The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-07
/ s,nala,Iops concentrating the atmosphere IL

| exhslatIons, communicating the atmosphere IN
Ipsrt from these prominent points relating to
the general photography OF the State II ls lmpoi-
tant to note the existence OF surface water as u
| exists upon the surface OF the earth In form OF
low situations, as the subsoll water everywhere
present, but variable In quantity and quality, &C.
cordlnc to season and the character OF the lace
Of the country and situation. From these sources
proceed deleterious influences not less grave: as
regards the hyglenic conditions OF country, IMAM
| the various points alluded to ABOVE; ana ID oroer
| to secure the healthfulness VI any region Wnere
these conditions exist, all efdcent means shonld
he resorted to to get rid of this surface and perco
| iatng subsoll water-most abundant in the low
and dat country constituting the lower division
OF the State, but existing everywhere especially
In this connection, 1t is important to note the
| character or properties OF the water presenting
itself under so many different conditions, derived
modified net only BY these influences, but In an
equal degree by soil and other collateral agencies;
1t will thus be seen that the water supply y!
the State Is most abundant for all tne lnuusIIai
pursuits OF man-for inland naVlgatlon-tspe-
clally for motive power, irrigation, &C. NOT ls
there any deficiency In this elemene as rega.u as
what relates to Its application to his comforts ana
ordinary domestic purposes B9t u.s. me its sonrns
of water varies materially, according TO lts source
and Is besides greatly modified, according TO tne
geological formations In which II originates ana
the soil over and through which 1t hoWs 1t neces-
sarlly follows that 1t will present Amos! eodless
dIyersities in different portions Of the State, and
even within more circuHscribed limits.
The water Of rivers and other natural streams M
varies notably In proportion 70 sne . Pro9s XII ~
ish owing In part to the oyerfoWlng OF the tldes'
and to a great extent also to suosoll percola
tions. Hence in Charleston-and TINS Is, 70
great extent true Of most OF the country shlrting
The sea.shoFe-water is generally found at
depth OF from ten to twelve or fifteen leeI oeioM
the surface-thus corresponding very nearly WIN
the low water mark Of the ocean-so that s tiiis
fresh water derived I'M manly mi IN p0 ITSELF IMPURE is
rendered unfit for use by continuous lnnIratou
of salt water through the loose sanu winch .ahes Ne,
Mace at every high tide But fortunately, lhis uii
Su is a l9r o ~ se Of the year
and these, being collected IN properly construc.ea
cisterns, an abundant supply Is thus optainea @ Q,
wholesome, pure water, amply sumclenI LOT Ill
domestic purposes. &c .,a
rivers and shallow streams, at most seasons ", y,
thAyea although more or less impregua.eu J, ~
various HETEROGENEOUS Materials is III tIle innIn
Sufficiently pure for ordinary purposes. Inc
water of these streams Is, however, liable to va
rions sources Of contamination, and this Is espe-
cially true OF the sluggish streams OF tne iomer
division of the State, which receive Lner
the drainage from the stagnant accumulallohs
constantly taking place In the Immense s"anlps
through which they flow. But Whlle THESE itnpu a
rifles exist In different degrees IN most VI aiu .se
water-courses OF the State, they oil derive 'neia
contamInations from two different sourcesEtne
one the saline or earthly materials pecullar 70 re-
spectiye geological fornatlons the olher VI puls
" organic origin, consisting Oh auSnens,on
or OF the products OF this In various Stages Oh ae
cav At particular seasons. when Inc Btreams
moving through the hilly clay region OF Ine otsse
become swollen by hesvy rams tne watet . err
face soil or the adjacent hillsdes, anu At sucn
times is not potable unless previously Uttered, OF
allowed to stand long enough to deposit .lne ma'
case with the clear sand.hlll streams which, near
their source, furnish an abundant supply oI "ateF
almost entirely pure. ., ,,u,,h hs
In most parts OF the stare nhluIai sp.inSs
abound, the waters OF which vary In their proper.
ties according to locality. Thus in the tertiary
region there exists, at variable depths, q water
bearing stratum Of sand and peboles resting On
the mari, which, where this latter crops ous,
Yields abundantly q supply OF good Water. ls
chief defect consisting OF slight impregnatlon OF
carbonate OF lime. derived from the mari oeds on
which it rests Beyond these limits, and ID me
hly granite region, abnndant sprlnss o. strata
| often from the crevices of rocEs-many Oh lneni
| even at midsummer, almost OF icy cotihess.
Where these supplies do not exist upon inc SUI !,
face water or the same character can oe obtained
| by sinking wells to sufficient depth to lap the
water.bearing strata. ,,o,
South Carolina Is less noted for natRfai mlnera!
| springs than many other States OF inc union ye.
In this respect she Is not entirely deficient there
being many within her territorial limits possess.
| lpE more or less important medicinal properties.
| Most of these contain lime magnesia iron; &C.
and in the OF Tue coas nr eas m carbon
ate soda. This Is especially true OF the Artesian
| we'll In Charleston from the waters OF WHICH
whether used for bathing purposes or aiinhlng Et,
| many OF the citizens derive daily oenents: fol
| the former use their temperature Is admirably
adapted, while dyspeptlc and other inyalids de-
| rive great benefit from drinking these Watcrs.
Iy-Tne Soft. Natural and Agricultural Pro
! ductionS OF South Carolina.
These subjects are, each OF them, Of paramount
| importance, not only in an economical, out also
in hygienIc point OF view: but they are SO exten
siYe In their relations as to render II mpossoe to
give them more than mere cursory hollce III
| this report.
and are almost Infinitely varied by the diverse ele
ments which enter into their composition ano
| the relative proportion In which these elements
combine as well as their situation, as regards SUI
rounding agencies. leading source OF their de
structlre characteristics is the geological c3nstl
tuition OF the surface upon which they resi- hehce
notable difference will be loand 70 eAlst oe
tween the soils OF the tertiary and prfmltive geo
logical periods; yet considered even IN these re
| lations, owing TO the influence OF extensive Wasn
nps by the stream torrents, all tendlng from the
1 upper country towards the ocean, the successive
oyernoWs OF the lowlands and sWamps, ano
the consequent deposits borne upon the Dosom OF
The waters, many OF the mineral elements pecu
| liar to the upper region become comm,ngleo VIII
those of the lower; and ctce perSd, owing 10 the
| agency OF tides, the drift OF the ocean pears
| many OF Its elements to considerable Instance
! into the interior. Most OF the constituents OF tne
| soil, derived from these sources, consist OF tne
! mechanical dlslntegraton aud solution OF tne
I elements OF the primitive anu superlmposeo
rocks aud clay, all diversified IN their properties
while most Of them abound In elements essentia
In the food OF plants as hornblend, fedspar, mica
| lit,an me
Another source Of the constituents OF soils 49, the
successive accumulation upon this suostratun
| thus constituted OF the abundant products OF
| vegetable and animal matter--chieny OF tne lola
| erewhich acquiring new accesslons from year
| to yeor, and these undergoing decay, nave gradu'
| ally covered the mineral particles aooye lRen'
| TONED, and thus added essential elements OF Ter
tllIty which the gases eliminated by this process
| OF decomposition, and others derived from tne
| atmosphere, all concur to impress upon the lace
| OF mother earth characters OF fruitluiness wei
calculated to minister to mans comforts, neces
| stiles and enjoyments, and repay him amply LOT
| his tolls, at the same time feWarulug Ills IN
| dustry us,,o - r,
| transported from the site OF their original ior
! mation-by rain torrents washing down the NIL
| SUBMITS and slopes into the neighborlng VaNeg
and streams, and by these to be Dorne away
| by their currents, either to be deposited 10
| their bends, or spread out upon their bordering
| sWamps and low places, various and important
changes are thus impressed upon the face OF the
| country, so that many parts thus become enrlcnec
ut the expense OF others which are thereby I'm
povershed.