372 



, district, as on the Bloody Run. They are more frequent and copious 

 beneath the caps of sand and through the openings, as at Springwells, 

 (La belle Fontaine of the French,) Mt. Pleasant, (fee, on the Huron. 



But, though the obtaining of water from living springs throughout 

 the clay district, is thus in a degree rendered uncertain, excavations for 

 water have been generally successful. Occasionally copious streams are 

 opened, discharged through seams of gravel and sand. Usually water 

 percolates slowly through a gravelly stratum of the clay, and is sweet 

 and pure, and in sufficient quantity for ordinary purposes. Well-dig- 

 gere assert that such a seam of gravel, at depth of twenty feet, is very 

 general. 



These experiments determine : first, that a reasonable prospect exists 

 of obtaining good water by digging; secondly, that a very deep exca- 

 vation cannot be recommended. 



Wells of from five to twenty feet, frequently afford an abundant sup- 

 ply, rising from below ; while excavations in the same neighborhood of 

 from fifty to one hundred feet, through a hard, dry, reddish blue clay, 

 yield no water or are filled from the surface. The boring at Detroit, 

 which extended to the depth of two hundred and sixty feet, one hun- 

 dred and thirty-three feet of which was in rock below the clay, failed to 

 furnish the desired supply. Instances have occurred, however, from 

 diggings in the vicinity of the hmerock, of a very copious discharge 

 from an unusual depth. 



Much of the bad effects of stagnant water might be avoided by occa- 

 sional cleansing of wells. A fresh supply should be obtained by thor- 

 oughly draining the well of its contents, whenever an approach to pu- 

 trefaction is perceived. 



Might not a quantity of lime or charcoal, whose antiseptic qualities 

 are well known, thrown in, be a useful auxiliary in preserving purity? 



No purer water perhaps exists than that of our immense upper lakes, 

 the whole body of which passes through the straits of Detroit. It is 

 exceedingly soft, and in its under current of almost uniform coldness 

 throughout the seasons. 



Detroit denied herself the enjoyment of this luxury, when, by an un- 

 fortunate policy, the supply that should have been sought in that vol- 

 ume which flows pure and icy cold in the depths of the channel, is 

 transferred to the reservoir from the warm, contaminated surface at the 

 docks. 



