The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-12-10
GEOLOGY OF KANSAS WHERE
TO FIND WATER.

In the second paper of this series THE
News gave some valuable aud reliable
data In The matter OF prospec ting for
coGI-where TO look for il, aud indicAt-
ing where 1t would be worse than use
less 10 attempt to ind II. This
information was based upon the
known geological formation OF the state,
and from actual observations In the
field. Slated 10 brief, II was TO dig west
Of the cropping, Inst4Ad OF east,
because of the dip OF the strA;n
20 west and noTthwest-spcaking
generally. 1t was also stated.
that paying coal would 4 DO found
west OF an Irregular line drawn from
LeaVenworth IN the wtst limo OF Chau-
tauqua county, but that anywhere east
of that lins, It would be profitable to
seek for It.
The question Of pure water and plenty
OF II, il a very Important one to the peo-
pie OF Kansas, particularly upon the up
lands, and II 10 in the interest of these
that we desire more particularly to
speak.
There Is no fact more generally under
stood than the ample one thar water
will seek It's lowest level. No man of
intelligence would place his spouling
along The rldgeboards Of his roof to
catch the water falling upon that roof,
but a. = matter OF course he would
place Il AZ the lowest part, and he would
DO rewarded by securing all the water
that should fail, The geology uf Kan
sAs teaches ne that the various strata
slope TO The north west, acme Of which,
like the shales of the car
boniferous period, are Impervious
to water-hence, water falling
upon them, would naturally pass down
ward oyer these surfaces in north
westerly direction. For instance: II
there should be a body OF high land be-
tween TWO parallel ravines, the rAvines
running northeast aud southwesi, &C
accor ling to The theory here laid down
the water falling upon this high land
would pass through the soil and DRIFT IN
Q northwesterly direction, aud appear In
the form OF springs, porhAps, on the
east side OF the west rAvine Indicated.
In such body of land, therefore, the
place TO look for water would be at the
lowest point OF the strata, or on the east
side OF the west ravlne. In all ravines,
therefore, according to this rule,tt would
be beat to open wells on the east side,
rather Than on the vest.
There Is an old and true saying, that
"the proof OF the pudding Is in the eat
inR;" and the proof In this case eau be
asoerIAinOd by an answer to the question +:
Where are our springs ionndf Are they
on the east or west sides of rSvines ?
The correct answer to tnAt question es-
tablIshes, "a q rule, the truth OF error OF
the position we take. Ii tits true. there
fore, that springs arc found where midi
Gated, that is tha place to put down wells
that will not fail.
The best example We know of, In cor
roboratlon of the theory here put
forth, Is Mil creek valley. Wabaunsee
county. The direction Of thSt valley,
and the immense table lald 10 the east
of 1t, would give fair test. All along
the east side of MIL creek valley are
wonderful springs Of nsver-iailing pure
water.
A farmer TREAD OF the writer placed
his house on high shoulder Of land,
overlooking valley to the east He
sunk his we'll near the house, and for
ubout Two months In the year had plen-
~ OF water. but for the remaining ten
months his well was dry. Acting upon
the advice given him, he put down 0
we'll on the east side OF a ravine TO the
west OF his house, aud that well has
never failed Aud So Tar as we have OBJ
served, the permanent Syringe OF Kansas
have always been GA the east sides Of
ravines.