57TH CoNGREss, } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. j DocuMENT 

1st Session. · t No. 54. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

WATER-SUPPLY 

AND 

IRRIG_i\_TION PAPERS 

OF' THE 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

No. 54 

GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF NEZ PERCE 

COUNTY, IDAHO, PART H.-RussELL 

WASHiNGTON 

GOVERNMKN'l' PRINTING OFFICE 

1901 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR 

GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF 

NEZ PERCE COUNTY, IDAHO 

PART II 

BY ISR_j\_EL 0001{. RUSSELL 

WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1901 

CONTENTS. , 

Page. Water supply_ . _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ . ___ .. _ . _________ .. _ .. _ _ _ _ ___ .. ______ . _. _. _____ _ 95 

Springs ___ . __ . __ . ___ . . __ . . . __ .. ______ - - .. -- ------ -- . -- - -- -- ---- -- - --- 96 

Horizontal wells . _ .. ___ . _____ . __ . _ ... __ . _ .. __ . _____ . _- . -- . --- ----. 98 

Artesian wells _ . _ _ _ _ _ ___ . ______ . __ . _ _ _ _ . ___ . ___ .. _ .. _ . . __ -. _ . . -. _ . - 101 

General principles __________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ... _ . ______ .. _ . __________ . __ . 101 

Lewiston-Clarkston Basin_______ _ __________________ . ___ . _______ . __ 104 

Wells in Tammany Hollow ______ . _______ . __________ . ____ ... __ .. 105 

Recommendations . __ . ___________ ... _ . _____ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .. __ . __ .. 109 

Camas-Kamiah Basin _ . __________ . ___ . _ . _ _ _ . ______ . __ .. ___ . __ .. 110 

Wells at Denver _ .. _. , _____ . _ ... _ . ______ . _ ... ______ . ____ . __ .. 113 

Suggestions and recommendations _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ______ . __ . ___ .. _. _ .. 115 

Economic geology ____ . ________ .. ____ . _ . ________ .. __ . _____ . _ . _ . ___ . _______ . 119 

Building stone. __________ . . ________ .. _______ .. . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .. __ : ___ . _ 119 

Lignite _ .. _ . _ . _____ . ___ . ______ . _________ . __ . _ _ _ _ . __ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ 122 

Gold, silver, and copper_ . ___________ . __ . _ . ___ . _. _____ . ____________ . __ . 127 

Bibliography of artesian waters ..... _ .. _ .. _. __ . __ . . .. __ . __ . ____ . ___ . _____ _ 130 

Appendix A: Elevations in Nez Perce region ____ . ___ . __ .. _____________ . __ . 132 

Appendix B: Notes concerning Portland cement _________________________ _ 133 

Index to Papers No. 53 and No. 54 ____ ... _ _ _____________ • _______ . ____ . ___ _ 137 

91 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

FIG. 5. Dissected lava plateau, showing best locations for horizontal wells __ 

6. Section illustrating the chief requisite conditions for artesian wells __ 

7. Ideal section of the border of a basin deposit, illustrating possible 

artesian conditions _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . __ .. __ . . _. _ ... ______ _ 

8. Ideal section of the border of the_ Columbia River lava adjacent to 

mountains_ _ _ __ . _____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

9. Diagram of apparatus illustrating the declivity of bead of liquids 

flowing from a reservoir _____ . _____ . _ . _ _ _____ . ___ . ___________ _ 

10. Seed-bag packing around casing in an artesian well ___ . 

11. Section of well, illustrating a negative test for water under pres- sure _____ . __ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________ . __ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ _ 

12. Section of well, showing a partial and misleading test for water 

under pressure _ . __ . ___ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____ . _______ _ 

13. Section of well, illustrating an inverted test for water under pres- sure ________________________________________________ . 

14. Section showing one correct and two erroneous tests for water under 

pressure . ____ . _________ . _____ . _ ... 

93 

Page. 

10J 

102 

103 

104 

112 

115 

116 

117 

117 

118 

GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF NEZ PERCE 

COUNTY, IDAHO. 

PART II. 

By ISRAEL C. RUSSELL. 

WATER SUPPLY. 

The sources of water supply in the Nez Perce region are streams, 

springs, wells, and cisterns. Of these special attention can be given 

here to only the springs and the drilled wells, for it is from these that 

the water supply must be supplemented. There are splendid rivers 

of clear, wholesome water flowing through this country, but they are 

in deep valleys and in canyons with steep, rugged walls, and for the 

most part are practically unavailable far economic purposes, on 

account of the expense of pumping or of constructing aqueducts 

which will conduct the water to where it can be used. Although 

the utilization of the surface waters can not be considered in detail 

in t.his report, a brief account of what has been accomplished in that 

direction will be serviceable as indicating the needs of an increased 

water supply. In this region water is used for navigation, irrigation, 

town supply, power purposes, household use, and the watering of 

stock. 

The first of these, navigation, may be dismissed for the present 

with the statement that Snake River is the only stream that is navigable or that it is practicable to render navigable, on a commercial 

scale, for steamboats. 

Fortunately, the rainfall, on account of the retentive character of 

the soil, is sufficient to insure good crops on all but the lowest plateaus 

and on the canyon walls; but in most places the results could be made 

still more satisfactory if recourse could be had to irrigation, especially during the height of the dry season. The areas where irrigation is now practiced are small, and most of them are along the 

borders of Snake and Clearwater rivers. By far the most important 

and successful attempt that has been made to utilize the streams is 

the ditch constructed by the Lewiston Water and Power Company, 

which diverts water from Asotin Creek about 6 miles above its mouth 

and at an approximate elevation of 665 feet above Snake River at 

Asotin, and conducts it I4t miles to Clarkston, where part of it is 

95 
96 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No. 54. 

distributed, through underground mains and laterals, for town purposes and irrigation. The upper 6t miles of the system is a flume 6 

feet wide and 3-! feet deep, with a grade of 10.56 feet to the mile. 

This fl. nme is on the steep northern wall of Asotin Canyon, and is 

carried across the numerous lateral gulches on trestles. The lower 8 

miles of the system is a canal 6 feet wide at the bottom and 16 feet 

wide at the top, with a depth of 5 feet and a grade of 2.12 feet to the 

mile. The estimated capacity is 127 cubic feet per second. 

Lewiston is supplied with water by a pumping station in the eastern 

portion of the city, which takes water from Clearwater River. Asotin 

derives its water supply principally from a gravity system supplied 

by ditches which divert water from Asotin Creek, but surface wells are 

also in use there. Asotin Creek also supplies power for an electriclight plant, from which electricity for illumination is distributed to 

Asotin, Clarkston, and Lewiston. Flouring mills in Asotin and Lewiston are run by water power. Additional sources of water power 

which are not yet utilized but which demand careful investigation, 

are to be found on Grande Ronde River, at \\Taha, and along Salmon 

River and Orofino Creek. For household purposes in villages and on 

farms recourse is had in most instances to ordinary surface wells, 

and in favored localities to springs and streams. The surface wells 

on the lava plateaus derive their water from the residual soil and subsoil, as a rule at a depth of from 30 to 50 feet, but the supply is frequently small and not of good quality, on account of mineral matter 

in solution. Drilled wells have been put down in a few cases, and 

some of them, as will be noted later, are very successful. 

On the whole, despite the large volumes of tbe streams, which, as 

already stated, it is impracticable to utilize except in a few instances, 

there is a dearth of water in this region, and there is urgent need, 

particularly on the plateaus where grain is so largely grown, of water 

for household use, for the irrigation of gardens and orchards, and for 

watering stock; also to supply villages, in order that the surface wells 

may be abandoned and sanitary drainage established. And it is 

hoped that the improvement of springs and the sinking of artesian 

wells will furnish relief in many instances. 

SPRINGS. 

At the bottom and on the sides of the canyons and gulches excavated in the Columbia River lava, water issues as springs at many 

localities, but as a rule soon disappears, owing to the quantities of 

loose material mantling the surface. These springs are supplied by 

water percolating through porous beds composed, in most instances, of 

gravel, sand, or volcanic dust, and, less commonly, of the scoriaceous 

portions of the lava sheets themselves. The source of the water 

where the porous beds are in the upper portion of the Columbia 

River lava and where it has been dissected by streams to the depth 
RUSSELL.] SPRINGS. 97 

of the porous beds or lower, as in the case of the Clarkston, Lewiston, 

Camas, and Kamiah plateaus, is the rain falling on the broad interstream areas. The rain water is absorbed by the deep porous soil 

and subsoil, which usually is traversed by vertical tubes, as explained 

in Part I, and finds its way through the surface sheets of lava, for 

they usually are more or less decayed and broken by joints, and thus 

readily reaches any porous beds which may be present in the upper 

portion of the lava formation. 

In some cases, however, e. g., where the strata dip away from a 

canyon wall, as along the south side of Clearwater River throughout 

the lower 20 miles of its course and on the south side of Snake River 

between Clarkston and Alpowa, the rain water falling on the exposed 

edges of the porous layers in the canyon walls, or reaching them by 

flowing down the slopes above, follows the inclined beds and comes 

to the surface in the next canyon, in the direction of the slope, which 

is sufficiently deep. In the neighborhood of the mountains bordering the region occupied by the lava, the gravel beds between the 

layers extend up the valleys to the uplands, and there are abundantly 

water charged. Wherever such beds have been cut by erosion, 

springs appear. The conditions favoring the origin of springs are 

increased in a most important manner by the fact that at least one 

widely spread bed of sand and gravel in the upper portion of the lava 

formation is underlain by a thick, impervious layer of clay. This 

double layer, consisting of sand and gravel above and clay below, 

as already described, underlies the Uniont,own and the LewistonClarkston plateaus, and probably extends eastward to the border of 

the Colum~ia River lava. The depth of the surface of the sand and 

gravel varies from 150 to 350 feet. The most definite sections showing its position and character are furnished by the well on Ira Small's 

ranch and by the exposure in a neighboring gulch. 

As already explained, this soft, layer has influenced the topography 

of the canyon walls over a wide extent of country, and its position in 

many localities is indicated approximately by the presence of a terrace on otherwise precipitous slopes. Near the heads of small canyons, 

where they first reach the horizon of the surface of the clay beneath 

the sand and gravel member of the sedimentary deposit, springs frequently are present .. Their occurrence at these localities is due to . 

the fact that the edge of the porous bed is there most often exposed. 

Owing to the quantities of more or less disintegrated rock encumbering the terrace, and especially the thick talus piles and landslides on 

its border adjacent to the cliffs rising above it, the water which flows 

out is lost to view. There is no doubt that if this surface debris 

could be removed an abundant outflow of water would be obtained 

in many places where now there is no sign of its presence. This perhaps seemingly bold statement is sustained by the fact that in prospecting for lignite on S. C. MeN eil's ranch, in Grande Ronde Canyon, 
98 GEOLOGY, ETO,, OF NEZ PEROE 00., JDAHO.-PART II. [No.M. 

a tunnel was driven in a most unpromising locality so far as water was 

concerned-in a landslide-and encountered such a volume of water 

as seriously to impede mining operations. 

A typical illustration of the class of springs referred to is furnished 

at the head of a small gulch opening into the valley of Clearwater 

River near the Small ranch. Here, as already explained, erosion 

has cut'through a layer of sand, about 60 feet thick, resting on clay. 

Springs appear at the surface of the clay, and the natural conditions 

have been improved by the removal of the loose rocks which had 

fallen in from above, and the placing of a pipe for conducting the 

water away. The strata dip southward, or away from the escarpment 

overlooking Clearwater River. The intake of the layer of sand is 

principally on the north face of the escarpment, and its flow through 

the bed is southward, down the slope. As will be more fully described 

further on, the water supply in this instance could be still further 

increased by excavating a tunnel, or "horizontal well," in the base of 

the sand layer, in a direction (eastward) at i·ight angles to its dip. 

Other examples of springs similar to the one just described are to 

be seen near the heads of several of the gulches which open into Asotin 

Creek within a radius of 10 miles of the town of Asotin. In the region 

referred to there are well-defined terraces about 120 and 260 feet below 

the general level of the adjacent plateaus, each of which is due to a 

sedimentary bed interstratified with the basalt. In descending the 

side gulches leading to the main creek, springs are found when these 

ter!aces are reached, t.heir presence usually being indicated by a 

house, for in nearly every instance they have led to the location of 

a homestead. 

The conditions on Asotin Creek are repeated along the "break" of 

Snake River Canyon, more parti<.'ularly on its west side between 

Asotin and the mouth of Grande Ronde River, where a terrace is present. Below the first rim rock, and apparently dangerously near the 

brink of the great precipices below them, several houses are to be 

seen from the hills near W aha; and each house marks the location of 

a spring. 

Other illustrations of these conditions might be offered, and many 

will doubtless suggest themselves to persons who are familiar with the 

. marvelous advances that. have been made in the development of the 

agricultural resources of the Nez Perce region. But facts enough 

have probably been offered to sustain the recommendation which 

follows, in reference to the practicability of greatly increasing the 

water supply derived from the pervious beds cut through by the 

larger canyons and many of their tributary gulches. 

HORIZONTAL WELLS. 

The pioneer experiment in this connection should be in the direction of enlarging an existing spring, as, for example, the one at the 
RUSSELL.] HORIZONTAL WELLS. 99 

head of a small gulch near Ira Small's ranch. At that locality a tunnel should be excavated at the base of the sand, its bottom being at 

the start perhaps 2 feet, below the surface of the underlying clay, 

and carried eastward at least 200 or 300 feet. The longer the tunnel 

the greater will be the quantity of water obtained. In this and all 

similar instances the proposed tunnel should run at right angles to 

the dip of the beds, or as nearly in that direct,ion as is practicable 

and still obtain the necessary slope. There are many localities nearly 

or quite as favorable as the one cited, for example, along the upper 

portion of the great escarpment bordering the Uniontown Plateau on 

the south, and particularly near the heads of the notches cut in its 

rim, and again near the head of the gulches tributary to Asotin Creek. 

In Tammany Hollow the same porous layer which underlies the Uniontown and Clarkston plateaus is cut through, and springs appear at its 

base. It is the presence of these soft beds which has given the hollow 

its exceptional width upstream from the place where the underlying 

sheet of basalt is exposed. The beds there dip gently northward, and 

tunnels made for the purpose of obtaining water should be locat,ed on 

the south side of the valley. As will be explained more fully further 

on, it is desirable either that two tunnels be constructed, diverging 

from each other at a high angle, or that a main tunnel be run directly 

into the bluff at the base of the porous layer and then branched like 

the letter Y, but at a wide angle. 

The principal conditions governing the selection of a loca1ity for 

excavating a tunnel or horizontal well, in case the strata are essentially horizontal, should be the presence of a broad plateau surface, 

which will serve as a catchment area for rain, and a break on the 

border of such an area where the underlying porous beds are cut 

through. The most favorable localities, as suggested by existing 

springs, are near the heads of small gulches excavated in the borders 

of broad plateaus. The presence of a soft bed, as already explained, 

is usually indicated by a terrace in the canyon walls, but may also be 

discovered by observing the nature of the surface debris. The coarser 

sedimentary beds t1sually contain well-worn pebbles of various kinds 

of rock, among which white quartz is frequently conspicuous. Such 

pebbles mingled with the surface debris furnish evidence regarding 

the position of the layer from which they came, similar in all respects 

to that supplied by'' float" in ordinary prospecting. When the actual 

presence of a porous bed has been determined, its base must be 

reached; and for this purpose a cut will usually have to be made in 

the nearly universal sheet of debris which mantles the surface. On 

a slope where the presence of a layer of gravel is revealed. in the surface material, but where no actual exposures are in sight, as is the 

nearly universal rule, the most practical method will be to sink prospecting pits at various horizons below the highest level at which the 

gravel or sand "float" appears, until the base of the layer is dis-
100 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No.M. 

covered. The direction and character of the proposed tunnel will 

depend on the local conditions. 

In order to make the suggestions just offered more tangible, fig. 5 

has been prepared. This figure illustrat,es most of the conditions that 

will be met with in the Nez Perce region. It represents a plateau 

composed of horizontal lava sheets and containing one sedimentary 

bed near the surface, which has been deeply trenched by erosion. 

The view is supposed to be from one side of a deep canyon, and ~bows 

the strata exposed in the opposite wall and in the connecting side 

canyon and gulches. The most favorable localities for horizontal 

wells would be at a, b, and c, and the general direction they should 

take is indicat,ecl by dotted lines. In each case two tunnels are suggested, the object being to intercept as ·much of the percolating water 

as practicable. The length of the tunnels will be controlled by local 

FIG. 5.-Dissected lava plateau, showing best locations for horizuutal wells. 

conditions, but in general, in the region about Lewiston they can be 

extended almost indefinitely, the ratio between expense and water 

supply being the governing factor. 

In the illustration horizontal strata are indicated. The most favorable conditions would be furnished, however, where the strata beneath 

a broad plateau dip toward -a canyon wall in which the cut edge of a 

porous layer is exposed. :B"or example, if the strata shown in fig. 5 

dipped toward the point of view, one tunnel only would need to be 

run at a, while at c the chances of obtaining water would not be 

worth considering. If the strata :o;hould be inclined downward from 

right to left, two tunnels at a would be advisable, as indicated, but 

only one running in the direction of the line of the gulch would be 

required at b, while at c no water could be obtained. The sketch 

may perhaps be considered as indicating that springs would occur all 
BUSSELL.] ARTESIAN- WELLS. 101 

along the canyon walls, and such, to some extent, would no doubt be 

the case under similar conditions; but the canyon walls, at least in 

the Nez Perce region, are so heavily sheathed with debris that only 

an unusually strong spring can give surf~ce indications of its presence, except near t.he head of a sm~ll gulch. More than this, when a 

pervious bed is exposed for miles in the wall of a canyon there is 

such freedom for the water it eontains to escape by seepage that 

definite springs are not likely to occur. Near the heads of lateral 

canyons and gulches, however, the conditions are different, and a concentration of the percolating waters is favored. The writer repeats 

the suggestion that the most favorable localities for excavating horizontal wells are near the heads of small gulches where pervious beds 

are first cut through. 

Considerable space has been given to t.he consideration of the conditions which favor success in searching for water by means of horizontal wells, for the reason that through the lava-covered portion of 

the Nez Perce region and a still greater area of similar character in 

the neighboring portions of Washington and Oregon, there is a combination of circumstances-such, for example, as deep porous soils and 

subsoils which absorb rain water, the p1·esence of sedimentary beds 

between the lava sheets, the manner in which the surface layers of 

lava are weathered, the deep canyons witjh small lateral branches that 

abound, etc.-which justifies the making of trials in this connection at 

numerous localities. 

In the last few pages attention has been directed mainly to the sheet 

or sheets of porous beds near the surface of the Columbia River lava, 

because these are favorably situated to be supplied by local precipitation. There are other similar beds, however, at varying depths, 

down to more than a,ooo feet, as has previously been explained, and 

where any one of these appears in a canyon wall and is underlain by 

an impervious bed horizontal wells may be expected to yield a water 

supply. The most favorable of t.hese localities are where the pervious 

beds first appear as one descends a canyon which has been eut sufficiently deep to reach them. 

ARTESIAN WELLS. 

GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 

An artesian well is understood to be an excavation in the rocks, 

usually a hole a few inches in diameter made by drilling, through 

which water rises to the surface and overflows. No definite line can 

be drawn between wells that are truly artesian and many others in 

which water rises by hydraulic pressure, except in reference to a surface flow. 

The primary condition necessary to the obtaining of flowing water 

by drilling is that water exists under sufficient pressure to force it to 
102 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. tNo.M. 

the surface when an opening is made for its escape. The force which 

sends the water to the surface is, in most. instances, the pressure of 

water at higher levels; that is, hydraulic pressure. 1 This is illustrated by the manner in ~hich many towns are supplied with water 

from storage reservoirs. There i~ no difference in principle between 

an artesian well and the flow of water from a faucet in one's kitchen, 

and a continuous and nonperforated tube through which water can 

rise is as essential in the case of an artesian well as it is in the water 

mains and laterals of a city. 

Experience has shown that the most usual conditions which permit 

the accumulation of water in. rocks so as to be under pressure are the 

presence of a porous bed, such as gravel, sand, and even quite cornpact sandstone, or beds of much more impervious rock traversed by 

fissures inclosed between two water-tight. or impervious beds or strata, 

such as clay, shale, etc., and the series thus arranged having a basin 

shape or rising in all directions from a central area. An additional condition requisite to maintaining a continuous flow is that the 

upraised edge of the porous water-charged layer should be exposed 

at the surface so that it may receive additional water. These condiFIG. 6.-Section illustrating the chief requisite conditions for artesian wells. A, a porous 

stratum; Band C, impervious beds below and above A acting as confining strata; F, height of 

water level in the porous bed A, or, in other words, height of the reservoir or fountain bead; 

D and E, flowing wells springing from the porous water-filled bed A. (After Chamberlin.) 

tions are illustrated in fig. 6, an ideal section indicating the arrangement of rocks to a depth of a thousand feet beneath a valley 20 miles 

wide. Other sections across the valley in any direction would show 

essentially the same conditions. 

Rain falling on the exposed edge of the porous bed A percolates 

through it until it becomes thoroughly water charged. The water at 

any point in the bed is then under the pressure of the waters at higher 

levels, and if a hole be drilled, as at D or E, it will rise and overflow 

at the surface. If a tube be connected with one of these openings 

and carried up above it, the water would rise in the tube until it 

stands on a level with the lowest notch in the rim of the water-charged 

layer. This would determine the artesian head for the basin. At 

all points within the basin where the surface is below the level of the 

artesian head, a surface flow could be obtained by drilling a well down 

to the porous layer. 

While fig. 6 will, the writer thinks, make clea~ the primary condi1 Amoug the agencies which might cause a pressure on water confined in porous beds or in 

fissures are gas, steam, and th~ compression of the rocks themselves, owing to the weight of the 

material resting on them, but examples of flowing wells in which the rise of the water is due to 

other agencies than hydraulic pressure are, the. writer believes, unknown. 
RURSELL.] ARTESIAN WELLS. 103 

tions governing the flow of artesian wells, there are certain important 

secondary conditions which need to be considered in individual cases. 

One of these, of special importance to well rlrillers in the Nez Perce 

region, is that the rocks above a porous stratum may not be impervious all the way to the surface, or the upper impervious bed may be 

overlain by porous material, so that water would not rise to the surface where an opening is made, although the pressure be sufficient, 

unless the well is properly cased so as to prevent lateral flow. Another 

consideration to be borne in mind is that the rainfall on the exposed 

margin of the porous layer should be sufficient to maintain the flow 

of the wells opening into it. 

A true basin shape in a porous. layer inclosed between impervious 

beds is not essential to an artesian flow, however, for any porous bed 

in which water is confined which is so situated that it can be recharged 

from· the surface and an opening be made where the surface is below 

the intake will permit of a surface flow. For example, in the filling 

of a valley there may be an alt.ernation of clay and sand, such as is 

indicated in fig. 7, which would permit the obtaining of a surface flow 

at the locality marked W. 

FIG. 7.-Ideal section of the border of a basin deposit, illustrating possible artesian conditions. 

In the Nez Perce region the conditions illustrated by both figs. 6 

and 7 have to be considered. As has already been described, the 

Columbia River lava was poured out in successive sheets, and in 

several instances between adjacent sheets there are beds of clay, sand, 

gravel, volcanic dust, and lapilli. The layers of clay are impervious, 

as i's also the solid basalt, unless fractured or jointed, while the other 

beds mentioned are pervious and in a condit,ion to become water 

charged. If the series of strata referred to should become bent into a 

basin shape, and t.he edges of the porous beds be exposed so as to 

receive water, it is evident that the conditions illustrated in fig. 6 

would be produced and artesian wells be possible. Again, from t.he 

manner in which the layers of sand, gravel, volcanic dust, and lapilli 

interbedded with the Columbia River lava were formed, it follows 

that conditions similar t,o those illustrated in fig. 7 may be present, 

even where the rocks have not been deformed so as to produce basins. 

For example, taking the beds of sand and gravel, which are the most 

promising, we know that the material forming them was carried. by 

streams and spread over the Columbia River lava at various times 

IRR 54-01--2 
104 GEOLOGY, ETO., OF NEZ PEROE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No. 54. 

during the periods intervening between the lava floo<ls. In many 

instances these beds are of the nature of alluvial fans, and are thickest 

adjacent to the mountains from which the mate:dal composing them 

was derived, and thin out and become finer at a distance from their 

source. On the lava plains which were overspread in this manner 

there were at times lakes in which clay was deposited, so that au 

alternat,ion of pervious and impArvious beds may be expected. In 

this connection it. is important to remember that the alluvial deposits -

spread out between the lava sheets were laid down mainly at the 

mouths of valleys in the adjacent mountains, and that their summit 

portions extended far up the valleys. As sheet after sheet of lava 

was poured out, each successive layer extended farther up the valleys 

than its predecessor, but probably never covered the higher portions 

of the alluvial deposits previously formed. Thus the layers of sand 

and gravel between the sheets of lava are favorably situa\ed for 

becoming wat~er charged. 

The conditions just described may perhaps be made clearer by an 

HORIZONTAL SCALE 

0 I 2 MILES 

C=======~====~ 

VERTICAL SCALE 

OC:::========='O=OE0~~~~=2~0~0 o FEET 

FIG. 8.-Ideal section of the border of the Columbia River lava adJacent to mountains. 

examination of fig. 8, an ideal section at the border of the lava formation and extending up a valley in the preexisting mountains. The 

mountains in the background are intended to represent the far side of 

the lava-floored valley. It will be noted that this section, which represents the general conditions that obtain about the border of t,he 

Columbia River lava, is much like the one forming fig. 7, except that 

lava flows are added. Under the conditions illustrated it is evident that a well drilled through the lava sheets until a porous watercharged bed is reached should yield a surface flow, provided the mouth 

of the well is below the exposed portion of the pervious layer, and also 

provided that there is an unbroken impervious bed both above and 

below it. "\Vhat has just been stated in general terms illustrates in a 

qualitative way the actual conditions in the Nez Perce region. 

LEWISTON -CLARKSTON BASIN. 

In the region about Lewiston-Clarkston, as already explained, the 

rocks have been depressed so as to form the Lewiston and Clarkston 
RUSSELL.) ARTESIAN WELLS. 105 

plateaus. The northern border of this depressed area is defined by 

the Clearwater escarpment. The downward inclination of the s_urface 

of the plateaus and of the lava sheets, etc., composing them, is northward at a low angle, probably not exceeding 2 degrees. These relations are indicated in fig. 1. The Lewiston and Clarkston plateaus 

have also been deformed in their relations to each other, the former 

having been upraised along its eastern and southeaster.Q margins, 

where it joins Craig Mountain, and the latter upraised along its southwestern margin, where it passes into the Blue Hills uplift. An eastwest section across the two plateaus, passing through any point 

between Clarkston and Asotin, would exhibit the essential features 

shown .in fig. 2. 

The resultant of the three main movements which have affected 

the J ... ewiston and Clarkston plateaus is such as to give the lava sheets 

and their contained sedimentary beds an inclination toward the sites 

of the towns for which they are named. An irregular basin has thus 

been formed, the deepest part of which is near the center of its 

northern and sharp1y upturned border; that is, at I~ewiston-Clarkston. 

So far as the geologic structure, or the positions which the strata 

occupy, is concerned, it is evident that the Lewiston-Clarkston Basin 

has the features requisite for furnishing artesian water. Regarding 

the necessary succession of pervious and impervious beds, however, 

our present information is both limited and indefinite. Although the 

strata are well exposed in canyon walls, no porous layers within an 

artesian basin cut by canyons, except under certain special conditions, can be expected to retain ·water under pressure. To learn 

what strata are present below the bottoms of the canyons one is 

constrained to study the geology of the surrounding region over 

a wide area; but such examinations as it has been practicable to 

make in this connection have not furnished the detailed information 

desired. 

As already stated, porous sedimentary beds highly favoi·able for the 

passage of water through them are interstratified with the Columbia 

River lava in Little Canyon, in the canyon of Oro~no Creek, and 

along the Sout.h .B,ork of Clearwater River. at from 750 to 800 feet, 

and in Salmon River Canyon at 3,500 feet, below the surfaces of the 

adjacent plateaus. It is possible that one or more of these beds 

occur in the Lewiston-Clarkston Basin, but positive evidence that 

such is the case is lacking. There is a probability also that other 

sedimentary beds not yet recognized may be present. 

In addition to the evidence derived from natural exposures, we 

have, in one successful well, what may be claimed to be a crucial t.est 

of the artesian conditions. 

Wells in Tarnmany Hollow.-ln Tammany Hollow, about 8 miles 

southeast of Lewiston and, according to aneroid measurements made 

by Mr. John Adams, 500 feet higher than Main street in that city, or 
106 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-.PART II. [No. 54. 

about 1,200 feet above the sea, 1 six drilled wells have been put down, 

four of which furnish flowing water and are true artesian wells. 

The records of these wells are somewhat indefinite, but the following 

data concerning them seem to be authentic. 

On the farm belonging to Charles Dowd four drill holes have been 

made. The first of these was begun in 1896, and the others between 

that year and the summer of 1900. Well No. 1, at Mr. Dowd's house, 

has a diameter of 8 inches, and, as reported by Mr. Dowd, passes 

through the following material: 

Section at well No. 1, on farm of Oharlp,s Dowd. 

Feet. 

Yellowish soil, clay-like in consistency _______ . __ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 40 

Basalt, hard, mostly black, but with scoriaceons portions. __ . 170 

Total depth _ _ _ . _______________________ . __________ . _ _ _ 21 0 

Since this record was obtained, the writer has been informed by 

Mr. E. H. Libby that this well has been deepened 40 feet and now has a 

total depth of 220 feet. There is, then, a discrepancy of 30 feet in the 

records obtained. At the time of the writer's visit (June 28, 1900) 

this well was cased, but some water rose outside the casing; within 

the casing water rose to a height of about 20 feet above the ground, 

but the full height to which it would rise in au open tube was not 

measured. At an elevation of about 4 feet above the ground the discharge was from 15 to 20 gallons a minute. The deepening and 

recasing or readjustment of the old casing since the date mentioned, as 

the writer has been informed by :Mr. Libby, resulted in increasing the 

flow to 105 gallons a minute. The wat,er is clear, tasteless, without 

appreciable quantities of gas, and evidently of good quality. The 

temperature, as measured by Mr. John Adams on December 8, 1900, 

was 58!° F. A copious spring a few rods distant had a temperature 

of 54°, and the air a temperature of 48°. 

Wells Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are in a group within a radius of about 150 

feet, about 1,000 feet west -of Mr. Dowd's house, and approximately 

30 feet higher than the ~urface at well No. 1. The temperature of 

these wells, as determined by Mr. John Adams, is from 66° to 68° F. 

Well No. 2 has a diameter of 5 inches, and is reported by Mr. Dowel 

to pass through the following st,rata: 

Section at well No. 2, on farm of Charles Dowd. 

Feet. 

Yellowish clay, with quartz pebbles ____ ._____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 30 

Soft yellowish clay _ .. __ . ___________ . ____________ . __ . _ _ _ _ 70 

Basalt . ___ . _ . ____ . ______ . ____ ... _______ .. ____ .. ___ . _ . _. _ _ _ 1. 5 

Sand, soft, "clay sand"--------------------- ___ (afewinches) 

Total depth about ___ . __ . ____ .. ____ .. ____ . ___ . . ____ . 100 

This well iFt poorly cased, and water rises to t,he surface and over1 See table of elevations forming Appendix A. 
RUSSELL.) ARTESIAN WELLS. 107 

flows both within and outside of the pipe. The flow is estimated to 

be from 4 to 5 gallons a minute. 

Well No. 3 has a diameter of 5 inches, narrowing to 4 inches near 

the bottom, and passes through essentially the same materials as did 

well No. 2. Water overflows both within and outside of the casing, 

and is about the same in volume as in "\Yell No. 2. 

Well No. 4 has a diameter of 5 inches, and passes through the following strata: 

Section at well No. 4, on farm of Charles Dowd. 

Feet. 

Clay ____ ·------------- __________ -···---···-· _____________ 75to80 

Basalt._. ____ . __ . _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ . ______ .. __ . ___ ... __ . __ .. __ . _. 200 

~~~=:~~ s~:r ~ ~ ~ ~ -~ _· ~ -~ .- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : _- ~: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 3 to ~ 

Totaldepthabout ---------------------· __________ 314 

There is a small surface flow, and the casing is defective. 

In reference to wells Nos. 2, 3, and 4 there seems no reason to doubt 

that if they were cleared out and properly cased A good surface flow 

of water would be obtained.· 

About 1 mile north of the wells just described, on the farm of J. A. 

Nelson, in "fammany Hollow, near its northern border, a well was put 

down in 1898-99 in which the following layers were passed through, 

according to the recollection of Mr. Charles Dowd: 

Section at well on farm of J. A. Nelson. 

Clay _ . _ ... _ _ _- _ --- -- - . ---- -- . - ... - - -- -- --- --· --- -- - · - --- -- - Basalt .. ____ . _ . . ___ . .. . _ . _ . ______ . ___ . __ . _ :. . . ____ . _ . _____ . _ . 

Coarse, sharp sand .. ____ . ________ . _. ____ ... __ . ____________ .. _ 

Basalt _ . _ . _. _ .. ____ .. ___ . _ . _ .. _ ....... - . _ .. __ .. _ .. -. - ---.. . 

Feet. 

100 

~0 

3 

80 

Total depth about .. __ . _____ . __ .. . _ . ___ . ____ . ____ .. __ 200 

When the 3-foot layer of sand was penetrated water rose to within 

35 feet of the surface, and has since remained at that level. The 

well is not cased. The water in the porous layer is under pressure, 

and if the well were properly cased it might be expected to rise to 

the surface and overflow. 

About 2 miles east of the Dowd wells, and in the same valley or 

hollow, on the farm of A. S. Wisner, where the surface is about 100 

feet, by aneroid measurement, above Dowd's well No. 1, a drill hole 

was put down a few years ago which is reported to have passed 

through the following strata: 

Section on farm of A. S. Wisner. 

Feet. 

Gravel __ .. _ . __ . ___ . ____ . _ . _______ . ___ . _ _ _ _ . . _________ . _ . . _ _ _ _ _ _ 25 

Clay, compact . __ .. __ . _______ .. ____ .. ______ . ____ . ___ . ______ . _ _ _ _ 105 

Basalt ... _ .. _ . __ .. _ . ___ . _ . __ . ______ . _____________ . _________ . _ _ _ _ _ 86 

Total depth ______ .. __ . __ . . . _________________ ... __ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 216 

No water was obtained. 
108 GEOLOGY, ETC., Olf NEZ :PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No.M. 

A surface well a few rods distant penetrated the following strata: 

Section at well on farm of A. S. ·wisner. 

Feet. 

Sand and gravel _ _ _ _ _. _ . _ _ _ _ _ __________________ . __ . __ ... _- _ 25 

Yell ow clay, changing to bluish below_ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ .. _ . _- _ ... _ - 25 

Total depth ___ .. _. ____________________ . __ ... ________ . -- _ 50 

The clay in this well is highly charged with volcanic dust and contains leaf impressions. Water was obtained, by percolation, at the 

base of the layer of sand and gravel, and the excavation below that 

level furnishes a reservoir for storing the water which comes in from 

above. 

In addition to the drilled wells noted, there are reports, without 

details, of a dug well40 feet deep about 1 mile north of Wisner's well, 

at a surface elevation 50 feet higher, which is all in basalt and failed 

to reach water. Also about 1 mile south, on the farm of F. Crutinger, where the surface is about 125 feet higher than at Wisner's well, 

a wel1 200 feet, all in basalt, failed to reach water. 

At many localities in Tammany Hollow water is obtained in surface 

wells at depths of from 30 to 40 feet, and along the sides of the valley 

there are several springs. 

The bearing of the evidence obtained in Tammany Hollow, with 

reference to the artesian conditions in the Lewiston-Clarkston Basin 

generally, may be summarized as follows: 

Tammany Hol1ow is a basin due to erosion which has cut through 

the surface sheet or sheets of basalt and exposed a layer of sand awl 

gravel resting on clay. 'fhese sedimentary beds are the same as those 

penetrated by the drill hole on Ira Small's farm, and outcrop on the 

south side of Clearwater River, as already explained. Tammany 

Hollow owes its exceptional width (about 1 mile at the bottom) to the 

widening of the excavation made by the creek which flows down it, in 

the soft sedimentary beds lying above the sheet of basalt through 

which the creek has cut. Downstream the valley becomes narrow 

and the stream flows over basalt. lVlost of the springs along the side 

of the valley are fed by water percolating through the upper member 

of the sedimentary beds, and offer favorable opportunities for increasing their flow by means of horizontal wells, as already explained. 

Th-e drilled wells, the records of ·which, so far as available, have 

been presented, all start in the sedimentary beds referred to, but, 

with the possible exception of theN elson well, evidently do not derive 

an appreciable portion of their water supply directly from that source. 

This is evidenced by the fact that the porous upper member of the 

sedimentary beds has been cut through by erosion, and although furnishing springs it can not be expected to retain water under sufficient 

pressure to cause a surface flow in a well begun at an elevation of a 

hundred feet or more above the bottom of the hollow. More than this, 

the same sheets of sedimentary material have been cut by Snake 
RUSSELL.) ARTESIAN WELLS. 109 

River, Sweetwat.er Creek, and other streams, and can not be expected 

to convey water from a distance. Additional evidence is furnished 

by the temperatures of the Dowd wells, which, as already recorded, 

are 58!0 and 66° to 68°. The mean annual temperature in Tammany 

Hollow, as near as can be judged from the climatic records of the 

region in which it is situated, is from 48° to 49° F. As is well known, 

seasonal changes in temperature in localitie~ of similar geographic 

position to the one under consideration disappear at a depth of about 

50 feet. below the surface. At that horizon there is a uniform temperature which corresponds with the mean annual temperature at the 

surface. Below that horizon there is an increase in temperature of 

about 1° F. for approximately each 60 feet in dept.h. The well at Mr. 

Dowd's house has a t.emperature of 58-!-0 , which indicates that its water 

comes from a depth of at leas't 540 feet, while the three wells about 

1,000 feet to the westward have temperatures ranging· from 66° to 68° 

and must be supplied from a depth of at least 1,140 feet. 

Here we are met with the apparently anomalous fact that well No. 

1, with a strong flow, is 10° lower in temperature than the neighboring well, with a weak flow; but as wells Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are practically unca.sed, the actual amount of w;tter rising from a depth is 

perhaps even greater than is discharged by well No. 1, which bas a 

fairly good casing. Well No. 4, however, is about 100 feet deeper 

than well No. 1 and should have a somewhat higher temperature, and 

under the conditions present it may be expected t,o influence the temperature of the wells drilled near it. 

The only conclusion which seems justifiable in reference to the 

source of the water at the Dowd wells is that it comes from adepth 

of more than 1,000 feet below the surface, through fissures in the 

Columbia River lava, and in part spreads out in the interstratified 

porous sedimentary beds. '"rhe spring near Mr. Dowd's house bas 

also a deep source, as is shown by its temperature, but, the water 

rising less freely than in the neigh boring wells, in its passage upward 

it is cooled to 54°. '"rhe recent deepening of well No. 1, which increased 

its flow, is also in harmony with the conclusion that its water is 

received from fissures. 1 

Recommendations.-The success of the Dowd wells must be considered highly favorable to obtaining artesian water throughout a 

large area within the Lewiston-Clarkston Basin, but it is not as reassuring as might be wished, for the depth below the surface from which 

the water comes is not definitely shown. It is very encouraging to 

know, however, that at a depth of about 1,000 feet a porous stratum 

probably exists which contains water under sufficient pressure to 

cause a surface flow at an elevation of more than 500 feet above Lewiston. A word of caution is perhaps necessary here, inasmuch af:j the 

tIt may be suggested that if a charge of dynamite were exploded at the bottom of this well 

its flow woulll be still further increased. 
110 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-P.ART II. [No.M. 

facts in hand do not prove the presence of a water-charged stratum. 

There is a possibility that the .water referred to finds its way from 

. distant uplands through fissures, but what is known concerning the 

presence of sedimentary beds at various horizons in the Columbia 

River lava does not favor this view. 

Having before us all of the facts which it is practicable to obt,ain at 

the present time concerning the general question of procuring artesian water in the Lewiston-Clarkston Basin, the conclusions must be 

largely controlled by considerations of expense. No one can say positively that success would follow the putting down of a drill hole at 

a certain locality, but from a geologic point of view the experiment 

is well wort,h trying. The most favorable location for the pioneer 

well is in the lowest part of the basin, and, fortunately, that is where 

the demand for water is greatest. The lowest level of the basin is 

at Lewiston-Clarkston, but the test should be made at as great a distance as practicable from the Clearwater escarpment. The writer 

recommends that a boring be made in Lewiston, preferably on the 

upper terrace on which the newer portion of the city is built, as, for 

example, in proximity to the public-school building. The chances, 

however, are equally good, and possibly better, in Clarkston. If the 

latter locality is chosen, the boring should be made in the western 

portion of t,he city, near the base of the ''first bench." If a trial is 

made at either of these ·localities, the boring should be carried down 

to a depth of at least 3,000 or 4,000 feet, unless a sufficient water supply is obtained at a less depth, or the formations which underlie the 

Columbia River lava are reached. There would be no excuse for continuing to drill after granite, diorite, mica-schist, limestone, shale, 

etc., are entered; but soft beds containing the debris of such rocks 

must not be mistaken for the rocks themselves in place. A successful boring at either of the localities recommended would establish the 

artesian head of the basin and indicate the horizon below which other 

wells might be expected to yield a surface :flow.· Owing, however, to 

t~he laek of knowledge concerning the topography of the old land surface over which the Columbia River lava was outpoured, all portions 

of the basin below the artesian head determined from a pioneer well 

might not yield equally favorable results. The presence of diorite 

("granite") blocks on the hillside a mile or two southeast of Lewiston and the reported discovery of similar rock in place near the same 

locality seem to indicate that the older formations there rise through 

the lava. If this be true, the region immediately about LewistonClarkston would probably be cut off from the source of water which 

supplies the wells in Tammany Hollow. 

CAMAS-KAMIAH BASIN. 

'"ro the east of Craig Mountain, and intervening between that uplift 

and the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains, is a broad', shallow, 

structural basin, the nearly fiat central part of which is occupied by 
RUSSELL.] ARTESIAN WELLS. 111 

the Camas and Kamiah prairies. The rim of the basin is well defined 

on all sides, except perhaps to the north, where the Craig .1\'Iountain 

monoclinal fold flattens out. The dip of the sheet.s of lava away from 

the uplands of older rocks to the eastward is slight, but judging from 

the inclination of the plateau remnant between the streams, it is definite and continuous for a distance of several miles toward the center 

of the depressed area. Wit.hin the basin, as already described, there 

are thick beds of sandstone, shale, etc., interstratified with the lava 

sheets. Thus the conditions in reference to both geologic structure 

and succession of beds in general favor the existence of water under 

pressure in the porous beds. Information concerning the composition 

and..order of succession of the strata below the depths to which canyons 

have been cut is wanting. The canyons in the central portion of the 

basin, as Lawyers Canyon and Little Canyon, have a depth of about 

1,000 feet, and the South Fork of Clearwater River flows through a 

canyon fully 1,800 feet deep. No water under sufficient pressure to 

cause a surface flow could t,herefore be expected at a less depth JJhan 

the canyons have been cut, except, as will be explained further on, 

where broad plateau remnants adjacent to the mountains txist 

between the streams. 

The success of deep wells in this basin, or in the Lewiston-Clarkston Basin, hinges on the presence or absence of the requisite succession of pervious and impervious beds and the topography of the old 

land surface beneath the lava. Neither of these uncertain factors can 

be determined from natural exposures, although some light respecting the suecession of beds beneath the Camas Prairie may perhaps 

be obtained in Salmon River Canyon, and must be discovered, if 

learned at all, by means of the drill. The basin is, however, situated 

so near the mountains bordering t.he Columbia River lava that it is 

more than likely several sedimentary beds exist and that the requi- · 

site arrangement of one or more pervious beds between impervious 

ones is present. In the writer's opinion, the conditions in this basin 

are such as to warrant the drilling of a test well, provided the demand 

for ~ater is sufficient to justify the expense. The pioneer well should 

be located in the lowest portion of the basin, as, for example, in the 

vicinity of a line joining Cotton wood, Howard, and Steele, or midway 

between Kippen and Kamiah. While the making of such a test in 

this region is justified from geologic considerations, the cost would 

probably be far greater than the best results to be hoped for would warrant. r.rhe test well should be carried to a depth of at least 3,000 feet, 

unless successful results are attained at a less depth, or the rocks which 

underlie the Columbia River lava are reached; and the expense would 

probably be greater than the utilization of the water for irrigation 

purposes would justify. Seemingly, it is only for the supply of towns 

of considerable size that such an experiment as has been suggested 

should be made. 

A portion of the Camas-Kamiah Basin adjacent to the base of Mount 
112 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-P.ART II. (No.54:. 

Idaho, embracing an area of about 200 square miles, has a gentle 

slope northward, and is uncut by canyons more than one or two hundred feet deep. Beneath this area there are porous beds at no great 

depth, as is shown in part in the canyon walls and in part by borings 

that have been made. While some 'of t,hese porous beds are cut by 

the shallow canyons, others pass under them and should furnish 

water under pressure. The principal hope of obtaining flowing water 

in this region is based on two principles: (1) That the pervious beds 

composed of unconsolidated debris swept out from the mountains and 

covered in part by lava may change and become impervious at a distance from the source of supply. (When this happens, and the bed 

is inclined and overlain and underlain by sheets of impervious material, a well put down in its coarser portion should yield a surface 

flow.) (2) That the flow of water through an inclined porous bed 

having impervious beds above and below is retarded by friction and 

may yield a surface flow at certain localities, although it is cut by a 

canyon at a distance. 

... ..................... ... 

FIG. 9.-Diagram of apparatus illustrating the declivity of bead of liquids flowing from a 

reservoir. 

The first of these principles is self-evident, but the second may 

perhaps require further explanation. 

That water confined in an inclined porous bed may, owing to the 

friction of flow, rise to the surface in case wells are drilled midway 

down its slope, is proved by an experiment such as is illustrated in 

fig. 9. 

In the region about Denver, in the southern portion of the Camas 

Prairie and probably extending as far westward as Cottonwood, the 

slope of the strata is northwestward at a low angle, or away from the 

bold escarpment known as Mount Idaho. This mountain was not 

visited during the reconnaissance which forms the basis of this report, 

but, judging from its topography and from observations made by 

others, it no doubt is composed of rocks of older date than the Columbia River lava, and forms a portion of the boundary of that formation. 

Debris from this ancient upland swept down upon the Columbia 

River lava at various times during the intervals between the eruptions which gave origin to its nunierons sheets, and should occur and 

be favorably situated to be eharged with water. That such beds are 
RUSSELL.] • ARTESIAN WELLS. 113 

present. between the sheets of lava has already been shown., rrliey 

may be expected to be thickest adjacent to the mountain from which 

the debris composing them was derived, and to thi"'l out and become 

finer in texture toward the center of the basin on the inward-sloping 

side of which they occur. This indicates that the two principles in 

reference to artesian conditions may there find application, and the 

facts furnished by certain wells t,hat ·have been drilled seem to bear 

out these conclusions. 

rVells at Den'l'er. -Such facts as it has been possible to glean concerning the several wells put down on the Camas Prairie, principally 

at Denver and vicinity, are here presented. In most instances the 

information has been furnished from memory by persons who were 

present when the wells were drilled. 

A well drilled on the farm of N. Nelson, lt miles east of Cottonwood, in 1899 passed through the following strata: 

Section at well on farm of N. Nelson. 

Feet. 

SurfacE\ soil and subsoil containing fragments of basalt_____ 40 

Soft basalt _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .. __________ . __ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 26 

Gravel, soft, easy to drill ________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______________ . _ _ _ _ 52 

Total depth _____ . _____________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ 118 

Work was discontinued on account of an accident to the drilling 

rig. Water was obtained in the gravel and rose to within 66 feet of 

the surface, but did not overflow. The well does not seem to have been 

properly cased. 

At Denver five drill holes have been put down, the records of which, 

so far as it, is now practicable to obtain them, are as follows: 

Well No. 1: Near Parker's mill; drilled in 1893; total depth, 202 feet; hard rock 

• not reported; water rose gradually f10m near the bottom to within 90 feet of the 

surface; supply large; pumped by means of windmill and steam power, and used 

for boilers in the mill; wooden casing for first 100 feet. 

Well No.2: Under Parker's mill; distant about 150 feet from well No.1; drilled 

in 1895-96; no solid rock reached; the first 110 feet in soil and subsoil containing 

blocks of basalt; sand and clay containing white pebbles (quartz) at 100 feet; at 

140 feet the sides caved in and many tons of sand were taken out; WR.ter rises to 

within 90 feet of the surface; supply small; an abundance of water reached at 

205 feet, but could not be utilized, owing to the caving of the walls; well has a 

wooden casing down to a depth of 140 feet, and a galvanized-iron tube within it 

to a depth of 90 feet. 

Well No.3: In the central part of the town, about a half mile from well No.1 

and at an elevation 50 to 60 feet greater; total depth, 235 feet; a little water 

obtained at 100 feet, a large supply at 200 feet; the water rises to within 100 feet 

of the surface; iron casing for a short distance from the surface, to retain loose 

material, and a 2-Hnch iron pipe within, for pumping, which reaches a depth of 

about 200 feet; water now pumped by steam power and windmill for town use. 

Well No.4: In the northern portion of the town, about a half mile from well 

No. 3 and 20 feet higher; said to have been drilled entirely in loose material; total 

depth, 325 feet; water rose to within 90 feet of the surface; not used. 
114 GEOLOGY, ETC., 0]' NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART 1!· [No.M. 

Well No.5: In southeastern portion of the town: was abandoned at a depth of 

100 feet. 

Within a radius of about 3 miles of Denver and to the south of the 

town four other wells are said to have been put down to depths varying from 100 to 220 feet, but not one of them furnishes flowing water. 

One of them, on the farm of C. B. Kanos, was sunk to a depth of 200 

feet in solid basalt. Another, ~miles southeast of Denver, excavated 

mostly with pick and shovel, according to the statements of Mr. W. H. 

Zumwalt, passed through the following strata: 

Section 2t miles southeast of Denver. 

Feet. 

Soil and subsoiL ____ . __ . ____________ . ___________ , ___ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ 16 

Rock (basalt) __________________ ·----·-----··--------------- 31 

Soft material of various colors _______________ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 93 

Total depth ___ . __ . ________________ . _ _ _ _ _ __ .. ______ . _. _ 140 

Plenty of water was obtained at 136 feet, and maintains a depth of 

10 feet; used for farm purposes. Another well, It miles south of 

Denver, on the farm of Isaac Zehner, passed through soil and subsoil 

to a depth of 80 feet, and then through ~40 feet of basalt. The total 

depth of the well is 220 feet. Water was reached at 200 feet; did not 

rise; is used for farm purposes. 

The great variations in the nature of the rocks passed thro1.1gh in 

the sinking of the wells in and about Denver show that the surface 

portion of the formations undergoes marked changes within short 

distances. In the town wells no solid basalt was encountered, while 

2-! miles to the southeast, on the Kanos farm, basalt with a thickness 

of 31 feet was reached at only 16 feet beneath the surface. It overlies soft beds of variegated colors, such as presented by the sediment-. 

ary beds beneath the upper lava sheet on Grande Ronde River and 

at other localities. The reason for these variations has not been 

thoroughly determined. 'rhe facts in hand seem to indicate, however, 

that the surface sheet of basalt at Denver has been eroded away or 

decayed, while in neighboring localities it still remains and is but 

little changed. The explanation offered on a preceding page-the 

rough topography of the level plateaus-may apply here. That is, 

the surface sheet of basalt at Denver was cut by stream channels 

during a period of more active erosion than is now in progress, the 

surface evidence of which has been obliterated by subsequent movements in the loose superficial material. The mountains, however, are 

only 10 or 12 miles distant, and alluvial material may have been 

deposited on the previously eroded and weathered surface sheets of 

basalt, thus again concealing the changes previously produced in 

its relief. Sufficient time was not available to test these suggested 

hypotheses in the field. 
RUSSELL.] ARTESIAN WELLS. 115 

The wells thus far put down on the Camas Prairie, although showing that water unuer pressure exists in certain layers, do not· furnish 

a fair test of the artesian conditions. None of the wells are properly 

cased; but the fact that in those at Denver the water rose more than 

100 -feet above the level of the point where it was first reached gives 

evidence of true artesian conditions. It is probable that if these wells 

should be properly cased a ~urface flow would be obtained. 

The structure of the rocks beneath the Camas Prairie and what is 

known concerning the t,exture of the beds, as well as the information 

furnished by the wells that have been driiled, favor obtaining flowing 

water at a depth of a few hundred feet in the region about Grangeville, Denver, and Cottonwood. 

SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 

For the benefit of the people in the Nez Perce region who are 

directly interested in the search for water, and to whom the experience in well drilling gained elsewhere is not easily accessible, the 

restatement of a few well-known principles bearing on the general 

subject of artesian wells may, perhaps, be welcome. The following 

suggestions have been taken principally from a paper by Prof. 'f. C. 

Chamberlin, the title of which, together with references t,o other 

treatises on the same subject which may profitably be studied by well 

drillers, is given in the list of references presented in the bibliography 

on page 130. 

Attention has already been called to the fact that none of the wells 

in the two artesian basins described are properly cased, and in several 

instances no attempt has been made to insert the necessary pipes 

through which the water can rise. As the material passed through, 

especially near the top, is open and porous, it would be a surprise in 

most cases if water should rise through it to t,he surface. The importance of casing wells can not be overestimated, for it is no more reasonable to suppose that water can rise through a hole drilled in open 

and porous material than that it can rise to the third story of a house 

if the supply pipe in the basement is full of holes. 

The usual method of preventing the escape of water on the outside 

of the casing of an artesian well is to surround the casing just above 

the water-bearing stratum with a bag made of leather or rawhide and 

filled with dry flaxseed. The flaxseed absorbs the water and swells· 

and expands the bag so as to shut off the water from the space outside the pipe. The method of attaching t~he bag is shown in fig. 10. 

Another method for obtaining the same result by means of rubber 

disks is described and illustrated by Chamberlin in the article 

referred to. 

By means of a seed bag tests can be made which will reveal ·the 

most desirable position for the lower end of the casing. In this con-
116 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No.54. 

nection the following quotation is made from the paper by Chamberlin: 

The water may rise from the bottom to some higher portion of a well, and there 

find escape by passing laterally through the upper strata, and fail to overflow. It 

is a matter of some practical moment, therefore, to know 

when a stream is struck which may yield a flow at the 

surface when put underpropercontrol: (1) Such a stream 

l<,IG. 10.-Seed-bag packing around well casing. 

a, Deli very tube leading 

to the surface of the 

well and terminating 

below the seed bag; c, 

leather bag filled with 

dry flaxseed; b, marline 

wrappings to secure the 

ends of the seed bag.· 

(After Clhamberlin.) 

usua1ly discovers itself by a rise of water in the well. 

but this is not always the case. (2) Some influence on 

the action of the drill is liable to be felt, which may 

arouse st1spimon. ( 3) In any instances of a strong flow, 

the drillings are apt to be carried away, so that when the 

sand-pump fails to bring these up, or brings only coarser 

material, there is good reason to believe that a stream 

has been struck and the proper test should be made. It 

is ordinarHy desirable to test the capacity of any stratum 

whict. gives any of these or other indications, before 

sinking to a lower one. It is advisable to make provision 

in the contract for such tests, since it is not always to the 

interes~ of the driller, once his machinery is set up ansi 

well at work, to stop at the more limited depth. The 

uapabilities of the Bow may be tested by the use of a 

tube and seed-bag, or by rubber packing. as explained 

above. 

It is possible, in perfect honesty, to make both a negative a.nd a false test. Suppose that 

two porous beds, A and B (fig. [11] ), 

separated by an impervious layer, 

are traversed, and the testing of the 

first has been neglected, either because it failed to give encouraging 

indications or for other reasons. It 

is now desired to test these. Suppose the seed-bag or rubber packmg be placed above the upper one. 

Now, if both bear a water level 

equally high, the test will be fairly 

made, and the result will indicate their combined capacity; 

or. if both heads are at least as high t-~s the surface at the 

well, the test may be accepted. But suppose that the bed 

A has been cut into by erosion, or been reached by crevices, 

or is otherwise defective. while the other, B, remains intact. 

and bears an elevated fountain-head. Under these conditions 

the water may flow from B through the bore into A, and 

escape laterally through it, as illustrated in the figure. Now, 

in this case the result may be either simply negative or positively false and misleading. If the lateral leakage through 

the stratum A effectually disposed of the flow from B, and 

there was no leakage in the upper portion of the well, the 

water in the test-tube would stand during the test at essentially the same height as before, and the result would be 

J4'IG. 11.-Section of 

well, illustrating a 

negative test for water under pressure. 

(After Cham berlin.) 

negative, merely failing to indicate a possibility that really existed. If, on the 

other hand, there was lateral leakage through the upper strata as well as through 

A. neither alone being quite competent to dispose of the flow from B, then the introduction of the test-pipe would cut off the upper leakage, leaving the bed A unable 
RUSSELL.) ARTESIAN W.ELLS. 117 

to dispose of the entire flow. In this case there would be a rise of water in the 

tube, and, possibly, a flow. The mischievousness of a test of this sort lies in 

the fact that it appears to be a true test, because it shows some result, while in 

reality it is false and misleading. The true test in this case 

can only be made by placing the packing between the porous 

beds A and B. 

Take another instance where two porous beds. as A and B, 

figure [12], have been traversed. Let the packing be placed 

between these. Then (1) if A equals Bin productive capacity, water will stand at the same height within and without the test-pipe if there is no leakage in the upper beds. 

(2)· If the failure to flow was due to such leakage, then a 

flow will result from B, but the additional flow which might 

be secured from A is lost (see figure). (3) If A has a greater 

head than B, and if there is no loss above, the water in the 

test·pipe will actually be lower than that outside, as illustrated in figure [13]. This may be said to be an inverted 

test, and is less misleading than the false and negative tests, 

since it plainly indicates an error of manipulation. I have 

known such a case of reduced head as the result of an attempted test. (4) If, however, there is in this case considerable lateral waste in the upper strata, the valuable 

flow from A will be lost, just as before the test was made, 

while B may give a rise in the tube, or even a flow, which 

would foster the impression that a fair test had been made, FIG. 12.-Section of 

well, showing a par- while in reality the greater flow has tial and misleading 

been lost. (5) A gives a feebler flow test for water unthan B, but has an equal head, the test der pressure. (Afwill fail of being completely satisfac- ter Chamberlin.) 

tory only in excluding the feebler flow 

from A. (6) If, however, A has a lower head, and is a possible means of escape for the flowage from B. then the packing has been placed at the right point, and the test gives the 

best results. 

In still another case, let A and B represent porous beds 

(figure [14]) the lower of which is so conditioned as to drain 

the upper one by virtue of a lower outcrop, in the manner 

previously explained and illustrated in figures [13 and 14]. 

(1) First, if the drainage-loss below is not complete, and if 

the packing is placed above A, as shown in figure [14], I, the 

result will be negative, if there is no leakage in the upper 

strata. (2) Should there be considerable loss there i.t will be 

cut off by the tube and packing, and some rise in the tube will 

be the result in most cases. In either instance the result is 

misleading, particularly in the last, because the small rise of 

the water is apt to allay any suspicion as to the effectiveness 

FIG. lS.-Section of of the test. The real fact, however, remains that the flow 

well, illustrating an inverted testforwa- from the productive stratum is mainly lost below. (3) Supter under pressure. pose that the packing is located between A and B, as in figure 

(Af ... er Uhamberlin. l [14], II, it will then shut off the flow from A, while that in B, 

because of a lower outlet, will fail to flow. Now. if there is 

opportunity for lateral leakage in the upper strata the water from A will rise in the 

well outside of the test-pipe and pass off into these open upper beds. (4) But if no 

such opportunity is afforded it may rise to the surface and overflow outside of the 

test-pipe, while the water within thetest-pipewill probably be found to be lower than 
118 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ J>ERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No.M. 

before the test was made. The proper method of testing wells known or suspected 

to present these conditions is to sink a simple bag of seed or other obstruction 

to a point in the impervious stratum between A and B, which, when it tightens 

in its place, will shut off the flow below. Then a tube with packing sunk to a point 

above A will effectually cut off all leakage in the upper strata, and the full 

capacity of the water-bed A will be tested. 

These examples, while not exhaustive of possible cases, illustrate the nature of 

defective tests and the deceptive conclus~ons liable to be drawn from them. The 

remedy is manifest. Test each water-bearing stratum as it is encountered, ot· else 

vary the final tests so as effectually to exclude all liabilities to error. 

To test the pressure of the wat.er in an artesian well and thus learn 

the artesian head, a tube open at its upper extremity may be attached 

to the top of the casing, or of a pipe inserted in the well and provided 

with a seed bag at the proper place, and carried up until the water 

no longer overflows. For this purpose a rubber hose pipe can frequently be used to advantage. The height to which the water will 

rise in the tube will show the horizon below which other wells in the 

same artesian basin may he expected to yield a surface flow. The' 

FIG. 14.-Section showing one correct and two erroneous tests for water under pressure. 

Th~se wells are assumed to be independent of one another, and are placed together on the diagram merely for convenience. (After Chamberlin.) 

same result can be reached by attaching an ordinary steam gage to 

the top of the casing and reading the pressure. Each pound of pressure per. square inch will he equal to a rise of water in an open tube 

to the height of 2. 31 feet. 

'rhe writer wishes to emphasize a few principles which evidently 

are not fully appreciated by all of those interested in the drilled wells 

of the Nez Perce region. 

( 1) All wells should be thoroughly tested in one or more of the 

ways just described, to ascertain the pressure of the water at various 

horizons, and if sufficient pressure is discovered at any horizon to 

force the water to the surface the well above that point should be 

effectively cased. 

(2) When flowing water is obtained the well should be securely 

closed at all times when the water is not being used. The reason for 

this is that every flowing well is an opening into a reservoir which is 

not inexhaustible. · 

(3) Wells which for any reason are abandoned should be closed just 

above the water-bearing stratum, so as to prevent leakage into other 

porous layers or through fissures. This ca4 be accomplished by 
:JtUSSELL.) ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 119 

lowering a closely fitting plug of wood, about 10 feet in length, to the 

proper horizon. The swelling of the wood on absorbing the water will 

close the opening. Possibly a niore satisfactory way would be to fill 

the boring with Portland cement. This matter is so important that 

it should be made a law applicable to every artesian basin. To 

demonstrate the importance of this measure it is but necessary to consider the wells in Tammany Hollow and at Denver, which either are 

not cased or are imperfectly cased and in which water rises to a definite 

horizon and in some instances remains at that level even when active 

pumping has been maintained for a long time. Such wells are in 

reality flowing wells, although the escape is subterranean, and are in 

each case reducing the pressure in the supplying stratum. 

ECONO~IIC GEOLOGY. 

From the hasty reconnaissance on which this report is based 'it is 

not safe to venture far in reference to the economic value of the mineral resources of the, region. A few notes, however, in t,his connection may be of some service when a more thorough geologic survey is 

undertaken. 

BUILDING STONE. 

A fine-grained, _gray granite (diorite) of excellent quality occurs in 

practically unlimited quantity on Snake River, about 6 or 8 miles 

above the mouth of Grande Ronde River, and has been quarried in a 

small way at two or three localities. The excavations thus far made 

are not sufficient to demonstrate the full value of the quarries, but 

they indicate that large-sized blocks of homogeneous stone can probably be obtained. The localities referred to are on each side of the 

river, close to its margin; they are favorably located in reference to 

water transportation, and it is safe to predict that this beautiful 

granite will furnish the basis for an extensive industry in. the near 

future. 

A somewhat coarse-grained diorite, oi· what in commercial circles 

would be termed granite, occurs on Mission Creek, where it cuts 

through Craig Mountain, and also near Kippen. Judging from the 

outcrop, a good building stone might be obtained at these localities 

should a demand occur which would counterbalance the difficulties of 

transportation. 

Diorite similar to that on ~lission Creek occurs in vast quantities in 

Clearwater Canyon, from near Orofino to above. Kamiah, and, as shown 

in several railroad cuts, an unlimited quantity of excellent stone for 

all kinds of rough masonry can easily be obtained. At all of the 

localities examined the rock is much broken by joints and is traversed 

by veins, so that uniform blocks of large size could not economically 

be quarried. This region demands careful study, however, for the conditions pertaining to transportation are favorable, and rock of uniform 

IRR 54-01--3 
120 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., ID.AHO.-?.ART II. [No. 54. 

grade suitable for architectural and monumental purposes is likely to 

be discovered. 

True granite is abundant in the central part of the Bitterroot Mountains, but its distance from all lines of transport,ation makes it at 

present of no commercial value. 

Limestone occurs in great quantities on the borders of Snake River, 

from 1 to 3 miles above the mouth of Grande Ronde River, and also 

about 8 miles farther upstream. The value of this stone for marble 

has not been tested, but it certainly merits careful study. An analysis of an average sample of the rock is given in the first column of the 

subjoined table of analyses of limestone, which shows it, to be of exceptional purity. 

Limestone outcrops beneath the Columbia River lava on the right 

bank of ]}fission Creek, about a half mile above where it emerges from 

the deeper podion of its canyon in the Craig Mountain uplift, and also 

in a gulch about 1 mile to the west. Along Mission Creek, for a distance of approximately 300 feet, the limestone ·is admirably exposed 

in the precipitous canyon wall to a height of 500 feet. It is in general 

a hard, grayish blue rock, containing a few obscure fossils. The 

strike of the beds is N. 50° E. (magnetic), and the clip is eastward at 

an angle of from 80 to 85 degrees. Formerly it was burned in kilns, 

which still remain, and it is said to have yielded a good lime. The 

value of the stone: as marble can scarcely be judged from the weathered 

outcrops, but its clark color would probably make the demand for it 

small, even if on quarrying it is found sufficiently massive to be taken 

out in blockR of the desired size. An analysis of a typical sample of 

this rock is presented in the subjoined table, which shows that, like the 

similar limestone in Snake River Canyon, it is of exceptional purity 

an(1 will make an excellent lime, and it is all that could be desired in 

the production of Portland cement or for use in the manufacture of 

beet sugar, etc. 

·On the left bank of Mission Creek, opposite the outcrop just 

described, a landslide has brought down basalt from above and concealed the limestone which normally should appear there. Visitors 

to this locality will no doubt be interested in observing the manner in 

which the landslide has caused the stream to be turned aside from a 

formerly more direct course and made to cut into its right bank, thus 

removing some of the debris that once concealed a portion of the limestone and making it more available for quarrying. The surface of 

the fallen mass forms an irregular terrace at an elevation of about 500 

feet above the stream. The surface of this terrace presents a good 

illustration, on a small scale, of landslide topography. 

Limestone occurs also at Orofino and at three or four loca,lities'on 

Orofino Creek within the first mile above its mouth, as well as on the 

southern side of Clearwater River about a half mile below Orofino. 

At each of these localities the well-defined beds are associated with 
RUSSELL.] BUILDING STONE. 121 

schist; they strike about north-south, and stand nearly vertical. The 

limestone has been metamorphosed, and is now mostly a coarsely crystalline marble, varying in color from white to gray. It is susceptible 

of a high polish, and should find a ready market for building and 

monumental purposes, provided it can be had in· blocks of the desired 

size. It is favorably situated for quarrying, being close to the Northern Pacific Railroad. The surface is considerably shattered, but is 

not deeply weathered. Whether it is sufficiently massive at a moderate depth below the surface to be of value, can only be determined 

by trial. A sample of the nearly white, coarse-grained marble from 

Orofino has been analyzed, with the results shown in the third column 

of the following table: 

Analy.<;es of limestones frorn Nez Perce County, Idaho. 

[W. 1!'. Hillebrand and George Steiger, analysts.] 

Constituent. Snake River / Mission Orofino. _________________________________ 

1 

___ c_a_n_y_on_. __ ) ___ c_r_ee_k_. ___ 1 _______ __ 

Pe1· cent. Per cent. Silica (Si02) and insoluble materials a ______ -------- 0.39 1.19 

(Silica:::::;:l.OS) 

Iron, manganese, and aluminum oxides____________ 0.10 0.19 

Calcium oxide (CaO) _______ ------------ ---·-- -------- 55.34 54. 7!) 

Magnesium oxide (MgO) . __ ----------------------·- 0.10 0.51 

Carbon dioxide (C02), calculated------------------- 43.59 43.50 

Organic matter-------------------------------------- ---------------- Strong trace. 

Calcium carbonate (CaC03) b ____________ ------------

Magnesium carbonate (MgC03)P-------------------- 98.~3 

0.21 

100.14 

97.69 

1.07 

Per cent. 0.64 

(Silica =0.37) 

0.12 

5L96 

3.05 

44.08 

Trace. 

99.85 

92.71 

6.38 

a The insoluble portions in analyses Nos. 2 and 3 contained a trace of titanium oxide (Ti02). 

b The amount of carbonates calculated are a trifle too high if the silica found was originally in 

combination with some of the dissolved lime and magnesia. 

The analysis of Snake River limestone is by Steiger; the others 

are by Hillebrand. 

The limestones from Snake River Canyon and Mission Creek are 

exceptionally pure and are suitable for use in the manufacture of 

Portland cement, in the beet-sugar in"dustry, etc. The limestone at 

Orofino evidently would make a good lime if properly calcined, but it 

is not desirable for the other purposes mentioned, on account of the 

magnesium present. . There are, however, several beds of limestone 

near Orofino, a careful study of each of which would very likely reveal 

the presence of material as rich in calcium carbonate and as free from 

impurities as the limestone from Mission Creek and Snake River 

Canyon. 

Basalt (lava) is everywhere abundant in the Nez PerGe region to 

the west of the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains, and generally 

throughout central and eastern Washington and Oregon. Its somber 

colo~: makes it objectionable for most architectural purposes, except for 

the foundations of buildings, bridges, etc., but in many cities similar 

rock has been used for entire buildings. Its chief use should be for 
122 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., ID.A.HO.-P.A.RT II. [No. 54. 

road material, to which purpose it is well adapted. It is hoped that 

the ttme will soon come when the poor roads of the region occupied by 

the Columbia River lava will be improved by macadamizing them. 

The volcanic dust interbedded with the Columbia River lava on 

Captain John and As~tin creeks has been used for the walls of a bank 

building in Lewiston, and has the advantage of being easily worked 

and of a desirable color. It is doubtful, however, whether the use of 

this stone for ou~side walls should be encouraged; but for interior 

walls, especially of fireproof buildings, it has decided advantages 

over most other stones. It would be interesting to experiment with 

this dust, in connection with Portland cement, in the manufacture of 

artificial stone, and also to test its desirability as an ingredient of 

friction soap. The finer grades, when well sifted, make a good 

polishing powder. 

Slate of a pleasing reddish color, of easy cleavage, and, so far as can 

be judged from natural exposures, of good quality, occurs on the eastern side of Cottonwood Butte, and is well located for quarrying. This 

material should be thoroughly tested as soon as transportatioll facilities admit of its being put on the market, to ascertain whether sheets 

of the desired size can be obtained. 

LIGNITE. 

In the sedimentary beds interstratified with the Columbia River 

lava lignite has been discovered at several localities. Op. the southern side of Clearwater River a half mile below Orofino openings have 

been made in the side of the canyon, on the farm of F. M. Holt, at an . 

elevation of about 200 feet above the river, which reveal the following 

section: 

Section on Clearwater River one-half mile below Orofino. 

Feet. 

Talus, from slopes above ... ___ -------. ___ . _ ------ ____ .. _, ... ___ _ 

Sandstone, coarse ... _ . ____ ... ___ . __ . ___ . _ . _ •. __ . ___ .•• _____ . 2. 0 

Slate, fine, sandy _____ . _____________ ••.. __________ . ____ •. __ . _ 0. 8 

Lignite, with branches of trees _____ . __ _ .: _ .. ________ •• 0. 2 to 0. 5 

Sandstone_._ . _ .. __ . _______ .. __ .. _. _ _ _ .. ______ . _____ • _ ..• _ _ _ 2. 5 

Lignite _ ...... _________ .. ____ . _____ . __ . __ .. __________ . 0. 2 to 0. 4 

Sandstone·---·-----·------------------------------~-------· 5.0 

Lignite . ___ --------- ____ -----·--·--··-----····-------------- 1.7 

Sandstone, bottom not seen .. ____ . __ . _____ •. _. __ .. __ • _ •. __ . _ 1. 0 

Talus to the river bank .. ____ •....• _ .. _ • _ ... _ • ft ••• _ •• _ •• ___ • _ •• _ 

The beds are well exposed in the openings that have been made, 

one of them being a tunnel about 40 feet in length, but the material 

is part of a series of landslides, and the true position of the lignite . 

should be sought about 500' feet higher than where it is now to be 

seen. The prospecting that has been done serves to indicate that a 

bed of lignite exists beneath the neighboring plateau, but there is no 
RUSSELL.] LIGNITE. 123 

reason for doing further work at the locality where openings have 

already been made. . 

Lignite is reported to occur at several localities oil Orofino Creek 

(all of it probably belonging to approximately the satne bed), within I 

a distance of several miles in the middle portion of ilts course. The 

only one of these outcrops that was examined by th!e writer is situated on the immediate banks and in the bed of thel creek about 15 

·miles above its mouth (sec. 12; T. 36, R. 4), but is no~ in place. As 

already explained, vast numbers of landslides have opcurred on each 

side of the canyon of Orofino Creek throughout its ~ntire length in 

the Columbia River lava. The number and large siz~ of these slides 

is evidence of the presence of a thick layer·of soft material beneath 

the upper sheet (or sheets) of the lava which forms tbe surface of the 

adjacent plateaus. On the left bank of the creek,! at the locality 

referred to, and partially submerged, the following sedtion is exposed, 

the dip being south at an angle of 30 degrees and ~he strike about 

east-west, or with the course of the stream: 

Section on Orofino Creek about 15 miles above mo~th. 

' Inches. 

Sandstone, gray, with fossil leaves _____ .. _. __ . ________ :_ _ _ _ _ 12. 0 

Lignite. _______________ .. ____________ .. _. _______________ .. ___ . 20. 0 

Clay parting ________ .. ____ . __ ... ___ . ___ . ___ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. 5 

Sandstone, base not exposed ____________ .... _ .. _ .... _ + ___ . 6. 0 

These outcrops can be followed along the bank of t!he creek and in 

its bottom for a distance of 60 to 70 feet. Near the 1tpstream end of 

this natural exposure, on the north side of the cr~ek and at the 

water's edge during low-water stages, a prospect sh~ft about 15 feet 

deep has been opened. In this shaft the strata where first met, 

beneath a foot or two of surface debris, are nearly. ventical, but below 

they dip northward und soon flatten, until the inclinaftion is about 50 

degrees. The lignitH is 27 inches thick, and has fine' micaceous clay 

on its southern side and a coarse sandstone on its: northern side. 

The lignite-bearing formation on the two sides of th~ ereek is a por-

. tion of a sharp upward fold or anticline, which is ~roken along its 

crest, where the creek now flows. This fold is obvi(jmsly due to the 

weight of the landslides on each side, and is not a structural feature 

of the beds in place. ' 

The true position of the lignite in the canyon· wal~s is not known, 

but should be looked for at an elevation of between fOO and 600 feet 

above the creek. The lignite-bearing rocks no doubt, underlie a wide 

extent of the adjacent plateaus. 

The most satisfactory way in which to prospect for t!he lignite would 

be to put down drill holes on the plateaus, where the formations are 

undisturbed, unless a locality can be found along 1 the borders of 

Orofino·CanyoJ?. or its branches where the all-prevaili~g talus and displaced masses leave the sedimentary beds exposed. 
124 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No.54. 

Lignite is reported to occur at several localities in the bed of Orofino 

Creek above the exposure just described. It is doubtful, however, 

whether any of these out,crops are in place, but they should indicate 

the value of the deposits beneath the adjacent plateaus. It is also 

reported to exist at several places in Little Canyon, to the south of 

Orofino. One of these outcrops, near Russel, which was examined by 

the writer, is at the bottom of the canyon, which there is 800 feet 

deep and has precipitous walls composed of horizontally bedded lava, 

sheets. Throughout the portion of the canyon seen there is a notable 

absence of conspicuous landslides, from which fact, and from the 

abundant exposures of the edges of lava sheets, it is. to be inferred 

that sedimentary beds at a higher level than those in the bottom of 

the canyon, described below, are either absent or are of small thickness. On each side of the canyon at the locality referred to near 

Russel, where a lateral canyon joins it from the eastward, and on the 

border of the tributary brook, the following section was exposed by a 

recent excavation: 

Section in Little Canyon, near Russel, Idaho. 

Inches. 

Talus, fallen from above _____ . ___________________________ . 75. 0 

Carbonaceous shale, apparantly altered by beat__ .. ______ . _ 41. 0 

Parting of white laminated shale composed jn part of volcanic dust . ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____________ .. ____ .... _ _ ___ .. ____ . 

Black carbonaceous shale __ . ____ . _. _ . _____ .. __ . ________ . __ _ 

White •' shale " . ___ . __________ . _ ... ___ . __ . _______________ . _ 

Black carbonaceous shale ___________________________ . ____ _ 

White laminated shale1 ____ • _. ___ .. ____ . ___________ • _____ • 

Coarse sandstone with fragments of shale, base not exposed 

1.0 

2.5 

1.5 

6.0 

10.0 

36.0 

Total, about_. ________________________ . __ . __ .feet._ 14.5 

The carbonaceoi.1s shale reported in the section, although probably 

mistaken for lignite, or "coal," by the parties who prospe~ted it, is 

much too earthy to pass for that material, and ·is probably of no 

economic value. Although no lignite. was seen by the writer, and 

none has certainly been discovered in Little Canyon, the presence of. 

carbonaceous shale, sandstone, etc., at about the horizon at which the 

lignite near Orofino probably belongs, is sufficient encouragement to 

warrant the sinking of a prospecting shaft at the locality described. 

Equally favorable sites for prospecting no doubt occur at other places 

in I~ittle Canyon, and probably also in Big Canyon. In making such 

a test as suggested, the talus should be cleared away from the base of 

the cliffs, so as to expose the contact of the sedimentary beds with the 

basalt above, and a shaft be sunk at a locality where it would not be 

1 The peculiar, evenly laminated white "shale" is composed in part of volcanic dust, and is 

crossed by irregular and in places vertical fissures which are filled with a dark 'Dlaterial, probably once a soft mud, containing fragments of both sedimentary and volcanic origin. Similar 

debris-filled fissures were observed in the beds of fine white volcanic dust exposed in Potlatch . 

Canyon. 
RUSSELL.) LIGNITE. 125 

flooded during high water. The shaft should be continued through 

the sedimentary beds and at least a few feet into the !basalt beneath. 

A. single shaft, however, would not be sufficient to detetmine the value 

of the field over a large area, as it is possible that th~ lignite occurs 

in more or less detached lenticular bodies, each one representing the 

vegetable matter accumulated in an old swamp. i 

Lignite is reported to occur at a. few other localitiles in the lavacovered portion of Nez Perce County, as, for exam~le, on Captain 

John Creek; but these places were not visited duringi the reconnaissance. It has also been discovered on the southern side of the Blue 

Hills in Washington-on the slopes leading down to 'Grande Ronde 

River, about 20 miles from the mout.h of that river. The openings in 

lignite which have been made are on S. P. MeN eil's l~nd and neighboring ranches, but other outcrops are said to occur pn each side of 

the canyon in this region throughout a distance of1 several· miles. 

The northern side of the canyon,. as already described~ is encumbered 

with landslides, and a very large part of the secondary topographic 

features are due to this cause. The marked prevalence of landslides 

and the large size of some of the displaced rock masses are strong 

evidence of the presence of thick layers of soft material between the 

conspicuous lava sheets. The indications of the presence of sedimentary beds which are furnished by the topographJr are confirmed 

by known outcrops of sandstone, lignite, clay, volcanic dust, etc. All 

of the exposures of lignite observed by the writer a,re on or near 

Mr. MeN eil's ranch. At one locality a tunnel about 125 feet long 

has been excavated, all of it in lignite. Near th' inner end of 

this tunnel a thickness of 9. feet of lignite, practically without partings, was measured, but neither its upper nor lower surface was 

exposed. 1 Well within the tunnel the dip is northward at an angle 

of 2 to 2i degrees. In another excavation, about 2 miles east of the one 

just referred to, a thickness of 16 feet of lignite is reported to occur, 

and there seems no reason to doubt the accuracy of the observation. 

All of the facts learned by the writer pert.aining to tbe lignite in the 

. canyon of Grande Ronde River are in harmony with the idea that the 

openings thus far made in it are in landslides, and that tpe true position 

of the beds, or where they occur in place, is 200 or 300 feet below the 

summit of the canyon walls. From the facts in hand it seems evident 

that the thickness of the lignite where openings have l~een made in it 

is abnormal and does not represent the thickness that will be found 

where the beds are discovered in place. As is w~ll known, a mass of 

rock descending in a landslide accumulates material beneath it, along 

its lower margin, and on coming to rest almost invariably has a backI The writer has been informed by Mr. E. W. Barnes, of Portland, Oregon, utJ.der date of January 

9,1901, that since the visit to the tunnel during the reconnaissance it has ~een extended about 

25 feet, and a winze has been sunk at its end to a depth of 26 feet from the Itoof of the tunnel, all 

in lignite, with the exception of a few thin partings. The writer understands, however, that 

even these recent excavations failed to reveal the full thickness of the lignite. 
126 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No.54. 

ward dip, or is inclined downward toward the cliff from which it broke 

away. In the tunnel referred to the dip is northward, but the downward inclination of the rocks in place in that region should be southward, as previously explained. The lignite and its accompanying 

beds of sedimentary material and volcanic dust appear to have been 

sheared and overthrust, owing to the weight and motion of the overlying basalt, which descended with them. For this reason they exhibit 

a greater thickness than should be assigned to thP;m in estimating 

their commercial value. 

While the bodies of lignite in some of the landslides are no doubt 

of suffieient size to be of value, no great areas are to be expected. 

The present excavations are sufficient to demonstrate the quality of 

the material so far as the beds exposed are concerned, and if this i~ 

found to be satisfactory, future prospecting, with the view to .dis-· 

covering the beds in place, is justifiable. 1 

The discovery of the lignite in place should not be a difficult matter. After traveling over the slopes where landslides are prevalent, 

and becoming familiar with the characteristic features in the relief 

produced by them, a wide-reaching view of the canyon walls, such as 

can be obtained from almost any eminence in the region, will enablB 

one to determine the localities where the rocks are still in place. These 

areas will usually be found to be bounded by cliffs from which landslides have fallen, and the removal from the bases of these cliffs of 

the all-prevailing surface debris should reveal the sedimentary beds 

carrying the lignite. A shaft sunk at the margin of such an escarpment should be carried down to the next sheet of basalt, and would 

reveal such lignite beds as may be present. The test should not be 

abandoned in case a lignite seam is found which is too thin to be 

worked to advantage, for other seams may occur below it. r.rhe 

lignite layers no doubt vary in thickness from place to place, and a 

thin seam discovered in one shaft may be found to thicken at·a neighboring locality. Probably the localities where the lignite can most 

1 Mr. E. W. Barnes, of Portland, Oregon, has kindly furnished the following analyses of sam-. 

ples of lignite from the locality described, which were collected by himself. The analyses were 

made at the Montana Metallurgical Works, Portland, Oregon, J. T. Gove, manager . 

.Analyses of lignite from Grande Ronde River, Washington. 

Constituent. 

Moisture---·-------- ______ -------------------------------------- ..... . Volatile combustible matter. __ .... ------ ...... ------------------ .. .. Fixed carbon ______ ------ ...... -----------·------------------------ ... . Ash ............. ------ ............ ------------·.-----------------------· 

Total------ _____ ..... _ ..... ____ ------ ------------ ...... _________ . 

Sample No. 1. Sample No. 2. 

Per cent. 

20.50 

40.75 

31.25 

7.50 

100.00 

Per cent. 6.50 

38.50 

"42.00 

13.00 

100.00 

If sample No. 1 fairly represents the beds described, it is evident they are of commercial 

importance. It is desirable, however, to have tests made of the heating properties of the lignite on a large scale before forming a positive opinion as to its value. 
RUSSELL.] GOLD, SILVER, AND COPP.ER. 127 

easily be found in place are in the cliffs on the south side of the river, 

200 or 300 feet below their summits; but a mine developed there will 

have to follow a seam which is dipping southward, or away from the 

mouth of a tunnel begun at the outcrop, and in general would be more 

difficult to drain than a mine on the north side of the river, where the 

dip would favor both drainage and the removal of the lignit~. The 

most favorable location on the south side of the river would be near 

the head of a lateral canyon, for at such a locality a tunnel could be 

run approximately parallel with the strike of the beds, thus insuring 

drainage for lateral tunnels which might be directed up the slope. 

In most instances the lignite retains its woody structure, and looks 

very like the wood derived from modern peat swamps. Its color is 

black when wet, and except when composed largely of trunks and 

branches of trees is nearly black when dry. It exfoliates and crumbles rapidly when exposed to the air. The woody portions when dry 

have a rich brown color and clearly show· their structure. It can not 

be termed coal, and. is apparently a rather poor quality of lignite. 

These statements apply to the lignite, so far as the writer has seen it, 

at all of the openings made in it in the Nez Perce region, except the 

one on Orofino Creek, where kernels and irregular masses, an inch or 

more across, of yellow resin but little altered from its original condition are conspicuous in certain portions of the deposit. Small specimens of lignite "float,," said to have been found in the canyon of the 

North Fork of Clearwater River in the vicinity of Elk Creek, and 

other similar fragments from Orofino Creek are jet black in color, and 

evidently are of much better quality than any of the material thus 

far obtained at the localities described. 

GOLD, SILVER, AND COPPER. 

To the reader who is not familiar with the mineral resources of the 

Nez Perce region it may be of interest to learn that the crystalline 

rocks of older date than the Columbia River lava are quite generally 

ore bearing. These rocks in many instances are metamorphic in character; that is; they consist of either sedimentary or igneous material 

that has been greatly altered by heat and pressure and by movements 

which have caused it to become sheared and assume a schistose structure. Besides these changes there have been great intrusions of molten magmas, either into fissures, as in the formation of the numerous 

dikes, or of a regional character, as the intrusion of granite, diorite, 

etc., into the earth's crust from great depths below the Rurface. 

Where either the metamorphic or plutonic rocks are exposed at the 

surface it is manifest there has been deep erosion. The thickness of 

rock removed has not been measured, but may safely be estimated at 

several thousand feet. The rocks which once were deeply buried are 

frequently traversed by veins in which more or less metallic material, 
128 'GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-PART II. [No. 54. 

in the form of free gold or of ores of silver, copper, etc., has been 

deposited from the heated waters which percolated through them. 

In general the rocks exposed beneath the Columbia River lava in 

the canyons of Snake, Salmon, and Clearwater rivers are such as are 

looked to for deposits of gold, silver, copper, and many other ores and 

minerals. The prediction which a geologist would be led to make from 

the general character of these rocks is that they will be found to contain the precious metals, which is verified by the discovery of gold and 

of ores of silver and copper in what are reported to be rich deposits. 

Several gold mines are being worked to the east of the margin of the 

Columbia River lava, and hundreds of promising prospects are 

reported in the same rugged country. The most productive goldbearing quartz mines in the region shown on the map for~ing Pl. II 

are in its northeastern portion, in the Mascot Hills; but similar conditions exist as far south as :Mount Idaho. Just what the future of 

these gold mines will be no· one can tell, but the superficial examination which the writer was enabled to make failed to indicate great 

possibilities. The rocks contain numerous small gash veins, consisting of quartz which has been deposited from solution and containing 

mineral matter derived from the adjacent country rock; but they did 

not reveal the presence of any true lodes or fissure veins. The small 

veins are frequently rich and serve to stimulate prospecting, but the 

chances of discovering a bonanza are meager. 

The great amount of erosion referred to, which has led to the 

exposure of the vein-bearing rocks now occupying the surface, was 

accomplished by the crumbling and decay of a vast amount of rock 

similar to that now in sight. The removal of this material by streams 

resulted in its being assorted, the gold which it contained being concentrated on their beds. In this manner the bottoms of all of the 

streams flowing away from the mountains of old crystalline rock 

became charged with alluvial or placer gold. Gold is now obtained 

by washing the gravel along Snake, Salmon, and Clearwater rivers, 

and the total amount collected each year is considerable. The gold 

along the main streams and in the gravel forming their abandoned 

flood plains is nearly all fine, so fine, in fact, that in most instances 

a portion only of it can be saved by any known method of placer 

mining. Along some of the smaller streams tributary to Clearwater 

River rich placers of coarse gold have been discovered. The most 

pro<;lnctive of these are just above the margin of the Colmi1bia River 

lava; but they have now been worked out and abandoned. Rich 

copper ores are obtained in the side of the canyon of Snake River 

above the mouth of Grande Ronde River, and important developments 

in that field are to be expected. 

To th~ reader who has labored for years with pick and shoyel in 

searching for treasures in the Nez Perce region the writer has but 

one suggestion to offer. In a preceding paragraph attention was 
RUSSELL.] GOLD, SILVER, .AND COPPER. 129 

directed to the well-known process by which rocks are disintegrated 

and the gold which they contain is concentrated in stream beds. 

As this process was in action long before the coming to the surface 

of the Columbia River lava, it is evident that the stream channels 

beneath the lava should contain gold. The exceedingly rich placers on 

Cow, Reid, and other.creeks on "thP. border of the Mascot Hills occurred 

in gulches just above the margin of the lava,.and but little gold has 

been obt,ained from above the lava itself. One reason for this is that 

the streams from the uplands of old .crystalline rock experience a 

sudden change in gradient on meeting the level lava sheets, being 

swift in the older portions of their channels and sluggish where they 

flow across the lava to the head of a canyon cut in it. Under these 

conditions the greater portion of the gold-in fact, all except possibly 

the thinnest flakes-brought clown by the streams from their swifter 

upper courses would be deposited where the change in gradient occurs. 

But the streams were carrying gold before the lava interrupted their 

flow, and the portions of their beds beneath the lava shonld contain the yellow metal. These old channels should be searched for. 

They may not be directly beneath the present streams, but may open 

into the canyons cut in the lava from the side, and possibly be a mile 

or two below where a stream makes its plunge into the canyoned portion of its course. The sides of the canyons are encumbered with 

talus and landslides, but excavations made where this material is thin 

should reveal the buried gravel, which might repay washing, and 

tunnels opened in it and beneath the lava covering would afford 

means of getting rid of the debris, so that the deposits on the surface 

could be worked. The possibilities of finding gold-bearing gravel 

beneath the Columbia River lava or interbedded with it are such that 

the contact of the lava with the underlying formations exposed along 

Snake, Salmon, and Clearwater rivers should 'J?e carefully searched. 
B I B L I 0 G R A PH Y 0 F ART E S I AN WATE-RS. 

BARBOUR, E. H. Wells and windmills in Nebraska: Water-Supply and Irrigation 

Paper U.S. Geol. Survey No. 29. 

CARL, J. F. Report on the oil regions of Pennsylvania: Second Geological Survey 

of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, 1880. 

This report contains a detailed account of the methods used in drilling wells. 

CHAMBERLIN, T. C. The requisite and qualifying conditions of artesian wells: 

Fifth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, pp. 125-173. 

This paper contains a clear and comprehensive explanation of the geologic conditions 

pertaining to artesian wells, and should be carefully studied by all persons interested in 

the development of the water resources of the Nez Perce region. 

DARTON, N. H. Artesian-well prospects in the Atlantic Coastal Plain region: Bull. 

U. S. Geol. Survey No. 138. 

--New developments in well boring and irrigation in eastern South Dakota: 

Eighteenth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. IV, pp. 561-616. 

--Preliminary report on artesian waters of a portion of the Dakotas: Seven· 

teenth Ann. Rept .. U. S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II, pp. 603-694. 

--Preliminary report on the geology and water resources of Nebraska west of 

the one hundred and third meridian: Nineteenth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. IV, pp. 719-785. 

--Underground waters of southeastern Nebraska: Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper U.S. Geol. Survey No. 12. 

GILBERT, G. K. The underground water of the Arkansas Valley in eastern Colorado: Seventeenth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II, pp. 551-601. 

HA. Y, RoBERT. Water resources of a portion of the Great ·Plains: Sixteenth Ann. 

Rept. U . .S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II, pp. 535-588. 

HILL, R. T.,and VAUGHAN, T. W. Geology of portions of the Edwards Plateau 

and Rio Grande Plain adjacent to San Antonio, Tex., with special reference- to 

the occurrence of artesian and other underground waters: Eighteenth Ann. 

Rept. U ~ S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II, pp.193-322. 

LANE, A. C. Water resources of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan: Water-Supply 

and Irrigation Paper U.S. Geol. Survey No. 30. 

LEVERETT, FRANK. The water resources of Illinois: Seventeenth Ann. Rept. U.S. 

Geol. Survey, Pt. II, pp. 695-849. 

--Well waters of Ohio and Indiana: Eighteenth Ann.Rept. U.S.Geol.Sur-

. vey, Pt. IV, pp. 419-560. 

--.Wells of northern Indiana: Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper U.S. Geol. 

Survey No. 21. 

-- Wells of southern Indiana: Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper U. S. Geol. 

Survey No. 26. . 

ORTON, EDWARD. The rock waters of Ohio: Nineteenth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. 

Survey, Pt. IV, pp. 633-717. 

-- The Trenton limestone as a source of petroleum and inflammable gas in 

Ohio and Indiana: Eighth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. I, pp. 475-662. 

130 
RUSSELL.] BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARTESIAN WATERS. 131 

PECKHAM, S. F. Report on the production, technology, and uses of petroleum and 

its products: Tenth Census of the United States, Vol. X, Washington, 1888. 

The methods of drilling wells, together with detailed plans and descriptions of machinery,derricks, tools, torpedoes, etc., are given on pages 77 to 85. 

PHINNEY, A. J. The natural-gas field of Indiana: Eleventh Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. 

Survey, Pt. I, pp. 579-742. 

ToDD, JAMES EDwARD. Geology and water resources of a portion of southeastern 

South Dakota: Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper U.S. Geol. Survey No. 34. 

VAUGHAN, T. W., and HILL, R. T. (See HILL.} 

... ' 
APPENDIX A. 

ELEVATIONS IN NEZ PERCE REGION. 

The following elevations are from surveys made by the Northern 

Pacific Railway Company, and have been furnished by Mr. E. H. 

McHenry, chief engineer. In each case they were taken either at the 

top of the tie opposite the center of the depot, or, where depots have 

not been constructed, at the center of sidings, and are from profile 

elevations reduced to s~a level: 

Elevations by Northe1·n Pac({ic Railway Company. 

Agatha (side track) ________________ . __ .. ____ . ___ . _ . ____ _ 

Ahsahka (side track) ___ . ________________ .. _______ . ____ _ 

Basalt (side track) _ _ .. ___ . ____ . __ ~ ___ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . __ _ 

Cald wells spur _______ . ____________ .... ____ . ____ . __ .. _. ___ _ 

Cul de Sac spur ___ .. __ .... ___ . _____ . _ . '"_. _________ .. __ ... 

Juliaetta (depot) ________ . _. _ .. _. _ _ _ _ _ _ . ___ . ___________ _ 

Kamiah (depot) . _ . ____ . _ . ______ . ______ ._ . ____ . _ .. __ ... __ _ 

Kooskia (side track)----------··-----------------··-----· Len ore (depot) ______ .... ______ . _____ . _ . ___ . _________ . _. 

Lewiston (depot) ________________ . _____ . ____ . __ •.. _____ .. _ 

North Lapwai (depot) ____ . __ .. _ .. __ ... __ .. _ . ______ .. _ ... _. 

Orofino (depot) ___ . _ _ _ __ . _________________ . _____ . _____ . 

Pe9k (depot) . ____ . _____ . _ . __ . __ . ________ . _________ . ___ . 

Potlatch (depot) __ ... __ . _ . ____ . ___ · _____________________ .. 

Stiles (side track) __ . ______________ • _____ . ___ . _. ____ . __ _ 

Sweetwat.er (depot) __ .... _ . ___ . ___ . ___ ... _. ______ . _ -. __ . __ 

Weippe (side track) _________ . _ . __ . ___ .. _ .. __ .. __ . ____ . _ 

Feet. 

908.0 

1,002.0 

855.6 

1,265.8 

1,616.8 

1,084.0 

1,197.8 

1,263.0 

923.0 

739.8 

809.0 

1,028.0 

963.0 

829.0 

1,320.0 

1, 10.2. 0 

1,088.8 

The following elevations are from surveys made by the Oregon 

Railway and Navigation Company, and are above sea level: 

Elevations by Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. 

Feet. 

Top of State line monument on north bank of Clearwater 

River, at its mouth, near Lewiston __ .. _ _ _ __ . __ . __ 757.93 

High-water mark at junction of Snake and Grande Ronde 

rivers __________ . __ . _ .. ____ . ___ ... __ .. _____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 842. 3 

High-water mark on Snake River at boundary between 

Oregon and Washington ___ . __ .. __ . _ _ . ___ .. _ . __ . ___ . 886. 0 

High-water mark at junction of Snake and Salmon 

rivers ______ . _ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ . ___ . _______ . _. __ . 965. 0 

High-water mark at Douglas, 57 miles above Lewiston __ 1, 012. 0 

NoTE.-The elevations given in the body of this report are from aneroid measurements, which 

frequently could not be checked by comparison with definite bench marks, and must be taken. 

simply as approximations to the actual heights of the localities mentioned. 

132. 
APPENDIX B. 

NOTES CONCERNING PORTLAND CEMENT. 

Portland cement is an artificially prepared substance which has the 

property of hardening in the air whe.n mixed with a suitable proportion of water, and of remaining hard when immersed in water. Its 

value lies in the fact that when used in masonry it, produces a strong 

bond which does not weaken when submerged in water or exposed to 

a damp atmosphere. In its manufacture an intimate mechanical 

mixture of finely pulverized limestone, or marl, and clay is ''burned" 

at a high temperature, and the resulting "clinker" is ground to a 

fine powder. ,..rhe finished cement does not necessarily have a fixed 

and definite composition, but considerable variation may occur and 

an excellent product still be obtained. The degree of variation in 

composition usually considered allowable is indicated in the first 

column of the Aubjoined table. As is shown by the permissible variation in its finished product, there is considerable latitude allowable in 

selecting the raw material; but the limestone and clay need to supplement each other, so that when mixed in the proper proportions the 

resulting "slurry," as such a mixture is termed before being burned, 

will not vary in chemical composition beyond the approximate limits 

indicated in the second column of the following table: 

Analyses showing permissible variations in the composition of Portland cement 

and in the slurry from which U is made. 1 

Constituent. 

Silica (Si02) .................. ---- •••••••••••••••••• - -·- ······-••••• ····-· 

I}!~;'l~n:x\t~ 8<~~;o·3y·_ ~~~~~~ ~~~--~~ ~:::·_-_-_~~= ====----~=~=~·.::::-.-.~::: :::::: Calcium oxide (CaO) _____ . ---·· __ . ___ ...... ____ .... ____ .... ________ . _ .. 

Magnesium oxide (MgO) ....................... ·----------------- ------ Sulphuric anhydride (803) ·----- •••• ------------ ____ ·--·-- ------------

Permissible variation. 

Portland 

cement. 

Per cent. 20 to 24 6 to 10 

3 to 5 

60 to 64 1 to 3.5 

0.5 to 0. 7 

Slurry. 

Pet· cent. 12. 68 to 15. 22 3.80 to 6.34 

1.90 to 3.17 

38. 04 to 40. 58 

0.65 to 2.25 0.35 to 1.25 

In the following table analyses are presented of the limestone, marl, 

clay, and shale used in the manufacture of some of the standard 

1 The writer is indebted to Prof. E. D. Campbell, of the University of Michigan, for the data 

herewith presented. 

133 
134 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-P.ART II. [No.54. 

brands of Portland cement, or that have furnished satisfactory results 

in the making of small samples of cement in the laboratory: 

Analyses of raw ma:terials used in making Po1·tland cement. 

Constituent. _ Limestone. Marl. Clay. Shale. 

Per ct., Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. Silica (Si02)........................ 3.53 2.14 0.52 0.20 59.15 61.68 6.5.25 49.93 Alumina (Al2

0 3). __________________ } 114 146 { 0.51 0.50 19.85 19.60 21.06 25.33 

Ferric oxide (Fe20 3) •. _ ••••• ___ •• •• • • 0. 53 0. 60 1 8. 30 3. 12 3.40 6. 05 

Calciu~oxide_(CaO) --------·--·-- 54.45 52.84 51.66 50.121 3.03 2.40 0.84 3.12 

Magnesmmox1de :MgO).......... 0.44 1.04 1.37 0.83 1.36 1.77 1.78 1.65 

Sulphuric anhydride (803) •••••••• -------- -------- 0.89 0.56~-------- 0.43 -----·-- 0.38 

Lossonignition---··----······---- 38.74 42.52 44.52 47.19 8.02 7.18 6.10, 10.19 ---·-------------------- - 98. ~ 100. ~ 100. 00 100.00 ~~~ 96.18 98. ~ __.:!_~ 

~~~~~~:::~~::~~;~(~~~:~- 97.23 94.05 92.25 891 .. 507' 1'-_--_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-__ --_-_-_-_ ------------~--- computed·--·-·-·------··---·---- 0.92 2.18 2.87 ._. 

The foregoing analyses indicate the range in chemical composition which limestone (or marl) and clay (or shale) should have to be 

worth further investigation in reference to their use in the manufacture of Portland cement. A study of these data will Ahow that the 

material to be used must be as free as possible from sulphur, the 

greatest amount of sulphuric anhydride (S03) permissible in the slurry 

being about 1 per cent, but, preferably, it should be below 0.5 per cent, 

and the magnesia also should be low; the greatest amount permissible 

under present American practice being about 3.5 per cent, although 

its influence on the properties of the finished cement is still under 

investigation. (Dyckerhoff, an eminent German authority on Portland cement, gives 4 per cent as the maximum for magnesia.) Other 

substances that frequently are present in the materials mentioned 

have in general but little deleterious influence, and may be considered 

adulterants. A general rule is that the sum of the ferric oxide and 

alumina in the slurry shall be about one-third of the amount of silica 

present. 

In addition to the chemical composition of the raw materials it is 

desirable that they shall have certain physical properties. Chief 

among these there should be an absence of sand, for the reason that 

if the silica is in the form of quartz grains or kernels it will not unite 

with the lime in the desired manner when the slurry is burned; and 

the silica should be combined silica, as, for example, the aluminum 

silicate of clay. Both the limestone and the clay should be of such 

consistency that they may readily be reduced to a fine powder. The 

ideal lime ingredient is a soft, incoherent, fine marl, but if a limestolle 

is used it is desirable that it be soft, so that the expense of grinding 

it to a fine powder may be reduced to a minimum. Still certain hard 

limestones are used, and the only objection to them, in case they have 

the requisite chemical composition, is the expense of grinding. The 

most desirable clay is one· free from sand, which, when agitated in 
RUSSELL.] NO'rES CONCERNING PORTLAND CEMENT. 135 

water, will readily separate into fine particles. The best clays for 

this purpose are those having a greasy, unctions feel, and which 

are smooth to the touch. Hardened clay or shale is also used, but it 

has to be ground before being mixed with the lime to f9rm slurry. It 

is highly desirable that the deposits· both of lime and clay be of uniform chemical and mechanical composition throughout, in order to 

avoid trouble in combining them in the correct proportions. 

In addition to the raw materials which enter directly into the composition of Portland cement, fuel is necessary for burning them. For 

this purpose, in the rotary kilns now generally used in this country, 

gas, petroleum, or pulverized coal is used. If coal is employed, it 

should be high in volatile matter, free or nearly free from sulphur, 

::tnd low in ash, for the reason that it comes in direct contact with the 

cement-producing materials and influences the composition of the 

resulting product. The coal used by the Omega Portland Cement 

Company, of Michigan, has the following composition: 

Analysis of coal 'Used in manufacture of Portland eernent. 

Per cent. Moisture _____ ... __ . _ . __ . _ . __ . ____________ . ________ .. _. _ .. 1. 00 

Volatile matter . __ . _ .. __ . ________ .. _______ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ 39. 37 

Fixed carbon _ . ____ . ______ . ___ . ___________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 55. 82 

Ash _ . _. ________ . _ .. _____________ .. ______ . ___________ . _ _ _ _ _ 3. 81 

Total . __________ . ________ . ________ . __ . ____ .. ______ . 100. 00 

Sulphur __ . _ _ _ __ . _____ . ____________ .... _____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0. 92 

The coal is pulverized so that it will pass through a sieve having 

100 meshes to the line or inch, and is blown, by means of hot air, into 

the rotary kiln, where it burns, producing a long jet of flame. 

In reference to the establishment of a Portland-cement industry in 

the Nez Perce region, it will be seen from the analyses of limestones 

presented that some of them at least have the desired chemical composition. The limestones on 1\'lission Creek and that occurring in 

Snake River Canyon, for example, are of exceptional purity and well 

suited to this use. But the rock is hard, and could not compete commercially with a softer rock of equally favorable composition, provided 

the cost of transportation, etc., were the same. 

The analyses of the ordinary soil and subsoil of the wheat lands 

show that they should be experimented with to determine their value 

as the "clay" ingredient of Portland cement. The doubtful feature 

is the comparatively high percentage of alkalieR present, that is, 

potash and soda. This w"'ould tend to make the slurry easy to burn 

and to produce a quick-setting cement; but its influence can only be 

determined by actual trials. Small samples of cement could be made 

in the laboratory, and the behavior of the materials chosen thus be 

definitely ascertained. The writer suggests that a t.ypical sample of 

the subsoil of the wheat lands, mixed in the requisite proportion 

IRR 54-01--4 
136 GEOLOGY, ETC., OF NEZ PERCE CO., IDAHO.-P.ART II. [No. 54. 

with the limestone that occurs on Mission Creek or in Snake River 

Canyon and properly burned, might yield a good Portland cement. 

The experiment is well worth trying. The soil of the wheat lands has 

in places been removed by streams and redeposited. 'rhis washed 

soil may be expe~ted to be less rich in alkalies than the original 

material, and it might serve the purpose suggested, in case the soil 

occurring in place is found to be too high in potash and soda. The 

beds of clay interstratified with the Columbia River lava should also 

be tested. 

Regarding fuel, the lignite occurring on Grande Ronde River and 

elsewhere might, perhaps, if finely powdered, answer the purpose. 

If not, the next most convenient source of supply would be the coal 

mines at Roslyn and Clealum, Washington. A commercial analysis 

of the Grande Ronde lignite has been given on a former page. Commercial analyses of the Roslyn and Clealum lignites, made by 1V. S. 

Thomas, of the Castner Coal and Coke Company, of Belt, Montana, 

are as follows: 

Analyses of lignite from Roslyn and Clealurn, Washington. 

Constituent. Clealum. Roslyn. 

Per cent. Per cent. Moisture ...... ------. -·--- ....... ----· _ ...... _ .... _ ..... _ ..... __ .... _ .. ·-· .... ____ 5. 55 2. 05 

Volatile matter------ _____ ------ ........... ----------- ______ .. ----------.......... 36.75 36.95 

t:t~Z~~~ :::::::::::: ::::::: =: ::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::I 1: ~ ~= ~ 

How the samples analyzed were taken is not known to the writer, 

and whether these analyses fairly represent the composit.ion of the 

lignite at the respective localities can not be stated. It is doubtful, 

however, whether the a_verage Roslyn lignite is as high in ash as is 

here stated. 

In reference to the location of a Portland-cement plant, the chief 

consideration is transportation. As from three to five times as mueh 

limestone as clay is required, it usually follows that it is most economical to locate the plant near the source of the limestone; but the carrying of fuel must also be taken in1,o account, as well as the direction 

of the market for the finished product. 

On the whole, the conditions favorable to the establishment of a 

Portland-cement industry in the N ~z Perce region are such that the 

matter deserves careful study. 
INDEX. 

Page. 

Adams, J., aneroid measurements by, ref- erence to, ___________ ----------- ___ _ 

cited_------ .... ------ ______ ------------

Agatha, elevation of.------------------.---

Agriculture, extent of ______ --------------

Ahsahka,elevation of.------ ____ ------ ___ . 

Alkali (so-called),occurrence and char- acters of. __________ .. ________ ------

Alluvial deposits. See Sedimentary deposits. 

Analyses, lignite .. ___ ...... ___ ... ----------

limestones.------ ____ ... __ ....... _------ Portland cement ________________ ------

raw materials for Portland cement .. 

slurry for Portland cement_--··.-----

Arid lands, denudation in _________ .... ___ _ 

]0!} 

106 

132 

12,24 

132 

33 

126 

121 

133 

134 

133 

52 

Artesian conditions in border of basin deposit, figure illustrating .. _----.... 103 

11;eologic section illustrating__________ lO'Z 

Artesian head,explanation oL........... 102 

test to determine ........ ____ -·--- ____ 118-119 

Artesian water, bibliography of ________ 130-131 

need of.-------------------··---- .... ____ 96 

prospects of obtaining .. -------------- 4~2. 

105,108-110,111-113,115 

source of.. _____ .. __________ : ___ .. __ . ___ !J0-97 

temperatures of.------ __________ ..... 106,109 

tests for, sections of wells illustrating_------ ____ ------ ____ ------ 116,117,118 

Artesian-w~ll casing, seed-bag packing 

for, figure showing------ ..... ----- 115 

Artesian wells, casing of. ___ .... ____ 115,118-119 

conditions requisite for, geologic section illustrating.------____________ 102 

flow of, regulation of __________ ------ 118-119 

occurrence of ________ ----··------·------ 35 

packing for-------- ____ .. ________ ------ 115 

packing for, figure showing__________ 116 

possibilities of. ______ .----- ____ ------ 105-115 

principles governing____ 101, 105-108, 115-116 

source of water of.------.----------- 109-110 

tests for ..... ____ ---· ______ . _____ ------ 116-119 

See also Drilled wells. 

Asotin, water supply of. ________ ------____ 96 

Asotin Canyon, geologic section in....... 37 

Asotin Creek, canals diverting water 

from------------------- ____________ 95-96 

features of. ______ .... ____ ._____________ 62 

horizontal wells possible along .. __ .. _ 99 

power plants on ________________ ·------ 96 

springs near ..... _______ .-----· ____ .___ 98 

Barbour,E. H.,cited .. _____ ------ ______ ____ 130 

Barnes, E. W.,acknowledgments to---··- 126 

cited·--··----·-·------·----·----------- 125 

Page. 

Basalt,analysisof ------ ------------------ 44 

elevation of. ..... ____ .----·----------·- 132 

erosion of------------ ________ --------·- 36 

occurrence and characters of_ 18, 19, 121-122 

soil produced from decay of ••.•...... 46-47 

thickness of _______________ 24,27,28,37,38,39 

Basin deposit, artesian conditions possible in border of, figure showing. 103 

Beet sugar, limestone for manufacture 

of, occurrence of.-----·---------- 120,121 

Bitterroot Mountains, features of._ 13,16-19,55 

mature topography in, view of.------ 18 

rocks of ______________ --------·--------- 25 

Blue Hills, features of. ... ________ ------ 59,61,67 

Building stone, occurrence and charac- ters of.. __________ . _______ .... ____ 119-122 

Caldwells Spur, elevation of ____ ·--------- 132 

Cama~:~ Prairie, artesian possibilities in___ 115 

features of. _____________ -----------· 22,60--{i1 

rainfall on------------------ ____ ------- 14 

section through ________ --------------- 60 

view of __________ .. _______ ------.------ 18 

See also Denver, Idaho. 

Camas-Kamiah Basin, artesian possibilities in ________ .--· .... ____ . ___ ---- 111-112 

location and features of. ___ --------- 110-111 

See also Tammany Hollow. 

Campbell,E.D.,acknowledgments to---- 133 

Canals, location and features of ____ --·--· 95-96 

Carl, J. F., cited ....•. ---------------------- 130 

Cascade Mountains, lava sheets in........ 54 

Casing for wells. See Well casing. 

Chamberlin, T. C.,cited --------. __ ----- 115,130 

quoted. ____ ------. _______________ ·--- 116-118 

Clarkston, population of------------------ 12 

watersupplyof ----------------------- 95-96 

( Jlarkston-Lewiston Basin. See LewistonClarkston Basin and Tammany 

Hollow. 

Clarkston and Lewiston plateaus, fea- tures of. ___________ ... ------ ____ 57-58,59 

section through .... __ . __ ... __ ... __ .. _- 58 

C1ay used in Portland cement, analyses 

of ...... _------·~--- ________________ . 134 

Clealum, Wash.,lignite from, analysis oL 136 

Clearwater escarpment, features of _____ 55-57, 

61,65, 71 

section through .......... -------------- 56 

Ciearwater River, flood plain oL -----.--- 48-49 

geologic section on------------·_______ 122 

landslides along-------------------- 77-78,79 

navigability of. .... ---------------··--·- 15 

rocks along ·----- ---·-- ____ ------------ 25 

spring in valley of.. _____ -------------- 98 

. 137 
138 INDEX. 

Page. 

Clearwater River, North Fork. See 

North Fork of Clearwater River. 

Clearwater River, South Fork. See 

South Fork of Clearwater River. 

Clearwater River Canyon, features of. 62,69-70 

Cliffs with landslides, sections of. .... ____ 78 

Climate, features of .............. ·----- 12-14,21 

relation between geologic structure, · 

· surface relief, and .......... __ .. .. . 51-52 

,Cloudbursts, occurrence and extent of .. 83-85 

Coal used in manufacture of Portland 

cement, analysis of................ 13.5 

Colluvial deposits, occurrence and character of ______ ...... ---------------- 51 

Columbia River lava, age of. .... -----· 16,31,82 

analysis of ........... ______ ------ __ .... 44 

area of __ .. _ ....................... __ ... 28-29 

beds interstratified with............... 29, 

32--34,3.5-42,103-104,105 

border of, adjacent to mountains, figure showing ____ .. ____ .. ____ .. __ ... 104 

characters of ............... _ .... __ .. .. 30-32 

decomposition of .... ----- ....... 43,47-48,66 

deformation during outpouring of. 52-53,54 

elevation of, above sea leveL ... 53, 55,67-68 

formations beneath ................... 23-28 

history of .. _ .... __ ..... __ . __ __ __ _ 28-32, 53-54 

lapilli deposits in .................. ____ 34-35 

original plateau of ............ ________ 52-54 

percolation of water through......... 97 

sedimentary beds in ____ 29,35-42,103-104-,105 

springs in .... __________ ............ ____ 96 

synonymous terms for---------------- 28 

thickness of ________ ...... ____ 29,32,53,67,68 

unconformity of. See Deformation. 

view showing, in Salmon River Canyon ............. ·-------........ ____ 32 

volcanic dust sheets in ................ 32-34 

volume of._____________________________ 54 

weight of ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... 54 

Columbia River lava and pre-Tertiary 

terranes, map showing.... . . . . . . . . 16 

Copper, occurrence and character of..... 128. 

Cottonwood, well and geologic section 

near __ .............. ____ .... ____ .... 113 

Cottonwood Butte, erosion of------------ 20 

features of. .......... ______ . __________ . 19-21 

rocks of. ............................... 19,20 

soil of __ ......... _. ________ ... . ..... .... 44 

southern slope of, view of ....... __ ... ~2 

springs on.·--------------- ............ 20-21 

vegetation on .................... ------- 21 

Cottonwood Canyon, volcanic dust from 

analysis of ____________ ..... ___ . __ .. 34 

Cottonwood Creek, rocks along__________ 28 

Cougar Creek, rocks along_ .. ____ ..... ____ . 27-28 

Country rock, age and character of. __ ... 16 

Crags. See The Crags. 

Craig Mountain, features of. ___ ... .. .. 59 -60, 61 

section through ............ ·---....... 60 

Crutinger, F., dug well on farm of ...... _ 108 

Cnl de Sac Spur, elevation of ....... _____ . 132 

Darton, N.H., cited....................... 130 

Dayton, Wash., soil and subsoil from, 

analyses of. .... __ • ___________ .. . . .. 4·! 

Decomposition, extent and character of. 12, 

14, 15, 17' 18, 22, 32, 43,47-48,51,66, 82-SJ 

Page. 

Deformation, extent and character of __ . . 15, 

22, 24, 29-31, 40,41' 52, 63, 65, 70 

influence of, on surface relief ---- 54-61 

Degradation. See Erosion. 

Denudation. See Erosion. 

Denver, Idaho,geologic conditions near_ 112-113 

geologic sections near._ ..... ___ . _ ... 113, 114 

wells at and near. __ .... -------- _____ 113-114 

Deposition, features of ____ ---------- 72-75,84-85 

Diabase-porphyry, occurrence of ..... __ ... 21 

Diastrophism, features of .... _____________ 54 

Dikes, occurrence and characters of_ . _. _ 24, 21 

Diller,J.S.,cited --------------------....... 31 

Diorite, occurrence and characters of.... 23, 

2~, 26, 27' 28, 119-120 

Diorite-porphyry, occurrence of __ ..... __ 26 

Disintegration. See Decomposition. 

Douglas, elevation of ... ...... ...... ...... 132 

Dowd, C., cited. __ ... ______ .... ---.--------· 107 

geologic sections on farm of .. __ . .. . 106, 107 

wells on farm of.---------- ______ 106-107,109 

Drilled wells, location and features of... 96, 

105-109,113-114 

tests of, for water under pressure .. 116-119 

See also Artesian wells. 

Dug wells, location and failures of ___ .... 108 

Dunes, occurrence of ____ .... -------- ..... 50 

Dyckerhoff, cited .... ______ .... ______ ...... 134 

Eagle Creek Mountains. See Powder 

River Mountains. 

Eldridge, G. H., cited .... ----------------- 17 

Elevations, tables of .... ______ ------------ 132 

Erosion, extent and character of .. __ .. __ . 16, 

17, 18-20, 24, 26, 29-30, 34, 36, 41, 

52-53,57-67,81-82,98,114,127,128 

physiographic features produced 

by ---------------- ------------------ 61-70 

Fletcher, C. C., and Fulmer, E., cited..... 45 

Flood plains, occurrence, extent, and 

character of _ .......... 48-50,6.'1,67, 73,74 

Forests, occurrence of .. ____ ...... -------- 13, 

14, 1;}, 21, 22, 24, 68, 77' 78, 80 

Fruit, production of .... ____ ...... __ .____ __ 14 

.l<"'ulmer,E.,and Fletcher, C. C., cited...... 45 

Garfield, Wash., steptoe near. ________ .... 23 

Geologic map, showing Columbia River 

lava and pre-Tertiary terranes .. _ 16 

Geologic sections .... __ ......... _ ..... __ .. 35-36, 

37, 106, 107, 108, 113, 114, 12'Z, 123, 124 

Geologic sections, ideaL................... 100, 

102, 103, 104, 116, 117' 118 

Geologic structure, relation between sur· 

face relief and climate and .... ____ 51-52 

relation of streams to ........... ______ · 70-72 

Geology,features of, ...... ---------------- 15-51 

Gilbert, G. K., cited .... ____ .. ______________ 130 

Glacial epoch, features of _______________ .. 75 

Glaciation, absence oL ------ ______ ____ ____ 82 

evidencesoL ...... __ .... _____ .. -------- 17-18 

Gneiss, occurrence and characters of .. _. 16, 

18,24,25 

Gold, occurrence and value of .... __ .. .. 127-129 

Grande Ronde River, landslides along ... 76-77 

rocks along ........ __ .. _. _. ___ . __ .. .. .. 26-21 

water powers on ...... __ .... ______ .... 96 

Grande Ronde River Canyon, features of_ 62, 

63-64, 66-67 
INDEX. 139 

Page. 

Granite, occurrenc I and characters of.__ 16, 

i 24-25,119-120 

See also Diorite. I 

Gravel deposits, odcurrence, character, 

and extent 9f ........ 72-75,80,97,103-104 

See also Sedimentary beds. 

Greenstone, occurr,nce and character of. 27 

Hay, R.,cited ------ •..... ------ ·----- ...... 130 

Head, artesian. See! Artesian bead. 

Head of l~quids, deqlivi~y of, from reservoir, figure s~owmg. ------ ____ ---- 112 

Hill,R. T., cited .... L. -----·-· ------------ 130 

Hillebrand, W. F., a?alyses of limestones 

by-----------'------·-----·---------- 121 

analysis of volc4nic dust by. ___ ...... 34 

Holt, F. M., geologic lsection on farm of. _ _ 122 

Horizontal wells, ddvelopment of, recommendations ~oncerning ____ ------ 98-101 

locations for ___ j__ ___ ---- •..... 98,99,100-101 

locations for, figrre showing__________ 100 

Humid lands, rock disintegration in...... 52 

Irrigated areas,loc~tion of. ___ ------------ 95 

Irrigation, extent olL _______ ·--·-- ________ 14-15 

need of_ .... ·---~-_ ..... ---------------- 95 

Irrigation canals. ,tee Canals. 

Juliaetta, elevation ~f.------------.-··----· 132 

Kamiah But.tes, feafures of.------ ........ _ 22-23 

soil of ...... -----1- ------ -----· ------ ____ 44 

view showing .. L. -------------·---· .. 2-'3 

Kamiah-Camas Ba~in. See Camas- • .I Kamiah BasiE. 

Kamiah Prairie, feattures of---- ____ 14,22,6(}-61 

Ka:::~~~~-~~~~ii ~~~l ~~~i~~~-~~~ti(;~- ~~ 14 

farm of. ... ----- J •.•.••••••••••• ---- .••. 114 

Knowlton, F. H., cit~d ...... -------------- 31 

Kooskia, elevationqf. .. ------------------ 132 

Lake Waha,featuretof. ............ ------ 79-81 

Landslide topograp' y, features of. ______ 75-79 

Landslides, occurre ce and features of._ 25, 

1 32,33,37-38,39,41,67,80 

figure showing ~- ·--- ------.----------- 78 

Lane, A.C.,cited --+-----·---- ------------ 130 

Lapilli, occurrence *nd characters of_ 34-35,79 

Lapwai Creek, feat1res of---------------- 62 

Lava. See Basalt. 1 

Lava plateau (dis.<;e<jted), horizontal wells 

in, figure sbfowing best locations 

for ____ ------ i------- ---· ........ ____ 100 

Lawyers Canyon, drpth of.. ________ ---··- 111 

Lawyers Creek, feajtures of.------------- 62 

Lenore, elevation o:lf--------------· ____ ____ 132 

Levees, torrent-bu~lt, occurrence and 

character ofl---- ·--- ---- ... _ ------. 83-85 

Leverett, F., cited.+---------·----- .•.. ____ 130 

Lewiston. elevation! of-------- ......... ____ 132 

~eologic sectionlnear ________ .... ------ 36 

population of .. j ... -------------------- 12 

rainfall at ...... ~---------·-------...... 13 

water supply of!----- ..... -------------- 96 

Lewi~ton Plateau, s,ections through .. 56,58,60 

view of. ..... --+- _________ ............ 58 

Lewiston-Clarkstol1 Basin, artesian possibilities of .. L ... ------------------ 105 

artesian possibi~ities of, recommendations concerhing ------------ ____ 109-110 

Page. 

Lewiston-Clarkston Basin-Continued. 

features of ....•......... ------------. 104-105 

See also Tammany Hollow. 

Lewiston-Clarkston Plateau, features 

of ________ ------ ______ ------------ 57-58,59 

rocks underlying·------- ________ -·---- 97 

Lewi~ton Water and Power Co., canal of. 95-96 

Libby, E. H., cited-------------------- -- 80,106 

Lignite, analyses of---------------------· 126,136 

occurrence and characters of......... 39, 

77-78,122-127 

prospecting for, suggestions regarding .•.•..•.. --------------- 123-125,126-127 

Lime, limestones suitable for, occurrence 

of. _______ -·-· ........ __ ---------____ 121 

Limestone, analyses of. ..... -------------- 121 

occurrence and characters of.... . . . . . . 25, 

27, 28,120-121 

Limestona used in Portland · cement, 

analysis of------------.------ __ .... 134 

Lindgren, W., cited _________ HI, 17, 19,23,25,28,68 

Liquids, declivity of head of, from reservoir, figure showing.-----.________ 112 

Little Canyon, depth of.------------------ 111 

geologic section in---·------------·--- 124 

rocks along---------------------------- 39 

McCurdy,C.W.,cited. ---------------· ---- 45 

McHenry, E. H., acknowledgments to____ 132 

McNeil, S. C.,spring on ranch of.-----·--- 97-98 

Magnesia. See Volcanic dust. 

..Map, geologic, showing Columbia River 

lava and pre-Tertiary terranes.__ 16 

Map showing position of Nez Perce region---------·-------------------·.. 12 

Marble. See Limestone. 

Marl used in Portland cement, analyses 

of. __________ --··-------------------- 1.34 

Mascot Hills, location and features of____ 18 

Merrill, G. P., analyses by.------------.--- 44 

quoted ____ ·-·----------------·-----·--· 44 

Middle Lake, features of---·--·-·-···------ 80 

Mineral resources. extent and character 

of .... -----· ____ ------ ____ --------- 119-129 

Mission Creek, limestone from, analysis of. ______ ...... _ ... _. ____ .. __________ 121 

Mica-schist, occurrence and characters 

of. __ ------ ____________ .. ____ .. 16,18,24,25 

Montana Metallurgical Works, analyses 

by---------------·-·---------------- 126 

Mud Lake, features of.------·------------- flO 

Navigable streams, number of............ 95 

Nelson, ,J. A., geologic section and well on 

farm of _________ --------- ... ------------ 107 

Nelson,N., geologic section and well on 

farm of ____ ------------------------ Newell, F. H., letter of transmittal by ___ _ 

Nez Perce County,area of---·-·------ ___ _ 

features of. ____ ------ .... ---· .. --------

industries of-------------- ____ ----- ___ _ 

population of ________ ·-----------------

Northern Pacific Railway Co., elevations 

113 

9 

12 

11-15 

12 

12 

by ·----- ·--- ------ ---- -------------- 132 

North Fork of Clearwater River, features 

of __________________ ·----·----------- 24-25 

sandspit in, view of. ..... ---·---------- 40 

North Lapwai, elevation of. .. __ .--------- 132 
140 INDEX. 

Page. 

Omega Portland Cement Co., coal used 

by, analysis of.. ________ ------------ 135 

Oregon, lava plateaus in ____________ ------ 54 

Oregon Railway and Navigation Co., elevations by------------ ________ ------ 132 

Orofino, elevation of ________ -------------- 132 

geologic section near ____ ------ ...• ____ 122 

limestone from,ailalysis of_·--------- 121 

Orofino Creek, geologic section on._______ 123 

rocks along------------------ ______ _.___ 25 

water powers on .....• -------------____ 96 

Orton, E., cited-----------------· __ ..•• ____ 1::!0 

Packing for artesian wells, figures showing ------ ·----- _ ------------ ------ 115,116 

forms of--------------- __ ---------- ·--- 115 

Pasco, Wash.,elevation of------ ___ ·--____ 54 

Peck, elevation of------------------------- 132 

Peckham,S.F.,cited ---------------------- 130 

Phinney,A.J., cited _________ .. ----------· 130 

Physiography, features of. ... ------ 11-15,51-85 

Population ____________ ·---- ------------ --·· 12 

Portland cement, analysis of_-----------· 133 

coal used in manufacture of, analysis 

of.----------------------_-----_----- 135 

limestone suitable for, occurrence 

of---------------- _________________ 120,121 

manufacture of, data regarding ____ 133-136 

manufacture of, outlook for ________ 13.5-136 

raw materials for, analyses of._______ 134 

Potlatch, elevation of------ _____ -----.____ 132 

Potlatch Creek, rocks along.···---------- 39 

Powder River Mountains, features of. 17,2"2,63 

Powell,J. W., cited------------··-----._____ 69 

Power plants, location and features of._. 96 

Precipitation. See Rainfall. 

Pre-Tertiary terranes, extent and characters of..---------------------------- 16-28 

map showing location of-------------- 16 

Rainfall, extent and character of. 13-14,52,83,95 

springs fed by---- _____ ------ ___ ·--.--·· 96-97 

Rainfall during Glacial epoch _______ . __ . . 75 

Reservoir, declivity of head of liquids 

flowing from, diagram illustrating 112 

Rock Creek, features of.------ ______ .----- 68-69 

Rocky Crest, location and features of.___ 17 

Roslyn, Wash., lignite from, analysis of_ 136 

Russel, geologic section near _________ ·--- 124 

Salmon River, features of------------____ 67 

rocks along------------_------------ 25-26,40 

water powers on-·-------------------- 96 

Salmon River Canyon, features of------- 20, 

21, 62,67-69 

views in.---------------·------ __ ··-- 32,68, 70 

Sandstone, occurrence and characters 

of ____ ------------------·------ 27,38-40,77 

Sandspits, occurrence and characters of. 50 

view of .•.... ------------ ______ -----____ 40 

Sedentary deposits, definition of_________ 42 

Sedimentary beds, age of. ________ ·--- ____ 28,82 

deposition of ------ _ ---- ____ 35,41-42,103-104 

occurrence and characters of _________ 35-41, 

57,76-80,97,105 

Seed-bag packing for well casing, figure 

showing------ ____ ------·---________ 115 

Seven Devilg Mountains, features of._ 17, 22.63 

Shale, occurrence and characters of. __ 27-28,39 

thickness of _ ....••••..••.... ------ ___ 27-28 

Page. 

Shale used in Portland cement, analyses 

of.-- ______ ---·--_·-- ____ --------____ 134 

Silicified wood, occurrence of_ . _. _ .. _. _. _ _ 29, 40 

Silver, occurrence of. .... ______ .---------· 128 

Sinkholes, occ,~rrence and characters of. 83 

Slate, occurrence and characters of .. 19,25,122 

Slurry of Portland cement, permissible 

variation in ______ ------------------ 133 

Small, I., well drilling on farm of. ________ 35-36 

Small's ranch, spring near ____ ------------ 98-99 

Smith. G. O.,cited _ ------------------------ 54 

Snake River, features of------_----- 49-50,62-63 

landslides along _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 77 

navigability of.----------------·------- 95 

Snake River Canyon, features of ___ 21-22,62-66 

limestone from, analysis of----------- 121 

rocks in ______ .. _------------ ________ 26-27,28 

views of.-----· ____ -------------- __ .. 30,40,62 

Soils, alkaline salts in ________ ... ---------- 47,50 

analysis of_------ ______ ------------.--- 44 

extent and character of. ___ ·------- 42-51,95 

origin of _________ -----· ------ ____ 42-44,50,51 

subdivisions of ------ ______ . ____ ------ 42 

Soils, basaltic, tubular structure of -·---- 46-47 

Soils, glacial, absence of_---------- ____ ---- 51 

Soils, residual, extent and characters of_ 42-48 

Soiis, sedentary, occurrence and charac- ter of.·_ .. ____________ . ___ . ___ ------ 51 

Soils, transported, extent and character , of. _________ . ___ .. ____ . ________ . ____ . _ 48-51 

Solution basins, occurrence and charae- ters of ___________________ ---· . _____ 83 

South Fork of Clearwater River~ canyon 

of. ____ ..... ------ _ .. ____ ------ 22-23,111 

valley of, view of __ ·---·--- ____ -------- 68 

Springs, occurrence and characters of _ _ 20-21, 

27, 36, 39, 81,97-98 

source of.--------------------.--------- 96-97 

See also Horizontal wells. 

Springs from volcanic Just beds, features 

of. ___ ·-- ________ -.--- ____ .. __________ 80 

Steiger, G., analysis of limestone by_----- 121 

Steptoe Butte, soil of------·-··------------ 44 

S teptoes, occurrence and characters of .19-23,26 

soil of--------------------------------- 44 

Stiles, elevation of.------ __ ·--------------- 132 

Stream terraces, occurrence and features 

of. ________ . _______ --"-_-- .. ______ ---- 72-75 

8 treams, relation of, to geologic structure_ 70-72 

types of. ____ ·--- ___________ . _______ 61-62,72 

Subsoil,analysis of------------------------ 44 

character of _____ ..... ------------------ 43 

Surface relief, relation between geologic 

structure and climate and ___ . ---- 51-52 

influence of rock deformation on ____ 54-61 

Surface wells, occurrence and characters 

of------ ____ ------------ _______ .---- 96,108 

Swallow Rock, features of---_.----------- 77 

Sweetwater, elevation of. ____________ ---- 132 

Talus slopes, prevalence of----------- ____ 25,32 

Tammany Creek, features of_. ___ ._______ 62 

Tammany Hollow, artesian conditions in_ 108 

features of ___ -------------------------- 108 geologic sections in. _____________ 106,107,108 

springs in ___ ... ____ . ___ .. ________ ------ 99 

temperature (mean annual) of_------ 109 

wells in ________ ---· ----------- --·. ___ 105-109 
I 

INDEX. 141 

J Page. 

Temperatures, art 1sian water--------- 106,109 

atmospheric ...• ------------------ 12-13,109 

earth, relation 9f depth to . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 

Terraces, occurrenfe and features of.. . . 72-75 

Terranes, pre-Tertfry, extent and charTests f::.!~~:~:~-J~t~~ ~~-~t~~~~-~f~~-~i~ 16

-

28 

illustrating 1 ...... ----- ______ 116,117,118 

The Crags. location land features of______ 17 

Thomas, W. S., analtses of lignite by. . . . . 136 

Todd,J.E.,cited ... l----------------· ------ 130 

Topography. featu11es of. __ .... --·---:··· 16-19, 

I 20-22, 64, 66, 69,81-83, 97 

landslide, featmtes of ...... _----- •.. --- 75-79 

Tor::~~~:j~:e7e~~~~: --~~~;;;;~;;~~-. ~;;d 18 

character of~---- ____ .... ____ ...... 83-85 

Transported deposi s, definition of.------ 42 

See also Soils, tr nsported. 

Tunnels. See Hori ontal wells. 

Underground wate ,development of____ 15 

Uniontown Plateauj features of. ... ___ 14, 5-'l-57 

horizontal wellslpossible along.______ 99 

rainfall on .••.. J ••• ____ ------ •••.• ------ H 

rocks underlyint·· __ ---- --·. ---------- 97 

section through. ________ -------------- 56 

Vaugba~,T.W.,cit --------------------- 130 

VegetatiOn, extent nd eharacter of.____ 14, 

21-22,54,6~ 

Volcanic dust, anal:l;1sis of ..... ______ ---·· 3! 

occurrence, extent, and character of_ 32-34, 

t

45-46, 51, 80, 76, 79, 80,108, 122 

Waha Lake. See L ke Waha. 

Wallawalla, Wash., asalt from, analysis 

of.·---------+-------·----.-.---.--- 44 

1 

0 

Page. 

Washington, lava plateaus in .. ----------- 54 

steptoe near Garfield i:n ... ------· ____ 23 

Water, scarcity of.------_--------- ____ :___ 15 

source of. ____ ----------------- .... ____ 37,38 

uses of.-----------·-------------------- 95 

Water, artesian. flee Artesian water. 

Water, underground. See Underground 

watPr. 

Water-bearing beds, probable location of. 40-42 

Water powers, location and utilization 

of. __ ........ ______ ...... _______ .... 81,96 

Water supply,increase practicable in.... 98 

sources of.. ____ --------------------.--- 95 

utilization of. ____ ........ ---------- ____ 95-96 

Water under pressure, tests for .... ____ 116-119 

tests for, figures illustrating ... 116,117,118 

Weathering, extent of. ..... -------------- 18,20 

See also Erosion. 

Weippe, elevation of. ..... ---------·--·.... 132 

Well casing, forms of ............ ---------- 115 

seed-bag packing for, figure showing. 115 

value of. ... ------------. ____ . 106,115,118-119 

Wells, water under pressure in, figures 

illustrating tests for ________ 116,117,118 

Wells, artesian. See Artesian wells. 

Wells, dug. See Dug wells. 

Wells, drilled. See Drilled wells. 

Wells, horizontal. See Horizontal wells. 

Wells, surface. See Surface wells. 

Wheat, production of---------------------

Whitney, M., cited---------------·--------

Wisner, A. S.,geologicsectionon farm of. 

well on farm of. ..... ------------ ..... . 

Zehner, I., well on farm of ____ ........ ----

Zumwalt, W. H., cited .. ------=-----------

12 

47 

107 

108 

114 

114