158 



GEOLOGY OF LA SALLE COUNTY. 



the Illinois is, counting- that already in use at Mar- 

 seilles, much more than twice the above, as will be at 

 once seen from the following- fig-ures. The elevation 

 of the Kankakee river is 58.5 feet, of Utica 10.5 feet, 

 a difference of 48 feet, w-hich is the total fall of 

 the Illinois from its formation to Utica, and of this fall 

 39.5 feet is between the foot of the Marseilles dam 

 and Utica. 



The Pox river furnishes a constant power of about 

 600 horses at Ottawa, and as this represents about half 

 its powder, the total is about 1 ,200 horse power, but the 

 water of this stream is used ag-ain for a mill near Sheri- 

 dan, and furnishes a fine power at Milford —Milling-ton, 

 once improved, but now in ruins — altog-ether not far 

 from 2,500 horse power. 



The Big- Vermillion is too unreliable to demand 

 any consideration, althoug'h formerly dammed at Low- 

 ell and at Ladd's Ford, about two miles southwest of 

 Deer Park, and the Pequamsaug-g-in, Little Vermillion, 

 Tommyhawk, a branch of the last, and Indian creeks 

 have all dwindled to insig-nificance. So capable is 

 man in his unreasoning' anxiety to g^et rich and to 

 improve every inch of land around him, that he stops 

 not to inquire what the result of his improvements 

 will be, but rashly ventures to destrov the delicate 

 balance of conditions which the Creator has instituted 

 to secure the g-reatest possible g-ood with the least 

 waste. We have been assured by a g'entleman, who 

 knew whereof he spake, that when he was a boy 

 he frequently went swimming- in Mission creek, in a 

 place where, at the same time of year, it is now dry 

 every season. It must also be remembered that at one 

 time river steamers came to Ottawa a part of the year 

 with, reasonable reg-ularity. These facts sug-g-est the 

 question, Has the rainfall diminished? To this the 



