X, A, 



Smith: Reconnaissance of Mountain Province 



205 



size. This stone is not a "blue limestone," as it is locally called, 

 but a tuff. It has a decided bluish cast, and considering the 

 ease with which it can be dressed, makes a very suitable building 

 stone. 



WATER 



Potable ivater. — The country west of the Polis Range abounds 

 in springs of excellent water, which I have personally utilized, 

 but eastward, in the sedimentary area, the water is not as good. 

 However, whenever the state of the population demands it, good 

 artesian water can be secured there, as the formations are ap- 

 parently favorable. 



Medicinal water. — The hot water at Mainit is said by the 

 natives of that town to be used by them both for drinking and 

 bathing. They assert, also, that they are practically free from 

 diseases of any kind, particularly skin diseases. Certainly the 



Fig. 5. Profile of box canon at kilometer 6, south of Bontoc. 



inhabitants of Mainit are in striking contrast to those of 

 Natonin, for instance, where practically the whole population is 

 afflicted with loathsome skin diseases. 



What curative effects are derived from the Balotoc water I 

 do not know, but the people living near those springs are likewise 

 free from skin troubles. 



Potver. — Power sites in this mountainous country and region 

 of bounteous rainfall are, of course, innumerable. At present 

 there is little demand for power. At Fidelisan, just north of 

 Sagada, Father Staunton has constructed a flume from which the 

 water drops 45 meters through a 4-inch pipe to a Pelton wheel, 

 and with the power thus obtained runs a large saw and planing 

 mill. Since storage reservoirs cannot as a rule withstand the 

 tremendous rainfall, the best method of utilizing the streams is 

 by means of diversion weirs and flumes. 



However, an excellent site for a storage reservoir, which will 

 be available at some future time for the growing city of Bontoc, 

 is located at kilometer 6, south of Bontoc, at the "suspension 



