GEOLOGY OF SOUTHWESTERN IOWA. 305 



now tillable and secure from any flood in consequence of the 

 interposition of, and the protection afforded by these 

 embankments, although they were constructed for an entirely 

 different purpose. 



From the frequent use of the term " flood-plain " and from 

 these suggestions of improvement, it must not be inferred that 

 the great flood-plain of the Missouri river in Iowa is at present 

 an unoccupied and unimportant region. On the contrary, a 

 very large part of its surface is as beautiful and productive 

 farming land as human eyes ever rested upon, and such parts 

 being naturally secure from any floods are preferred by many 

 farmers to the best of the uplands. The proportion of the 

 surface of the flood-plain that is thus secure without artificial 

 protection is quite large, and the region is even now one of fine 

 farms, pleasant villages, well built school-houses and churches; 

 and finally, of two well built and well stocked railroads, 

 which together form a continuous line through its entire 

 length of one hundred and thirty miles, besides two others 

 which cross it from east to west. 



3. MADISON COUNTY. 



Boundaries and Area. This county is the most northerly 

 one of those which comprise the region designated as south- 

 western Iowa. It is bounded on the north, east, and west 

 respectively by Dallas, Warren and Adair counties, and on 

 the south by Clarke and Decatur counties. It contains sixteen 

 congressional townships,* four eastward and westward and 

 four northward and southward. If its linear survey had 

 been accurately made it would consequently contain five 

 hundred and seventy-six square miles, or three hundred and 

 sixty-eight thousand six hundred and forty acres ; but in 

 consequence of the inaccuracy before referred to, especially 

 in its northeastern township, it really contains a little more. 



Drainage and Surface Characters. The greater part of 

 this county is drained by three streams that have been 



*See descriptions of linear surveys in Appendix. 



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