Note 39 — {148} CHAPTER II {X}[33] Hot Springs of the Washita—Granite of the Cove—Saline River
Reading edition
On the 1st of January, 1818, the thermometer, in the air, at sunrise, stood at 24°, at 2 P.M. 49°, at sunset 41°.
Immersed in the water of the creek, below the springs, at 61º.
In spring No. 1. being the lowermost on the creek, 122°, water discharged, 4 gallons per minute.
No. 2. A few feet from No. 1, 104°, discharges 1 gallon per minute.
No. 3. Twenty-five yards from the last, 106°, discharges two gallons per minute.
No. 4. Six yards above the last, 126°, discharges 2 gallons per minute.
Temperature of a spring issuing from the ground, at a considerable distance up the side of the hill, 64°.
Springs, No. 5, 6, and 7, 126°, 94°, 92°. These rise very near each other, the warmest being more elevated than the rest; the three discharge about 8 gallons per minute.
No. 8. Issuing from the ground, fifty feet above the level of the creek, uniting, as it rises, with another at 54°; temperature of the mixture, 128°, discharge of the two, 10 gallons per minute.
No. 9. Rising on the point of a small spur, sixty feet above the level of the creek, 132°, discharges two gallons per minute.
No. 10. Forty feet above the creek, 151°, discharges 10 gallons per minute. Green bushes in the edge of this, which is the hottest spring.
No. 11. Three feet above the creek, 148°, discharges 12 gallons per minute.
No. 12. Twenty yards above the last, 132°, discharges 20 gallons per minute.
No. 13, 14, 15. Near the last, 124°, 119°, 108°, discharges each 4 gallons per minute.
No. 16, 122°, discharges 2 gallons per minute.
No. 17. The uppermost on the creek, 126°.
No. 18, 126°; 19, 128°; 20, 130°; 21, 136°; 22, 140°. All these are large springs, and rise at an elevation of at least 100 feet above the creek. In the same area are several others, and what is more remarkable, several cold ones. In any of the hot springs I observed bubbles rising in rapid succession, but could not discover any perceptible smell from them. Not only confervas and other vegetables grow in and about the hottest springs, but great numbers of little insects are seen constantly sporting about the bottom and sides. Temperature of the water of the creek, above the springs, 46°. The entire quantity of water flowing in the creek after it receives the water of the hot springs, may be estimated at from 900 to 1000 gallons per minute.—James.