There were only seven of the city wells which yielded soft water, occasionally used for washing, and from thirty-three of them the water was obtained by deep boring. "Within a few years, (says the report,) it has become common in Boston, and the vicinity, to bore for water, and to make what is called Artesian wells. But no certain or valuable result has grown out of these endeavors. I cannot find that any geological science has been acquired by any one to guide or check these fruitless attempts and great sums of ;

money are idly expended every year upon mere projects founded on guess-work. There are thirty-three bored wells, only two of which are stated as furnishing soft water." With very little variation, as the Commissioners think, this description of the wells in Boston, will not inaptly apply to the situation of the public wells in this city, the most of which produce nothing but hard and brackish water, and no one of which, so far as the Commissioners are informed, is sufficiently soft to authorize its use in washing clothes, &c.

On the 27th of October, 1834, the Board of Aldermen referred to the Commissioners a communication from John Hunter, in which he states that he has matured a plan, by which an abundant supply of water may be obtained, on very reasonable terms that he ;

proposed applying to the Legislature for a charter, and if the Common Council would consent to the application, and render such facilities for its success as may be in theiv