BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 7 
ing into the old lake bed. The third ditch extended from 
the vicinity of New Road No. | chiefly along the west- 
ern portion of prairie, then along southern border, and 
emptied into Spring Run as at present. A number of 
lateral ditches draining into these were dug. As a re- 
sult of this drainage, portions of the prairie became fit 
for cultivation, other portions formed excellent pasture 
lands. 
Fic. 1.—BOWLDER SHOWING SETTLING OF SOIL 
Although the drainage ditches were occasionally 
cleaned out and deepened, in the course of years, the 
area began to revert to the marsh type. The flow of 
the water became more and more sluggish. It was 
found necessary to abandon some of the cultivated por- 
tion as it could no longer be properly drained. An un- 
looked for result had occurred. The general level of 
the drained portion of the prairie was lowered to such 
