_Topography of the Land_
"As a whole, the surface of the State of Illinois is nearly level.
The prairie regions which cover a large part of the state are only
slightly rolling, except in those places where streams have worn
valleys. These are shallow in the eastern and the northern parts of
the state, deepening gradually as the great rivers are approached.
Nearly all the waters of Illinois find their way to the Mississippi
river. Along this river, as also along the larger streams of the state,
the lands are cut into abrupt bluffs or sharp spurs which, nearing
the sources of the streams, gradually become softened into rounded
hillocks, sinking at last into the low banks. Through such waterways
as these form, flow streams usually gentle in current, often sluggish,
and sometimes becoming even stagnant. Over a large part of the state,
ponds and "sloughs", or marshes, formerly abounded. In these the water
was renewed only by the rains that fell occasionally. Under hot suns
these ponds, having neither inlet nor outlet, quickly became foul,
particularly where stock resorted to them to drink and cool themselves,
as they did almost universally throughout the state a few years ago,
and do even now in some parts.
"For years such ponds furnished the principal, almost the only, water
supply for stock in large areas of this state. The constant use of
such impure water greatly injured the quality of the milk and butter of
cows, and doubtless had a baneful effect upon the health of the animals
that drank the foul water and those who used the milk and butter.
"With the drainage of the land and the introduction of a pure supply
of water, came the disappearance of certain diseases of cattle and of
human beings, particularly the so-called milk sickness and kindred
maladies, and a marked improvement in the flavor and keeping qualities
of milk and butter. Although the change thus far has been great, there
are yet districts in which there has been little improvement in the
conditions of the land, of the water supply, or of the people. Stock
are still compelled to depend, for their water supply, upon streams and
pools that almost invariably become stagnant in the warm and dry days
of the latter part of summer each year."[1]
Inquiries addressed to hundreds of intelligent and careful observers,
nearly all of whom were practical stockmen, elicited information
showing the following:
Number of District Chief Source of Water
Counties Supply
8 Northwest or Postal Streams and wells;
District springs furnish a
considerable part of
it; few ponds used;
three instances of
tile drains.
Central Northern Wells chief source;
Counties springs, streams,
and tiles used to a
considerable extent.
Northeast Counties Streams, wells, and springs
used about equally.
Eastern Counties Wells chiefly; streams next;
ponds and tile drains
follow in the order named;
nine instances of springs.
Central Counties Forty-nine districts report
wells; forty report
streams; thirty-five tile
drains; twenty-five ponds;
twenty-four springs.
Western Counties Wells and tile drains equal;
springs next; ponds in a
few instances.
4 Southern Counties Ponds and streams equal; six
report wells; five report
springs; four tile drains.
21 Central S. Counties Ponds chiefly; streams next;
wells next; springs and
tiles in the order named.
Southeast and
Southwest Counties A like condition: ponds,
streams, and springs.
"From all parts of the state, correspondents wrote that the ponds and
streams become stagnant in the warm months of summer, a few making
exception of those years in which rainfall has been heavy during the
summer months. Stagnant water is found more generally in the southern
than in the northern part of Illinois; chiefly, perhaps, because the
cultivation and drainage of the land has not become almost universal as
it has in the northern districts."
In several counties artesian wells afford a most copious supply of
water of good quality. In Iroquois and other eastern counties, such
wells have been bored to a depth of from 150 to 200 feet and obtained
an unfailing flow of water impregnated with minerals. Stock show a
strong liking for such water after becoming accustomed to its use,
and it is the belief of those who have had opportunity for observing
the effects of its continued use, that this mineral water serves to
keep the animals free from disorders which formerly prevailed in that
region. This seems to be especially apparent in regard to malarial
disorders.
_People_
About 1820, the State of Illinois was being rapidly settled by
people from the eastern states. Prior to this time, very few white
settlements had been made in the state. These early pioneers, drawn
from the population of the eastern states, were composed of almost
all nationalities. They pushed their way across the mountains of
Pennsylvania and Virginia in crude wagons, drawn by oxen, bringing
with them their household goods and a few milk cows. They came into
Illinois, built new homes, and laid out new fields on the broad,
unsettled prairies.[2]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Beginning with the year of 1800, when there were only a few people in
the state, the population has increased very rapidly, as is shown by
the following statistics, taken from the United States Census Report
(special supplement for the State of Illinois):