DRAINAGE AND CHARACTER OF WATER. 73 



by foul matter than from all other causes. Even in the country, 

 where these faults could so readily be avoided, wells are too often 

 located alongside of the cattle-yard, or close by a cesspool. The 

 inevitable consequence is, that the water sooner or later becomes 

 impure, by the presence of decayed animal matter. 



Another source of impurity, though by no means as dangerous 

 as the last, is the curbing used for wells. The water of wells often 

 gains a bad repute by the disagreeable taste and odor given to it by 

 the cottonwood or pine lumber which is used to protect them from 

 caving at the bottom. The first settlers, before stone quarries were 

 opened, or brick were burned, resorted to this method to secure 

 their wells. It is still practiced to a large extent in many sections 

 of the State. Frequently, in examining wells that were declared 

 to be unfit for use, nothing was found the matter with them except 

 this wooden curbing, which had imparted to it its own taste. 



CHARACTER OF RIVER WATER. 



The waters of the creeks and rivers of Nebraska must neces- 

 sarily vary a great deal in character. That of the Missouri is the 

 most peculiar. It is always muddy. It has this character to the 

 mouth of the Yellowstone, above which the Missouri is, for a larger 

 part of the year, a clear stream. It is the Yellowstone that gives 

 character to the Missouri, it being, like the Missouri below their 

 junction, turbid to its source. In 1873 I collected water from its 

 channel, at Omaha, during high water, when the bank was nearly 

 full, and in October, during low water, at the same place. The 

 sediment was separated by filtration, and the amount was as fol- 

 lows: At high water, 403.7 grains from one gallon; at low water, 

 51.9 grains from one gallon. 



This result differed slightly from that of Prof. Emmons, of the 

 Iowa geological survey. His determination was as follows: At 

 high water, 404 grains per gallon; at low water, 52 grains per gal- 

 lon. The amount of suspended sediment at high water is, there- 

 fore, upwards of seven times as much as at low water. It was 

 found, however, that the amount of solid matter held in solution, 

 was greatest at low water. This would naturally be expected, as 

 during flood time the sediment has but recently been added to the 

 water, but by the time low water arrives, the river has exercised 

 its solvent powers. In the chapter on the Superficial Deposits 

 of Nebraska, the reader will find analysis of Missouri River sedi- 



