San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-03-02
A WONDERFUL DOG.
mn, AuInal That win Dig for Water, Even
Though lilo Has to Go Hundreds OF Feet.
Los Angels tcal. } 1ines.

For years the water question has
heen conundrum on the plains OF Ar
Una and Southern California. II is
I'll known that some of the land on
,ha deserts is of the best quality, and
~onld produce the best crohs in the
rid IL rain would fall cor water were
~lentiful enough for irrigation. This
pproblerl has been solved by South
American gentleman who has been trav-
cling over the most of the world. He
hos been in this city for the past few
days. end q Times reporter, learning
tbrough thira party that he had made
discovery, called upon him and gath
cred the following facts:
II seems that the gentleman was trav-
cling in a dry part of South America
abont eighteen months ago, all alone,
looking for O new range for stock. He
had journeyed about thirty miles from
water, and was beginning to get used
nm. when he discovered one of those
Green spots on the desert that makes
the lonely travellers heart feel light.
On nearer approach, he saw that there
was town OF ...,. "
SMALL ANIMALS, o, ...
Similar to the prairic dog of this coun-
try. They had mounds all around the
green spot, and seemed to be very
numerous. When he rode mp among
them they all scampered into their
holes, but soon came out again, and be-
came quite tame. He rode up to the
spring, or well, and found it to be an
excellent quality of water.
After quenching his thirst, he began
to look around and investigate the new
camp. The strangest thing that his
attention was called to was the similar
ity of the hole from which the water
flowed to the holes made by the dogs.
The spring flowed from the entrance of
mound just the same as that in which
the dogs lived, but it was much larger
and on top was large basin. Noticing
this fact, and knowing that water was a
great distance, he began an investiga-
ton, and came to the conclusion that
the little dogs had .',.... .r"
BORED THE WELL.
Acting upon this decision he captured
two of them and started for his ranch.
On arriving there, pen was made in q
dry place and the little fellows put in
it. In a few days the work began.
They worked very rapidly, and soon
had a hole fifty or sixty feet deep. They
seemed to be able to penetrate the
hardest kind of soil, as they kept right
on, stopping for nothing. One would
work in the bottom of the hole while
the other brought the dirt to the top.
On the fifth day they seemed to be ex-
hausted, and he gave them some water.
This stopped work for several days, but
they soon got thirsty and went to werk
as hard as ever. On the morning of
the eighteenth day they both came up
with rush, followed by a
STREAM. OF WATER.
How deep they had gone it was impos-
sible to tell, as the hole was 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
bony snout. and the claws are much
longer and larger. They soon become
tame, and make nice pets. But will
have several of them down here in a
few days, and you can take look at
them"
What do you propose doing?"
II think there is a large country
south of here that can be utilized with
the assistance of my pet dogs. feel
yre that every part of Southern Cali
fornia and Arizona can be cultivated
where the
LAND IS RICH
Enough to raise grain. These animals
will find water if it is within 1000 feet
OF the surface. I know it, because I
have tried them"
How is it that nothing has been said
about this discovery?"'
"Oh, that's all right. 1 have kept it
to myself, and should have done so
now, but my friend here had given it
away before [ saw you, and thought
would tell You the whole story and ask
you to say nothing about it, for several
reasons. l don't want it known until l
am sure tn t it will work in this coun-
try. If it will work, I intend to import
number to this country and Arizona
If this animal will do what Capt.
Latchfeld says it will, Southern Cali
fornia will be a hourishing country
within a few Years.