CRANE.| Prospecting and Boring for Mineral Waters. 101 
means more or less depth of formation to penetrate, and a con- 
sequent higher or lower initial cost of the well—the question of 
quantity and quality of water being entirely independent of the 
same. 
The location of a well for deep-seated waters will depend 
largely upon whether the artesian principle is desired or not. 
In such cases, synclinal basins and long stretches of country of 
moderate dip will furnish abundant hydraulic waters. In any 
case, especially in deep wells, hydraulic water is always desir- 
able, as it means just so many foot-pounds less of water to be 
raised by pump. It is, therefore, always desirable to take ad- 
vantage of any natural conditions which may exist in locating 
the site of a well. 
It is permissible to use all the information at hand that can 
be gathered, such as geological maps and sections, records of 
deep wells in the neighborhood, and, when possible, natural 
and artificial cuts. The later may only show the depth of su- 
perficial layers, but this may in itself be highly instructive. 
The probable quality and quantity of the waters that may be 
found are largely determinable from geological records, and, in 
fact, too great stress cannot be placed upon such sources of 
information. 
The effect of the formation upon the quality of the waters 
found therein can be readily illustrated by examining the geo- 
logical map of the state. (Plate 1.) The eastern part of the 
state is made up of Lower and Upper Carboniferous strata, de- 
posited in salt water—brines are the rule. Passing to the west- 
ward, on the south and to a limited extent on the north, the 
effect of gypsum is distinctly felt ; while to the westward on the 
north the waters occuring in the Cretaceous area are highly 
charged with lime, which is also true of the waters existing in 
the calcareous sand-beds of the Tertiary formations. 
Knowing then the geological relation of strata, together with 
the relative dip and thickness, it is by no means difficult to de- 
termine the quality of the water that may be found. 
Regarding the quantity, the relative extent and lay of the 
