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The soil is well adapted for grazing.
In 1837, 5,209. sheep were shear-
ed in the town, producing 15,627
pounds of wool, principally meririD*-
There is found in this_--tew!fa]po-
rous quartz^jwirrefrTsused as buhr
jsione'STTbr mill stones; and is re-
markable for resisting heat. Wash-
ington was incorporated in 1777. It
is 122 miles W. from Boston, and 8
E. from Lenox. Population, 1837,
758.
Washington County, R. I.
South Kingston is the shire town.
This is a maritime county situated
in the southwestern section of the
state; bounded on the north by
Kent county, on the east by Nar-
ragansef bay, on the south by the
Atlantic ocean, and on the west by
the state of Connecticut. The av-
erage- length of the county, from
eas't to west, is about 20 miles, and
it has a mean breadth of .more than
18 miles, comprising about 367
square miles. Tbe geological char-
acter of this county is primitive;
the rocks consist of granite and oth-
er original formations.. The sur-
face is- generally diversified with
moderate hills and narrow dales;
there are, however, some consider-
able eminences in the northwest
section of the county, and some
flats of considerable extent in the
south section, bordering upon tbe
Atlantic. The prevailing-soil is a
primitive gravelly loam, strong and
fertile; there are some considera-
ble tracts of sandy loam, and some
of alluvial. A considerable section
of this county was formerly called
the Narraganset country, and was
celebrated for an excellent breed
of pacing horses; the other section
was called the Sbannock country,
and was equally distinguished for
a valuable breed of neat cattle.
This county still maintains a high
reputation as a grazing district, and
affords many extensive and valua-
ble dairies. But the agricultural
interests are not confined exclu-
33 |
sively to the objects of fljje-gT^zlng
business; in s$me^5ctions of tbe
county-eerUDiflerable attention is paid
-tinhe cultivation of grain, particu-
larly Indian corn and barley ; some
rye also i3 raised. The inhabitants
are distinguished for their habits of
industry and frugality, and in gen-
eral enjoy their necessary results,
health and competence.
The waters of the county are ex-
tensive and important, possessing a
maritime border upon the Atlantic
ocean and the Narraganset bay, of
more than 50 miles extent. There
are, however, but 2 or 3 harbors ;
the principal of which is Wickford,
in the northeastern section of the
county ; the next most important is
the Pawcatuck. The principal in-
terior waters of the county are em-
bodied in the Pawcatuck river,
which forms part of the western
boundary of the state. . The prin-
cipal branches of the Pawcatuck
'are the Wood and Charles rivers;
â– which, with their tributary streams,
water a large portion of the west-
ern section of the county, and af-
ford numerous sites for mills, -and
other hydraulic works. -
There are, in the county, several
saltand fresh water ponds, which
are well supplied with fish.
The fisheries of the county are
extensive and valuable, affording
employment to considerable indus-
try, which is usually well reward-
ed. The fish taken, not only sup-
ply the home consumption, but con-
stitute an article of exportation.
Although the commercial busi-
ness carried on within the county
is not very considerable, yet its
maritime situation has had its uat-
ural influence upon the habits of
the people ; a considerable portion
of whom are employed in seafaring
business.
The manufacturing interests of
tbe county are considerable, and
consist principally of the woolen
and cotton manufactures, and the
business of ship building. Besides |
