stratum, and then the concrete can be placed around these pipes. In this case water will be gotten as long as the supply keeps up in the carrying stratum. The cylinder of the pump should not be located too far above the water supply.

When it is not necessary to dig very far for water a better plan still would be to extend the open well, curbed with brick laid in cement mortar, down to a point say from four to eight feet below the water line, provided the water-bearing stratum is that thick. In this way the bottom of the well will remain directly in the sand or gravel carrying water. The bottom is not cemented in such a case. The pipes connecting with the pump are then run directly nearly to the bottom of the well. It should terminate in a large screen resting upon a stone of good size or a little pier of brick. The stone or pier and the screen of the intake pipe should now be covered with gravel. If desired a little coarse charcoal of the best kind may be mixed with the gravel It is well then to cover the charcoal with small gravel and finally with coarse sand. This will produce a very excellent filter bed. It is important to have a good screen at the bottom of the pump pipe. This may be made from a large core or bulb with openings on the sides and bottom and covered with rather fine antirust wire screen. It is desirable generally to use a screen which confines its surface to within six or eight inches of the bottom. This will permit the withdrawing of nearly all the water before the pump takes air. Such care or expense need not be taken with wells for stock or irrigation, but simply with those which are employed for household purposes.

In wells used for domestic purposes it is highly desirable that a large amount of water be removed, for this is an important aid in keeping the supply pure and preventing the accumulation of alkalies or other salts. In nearly all cases in this region the greater quantity of water drawn the better its quality. Where windmills are used and a large amount of water is pumped out the improvement is noticeable. The value derived from the removal of a large quantity of water is probably not only due to the prevention of the accumulation of alkalies and other salts, but also the prevention of certain chemical changes which soon take place in the standing water. One of the most noticeable of these is between the alkaline carbonates and sulphides, mostly of iron, which in the presence of a small amount of organic matter probably combine so as to form traces of carbonate

of iron and set free a small amount of hydrogen sulphide, which gives the offensive odor to many wells in which water is allowed to stand, especially if it be confined in shale. When large quantities of water are used, so that the supply is constantly being changed, there is not much opportunity for such chemical decomposition.

There is little doubt that the proper construction of the wells and the removal of large quantities of water will greatly improve the quality of the supply. The containing shales and clays will doubtless be slowly relieved, by this process of washing, of much of their impurities. More care should certainly be given to the sanitary conditions of drinking water in this region. Few subjects need more attention or are more worthy of thought than this one of domestic water supply. Upon it to a great extent. depends the health, comfort and prosperity of the whole community.

LAWS GOVERNING COAL LAND ENTRIES

While engaged in field work during the past summer questions were so often asked in regard to coal land entries that it has seemed wise to reproduce those portions of the United States statutes touching these points, which give the essential conditions under which such entries can be made.

COAL LAND LAW.

SEC. 2347. Every person above the age of twenty-one years, who is a citizen of the United States, or who has declared his intention to become such or any association of persons severally qualified as above, shall, upon application to the register of the proper land office, have the right to enter by legal subdivision, any quantity of vacant coal lands of the United States not otherwise appropriated or reserved by competent authority, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres to such individual persons, or three hundred and twenty acres to such association, upon payment to the receiver of not less than ten dollars per acre for such lands, where the same shall be situated more than fifteen miles from any complete railroad, and not less than twenty dollars per acre for such lands as shall be within fifteen miles of such road.

SEC. 2348. Any person or association of persons severally qualified, as above provided, who have opened and improved, or shall hereafter open and improve, any coal mine or mines upon public lands, and shall be in actual possession of the same, shall be entitled to a preference right of entry, under the preceding section, of the mine so opened and improved; provided, that when any association of not less than four persons, severally qualified as above provided, shall have expended not less than five thousand dollars in working and improving any such mine or mines, such association may enter not exceeding six hundred and forty acres, including such mining improvements

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SEC. 2350. The three preceding sections shall be held to authorize only one entry by the same person or association of persons; and no association of persons any member of which shall have taken the benefit of such section, either as an individual or as a member of any other association, shall enter or hold any other lands under the provision thereof; and no member of any other association which shall have taken the benefit of such sections shall enter or hold any other lands under their provision; and all persons claiming under sections twenty-three hundred and forty-eight shall be required to prove their respective rights and pay for the land filed upon within one year from the time prescribed for filing their respective claims; and upon failure to file the proper notice, or to pay for the land within the required period, the same shall be subject to entry by any other qualified applicant.