364 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [1801, 802, 803- 



801. Further S. we find strong mineral waters, charged chiefly with Epsom 

 Salt, Glauber's Salt and Common Salt ; generally with some Gypsum, and often 

 with more or less Sulphates of Alumina and Iron, at Mr. Tom. Bass', S. 13, T. 

 3, R. 2 E.; at Mr. Chapman's ; and in the Harper settlement, S. W. Cato. These 

 waters are so strong as to render their daily use positive! v pernicious — as is 

 amply proven by their effect on those who persist in using them otherwise than 

 as a medicine (H315 ; C01). Similar waters oftentimes impregnated with 

 Sulphuretted Hydrogen and bituminous matter also, exist on lower Steen's 

 Creek ; and none of the well waters obtained in the gray clays or white sand- 

 stones of S. W. Rankin (11241), are free from these ingredients ; although they 

 are notalways so strong as to render their use very objectionable. The population 

 ought always, however, to be on their guard against the debilitating effects of 

 these waters, which are especially noxious to those suffering with, or recovering 

 from, fever and ague. Wherever sand ridges afford chances of freestone wells, 

 these ought to be used even at some inconvenience in preference to the saline 

 waters ; and cisterns ought to be considered a matter of necessity, where waters 

 like Mr. Bass' are alone obtainable in wells. 



802. In W. Simpson, also, waters of this character are sometimes obtained ; 

 but the greater prevalence of the Orange Sand renders their use a matter of 

 choice. Whether or not similar waters exist in Copiah, I am not informed, 

 though it is most likely. They are very abundant in Lawrence county, near 

 Pearl River ; and especially so near Monticello, where a considerable variety 

 exists ; though at the town itself, shallow wells, with almost freestone water, 

 are obtained in sand, above the salty clays ("^238). In this region, however, 

 the waters generally contain none, or only a small amount of sulphates, the 

 ealts present being almost entirely chlorides and bicarbonates. Hence it is, 

 probably, that effects on health by their use are not nearly as frequently perceived. 



The water of " St. Andrews' Well " (35 feet deep), on S. 29, T. 7, R. II E., 



about one mile S. of Monticello, showed the following composition : 



Chloride of Sodium, Magnesium, and Potasium, largely, 



Bicarbonates of Soda ?, Magnesia, Lime, 



Small amounts of Chloride of Calcium, 



Proto-carlwnatc o£ Iron,) TT ,, . ... , ,. „ , . . ., 

 ^H; ca \ Held in solution by Free Carbonic Acid. 



Alumina. 



This water is of considerable strength. The water of <: St. Ronan's Well '", 

 about 4 miles S. W. of Monticello, differs from this chiefly in the presence of 

 Sulphuretted Hydrogen and some bituminous oil, the predominance of Zmeover 

 Magnesia, and the presence of a little Sulphate of Potash. 



A mineral spring near Mr. Neglan's, S. 35, T. 7, R. 10 E , contains Bicarbonate 

 of Iron with a little Lime and Magnesia, and Common Salt. 



A strong chalybeate spring issuing from a bluff near Mr. Maxwell's mill, S. 9, 

 T. 6, R. 11 E., contains the Bicarbonates of Iron, Soda and Magnesia, with a 

 little Common Salt. 



From the great variety of mineral waters in the Monticello neighborhood, it 

 would seem that it might be made a place of resort, if easy communication were 

 established. 



803. In Marion county, also, mineral wells and springs exist. Stovall's 

 Springs, above Columbia, have in times past been a place of considerable resort ; 

 I am not aware what is the nature of the water. At Columbia, shallow wells 

 obtain freestone water in sand and gravel, the level being dependent upon that 

 of the river; in one, however, mineral water was obtained in "blue mud" 

 (1T237), at 25 feet. Similar wells have been obtained on Pearl River in S. 

 Marion. 



In Pike county we mostly find freestone wells in Orange Sand — except as 

 mentioned in (U"237.) On high ridges, as at Summit, for instance, wells require 

 to be sunk to great depths, to the level of the drainage — 70 to 80 feet. 



