336 On the Origin of Springs and Fountains. 



Art. IX. — On the Origin of Springs and Fountains ; by Geo. 



W. Long. 



TO THE EDITOR. 



West Point, October 29th, 1829. 



Sir — 1 submit to you, for the Journal of Science and Arts, a few 

 ideas on the subject of springs, and the discharge of water at the 

 earth's surface by boring ; ahhough it has often been discussed by 

 able philosophers; still some additional explanations may perhaps be 

 given by others. 



Springs that flow spontaneously, are generally found on the sides 

 of hills, or in the neighborhood of them ; and often in such situations, 

 as not to be easily accounted for, and to be, at the same time, objects 

 of great curiosity. The flow of water from the bowels of the earth, 

 by boring, excites still more wonder, as the cause appears more hid- 

 den 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 head. To account for these circumstances, which seem to in- 

 volve the whole subject of springs, will be the object of this paper. 



The enquiry first leads the attention to the great amount of exhala- 

 tion, in the form of vapor, that is constantly going on from the interior 

 of the earth towards its surface, and which is dissipated in the atmos- 

 phere. This can be shewn experimentally, by placing a board or plat- 

 form horizontally on the ground, when the bottom surface will soon be- 

 come moist with the vapor that rises, and which would otherwise es- 

 cape into the atmosphere. A still more striking example may be 

 cited, to prove the amount of vapor that escapes from the earth into 

 the atmosphere. Springs that have their sources near the surface of 

 the ground, in periods of drought sometimes fail, and are observed to 

 flow again just before a storm. This circumstance is accounted for 

 by the supposition that the change of the atmosphere from a dry to a 

 moist state, so far retards the escape of the vapor from the earth, as 

 to cause its collection, and to renew the supply of water for the 

 spring. From these facts it may be demonstrated that springs in 



