WATERS OF NEBRASKA. 53 



a list of over one hundred, and no doubt there are many more that 

 have not been noted. In addition to these there are great numbers 

 of ponds that almost approach in size to the dignity of lakes. 

 Some of these lakelets at the head of the Elkhorn were in former 

 years, when first visited, remarkable for the number of fishes that 

 they contained. Unaccustomed to the presence of man, they 

 seemed to have no fears of him. At least, when I waded into 

 them they gathered around me in huge shoals. The alkaline lakes 

 can always be detected on sight. No grass or other vegetable forms 

 grow near the water, wliile at fresh water lakes luxuriant growths 

 of vegetation extended to the very water's edge. With the in- 

 crease of rainfall going on over the State, the level of these lakes 

 will naturally rise, and many of them that are now isolated will 

 become connected and cover much more extended areas than at 

 present. A prominent characteristic of most of these lakes and 

 lakelets is the wonderful clearness of the water. A silver three or 

 five cent piece thrown into them can be distinctly seen at the bot- 

 tom with the naked eye, even when they are from fifteen to twenty 

 feet deep. This I ascertained in many instances by actual measure- 

 ment. Most of the deeper lakes, especially of the northern and 

 western portions of the State, have gravelly, -coarse, sandy or peb- 

 bly bottoms. Here formerly, much more than at present, was a 

 paradise of water fowl. 



SPRINGS, WELLS, AND ARTESIAN WELLS. 



In the eastern half the State springs are abundant, and wherever 

 the lay of the land and the underlying rocks are favorable to their 

 existence. It is well known that however abundant rainfall and 

 moisture may be, no springs are produced unless the waters that 

 percolates through the soil are arrested by some impervious layers 

 along which they can be carried to some break or cut, where they 

 can flow out. Such impervious layers in Nebraska, are of two gen- 

 eral types. The first type, are those on or among the underlying 

 rocks, along which the water flows until it emerges on Lill sides or 

 edge of valleys. In south-eastern Nebraska, many springs appear 

 on top of limestone strata that underlie loosely, compacted sandy 

 rocks or shales. Where the Dakota Group of sand rock exists, 

 springs frequently proceed above some harder layers of this deposit. 

 Warner's Spring, southwest from Dakota City, in the bluffs, is an 

 instance of this character. Another is a famous spring near Teka- 



