626 Lester — Radioactive Properties of the 



the one-liter was convenient and a few for which the 

 half -liter had to be used. The entire apparatus except 

 the drying tube D was supported on a tall, heavy, 

 ring stand with suitable clamps. Two gasoline torches 

 served as sources of heat. 



The method of operation is the same as that for any 

 boiling-out apparatus. Boiling hot water is poured into 

 the vessel C which is then raised until BB is filled to the 

 top. Next the cock A is closed, H opened and the torches 

 applied to I. The water in I will boil ten minutes or 

 more before enough live steam begins to collect in BB 

 to force the water toward the bottom of the gauge. The 

 steam passing up through the central tube serves to keep 

 the water in BB hot. After the temperature of the whole 

 apparatus has risen nearly to the boiling point a touch of 

 the flame on I causes the water in the gauge to descend 

 quickly. With care, however, boiling can be continued as 

 long as it is desirable. After the boiling is completed F 

 is closed, the tube T is connected to 0, and the gases in 

 BB are transferred to the electroscope in the usual 

 manner. 



The results on the activity of both waters and gases are 

 given in Table I. 3 The individual springs are designated 

 by numbers. Those marked with an asterisk (*) were 

 tested by means of samples shipped to the laboratory and 

 although allowance has been made for the decay of the 

 emanation from the time of collection our experience 

 shows that such results are always too low. The gases 

 were collected over water in glass vessels graduated 

 in cubic centimeters. The apparent volumes of the gas 

 samples were corrected for the pressure due to water 

 vapor and reduced to standard conditions of tempera- 

 ture and barometric pressure. 



Columns 3-6 inclusive give the activity per liter of 

 freshly collected samples. Column 7 gives the results of 

 a number of tests on the permanent activity of spring 

 waters. These were made at the laboratory after the 



3 For the locations, chemical analyses and general descriptions of these 

 springs see Bulletin No. 11, Colorado State Geological Survey, in press. 



All the measurements in this table are on springs located in Colorado. 

 Tests were also made on samples sent from Bajada Hot Springs, New 

 Mexico, from Saratoga Springs, Wyoming, and from a spring in the Canon 

 of the Colorado River near Hite, Utah. The sample from the latter spring 

 had the color of a strong solution of copper sulphate and showed the 

 remarkably high radium content of 12-12 X 10"^° gram per liter. 



