302 



^Iijiitgoiiiery County is located in the middle western part of the 

 State and contains 504 square miles, or 322,560 acres. Tlie surface is 

 somewhat diversified. The western and central part near the principal 

 streams is hilly and broken ; in the north central it is gently undulating, 

 and at the east and southeast fiat and level. The northern part of the 

 county is, in general, a prairie region, level or gently rolling. The dip 

 of the underlying rocks gives direction to the drainage, whii'h is gener- 

 ally a little west of southwest. The main stream is K(ji'k Kiver or 

 Sugar Creek, which enters south of the UDrtheast corner and traversing 

 the central area, i>asses out six miles north of the west corner of the 

 county. Its triltutaries from the north are Ulack and Lye creeks; from 

 the south, OtHeld, Walnut and Indian creeks. The southern and south- 

 eastern parts are drained by P.ig and IJttle Raccoon creeks and at the 

 southwest hy Coal Creek, which flows directly into Rock Kiver. (Jlaciers 

 liave left the bed rock of the county covered with a drift which reaches 

 in some places to a depth of 200 feet. In only a few places, mainly along 

 streams, does the bed rock ont( rop. Tlie average depth of tlie drift, 

 however, is very nuicb less than the figure given above. 



( 'OLLECTION OF DATA. 



In order to discuss this question intelligently, it is evident that one 

 must be fanuliar with not only the past and jiresent history of the 

 water level of the county, but also the past and present forest, swanq) 

 and drainage conditions. To obtain data, trips were made personally to 

 the principal towns in the county. Old residents were interviewed as 

 to the past condition, and well-drillers and digger.s were asked concern- 

 ing their observations as to tin' water level. Stress was laid particularly 

 on the history of old dug wells, because in these any fluctuations of 

 the water level of the region would be evident. Owners of old wells 

 were asked concerning the water level. From men well acquainted in the 

 difl'erent conmunuties visited, were obtained names of farmers w'ho 

 had or who would be most liable to have old dug wells on their farms. 

 Letters of explanation and lists of questions were then sent to these 

 men. These questions covered ])oints concerning \\at<'r level as exhibited 

 by wells, and forest an<l drainage conditions, imth ]iast and jtresent. They 

 were asked to return answers on blanks furnished. One hundred and 

 thirty-six letters were sent out and forty-two answers were received, 

 eight of which contributed Hojiiing to the solution of the problem. 



