New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-22
ARTESIAN WELLS ON THE PLAINS
r,ou The \. 0. P,cayu.<.

F,on The ~ o. Picdyvn>
Wehad the pleasure of al interylew yeeerdsy vit
Cant j. Pope Of the United States Typographical Ea
creers who has Just returned from his expedition "a
tie Ilano Estacado and Is now on his way ~ Wsst.
ington. The object OF Capt. Popes long continaea
labors is 10 procure water for new and much shorter
route TO swNexieo and the Mesilla Valley, on the ai
PARALLEL Of latitude, the Llano Es.a csio; and
with this purpose be has passed tSo on that
great plain sinking artesian weis, and prosecuting
other scientific abors.
Cant Pope went out TO the scene of his labors in the
Spring of 1855, from Indanos by the way Of S.a Al
tonic and formed his camp on the banks Of the pecs
River where il is intorsected by the sd parallel
of latitude. From this point he proceeded with
his working parties due east distance OF q.
,,en Mills and there sunk the first well. From
the Pecos River the country seems 10 the eye b
be pei feet level but instrumental observation shows
that there is rise OF about coo feet in distance OF -
miles; and from that point which may be termed the
summit of the plain il continues With gradual descent
esstwardly TO the hills IRON "hIcn run ne head Va
tiers of several of the forks of the Colorado River.
In sink bg the wells Capt. Pope found no difficulties
in the geological formation. This eatrely composed
of alternate strata of induraed clay and cretaceous
psrs of every variety OF color easily bored through.
but sufficiently hard to prevent the walls OF the boring
from falling and incommoding the labor.
The tirst str. am of water struck at stabee Of
300 feet and il TO hight of 20 fees in the tubing
Continuing tie labor through the same formation The
second stream Of water struck at depth OF OIL
feet which T. 81 400 in the WELL about 80 feet
higher than the first stream. These labors demaa
srated the stence of water streams beneath the eur
face but as Winter was approaching and me ma YEA
which he had brought having been exhausted, Capt
Pope went into Winter quarters ON he banks OF the
Rio GrHnde.
Having received fresh supplies in the Spring of the
prt.ent year he returned 10 the Llano, and In April
last resumed his abors there Ills former attained re-
suits having demonstrated the existence OF abundant
wafer beneath the surface, he went i've miles esat.
ward from the fret well and there sunk the sec-
ond. In the prosecution OF thus work nc sruck
the same streams that he had found IN sinking
Me first we'll and on reaching depth of NO
feet he encountered another which rose 100 feet
in the tubing. At this point the material was again
exhausted and the small appropriation made by Con-
gress for the experiment had been expended Capt
Pope waa obliged TO suspend his labors and Is
his way to Washington to make bis full report thereon
The results of this work have been eminently sue
cessul for they demonstrate the oaslby OF me plan
of procuring water this great plain by the sinking
of stesan wells and il il much 10 be hoped thai Con
gress will make another appropriation 10 commune ana
perfect the work. When compared win tne ehPehui-
lures that have been made in sinking arteeah weiis 10
other places the expenditure has been very ns nih-
cant he appropriation having been only $fo,OVO, we
believe.
Through the absence of water the Dano Etacsdo
form complete barrier to travel between the
towns of Louisiana and Arkansas to New.Mexico and
the Mesila Valley along the line of the sd psrshs by
route which is some hundreds OF nlles shorter than
any other Ii is covered throughout with grana gras
cattle and which has the greater advantage that
not killed by the cold Of Winter sffordiDg abundant
pasture all the year round. Fuel, too Is everywhere
obtained with great ease in the mosquito root This
rinarkabl root and might be more properly termed
subterrane an forest Its stems penetrate the earth
distanceo of seventy feet in depth, with ramifcaiions
simsr TO the branches of trees, and with clear sni
bard wood stem from five To eight inches in dismetx.
We have been informed that it makes excellent char
coal and Capt Pope was so struck with It tina. he u
taking specimens to Washington for the examination Of
the Department. The supply is most abundant
Our readers are already familiar with the fact Of the
great gypsum formation in this region of country The
abors OF Capt. Pope have brought to light another
abundant OF agricultural wealth there, IN the
great beds Of which he has discovered
1Lese mais are Of the best kind Of fertilizers and
only be compared TO great subtensneaa depostss Of
gubDo. When treated with acids, they all efiorvesce,
showing the abundance of lime in them. We trust
that the Government will prosecute the abOrs 70 nc
cesfuly begun by this expedition. They will not only
open a new and much more advantageous route 70
that great central region of continent, and 70 the
Pacific shore but bringing to the surface Of the ano
EstacadO the abundant streams of water that dow DO
meath it, will confer value upon . vast tract Of
public lands now worthless from the want Of bst
element