The Opelousas courier., 1902-05-03
SEA OF MOULTEN ROCK
'NcE COVERED 100000 SQUARE
MILES OF THIS couNTRv

Aa,, - Sou,u0O SQUARE
MILES OF THIS COUNTRY.
Washington, Oregon, and a LARGE p,r4
OF idahe Were Once oyerrun-Ex.
aFn'ned by the Geoloqica, survey
WIN reference to It's Water Supply.
a ava sea 200, 900 square miles IN
eAeene and upward of 1000 feet deem
is not usually thought Of as forming .
part OF the United States, vet nearly
me whole OF Washington, Oregon, and
sarge part of Idaho were once over
run Dy such a sea Of molten rock, the
widespread remains Of which form
most OF their surface today. Into
ancient lava beds the rivers have
cut profound canons several thousand
leet deep, some of which, notably that
OF the Snake, even rival the Grand
canon OF Colorado, except in brilliancy
OF rock coloring.
the rivers, on the upland
plains the country is a series of roll
ing 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 lay
ers Of gravel and water-bearing rocks
are known to, lie between the lava
sheets, and it Is from these that water
is looked for.
During the Summer of 1900 the Unit.
ed States Geological Survey, through
Prof. Israel c. Russell, made a detailed
of Nez Perez County,
Idaho, a typical portion of the lava
covered country, with special refer
ence to its water supply. The results
OF this investigation have just been
published by the Geological Survey
in it's series of water supply and irri-
cation papers.
Besides explanation of the geology
OF the region on which the water sup
ply depends, the paper contains sug-
gestions Of the localities where water
Is likely to be found, explains the prin-
for the occurrence or artesian
waters and gives practical suggestions
for testing wells during the process of
Mention is also made of the
useful building stones to be found
in the section, including the native
limestones. whose value for the manu-
facture Of cement is explained, and
the probable location of the precious
metals, such as gold, silver and cop
per, is discussed. The paper may
be had on application to the director
Of the United States Geological Sur
vey, Washington.
AS a part Of the water u of
the country the United States Geolo-
gical Survey is studying the wonderful
Florida springs and lakes from which
most of the rivers of the state have
rise. Kissingen Springs, in Polk
County, is one of these. The water
has a temperature of 70 degrees
and is strongly impregnat-
ed with sulphur, iron and other in
gradients that characterize artesian
waters in that region.
The spring is evidently a natural
artesian well. The water all comes
from one point, gushing up vertically
with great force through a circular orr
fee in the bottom of the basin, and
although the basin is thirty feet deep
or more the force is SO great that the
water directly over the orif1ce is con-
siderably higher than the surface of
the lake at the banks. While swim
ming in this delightful pool 1t is found
to be exceedingly difficult to keep in
q position over this spring boil and i'm
possible to sink in the water at that
point. The outflow Of the spring as
measured by the photographers of the
Survey was found to be a.
900 gallons each minute.
From 100000 to $4,000, 900
worth of fruit products are yearly ship
ped from southern California, a coun
try which was in many places almost
d 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 business and de-
of the country when the
which run through them are
Used to make the land fit for agricul-
ture and life. Many of these streams
are o being studied by the hydrog-
raphers of the United States Geologl-
cal Survey as a part of the water re-
sources of the whole country and the
facts concerning their flow and high
Ind low water conditions are being
collected which will be needed as de-
nands are made upon their waters for
he development of the adjacent lands.
Fundamentals Journal.