70 
IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 
been very heavy in crops and damage to soil. The loss of live 
stock drowned would probably have been almost as heavy had 
it occurred in daylight, owing to the very rapid rise of the 
streams. The estimate of $100,000 total loss is not far from 
correct. 
There are many other interesting features which should be 
written up. The weather conditions can be obtained from the 
weather bureau. The map for the date shows a low reaching 
into Iowa, but would not warrant a forecast of general rain 
The energy liberated by so heavy a fall of rain would form an 
interesting study. I have collected some data concerning 
similar storms in previous years. The heaviest fall that has 
come to my notice was fifteen inches, at Wilmington, Del., on 
the 29th of July, 1839. 
THE BURLINGTON ARTESIAN WELL. 
BY FRANCIS M. FULTZ. 
Work was commenced on the Burlington artesian well about 
midsummer of 1896; but, owing to cessation of operations for 
somewhat more than a year, it was not finished until midsum- 
mer of 1898. The well is located in Crapo park, and the 
expense of putting it down was borne out of the park funds. 
It was expected that a fiow w^ould be reached in the St. 
Peter sandstone at a depth of about 900 feet. This belief was 
based on the flow obtained at the Ft. Madison and Keokuk 
wells, south of Burlington about twenty and forty miles 
respectively. As will be seen from the subjoined section the 
St. Peter was reached at a depth of 950 feet. No flow^ was 
obtained, but the water rose to within thirty-eight feet of the 
surface, and indicated a strong supply. There was no further 
change of the head of more than a foot or tvro, although the 
drilling was carried down to 2,430 feet and passed through 
at least two other water-bearing strata. 
The diameter of the well is six inches for 1,700 feet and five 
inches for the balance. No casing is used excepting through 
the loess and drift. At 1,700 feet a test was made of the 
capacity. Over 100,000 gallons were pumped out daily for one 
