both water mills and were built on Mill Creek. No industry of this kind, by water or steam, is carried on today within the present limits of Franklin township. As early as 1837 or 1838, Albert Chatfield built a saw-mill on Bean Creek and carried on quite an extensive business for many years, but the mill has long since fallen into decay. A grist-mill was built near the old saw-mill, many years after, and after running a few years was burned.

In the fall of 1834, John W. Harter, the first settler in Fulton township, finding the Six Mile Woods settling apparently with permanent inhabitants, went back to Huron county, his former home, and induced a mill-wright by the name of Bryant Hanly to accompany him back to his new residence. In the spring of 1835, they built a grist-mill on Mr. Harter's land, which was known as the "Horse Mill." Mr. Hanly superintended its construction, and Thomas C., Nicholas Q., and William Berry did the most of the work. The two last named sawed all the lumber for the mill with a whip saw. This was done by rolling a log on a skidway, high enough for one man to stand under the log to manage the lower end of the saw, who was designated as the "pit-sawyer." The top sawyer stood on the top of the log and managed the upper end of the saw. It required great muscular power to run this kind of a saw-mill, the first in Fulton township, but that was a qualification possessed by Nicholas Q. and William Berry, far above the average man. The horse mill had a grinding capacity of from two to five bushels per hour. The horse would trot around the circle designated, hitched to a sweep sixteen feet long, but horses being very scarce, oxen had to be used on many occasions for the propelling power to the mill. On such occasions the motion proved too slow for doing good work, and through the mechanical skill of Thomas C. Berry, the mill was geared so that oxen could be successfully used. The bolt of this mill was turned by hand, similar to turning a grind-stone, and although the flour made would hardly compare with the roller process of today, yet those pioneers ate their bread and cake with as good a relish, and enjoyed their buckwheat cakes and corn dodgers, prepared from the flour thus obtained, as we of today with all our modem mill improvements. Many of the settlers had no teams, and they would carry their grist of wheat, com or buckwheat, on their shoulders, or haul, in the winter season, on hand sleds to this mill, some two to six miles, guided only by blazed trees or Indian trails, and in many instances returning long after dark. This mill, in 1840, was moved one mile south on Swan Creek, and converted into a water-mill by Harter & Stair. It sustained a good mill reputation and proved to be of great convenience to the early settlers. Pilliod Brothers, in 1887, put up a flouring mill at Swanton, which is still in successful operation, and a grist-mill was built at Ai, in 1866, by Miles Hayes.

David Salsbury, at his residence upon the south side of Pike township, in the first settlement, ran a feed mill for grinding corn, which was constructed by dishing out a large black walnut stump as a mortar, and preparing a large, heavy stone, corrugated with the chisel and pick, and hung in a frame work fixed so that it could be raised from the depression in the stump and then attached to a sweep drawn round and round by oxen, the first power. This for a time made for the inhabitants a good corn meal, which saved much valuable time of the settlers, who would otherwise have been compelled to go to Maumee, through the country without roads or bridges. The mill was afterward changed to one of more modern date, as soon as means could be obtained to buy one, and it served the inhabitants for a number of years, the frame work and the old stump being visible up to 1850 or later.

About 1857-8, a grist-mill was put up at Spring Hill, in Dover township, and did a good business until it was burned down,- in i860. It was rebuilt, but afterwards moved away.

Of these early flour producers of Fulton county, some deserve especial mention. Rensselaer S. Humphrey was one of the pioneers of the county, and settled in Gorham township in 1843. He was one of the first to clear up the land where Fayette now stands, and built the first frame house and the first schoolhouse in Gor- .ham township. In 1844, he cut the road out which is now the principal street of Fayette; in 1847, built a steam saw-mill, the first in the township; in 1850, built a store and blacksmith shop, and in 1857, a steam grist-mill. He was a member of the board of education for twenty-one years, and township trustee three terms. He was bom in the State of New York, July 29, 1821. Dr, Joseph O. Allen, who was a partner of Mr. Humphrey in some of his early enterprises, ufas also bom in the State of New York, in 1830, and settled in Fulton county in. 1851. He served as township treasurer ten years, and also as member of the board

> Any amount of material exists in Fulton county for the manufacture of brick and tile, and in any township that industry can be made to pay if properly developed. In Amboy township, clay suitable for brick-making can be found in abundance, but, as yet, comparatively few bricks have been made there. Joseph Roop made the first brick in that township and carried on the industry for many years. Many of the old settlers yet show the brick which was manufactured by Joseph Roop, still used in comfortable dwellings. John Reis, in the eastern part of the township, for years carried on the tile and brick making business to quite a large ex-

George Mikesell manufactured the first brick in Clinton township, and it is thought, in Fulton county. In 1838, he burned a kiln of brick on his farm just west of Wauseon, near the present residence of Campbell Bayes, for the purpose of securing brick for a large fire-place and chimney in the residence he was then constructing. The next year, 1839, J°hn Tigert established a brick yard in the northern part of York township, which was in operation for about fifteen years. In 1840 or 1841, Shipman Losure established a yard for the manufacture of brick, a little over a mile northeast of the present site of Wauseon, and brick was turned out there until some time during the early 6o's, when the enterprise was abandoned. About 1848, Elisha Williams and sons, southeast of Wauseon, established a brick kiln, and burned a sufficient quantity of brick to build a large dwelling house for the family, besides disposing of a quantity to others. About 1863, one was established in Wauseon, and brick was burned for the purpose of building the Brooker block. Frederick Brooker was the proprietor and the factory was kept in operation for about twenty years. Of the two brick yards now in Wauseon, one was established in the late 70% and the other a few years later, probably about 1883. They are each doing a flourishing business. Clay, suitable for brick and tile making, can be found in abundance all over Clinton township, with good sand for tempering. Many tile have been used in this township, with some from their first manufacture, years ago.

Tile and brick were first made in Pike township by E. M. Strong, who conducted the business for a great many years, until 1887, when he abandoned it.

Brick, tile and pottery were first made in Dover township by Eben French (familiarly known as "Old Man French"), who put up an oven near what was known as "Chatfield's Comers," where he made all kinds of pottery, which was peddled through the country at a very early date, alxuit 1846. He also made brick in small quantities, and made the first tile that was ever manufactured in the county. Mr. French also put up a kiln and burned brick on the land afterwards owned by Levi McConkey. Brick were made soon after by Joseph Shadle, and the manufacture was continued for a number of years on his farm, south of Ottokee, but stopped in 1865, after burning brick enough for the new county buildings, then being erected. "Long Bill" Jones, in 1839, made brick on the farm afterward owned by DeWitt Williams, and this was as early as any were made in that township. The last brick made in the township were made by Amasa B. Verity, upon the premises owned by the late Oliver, B. Verity. Tile was manufactured for one or two years, at the saw-mill of James Kahle.

that the freight wagons which gave Fulton county merchants their transportation facilities to the canal, thence reaching the East and South, have long since become obsolete, their places being taken by the railroads. Of these, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern has twenty-five miles of main track and the same number of miles of second track and sidings in the county ; the Wabash system, thirty miles of main track, and the Detroit Southern, sixteen miles o i main track. The total for the county is seventy-one miles of main track and twenty-five miles of second track and sidings. These roads pay nearly $40,000 taxes annually upon their property in the county.