73 
numerous places give trouble from this cause, often making it impossible 
to use them satisfactorily for steam purposes. 
Muncie uses well water. The raw water is heavily impregnate@ 
with iron which is treated by aeration, which puts the supply in a satis- 
factory condition. i 
An important cendition found in the well supplies has been the in- 
formation secured showing the lowering of the water level at various 
places. This occurs in a number of localities, some of which are herewith 
mentioned. 
Towns. 
IKkentland (old gas well)...... 48 feet drop in 5 years. 
Elwood ...... Raa SE MAT Ole Seeks 40 feet drop in 12 years. 
REPREOTIS LIU. farsroe O saelae es ae ee elarsg 40 feet drop in 10 years. 
RTI LO eWarere arm ercita ea ae: « .... 28 feet drop in (time not given). 
FRETILTIO TO ers at Mecaele se oeke sisters oe S feet drop in 10 years. 
AVErAital ON vereseten cert auaueie oe io fav's d, ores lela 6 feet drop in 20 years (cause of the 
fall at Marion is given as due to 
waste from other wells). 
ISS KEIO: Be oko AS Don Ech Choe ae ae 4 feet drop in 10 years. 
SOME D ONG eye Herta aiaieks oto aeal 3 feet drop in S4 years. 
LUsheheCs a) Gove Bint eecieno ai a et One Cane Some wells show 30 feet drop in 6 
years. 
ISOKOMI0) 25 6,56 ac us hetaner ss, adds aeua' Gps Some wells have dropped 15 feet since 
i895. 
It is a long step back to the time when there was nothing but water over 
what is now Indiana; but now, over that same area the procuring of 
water is an engineering problem of some importance. 
The gradual receding of the water from the inundated area took place, 
of course, through a great length of time, but even after the waters be- 
came confined to their individual channels, such as our present day rivers, 
the point of saturation of the earth has been lowered by natural and arti- 
ficial causes, such as deforestation, large drainage and reclamation works 
and the drainage of farm lands. Records from the weather bureau show 
that the rainfall for the past twenty years has not decreased. The ques- 
tion of run-off, however, is more important, as this undoubtedly has been, 
and is becoming more of an important factor each year. 
A systematic method of recording all supplies in the State and tabu- 
lating ail data pertaining to old as well as new supplies would be of great 
value. This could be best undertaken by one of the departments of the 
State and this information is here presented as a nucleus for the same, 
