Professor Smith on the Effects of Earthquakes, ire. 93 



But this inyention will be of more special use as fuel for 

 steam engines applied to navigation — the purpose principally 

 for which I have purchased the patent right. 



This may be the subject of another communication. 



Art. XXII. On the Changes which have taken place in 

 the Wells of Water situated in Columbia, South-Carolina, 

 since the Earthquakes of 1811-12. By Edward 

 Darrell Smith, M. D., Professor of Chemical and 

 Experimental Philosophy and Mineralogy in the South- 

 Carolina College. 



To Professor Silliman. 



Dear Sir, 



xN answer to your inquiry respecting the changes in our wells, 

 since the memorable period of the earthquakes, I would make 

 the following observations : 



These tremendous convulsions of nature commenced in 

 December, 1811, and were continued, at intervals, until the 

 latter end of the succeeding month of March, with diiferent 

 degrees of violence, in this and some of the adjacent states. 

 In November, 1812, I visited this town, and then understood 

 that the wells, which are generally very deep, had an abund- 

 ance of water in them. This continued to be the case for 

 about one year after ; and in the College well, in particular, 

 which was a remarkably fine one, there were always about 

 twelve feet of water, notwithstanding its daily consumption by 

 more than two hundred persons. Shortly after this time, many 

 of the wells in the town began to fail in their usual supply of 

 water, although they were frequently cleaned out and occa- 

 sionally deepened. Their state became worse every year, 

 until, at length, about three years since, some of them proved 

 to be entirely dry, and most of the others had their water tur- 

 bid, and diminished to the depth of only two or three feet. 



