FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 15 



selves traversing its highest portion. In Cedar Creek Township, near 

 where the river enters the county we come to the highest level. From 

 this place the plain spreads out in broad fan shape becoming 15 miles 

 or more in width along the coast. As pointed out before, this area 

 slopes gradually downward, as it broadens toward the westward and 

 southward. On the north there is evidently a short slope which is in- 

 tercepted as it approaclies White River, probably because White River 

 has a similar area of its own region. All these features suggest but 

 one thing, i. e., a river delta, and it is easy to see how it might have 

 been formed. 



It is supposable and probable that at some time since the recession 

 of the ice, the water of Lake Michigan extended to the hills of Casnovia 

 and Moorland. Then Muskegon River with a flow probably much larger 

 than at present, met the water of the lake near the county line and in 

 time made this great deposit of sand and silt in what was then the 

 bed of the lake. Afterwards, as the water of the lake receded towards 

 its present limit, the river cut its way through the deposit it had made, 

 forming the present deep broad valley and the channel in which it now 

 flows. The result of what could have been predicted. The river cut its 

 channel near the middle line of the fan so tliat it now flows through 

 the area of coarsest materials and instead of ''watering the fertile 

 plain" as the function of a river is sometimes quoted poetically, it robs 

 the adjacent sand plain of its water, since its bed, lying 50 to 100 feet 

 below the surface of the porous sand makes the drainage of the soil and 

 subsoil excessive. Consequently only plants capable of great privation 

 of water are found native here and few settlers have attempted to bring 

 the land under cultivation. 



It is a well known fact that, for several miles away from the river 

 on either side of this sand region, beech, maple, red oak and other trees 

 of similar habit do not grow (except in a few isolated areas, possibly), 

 while farther out toward the borders of the fan are belts of abundant 

 and thrifty growth of these tind)ers. 



A result of the geological history of this area as just outlined has 

 been many misfits in attempts to establish the growing of fruits and 

 other crops in the county. While the hilly country of the east and 

 north is mostly of heavy soils that sustain plant growth well, making 

 strong and healthy orchard trees and returning good crops of vegetables, 

 grains, and small fruits, the sands have disa]»pointed many who have 

 failed to gain a comfortable living by cultivation of them. Those who 

 tried the dry sands failed to read the signs of the native flora, and after 

 a disheartening attempt to make the soil bring forth adequate returns 

 for their labor they abandoned the struggle, leaving their deserted 

 sliacks and their fields going back to possession by hardy weeds and 

 bushes, — a warning to others not to attempt the impossible. 



Many sandy areas in Muskegon county have proved to be excellent 

 garden spots but that is because one sand field may be radically differ- 

 ent from another. The problem is to difi'erentiate these and to find for 

 each that use to which it is best suited. 



One sand area may have a very dry soil, the water table being 20 or 

 more feet below surface. Not onlv is the water content of such soil 



