380 Miscellanies. 



hidden from our comprehension. In all these cases the hydrostatic 

 principle which causes the discharge of the water, must be the same ; 

 that is, the pressure of a column of water superior to the pressure of 

 the water raised; and in the absence of any other active force to 

 cause this pressure, it follows that it must arise from a superior foun- 

 tain heady If this be correct on philosophical principles, can a sound 

 reason be given, why a more copious fountain of water should be 

 found by boring at the brow of the hills, fi-om four to nine hundred 

 feet deep, perpendicular, than can be found by boring the same depth 

 one hundred and sixty rods, or three hundred rods, back from the 

 hill on the plain ? For such is the fact ; salt licks on the surface are 

 found all through this western country, and generally at the edge of 

 rising ground. Some of the largest of the licks are at the foot of 

 the lowest hills ', salt wells were sunk at these places to a great depth, 

 and some in valleys, where strong licks were found, two hundred 

 rods from the hills, which were not high, but without success. The 

 wells were abandoned. 



The citizens of this country have laid it down as an axiom, found- 

 ed on experience of some ten or twelve years in the boring of the 

 earth for salt water, to sink their wells at the brow of the highest 

 hills, commencing on a rock, at the surface, if possible. No matter 

 whether there is any appearance of licks, or of brackish water, within 

 miles of the place. At the depth of from one hundred and seventy 

 to eight hundred feet they obtain strong salt water, which gushes forth 

 spontaneously, from some wells, six and ten feet above the surface, 

 without being exhausted. In all cases the wells of the greatest depth, 

 and at the brow of the highest hills, have discharged water with the 

 greatest force. The hills are from sixty to two hundred feet high. 

 When we take into consideration the depth of the vi^ells, upon what 

 principle of hydraulics shall we solve this problem ? 



There are now a great many salt wells, thirty or forty miles from 

 this place, on the Muskingum River, near to Zanesville ; and on Lead- 

 ing Creek, in the county of Meigs, several wells have been in opera- 

 tion for years, and make very beautiful salt, which sells at fifty cents 

 per bushel. I am, respectfully, your obedient humble servant, 



Nahum Ward. 



18. Suggestions as to a union of effort to obtain a correct account 

 of the variation of the magnetic needle; in a letter to the Editor, 

 dated Wilmington, Del. Feb. 28, 1830, from Daniel Byrnes.-^ln 



