The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-24
THE CRUSI'S WATER
An Interesting Chapter on the I'm
derground Flow in the
United States.

The Value of the Artesian Basin of
the Dakotas-R apidity Of
the Flow.
From The Journal Bureau, Room u.s. Post Build
ing, Washington.
Washington, Dec. 24.-The amount Of
water within the crust Of the earth, says
Professor Charles S. Slichter, in a paper
entitled 1.-THE Motion of Underground Wa
ters." recently published by the United
States geological survey, "is enormous,
amounting to 565, 900 million million cubic
yards" His estimate is based upon the
superstition that the average depth which
waters can penetrate beneath the surface is
six miles below the land and five miles be-
low the ocean floor. This vast accumulation
If placed upon the EARTH would cover;
its entire surface to a uniform depth of
from 5000 to $500 feet. Undertake influ-,
ence OF grayita ton the water Is generally
in motion. and the object of Professor
Shelters paper Is to-, describe ths rate
and manner of it's overflow and the laws
governing the same. - -@--t s.
The popular idea OF the underground
floor Is derived from the rivers Of copious
discharge found In the Mammoth and
other caves. But this idea IS erroneous,
as such streams. though of great local
Importance, are comparat lively rare. The
great mass Of ground water slowly perco
lates through sand and gravel deposits.
sandstone, and other porous material I'M
der wide extent of territory. Though it's
motion carries it but fraction of mile
IN a year, this ground water is so wide
spread and often so accessible as to be Of
the greatest economic Importance.
The rate of movement Of the underflow
hos 1,AA he hi Of
full investigation. To determine this in
teresting question measurements have
been made in the river graves of
streams whose surface flows have ceased.
and from such measurements more or less
trustworthy results have been obtained.
One of the most accurate and interesting
Of these is series Of experiments con-
Quoted by Professor Slichter along the
valley Of the Arkansas river in western
Kansas. The method Is an electrical one.
A double row Of inch and quarter drive
wells Is sunk across the channel OF the
river whose under1ow Is to be tested.
The upstream wells are then charged with
a strong eectrolyte. which dissolves and
passes down the stream with the moving
water. The passage Of the eectrolyte
toward the lower we'll is shown by the
gradual movement Of the needle of an
electrical instrument and the final arrival
at the we'll is shown by a sudden and
e strong DETECTION Of the needle. 1t is ex-
ceedingly interesting to watch the grad
ual movement Of the water. which can
be traced from the beginning Of the exper-
iment in this Indirect way. By this meth
Cd the rate Of flow ten feet below the bed
of the Arkansas river was found to be
two and one-half feet per day. Other
experiments in the beds of the Hondo and
San Gabriel rivers in southern California.
gave rates OF sk. 4, 51z and feet per
day.
The knowledge of the underf1ow that
exists beneath the gravel Of all river val
leys has been taken advantage Of in arid
sections OF the west, where the run
ming dry of streams deprives irrigators
Of their water supply. BY excavating to
bed rock In river gravels and building an
impervious barrier across the channel,
these underground waters are saved in
sufficient Quantities to be Of great value
to the farmer A notable subsurface dam
of this kind. has been constructed son the
Pacoima creek California, to + furnish
water for domestic use. r. :
Deep zones of flow are most inpor-
tant feature Of the movements of under
ground waters. and open up an interest
ing field for investigation. The wonderful
artesian basin Of North Dakota and South
Dakota. which has proved such an impor-
tant factor in the economic develop
ment OF these states. forms one Of the il
luSLtdtloIlS uSeO ny PROFESSOR SHCnter IN
the explanati ton of deep seated underf1ows.
A cross section of this part of the country
clearly shows the interesting fact that the
water which comes to the surface in the
gushing wells Of the Dakotas travels I'M
foreground all the way from the Black
Hills and Rocky Mountain slopes, in the
ater-bearing strata known az the Dakota
sandstones.
IsthmIan Canal Commission.
There is a lively contest between Sem
Rtor Jones Of Arkansas. Senator Har-
ris OF Kansas and Governor. Sayers Of
Texas. for the democratic position on the
1sthmtan canal commission Jones seems
to be In the lead but it Is impossible to
know In advance what the president will
do He has as yet Indicated no choice or
said anything to lead men to conclude
that he has given the matter serious con-
sideration. Meanwhile, three democrats
named are engaged in a lively campaign
The other day all Of the republican mem.
bers If the Kansas delegation, spurred
by state pride, visited the president in
Senator Harris behalf. Senator Jones is
backed by powerful body OF democra tic
and republican senators. and his selection
would be very gratifying to the upper
house generally. Governor Sayers is
strongly backed by southern democratic
Endorsement, covering many Of the states
south of Maryland. y
1t is presumed that the members of the
commission will be announced in the
early spring. ~
F. Big Hole Battle Field -..-x
1t is likely that the government will
build a fence about the monument on the
Big Hole battle field. Montana, during the
present year. The secretary of war has
submitted an estimate to congress that
$1,000 will be required for the work I'm
der authority Of the secretary Of war a
monument was erected in May. 1888 at a
cost of $500 on this battle ground, tc
mark the burial place Of the soldiers who
fell in the engagement with the Indians
Aug. 9, 1877. The site Is remote from
lines Of transportation and the monu-
ment has fallen into neglect. reports in
dicating that it has been seriously dam
aged by relic hunters. To effect, it's
restoration and to enclose it with a&st1it-
y able iron or steelfence the appropriation
t$Iof $1,000 is asked-this being considered
sufficient to pay all expenses. Including
: transportation and the cost of survey
The land in question is reported by the
I interior department as unsurveyed public
land @ ~ rs I4sl-$5
MIR. Nelson's Cigar Holders.
Senator Nelson in his committee room,
at the capitol, is an inveterate smoker
always of cigars. which are held in the
queerest holder that ever one saw. Motto
him about it. He said it was made by an
admiring friend and constituent who has
place in one of the departments in this
.,3b Nl,11 49, a., H. <..,