58 



1884. That of March, 1913, however, was noted especially in two respects, 

 \iz : the remarkable rapidity of its rise, and the very .ij;reat (luantity of 

 sediment carried. 



From ten days to two weeks are usually required for the Ohio River 

 to reach a flood stage such as that of March, 1918, but in that case such 

 was the rapidity of the rise, that flood stage was reached in four or five 

 days. Because of the unusually rapid rise there was a destruction of 

 movable property much greater than ordinarily occurs. 



Slide Coverina: Madison and Hanover Pike. 



Tile deposits left on the bottom lands of the Ohio h.v tlic Hoods of last 

 March were by far the Lrrcatcst known. In iii.-iiiy ]ila<('s tlic silt or iiuid 

 was laid down to Ibc depth of six. eight, and e\eii twelve inches. The ini- 

 niedijite elTect of this deixisit was tlu' coniidele (lest ruction of all wlu'at and 

 alfalfa growing in the liottoms liebiw high w.itcr uiaiK'. wliere covered with 

 flood watei's for several days. In many of the (»iiio liotlonis alfalfa is oik- 

 of the most valuable crops and its destruction w;is a serious loss to the 

 fanners. Where the soil co\ild be bi'oken and cultivated all tlu- bottom 



