DEAR SIR:--Your favor of the 5th inst. is before me; also that of
the 15th ult. You must excuse me for not answering the latter
sooner, owing to ill health and other causes. I am glad to furnish
you all the information in my power relative to the matter in
question, because I would like to see it developed--as I believe
it will be eventually--into a tangible, practical and useful
science. The prejudice now prevailing against it will, in my
opinion, ere long be dispelled. It is impossible for me, in the
space of a letter, to give a full statement of my views, theory
and experience on the subject of finding the locality of metals,
minerals and water under the surface of the ground; but will
endeavor to answer the inquiry of your first letter as concisely
and explicitly as possible.
I understand fully the method of calculating the depth of water
beneath the surface. What you wish to know is, after the substance
is shown to exist beneath a certain point, whether it be mineral,
metal or water, and the kind, character and description of each.
As you are aware of the fact, the simple "forked rod" will
indicate the presence of either of these. Now, to tell which of
these it is, and the character of the same; if it be water, the
kind of water. This is my method of testing the same, whether it
be water, mineral or metal: It is on the principle of
_affinity_--the attraction that like substances have for each
other. After the rod indicates the particular spot, I take a
sponge and saturate it with ordinary drinking water, either from
spring or well, and put it on the top of the rod, and test it with
this. If the substance beneath be water, and the same kind of that
in the sponge, it will turn much stronger, and the demonstration
be more active and powerful. But, if the rod should not turn at
all, it will be some other substance, either mineral or metal. To
test the kind of water, after I am satisfied that it is water--to
discover, for instance, whether it be sulphur water, I dip my
sponge in that kind of water, and test as above. If the movement
of the rod be active and strong when this is done, the water below
will be that species of water. If salt water, dip the sponge in
that kind of water, and the result will be similar; and so on
through the whole catalogue of waters.
In regard to the metals. The tests are made in a similar manner.
After I discover by proper tests that it is a metal, which are as
follows: If it be metal or mineral, after the sponge is saturated
with water, the rod will not act at all. I then put a piece of
metal on the top of the rod; first, a small bit of iron. If there
is no movement of the rod at the spot already indicated, it is
safe to conclude that the substance is not of that nature; so I
continue the experiment with different kinds of metal--lead,
silver, copper, tin, gold, etc., until I find some one of these
that will cause the rod to turn and operate in a manner
sufficiently strong and satisfactory. The same method pertains to
the minerals. Of course, a great deal of the practical operations
of these various tests, will depend upon one's discretion and
judgment at the time they are made, which it is impossible to put
upon paper. This is but a general outline of the system.
If I can be of any further assistance to you in the investigation
of this subject, do not fail to let me know of it. Would be
pleased to hear from you at any and all times. Be sure and send me
your pamphlet.
Yours, respectfully,