68 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Salt Creek derives its name from the number of saline springs 

 and bogs that unite with it in Lancaster County. It is formed near 

 Lincoln by the junction of Oak Creek, Middle Creek, South Creek 

 and other small streams. From this place it flows in a northeast- 

 erly direction until it unites with the Platte below Ashland. It is 

 a rather deep stream with a muddy bottom. Its valley is composed 

 of remarkably fine bottom lands. The slope from the bottom up 

 to the, top of the bluff on the southeast side is exceptionally gentle. 

 In many places it is impossible to tell where the bottom leaves off 

 and the upland begins. The characteristics of the salt springs are 

 discussed under the head of the Historical, Superficial and Econom- 

 ical Geology of the State. 



There are many other rivers of Nebraska to which our limits 

 will not permit us even to allude. Important, however, among 

 these are the Weeping Water in Cass County, the Wahoo in 

 Saunders County, Elk Creek in Dakota County, and South and 

 West Iowa Creeks in Dixon County. All possess more or less 

 of the general character of Nebraska rivers. Traveling over the 

 State in almost any direction, and the study of a good map, 

 demonstrates that this State is eminently the land of many and 

 broad rivers. Many of the smaller streams, however, in eastern 

 Nebraska arc losing their character of broad and shallow streams. 

 They are becoming deep streams. They have, since the settlement 

 of the country, been cutting deep between their banks. Many 

 streams which sixteen ye*ars ago could be stepped across are now 

 wider, and very much deeper than then, and running between such 

 high banks that they can only be readily crossed by bridges. Shut 

 out from the influence of the sun their evaporation is much less, 

 and their size increases from this cause as well as from the increase 

 of rainfall. 



j'ne water supply, therefore, of Nebraska^ is most bountiful. 

 ers or creeks — often both — are found in every county. The 

 nber of rivulets is enormous. Where springs fail to appeal- 

 water can be obtained by wells. 



The Water Power 



of Nebraska is simply enormous. As the rise of the State towards the 

 west approximates to seven and a half feet to the mile, the fall of most 

 of the streams averages at least one-half of that. Were the streams 

 straight, they would average the same fall as the rise of the country, 



