DARKE COUNTY. AQ] 
many windings, flows directly eastward to its junction with Stillwater 
in Miami county. It receives its principal, in fact, all of its tributaries, 
from the south, being hugged close on the north by a somewhat promi- 
nent highland, which throws all the streams occurring on its surface into 
the valley of the Stillwater. This, with Painter’s Creek, which drains 
the region immediately south of the former, constitute one system. There 
are evidently four; though rather insignificant, they are very distinct 
and noticeable. 
Stillwater Creek has its origin in the northern part of the county, in 
the summit ridge, and occupies the shallow valley between the divide 
and the highland, separating it from Greenville Creek. Like the latter, 
it takes an easterly direction, following the natural bent of the surface. 
Its principal nourishing streams arise in the same clayey drift deposits 
of the divide. This, which may be regarded as the second system in im- 
portance, and the Greenville system just described, it may not be out of 
place to notice, drain a region of extreme fertility. Though a score or 
more years ago the great “Spread of the Stillwater” was anything but 
an inviting agricultural district, by a little artificial drainage and enlarg- 
ing of the natural capacities of the streams, it now includes some of the 
richest and most productive farms in the county. 
Upon the northern slope of the divide rise the Mississinawa and 
Wabash. These, which a little farther east would be thrown into Lake 
Erie, are reflected, as described by Professor Winchell, by Wabash Ridge, 
and directed westward into Indiana. However, but little territory is 
drained by these streams in this county, being but the beginning of a 
narrow gentle vailey, which expands into a broad fertile tract in North- 
eastern and Central Indiana. The Wabash, which at first flows south- 
east, as if attempting to cross the summit ridge, probably marks*the 
course of one of the ancient breaks or gaps that discharged its waters 
and floating icebergs into the valley of the Stillwater. In the extreme 
south, and indicating a different declivity from the rest, originate Miller’s 
Creek, Twin Creek, Whitewater, and several other streams of lesser im- 
portance. 
All of the streams ‘ioe in comparatively shallow and modern basins, 
the banks of Greenville Creek nowhere exceeding twenty or thirty feet 
in height. However, there are several exceptions in this respect, together 
with several important topographical features, which will be spoken of 
under the head of the Drift. 
The general surface of the county is for the most yart flat, being almost 
a uniform slope south east and north west from the:umimit line. Conse- 
quently, no marked topographical features meet the eye, and only escapes 
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