Daviess County, Indiana - Chapter 2: Rilvsical Axd Geological Fkatukks, 1915

Chapter 2: Rilvsical Axd Geological Fkatukks

Daviess county lies about half way in a line fmni the center of the state to the southwestern corner. It is south of Greene countv, west of -Alartin, north of Duhnis and I'ike and east (.)f Knox.

1he e.auity has an extreme length fr(jin north to south of twenty-eight miles and a width of twenty miles. It includes practically all of township 5 ncjrth. ran-es 5 and 0 west; township 4 n<.rth, ranye ("> west; township 5 north; ranges 6 and 7 west; township j north, ran-es h .and 7 west; .all hut the eastern row of sections (jf townshi])s _>, 3 and 4 north, ran-e ^ west, most of town.ship 4 north, ran-e west, and parts of townships 1" north,' ranges 5, 6 and 7 west; lown.-.lups 3 and 4 north, range S west, and township 5 north, range 7 west. It has an area of 432 square miles.

Toi'Ogk.Vimjv

In the northeastern corner of the county the surface is rather hilly, but going west, southwest and south this (piickly changes to a rolling country and that in turn to a very level surface. Most of F.lmore, Bogard, Steele, \\'ashingt(jn and Barr townshi])s are of this level character, with .some rolling land. Xortheast of \\'ashingt(.)n a consjiicuous group (jf hills exists. The Southern part of this countw as White river is approached, again becomes - imte Inlly. .Many prairies e\i>t .d.mg Smoiher> creek ;mtl I'rairie creek and their tributaries, which drain the norlhern central part of the countv. Indian Pond and First creeks drain the extreme northern part, while Veale's, Aikman's, Mud and Sugar creeks drain the extreme southern ]n\vt. The west fork of \Miite river flows along the western side, the east fork along the south side.

The country apijears to range in elevation from three hundred and mnety-six feet above tide in the southwestern corner to over six hundred feet east of Raglesville and ju^^t northeast of Washington. W:ishington has an elevation of four hundred and eighty-four feet and low water near the same place is about four hundred and twenty-four feet abo\'e tide.

Coal C.Ivf.S I.Mpetus To Was Ii 1 Nctox

d'lie disccjvery of coal on the eastern confines of the deserted \illage of Greenup in a great measiu'e started W'asliington on her hrst nioxement toward enlargement of territory and an increased ;ictivit\- in l)nsines> |)ur- .suits and returns; this also meant a deciiletl growth in population, and when workmen on the grade of the Ohio 6c Mississippi railroad cut into a rich \ein of hituminons coal at Washington, the fact that the count}- seat had heen located upon \ast coal deposits lirst hecanie a|i]iarent. This was in i(S57, and that ^-ear noted a further acK'ance in growth and prosperity of the chief cit\' of the count\'. The discovery of the precious commodity was imuiediate!\' followed hy the opening of coal mines, which called into active life an industry that put Washington in(ire ]iromincntl\- on ihe maji than was e\er anticipated; and from the \'ears I1S3S t<i iSoo, miners Hocked int<) Wa^-hington from near and far. !\lan\' of tlie men hronght families; the scale of wages heing remuneratix'e, they prospered, huilt homes and in man\' cases hecame permanent and yalned citizens of the communit\-. Tlic (Jhi(; i\: 3.1ississip])i railroad officials had the coal thoroughl}' tested to determine its steam-producing i|ualities and in a short time the w ood-lnnning loconioli\e.^. then ni ;;cuer;d n^e, were cousxated into liuruei'^.

At C aiiuelhurg a reui.arkahle \eiu of cannel coal was discovered an'l soon the mines of the lUickex-e Cannel-Coal Company were distributing an article that h;is no superior anx'where. .Manx' millions of tons of coal ha\e heen mined in I )a\'ie>s county, hut the supply still lying in the ground will not he exhausted for many )-ears to crime. Mines are in acti\-e riperation in \arious p.arts of the county, gi\ing employment to a sm;dl army of men.