474 WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL 



sometimes with a pressure of nearly 200 Ib. to the sq. in. 

 Figure 288 is a reproduction of a photograph of a well at 

 Woonsocket, South Dakota, showing a 3-in. stream which 

 rises to the height of nearly 100 ft. The water exerts a pres- 

 sure of about 135 Ib. to the sq. in. when the pipe is closed so 

 as to prevent the escape of the water. 



In northern Illinois there are many artesian wells. These 

 wells obtain their supply of water from St. Peters sandstone 

 which is often reached at a depth of from 1000 to 2000 feet. 

 This sandstone is very porous. It comes to the surface in 

 central and northern Wisconsin where the altitude is some- 

 what greater than in Illinois. Water freely enters the layer 

 of sandstone where it comes to the surface and slowly perco- 

 lates through it. If the altitude of Wisconsin were as much 

 greater than that of Illinois as the altitude of the Black Hills 

 is greater than that of eastern South Dakota, all of these 

 deep wells in northern Illinois would be flowing wells. 



II. WATER SUPPLY FOR FARMHOUSE AND COUNTRY HOME 



557. New England Well-sweep and the Oaken Bucket. 



The earliest settlers of New England had little difficulty in 

 securing a sufficient supply of good water. Springs are num- 

 erous throughout New England. In many localities most 

 farmhouses are supplied with water brought in pipes from 

 nearby springs. Many villages and towns also receive their 

 supply from springs or hillside brooks fed by springs. Where 

 the water does not come to the surface, it is nearly always 

 easily obtained by digging shallow wells. These wells are 

 often not more than 10 or 15 ft. deep. 



In the days of the colonies the usual method of raising the 

 water from these shallow wells was by means of the WELL- 

 SWEEP and the OAKEN BUCKET. A heavy weight was fastened 

 to the short end of the long sweep to balance the long arm of 

 the sweep. The lifting of the bucket full of water thus be- 

 came an easy task. This method of raising water from 'a 

 well has been immortalized in the familiar song "The Old 

 Oaken Bucket" (see Frontispiece, Fig. 289). 



