The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-10-19
For the Lancaster ledger.
Well Digging.


Mr.. EDITOR No other subject is Of
greater imporiaLce to the farmer, who
has not living running water on the sur
lace, and no part OF the operation is Of
inore intrlhslc Importance than tha. of as
c-rialnlLg where to dig. | am aware Of
the difficulty of convincing some men that
:h'ngs may be facts, which they cannot
understand the why and wherefore of, or
cQmprehend the reason for. And | know
AS we'll thar tue same sl:e2ticism would
exist as to their own existence, and as 10
a thousand other facts, the reason for
which we do not comprehend any better,
or more clearly than that in reference TO
finding water under ground. They are
matters Of fact, and We should be regard
cd AS camIIdaics for some lunatIc asylum
If We questioned them. True philoso-
phy does not inquire .or the reasons for
t.lng before it admits the fac; Of its ex
istencc. but ascertains first il il be fact !;
and # ii be SO. then to inquire after the
reasons for il.
That water runs in veins in the earth is
fact now so universally admitted, or
rather known, that no one pretends to
doubt it. And il is equally well known
that if, in digging a well, the digger hits
upon the vein, lie gets good spring or
living water. But the question is how
are we to ascertain where to dig in order
TO strike this vein or, is il fact that
some men, and even women, can tell,
by any means, where water can thus be
found II will be admitted that, If IL IS
so, 1t is OF more Importance TO any dry
or sprlngless portion Of the country than
turnpikes, plank, or rail roads; for what
is tie soil worth without living water -
That in digging of wells in Lancaster
District and in many other portions OF ,he
United States and elsewhere, water can
be found, generally, a, some depth under
ihe surface without applying to certain
individuals TO point out :he proper place
where to dig, is readily admitted yet,
many places are destitute OF spring or
well water. And many persons have
spent much time and much money IN dig.
ging for good water who have failed in
its discovery because they had no water
philosopher" 10 tel them where 10 dig.
Having well to be dug, invited a
water philosopher" to try his skill for
me. In presence Of half dozen persons,
who like myself. we're ignorant Of this
new science, he commenced his perfor.
nance. Having got peach fork, Of the
last years growth, both prongs small and
slim and equal in length, the tip ends
placed Economically in his hands, the
palms OF which were upward, and the
fork in the position Of an inverted v,thus 4.
lie walked slowly along over the ground,
while we kept our eyes upon the rod and
his hands, to see IL the turning Of the
rod was not from the motion OF his own
hands. AT le' 9Th the butt or fork end
> Of the rod wen, down; the operator hold.
ing mis- bands firmly griped upon the rod
to prevent its slipping. Having thus
found the vein OF water under ground il
was with no difficulty he could point out
to us its course, by Walking in the same
manner in circutous route around the
point fixed upon until the rod went down.
The rod or peach fork ! perceived would
not turn down while the operator walked
along the vein, and would only turn in