282 
EDWIN JAMES 
ble local currents on the floor of the Ordovicic ocean. In some 
form or other this curious notion prevailed for more than two 
generations; and even at the present day it is seriously upheld. 
The broad grasp of the James’ mind and a direct outgrowth 
of his geological cross-section of the continent found one curious 
practical expression which in our day possesses a peculiar historic 
interest. The aridity of the Great Plains and the obstacles which 
the lack of water offered to speedy settlement impressed him 
mightily. He was not without ready solution. He proposed to 
overcome the difficulty by sinking deep wells and thus securing 
artesian water supplies. He quaintly asserted: 
We also observed that there appears reason to suspect that con¬ 
fined subterraneous veins of water exist under the arid tract lying 
westward of the Ozark Mountains. It is not improbable that the 
strata of many parts of this Secondary formation towards its exterior 
circumference may vary from an horizontal to an inclined position in 
consequence of which the water that falls in dews and rains in the 
hilly districts, becoming insinuated between curved stratifications, 
may descend towards the center of the formation under such cir¬ 
cumstance as would insure its rising to the surface through wells 
or bore-holes sunk sufficiently to penetrate the veins. We would 
recommend this suggestion to the attention of the inhabitants of those 
parts of the Secondary basin of the Mississippi where abundant and 
unfailing supply of water is unfortunately wanting. 
Nearly a century was to elapse before this wise admonition 
was to be put to successful test. By more than two generations 
was Major Powell, our great American apostle of reclamation of 
the desert wastes of earth by irregation, anticipated. 
For keenness of observation, breadth of geologic vision, and pro¬ 
foundness of scientific thinking Doctor James really far out¬ 
ranked all of his American contemporaries who illuminated the 
the second decade of the last century. In mental aptitude he 
easily distanced William McClure, Thomas Nuttall, and Amos 
Eaton. Although so far away geographically he was closest of 
all Americans to such pioneers in modern geological science as 
Hutton, Playfair, Sir James Hall, Von Buch and Breislak. We 
may proudly proclaim him one of our truly grand figures in 
American geology. Far in advance of his day the noble and 
unique achievements of this distinguished pioneer geologist should 
surely not be permitted to perish in the gulf of time. 
