158 Geology of Uppei^ Illinois. 



It is certainly a circumstance which considerably enhances the 

 value of these springs, that one of them is a sulphureous water, 

 while the other two are saline only. Their effects on the animal 

 economy will undoubtedly be different, and a much larger class 

 of invalids may therefore resort to them with advantage. As the 

 country of the Upper Illinois has been settled only a few years, 

 of course nothing has been ascertained from experience with re- 

 gard to these waters ; but from what is known of the constitution 

 of the Yirginia springs, it may fairly be presumed, that the use of 

 of these waters will be attended with the same beneficial results, 

 as are experienced at some of those celebrated resorts. The Illi- 

 nois springs occurring, moreover, in a region distinguished for the 

 beauty of its scenery, and lying directly on one of the greatest 

 thoroughfares in the west, must also have their value much en- 

 hanced from these considerations.* 



The springs in the bed of the Vermilion, at Vermilion ville, (O,) 

 are sulphureous in their character ; and at the same time, equally 

 rich in saline matter with the Illinois springs.f They are unfor- 

 tunately so situated, however, as to make it difficult to obtain 

 a supply of the water they afford, since their points of issue are 

 completely overflowed at high stages of the river. The spring 

 at Ottawa is simply a saline water. I had no opportunity of test- 

 ing its ingredients, but should judge from its taste that it will be 

 found to resemble in constitution, the main spring on section 

 twenty-three. 



A still more valuable resource to the country is fully indicated 

 by the composition of these springs, and the circumstances under 

 which they occur. The large and constant proportion of chloride 

 of sodium they contain, taken along with their occurrence in a 

 region of coal, sandstone, and red marl, leaves no room to doubt, 

 that borings of a suitable depth will lead to the supply of a strong 

 and pure brine well adapted to the manufacture of salt. Nor 

 need any apprehension be felt at the detection of so mmiy foreign 

 substances in the waters of the existing springs, since these will 

 be replaced by chloride of sodium, in the supply to be expected 



* That they were frequented in former times by the deer and the buiFalo, is ap- 

 parent from the remains of the skeletons of these animals found buried in the soil 

 in their immediate vicinity. 



t I examined these waters on the spot, and subsequently a sample of them con- 

 densed by evaporation, which was furnished me by Dr. Hatch. 



