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The county thus organized and named is situated in the southern
part of the State, on the Tennessee line, and in the eastern border
of that section of Kentucky arbitrarily called the Southwest. It is
bounded on the north by Muhlenburg County, east by Logan, south by
Montgomery, in State of Tennessee, and west by Christian, and
contains about 330 square miles. The county lies partly in the Green
River Valley, and partly in that of the Cumberland River, and
represents the characteristics of both valleys. The dividing line
between these valleys passes in a northwesterly direction through
Todd several miles above Elkton, throwing the northern portion into
the " Green River Country," and the southern in the Cumberland
Valley. Curiously enough, in this county, the characteristics of
these valleys are transposed; the Green River portion is broken and
underlaid by freestone, and lies within the mineral belt, while the
lower part belongs to the cavernous limestone' formation, and
possesses those rich agricultural characteristics which have made
the Green River Country famous as the great wheat producing area of
the State. The Russellville and Hopkinsville road, passing
northwesterly through Elkton, forms the general dividing line
between these two sections. South from this the surface is a gently
rolling expanse of arable country, with little timber and much
lowland, 'which for the lack of good artificial drainage is much of
the year under water. North of this road the surface begins
immediately to show the gradual rise and broken character which in
the farther limits of the county develops into almost impassable
cliffs, rising abruptly to the height of 300 feet in places. The
main stream of the county is the Elk Fork of Red River; this taking
its origin in Nance Creek and Sampson's Branch, just north of
Elkton, flows a southeasterly course to Allensville, flows thence in
a more southerly direction, and crossing the Tennessee line forms
the corner from which the lines of the county are projected. Three
and five miles above the point where the Russellville and
Hopkinsville road crosses the east line of Todd County, Double Lick
Fork and Breathitt's Branch cross into Logan County to form the
Whippoorwill, and drain that portion of the country between Elkton
and the dividing ridge northeast of the county rural picturesqueness
is not excelled by any other locality in the State. The visitor is
shown many places of natural interest, and others about which
tradition or the vivid imagination of a later day has framed "
legends strange to hear." The " Narrows " is a natural wagon
trail-the only one by which the rocky barrier may be passed in many
miles of its extent, which affords a good opportunity to gain some
idea of it as an obstacle to travel. Sweating stones, almost as
phenomenal as the sweating statue of old, are pointed out. These are
vast masses of rock standing high up from the ground, in isolated
positions, the surface of which is continually covered with a
moisture so profuse as to drip to the ground in trickling streams.
This seems to be the normal condition of these objects, and the "
oldest inhabitant," who is everywhere noted for his close
observation, is said never to have seen them in any other condition.
This was suggested by the " guide " as typical of the mental state
of one who should attempt to gain a livelihood by farming in this
portion of the county, but for the fair fame of Todd this
impertinent analogy should be scouted. The "Indian Ladder is a
luxuriant, wild grapevine which has thrown out its tendrils along
the face of the cliff, and grasping one tree or shrub after another
has drawn itself with cords of strength from one point to another
until it has reached a dizzy height. It is said that it leads to and
covers the entrance to a considerable cave which in the olden time
afforded shelter to the discomfited savage or a safe outlook to the
runner of the tribe. Neither the cave nor the Indian is to be seen
from the comfortable footing below it, and the " evidence of things
not seen," probably rests entirely upon the conscience and
imagination of the person who kindly shows up the region to the
visitor. Besides these, there are buzzard roosts and dens of fabled
monsters (now happily extinct) which, to use the language of the
auction bill, are " too numerous to mention." What's New!!! |
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