11 



ARTESIAN WELL EXPERIMENT. 



Reports of Captain John Pope, Topographical Engiiieers, to Captain A. 

 A. Hmnphreys, Topographical Engiiu'ers, in charge of Office of Explo- 

 ration and Survey, War Dejxirtment. 



War Department, 

 Washington, May 5, 1857. 



Sir: In the execution of the duties hereby assigned to you, of con- 

 tinuing the experiment of sinking artesian wells upon the public 

 lands, for which an appropriation of $100,000 was made, you will be 

 guided by the following instructions: 



Proceeding to St. Louis, via New York, you will have prepared, 

 as soon as practicable, the tools, macliinery, apparatus, and material 

 requisite for the work, employ such mechanics and other persons as 

 may be necessary for the service, and with them repair to San Anto- 

 nio. Texas, and assume the command of the expedition. 



The organization and outfit having been completed, you will move 

 to the Pecos river, near the 32d parallel of latitude, establish youi 

 camp at a convenient position, I'csume the boring of the well left 

 unfinished during the past summer, and continue the work until the 

 water flows out continuously upon the surface. This having been 

 done, and the well left in good condition, you will proceed to the 

 Rio Grande, occupy a position suitable for continuing the experiment 

 begun near that river, and complete the ^vell in like manner with that 

 near the Pecos. 



Upon the successful termination of each work, you will report in 

 detidl upon it, transmitting at the same time a geological section, 

 exhibiting the source whence the supply of Avater is probably derived. 



These two works having been finished and left in serviceable order, 

 you will continue the experiment of sinking artesian wells on the 

 plains or basins east of the Rio Grande, the number of experiments 

 being limited by the amount of the appropriation, which your expen- 

 ditures for field and ofiice work must not exceed. These wells should 

 be established upon or near lines of military and emigrant roads, if 

 sites can be found at such positions, in every way favorable for the 

 experiments, and two of them should be located upon that portion of 

 the route from Independence to New Mexico, lying east of the Cana- 

 dian river. 



As soon as you have selected the position for a well, you will report 

 the facts that have governed you in the selection, transmitting at the 

 same time detailed descriptions of the locality, with such sketches "of 

 the country and geological sections as will exhibit tlie probable source 

 of the supply of water, the depth towliich the boring must be carried, 

 the nature of the formations to be passed through, and all other infor- 

 mation necessary to a thorough understanding of the subject, and a 

 demonstration of the practicability, extent, and cost of the work. 



These wells 'will be finished in the same manner as the first two. 



Such reconnaissances and geological examinations as may be neoes- 



