359 



all the streams of the border town?^h?ps head in these trae*?, anct it is 

 easy to concei\e how the portions now converted into mai-sh nj'ght 

 have been flo ided by the obstruction of those natural channels. 



If this view be correct, the practicability of drainage becomes at 

 once established; and such conclusion is verified by actual results. 

 The following comprise the principal marshes of the county: 

 About fourteen sections, two thirds of which are in the town of 

 Hamtramck, and the remaining third in Oakland county, are of the 

 character above described ; but not more than one-half this extent is 

 actual prairie. This yields an abundant growth of wild bay. The 

 marsh is now in the progress of successful drainage. A thickness of 

 fibrous peat is disclosed, averaging four feet, succeeded by a subsoil of 

 gray sand, nearly free from aluminous and vegetable matter. 



Prairie of s'milar character occurs in towns of Greenfield, Redford 

 and Royal Oak. It covers 8 sections, one-half of which is in Oakland 

 county. Comparatively a small portion consists of dry openings, and 

 one-half bears a dense growth of small tamarac. Its soil varies in depth 

 from 3 to 6 feet, and is in many places so charged with water as to be 

 tremulous. It produces large quantities of cranberries. 



Prairies of a difierent character occur in the lower part of the coun- 

 ty, over a surface of 46 sections, of which 18 are included in town of 

 Ecorce, 11 in Brownstown, 7 in Romulus, and 10 in Huron. 



Brarches of the Ecorce and Brownstown creeks meander this tract. 

 These, flowing with little descent through lines of level prairie, are ram- 

 ified in every direction, and form a net wor^ or connected chain of 

 mnrshes over the whole surface. The dry portions consist of eandy 

 plains, frequently but little elevated above the surrounding marshes, and 

 producing a scattered growth of yellow and white oaks. They some- 

 times assume the form of ridg-s, Avhich continue unbroken for many 

 rods, and without any uniform direction. The marshy portions, which 

 generally predominate, have a soil of black muck, intermixed with sand 

 washed from the adjoining plains, averaging 2 to 3 feet in depth. This 

 is covered by a few inches of light fibrous peat. Subsoil is sand. In 

 a few instances clay was found approaching the surface, and it undoubt- 

 edly undeilies at no great depth. 



Wild hay is cut on these marshes in considerable quantities. 

 According to reports of the Indians, beavere disappeared from 



