Conservation of artesian supplies. — The artesian supplies obtainable
under the greater part of the region investigated are so abundant that their
conservation and even their most advantageous development have received
little attention. The situation at West Point and at Colonial Beach,
where hundreds of wells no longer flow, depriving owners of advantages
that in the aggregate have a large money value, shows that conservation
can not be neglected. While such severe restrictions on the use of under-
ground water as some states have imposed are not required, there is already
need for local regulation. Waste is unnecessary and may work public
injury. Where many wells have been driven those on low ground need
not be allowed by imrestricted flow to diminish or cut off the flow of wells on
higher ground. Neither is it right that the static head of the water in an
underground reservoir should be lowered to the detriment of innocent
parties by the insufficient casing of new wells or by the neglect of old wells.
