An artesian well is simply a well that taps underground water that is under pressure and does not require a pump to bring it to the surface. An aquifer is an underground layer of water bearing porous rock. An artesian aquifer has water trapped between impermeable layers of shale or clay. Being trapped between the layers creates positive pressure. So, when a well is drilled, it releases the pressure and allows the water to come to the surface. If there is a lot of pressure, the water comes out as a fountain or geyser. The James River Valley, stretching from Yankton to Jamestown, North Dakota, is a large artesian well district. This artesian well district was featured in the April 6, 1889, Scientific American magazine.
This article states that the James River Valley is one of the most remarkable agricultural valleys of the country, comparing it to the Nile River Valley. Many towns and cities in the James River Valley have artesian wells and many of them have strong pressure. The article featured these wells:
Aberdeen has two wells one is 961 feet deep and has soft water. The soft water could not be used in boilers because it foamed. The second well is 908 feet deep.
The well at Ellendale, North Dakota, is 1,087 feet deep has clear, soft water coming out at 150 pounds per square inch and at 67 degrees.
Redfield’s well is 960 feet deep, has clear, soft water coming out at 200 pounds per square inch and at 68 degrees. The city has a complete water works system for fire, lawn and house use.
Huron's well is 863 feet deep with 200 pounds per square inch flow, coming out at 60 degrees. Besides providing water for the fire department, it runs motors for two laundries and four printing offices.
Yankton drilled two wells, one at 610 feet and the other at 600 feet deep. They flow at 56 pounds per square inch and a temperature of 62 degrees. Yankton’s wells provide hard water, which Scientific American claimed was the best drinking water of any of the wells in the James River Valley.
The well at Jamestown, North Dakota, is 1,576 feet deep with a flow of 100 pounds per square inch. The water runs clear, soft and at 75 degrees. In this well, at 300 feet a flow of gas was met.
All the above-mentioned wells are located near the center of the valley. A few weaker wells are located at the eastern edge of the valley.