Thomas Smith letter to Thomas Rotch, Little Bever, 12th mo 30th 1811

               
  B-181-2
                   Little Bever   30th 12th mo 1811
  Respected Frd   I have Understood that thee is about to
  Promote Awooling factrey in the Western Country &
  Wishes to be informed of Convent-Lasting Water
  Streems & as I know of none of Mill Stream Sise
  Equeal to Lettle Bever & as I am Aquanted with all between
  Pitysburg & Marietia on Muskemgon River I have
  Som years past in Dry Seasons once in Peculer in Compney
  with one of the Judges of the Country of Bever & that at
  time thier was not one Mill Stream that Rus into the
  Ohio River but the water Lay Stagnated in pudels near
  the River when Little Bever about 20 or 30 Rads from the
  River Ran over Arock that runs Across the bed of Sd Creek
  in three loe places about 4 feet in three places Nearley
  to my Neas & ran so Strong that it wit me Considrable
  hier but som flater themselves this way that as the Country
  Settls the water increases - I believe it will about Spring
  heads in A comon way but I know by Experience it dos not
  Very far Down the Streamers - At the time above aluded
  to for Dryness in this new country it was dry in the old settled
  Country about Werchester in Virginia the water pasted this
  equel to this not onley their but als where but 3 or 4
       years back it ben dreblen Seasons- but if