286 American Geologist. ^^y* ^^^^ 
terville system is not definitely known, but is estimated to be 
10,000,000 gallons daily. It was tested with a pump of 15,000,- 
000 gallon (per day) capacity, a few years ago, but was found 
to be unable to supply that amount. The drift wells were 
lowered, and the farmers in the vicinity who have numerous 
flowing wells in the drift complained because their wells ceased 
flowing, and threatened suit for damages against the city of St. 
Paul. The pumping was stopped, and since then the Center- 
ville wells have not been used. 
The total capacity of the St. Paul deep wells, according to 
Mr. Winslow, is over 12,000,000 gallons per day, and the aver- 
age daily consumption from all sources (for 1904) was 9,600,- 
000 gallons. The amount pumped from deep wells in summer 
into the main conduit is 4,200,000 gallons from the Vadnais 
lake system alone, there being at present no demand for the 
Centerville system, which is held as a sort of reserve in case 
of any emergency. The wells are used even when not needed 
because of scarcity, in order to cool and purify the lake water, 
removing the swampy taste and also apparently killing the 
micro-organisms. The temperature of the well water is 46° 
and that of the lakes in summer about 70°. 
The cost of the St. Paul system at Centerville was $109,000, 
and of this the outlay for the wells themselves was $20,433, the 
rest being for piping and pumping outfit and for right of way. 
1 have no figures for the cost of the Vadnais lake system. 
It is current rumor at Minneapolis that the St. Paul artesian 
well system is a failure, and that it is proposed to resort to 
some other plan of water supply. I made particular inquiries 
as to the truth in this rumor, and was told that there was no 
known objection on the score of the quality of the water to the 
present system, especially the shallow wells at Centerville. If 
there was any possible objection it would lie against the lake 
system on account of the swampy taste in summer, and the 
micro-organisms that develop in it. As to quantity, the city 
obtains from the Vadnais lake system all that is needed to 
supplement the lake supply. The idea of abandoning or chang- 
ing the water system of St. Paul was never broached nor hint- 
ed at in the Water Board. This was the statement of Mr. 
Winslow, who has had charge of the system, or at least has 
been connected with it, for 14 or 15 years. It is probably safe 
