Ohio History Journal

Thirty-Ninth Annual Meeting             585

 

umes of which was completed some time ago, is still passing

through the press. As originally planned, this work was to have

been completed in four volumes. When the fourth volume was

in type it was found that enough manuscript remained for a

fifth volume. This, we learn from the printer, is in type await-

ing the index to the entire work.

Increased appropriations for the Publications of the So-

ciety were allowed by the last General Assembly, and though

the cost of printing is still high, it has been possible to publish

more than in the past. The Secretary informs me that the manu-

script of the "Life of Governor William Allen" has recently been

accepted, and will soon be printed and issued by the Society in

bound form.         Respectfully submitted,

(Signed) F. C. FURNISS,

Chairman.

On motion the report was accepted and ordered

placed on file.

 

ASH CAVE.

Rev. Pascal A. Bright read the report of the Com-

mittee on Ash Cave as follows:

In Benton and Laurel townships in southwestern Hocking

County a group of exceedingly interesting places of wild natural

beauty is found. Among these is the Ash Cave which has ob-

tained a wider notoriety than some of the others. A partial list

of the places includes the Rock House, Conkle's Hollow, Crane

Hollow, the Split Rocks, Saltpetre Caves, Cedar Falls, Old

Men's Cave, and Peterson's Hollow. These attractions are all

within a radius of a few miles. They are found in the Black

Hand conglomerate and are the result either of erosion or

weathering. The erosion has been very great in some of the

canyons, as is discovered in the canyon of Queer creek where

about 200 feet of rock is disclosed. There are miles of cliffs

varying in height from a few feet to the above figure. Some of

the canyons are very narrow as in Conkle's Hollow and others

are comparatively wide. In one of the canyons south of the Ash

Cave a soldier of the World War hid for eighteen months after

taking French leave from the army just before his regiment left

Camp Sherman for France itself.

It is proper to say that from an archaeological standpoint

there is little in this region that would call for attention, but

from the standpoint of scenic interest it is undoubtedly one of

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586       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

the show places of Ohio. Its interest for botanists is well known

and Professor Robert F. Griggs has published a survey of this

and a much larger region of which it is a part under the name

of the Sugar Grove Region. This pamphlet is a Biological Sur-

vey and is published by the Ohio State University. Not least

among the attractions of the region to which a much more dis-

tinctive name, the Queer Creek Region, might be given are the

trees, most notable of which are magnificent hemlocks. The

hollow below the Ash Cave affords a fine collection of a variety

of trees.

The group of attractions mentioned above should be State

property, or the property of this Society, in order that they may

be preserved for all the people. The preservation of character-

istic spots is evidently about to be accomplished through the

State Department of Forestry, which has gone so far in obtain-

ing possession that their action now awaits the approval of the

Auditor of State.

(Signed) PASCAL A. BRIGHT.

On motion the report was received and ordered

placed on file.

SERPENT MOUND PARK.

The Committee on Serpent Mound Park, submitted

the following report:

Your committee on Serpent Mound Park take pleasure in

reporting that during the past year general conditions at the

Park have been good. The custodian, Mr. Guy Wallace, has

rendered efficient and satisfactory services. He is attentive and

courteous to visitors.

During the year a new fence has been constructed along

the front and west sides of the Park, greatly improving its ap-

pearance and adding to the security of the premises.

A new roof has been put on the barn, which is now in con-

dition to last for many years.

The Park with the great Serpent Effigy continues to attract

many visitors.

The Custodian reports that during the year 14,000 visitors

were registered, and he estimates that as many as 10,000 did not

register. It is gratifying to believe that the Park has afforded

pleasure and profit to a large number of people.

(Signed) "W. H. COLE,

Chairman."

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