New-York tribune., 1896-11-15
A QUEER WESTERN OASIS.
HOW THE ARTEslAN WELLS ARE SUPPLIED
THAT WATER IT


Lawrence. Kan. Nov. 1o-Ar,esian wells are
usually expensive luxuries. but there is spot
on the American Continent where they are
cheaper than pumps and more common than mort
cages. This Is in the centre of what used 10 he
called the Great American Desert. The boundary Of
me oasis forms an elpse. one focus Of which is at
Wilourn Kan. and the other at Meade. A winding
stream, called appropriately Crooked Creek forms
the long axis OF the elipse This little lozeng
district. lying in the arid forehead OF the West, IS
probably the bestwatered portion OF the earths land
surface.
farmer here may have artesian well in his
back yard, another at his barn and dozen more IN
different places on his farm. All he has 10 do is TO
bore hole fifteen or twenty feet deep and stand TO
one side. The water quickly comes bubbllng up and
runs buslly away TO quench the thirst Of Crooked
Creek No we'll in the whole district cost above $50
but all satisfactory.
There are upward Of go wells in the narrow basin
yet only a few OF them are nelligently managed
There are three four wells which yield forty-hve
gallons Of water a minute. from twelve 10 twenty
that yield thirty gallons and the rest grade down
10 eight ten gallons. 1t is computed that enough
water flows from the ground each year cover 1905
Of land one foot deep.
The residents. however. not organized and
have never heard OF the question How can | use
what l have?" Therefore. they waste the water
shamcfully, and the district instead OF being a
garden o. perennial beauty and prosperity is chiefly
hoarseness Of its frogs. Here and there a more
progressive farmer has drained his quagmires and
shown what he do with these blessings Of
nature.
From the time when students first turned their
attention to IT, this spot has been puzzle. The
people who live there imagine they have only a
thin of earth between their feet and
underground lake. that the land rests upon this
lake ice does upon water. and tnat we'll bored
into Its bosom allows the water to rise just as 1t
comes UP through cracks In the ice. But deep
borings have proved that the lake does nCt exist.
The State Geological Survey has about settled the
question, and after ALL It is q very simple
The floor of all the Western territory is made up
of deposits OF that age called by Seologists the
cretaceous. Above this however is d wholly dif
u loose material shaIc Gay, .ant. soil! var!
In depth from 81 20 2J feet This forms tho surface
Of the land and IS spread over the evenly
without respect 10 the under formations u ap-
the bones Of naked old Nature.
The water. fallen as rar all over the Rocky
Mountain slope. sinks through this loose crust until
IL comes to the cretaceOus rocks. Then. finding
downward course stopped II follows the dip Of the
strata and flows gently eastward upon its creta-
ceous bed beneath its tertiary coycrlct Wherever
stream has Gu; its channel down nearly TO tho
floor. enormous springs continually to be
found. and this IN the dryest region not an actual
desert, on the globe.
for. By some combination Of circumstance tho
earths surface has been worn away in the narrow
valley Of Crooked Creek almost TO the floor OF the
country. and the water flowing slowly along under
peep at the day and then passes on beneath ths
hills.