BYBEE-MALOTT : THE FLOOD OF 1913 



183 



places were fouiid in which the river, ha\-ing made a cut-off several 

 years before, had reverted back to its old meander again. One 

 of these latter places is just west of Elnora, and the other is about 

 four miles above Edwardsport. 



A fairly accurate estimate of the aggregate number of acres 

 lost by bank cutting between these two counties during the year 

 is seventy-five acres. Hundreds of acres are lying in idle sandy 

 and swamp>' tracts within the inside bends of the numerous meanders. 

 Xo fair estimate of less than twelve hundred acres could be made, 

 entirely due to Ixuik cutting, which has accumulated from past- 

 years. This land cannot be reclaimed short of straightening the 

 channel, nor can the continued bank-cutting be stopped or miti- 

 gated Avith anything less. As yet this paper cannot do more than 

 call attention to this phase of loss to society in general; but as has 

 been intimated before, a loss of something like $300,000 in ten years 

 between these two counties must be considered in the near future. 



Of that part of the East Fork traversed, the only bank-cut- 

 ing amounting to any considerable damage was found in Jackson 

 County. (See Chart Xo. 7.) Even here it was not severe. From 

 BroAvnstoAvn to Sparksville, the only part of the East Fork in the 

 extensive valley coming AA'ithin the notice of the writers, there were 

 not over tAvelve acres lost by bank-cutting. The channel from 

 above BroAA-nstown to near ]\Iedora is relatiA^ly straight except 

 for tAvo rather large meanders. Consultation of the chart will 

 shoAv that these could be remedied with comparative ease. The 

 one betAveen BroAA^nstoAAm and Vallonia almost effected a cut-off 

 during the fiood, yet there would necessarily be considerable dredging 

 before the channel could be straightened at this point. The other 

 meander, opposite Vallonia, Avould reciuire considerable more dredg- 

 ing for its elimination. 



BeloAv IMeclora several meanders are well started, AA'hich will 

 continue to grow larger ; considerable damage by bank-cutting may 

 be expected from these in the future. Between the junction of the 

 ^luscatatuck AAith AVhite River and Sparksville, a series of remark- 

 able meanders occurs. Considerable bank-cutting Avas clone here, 

 AA'ith the exception of the backAvard turning loop from Section 17 to 

 16. knoAA'n as the 'DeAil's EiboAv.' At this place the riA'er runs 

 into the bluff, and, of course, can do no bank-cutting. There 

 are places across this series of meanders AAdiere the river might 

 be crossed three times AA^ithin a distance of a little over a quarter 

 of a mile. 



Charts Xos. 8 and 9 show the river in the restricted valley 



