INNER BORDER OF THE MIAMI LOBE. 



329 



begun the excavation of a valley, and the size of the plain is much more 

 out of proportion to that of the present streams than the plains along- Four- 

 mile, Sevenmile, and Indian creeks. 



In northeastern Franklin, in Union, and southeastern Wayne counties, 

 Indiana, and in a narrow belt in southwestern Preble and northwestern 

 Butler counties, Ohio, the uplands are strikingly in contrast with those just 

 described. Instead of being hilly the surface is level and poorly drained, 

 and the valleys do not have the depth and size of those draining the adjoin- 

 ing tracts in southwestern Ohio. The valleys are nearly all of postglacial 

 age, the preglacial drainage being obscured except in the main lines, such 

 as the Whitewater River and lower portions of the tributaries of that stream 

 in northeastern Franklin County, Ind. 



There is but little surface undulation in this level tract, the till swells, 

 as a I'ule, being scarcely 5 feet in height. There is, however, a ridge-like 

 accumulation in Union County that merits notice, though its significance 

 was not determined. The writer's attention was directed to it because of its 

 prominence on the profile of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Indianapolis 

 Railway, which had been examined by him before he visited that district. 

 The profile led to the suspicion that the ridge is a moraine, but upon 

 reaching the ground it proved so inconspicuous a feature that the suspicion 

 was scarcely confirmed. It has as smooth a surface as the bordering'plains, 

 and might be crossed by the traveler without appreciation of its real height. 

 The profile gives the following data: 



Profile over ridge in easte^^n Union County, Ind. 



The slope on the east continues to College Corners and on the west to 

 the creek west of Lotus, but is less rapid than on the I'idge. The trend of 

 the ridge is nearl)" north-south, but it dies away in either direction within 

 a mile or two from the railway. It has been penetrated about 30 feet by 

 wells. and no rock strata have been struck. 



