The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-11
ARTES|AN WATER
AT SODA SPRINGS
Good Flow Is Struck at Slight
Depth, Much to Surprise
of the Drillers.
OTHER ATTEMPTS TO
BE MADE BY CITIZENS
Matter Has Historic Interest in
View of Observations by
Pioneer Fremont.

opeclhl 10 Inc IrlDuno.
SODA SPRINGS, Ida, Oct. 10.-A
fine flow of artesian water was struck
few days ago at a depth of ffty-six
feet in well drilled on the premises
of L. s. Marriott, in this city. The
six-inch pipe with which the well is
cased projects about thirty inches
above the surface of the ground, and
from this the water flows swiftly, be-
ing carried away in stream eight
inches wide and two inches deep. There
but this is believed to come from the
surface and will stop as soon as the
sediment settles tightly around the
casing.
While it has been expected that ar
tesian water could be obtained here,
finding it at such slight depth is sur
prise. This well will probably be
drilled deeper and will doubtless be fol-
lowed by others. thus settling the ques-
tlon of an adequate supply of pure wa
ter for the town.
In this connection Col John c. Ere
mont S account Of his first visit to
this locality, while on his exploring pS
expedition to Oregon in lS43, may be
of interest. He says:
Story Of Pioneer.
"In about six miles from our en-
in our journey TO which we had always
looked forward with great interest,"
the famous Beer Springs. The place III
which they arc situated ls basin OF
mineral waters enclosed by the noun
tains, which sweep around clrcuIar
bend of Bear river here, at It's most
northern point and which, from
northern, in the course of a few miles
acquires southern direction toward
the Great Salt Lake A pretty little
stream of clear water enters the up
per part of the basin, from an open
valley in the mountains. and, passing
through the bottom, discharges INTO
Bear river. Crossing this stream, we
descended n mile below, and made our
encampment in a grove of cedar, imme-
diately at the Beer springs, which, on
account of the efferVesclng gas and
acid taste, have received their name
from the voyngeurs and trappers OF
the country, who, in the midst or their
rude and hard lives, are fond of hnd-
ing some fancied resemblance TO the
Injuries they rarely have the fortune to
enjoy,
Although somewhat disappointed
in the expectations which various de-
scriptions had led me TO form OF un-
usual beauty of situation and scenery,
| | found il altogether a place of very
| great interest; aud traveller Tor the
| first time in a volcanic region remains
in constant excitement, and at every
| stem is arrested by something remark
able and new There is confusion
of interesting objects gathered togeth-
| er in small space Around the. place
| of encampment the Beer springs were
| numerons: but, as far as we could as
certain, were confined entirely To that
| locality, IN the bottom.
Beer Springs Numerous.
SIN the bed of the river, IN front,
| for n space of several hundred yards,
they were very abundant. the eherves-
cing gas rising UP and agitatlng the
water in countless bubbling columns.
In the vicinity round about were nu-
merous springs OF an entirely dlherent
and equally marked mineral character.
In a rather picturesque spot, about l3OO
wards below our encampment, and I'M
medIately on the river bank, is the
most remarkable spring Of the place,
In an opening in the rock, a white col
umn of scattered water is thrown up,
spray. TO variable height of about
three feet, and, though it is main
tained in a constant supply, its great
est height is attained only at regular
intervals, according to the action of tho
force below II is accompanied by a
subterranean noise; which, together
w,;tb the motion of the water, makes
|
boat in notion and, without knowing
that il had been previously so called,
we gave it the name OF the Steamboat
1.-THE rock through which it is forced
is slightly raised i'll convex manner,
and Gathered at the opening into an
urn .mouthcd form, and is evidently
formed by continued deposition from
thn water, and colorcd bright red by
oxide of iron. 1t is a hot spring, and
the water has pungent and dlsa-
preeale, metallic TASTE, leaving q purn-
ing effect on the tongue.
One Strange Phenomenon.
nWithin perhaps two yards of the
J iet is a small hole of about an inch IN
diameter, through which, at regular IN
tnrvaIs. escapes a blast of hot AR, with
- l;ght wreath of smoke. accompanied
Nv = regular noise. This hole had been
noticcd bv DR. Wislizenus, a gentleman
Hho had several years since passed by
tbjs place, and who remarked, with
very nice observation, that smelling the
aae which issued from the orliico pro
5mced a sensation of .giddiness ano
nansna. Mr.. Prcuss and myself repeat
nJ tbc observation. and were so wei
satisfied with its correctness that We
; 1id not find il pleasant TO, continue tht
a,,ncrimcnt. as the sensation OF giddI
nesq which it produced was certainly
s,ronr and decided. The cease
, les motion and play of the fountain
I,n irnD no