238 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST [June 



feet long, was then put down, wliicli rests on the oflfset at the 

 bottom of the 10-inch bore. The 4Mnch bore was then enlarged 

 to 6 inches to the depth of 1 ,022 feet, and a wrought iron tube 

 of 5 inches bore, weiging more than six tons, was introduced, 

 reaching from the top and resting of the offset at the bottom of 

 the 6-inch bore, thus securing the work to this depth, and reduc- 

 ing the bore to a convenient size to work in. The 4J-inch bore 

 has been continued to the depth of 3,843 feet 6 inches without 

 further tubing. At the depth of 3,029 feet the first observation 

 of temperature was taken, and the reading of the thermometer was 

 107^ F. This first observation is stated by Dr. Stevens to be 

 specially worthy of confidence, as having been confirmed by 

 several repetions, or rather, to use Dr. Steven's own words, '■ this 

 was the maximum of several tiials." It was taken, as well as 

 those that followed it, by means of a registering thermometer (kind 

 not mentioned) ; but in answer to our inquiries, Dr. Stevens 

 states, upon the authority of the carpenter who attached the 

 thermometer to the pole by which he was lowered, '' that no 

 means were taken to defend the bulb from pressure." In the 

 absence of further information (and Mr. Atkeson himself has not 

 yet spoken), we can place no reliance upon the temperature 

 recorded, as the thermometer had to bear the pressure of f of a 

 mile of water. The temperature registered at lower depths, the 

 deepest being 800 feet lower, were all, strange to say, somewhat 

 lower than this, a circumstance which is all the more remarkable 

 because the pressure (which tends to make the reading higher) 

 must have increased with the depth. At the bottom, or rather 

 at 3,837 feet, being 6J feet from the bottom, the temperature 

 indicated was 105^^. Either of these results, taken apart from 

 the other and compared with the surface temperature, would give 

 a result not improbable in itself. The mean temperature of the 

 air at St. Louis appear to be about 53°, but it seems desirable to 

 avoid publishing calculations till the data are better established. 

 Unfortunately, the apparatus which was employed in boring has 

 all been removed, after the insertion of two wooden plugs, with 

 an iron screw at the upper end of each, one at the offset at a 

 depth of 1,022 feet, and the other at the offset at the depth of 

 953 feet, for the purpose of separating the fresh from the salt 

 waters. These plugs were driven in with great force, and can 

 only be withdrawn with the aid of a series of poles and other 

 appliances, such as were used in boring, which will be rather 



