maryla:s;d geological survey 145 



county. AlthoiTgh many of these rumors have been without founda- 

 tion, small amounts of oil and gas have been observed in some places 

 during the sinking of wells and in the vicinity of streams where 

 there is seepage from porous beds. The gases generated by decaying 

 vegetation have been mistaken in certain cases for natural gas, and 

 the iridescent film of limonite that often appears on the surface of 

 stagnant water in swamps and bogs has been supposed to be 

 petroleum. 



Borings have been made about 2 miles west of Annapolis in Anne 

 Arundel County and about 1 mile south of Meadows in the search 

 for oil and gas, but only traces were found. The Meadows well was 

 sunk to a depth of 1511 feet, in all probability nearly to the crystal- 

 line rocks, thus practically proving the absence in that place of any 

 considerable amounts of either of these materials. It is not prob- 

 able that either petroleum or natural gas in paying quantities will 

 be found within the limits of the county. 



The AVater Resources. 



The water supply of Prince George's County is found in the 

 streams and wells of the district. Many of the streams have been 

 used at various times to furnish power for small mills, but little use 

 has been made of them as sources of water supply. Washington 

 obtains its water supply at a point some distance beyond the western 

 boundary of the county. Laurel draws its supply of water from a 

 small tributary of the Patuxent River. With the exception of the 

 residents of these two cities the inhabitants of the region derive 

 their water supply from springs and wells. The wells are divided 

 into two classes — shallow dug wells and deeper bored wells, the deeper 

 usually furnishing artesian water. 



SPRINGS. 



The gently sloping strata, the alternation of porous and imper- 

 vious beds, and the great amount of dissection by streams which the 

 region has undergone, all contribute to the formation of springs along 

 the valley slopes. From these springs many of the inhabitants obtain 



