The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-03-30
aaritultural anu 1umsstit.
.,,rrs,.s WELLS OR FOUNTAINS.

A correspondent Of the Prairie Farmer gives
the following account of these wells in Illinois;
"Backley is located in Iroquis Co, 80 miles
south Of Chicsgo, on the !. c. X. K, a. an ele-
yation Of l96 feet above the lake al Onie1eo'
and 4ss feet above the river at Cairo The sa' !,
rounding county is rolling prairie, intersPerseo
with timber. Here embracing region some 81
miles west-ffteen east, three south ana WE'VE
north-these fountains are obtainAoe.
Almost every farmer has nov or Is procuring
one or more Of these fOunts, which for utility and
ornament are Of inestim4bie value.
These fountains are never affected BY drought,
the Bow being uniform summer aud winter, vet
or div. The experience OF the failure OF water
during last summers drought, in other regions
eannot fail TO be of importance, when it IL Tact
these fountains during all that time did not IN
the least diminish.
Tie cheap and simple mode Of obtaining
these fountains enables every farmer to locate
one al bis house and one at bis barn, or pasture
field if necessary.
The fact Of our having discovered bat recently
that they can be obtained at almost any point
within the limits previously described, 10 coz :
nection with the comparatively small HcoPe OF
country In which they are found, no d0cOt ex-
plains lie little kno~ledge Of them by the pub
lie generally. These fountains are obtained by
boring in the earth until vein of sand IS reach
ed, here the water il generally found, aud when
penetrared with an anger flows oieIudes through
The opening 70 the surface, and generally from
one 70 ffteen feet above the surface. They are
bored from four 10 Ave inches in diameter, then
tubed 20 keep the ground from filing mp the
opening. their depths vary from 40 to 100 feet,
The general depth being about 80 feet. They
cost complete iron $50 TO 800. The water as
ceuds ia streams varying from oDe-half 10 five
inches IL diameter, and IS generally conducted
about ~ feet above the surface tor cOnyen-
:euce TO suite cattle, or for house use.
Thus farmer can anywhere within this ar
tesian region, have 4 never falling fountain
rLsrescsver be may wish to locate it-most con
venient for stock or house use.
The water 10 generally as clear as crystal.
Warm in winter-never freezing. Cold in sum
mer.
Some fountains more and somo less, have q
mineral or sOme similar taste; the general opin-
ION being, the water passes through coal de-
post, which mpsrts TO il this peculiar taste.
Persons also all kinds Of cattle and horses,
soon become excessively found Of it, and viii
tragel miles TO drink srtesian water in prefer
ence 10 slough or surface water.
Musicians assert-and indeed the experience
OF the community DEMONSTRATES DeyOnu oOuo'
that this water is conducive to health. No
cattle thrive 30 well and maintain so good health
as those having access to artesian water.
The scleuIi1c rsadvt may be curious tn know
vhat causes operate 10 produce these beautiful
fountains. or what .orces throw the water so fAI
above the surface. When we remember that We
are located on almost the highest prairie surface
in the State--far above the level OF any known
body of water, we must confess our inability tc
give any satisfactory theory-that We can recon
Gle with general Laws of gravitatiOn-and the
physiological axiom, that water will not raise
above its level unsided by artificial force.
There is some cause for this strange opera
ton OF nature, but what that may be, more sci
entifc minds must determine.
We have within a circle OF IL miles about 100
OF these fountains in operation.
In concluding, will briefly describe two weDi
recently bored near Buckley. One on the prop
erty of the Messrs. hectares, and the other OIL
lands of Messrs. Koplin 4 Richards. The for
mer is loo feet deep, and flows a stream or col
umn Of water four inches in diameter. The
force of this stream lie so powerful that it vii
reach an elevation Of fifteen feet above the sur
face The fountain discharges $50 barrels o.
water per hour This well cost SIS. The latter
we'll one mile from the former, is forty-one feet
deep, asceuds Z feet above the surface, dis
charges eight gallons of water per minute Cost
&l9-complete.