Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1894 — A Singular Spring. [ARTICLE]

A Singular Spring.

“One of the most singular springs I ever saw,” said D. L. Spratt to the corridor man at the Laclede, “is on the top of Mount Mitchell. It is on the summit, and is clear and cold. It has never been known to go dry, and is seemingly without a bottom, as lines have been dropped down to a great depth. As Mount Mitchell is the highest peak of the Alleghenies and the nearest mountain of greater altitude is in Colorado, about 2,000 miles distant, the query naturally arises as to the source of this spring. “The only conclusion is that it is a siphon spring, but if so, the water flows at least 2,000 miles and under innumerable rivers and streams, under prairies and under mountains until it reaches the peak, where it forces its way through a fissure on the top. The water is remarkably clear and pure and shows no trace of its having encountered any minerals during its long journey, although minerals are found on every side of the place where it arises to the surface. I have never heard any satisfactory explanation of the phenomiena.”—[St. Louis Globe Democrat.