778 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 1. 



of the cliff, overlooking the falls. The man had 

 gone down the same path that we had: and on 

 looking np he saw his dog. He called to him; 

 and the faithful animal, in obedience to what 

 he supposed was his master's wish, and having 

 entire faith that he would ask iiim to do nothing 

 that would be to his peril, leaped from the 

 height and was dashed to pieces on the rocks 

 below, greatly to the consternation of the own- 

 er, and all who witnessed the affair. As we 

 passed up the pathway there was a stone, and 

 on it was a little epitaph telling the circum- 

 stances. 



After taking in a few more objects of interest, 

 which I have not now time to mention, we 

 started for the hotel, which we reached toward 

 evening. 



[ To be conUiuicd.] 



ANOTHEE LARGE ARTESIAN WELL. 



Tins TIME AT A PLACE WIIEKE IT WAS GREAT- 

 LY NEEI)P:I). 



Friend Root:—Th\s (Indian) agency has been 

 located on these grounds. 2>^ miles from the 

 Missouri River, 20 or more years. It is situated 

 on the bluff overlooking the river bottom. The 

 muddy river, the sewer into which every thing 

 in a large area of the Northwest drains, has 

 been the only sure water supply for the agency 

 during all these years. Wells have been sunk 

 in various places 80 or more feet deep, without 

 becoming protitable. Cisterns have been com- 

 pleted at the residences all over the village, but 

 it does not rain enough here to till them, and 

 people have been compelled to buy water, haul- 

 ed from the river at the rate of 3.5 cents per 

 barrel. All the Indian agents have tried so 

 hard to save jnoney for the gov(M'nment. and 

 thus increase tiieir popularity in Washington, 

 that they feared to ask for authoi'ity and funds 

 with which to drill an artesian well, until dur- 

 ing the last (official) days of Major Hill, when 

 the necessary provision was made, and we now 

 have a magnificent flow of water through a six- 

 inch pipe, the lower end of which is 700 feet 

 below the surface. The water has a pressure 

 of 95 lbs. to the square inch; and when allowed 

 to escape through a IJ^-inch hole in a cap 

 screwed on top of the pipe, it is forced upward 

 through a stiff breeze and lost in spray, in which 

 the prettiest rainbows sometimes appear, 70 

 and 80 feet above the earth. More than 100.00(J 

 barrels flow each 24 hours. 



This well was drilled through a sort of blue 

 slate and sandstone most of its depth. When 

 about (WrO feet down, the sandstone was reached: 

 and in it was found a little water. This water- 

 bearing substance was reached at midnight, 

 when all the people of the village were at rest. 

 The machinery was promptly stopped, and the 

 govei-nment bell was tolled until nearly every- 

 body knew that water had been found. The 

 pipe was next extended to the bottom of the 

 hole, when the drill was started again. The 

 porous, sandy substance into which the drill, 

 weighing thnu'-quarters of a ton, was plunged, 

 yielded readily, and with ev(>ry stroke the vol- 

 ume of water was increased, and so was it«; 

 pressure, until the honeycombed sandstone was 

 passed thiough. and the drill was suspended in 

 the mystciious underground body of water. As 

 the drill passed out of the sandstone, the water 

 was full of snow-white sand, Hue and sharp: 

 and just here came up about half a gallon of 

 charred wood. It was almost coal. I send you 

 a sample by this mail. 



Many water-courses in the United States, 

 which are called creeks, and which furnish 

 power for the movement of flouring-mills and 



other machinery, do not afford as much water 

 as is forced through this six-inch pipe. The 

 water is as clear as crystal, and is the "hard- 

 est" water I ever saw. It is so hard that it is 

 almost bitter. It can not be used for laundry 

 purposes without flrst having been subjected to 

 the reaction of chemicals. 



Thei'e are many artesian wells in this part of 

 the country, and nuuiy more are needed. It is 

 believed that the same body of water furnishes 

 the supply for all the wells near. 



W. McKay Doug an. 



Santee Agency, Neb., Oct. 10, 18^)0. 



Thanks, friend D. Why not utilize these wells 

 for driving machinery? After the force of the 

 water is spent it will be worth just as much for 

 irrigation. Below is something more in regard 

 to the artesian well \\iiich we pictui'ed in our 

 Oct. 1st issue: 



I was somewhat surprised to see the artesian 

 well in Gleanings. It is a good picture. You 

 ask how deep they have to go for the artesian 

 wells. There are eight between here and 

 Woonsocket. and I believe the shallowest one is 

 600 ft., and they strike them all the way to 1000. 

 There is no trouble in finding them anywhere 

 in the James River Valley, which is about 100 

 miles wide: and all up and down the the river 

 they are trying for one. In INIadison they are 

 down 720 ft. now. J. W. Chapin. 



WHnfred, S. Dak., Oct. 14. 



There, friend C, that is just about what I ex- 

 pected — that is, that the whole region lound 

 about there would be tested, and this wonderful 

 vein of water fully developed. Now, I am a 

 great fellow to ask questions. What occurs to 

 me just now is this: In the oil-flelds they drill a 

 great many dry wells — that is, wells that give 

 nothing, and at the same time a vein may be 

 struck giving a wonderful flow with these dry 

 wells all around it. Is it so with artesian wells? 

 My impression is, that, where this enormous 

 pressure exists, the water would rise pretty 

 much the same way anywhere in the vicinity, 

 by going the same depth. If I understand you, 

 there is a track 100 miles wide and of indefinite 

 length, where artesian wells are found almost 

 invariably, by boring deep enough. 



GOVERNMENT IMPORTING BEES. 



A VALITABLE SUGGESTION. 



Mr. Editor: — You are aware that we have 

 received great advantage fi'om the discovery 

 and importation of superior bees into America. 

 Possibly there are bees in Africa, India, Cey- 

 lon, Philippine Islands, etc.. that are superior 

 to our present bees — even to Italians, Syrians, 

 or Carniolans. We should at least know wheth- 

 er there are such b(>es. and should have a chance 

 to test them. I have had some commiuiication 

 with government oflicials. and I believe that, if 

 bee-keepei's will move in the nuxtter. we can 

 secure such bees, and at no expense to the bee- 

 keepers, and at slight expense to the govern- 

 ment. It is certainly an enterprise worthy a 

 trial. 



It is suggested to me. that, if the bee-keepers 

 will memorialize the government, thnmgh the 

 secretary of agriculture, it will help to secure 

 the object desired. Please bring the matter up 

 in Gleanings for Nov. 1, which I hope may be 

 out prior to the Keokuk meeting, so the bee- 



