WATERS OF NEBRASKA. 55 



was a failure. At five hundred and sixty feet saline water spout- 

 ed up a in powerful current. The contractor, Mr. Eaton, however, 

 was uncertain whether the brine was here first struck, or whether 

 a current of fresh water only forced it to the surface. It was cer- 

 tain that strong brine was found at the horizon between seventy 

 and two hundred and fifty-five feet in the reddish sandstones of the 

 Dakota Group. It did not, however, flow to the surface. The 

 weight of evidence favored the conclusion that the salt water above 

 was forced to the surface by the stronger currents below, especially 

 as the tubing was so defective that all the waters encountered were 

 intermingled. Between the level of five hundred and sixty feet 

 and the end of the boring other artesian currents were struck, 

 and the mingling of all that were encountered has given a well of 

 water which, for variety of salts held in solution, is unsurpassed 

 anywhere. An artesian boring was also made in Beatrice to the 

 depth of twelve hundred feet, without, however, obtaining a flow of 

 water to the surface. One has also been put down in Omaha, and a 

 good flow of pure water obtained at a depth of 750 feet. On the 

 whole, the geological formations of Nebraska are favorable for 

 such wells. The general slope is upwards to the west and slightly 

 towards the north. And although the tertiary strata overlie the 

 cretaceous as we proceed westward, yet their thickness is far less 

 than the rise of the country. The pressure of water, therefore, 

 from between underlying rocks is sufficient to force it to the sur- 

 face from some point between five hundred and twenty-five hundred 

 feet. 



SALINE SPRINGS. 



There are several localities where saline springs or bogs exist. 

 One of these is in Lancaster County, near Lincoln. The largest 

 here covers approximately five hundred acres. Others of smaller 

 area are not far distant. In this largest basin the water emerges in 

 hundreds of places, and exhibits the curious phenomenon of vary- 

 ing in depth through the day. It is highest during the morning. 

 It decreases through the day, and is at its lowest point about three 

 o'clock in the afternoon. About this time any one passing over the 

 basin and closely observing it will see the salt water bubbling up 

 at hundreds of places. Where it comes up in this way the water 

 contains about ten per cent, of common salt; at least that is the 

 mean of several analyses, and is also indicated by the salometer. 

 Many diverse opinions have been expressed about the value of 



