White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-22
STUDYING HIDDEN WATERS.
Investigations Being Made Of Under
ground Sources OF Supply in all
Parts Of the United States.

Oh the United states obtain their do
nestle water supplies from under
ground sources. Ground waters are
also extensively used throughout the
country for live stock. railroad, and
other industrial supplies and for ir-
rigation. The United States Geolog-
zeal survey early recognized the
great Importance of the ground wa
tiers and the umerou complex prob
lens relating TO their DEVELOPMENT
for human use. Hence for many
years it has carried on Investigations
and surveys of these waters Much
more work has been done in certain
states than in others, but every state
has received some attention. the poll
cy being to reach every section of the
country. but to do most of the work
where 1t will be OF the greatest prac-
teal value to the people. AS a result
OF these Investigations the Geological
Survey has published nearly $50 re-
ports dealing with ground waters, and
others are in press or In preparation.
There are still large areas that have
not been investigated or that have
been covered only by rapid reconnais-
sance. but ii is planned to continue
the work from year 10 year until the
entire country has been covered by a
detailed ground water survey.
The published reports differ widely
in character on account of the great
differences in the geological occur
renee of the under ground waters and
in the uses for which they are de-
veloped In different parts of the coun-
try. Moreover. some reports give the
results of intensive studies of small
areas. while others are based on
rapid examinations of large areas.
In SO far as is practicable these re-
ports give. for every locality that is
covered. the depth. character, and
yields of the underlying water-bear-
ing beds. the height TO which the wa
ter from each bed will rise in wells
and the prospects of obtaining flows.
the quality of the water in each bed
for domestic. Industrial. or irrigation
use. the best methods of sinking
wells, the cost of wells and of pump
ing. the depth below which drilling
should not be carried. the precautions
that should be taken to prevent pollu-
ton. and the total quantity that can
safely be pumped. On recount of the
difficulties involved this information
is of course never SO complete or so
definite as would be desirable, even
after the most careful Investigations
have been made.
The largest ground water develop
ments in late years have been those
designed TO provide water for irriga-
ton, and consequently most of the
Geological Surveys recent work has
been done In the western part of the
country. According to the census re-
port $4,000 acres were irrigated in
the arid and semiarid states in 1909
with well water. than ~two-thirds
of which was brought to the surface
by pumping. AT the present time the
acreage is considerably larger. Most
of the irrigation with ground water
is done in California. but further de-
velopments are possible in every
western state. Moreover. irrigation
with ground water is not confined to
the arid regions. The census report
shows that In 1909 more than 1.400
wells were pumped in Louisiana.
Texas and Arkansas for the irriga-
ton of 10000 acres of rice, and
pumping plants for irrigating fruit
and vegetables are installed in sever
al localities in the east. A function
of the Geological survey is to show
where further Developments of
ground water for irrigation can
proitably be made, and, what is still
more important, to warn home
seekers against settling on arid land
and then attempting developments
that are not practicable.
Very brief reports have been pub
lIshed on each of the states east OF
the Mississippi, and more detailed re-
ports on southern Maine, Connecti-
cut, Long Island. Florida. Alabama,
Mississippi. the Blue Grass region OF
Kentuckey. southwestern Ohio, north
central Indiana. nearly all of Michi-
gan, and the Coastal Plan Of Virginia,
North Carolina. Georgia and eastern
Tennessee, the reports on Alabama.
virginia. and North Carolina being
published by the respective state
surveys. A report on the under
ground waters of Wisconsin, prepared