DAEKE COUNTY. 499 



of those ancient lakelets, abounding so numerously upon the water-shed 

 in several of the counties farther east, remains here, namely, that which 

 is known as "Black Swamp." It is situated in the north-eastern part of 

 the county, and is fast becoming, through artificial drainage and vast 

 accumulations of organic matter, what all will ultimately terminate in — 

 & great bog. 



Several peat bogs of considerable area exist in different portions of the 

 county, which will receive more special attention in speaking of the soiL 

 But of one, however, showing their peculiar character, it might be well 

 to give a brief history here. Many years ago, in the construction of the 

 Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railroad in the 

 northern part of the county, the route of the railroad necessitated 

 the running over of one of these peat bogs. To the apparently dry loam 

 or peat, with its dense growth of vegetation, was added sufficient gravel 

 and other material to complete the bed of the road, and in due time the 

 track laid aiwi u^d. But one morning, not long after, as the train came 

 along, a great break was espied; the track had evidently disappeared, 

 and upon investigation the truth was revealed. The track, instead of 

 crossing over a dry peat bog, was the rather crossing over a hidden lake. 

 Vast quantities of mosses and aquatic plants, together with branches, 

 trunks of trees, and other debris, had collected until they had formed, as 

 it were, a super-aquatic soil of several feet in thickness, and of such a re- 

 markable density and buoyancy as to support, for a time, the weight of & 

 train. Some idea may be obtained from this incident of the vast accumu- 

 lations of organic matter that have been and are now going -on to produce 

 these peat bogs. No wonder, too, that an occasional mastodon, or the re- 

 mains of other extinct animals are exhumed from the extensive organic 

 deposits, when we meet with such instances as the above. Having now 

 enumerated the principal topographical and surface features, we will 

 now notice the 



III. DEIFT DEPOSITS. 



Tiie Drift deposits, or Quaternary formation, of Darke county, stands 

 preeminent above all other geological features presented within its bor- 

 ders. While its structural geology offers but a single simple, rocky for- 

 mation, there is afforded in its great Drift deposits not only a variety of 

 very interesting phases, but a source of untold wealth and comfort to its 

 inhabitants. Through it are to be solved many deep and interesting in- 

 dustrial questions, as well as a successful pursuit, or the contrary, of 

 numerous other enterprises lying nearest to the hearts of the people. 



As previously mentioned, the whole county is underlaid with but one 

 geological formation, viz., the Niagara limestone, and of the Upper or 



