The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-05-18
THE WATER DOCTOR.

plumb gave out last month, an the river
three miles away He'd to rig up bar
rel on runners an haul all the water for
the wimmen folks
The speaker was new settler in one
Of the coast range valleys of southern
California, far from the great irrigation
bitches and prosperous orange growing
colonies. He was talking to neighbor
whose land claim was just over the ridge
In more fertile district Gloriana, as
the new settlement was named, had only
two things to recommend 1.-THE climate
was fairly good and the land very cheap.
Otherwise 1t was sorry place. The
soil was shallow and very poor, the hills
were low. barren and without streams.
80 that any irrigation system was impos-
sible Nevertheless the Morisons had
given up their little home in northern
Iowa and moved to California. actuated
by the same motive that often led mil
Honaires-the daughter could not stand
the winters They and dozens of other
families were scattered through the hills
trying to make a living by chopping
wood, keeping bees and doing little
farming. And now the well had gone
dry, adding another burden to those al.
ready SO severe.
''All the wells hereabouts give out dry
seasons" was the answer that Morrison
received. There doesn't seem to be any
water in the hills this side of the range"
Il don't see what to do. then Bees
was beginnin to pay. an thort of plantin
an orchard down on the beach There's
about an acre of good land down that
way The chickins is doin pretty well,
too, but it do take dreadful lot of water
when you hev to haul it three miles"
We'll. Morrison, mebbe Crane, the
half cracked water doctor down at Sespe,
might fix 1t up He claims that he can
find water; in fact, he does more than
than that. He's queer and crazy, but for
20 years people haven't been goin to his
cabin after dark, there's so many electric
wires and things that might explode un-
derfoot and overhead"
Il don't care" said Morrison, ''rll go
SEQ him right away
DR.. Orlando Crane was very tall and
shaggy, broad shouldered, massive, with
an immense hooked nose and piercing
eyes. He lived alone in cabin at the
head Of a ravine, and he had arranged
bell and wires along the narrow path so
that he had ample warning of the ap-
proach Of q visitor
He received Morrison with grave DO
hteness, and listened to his story.
That's ali right" he said, 'you new
comers in that dry country need help.
Certainly you do But it isn't little
water more or less in your wells that
you want; it's rivera subterranean
Tiver-that might be able to find. II
one Of my inventions was only a triae
nearer completed, would make the river
for you settlers"
II hope so. doctor said Morrison,
humbly.
Eyes, win, and pretty soon too. I'll
tell you all about it some of these days.
It's only electric action makes water,
and the earth is a great electric battery.
There's q way to make gold, or dia-
monds or mineral water by electric ac-
ton. know all about it,"
Morrison had driven to Sespe, so DR..
Crane, ''the world famous water de-
vsloper." as his circulars stated, rode
back TO Gloriana that afternoon, carry
ing with him long brass tube filed
with clustered and tensely strung wires.
he also had simple galvanic battery
to which the wires could be attached.
A number of the settlers Of the noun
tain region assembled the next day to
witness the operations Of the necroman-
Ger. who fully appreciated his impor-
tance and surrounded his mystic art with
every accompaniment Of surprise. He
showed the wondering company that az
he approached vessel of water the wires
grew tenser and fairly sang like violin
strings.
Il must say it's providential we heard
Of you," said Mrs. Morrison, with heart
felt earnestness and entire conviction.
The water doctor finally began active
operations at the lower corner Of the
Morrison land claim and walked back and
forth across 1t In various directions. At
last he paused high up on the hillside
and told his followers to observe the be-
hayior OF his instrument. There Ger.
tainly was an electrical disturbance Of a
very violent sort, he said, and they were
etRnddpg over an underground xesery6iS.