BAILEY. | Mineral Waters. 317 
which are of varying thickness, are composed of coarse grains 
of sand, loosely cemented, and often occur quite free from iron, 
as indicated by the white color of the weathered portions. 
Where such beds can be found of considerable thickness and 
extent they serve as natural filters and reservoirs, which supply 
exceptionally pure water to the wells that may be sunk into 
them and to the many springs that occur in the ravines cutting 
down through them. This condition exists in typical form 
about ten miles northwest of Fredonia, in Wilson county, at 
what is known as the Delaware spring. The hill upon which 
the spring occurs is about two miles in length from north to 
south, and from one to two miles in width. At its northern 
end the hill terminates in a rocky cliff, showing an exposure of 
perhaps sixty feet of white sandstone. Three-fourths of a mile 
south of this a ravine runs to the west, and almost at its very 
head, and upon its northern slope, the spring appears from a 
fissure in the sandstone. The flow is not great, but is constant 
throughout the year, at the rate of a gallon in thirty-five seconds. 
The water is exceptionally pure, clear, and colorless, and pos- 
sesses the peculiar but not unpleasant taste that characterizes 
the finest cistern water. 
Two or three other springs appear within a few yards of the 
one described, but nearer the head of the ravine. One of 
these, though said by the people of the place to produce 
‘‘softer’’ water than that from the Delaware spring, yet con- 
tains a large quantity of iron, as evidenced by the heavy 
brown deposit of ferric hydroxide which coats its channel. 
The springs have been known for the fine quality of their wa- 
ter ever since the settlement of the country. The Delaware 
Indians are said to have valued them highly, and catch-basins 
cut in the sloping face of the sandstone, below the springs, are 
still shown, which are the reputed work of these people. The 
water was first used for medicinal purposes about 1893, and 
has been more or less in demand ever since. Some remarkable 
cures of kidney and stomach troubles are reported to have fol- 
lowed its use. The place has become a resort for people want- 
ing an outing of a few days, and perhaps a half-dozen families 
