BYBEE-MALOTT : THE FLOOD OF 1913 



189 



These, too, were very effective, and relatively inexpensive. Any 

 of these methods could be reinforced by planting trees along the 

 bank, and these after a few years would protect the bank very ef- 

 fectively. Sycamores and willows are undoubtedly the best trees to 

 plant, as they both have an extensive root system and grow very 

 rapidly. The writers are of the opinion that tree planting should 

 go hand in hand with the above measures. 



Landslides Due to Excessive Rainfall 



Professor Culbertson at the Indiana Academy of Science, 

 at Indianapolis, October 24 and 25, 1913, in his report on the flood 

 conditions of southeastern Indiana, shows that the continued 

 heavy rainfall caused the soil on the steeper slopes to creep and 

 slide to a considerable extent. Landslides in White River drainage 

 basin caused very little damage. Figure 42 shows a small land- 

 slide that occurred about four miles north of Martinsville. Here 

 a considerable pile of earth slid down and obstructed the public 

 road and the interurbvan track. As can be seen in the plate, small 

 trees were growing in this portion of earth that slid into the public 

 road. Whether growing trees have a tendency to cause or aid in 

 the development of landslides by permitting the w^ater to pene- 

 trate into the ground more easily, the writers are not able to say. 

 It seems that trees with extensive roots would help to hold the soil 

 from slipping. 



Figure 43 shows where the soil has slid on a steep Knobstone 

 hill, in the same locality. This particular part of the hill was free 

 from trees. Other parts of the hillside that were steeper but upon 

 which trees were growing were free from landslides. On the whole, 

 it seems that it would be better to permit forests to grow on the 

 steeper hillsides, especially those that are too steep to farm; for a 

 removal of the trees will surely help along erosion. In neither of 

 the above cases were there more than very small trees and shrubs 

 to protect the soil. 



Shortening of the Course of Bean Blossom Creek 



Bean Blossom Creek flows into the West Fork of White River 

 below the Monon Railroad bridge at Gosport. It is of minor 

 importance, but it is interesting to note that the course of this 

 creek will be shortened by at least 500 feet in the near future. By 

 looking at Chart No. 3, the relation of the creek to White River 



