Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-07
GREAT LAVA FLOW SECTION

Washington. Jan. ia lava sea
| 200 900 square miles in extent and up.
ward 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 overrun by such a
sea of molten rock the widespread re.
mains of which form most of their sur.
face today. Into the ancient lava beds
the rivers have cut profound Canons
several thousand feet deep, some Of
which, notably that of the Snake, even
rivals the Grand Canon Of the Colorado
except in brilliancy of rock coloring
Between the rivers on the upland
plains the country Is series of roll.
ingf plateaus on which the soil IL
thick and rich. Here Is the great
wheat.growing country of the North.
west, large areas being particularly
adapted to agriculture. One of the
greatest needs OF the section. however.
IL large supply of water for irriga.
ton in the summer season. for stool,
and for town and city needs. Thick
layers Of gravel and water.bearing
rocks are known to lie between tho
water is looked for.
During the summer of 1900 the Unit.
ed States Geological Survey. through
Prot Israel c. Russell. made a detail
ed examination of NoZ Perez county
Idaho, a typical portion of the lava.
covered country, with special refer.
ence to lis water supply. The results
of this investigation have Just been
published by the Geological Survey in
its series Of water supply and irriga.
tion papers. Besides explanation OF
the geology of the region on which
the water supply depends. the paper
contains suggestions Of the localities
where water is likely to be found. on
plains the principles for the occur
renee OF artesian waters and gives
practical suggestions for testing wells
during the process of boring. Men.
ton Is also made of the useful build
Ing stones to be found in the section
including the native limestones.
whose value for the manufacture OF
cement is explained. and the probable
location OF the precious metals. such
as gold, silver and copper is discuss.
ed. The paper may be had on april.
cation Of the director of the United
States Geological Survey. Washington.
AS a part of the water resources OF
the country the United States Geolog.
ical Survey is studying the wonderful
Florida springs and lakes from which
most of the rivers of the States have
their rise. Kissingen Springs. In
POLK county, Is one of these. The wa.
ter has a temperature OF 20 degrees
Fahrenheit and Is strongly impregnat.
ed with sulphur. iron and other ingrc,
dents that characterize artesian wa
tiers In that region. The spring is cvi.
IDENTIFY a natural artesian well The
water all comes from one point, gush.
ing up vertically with great force
through a circular orifice in the bot
tom of the basin, and although the ba.
sin Is thirty feet deep or more the
force is so great that the water direct.
ly over the orifce is considerably
higher than the surface OF the lake
Mt the banks. While swimming in this
delightful pool II Is found to be OK.
ceedingly 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 measured by
the photographers of the Geological
Survey was found to be 1900 gallons
each minute.
From s1O,OOO,OOO to $4,000, 900
worth OF fruit products are yearly
I shipped from southern California, q
| country which was, in many places.
almost a desert until water was ap-
piled to II from its numerous streams
| There are still large tracts west of the
| Missouri river amounting to millions
of acres which are awaiting develop.
ment through tho application of water.
In time these lands will be the homes
Of large populations, adding their
share to the business 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 tho
United States Geological Survey as u
part OF the water resources of tho
whole country. and the facts concern.
ing their flow and high and low water
conditions are being collected which
will be needed as demands are made
upon their waters for the development
of the adjacent lands.-1ndianapo
Journal.