Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-06-15

cGme river; ana many GI tneSc DelDg
united in one common channel, make
such enormous streams as the Rhine, the
Rhone, and the Danube. And it may al
ways pass for rule, that the magnitude
Of river, or the quantity Of water it dis.
charges, is proportional to the length and
heights Of these very ridges from whence
the fountains arise.
The several sorts of springs discovered,
are common springs, which either run
continually, and then they are called per-
ennial springs; or else run only for
time, or at certain times of the year, and
then they are called temporary springs.
Intermitting springs, or such as flow and
then stop, and flow and stop again, by
regular alterations or intermissions.-
Reciprocating springs, whose waters rise
and fall, OF flow and ebb, by regular in
tervals, feciprocaiions Of the surface.
If these reservoirs Of water, in the
bodies of mountains, be situated where
mineral ores abound, or the ducts orfeed-
ing streams run through mineral earth, it
is easy to conceive the particles Of metal
will mix with, and be absorbed by the
water, which, being saturated herewith,
becomes a mineral spring or well. If
salt, sulphur, and limestone abound in
the strata through which the water passes,
it twill then be saline, sulphureous, and lime
water. If sulphur and iron should both
abound in the parts of the hill whence the
waters come, the waters will partake of
the warmth or heat which is occasoned
by the mixture of two such substances in
the earth whore they are found.
Having noticed the different kinds of
springs, weshall saya few words respect
ing the various phenomena, which take
place in rivers.
A large collection of water which runs
in consequence of its gravity from a
higher to lower. part Of the surface of
the earth, in channel generally open at
top, is called river.
A river which flows uniformly, and
preserves the same height in the same
place, is said to be in permanent state;
such rivers are very rare.
The water Of a river does not flow with
the same velocity through the whole width
of the river. The line in which the wa
ter moves with the greatest velocity is
called the thread of the river. and this
thread seldom lies in the middle of the
river. but it generally comes nearer to
one side than the other, according to the
nature of the impediments, and the con-
figuration of the banks. The velocity of
rivers is likewise less at the bottom Of
their cannals that the surface, owing to
the resistance which the bed makes to the
water as it flows.
The running of rivers is upon the same
principle as the descent of bodies on in
cined planes; for water no more than
solid can move or horizontal plane, the
reaction of such plane being equal and
contrary to gravity, entirely destroys it,
and leaves the body at rest; here We
speak of a plane of small extent, and
such as comedies with the curved surface
of the earth. But if we consider large
extent or long course of water, then we
shall iind that such water can never be at
rest but when the bottom of the channel
comedies everywhere with the curved sur
face of the earth. In rivers that are
made. it is usual to allow the fall of l foot
in 300, but the declivity of those formed
by nature, is various and uncertain.
The velocity of the water Of river
ought to increase in proportion as 1t re-
cedes from its source: but the numerous
causes Of retardation, which occur in riv-
ers, are productive of very great irregu-
larities; and it is impossible to form any
general rules for determining such irregu-
larities.
The Unequal quantities Of water (ari-
sing from rains, from the melting OF snow,
&c.,) which are conveyed by rivers at
different seasons, enlarge or contract their
widths, render, them more or less rapid,
and change more or less the form of their |
beds. But independent Of this, the size
and form of river is liable to DC con-
tinually altered by the usual flowing OF its
waters, and by local peculiarities. The
water constantly corrodes its bed where
ever it runs with considerable velocity,
end rubs off the sand, d,or other not very CO.
hercnt parts. The corrosion is most re-
markable in that part Of the bottoms which
is under the thread Of the river; or where
the water descends suddenly from an en-
inence, as in caskadc or scater.taH. :
The sand thus raised is deposited in pla-
ces where the water slacks It's velocity:
and there by degrees, an obstacle, bank,
and even an island, is formed, which in
its turn produces other changes. Thus
a river sometimes forms itself a new bed,
or It overflows the adjacent grounds.
In some places we find that an obsta-
.oIa; or 4 bent on one side, will occasion