HYDROLOGY. 141 



ure of admiration, attention may be called to the deep, clear waters 

 and wooded, gravelly shores of the picturesque Geneva, the charming 

 variety of the two score lakelets of the Oconomowoc cluster, the em- 

 erald waters and picturesque glens and cliffs of Green Lake, the ro- 

 mantic little Elkhart, a gem in a rustic framework of wooded drift 

 knolls and kettles, and the quiet, restful beauty of Rock, Brown, Clear 

 and Delavan lakes. Lakes Koslikononq, Pewaukee, Puckawa and 

 others are favorites with sportsmen. 



These lakes abound in a variety of excellent fish, and are the resort 

 of large numbers of water-fowl. Through the labors of the state fish 

 commissioners, and the enlightened and generous action of private 

 citizens, some of them have recently been stocked \vith choice varie- 

 ties of fish from other waters, and it is confidently believed that they 

 will, under a continuance of this enlightened policy, render a hand- 

 some contribution of excellent food in return. 



Their value as water power reservoirs, though not as yet appreci- 

 ated, will, in the unfoldings of the resources of this region in the 

 future, perhaps surpass both the considerations above mentioned. 

 This point will receive brief consideration under the head of water 

 power, a few pages in advance. 



Water Supply. The surface soil possesses, on the average, a fair 

 degree of absorptive power, and the underlying strata, both of the 

 drift and rock formations, consist of alternating pervious or impervi- 

 ous layers, thus presenting suitable conditions for an excellent water 

 supply. A less absorptive soil would cause a greater proportion of 

 the rainfall to be lost by surface drainage, and a uniformly porous or 

 uniformly impervious rock structure beneath would be less favorable 

 to frequent springs or veins of water that could be reached by wells. 

 As it is, there are few localities at which an abundant supply of water 

 cannot be reached at moderate depths. 



Attention will here be chiefly confined, however, to the natural 

 sources of supply provided in springs. To casual observation these 

 appear to be scattered promiscuously over the region, without any 

 definite geological relations, but such is not the fact. There are two 

 general systems of springs; those that originate in the drift deposits, 

 and those that flow from the rock. The springs of each group occu- 

 py several different horizons, which it will be interesting to notice 

 briefly, as the subject is one of great importance. It is estimated by 

 some authorities that one-third of the diseases which aiflict mankind 

 are due to the use of impure water. Though this estimate may be 

 too high, it is abundantly demonstrated that some of the most terrible 

 diseases are directly attributable to this cause. If unaided nature has 



