^j^ American Geologist. ^^y- ^^^^ 
short depth below the surface, it is a practical mechani- 
cal question whether the water can be handled and can 
be pumped to the existing city reservoir in northeast Min- 
neapolis. This question is one of hydraulic engineering, 
which, to a man who does not profess to be an engineer, seems 
to be quite simple, but it is left to the decision of those who are 
expert in the handling of water. I would make, however, only 
this remark, namely, that it seems as if it were as easy to force 
water from the surface of the ground from these deep wells to 
the reservoir as to force the river water to the same place. 
Which Basin Should Be Used? 
Owing to the fact that the deepest wells afford a highly min- 
eralized water, and the shallower wells afford a good water 
suitable for all uses, we will discard entirely further considera- 
tion of the water from those deep wells and will concentrate 
attention upon the wells — say from the St. Peter sandstone. 
At the present time we take this course — not because the water 
from the Jordan sandstone is not equally good — but because of 
the greater availability of the more shallow basin and because 
of certain variations and interesting complications which at- 
tend this basin within the city limits. 
Extent and Variations of the 200 Foot Basin. 
South of Bassett's creek on the west side of the river and 
north of Bassett's creek and at a distance from the Mississippi, 
and in some parts of East Minneapolis, extending slightly into 
Anoka county and. into Ramsey county, the Trenton limestone 
covers the St. Peter sandstone, but throughout a wide belt ex- 
tending from the north and turning westward and southwest- 
ward through the city limits this Trenton limestone is wanting 
and of course the drift deposits come down directly into con- 
tact with the St. Peter sandstone throughout that wide belt. 
This wide belt through which the Trenton limestone is wanting 
is the lower ground ; the Mississippi river lies in it from the 
north boundary of the city to the mouth of Bassett's creek ; it 
then turns westward up Bassett's creek to near the Glenwood 
Springs at the angle of Bassett's creek. The belt, however, 
continues westwardly and southwestwardly to the Minnesota 
valley above Fort Snelling. The beautiful and interesting little 
lakes in the western part of the city lie in this belt where the 
