AUGLAIZE COUNTY. 405 



western part of the county that, by the action of the Wabash Ridge, 

 they unite to form the St. Mary's River. Such streams are less influ- 

 enced by seasons of drouth, and are more reliable for water-power. They 

 are, however, so small in Auglaize county that, with the exception of the 

 St. Mary's and some parts of the Auglaize, they cannot be extensively 

 utilized in that way. The Miami Canal furnishes good water-power at 

 its various locks, which is generally improved for flouring or manufac- 

 turing purposes. The aggregate descent in the grade of the Dayton and 

 Michigan Railroad from Botkin's Station, near the southern boundary of 

 the county, to Criderville, near the northern, is one hundred and twenty- 

 seven feet. 



SURFACE FEATURES AND SOIL. 



Auglaize county, although showing many of the features of the Black 

 Swamp, both in surface contour and soil, has many exceptional features 

 that indicate its border situation. The townships of Salem, Noble, 

 Moulton, and Logan may, perhaps, be strictly included within the scope 

 of that term ; but the most of the county is more undulating, and the 

 Drift is more gravelly, and more frequently shows an assortment of its 

 materials than the level tract usually embraced in that designation. 

 The features of the Black Swamp fade out gradually toward the south, 

 and the characters which prevail in the various moraine-like ridges 

 which cross it are spread more generally over the whole country. These 

 changes become very perceptible in crossing the ridges at right angles 

 from the center outward. Auglaize county is affected by three of these 

 ridges. The outer and older is characterized by a succession of gravelly 

 knolls and short ridges, having often a very rolling surface. It has a 

 width which varies from one-half mile to three miles. It crosses German 

 township, the north-west corner of Shelby county, Pusheta, Clay, and 

 Union townships. New Bremen, Botkins, and St. John's are situated on 

 it. Owing to its remarkable development at the last-named place, it has 

 been named the St. John's Ridge. Another gravelly ridge, called the Wabash 

 Ridge, intersects the county in a similar way, passing through St. Mary's, 

 Moulton, and Duchouquet townships. It is intersected by the Auglaize 

 at Wapakoneta. The third passes through the northern part of Salem 

 township. This is simply a broad, gentle undulation, or thickening of 

 the Drift, and seems to consist of clay. If it contains gravel, it lies at 

 considerable depth, as seen at Lima, where the Ottawa River makes 

 through it. It has been fully described in a preceding chapter, under 

 the name of the St. Mary's Ridge. Between these ridges the country is 

 sometimes quite fiat, but more frequently undulating in Auglaize county. 



