The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-07-26
IOWA AND MINNESOTA
GROUND WATERS.

The natural resources of southern
Iowa and northern Mis-
souri, will not realize their maximum
development in agriculture alone,
great as this industry has become.
The region should be the great man
ufacturing center of the middle west
as it has central location, excellent
railroad facilities and almost innumer-
able sites favorable for industrial
activity. There is however, one i'm
portant difficulty in those states
which, until solved, will hinder or
prevent manufacturing development,
namely, the lack of good water sup
ply.
1t is we'll known that underlying
this region is one of the greatest
artesian basins in the United States.
In Iowa especially there are many
famous wells from 1000 to 3000s feet
deep that afford enormous amounts of
water flowing at high pressure, so
high in some cases that towns have
not needed to install pumps to furn-
ish pressure even for firing purposes.
Perennial fountains that cost nothing
for maintenance can be found in the
public squares. Clearly then the
geat source of water for this country
is the ground. There is one fatal
defect, however-the water is gener-
ally unfit for manufacturing pur-
poses, however satisfactory its quail
ity may be for household use. The
majority of the waters contain ingred-
tents that damage manufactured pro-
ducts and corrode or scale steam boil
ers. Untold thousands of dollars have
been wasted in the search for favor
able boiler waters and great indus
trial enterprises have been abandoned
because the search was unsuccessful.
Nevertheless. there appear here and
there throughout the region wells that
supply excellent water for all pur-
poses, and this indicates that, were
the facts concerning the ground
waters properly studied, the depth at
which this good water occurs might
be determined for each locality.
Through the efforts of several of
the Congressman representing the
region above indicated, the United
States Geological Survey, through its
photographic Branch, began some
month ago study of the water bear
ing strata beneath the surface of
the ground in these three states
and entered upon thorough examina-
ton of the quality of the water from
each of the underground Sources.
1t was found to be purely an inter-
state problem, the artesian basin not
being confined to the state boundaries
but extending over all three. There
fore the problem could not be profit
ably studied by either one of the
states. Up to the present time, thu
sources of many of the bad water
have been definitely located as vel
as some of the good ones, and it il
encouraging to note that apparentl.
in all parts of the region the goo
waters are available after proper ex
animation has been made Of the con
ditions that prevail. So importan
has the investigation proved to b
that the Geological Survey has recent
ly made an additional appropriation
for the work, and field investigation
will continue during the present sum
mer and fall, at the end of which
is expected that sufficient data wi
have been collected to make repol
upon the subject. AS is usual
such cases this report when printe
will be for free distribution.
The economic Importance of IL
, work can hardly be overestimate'
Cities and towns throughout this r.
gion have been obliged to use be
boiler and industrial waters can no
look forward to the time when favo
able waters will be available and il
dustrial development is likely to pr
coed with all the speed that Il
favorable conditions in the regiol
deserve. The whole investigate
presents an instance of the practic;
:. value of some lines of governme
investigation. Here is an intesta
problem. never to be we'll worked o
:" by the individual states interest
:. because the controlling conditio
- are widespread and it is nece ssary
consider them all before any gre