GEOIvOGY OF r.A saline: COUNTY. 



53 



are found at La Salle. Calcareous tufa or limestone 

 formed as described above is found in larg-e quantities 

 in Clark's Run in the northwest part of Utica villag'e 

 and up that ravine; also in other ravines on both sides 

 of the river. At Utica a mass of it has lost all traces 

 of its former open structure, all ttie pores having- been 

 filled, and is ver\^ hard and beautifully banded. 



Sometimes the water of such springs flows 

 through sand or gravel, and the lime being* deposited 

 forms a cement binding the mass tog-ether, and forming- 

 a rather coarse grained, porous rock. In other cases 

 iron-bearing- waters produce the same effect, but the 

 mass in this case is usually yellow or red, not white or 

 buff, as in the former. Examples of both are to be 

 found in many gravel beds, some on a larg-e scale, 

 especial^ 3^ in an old railway g-ravel pit east of Mar- 

 seilles, and in some cuttings on the C, B. & Q. 

 railway,' between Wedron and Blake. In these last 

 examples the ma^terial cemented is a comparatively fine 

 sand. 



Debolt's spring-, situated about nine miles north- 

 east of Ottawa, on the east side of the Fox river, is a 

 sulphur spring, 3aelding a large quantity of water and 

 a favorite resort for picnic parties. It rises from thg 

 St. Peters sandstone, and was formerly a place of 

 much beauty, but the scenery has been g-reatly dam- 

 aged by some rattle-headed blasting. We are not bur- 

 dened with scenery, and it is to be reg-retted that many 

 people do not know a beautiful thing- when the Creator 

 places one in their hands. 



Most of the well water contains some mineral 

 matter, and that of some wells carries a considerable 

 percentag-e of lime, others of lime and mag-nesia. 

 People have much to say about "pure water," but 

 very few know what pure water is, for it is seldom 

 found. 



