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INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDIES 



from Worthington prevented the pent-up waters from escaping 

 over the ^second bottom' west of Worthmgton, but finally the slight 

 grade gave way and the excess water of Eel River found an outlet 

 to the west of Worthington, down Morgan ditch or Dead ditch, 

 which does not get its ordinary flow of water into White River until 

 near the vicinity of Bloomfield. This release of the water of Eel 

 River caused the water which had been ponded above the Vandalia 

 Railroad grade to fall, l^ut it was this water that flooded the west- 

 ern part of Worthington, thereby doing much damage. 



It is evident from the above that the E. & L R. R. grade for 

 a time protected Worthington from an overflow, and if this grade 

 had been higher and firmer, Worthington would have been safe from 

 the overflow. It is evident also that the Vandalia grade was an 

 obstruction to the free passage of the waters of Eel River, and 

 was a direct agent in the flooding of that city. Without doubt 

 the opening in the Vandalia grade at the bridge should be made 

 longer. This argument is much truer since Mr. Z. I. East has 

 prolonged Eel River nearly bne-half mile by directing the channel 

 of White River across a loop, thus shortening its course and causing 

 the old channel of White River to become the Eel River channel 

 for one-half mile. 



In the matter of embankments, the situation at Bloomfield is 

 striking. A public road and two railroads cross the valley here 

 at right angles and all within a short distance of each other. The 

 puljlic road with a grade some twelve feet in height comes first 

 on the north side. The Illinois Central Railroad crosses mostly 

 on trestle work a short distance below. The Monon Branch Rail- 

 road is just a short distance below the Illinois Central grade. The 

 Monon grade is made almost entirely of stone and is ten or twelve 

 feet in height. There are very few openings in the Monon grade 

 with which to accommodate the flood waters. Some distance 

 above the public road the river swings from a middle position in 

 the valley to the western side, and after passing the three con- 

 structions mentioned, it makes a great long loop to the south and 

 finally swings back almost to the Monon Railroad. Then the 

 river turns again, flowing along the Monon grade a short distance 

 until it is deflected southward by the bluff. The meander here 

 makes a letter 'S' with the top of the letter to the west. (See 

 Chart No. 5.) 



It might be mentioned again here that the Illinois Central 

 grade has no effect upon impeding the flood waters, since it is 

 composed mostly of trestle work. A short stretch of the trestle 



