The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-02
HIDDEN WATERS OF MONTANA.
Geological Survey to Make Investigation
of Location, Volume and Quality.

A special study of the underground
water resources of Montana to meet the
strong demand of its settlers and citizens
for information as to where and how
much water may be obtained In the
state is just announced by the United
States geological survey.
Those who are engaged in the great
movement to settle the West and to
bring about in that region condition
in which the vast stretches of now
sparsely populated land shall more eff
GENTLY contribute to the support of the
people of the United States, generally
realize that of all the problems to be
met and solved that of water supply
is likely to be the most critical. Yet it
too often happens that people reared IN
the well-watered East arrive in western
states unprepared to meet the striking
" different conditions of aridity and al
kslinity that Immediately confront them.
Their first need is to obtain water for
domestic use and for stock, but the
great problems of irrigation immedi-
ately follow. 1t is not only TO new set
tiers, however, that these problems of
obtaining water supplies present perplex-
ing difficulties; even TO old residents
they often become almost insurmount-
able.
In order to collect information on the
occurrence and quality of ground waters
that may be used in aiding citizens and
municipalities to solve these problems,
the United States geological survey has
for years conducted field investigations
of the underground water resources of
the country, but the force of men en-
gagged in this work has been so small
compared with the amount of work TO be
done that there still remain large areas
in which no work Of this kind has been
attempted. This is true of all of the
eastern half of Montana, and also OF
mos tof the western half of that state.
Numerous requests for information are
received each year from settlers in Mon.
tans, especially from those in the east
ern part of the state but so little is now
known of the underground water condi.
tions in that region that it Las not been
possible TO give inquirers satisfactory
advice. Plans have been approved, how
ever, to begin a comprehensive inyestigs
ton Of the underground waters Of Mon
tana this summer. To make a detailed
investigation Of the entire state will Of
course be a very large task but the
plan for the present fiscal year contem-
plates a somewhat detailed survey OF
parts Of southeastern Montana and the
collection Of general information in other
parts Of the state.
An important part Of this work win
consist in collecting detailed well rec
ords and samples OF well water for analy-
sis. w. A. Lamb. district engineer OF
the United States geological survey, and
A. W. Mahon, state engineer Of Montana,
are collecting data Of this kind by CORE
spondence. and, beginning about Aug. I,
q. r. Neinzer Of the T.. s. geological
survey, the gcologist in charge Of ground
water Investigations. and A. J. Ellis, as
sociste geologist. viii conduct somewhat
detailed field studies. The data obtained
viii enable the survey 10 prepare a re-
port for free distribution. which viii De
scribe the occurrence and extent Of the
water bearing formations and the gen
sral quality and approximate quantity
of water that may ~ obtained in differ
eut localities. together with advice a. 70
the best methods ~ developing Il. Co
operation on the part of the people q
Montana. 20 the extent Of furnishing
data in regard to Hells and water sup
plies. win h. an important AID in the
ronduct Of this work and i j. hoped
that an information that can hs FUR
rished viii b. given W A. lamb Mon
tsna National hank building. Helena.
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