336 On the Origin of Springs and Fountains. 
Arr. IX.—On the Origin of Springs and Fountains; by Gxo, 
W. Lone ) 
TO THE EDITOR. 
West Point, October 29th, 1829. 
Sir—1 submit to you, for the Journal of Science and Arts, a few 
ideas on the subject of springs, and the discharge of water at the 
earth’s surface by boring ; although it has often been discussed by 
able philosophers; still some additional explanations may perhaps be 
given by others. — 
Springs that flow spontaneously, are generally found on the sides 
of hills, or in the neighborhood of them; and often in such situations, 
as not to be easily accounted for, and to be, at the same time, objects 
of great curiosity. ‘The flow of water from the bowels of the earth, 
by boring, excites still more wonder, as the cause appears more hid- 
den from our comprehension. In all these cases, the hydrostatic 
principle which causes the discharge of the water, must be the same; 
that is, the pressure of a column of water superior to the pressure 
of the water raised ; and in the absence of any other active force to 
cause this pressure, it follows that it must arise from a superior foun- 
tain head. ‘To account for these circumstances, which seem to it 
volve the whole subject of springs, will be the object of this paper. 
The enquiry first leads the attention to the great amount of exhala- 
tion, in the form of vapor, that is constantly going on from the interior 
of the earth towards its surface, and which is dissipated in the atmos- 
phere. ‘This can be shewn experimentally, by placing a board or plat- 
form horizontally on the ground, when the bottom surface will soon be- 
come moist with the vapor that rises, and which would otherwise es- 
cape into the atmosphere. A still more striking example may be 
cited, to prove the amount of vapor that escapes from the earth into 
the atmosphere. Springs that have their sources near the surface of 
the ground, in periods of drought sometimes fail, and are observed to 
flow again just before a storm. This circumstance is accounted for 
by the supposition that the change of the atmosphere from a dry t0 # 
moist state, so far retards the escape of the vapor from the earth, as 
_ to cause its collection, and to renew the supply of water for the 
“spting. From these facts it may be demonstrated that springs ™ 
