HISTORY OF VERMONT. 37 



New Enarland states to avail themselves of this 

 process of nature, and to form a perennial sprmg 

 for their own convenience. The method of pro- 

 ceeding is this, on the side of a hill they dig a 

 well, till they come to a sufficient quantity of 

 water, generally from eighteen to forty feet be- 

 low the surface. A passage is then dug from 

 the bottom of the well to the side of the hill, 

 that the water may find a regular discharge 

 through the artificial channel, when it is receiv- 

 ed and retained in troughs or other receptacles 

 for the use of their cattle. In this way artificial 

 springs are often formed, which do not fail in 

 our dryest summers, but become perennial^ and 

 are in every respect as permanent and useful as 

 those which are formed by nature. From 

 whence is the water derived that supplies these 

 artificial perennial springs ? Not certainly from 

 rains and showersj which are casual, accidental, 

 and variable ; but from waters which are always 

 in the earth at that depth, and lie too far beneath 

 the surface to be much affected by rain or 

 drought. 



If in this way we are able to form artificial 

 perennial springs, is it to be much doubted but 

 that nature does the same in a much more ex- 

 tensive and perfect manner ? And would not 

 this be always the effect, when the water in our 

 hills and mountains can find or force for itself a. 

 passage, at the side or bottom of the declivity ? 

 The phenomena seem to denote such operations 

 and effects. In all our mountains perennial 

 springs are found issuing at their sides or bot- 

 toms. In our most extensive and sandy plains 

 perennial springs are often found at the bottom 

 E 



