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Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II

O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849. 341 words

The town of Bath has, this season, increased considerably, and much improvement has been made on the different roads leading to it. The opening a market to Baltimore for our lumber and fat cattle, has also raised a spirit amongst the inhabitants to improve the navigation of the Conhocton. A handsome court-house, and a very secure and convenient goal, are added to the number of our buildings ; and the inhabitants have recently encouraged a clergyman to settle amongst them. Thus from year to year we improve.

I am &c.

LETTER IV.

Dear Sir,

It has very erroneously been supposed, that the face of the Genesee Country was flat and level, full of swamps and stagnant waters ; but, in fact, the direct contrary is the case. The face of the country from Geneva to the Genesee River appears to be a succession of gentle swellings of land, running most frequently from north to south ; and the intermediate spaces afford considerable bottom or meadow land, and generally a small stream of water. This furnishes the best situations imaginable for farms, there being a due proportion of high land and meadow. The upland, as it is termed, is timbered chiefly with hickory, oak, and walnut ; and the interval with elm, bass vvood, sugar-tree, &c. The stone fouml

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on these ridges mostly inclines to lime-stone, which is a certain indication of the best land for every species of grain. The openings, or large tracts of land, found frequently in this country free of timber, and showing great signs of having been once in a state of cultivation, are singularly curious. This sort of land, from the ignorance of the first settlers in regard to its quality, was supposed to be barren, and was therefore little valued : necessity, however, obliged some to attempt the cultivation of it, and they were agreeably disappointed on finding they had got a good crop, and in numberless instances they have continued to reap plentiful crops every year for seven years past.