THE CHAMPAIGN MORALISTIC SYSTEM. 227 



SURFACE CONTOURS. 



On the whole the ridges of this system are of a type which may best 

 be designated the smooth-ridge type, the surface undulations being very 

 gentle, while the crest is usually well defined. A detailed examination, 

 however, brings to light considerable variation in the features. 



The portion west of the Sangamon River, known as Blue Ridge, has a 

 well-defined crest, along which undulations of 10 to 20 feet occur. On its 

 slopes also there are gentle swells 5 to 15 feet in height. In the vicinity of 

 the Sangamon River a few knolls of greater prominence appear, though the 

 highest scarcely rise more than 40 feet above bordering low ground. 

 Between the Sangamon River and Champaign the moraine presents a well- 

 defined crest and undulatory slopes. The undulations commonly fall 

 below 20 feet, both along the crest and on the slopes. The outer face is 

 more abrupt than the inner, there being places where a rise of 50 feet is 

 made within a mile from the border of the plain outside the moraine. 



The Outer Ridge from the city of Champaign around to northeastern 

 Douglas County has a very smooth surface, in which undulations seldom 

 exceed 10 feet. The relief of 20 to 40 feet, however, makes the ridge a 

 noticeable feature. In passing eastward through northern Doug'las County 

 the ridge becomes much larger, but maintains a nearly smooth surface. A 

 short distance west of its junction with the Middle Ridge it presents a 

 double crest, but each ridge is very smooth. 



The belt leading southeast from the city of Champaign presents swells 

 15 feet or more in height, but the crest is ill defined between the city of 

 Champaign and sec. 33, Urbana Township. From this section southeast- 

 ward, through Philo Township, and thence eastward to sec. 4, Raymond 

 Township, the crest is well developed. It has oscillations of from 10 to 25 

 feet, and the slopes are characterized by knolls of similar elevation. In the 

 vicinity of Lynn Grove geodetic station knolls and sharp winding ridges 

 30 or 40 feet in height occur, and the moraine maintains this strength of 

 expression for about 3 miles east from the geodetic station. It there loses 

 strength, and in northeastern Raymond and South townships, Champaign 

 County, and in Sidell Township, Vermilion County, it consists of a smooth 

 ridge scarcely 20 feet higher than the plain south of it. North of this 



