1908 Report of the Springs

THE 1908 REPORT ON THE SPRINGS

Today, few of the original springs reported by Professor Gould in his 1906 survey remain. Some ceased flowing years ago and some cannot be found.

There are several reasons why some of these springs disappeared. One may be that the aquifer level has dropped considerably since there have been so many wells, artesian and non-artesian, drilled in the area. There is little doubt that this is a contributing factor.

A second reason may be that when Gould made his survey it was, in fact, the rainy season and he may have been looking at "wet weather" springs or "seeps". Another reason may have been that some of the springs, in very close proximity, may have actually been the same spring but issuing from two different locations.

Then, the efforts to increase the flow or the repair of some springs may have actually blocked their flow causing them to be lost. And last, the springs may have been covered up by trail and roadwork throughout the years.

Between the first survey of the springs in 1902 until the fall of 1908, a matter of only six years, five springs had already been lost. Let's take a look at the report of Superintendent Greene on the conditions at the springs on November 26, 1908.

In his twelve page report to the Secretary of the Interior, we can see that the flow of the springs has already began to diminish. The number of the spring is that assigned to it by Mr. Taff and Professor Gould in their original survey. By the date of this report, there were already 19 wells drilled in the new town of Sulphur, nine of which were artesian.

"The Antelope Spring (No. 1): This spring issues from the face of a picturesque ledge of conglomerate rock at the base of a cliff near the extreme northeast corner of the Park. The flow is approximately 2,000 gallons per minute of fresh water. The spring is undeveloped and Greene believes and recommends that it never be developed, as it would ruin the beauty of the water issuing from the cliff.

The Buffalo Spring (No. 2): This spring issues from a cone of sand and fine gravel in the bed of a stream resembling a gigantic anthill. The water is fresh and the present condition is undeveloped. The spring should be developed as it does issue from a streambed and Greene says that the stream should be diverted and a pavilion built over it. Gould estimated the flow at 1,500 gpm but this is in error as it obviously produces two or three times the water of Antelope Spring. The combined flow of the two springs is 5,000,000 gpd.

Cunningham Spring (No. 3): The site only remains. The issue has dried up. The Cunningham family ran a dairy at this site and a crude milk house was built over the spring. The site of the spring was on the bank of Sulphur Creek and is now covered with earth and sand. The old settlers stated that the spring was weak and had no mineral content.

Buse Spring (No. 4): The location of this spring was said to be ¼ mile below Cunningham Spring. Greene hunted for the spring but never did find it nor could he find any early settler who could locate the spring. Mr. F. A. Buse of Sulphur in whose honor the spring was named could never find it again.

The Pavilion Springs (No. 5 - 11): This group of seven springs were located within a radius of 100 feet. The No. 5 spring named Big Tom flowed at a rate of 40 gpm (gallons per minute) and was non-mineral.

The No. 6 spring named Arsenic Spring flowed at a rate of 8 gpm and was non-mineral. These two produced the bulk of water at the Pavilion Springs.

Spring No. 7, Little Tom flowed at 3 gpm and was sulfur water. Spring No. 8 was called Swords Spring, was sulfur and flowed at 5 gpm. Spring No. 9 was called Townsley Spring, was sulfur water and flowed at 3 gpm. Spring No. 10 was called Dog Spring, was sulfur and flowed at a rate of 2 gpm. Spring No. 11 was unnamed and flowed at a rate of ½ gpm.

Big Tom, Arsenic, Little Tom and Swords Springs were placed under the roof of the pavilion built by Supt. Swords. Townsley Spring was under cover of a smaller pavilion. Dog and No. 11 Springs were never developed and were uncovered.

Spring No. 12, known as Hillside Spring, was sulfur and flowed at 80 gpm. This spring was extensively worked and became the domestic water supply for the Park office, ranger's residence as well as the superintendent's residence.

There are two picture post cards that show springs named Beauty Springs. One is of Hillside Spring and the other shows one of the Pavilion Spring's. It may have been common locally to refer to either of these as Beauty Springs but there was never a spring officially named Beauty Springs.

The Beach Springs consist of three springs and are Nos. 13, 14 & 15. These are on the bank of Rock Creek and located north of what is known today as the Black Sulphur Springs Pavilion. The three springs were tied together and had a combined flow of 70 gpm. These springs are where C. G. Frost Bottling Co. took their water in the early days.

The Sand Spring (No. 16) is located in Rock Creek just east of the Beach Springs. It was never developed and its flow is unknown.

Spring No. 17 was known as the Bromide Spring and was the single most important spring in the Park. The spring was repaired and several pavilions built to preserve and dispense its waters.

(Ed. Note: Literally tens of thousands of gallons of its mineral water were hauled out of the Park in its time. The water was so valuable that it was stolen and thieves sold it. Its waters were in such high demand that a Watchman had to be appointed over it and the 270 gallons per day flow carefully measured out to each visitor. The spring is now dry.)

Access to this spring was so much in demand that a very expensive wire suspension bridge was built across Rock Creek so it could be accessed during high water and flooding.

Cliff-Bromide Springs located about a hundred yards up stream from the Bromide Spring, consisted of three springs numbered 18a, 18b, and 18c. In May of 1908, during high water on Rock Creek, a landslide occurred effectively sealing them and no other attempt was ever made to repair them.

Spring No. 19 was about 200 yards upstream from the Bromide Spring and had such a meager flow it was never developed.

Spring No. 20 was known as Bromide Sulphur Spring (original name was Black Sulphur Spring) and was located in the southern part of the Park (in approximately the southern part of the buffalo pasture). This spring had several attempts to improve it but never had a flow of more than 2 gpm.

Spring No. 21 was very near spring No. 20 but has been lost. Black-Sulphur spring or Taff Spring No. 22 was 150 yards southwest of No. 20 and flowed 3 gpm.

Iron Spring was No. 23 and flowed at ½ gpm. It was located 200 yards southwest of No. 22. Soda Spring so called because it was believed to contain soda was located a few feet from Iron Spring and flowed about ½ gpm.

Sulphur Spring, No. 26, was located in the bed of Sulphur Run and flowed 1 gpm. It was never developed.

Wilson Spring, No. 27, was in the area where Highway 177 exits in the Ten Acre Lot in the south part of the Park. It was improved and had a flow of 16 gpm. It is lost today.

Churchill Spring, No. 28 is located 100 yards north of Wilson Spring. Its flow is slight and is undeveloped. Rucker Spring is No. 29 and is 100 feet east of No. 28. It was minimal flow and was not developed. The Iron Spring, No. 30, is 100 yards northeast of Wilson Spring and is in the bottom of a ravine.

Jericho Spring, No. 31 is in the same ravine as Wilson Spring. It is minimal flow and undeveloped. Springs No. 32 and 33 are in the same ravine as Wilson Spring and are lost."

We have greatly condensed Col. Greene's report but one can readily see that the number of springs was declining, even from the very early days. The current notion that the springs are drying up is not new. They have been failing for at least the last one hundred years. Today it is estimated that there are about 18 or 19 springs that have some issue during various times of the annual season.