XII. ARTESIAN WELLS.

 Here is a subject that is worthy¹ the attention of settlers in our arid² and apparently³ desert regions of country. We are told that the source of an artesian well is from fountains of water gathered and stored in higher lands that run through different strata⁴ of rocks till they reach the valleys, and when the boring reaches down to these strata the water naturally comes up toward the height of the fountain it started from. Would it not be a sensible inquiry⁵ to make as to where the supply came from to furnish the water in the higher lands? That the accepted theory of supply to artesian wells comes from some higher point is not correct can be demonstrated on the prairies, where no higher land is in sight.

 

A very good test occurred some years ago at the Hamilton mine, adjoining the great Chapin mine, in Wisconsin. It became almost impossible[69] to work the mine on account of the great influx⁶ of water.

 

Not much more than a half mile away was a lake that was charged with producing this annoying flow.

 

At the time of a temporary abandonment, the writer disputed this solution, and a survey was proposed to determine the level in the lake and mine, which showed the water in the mine eleven feet the lowest. To overcome this encroachment⁷ of water, an ingenious device was adopted by building a chimney over the point of inflow to the height of water level and stopping at the bottom; when completed allowed to fill.

 

When its true level was reached the rest of the mine was dry some distance above. It is doubtful if any place on the Earth will not respond with a flow of water within a mile in depth and rarely half that distance will need to be bored.

 

In the Mojave desert it is claimed a depth of 200 feet and often less gets a good flow of water. What sends it up and whence its source? In Michigan, Wisconsin, and many other adjacent States, a depth of 100 or 200 feet will produce large flowing wells. Where does this universal supply come from and why unchanged by wet or dry seasons? The flow from Lake Superior[70] is frequently larger in the dry season of August than in the wet season of spring.

 

If there is no unfailing supply of water in the Earth, where does the influence come from to produce an Oasis⁸ in a desert?

 

If artesian wells are bored in our arid and now almost worthless lands, wherever a fountain of water is tapped will be an Oasis around which the settler can produce fabulous⁹ wealth of crops and obtain forage¹⁰ for live stock. The expense of boring wells will be largely compensated¹¹ by cheapness of land and bountiful results in vegetation.

 

1 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

2 arid   

adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的

参考例句：

• These trees will shield off arid winds and protect the fields.这些树能挡住旱风,保护农田。
• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 strata   

n.地层（复数）；社会阶层

参考例句：

• The older strata gradually disintegrate.较老的岩层渐渐风化。
• They represent all social strata.他们代表各个社会阶层。

5 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

6 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

7 encroachment   

n.侵入，蚕食

参考例句：

• I resent the encroachment on my time.我讨厌别人侵占我的时间。
• The eagle broke away and defiantly continued its encroachment.此时雕挣脱开对方，继续强行入侵。

8 oasis   

n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方

参考例句：

• They stopped for the night at an oasis.他们在沙漠中的绿洲停下来过夜。
• The town was an oasis of prosperity in a desert of poverty.该镇是贫穷荒漠中的一块繁荣的“绿洲”。

9 fabulous   

adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的

参考例句：

• We had a fabulous time at the party.我们在晚会上玩得很痛快。
• This is a fabulous sum of money.这是一笔巨款。

10 forage   

n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻

参考例句：

• They were forced to forage for clothing and fuel.他们不得不去寻找衣服和燃料。
• Now the nutritive value of the forage is reduced.此时牧草的营养价值也下降了。

11 compensated   

补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款）

参考例句：

• The marvelous acting compensated for the play's weak script. 本剧的精彩表演弥补了剧本的不足。
• I compensated his loss with money. 我赔偿他经济损失。