The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-03-30
WEIGHING FOR WATER
An Ancient Superstition Described in a
Government Report.

OF uelcNtllg SElAilldlo is curious SUI
perstition that has been a subject of
discussion since the middle of the six
teenth century and still has a strong
hold on the popular mind, even in this
country. This is evident from the
large number of inquiries received each
year by the United States Geological
Survey, Department of the Interior, as
TO the efficacy of such a twig, especial |
ly for locating underground water. To
furnish reply to these inquiries the
Geological Survey has published a
brief paper by Arthur ]. Ellis, on the
history of water witching, with bib
biography that includes truly aston
ishing number of books and pamphlets
on this uncanny subject.
In summary the paper states: 1t is
doubtful whether so much investiga-
ton and discussion has been bestowed
on any other subject with such abso-
lutte lack of positive results It is
difficult to see how for practical pur-
poses the entire matter could be more
thoroughly diScredited. 1t is by no .
means true that all persons using
forked twig or some other device for
locating water or other minerals are !
intentional deceivers. Some of them
are doubtless men of good character
and benevolent intentions. However,
as anything that can be deeply yelled I
in mystery affords an opportunity for
swlndlers, there can be no reasonable
doubt that many of the large group of
professional finders of water oil, or
other minerals who are taking pay for
their Services" or for the sale of their =
instruments" are deliberately de- l,
frauding the people and that the total l.
amount of money they obtain is large. -
To all inquirers the United States &C. IL
illogical Survey therefore gives the .
advice not to eXpend any money for the -
services of anw water witch" or for ~
the use or purchase Of any instrument ~
machine or device for locating under
ground water or other minerals. ~
In tracing the history Of the subject
. IS found that divining rods have %
'een used (l) to locate ore deposits "a
y to discover buried or hidden treas u
ire, CD to find lost landmarks and re-
stabllsh property boundaries, (4) to w
eteet criminals, (5) to analyze per -
onal character (6) to cure diseases. 10;
y to trace lost or strayed domestic
nmals, (S) to insure immunity yen !
galnst i'll fortune by use as a fetish.
y to locate well sites, t1O1 to trace WV
e course of underground streams. '''e
- to determine the amount of water
'allable by drilling at given spot.
y to determine the depth at which
alter or ores occur, (13) to determine
e direction of cardinal points. IA IT..
determine the height of trees, and ~
D to analyze ores and water 7Ns
The origin of the superstition is n.
it IN antiquity. What is believed to = =
the first published descriptidy, c.e 4ba :, d
vifnng rod IS contained in GTeorpI,a> III. =
gricola's de re Metalhca,n which nel'
as published in 1856. The device be- s %
me common first in Germany as a AP =
cans of locating mines and also for I
seovering buried treasure, a matter 10y
rather common interest in those ~
US, when the practice of burning -. a
oney and plate for safe keeping was .lie
ry general It was introduced into ~ +
ON of FBzaha1,l .t,s'iT ,noo uofIng the sele
e the end OF the seventeenth century ,l; ',e
had spread through the countries of pIe'
rope, Everywhere it aroused contro- 'ei 1I
'sy. The rules prescribed for tbo NJ
.tlng Of the twig partook largely of : any
athen sorcery and astrologv There Juqe
Gus reminscerc oo'' 70 e I've u3coh- scho
avian, and even Of the Ayrian nv a.. -
logy, But this heather influence 'ile
S offset when the rod was dulv p"I:
fistlanlzed by baptism, being laid -
TINS purpose in the bed with new Gu 10 u
baptized child, by whose Christian YOU
ne 1t was afterward addressed II SUN
readily conceivable that the motive
surrounding this practice with a g,
lglous atmosphere might not have
en- altogether belief in its divine Fl
for at that time anyone som
md engaged in mysterious works bow
. III dahger OF being charged with ehe
rcery and burned to death. bad
The dlvining rod continued to be ton
7orIte subject with alchemistic wri- men
rs until about 1860, when a new t,,rn Mic
affairs was brought about by Jes- Gait
father, who denounced it as an in can
'ument controlled by the devil. The milo
beet was then taken I'D bv the witt
urch, and for moro thar Inn - fir
was hotly debated by churcbmen. 20.
me approved of it and authorized its
on church property; others con-
mned 1t and threatened those who
ed 1t with excommunication. In
W, the year of the Salem witcheraft
notorlety was greatly increased bv ,
e arrest and execution of a criminal :, \
rough the agency of a peasant who lai'
ed dlvining rod. Interest in this To,
sc was intense and widespread and ro7
lied forth a large amount of Htera- Won
re. AS late as 1903 this peasant was me
1pioyed to point out with his divin- L
rod Protestants for massacre, under the
e plea of punishment for crimes thew era
d committed The divining rod was cat
some respects closely related To spl'
tchcraft, as is suggested by the use pea .s
lamentations in connection with d. 'ily