The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-12
SEA OF MOLTEN ROCK
1T ONCE COVERED 100000 SQUARE
MILES OF THE COUNTRY.
Washington, Oregon and Idaho Were
Oceans of Lava Years AgO-GeO-
logical Survey Bulletins.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. ia lava sea 2OO-
600 square miles in extent and upward of
1000 feet deep is not usually thought Of as
forming a part of the United States, yet
nearly the whole of Washington, oregon
and a large part of Idaho were once over
run by such a sea of molten rock, the wide
spread remains of which form most of
their surface to-day. Into the ancient lava
beds the rivers have cut profound canyons
several thousand feet deep, some of which.
notably that of the Snake, even rivals the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado. except in
brilliancy of rock coloring. Between the
rivers on the upland plains the country is
a series of rolling plateaus on which the
soil is thick and rich. Here is the great
wheat-growing country of the Northwest.
large areas being particularly adapted to
agriculture. One of the greatest. needs of
the section, however, is a larger supply of
water for irrigation in the summer season,
for stock and for town and city needs.
Thick layers of gravel and water-bearing
rocks are known to lie between the lava
sheets, and it is from that that water is
looked for.
During the summer of 1900 the United
States Geological Survey, through Prof.
Israel c. Russell. made a detailed examina-
portion Of the lava-cOvered country, with
special reference to it's water supply. The
results of this investigation have just been
published by the Geological Survey in its
series of water supply and irrigation pa
pers. Besides explanation of the geology of
the region which the water supply de-
Ponds, the paper contains suggestions or
the localities where water is likely to be
found explains the principles for the &C.
currence of artesian waters and gives prac-
teal suggestions for testing wells during
he nf
made of the useful building stones TO be
found in the section, including the native
Hmestones, whose value for the manufact-
ure of cement is explained, and the proba-
BILE location of the precious metals, such
as gold silver and copper, is discussed. The
paper may be had on application to the
director of the United States Geological
Survey, Washington.
AS a part of the water resources Of the
country the United States Geological Sur
vey is studying the wonderful Florida
springs and lakes from which most of
the rivers of the State have their rise.
Kissengen Springs, in Polk county, is one
of these The water has a temperature
Of 20 degrees Fahrenheit and is strongly
impregnated with sulphur, iron and other
ingredients that characterize artesian wa
ters in that region. The spring is evidently
a natural arteSian well. The water all
comes from one point, gushing up YER
tically with great force through a circular
orifice in the bottom of the basin and al
though the basin is thirty feet deep or
more the force is so great that the water
directly over the orifce is considerably
higher than the surface of the lake at the
banks. While swimming In this delightful
pool it is found TO be exceedingly difficult
to keep in a position over this spring boil,
and impossible TO sink in the water at that
point. The outflow of the spring as meas
ured by the hydrogra piers of the Geolo8i-
cal Survey, was found to be 1900 gallons
eacn minute.
From ten to fifteen million dollars worth
of fruit products are yearly shipped from
Southern California, country which was,
in many places, almost a desert until water
was applied to it from its numerous
streams. There are still large tracts west Of
the Missouri river amounting TO millions
of acres, which are awaiting development
through the application Of water. In time
these lands will be the homes of large
populations adding their share to the bus
mess and development of the country when
the rivers which run through them are
used to make the land fit for agriculture
and life Many of these streams are now
being studied by the photographers of the
United States Geoglical Survey a part
OF the water resources of the whole country
and the facts concerning their flow and
high and low water conditions are being
collected which will be needed demands
are made upon their waters for the de-
velopment of the adjacent lands.