Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-10-14
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. OCTOBER IA. 1882.
ANIMAL ARTISANS.
A Curious Little Creature that Makes
Its Way Down 10 Water.


A Curious Little Creature that Makes
Its Way Down 10 Water.
From the Los Angeles Times.
For years the water question has been
a cOnundrum on the plains of Arizona
and California. 1t is well known that
some of the land on the desert is Of the
best quality, and would produce the best
crops in the world if rain would fall or
water was plentiful enough for irriga-
tiOn. This problem has been solved by
South American gentleman who has
travelled over most of the world. He has
been in this city for the past few days
and Times reporter. learning through
a third party that he had made dis
cOyery, called on him and gathered the
following facts: 1t seems that the gentle
man was travelling in dry part of South
America, about Is months ago, looking
for a new range for stock. He had
jOurneyed about 80 miles from water
and was beginning to get used up, when
he discovered one of those green spots on
the desert that makes the lonely travel
er's heart feel light. On his nearer
approach re saw that there was a town
of small animals, similar to the prairie
dog of this country. They had mounds
all around the green spot, and seemed
to be very numerous. When he rode up
amongst them they scampered into
their holes, but soon came out again,
. and became quite tame. He rode up to
the spring or we'll, and found it to be an
excellent quality of water. After
quenching his thirst, he began to invest
lgate the new camp. The strangest
thing that his attention was called to
hn oil mil nj fx Of ~ hnl
which the water flowed to the holes
made bv the dogs. The spring flowed
from the entrance of mound just the
much larger. and on the top was a large
basin. Noticing this fact, and knowing
that water was great distance off, he
conclusion that the little dogs had bored
the we'll. Acting upon this decision he
captured two of them and started for
his ranch. On arriving there pen was
made in dry place and the little fell
lows put in it, In a few days the work
began. They worked very rapidly, and
soon had hole so or 60 feet deep. They
seemed to be able to penetrate almost
any kind of soil, as they kept right on,
stopping for nothing, One would work
at the bottom of the hole while the other
brought the dirt to the top. On the fifth
day they seemed to be exhausted, and he
gave them some water. This stopped
work for several days, but they soon
got thirsty and went to work as hard as
ever. On the morning of the 18th day
they both came up with rush, followed
by stream Of water. How deep they
had gone it was impossible to tell, as the
bOla Wac not straight
what kind of looking animals are
they?" asked the reporter.
very similar to the common prairie
dog in size and color, only they have a
b0ny snOut and the claws are much
longer and larger. They soon become
tame and make nice pets. But | will
have several down here in few days
and you can take look at Them"
What doyou propose dOing?"
II think that there is a large country
south of here that can be utilized with
the assistance of my pet dogs. 1 feel
sure that every part of southern Cal
ifOrnia and Arizona can be cultivated
where the land is rich enough to bear
grain. These animals will find water
if it is within 1000 feet of the surface.
know it because have tried them.