The San Francisco call., 1908-05-24
MODERN MAGICIAN
COUURES WATER
Expert of Geological Survey
Predicts Artesian Flow at
5000 Foot Depth
Railroads Deep Bore Strikes a
Big Supply Within Twenty
Feet of Limit
srEcIAI DISPATCH TO THE CALL

WASHINGTON, May 12.-Oniy the
seventh son of seventh son is sup
posed to have the gift of hidden water
knowledge. With his witch hazel wand
and there is no authentic instance
where a true, water witch faiieo-ne
can locate wells or underground chan
nels to a depth of 40 feet or little
more He viii hold his forked switch
in both hands and circle about, and
when he crosses above a vein OF water
the butt OF the switch bends DOWN
ward with irresistible force. thus To-
eating, as by very magic. the spot at
which he advises the digging OF the
we'll.
The government geologists smile
broadly at the claims of the born water
finder with the witch hazel wand;
nevertheless they do little we'll find
ing themselves once in while, but
their work Is based on geologic knowl-
edge of water bearing gravels and rock
formations. Nor are they limited to
any 40 or oven 100 feet depths at which
they will promise the discovery OF the
liquid mineral.
What would have been thought a
century ago of a man who would pre-
dict that water would be found in a
certain spot at a depth of 5000 feet?
Either that he was a consummate liar
live to see his prophecy fulfilled, he
would have been pronounced dealer
in the black art and a fit subject for
burning at the stake. Yet this Is ex-
actly what has occurred in an instance
Just made public by the United States
geological survey.
RAILROAD, ASKS ADVICE
The Black hills region Of South Da-
is a dru and fha WafAY
problem Is in many, cases a serious one.
Several years ago the Burlington rail-
road, which runs through the south
end of the Black hills. concluded to
sink well and applied to the United
States geological survey for advice as
to the underground conditions.
N. H. Darton. survey geoiogist who
<had spent some years studying the
geology of the Dakotas, made the pre-
diction that the region of the proposed
we'll site was underlaid by water bear
ing sandstones which. at a depth no,
greater than 5000 feet. would probably
furnish good supply OF water, SO thu
well was bored.
Darton stated that some water might
be struck in the red sandy limestonea
OF the carboniferous formation and this
was the case: but he advised that pro-
vision should be made to bore to the
would probably be encountered at a
depth Of about 5000 feet.
PROPHECY IS FULFILLED
The water was found In these sand
stones, known as the Deadwood forma-
tfon. which began at 1920 feet and was
penetrated to a total depth of 1850
when the flow of the well amounted to
half million gallons a day under a
pressure of rs pounds. giving an ample
supply for the railroads. needs and
constituting one OF the most note
worthy artesian wells Of the country.
The water is of uniform tempera-
ture OF 122 degrees F. and OF good
quality, and the supply fully Justi-
fies the great expense Of the under
taking. Several times the projectors
of the enterprise were on the point OF
giving up the task. but they were
urged to continue, the geologist being
confident that theSprospects warranted
boring to the lowest stratum.
When the great dow was struck
after boring more than 1880 feet the
water proved bad; II was impregnated
with mineral matter and valueless for
boiler use. The railroad people were In
despair, but again appealed 70 the gov
ernment geologtst-
Darton expressed hi1 bsi9e1 that the
main flow from the lower sandstone