Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1906 — Kankakee a Big River Once. [ARTICLE]

Kankakee a Big River Once.

v That the Kankakee river was at one time five miles wide and at least 100 feet in depth was the statement made by Prof. W. D. Pence, of Purdue University, before the Indiana Engineering Society at Indianapolis Friday. In discussing “Recent Developments in the Drainage of the K nkakee Marsh,” Prof. Pen e took up the geological formation of the marsh, showing that it originally was formed by glacial action and was a mighty river. At the present time it is a big, sluggish creek which is rapidly being drained by a series of canalsand ditches. To the work of C. H. Tuesberg, Jacob Keller,, aud others identified with the Kankakee Reclamation Company, Prof. Pence gave greatcredit. Half of the river is now being dredged between Momence and Soutii Bend.