FARMERS' REGISTER— PRAIRIE SOILS— FENCE LAW. 



455 



settle this important point, obsen^ations made in 

 our western salt wells Avould be of the highest 

 value. Il' a similar gradation in the strengtli of 

 the brine should be f()nnd in them, a very striking 

 proof would be furnished of the existence of some 

 general law on the subject, with Avhicli the world 

 has been hitherto unacquainted. It is hoped that 

 such of your readers as are interested in the salt 

 works of our Western Country, will at once re- 

 cognise the importance of the inquiry, and will 

 herealler contribute to your pages the results of 

 their observations on the subject. 



WM. B. ROGERS. 



[Before receiving the foregoing article, we had, 

 with views to other objects, addressed some other 

 queries on kindred subjects to a few friends residing in 

 or near the "rotten Hmestone" region of Southern 

 Alabama, which is supplied with pure water almost 

 exclusively by deep Artesian Wells. They will here 

 be stated concisely — and we add our request to that of 

 Professor Rogers, that any of our readers who have it 

 in their power, will obtain and communicate correct 

 information on anyone, ormore, of the points on which' 

 it is desired. 



Do many of the Artesian "VVells in Southern Alaba- 

 ma reach water that rises to and flows over the surface, 

 forming artificial, but permanent fountains? In such 

 cases, with what force does the water burst out, through 

 bores of specified diameters? What is the usual ex- 

 pense of the boring, according to the size of the auger 

 used, and the depth reached? Is overflowing water 

 reached on the elevated prairie lands, as certainly as 

 on lower ground, and with what diflerence of depth, 

 and of expense? 



The main object (visionary as it may be) of these 

 latter inquiries was to learn whether the remarkable 

 and abundant supply of deep subterraneous waters m 

 this region might not be used to provide for two of the 

 greatest wants of its inhabitants, viz: water power to 

 propel machinery, and streams for irrigation. The 

 bald prairies, which are rendered barren by the excess 

 of their calcareous ingredient, would be kept fertile 

 by watering, and the w'hole of that prairie region may 

 be greatly increased in value by the same aid, if it can 

 be cheaply given. If we may rely on our few exami- 

 nations already made of these prairie soils, they are 

 calcareous in a very high degree — W'hich quality serves 

 to give present fertility, a.ndmay also cause future sterili- 

 ty, if not guarded against by some care. As to w^ater 

 power from an overflowing well — however feeble it 

 may be through a small bore, where its passage is 

 much obstructed, its force will be increased far more than 

 merely in proportion to the increased size of the 

 bore — and if the supply of water below is unlimited, 

 so may be the water power thus obtained. 



Readers who reside near any of the great and well 

 known bodies of prairie land in the western states, will 

 also aid us in these and other objects of inquiry by 

 sending samples of soil from any of these prairies, 

 of well known and remarkable qualities, whether fer- 

 tile or otherwise. The land should be dry, (or not too 

 wet for cultivation without draining.) and its charac- 

 ter in all other respects be particularly stated in ex- 



planatory references to the samples of soil — such as the 

 shape and exposure of the surface — degree of fertility 

 — whether subject at any time to inundation from 

 rivers — the names (whether common or botanical, or 

 both) of the kinds of grasses which form the principal 

 growth of the soils, &.c. &c. Any such specimen may 

 be sent to the editor by mail, and free of postage if 

 the wdiole, with its envelope, does not exceed half an 

 ounce in weight. When thus transmitted, the soil 

 should be enclosed in a small bag of thin but stron<' 

 paper, with the edges closed by paste.] 



COaiPARATIVK VIEW OF TUK RIGHTS OF CITI- 

 ZEIVS, AlVn OF IIOGS, UNDER THE FENCE 

 LAW OF VIRGIIVIA. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Fairfax Couniy, Nov. 20, 1834. 



I I'cjoice to have your able and industrious su;*- 

 port in relation to that most odious law prescribing 

 and defining what shall be a legal fence — or in 

 practical plain common sense, what a man shall 

 do before he can exclude others, and be autliorized 

 to say that the fruits of his land and labor are in a 

 legal view his own. Yet, sir, strange and ludic- 

 rous as it is, though I can by law exclude my fel- 

 low man and fellow citizen, from "rangino-" or 

 passing over my land, under heav}- penalties, and 

 even send him to jad if he disregards the prohibi- 

 tion, I dare not, without incurring heavy penalties, 

 exercise the rights and privileges of an owner to- 

 wards horses, cattle, and hogs. They, like the 

 king, or other great men, "can do no wrong." Is 

 it not passing strange that the beasts of the field 

 should have rights and privileges denied to manl 

 I ask, sir, if it be not passing strange that the go- 

 vernor of Virginia has not the rights of a horse, a 

 cow, or a hog? I pray you not to misunderstand 

 me — I am serious: and I appeal to your statute 

 book, and say that the governor dare not "range" 

 my grounds, and j-et his beasts can, and if I resist, 

 ml they are injured, wo be unto me in damages. 

 As much as I respect the sanctifications of time, 

 I blush to think that such a law has existence, and 

 that it is thus saved from public scorn. It is ab- 

 solute mockery^ to talk of a civilized society where 

 the rights of person and property are not flilly and 

 perfectly protected by the law; and in perfect re- 

 spect to the General Assembly, I must say that to 

 give one the right of enjoying the property of 

 another look's like outrageous injustice, and down- 

 right plunder. 



JEREMIAH. 



From the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

 RAIL ROAD RAPIDITY. 



We stated on Friday that the Camden Compa- 

 ny had actually run the whole distance from New 

 York to Philadelphia in less than five hours — be- 

 ing at the rate of thirty miles an hour for that part 

 of the route which is between South Amboy and 

 Camden. 



This is undoubtedly one of the most striking 

 facts connected with the progress and growth of 

 rail road travelling which has yet taken place in 

 this section of the country. It shows what can 

 be accomplished by science rightly applied. For 

 while it is well known that several natviral disad- 

 vantages impair the speed of the Camden and 



