XXXIV. © HYDRAULIC ASPECT OF THE ARTESIAN PROBLEM. 
We are going on, blindly exploiting our artesian waters, 
in face of the fact that a similar proceeding elsewhere has 
changed an artesian region to a sub-artesian, with conse- 
quent economic loss, and we are moreover enormously 
increasing the difficulty of obtaining a definite and decisive 
solution, such as shall constitute a sure guide as regards 
the control of the right to tap the artesian supply. We 
are increasing the number of bores without an adequate 
scientific examination of the phenomena. At the present “ 
time we are without that real guidance which would be 
afforded by a systematic analysis of the facts. 
One naturally asks, ‘of what magnitude is the question ?’ 
Is it really worth attack, or are the interests bound up 
therewith so small that we can take our chances of failure, 
through exhaustion of the artesian supply? That is the 
practical question which will not be settled until a 
mathematical hydraulician, with the necessary opportunity 
of inquiry, has closely examined the problem, even then it 
may not be easy to completely solve it. 
IV.—THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF THE PROBLEM. 
1. Steady and turbulent flow.—Fluids in a state of 
motion move in two ways, which we shall now define. 
Consider any appreciable mass of the fluid: if all its par- 
ticles are moving in the same direction, that is if its 
motion be one of translation only the flow is said to be 
steady. If on the other hand some particles move across 
or contrary to the general motion of translation of the 
mass, the flow is said to be translational-rotational, agitated, 
vortical, or turbulent: that is to say there are rotational 
movements in a mass of fluid which as a whole is subject: 
to a motion of translation. It may be noticed that when 
the physical conditions admit of the whole of the potential - 
energy (existing as pressure) expending itself in the pro- 
duction of motion of pure translation, the flow is a maxi- 
