68 



thorough tests were made measuring the depth of water, marl, muck, clay 

 or other minerals that might appear. In making these tests a drill 

 capable of being extended to forty feet was employed. 



The general distribution of the marl and other minerals around the 

 shore of the lake and the territory adjoining is reported in the Volume of 

 Geol. Reports for 1900, fully and accurately. 



The island, as far as could be determined, is a unit of granular marl. 

 The 40-ft. drill failed to reach the bottom of the deposit at several places. 

 The marl is accounted for by the presence of several strong springs at the 

 west end of the island. One of them, about four inches in diameter, issu- 

 ing at a point where the water was six inches deep, would push its way 

 up intermittently so that one could see the disturbance at the surface 

 standing a hundred feet away. These springs, doubtless have their origin 

 in the clay and gravel hills near Dewart Lake three miles to the east 

 and bring their burden of calcium carbonate from that rich field. This 

 theory is borne out by the presence of a flowing well at the east end of 

 the lake at an elevation thirty feet above the level of Wabee. It flows 

 strongly through a two-inch pipe and reliable men of the town who tested 

 its force say that it rose twelve feet above the present point of escape 

 through a pipe of smaller diameter. It is known that Dewart Lake has 

 an elevation of fifty-two feet above that of Wabee Lake. 



The Mollusca found in the island deposit, below the upper portion 

 thereof, are only a small fraction of the whole. This is all that distin- 

 guishes this island from the many other "beautiful" spots dotting the lakes 

 of Northern Indiana, but it is a fine type of the island formed by springs. 

 The Syracuse & Milford Railway transports the marl to the factory, de- 

 livering daily from four hundred to five hundred cubic yards. The small 

 steel cars are loaded on the track by the dredging apparatus, an improved 

 clam shell excavator having a 75-foot boom. Felkner Island will be 

 loaded on the cars with the present dredging machine, pontoons being 

 employed to carry up the train from the island to the shore. 



Involved in this matter of removing the marl from the lake is the 

 question of its effect upon the flora and fauna of the lake. This is a 

 question which comes within the province of this association. If an 

 answer is desired a biological survey of the lake should be made at an 

 early date. 



