• - • The southern end *of the coal measures of Indiana and Illinois extends across the Ohio into Breckinridge co., and continues almost to the mouth of that stream, along the whole w. and n.w, boundary of the state. The coal measures, which occupy the whole eastern part of the state, are a part of the great Appalachian coal-field which over spreads western Virginia and Pennsylvania. The extensive limestone formations abound in fossils. Hydraulic limestone is found near the falls at Louisville, and is extensively used in the manufacture of cements. The limestone region abounds in caves, some of which are very remarkable. The mammoth cave in Edmonson co., near Green river, is one of the wonders of the world. It has been explored for a distance of more than 10 miles. Low swamps, called "licks," frequented by deer and elk, occur in the limestone region. They were once the resort of the buffalo, and at a very early age, of several species of animals now extinct. One of the most famous Of these places is the Big Bone lick not far s. of Cincinnati. Lead ores are found in some places. Salt springs are of frequent occurrence among the sandstone rocks, and sulphur, chalybeate, and saline springs abound.. In Clay and Meade counties salt in large quantities is obtained by boring. Iron ores are found in the n.e. corner of the state, where numerous fur naces are in operation; also in the slate and limestone regions, and in the s.w. counties bordering on the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. The climate of the state is some what variable, but on the whole very pleasant. The mean annual temperature is about 55'. In winter the mercury occasionally falls to zero and even below, while in summer it rises to 94° or 100°. Winter usually continues from the end of Nov. to the beginning of April, but the snows arc light and seldom remain long upon the ground.
In the forests, which are still extensive, are found tulip-trees, ash, oak, elm, hickory, walnut, cherry, sugar-maple, and black and honey locust. The principal fruit-trees are the apple and peach. As an agricultural state Kentucky holds a high rank. The wheat crop of 1879 was estimated at between 8,000,000 and 9,000.000 bushels—a large increase over previous years. The barley crop of 1878 was 600,000 bushels; the corn crop of 1877 was estimated at 59,693,146 bushels; the yield of hemp at 13,752,263 lbs.; • of oats. at 6,838,405 bushels; of rye, 1,277,278 bushels; of tobacco, 191,492 148 lbs. In 1878 71,000 acres of peach-orchards produced about 6,000,000 bushels of peaches; 250,000 acres of apple-orchards produce annually over 21,000,000 bushels of apples. The number of sheep in 1878 was 1,123,956; of hogs, 1,600,000; of chickens and other fowls, 9,241,650. In 1878 the number of swarms of bees was 157,370, and the product of honey 4,723,100 lbs. The value of taxable property belonging to white persons in 1878 was $354,019,676; amount belonging to colored people, $3,306,837—total, $357,326,5i3. The valuation for
1879 was less than this by about $4,000,000. Number of horses iu 1877, 382,000; mules, 122,000; cattle, 550,000; hogs, 820,000. Many millions of young fish have been placed in the waters of the state, with highly encouraging resultS. The total number of manu facturing establishments in 1870 was 5,390, employing $29,277,809 of capital, and 80,636 persons, paying $9,444,524 in wages, and producing goods valued at $54,625,809. The chief industries or products were; agricultural implements, bagging, blacksmithing, boots and shoes, carpentering and building, carriages and wagons, clothing, flour and grist mill products, furniture, iron products, leather, liquors, lumber, saddlery and har ness, tobacco in various forms, and woolen goods. The principal article of manufac ture is whkky, the product for 18;0 being valued at $4,532,780. Of direct foreign com merce Kentucky has very little. Louisville and Paducah are the only ports of entry. The principal exports are hemp, flax, tobacco, horses, mules, hogs, cattle, bagging, and rope. The quantity of shipping is small, amounting in 1873 only to 14,000 tons at Louis ville, and 2,870 tons at Paducah. Several of the large rivers, chiefly the Kentucky and Green, have been made navigable by dams, locks, etc., and in 1877 a proposition was made to 'repair the works on the Kentucky, with what results has not been reported. The canal around the falls of the Ohio at Louisville enables large boats to pass at most seasons of the year There were in the state in 1879 1430 m. of railroads, valued at more than $15,644,000. The principal lines were the Louisville and Nashville and branches, the Cincinnati Southern, the Paducah and Elizabethtown, the St. Louis and South-eastern, the Louis ville, Cincinnati and Lexington, and the Kentucky Central. • In 1873 there were in opera tion 36 national banks, with a capital of $8,263,700, and a circulation of $7,021,900. The number of insurance companies in 1877 was 124, of which 112 were fire and 12 life. The amount of insurance in the state was over $127,000,000.
The public institutions are: the asylum for the blind at Louisville; the institution for deaf-mutes in Danville; the institution for the feeble-minded at Frankfort; three asy lums for the insane; and the state penitentiary at Frankfort. The total number of libraries in 1870 was 5,546, containing 1,909,230 volumes; 4,374 of these libraries were private. The principal libraries are that of the Kentucky university at Lexington and of the Lexington library company; the state library in Frankfort; that of the Danville theological seminary; the public library of Kentucky at Louisville; that of St. Joseph's college at Bardstown ; that of Center college in Danville; and that of the Louisville library association. In 1873 the periodicals of the state were 9 daily, 1 triweekly, 4 semi weekly, 80 weekly, and 9 monthly.