CLAY COUNTY.
This
county is well watered by Eel river, a branch of the west fork of the
White river, of which Birch creek and Croy's creek are tributaries.
Numerous other small streams flow through the county. We should hasten
to say that the general health of the county is good, for the reason
that at an early day it gained a bad reputation in this respect. It
will be remembered that the Wabash and Erie canal passed through this
county, but this canal is now entirely abandoned south of Terre Haute.
The supply of water for this section of the canal was obtained from the
great reservoirs fed by Eel river and Birch creek, etc. Splurge creek
reservoir embraced over four thousand acres, and the Birch creek
reservoir about fourteen hundred. When these reservoirs were created,
the extensive tracts of land overflowed were covered with a dense
forest, but the stagnant water killed the trees and caused the
vegetation to decay. This process charged the atmosphere with
miasmatic poison to such an extent that a general sickness was
engendered among the people for several miles in every direction. These
facts were scattered abroad, and did much fco turn the tide of
immigration in other directions. Being sorely grieved and unable to
obtain redress from the courts, the citizens of Clay county, who
resided near these "stinking pools," resolved to take the law in their
own hands. They assembled in force, cut the embankment, and let the
water free. This of course created a great sensation. Those
interested in canal navigation were injured, and the laws were
outraged. Troops were sent out by the governor of the State to bring
the guilty parties to justice, but the people doubled their resistance.
They had taken a decided stand against having these miasmatic pools in
the county and were not wanting in courage when the militia appeared.
The governor finding that an armed force was not calculated to enforce
the law, and being convinced of the impracticability of keeping up the
canal, concluded to withdraw the troops and leave the matter with the
citizens. It is hardly necessary to add that the canal reservoirs have
not been seen since that day. Not a vestige of them can now be found,
and the health of the county could not be better.
There
is considerable bog-iron ore in this county, large quantities of which
were successfully made into pig-iron in the days of the canal, but when
that system of inland communication was abandoned, the smelting
works were discontinued. With the establishment of railroads,
these will be re-established and the valuable mineral resources of the
State developed. There are also some valuable mineral waters in this
county, which will be the means, when brought to notice, of attracting
considerable attention.
The
agricultural advantages of Clay County cannot be compared with
those of other counties, but farming is conducted with moderately good
results. Stock raising is also profitable. There is an abundance of
good timber, consisting chiefly of white, red and black oak.
The county seat of the
county is Bowling Green. This place has now a population of over one
thousand, and is growing rapidly. It has first-class school
facilities. The inhabitants are quite enterprising, and keep pace
with the age in their public improvements of all kinds. The schools of
the county are, for the most part, very acceptable, yet there is much
room for improvement an improvement that will soon be inaugurated.
Brazil, with a population of over three thousand, is the largest town
in the county.
The county is very
generally settled, and mostly its inhabitants are in a sound
condition financially. The farmers are all increasing their comforts,
and adding to their means. In every part of the county may be seen
evidences of thrift and good feeling.