76 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



The Bow Rivers, as we have already seen, are peculiar in the 

 great number of pure springs of water, that are found along their 

 whole length. Their mean temperature is, therefore, somewhat 

 lower than that of other rivers of the State. And yet because 

 of the springs with which they are directly fed, large sections 

 of them never freeze, even in the coldest winters. For reasons 

 previously stated the water of these rivers is less hard than that 

 of other rivers of the State. The only other river with which I 

 can compare it, in these respects, is the Bazile, and in a still less 

 'degree, the Verdigris. The Bazile, like the Bows, is largely fed 

 by springs flowing directly .into it. 



The waters of the remaining rivers that rise within the State 

 have many points in common. One of them is the blackish hue 

 that is given to them after rains and during flood time. This 

 is caused by the organic matter which is brought down by every 

 rivulet from the black surface soil of the State. This black soil 

 being from one to twenty feet in thickness, all the water pouring 

 into the rivers, after rains, is more or less, loaded with it. This, 

 then, gives to the waters those ingredients which constitute its dis- 

 solved substance. Among these in addition to the organic matter, 

 is lime, salts of soda, potash and magnesia, and iron. In minute 

 quality, also, sulphuric and hydrochloric acid. When flood time is 

 over, the streams that rise within the State, are proximately clear. 

 The Blues have in places, a blue tinge, and yet objects can be seen 

 at the bottom, where the water is from two to four feet deep. 



