404 



notice the elevation of the flat itself. Where it leaves Flatwoods proper, 

 it is somewhat below the 740-contour. The slope is gradually downward 

 from this place to the south. In the vicinity of Freeman the elevation 

 of the flat is 700 feet. This makes a gentle slope down the valley southwest 

 of a little less than ten feet to the mile. The Raccoon Creek addition ex 

 tends up the creek almost as far east as the eastern margin of Flatwoods 

 proper. The old flat is recognizable for three and one-half miles up 

 Little Raccoon Creek, which enters Raccoon Creek from the southeast near 

 Freeman. The extent and shape of the addition can be seen by consulting 

 the map. It contains in all about eight square miles. Thus this addition 

 and the adjunct south of Stogsdill pond make an area approximating that 

 of Flatwoods proper. 



While dealing with the Raccoon Greek addition of the Flatwoods 

 basin, it must be emphasized that it occurs only in remnants. There are, 

 however, quite large areas, sometimes a quarter-section or more, that have 

 suffered little erosion. In such cases, or in cases where much smaller 

 areas are preserved, there occurs the same flat, ash-colored, crawfish soil 

 that is so characteristic of Flatwoods proper. Second to these flats, the 

 most striking physiographic feature is the terraces resulting from the 

 streams cutting down into the flat. The terraces begin almost immedi- 

 ately after entering the gap from Flatwoods proper. Here they begin at 

 zero, but soon become quite a distinct feature. They grow higher very 

 rapidly, so to speak, as the stream cuts down into the flat to the south. 

 At Freeman, four and one-half miles below the gap, the stream has cut 

 down one hundred feet below the old flat, and the terraces are accord- 

 ingly one hundred feet above the stream. But in this vicinity there are 

 many places where the terraces are indistinct, as they are so eroded that 

 they no longer appear as terraces. This condition occurs in the immediate 

 vicinity of Freeman. Beyond a slight bed-rock hill to the east of Free- 

 man, however, the flat is distinctly discernible, and the terraces show 

 beautifully above the small tributary streams that are etching their way 

 into it. 



UNDERGROUND INFERENCES AS REVEALED BY WELLS AND BORDERING REGIONS. 



Having dealt somewhat with the extent and topography of the Flat- 

 woods region, we shall now turn to a slightly different phase. Perhaps 

 the most interesting particulars of the region are tbe underground infer- 

 ences as they are revealed by the wells of the region and by the places 

 along the western margin, which have suffered erosion by the rapidly 



