104 



Sugar Creek. This stream was once much used us a means of transporta- 

 tion. In 1824 William Nicholson came from Maysville, Kentucky, to Craw- 

 fordsville in a keelboat of ten tons burden, which landed at the mouth of 

 Whitlock's Spring Branch. Trips were also made between Crawfordsville 

 and Terre Haute in flatboats. Only the liglitest of canoes can now do so. 

 Records also show that Sugar Creek has furnished the motive power for 

 at least nineteen mills situated along its course in ^lontgomery County. 

 Xot over three of these mills are imw in operation, and these have to de- 

 pend upon steam during most of the sunuuer months. It may be that 

 oilier factors, such as com]ietition. have helped to cause their abandonment. 



No accurate information regarding the mixiniuin and minimum flow 

 of tlie stream in different seasons in iiast years can be obtained, but it is 

 tb.e prevailing opinion that floods are now higher and more frcniuent and 

 that the waters are lower diu'ing the sunuuer monlhs than formerly. The 

 smaller .streams of the county have also been affected. One stream near 

 New Market has been reported as being dry for half the year, whereas, 

 formerly it was never dry. A stream near Waveland under my own ob- 

 servation used to furnish fishing and swinuning i)ooIs fcir the boys during 

 the summer, but such sports are now rarely ])ossible in this stream. Nu- 

 merous other examples of the same nature can be cited. 



This evidence proves that the water escai>es from the gi'ound In times 

 of rain faster than formerly. From this it is evident that less water is 

 held in the soil, thus causing a corresponding decrease in the water level 

 of the county. 



t<l>rintjs. — The early settlers built their cabins where fresh water 

 was easily obtainable. Springs were found on almost any hillside and 

 wells were not thought of. Many springs in all parls of the county have 

 eiliier dried up or their water flow has been reduced. Several large 

 springs just southwest of Crawfordsville have disappeared. Many springs 

 have been reported as having failed or decreased in water flow in the 

 neighborhoods of Ladoga. New Market, Waynetown, Darlington and else- 

 wbere. all of which show a falling of the water level. 



\\'(lis. — The letters sent out dealt with tbe water level of old dug 

 wells and the forest and drainage conditions in their vicinity. The data 

 received V\as not siuh that it furnished a very reliable basis for positive 

 conclusions aiul was only useful in connei-lion with (ttlier information 

 secured in a variety of ways. In some cases it must be remembered that 



