1884.] Topographical Phenomena in Indiana. 369 
reverse of what is so plainly seen in the glacial drift region a few 
miles to the north. 
Another fact of much importance, and quite as striking as the 
slope of the hills, is that in the large creek and the river bottoms 
the trees lean down stream, regardless of direction; that is to 
say, they lean in the direction of the flow of the water which de- 
posited the ground on which they stand. In every case I have 
examined (I think several hundred), wherever the trees lean up 
the general course of the stream, there is found the trace of an 
ancient bend of the channel, turning back up itself for a short 
distance and abandoned on account of a subsequent cut-off. This 
tendency of the trees to lean down stream (where the flood de- 
posit is six feet or more) is the same in the drift region and south 
of it where I have observed, and I presume it is in obedience to 
a law that is general over the world. At the upper end of the 
bottoms, where the deposit is old, the leaning tendency decreases, 
and is greatest at the lower end in the most recent deposits. 
In this age it is not easy or comfortable to merely accept these 
facts and ask no questions. This problem-solving age wi ask, 
What law is at work that makes all the north-facing hills from, 
Indianapolis west to the State line steep, and the south-facing 
gentle, while in Brown and the east part of Monroe counties, the 
steep hills face southward and the more gentle northward? The 
same clouds have rained on both localities; the same cold winds 
have frozen, and the same sun and warm winds have thawed both 
localities. The weather effects on topography would not change 
in the short space of ten miles; but we find a change as soon as 
we pass south of the southern terminus of the drift. 
l offer an explanation of these phenomena for consideration 
ey criticism, but wish to say here, that being aware of my lim- 
ited knowledge on such subjects, I have submitted my facts and 
: Med to as Many eminent geologists as I could reach, and sought 
x. Pinions. All have signified that this feature of the subject 
J eyi Several have strongly denied my deductions; others 
eA ag the facts, while still others have given an agnostic 
. 
eir heads—“ We don’t know.” None have offered a 
Be explanation, and my diligent search has found nothing to 
Tak, nct my theory. As I have no scientific reputation to lose, 
- Fin — the little elephant that tries the depth and swift- 
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