Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 183 Series 0, Underground Waters, 63 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR

FLOWING WELLS AND MUNICIPAL 

WATER SUPPLIES

IN THE

MIDDLE AND NORTHERN PORTIONS

SOUTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN

BY

FEANK LEVERETT AND OTHERS

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT FEINTING OFFICE 

1907
CONTENTS.

Page.

Introduction, by Frank Leverett............................................. 1

Scope of report........................................................ 1

Geographic features.................................................... 3

Water-bearing formations............................................... 7

Structure of drift....................................................... 8

Character of drainage................................................... 9

Rainfall............................................................... 10

Ground-water table..................................................... 11

Wells and appliances................................................ 1 ... 12

Quality of water....................................................... 14

Subterranean-water temperature......................................... 14

Legislation............................................................ 21

Flowing wells.......................................................... 22

Municipal and institutional water supplies................................. 23

Muskegon County, by C. D. McLouth.......................................... 25

Topography, by Frank Leverett.......................................... 25

Water-distributing systems.............................................. 25

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 26

Flowing wells.......................................................... 26

General statement.................................................. 26

White Lake district................................................ 27

Muskegon Lake district............................................. 31

Lake Harbor district................................................ 37

Spring Lake district................................................ 39

Moorland district................................................... 40

Fruitland district.................................................. 41

Casnovia district................................................... 41

Summary......................................................... 42

Oceana County, by Myron L. Fuller.......................................... 46

Topography........................................................... 46

Flowing wells.....................-....................---...------.-.- 46

Flower Creek district............................................... 46

Shelby district..................................................... 49

Hart district....................................................... 52

Crystal Valley district. .... .......:................................. 53

Elbridge district.......................-......--........-----.-.--. 54

Tigris district...................................................... 55

Lattin district.................................................. - 56

Weare district..................................................... 56

Ferry district.................-........--......--.--.--...-----..-- 57

Greenwood district.......-.-.............................------.--- 58

Waterworks................-........--.-.........-.-------.----------- 59

Hart..........................................-----..-----.------ 59

Shelby.........---.-....-.----......----...-.---.----.-----------. 60

Pentwater..........-.-..................-....-.-..---..---.--.---- 60

Miscellaneous village supplies...,..,...,.,.,. r ...,..............-.------. 62

Hi
IV - CONTENTS.

Page.

Newaygo County, by Myron L. Fuller........................................ 62

General statement...................................................... 62

Flowing wells.......................................................... 63

Hesperia.......................................................... 63

Fremont district................................................... 65

Fremont...................................................... 65

Fremont Lake................................................. 67

Outlying wells................................................. 68

Summary..................................................... 69

Newaygo.......................................................... 70

Flowing wells.................................................. 70

Waterworks................................................... 72

Ensley district..................................................... 73

Isolated flows...................................................... 74

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 75

Mecosta County, by Myron L. Fuller......................................... 75

Topography........................................................... 75

Flowing wells.......................................................... 76

Barryton district................................................... 76

Sheridan Township................................................. 77

Mecosta........................................................... 78

Paris............................................................. 78

Millbrook......................................................... 78

Town supplies......................................................... 78

Big Eapids........................................................ 78

Miscellaneous...................................................... 79

Mason County, by Myron L. Fuller.................-.-....-....-.'-..-........ 80

General statement, by Frank Leverett.................................... 80

Flowing wells....................... l........................... ...... 80

Bass Lake district. ................................................. 80

Waterworks........................................................... 81

Miscellaneous village supplies................-.--.....-..-.--.-.---...... 82

Lake County, by Frank Leverett-............................................ 82

Osceola County, by Myron L. Fuller...-..-....-.....--...-..-.-...-.......... 83

General statement, by Frank Leverett.................................... 83

Waterworks........................................................... 84

Evart............................................................. 84

Eeed City......................................................... 85

Flowing wells.......................................................... 85

Evart district...................................................... 85

Eeed City......................................................... 87

Marion............................................................ 88

Eose Lake..--..--........---..-.-..-....-....--......--.......... 88

Springs............................................................... 88

No-che-mo Springs................................................. 88

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 80

Quality of water in Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, and Osceola counties, by Myron L.

FuUer................'...............................-....--.-.......... 90

Isabella County, by W. M. Gregory........................................... 92

General statement, by Frank Leverett. -..-.......-.-....-.-......--.-.... 92

Flowing wells. .............................................. .^......... 92

General relations....--.-....-..-.....-..........-...----..-------.. 92

Coe basin......................................................... 95
CONTENTS. V

Page.

Isabella County Continued. 

Flowing wells Continued.

Isabella basin...................................................... 101

Nottawa basin..................................................... 105

Isolated flows...................................................... 108

Mount Pleasant water supplies........................................... 109

Clare County, by Frank Leverett............................................. Ill

General statement...................................................... Ill

Waterworks........................................................... 112

Clare............................................................. 112

Farwell........................................................... 112

Harrison.......................................................... 112

Miscellaneous town supplies............................................. 112

Flowing wells.......................................................... 113

Sheridan Township................................................. 113

Gladwin County, by Frank Leverett.......................................... 113

General statement. ..................................................... 113

Flowing wells.......................................................... 114

Gladwin district.................................................... 114

McClure district..................................................... 114

Edwards district................................................... 115

Bay County, by W. F. Cooper............................................... 115

Flowing wells.......................................................... 115

Williams Township................................................. 115

Kawkawlin Valley.................................................. 116

Fraser field........................................................ 117

Pinconning field...................................."................ 117

Mount Forest field................................................. 117

Summary......................................................... 117

Nonflowing wells....................................................... 118

Quality of water....................................................... 120

Water temperatures.................................................... 120

Town supplies.....--......".......-.-...---.......-...---.............- 120

Bay City and West Bay City........................................ 120

Saginaw Bay drainage basin south of Bay and Isabella counties, by Charles A.

Davis................................................................... 121

Introduction........................................................... 121

Location and boundaries............................................ 121

Physiographic features.............................................. 121

Wells............................................................. 124

Types........................................................ 124

Utilization of flowing wells. .-....-......-.....-.--.-...... -.-... 125

Loss of head................................................... 126

Overdevelopment.......................................... 126

Leaks caused by splitting the casing.......................... 127

4 Leaks caused by rusting of casing............................ 127

Imperfect driving.......................................... 127

Fine sand and silt.......................................... 128

Caving at sides........--.-...-.....-..-....-.-.-...--.-.-- 128

Obstructions put in at top of casing.......................... 128

Clogging of the strainer on the point......................... 128

Drought in the catchment area.....-.....-..-.-.-......-..-. 130

Surface drainage................-.............--.---..---.- 131

Subsurface drainage......,...............-.........------.. 131

Quality of water............................................... 132
VI CONTENTS.

Saginaw Bay drainage basin south of Bay and Isabella counties Continued. Page.

Tuscola County........................................................ 133

General statement.................................................. 133

Topography and water supply....................................... 133

Lake-plain region.................................................. 135

Source of water................................................ 135

Surface waters............................................. 135

Deep-drift waters.......................................... 136

Rock waters............................................... 137

Flowing wells.................................................. 139

Morainalregion.................................................... 142

General Conditions............................................. 142

Flowing wells.................................................. 143

Arbela Township........................................... 143

Fremont and Watertown townships.......................... 144

Wells Township............................................ 144

Valley region...................................................... 145

Miscellaneous town supplies.. i...................................... 146

Lake-plain region.............................................. 146

Unionville................................................. 146

Akron.................................................... 146

Fairgrove................................................. 147

Reese..................................................... 148

Ridge region...........................1....................... 149

Gagetown................................................. 149

Kingston.................................................. 149

Mayville.................................................. 150

Millington................................................. 150

Fostoria.................................................. 151

Cass River Valley region........................................ 151

CassCity.................................................. 151

Caro...................................................... 151

Vassar........................................'...'......... 152

Tuscola................................................... 154

Wilmot................................................... 154

Drford..................................................... 154

Silverwood................................................ 154

Genesee County........................................................ 155

Topography.........................................."............. 155

Public and private supplies.......................................... 156

Otisville district................................................ 156

Clio district................................................... 156

Montrose Township............................................. 157

Montrose---.._............................................ . 157

Brent Creek............................................... 158

Flushing..............................................'........ 158

Flint Township................................................ 158

Flint..................................................... 158

Otterburn..... _...___._..._.._............................ 160

Richfield and Genesee townships................................. 160

Davison and Burton townships.................................. 161

Davison................................................... 161

Vicinity of Davison......................................... 166

Burton Township.......................................... 166

Summary................................................. 167
CONTENTS. Vn

Saginaw Bay drainage basin south of Bay and Isabella counties Continued. Page. 

Gehesee County Continued. -.

Public and private supplies Continued.

Gaines and Mundy townships.................................... 168

Swartz Creek.............................................. 168

Gaines and Mundy area..................................... 169

Gaines.................................................... 170

Grand Blanc................................................... 170

Argentine..................................................... 171

Fenton Township....................-......-..-....-...-----.. 171

Linden.................................................... 171

Fenton................................................... 171

Atlas Township................................................ 172

Atlas area................................................. 172

Goodrich...................'............................... 172

Atlas-Hadley area.......................................... 173

Livingston County..................................................... 175

Topography....................................................... 175

Supplies by districts................................................ 176

Howell.......................;................................ 176

Waterworks............................................... 176

Flowing wells. ........................... y................. 176

Pinckney area................................................. 179

Cohoctah area................................................. 180

Deerfield...................................................... 180

Hartland area................................................. 181

Shiawassee County..................................................... 183

Topography....................................................... 183

Supplies by districts.......... .-rr".................................... 183

Owosso....................................................... 183

Flowing wells.................__.:......................... 183

Springs................................................... 185

Waterworks............................................... 186

Burns Township............................................... 191

Vernon Township.............................................. 192

Durand................................................... 192

Vernon................................................... 192

Corunna...................................................... 193

Saginaw County....................................................... 193

General statement.................................................. 193

Waste water....................................................... 196

Catchment area.................................................... 196

Flowing wells...................................................... 196

Flows from rock.......:....................................... 196

Flows from drift............................................... 197

Flows by districts.............................................. 198

Merrill area................................................ 198

Marion Township.......................................... 198

Brant area................................................ 198

Fremcmt Township......................'.......-.....-...-'- 199

Swan Creek area. .......................................... 199

Luce area................................................. 199

Albee area................................................ 200

Birch Run area............................................ 200

Chesaning area............................................. 200

Thomastown Township..................................... 200

Saginaw water supply, by A. C. Lane.................................. 201
VIII CONTENTS.

Saginaw Bay drainage basin south of Bay and Isabella counties Continued. Page.

Gratiot County........................................................ 202

General statement.................................................. 202

Supplies by districts................................................ 204

Arcada Township.............................................. 204

Alma..................................................... 204

Vicinity of Alma........................................... 212

Seville Township............................................... 213

Riverdale................................................. 213

Elwell.................................................... 214

North of ElwelL........................................... 214

Pine River Township........................................... 215

Flowing-well areas......................................... 215

Forest Hill................................................ 218

Bethany Township............................................. 219

St. Louis.................................................. 219

Breckenridge.............................................. 220

West of Pine River......................................... 221

East of Pine River......................................... 222

Summary................................................. 223

Elbe Township................................................. 224

Bannister................................................. 224

Ashley area............................................... 225

Miscellaneous village supplies.................................... 229

Ithaca.................................................... 229

Beebe.................................................... 229

Edgewood................................................. 230

Elm HaU..................rr.............................. 230

Middleton................................................. 230

Newark and New Haven.................................... 230

NorthStar................................................ 230

Ola.......................................:............... 230

Perrinton................................................. 231

Pompeii................................................... 231

Rathbone.......................................'.......... 231

Wheeler................................................... 231

Midland County........................................................ 231

General statement, by Frank Leverett................................ 231

Supplies by districts................................................ 232

Larkin Township............................................... 232

Midland Township....... J..................................... 234

Midland................................................... 234

Vicinity of Midland........................................ 237

Summary................................................. 238

Ingersoll district............................................... 240

Greendale Township............................................ 243

Jasper Township..............................................." 243

Geneva and Warren townships, by W. M. Gregory................. 245

Sanilac County, by Frank Leverett........................................... 246

Topography........................................................... 246

Waterworks........................................................... 247

Brown City....................................................... 247

Marlette.......................................................... 247

Crosswell and Lexington............................................ 247
CONTENTS. IX

Sanilac County Continued. Page. 

Waterworks Continued.

Carsonville........................................................ 248

Sanilac Center..................................................... 248

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 248

Flowing wells.......................................................... x 249.

Lexington district.................................................. 249

Buel field......................................................... 252

Peck district...................................................... 253

Valley Center area................................................. 254

Port Sanilac fields.................................................. 255

Sanilac Center field............................ r. ................... 256

Snoover field...................................................... 256

Argyle Township................................................... 257

Minden City field.................................................. 257

Huron County, by A. C. Lane............................................... 257

General statement.............'......................................... 257

Waterworks........................................................... 259

Harbor Beach..................................................... 259

Bad Axe.......................................................... 259

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 260

Supplies by townships. .................................................. 260

Sebewaing........................................................ 260

Brookfield......................................................... 262

Grant.....................................:...................... 262

Sheridan.......................................................... 262

Bingham.......................................................... 263

Paris............................................................. 263

Sherman.......................................................... 263

Whiterock........................................................ 263

Sand Beach.....".................................................. 263

Sigel............................................................. 264

Verona.........'..............................:................... 264

Coif ax............................................................ 264

Oliver............................................................ 264

Winsor........................................................... 265

Fairhaven......................................................... 266

Caseville. ......^.......^.......................................... 266

Chandler.......................................................... 266

Meade... _.---.-...-....-.-.-.......,...-......................... 267

Lincoln........................................................... 267

Bloomfield........................................................ 267

Rubicon.......................................................... 267

Lake............................................................. 267

Hume............................................................ 268

Dwight........................................................... 268

Huron............................................................ 268

Gore............................................................. 268

Port Austin....................................................... 268

Northwest border of Saginaw Bay, by W. M. Gregory.......................... 269

General statement...................................................... 269

Waterworks........................................................... 269

Flowing wells..............................................:........... 269

Location.......................................................... 269

Pinconning........................................................ 270
CONTENTS.

I Page. 

Northwest border of Saginaw Bay Continued.

Flowing wells Continued.

Twining.......................................................... 271

Tawas............................................................ 274

Miscellaneous...................................................... 279

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 281

Ogemaw County, by W. M. Gregory.......................................... 281

General statement, b j Frank Leverett-................................... 281

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 282

Flowing wells....... .................................................. 282

West Branch area..*............................................... 282

Rose City area..................................................... 288

Manistee County, by Frar k Leverett......................................... 293

General statement......-..-............-..--.-.....-.-...---.-....-.-.. 293

Waterworks.....-.-.--.-..-........-..............:.-.--.....-......-. 294

Manistee City...................................................... 294

Miscellaneous village supplies....-..-.................-...-..-.-..---.-.. 295

Flowing wells.......................................................... 296

Arcadia........................................................... 296

Vicinity of Kale^v a................................................. 296

Bear Lake........................................................ 297

Onekama, by W. M. Gregory........................................ 297

Wexford County, by Fran £ Leverett......................................... 301

Missaukee County, by Fra ik Leverett. ........................................ 303

Topography........................................................... 303

Flowing wells.......................................................... 304

Dolph district..................................................... 304

McBain district. -...---...-.,....--.............-.-....-......-.... 304

Waterworks........................................................... 305

Lake City.......................................:................. 305

Jennings. ......................................................... 305

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 305

Roscommon County, by Frank Leverett...................................... 305

Alcona County, by Frank Leverett........................................... 306

Oscoda County, by Frank jeverett........................................... 310

Crawford County, by Fran i Leverett......................................... 310

Kalkaska County, by Fran s Leverett........................'................. 312

Grand Traverse County, by Frank Leverett................................... 314

General statement...................................................... 314

Miscellaneous village s applies............................................ 315

Flowing wells, by W. '. L Gregory........................................ 315

Williamsburg area.................................................. 315

Traverse City...................................................... 319

Benzie County, by Frank Leverett..............:.-...-........-...-..-...... 324

General statement...................................................... 324

Flowing wells.......................................................... 325

Thompsonville..................................................... 325

Honor............................................................ 325

Beulah and Benzo aia, by W. M. Gregory.............................. 327

Frankfort area, bj W. M. Gregory................................... 330

Waterworks........................................................... 330

Frankfort......................................................... 330

Thompsonville.....................;............................... 331

Miscellaneous village si pplies............................................ 331
CONTENTS. XI

Leelanaw County, by Frank Leverett......................................... 331

Antrim and Charlevoix counties, by Frank Leverett............................ 333

General statement...................................................... 333

Flowing wells.......................................................... 335

Alden............................................................ 335

Intermediate Lake district.......................................... 335

General relations............................................... 335

Bellaire....................................................... 336

Central Lake.................................................. 337

Summary..................................................... 338

Norwood. ......................................................... 339

East Jordan-South Arm district-..................................... 339

Ironton........................................................... 346

Boyne............................................................ 341

Spring-water siding................................................. 343

Boyne Falls....................................................... 343

Walloon Lake district.............................................. 343

Waterworks........................................................... 344

Antrim County.................................................... 344

Central Lake.................................................. 344

Elk Rapids.................................................... 344

Mancelona.................................................... 344

Miscellaneous.................................................. 345

Charlevoix County................................................. 345

Bay Shore................................. I.................. 345

Boyne........................................................ 345

Charlevoix...........~......................................... 346

East Jordan................................................... 346

Miscellaneous.................................................. 346

Otsego County, by Frank Leverett........................................... 347

Montmorency County, by Frank Leverett..................................... 349

Alpena County, by Frank Leverett........................................... 350

Presque Isle County, by Frank Leverett...................................... 352

Cheboygan County, by Frank Leverett....................................... 353

General statement...................................................... 353

Springs............................................................... 354

Waterworks........................................................... 355

Cheboygan........................................................ 355

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 355

Flowing wellsy by W. M. Gregory........................................ 355

Mullet Lake, by Frank Leverett..................................... 355

Haakwood........................................................ 356

Cheboygan........................................................ 357

Indian River area...................-..-..-..-..-.--.-.---.----.--. 357

Mullet and Burt lakes.............................................. 363

Emmett County, by Frank Leverett..............-....--.-..-.------...--..-. 364

General statement...................................................... 364

Miscellaneous village supplies............................................ 365

Flowing wells...........................-..-.-..----.-.------.-------.- 365

Petosky and Bay View ....................*.................-.....-. 365

Harbor Springs and Wequetonsing areas.............................. 366

Crooked Lake area..................-..-...-..-.---.-----------.--. 371

Index.................................................................... 379
ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page. 

PLATE I. Artesian water map of Michigan.................................... 6

II. Geologic map of Michigan.......................................... 8

III. Topographic and artesian well map of Bay County..................... 116

IV. Topographic and artesian well map of the north shore of Saginaw Bay. . 270

V. A, Large flowing well from rock, Turner, Arenac County; B, Fire service 

test showing five streams from a single well under natural pressure, 

Arcadia, Manistee County ........................................ 272

FIG. 1. Sketch map showing area covered by report........................... 2

2. General average of flowing-well temperatures in the Southern Peninsula of

Michigan....................................................... 17

3. Diagram showing fluctuations in air and well temperatures at Arm Arbor,

Mich........................................................... 19

4. Sketch map of Flower Creek artesian district, Oceana County ........... 46

5. Sketch map of Shelby artesian district, Oceana County................. 49

6. Diagrammatic section across Shelby artesian district from north to south. 51

7. Sketch map of Hart artesian district, Oceana County................... 51

8. Sketch map of Crystal Valley artesian district, Oceana County........... 54

9. Sketch map of Elbridge artesian pool, Oceana County ................... 55

10. Sketch map of Tigris pool, Oceana County............................ 56

11. Sketch map of Weare pool, Oceana County............................ 57

12. Sketch map of Ferry district, Oceana County.......................... 57

13. Sketch map showing flowing and adjacent wells, Greenwood district, Oceana

County......................................................... 58

14. Plat of Hesperia, Newaygo County, showing location of wells and private

waterworks..................................................... 63

15. Plat of Fremont, Newaygo County, showing location of waterworks and

important wells.................................................. 65

16. Arrangements at Hain well, Fremont Lake, Newaygo County............ 67

17. Map showing location of outlying flowing wells of Fremont district....... 69

18. Plat of Newaygo, showing location of waterworks, mains, and flowing wells. 70

19. Location of Ensley flowing wells, Newaygo County, in relation to local

drainage........................................................ 73

20. Sketch map of Barryton artesian district, Mecosta County................ 76

21. Sketch map of Bass Lake artesian district, Mason County............... 80

22. Sketch map of Evart artesian district, Osceola County.................. 86

23. Profile of water beds and surface in Isabella County.................... 92

24. Sketch showing fluctuations of Abbott's well, 2 miles north of Shepherd,

Coe Township, Isabella County.................................... 94

25. The Coe flowing-well district of Isabella and Midland counties........... 95

26. Cross section from Isabella to Denver Township........................ 101

27. Relation of wells near Dover, Clare County............................ 106

28. The Nottawa flowing-well district in Isabella and Clare counties, and the

Isabella flowing-well district in Isabella County...................... 107

xm
XIV ILLTJSTEATIONS.

Page. 

FIG. 29. Sketch map of Montrose flowing-well area, Genesee County.............. 157

30. Sketch map showing valley in which flowing wells occur in Genesee and

Richfield townships, Genesee County............................... 160

31. Sketch map showing flowing-well district in Davison and Burton townships,

Genesee County................................................. 162

32. Diagram showing probable relationship of the water beds across sections 10

and 11, Davison Township........................................ 162

33 Plat showing distribution of flowing wells in Davison village, Genesee

County......................................................... 163

34. Map showing flowing wells in the Gaines-Mundy area, Genesee County.... 169

35. Sketch map of the Ortonville, Hadley-Atlas, Groveland, and Atlas flowingwell areas....................................................... 174

36. Plat of portion of Howell, Livingston County, showing flowing-well district. 177

37. Sketch map of Cohoctah flowing-well area, Livingston County........... 180

38. Sketch map of Hartland area, Livingston County, showing location of wells. 182

39. Sketch map of Maple Ridge Park and vicinity, Owosso, showing approximate location of flowing wells...................................... 184

40. Distribution of wells at Owosso waterworks, on a terrace of Shiawassee River,

5 feet above low-water level....................................... 186

41. Sketch map showing location of flowing wells in Burns Township, Shiawassee County.................................................. 191

42 Plat of Alma, showing distribution of flowing wells..................... 205

43. Sketch map of flowing-well district in areas 1 and 2, Pine River Township,

Gratiot County.................................................. 215

44. Sketch map showing approximate position of the flowing wells in areas 3

and 4, Pine River Township, Gratiot County ........................ 216

45. Bethany Township flowing-well areas, Gratiot County.................. 221

46. Plat of village of Bannister, Gratiot County........................... 224

47. Ashley and Bannister flowing-well areas outside of village wells .......... 227

48. Sketch map of Larkin flowing-well district, Midland County............. 233

49. Map showing distribution of flowing wells in and near Midland........... 236

50. Map of Greendale Township flowing-well area, Midland County .......... 243

51. Map of Lexington, Sanilac County, showing flowing wells and neighboring

springs............ T............................................ 250

52. Contour map showing the elevation of the top of the upper Marshall sandstone above sea level............................................. 258

53. Cross section from Bayport quarries southwest, showing the relations of

present surface, rock surface, flowing wells, etc....................... 259

54. Map of Pinconning, Bay County, showing distribution of flowing wells... 270

55. Map of Twining, Arenac County, showing distribution of flowing wells .... 272

56. Map of Tawas flowing-well district, losco County....................... 275

57. Map of West Branch, Ogemaw County, showing flowing wells............ 283

58. Map of Rose City showing location of flowing wells..................... 289

59. Ideal section showing distribution of water beds........................ 290

60. Flowing wells in and near Onekama, Manistee County.................. 297

61. Contour map of Williamsburg flowing-well district...................... 316

62. East-west section through Williamsburg district........................ 317

63. North-south section through Williamsburg district...................... 318

64. Map of southeast end of Crystal Lake, Benzie County................... 327

65. Contour map of Indian River flowing-well district...................... 358

66. Contour map of Harbor Springs flowing-well district.................... 367

67. Sketch map of flowing-well region between Conway and Indian River.... 371

68. Contour map of Oden and vicinity................................... 372

69. North-south section at Oden, showing water beds...................... 373
FLOWING WELLS AND MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES IN

THE MIDDLE AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE

SOUTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN.

By FRANK LEVERETT AND OTHERS.

INTRODUCTION. 

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

SCOPE OF REPORT.

A large amount of data on water supplies was collected by the writer 

in the course of glacial investigations made under the direction of Prof. 

T. C. Chamberlin in the last five years in the Southern Peninsula of 

Michigan. These investigations resulted in a partial acquaintance 

with conditions in about 200 separate flowing-well districts and 

brought out matters of such exceptional importance that arrangements were made to extend them by examining each of the flowingwell districts in the State sufficiently to determine its essential characteristics, present state of development, and probable capacity for 

future development. It was arranged also that the quality of various 

classes of water, both surface and underground, as well as water supplies of, cities and villages, should be given attention. As the mineral 

waters of the State had already been discussed in some detail by the 

State geologist, Dr. A. C. Lane, in Water-Supply Paper No. 31 of the 

United States Geological Survey, it was deemed unnecessary to prepare another report on that subject, but arrangements were made with 

Doctor Lane for embodying in this report the large amount of material 

which had accumulated at his office relative to other classes of water 

supply, and also for furnishing reports on certain counties in which 

special investigations had been carried on by the State survey. The 

results of all these studies, so far as they apply to the middle- and 

northern counties (see fig. 1, on next page), are embodied in the 

present report; the remainder appears in a companion report on the 

southern counties of the Southern Peninsula of Michigan.

In completing the necessary field work for this report several persons were employed for a short time and were assigned to separate

X
2 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

districts, as follows: Jon Andreas Udden, of Rock Island, 111., was 

employed from July to December, 1904, in an investigation of the 

southern counties, chiefly those south of Kalamazoo River, and parts 

of Macomb and Oakland counties in the eastern part of the State. 

Mr. Isaiah Bowman, of Yale University, was engaged for six weeks in 

August and September, chiefly in the region tributary to Grand River.

FIG. 1. Sketch map, showing area covered by report. The ruled area is discussed in Water-Supply

Paper No. 182.

Prof. C. A. Davis, of the University of Michigan, was employed during 

July, August, and September in the investigations of the southern 

and eastern portions of the basin of Saginaw River. Mr. W. M. 

Gregory, of the department of physiography in the Cleveland, Ohio, 

high school, was employed during July, August, and part of September
SCOPE OF EEPOET. 6

in the investigation of the northwestern portion of the Saginaw River 

basin, and also of flowing-well districts in the northern part of the 

peninsula, in Cheboygan, Emmett, Grand Traverse, Benzie, and 

Manistee counties, to which he had previously given some attention in 

connection with stream measurements under Mr. Robert E. Horton. 

Mr. M. L. Fuller, of the Geological Survey, under whose direction the 

work was carried on, visited several of the men in the field and spent 

August and part of September in an investigation of the deficiency of 

water supplies along the Huron River Valley near Detroit, and in a 

detailed study of the flowing wells in four western counties, Oceana, 

Newaygo, Mecosta, an$ Osceola. Muskegon County was investigated by Mr. C. D. McLouth, of the department of physics of the 

Muskegon high school; Kent County, by Mr. J. F. Nellist, a civil 

engineer of Grand Rapids; Bay County, by Mr. W. F. Cooper, of the 

State Geological Survey; and Wayne County, by Prof. W. H. Sherzer, 

of the State normal college at Ypsilanti, who also furnished the data 

for the report on Monroe County. Doctor Lane, the State geologist, 

investigated and reported on conditions in the vicinity of Lansing and 

also prepared a brief report on Huron County, condensed from his 

more elaborate State report. The present writer's investigations 

during the last season were chiefly in Sanilac, Lapeer, and St. Clair 

counties on the eastern border of the State, and in'Charlevoix, Antrim, 

and Benzie counties in the northwestern part. Mr. S. J. Lewis, of the 

United States Geological Survey, was detailed for a special investigation of the quality of waters and spent about a month in the State, 

in January and February, 1905, during which time he made about 

90 analyses. Dr. V. C. Vaughan, dean of the medical school of the 

University of Michigan, kindly placed at the disposal of the Survey a 

large number of analyses made for sanitary purposes, but including 

determinations of hardness, chlorides, and sulphates. Field analyses 

were also made by Messrs, fuller, Gregory, and Bowman, which will 

be found in connection with their reports herewith presented. Reports 

were submitted by all those engaged in this investigation with the 

exception of Mr. Udden, who merely turned in his tabulated data and 

notebooks. Much work, however, was necessary hi order to bring the 

several reports to a more nearly uniform standard, and the present 

writer has amplified portions, inserted additional data at many points, 

and supplied most of the geologic and other general descriptions. 

The several reports, however, naturally differ somewhat in mode of 

treatment, according to the personal standards of the individual writersGEOGRAPHIC FEATURES.

The Southern Peninsula of Michigan is bordered on its entire western coast by Lake Michigan, on the north by the Straits of Mackinac, 

and on the east, from north to south, by Lake Huron, St. 

IBE183 06 2
4 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and Lake Erie, successively. Its onlyland border is on the south, and this is divided between the States of 

Ohio and Indiana. The range in latitude is a little more than 4°, 

from about 41°45' to about 45°50' north. The area is 40,761 square 

miles, or about 71 per cent of the entire State (57,430 square miles). 

Lansing, the State capital, is situated south of the center of this 

peninsula.

The population of the Southern Peninsula, as given in the census 

of 1900, is 2,169,620, or about 90 per cent of the population of the 

entire State (2,420,982). The population is very largely in the 

southern half. If a line be drawn midway between the northern and 

southern ends, only two cities, Manistee and Alpena, with populations 

exceeding 10,000, will be found to the north, while there are 14 such 

to the south. Fifteen counties of the northern half of the peninsula, 

with an aggregate area of 8,160 square miles, had in 1900 a combined 

population of only 93,704, or less than one-third the population of the 

city of Detroit (285,704). In consequence of this unequal distribution of population there is an unequal development and utilization of 

water resources. In the northern counties there are entire townships" 

which have no records of wells or tests of underground water supplies, 

while in the southern counties the underground water supplies have 

been tested sufficiently to afford a fair basis for this report.

The map, PI. II, presents the principal reliefs of the peninsula. It 

will be observed that a plain 20 to 40 miles wide runs along the southeastern edge of the State, rising from less than 600 to about 800 feet 

above sea level. This plain was covered by ice from the Huron and 

Erie basins and later by large Glacial lakes. West of this is a prominent belt of rolling country about 25 miles wide interspersed with 

numerous small lakes and representing a strong development of 

morainic topography. Its altitude ranges from about 800 to 1,300 

feet, with a general elevation of nearly 1,000 feet. This constitutes 

a catchment area from which the waters are distributed to the east 

and the west both in surface streams and underground courses. The 

head furnished the underground waters in this catchment area gives 

rise to numerous flowing wells which are found on the plains to the 

southeast and to the northwest.

A broad plain extends from Saginaw Bay southwestward well 

toward the southern edge of the State. Through this plain an ice 

lobe, known as the Saginaw lobe, is found to have flowed, its extreme 

limits on the southeast being marked by the belt of morainic country 

just mentioned, on the northwest by an equally prominent morainic 

belt, and on the southwest by moraines of less prominence lying in 

the southern end of the State. During the retreat of this ice lobe 

there were halts at several lines which are marked by small morainic
GEOGEAPHIC FEATURES. 5

ridges. These small ridges serve as catchment areas for flowing-well 

districts on the inner or iceward border of the moraines.

West of the district covered by the Saginaw ice lobe is another 

rolling belt of country running from the southwestern part of the 

State northward nearly to Grand Traverse Bay. Like the belt in the 

southeastern part of the State, this contains numerous small lakes. 

Its altitude ranges from about 800 to 1,700 feet, the highest point 

being a few miles south of Cadillac, in northern Osceola County, near 

latitude 44° 15' and longitude 85° 20'. This is by far the highest 

point in the Southern Peninsula, there being few others which exceed 

1,500 feet. This belt was formed between the Saginaw ice lobe and 

a still larger ice lobe occupying the Lake Michigan basin. It is a 

catchment area for flowing-well districts on each side, and there are 

also depressions in it found to be favorable points for the development 

of flowing wells. This belt is crossed by the principal rivers of southern Michigan (the Grand, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph), while Muskegon River has its source in it in the north-central part of the State 

and leaves it only a few miles before entering Lake Michigan.

Along the eastern border of Lake Michigan, from the southern end 

of the State northward to Oceana County, or to about the middle of 

the western border of the Southern Peninsula, the country is generally Jow for a few miles back from the lake, with the exception of a 

strip of dunes formed adjacent to the present beach. But from 

Oceana County northward to the Straits of Mackinac there come out 

to the lake shore at frequent intervals headlands which are the termini 

of prominent ridges that form or connect with moraines a few miles 

back. The low tracts between these headlands are favorable places 

for the development of flowing wells.

The interior of the northern half of the Southern Peninsula is an 

elevated tract in which extensive sand plains have been developed in 

connection with the moraines. On these plains and on some of the 

moraines connected with them there formerly stood extensive tracts 

of pine forest, now largely cut away. Since the lumbering days the 

plains have been developed somewhat for agriculture, but are still in 

large part sparsely settled.

On the northeastern border of the peninsula, from near Alpena to 

the Straits of Mackinac, rock ledges become conspicuous as a topographic feature; but elsewhere in the State they are subordinate to 

the glacial features outlined above. The rock ledges have low escarpments facing the northeast, along the base of which are occasional 

small lake basins. The drift in this region is thin, and wells are consequently largely in rock.

On the projecting point between Little Traverse and Grand Traverse bays, in the northwestern part of the peninsula, is a drumlin area
6 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

to which attention is directed in the discussion of Antrim and Charlevoix 

counties, in which it appears (pp. 333-335).

The features of the State thus briefly outlined receive fuller treatment in connection with the discussion of each county.

On the retreat of the ice from the basins bordering and including 

the Great Lakes large bodies of water were held between the ice and 

the rims of these basins. One, in the Lake Michigan basin, was 

known as Lake Chicago and discharged southwest from the site of that 

city to Illinois River. Another, in the Saginaw basin, was known as 

Lake Saginaw and discharged westward through Grand River into 

Lake Chicago. A third, covering the western end of Lake Erie and 

the southern part of Lake Huron, stood at several successive levels in 

accordance with the lowest available outlet, the highest being known 

as Lake Maumee with its outlet past Fort Wayne to the Wabash and 

later past the present site of Imlay, Mich., westward into Grand River 

and Lake Chicago. Below this is the largest shore line of the series, 

known as the Belmore beach, which borders Lake Whittlesey, whose 

outlet was westward from the present site of Ubly, Mich., into Lake 

Saginaw. A little lower than the Belmore beach is the Arkona, which 

antedates the Belmore and was submerged at the time the Belmore 

was forming. The lake which formed the Arkona beach was probably confluent with Lake Saginaw and discharged westward through 

Grand River to Lake Chicago. Two lower beaches, known as the 

Upper Forest and the Lower Forest, mark the border of Lake Warren, 

which covered the Saginaw and southern part of the Huron basin as 

well as Lake Erie, and discharged westward, for a time at least, 

through Grand River to Lake Chicago. Below the Forest beaches are 

two others, known as the Grasmere and Elkton, which appear to be 

the shores of a lake that discharged eastward past Syracuse, N. Y., to 

Mohawk and Hudson rivers. At still lower levels are beaches which 

are conspicuous on the borders of the Lake Huron and Lake Michigan 

basins, especially in the vicinity of the Straits of Mackinac. One is 

known as the Algonquin beach; Lake Algonquin, which formed it, 

discharged along the present line of drainage through Lake Erie to the 

Ontario basin into a Glacial lake known as Lake Iroquois, whose outlet was through the Mohawk and Hudson. A lower beach, known as 

the Nipissing beach, borders a post-Glacial lake, Lake Nipissing, and 

was formed as the lake was changing from a discharge eastward from 

Georgian Bay through Mattawa and Ottawa rivers into the St. Lawrence to the present line of discharge through St. Clair River.

The sand and gravel in these beach ridges and on the lake beds frequently serve as sources of supply in shallow wells, water being found 

at the base of the sand or gravel.
INTBOBTTCTION. 7 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS.

The greater part of the Southern Peninsula is covered so deeply 

with drift that wells do not reach rock. The shaded portions of the 

map, PL I, show the parts of the State where rock is within easy 

reach of the drill and is drawn upon to some extent for drinking water. 

In the northern end of the peninsula water is found chiefly in limestone if not in the drift. There is also a limestone district in the 

southeastern part that serves extensively as a source for drinking 

water; in some cases in southeastern Lenawee County the wells are 

driven through shale to reach the limestone. The extensive district 

running from Hillsdale and Calhoun counties northeastward to Saginaw Bay obtains water chiefly from sandstones of the coal measures and from the Marshall sandstone, if water is not found in the 

drift. There are, however, small limestone districts in this region 

the full extent of which have not been worked out. Sandstone is also 

drawn upon occasionally in western Wayne, southern Washtenaw, 

and northern Lenawee counties in the deep flowing wells. The Sylvania sandstone of Monroe County is also an important water bearer, 

yielding a good quality of water. There are small areas around 

Grand Rapids in Kent and eastern Ottawa counties and around 

Wayland, in northeastern Allegan County, where wells are driven to 

the Marshall sandstone.

Water is found in the glacial formations at various horizons, 

wherever gravel or sand chance to be present. The clay plains bordering St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and Detroit River are deficient 

in gravel and sand, and are perhaps the poorest water bearers in the 

peninsula. As a rule, water in large quantities is easily obtained in 

the drift. Even in the regions where wells are driven to rock, as indicated by the shaded portions of PI. I, there are numerous wells 

obtaining water from the glacial deposits. The water from rock is 

usually softer in sandstone areas than that from the overlying drift, 

and for that reason is preferred and is the cause for going to the rock 

in many instances.

The sand along the present shore, and also along abandoned shores 

of the Great Lakes, is often of sufficient depth to furnish water, 

though not that of the best quality in many cases. It so happens 

that these sand deposits occur on parts of the lake plain where the 

glacial formations are deficient in water-bearing beds and thus become 

of great importance locally. In general, however, the water from the 

underlying glacial formations is preferred and is used wherever it can 

be easily obtained.

The newest formations drawn upon for water are the beds of bog 

lime bordering the little lakes. Pipes are driven down into the marl 

sometimes with a sledge hammer far enough to get the water. In 

some cases, in the northern part of the State, flowing wells have been
8 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

obtained by penetrating the marl a few feet. Conspicuous instances 

are found on the borders of Pine Lake at East Jordan, South Arm, 

and Boyne, and on the borders of Intermediate Lake near Bellaire.

STRUCTURE OF DRIFT.

The structure of the drift is intimately related to the drainage conditions that attended the melting of the ice. It is more variable in 

Michigan, both on the surface and below, than in a large part of the 

neighboring States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. In those States the 

till or commingled drift greatly predominates over the sand and gravel 

or assorted drift and contains a large percentage of fine clayey material. In Michigan, sand and gravel form a large part of the drift, and 

much of the till is loose textured. The great amount of loose-textured 

drift seems attributable to the voluminous discharge of water resulting 

from the convergence of ice lobes. It is best developed on the high 

portions of the State, which were built up between the ice lobes. The 

most clayey portion of the drift is found in plains bordering the lake 

basins. On these plains more difficulty is found in obtaining adequate 

supplies of water than in the higher tracts bordering them. Portions 

of the plains have a thin coating of sand deposited in the beds of the 

Glacial lakes that covered them after the withdrawal of the ice, and in 

these localities many wells draw their supply from the surface sand.

Flowing wells are usually found under a bed of clayey drift, and for 

this reason, as well as because of topographic conditions, the largest 

artesian districts are found on the old lake plain.

The clayey drift differs greatly in degree of induration at different 

horizons, and the sand and gravel also become cemented at certain 

horizons. The induration in the clay or till seems to be largely a result 

of secondary changes produced slowly, and is in some cases an index of 

age. The surface-till sheet, which is of the Wisconsin stage, is generally a soft, adhesive clay, even where very fine textured, and well diggers and drillers find very little difficulty in penetrating it. Below this 

the drift is found to be extensively indurated, so that excavation is 

difficult, and the till approaches a shale in its resistance. The precise 

nature of the induration has not been ascertained. It is thought that 

much of this indurated clayey drift was deposited in a Glacial stage 

earlier than the one that formed the upper part of the drift probably 

the Illinoian stage. In some places a soil appears between the two 

sheets of till, showing that an. interval separates them. The buried 

soils are much more abundant in northern Indiana than in southern 

Michigan, but they have been noted in well borings as far north as Bay 

and Oceana counties.

Another kind of induration of the drift is very common in flowingwell districts. Just above the water bed which yields the flow is 

found a cemented crust, having a thickness usually of only a few inches.
CHARACTER OF DRAINAGE. 9

This crust is apparently due to contact with the water, but the precise 

chemical or physical changes that have produced it have not been 

given much attention. In some cases it has the appearance of bogiron ore and in others it is chiefly carbonate of lime. Probably the 

quality of the water determines the nature of the crust. A crust has 

also been frequently noted in sand and gravel deposits just above the 

water table, where it is somewhat constant at a definite horizon.

It is a common experience to find sand so close textured that it will 

not furnish water fast enough to supply the wells. Such sand is 

encountered in the plains, perhaps, more frequently than in the rolling 

or morainic belts. It is the custom in such places to continue the 

drilling to a looser textured bed, though in some localities no such bed 

is found. If a looser textured bed is reached, the water often rises in 

the pipe to a higher level than in the overlying sand, the sand apparently serving as a cover to prevent the upward escape of water from 

the porous bed. In a few places flowing wells have been obtained in 

which nothing but sand was penetrated from the surface down to the 

coarser bed that yielded the flow.

CHARACTER OF DRAINAGE.

The character of the drainage depends on the structure of the drift, 

as well as on the topography. Where the soil is very loose textured, 

as on gravel plains and on many of the larger moraines, very little surface run-off occurs, so that even the steep hillsides show little or no 

gullying. Basins are numerous on the gravel plains and to some 

extent along the moraines. When of sufficient depth to extend below 

the water table, they contain water, but a large proportion of them are 

so shallow as to have dry bottoms. The drainage lines are therefore 

best developed in the clayey portions of the State, where the rainfall 

can not be quickly absorbed by the soil.

The regimen of the stream varies also in accordance with the structure of the drift. Where the drift is loose textured, the streams are 

supplied by seepage from the underground drainage and are not subject to freshets nor to very low stages, but in the clayey tracts, where 

the surface drainage is the principal factor, there is a marked difference 

between the high- and low-water stages of the streams. Often, however, the sources of the streams are in districts having a loose-textured 

drift, while the lower courses run through clayey districts. In such 

cases the streams have a correspondingly regular flow. Data concerning the flow of the principal streams of the peninsula may be found in 

the reports on stream measurements, which appear in the water-supply 

series of the United States Geological Survey. The regularity of flow, 

as well as the considerable fall of the principal streams of the peninsula,
10 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

renders them valuable for water power to an exceptional degree, considering the small size of their drainage basins. The subject of water 

power, however, is not taken up in the present report.

RAINFALL.

From the reports of the Weather Bureau it appears that the rainfall 

is greatest in the southern tier of counties and decreases northward 

to a little beyond the middle of the peninsula, where a change occurs 

toward heavier precipitation. This is set forth in the following table, 

which gives the average precipitation by tiers of counties from south 

to north, each tier having a uniform width of 24 miles:

Average annual precipitation in the Southern Peninsula of Michigan.

Inches. 

First or southern tier (Monroe to Berrien County)............................. 34.59

Second tier (Wayne to Van Buren County)................................... 31. 99

Third tier (Macomb to Allegan County) ..........................-.---.--..-- 30. 81

Fourth tier (St. Clair to Ottawa County) ..................................... 31.19

Fifth tier (Sanilac to Muskegon County)'...................................... 30. 66

Sixth tier (Bay to Oceana County).......................................... 27.21

Seventh tier (Arenac to Mason County)....................................... 25. 44

Eighth tier (losco to Manistee County)....................................... 26. 62

Ninth tier (Alcona to Benzie County)........................................ 33.04

Tenth tier (Alpena to Leelanau County)..................................... 32. 53

Eleventh tier (Presque Isle to Charlevoix County)............................. 28.07

Twelfth tier (northern Cheboygan and Emmett counties)....................... 31. 41

Average for the peninsula..................-....----------------..... 30.30

The distribution of precipitation by months and the percentages by 

seasons in the southern, central, and northern sections of the peninsula are given in the following tables, which are based on the monthly 

rainfall data of the Weather Bureau:

Average monthly rainfall in the Southern, Peninsula of Michigan. 

[Inches.]

Month.

April .................................................................

July..................................................................

Southern 

third.

2.33

2.31

2.68

2.34

3.68

3.54

3.43

2.64

2.76

2.48

2.82

2.47

Central 

third.

1.96

2.16

3.09

2.16

2.73

3.00

2.96

2.58

2.98

2.40

2.44

1.53

Northern 

third.

2.42

1.60

2.20

1.86

2.70

2.80

4.47

2.08

3.41

3.10

2.28

1.60
RAINFALL AND GSOUND-WATEB TABLE. 11

Distribution of precipitation in the Southern Peninsula of Michigan by seasons. 

, [ Per cent.]

Season. Southern 

third.

21.23

26.00

28.70

24.07

100.00

Central 

third.

18.73

26.43

28.28

26.56

100.00

Northern 

third.

18.40

22.15

30.63

28.82

100.00

Entire 

peninsula.

19.45

24.86

29.20

26.48

99.99

It appears from the above tables that the rainfall is most deficient 

in the winter months at a time when the frozen ground would prevent 

its absorption, but is well distributed throughout the growing season 

all over the peninsula. It should be noted that the greater evaporation in the southern part of the peninsula causes it to be a drier region 

than the northern part, notwithstanding the fact that it has a little 

more rain. Determinations made at signal-service stations, and discussed by T. Russell in the Monthly Weather Review for September, 

1888, show that the evaporation near the southern border of the State 

is 37 to 38 inches a year, while in the latitude of Port Huron and Grand 

Haven it is about 29 inches, and at Alpena 24.3 inches. Only a small 

part of the evaporation occurs in the winter months or during the 

time of deficient precipitation, so the deficiency is not noticeable. 

Indeed, as a rule snow remains continuously over much of the peninsula from December to March.

GROUND-WATER TABLE.

The ground-water table as ordinarily understood marks a level to 

which the saturation of the earth's crust rises. In a region of heavy 

rainfall it is commonly very near the surface, but in arid regions it 

may lie at a considerable depth and is sometimes beyond the general 

direct percolation of the rainfall, there being a moist layer at the surface supplied by the rainfall under which the material is dry down to 

the ground-water table. Ordinarily the ground-water table in the 

Southern Peninsula of Michigan lies only a few feet below the surface, 

within easy reach of the roots of trees and other plants. A few 

places, however, have been revealed by well borings in which comparatively dry material is present between the moist surface beds 

and the ground-water table. The most conspicuous instance is 

found in Emmett County north of Little Traverse Bay, where the 

wells on an elevated table-land underlain by gravel and sand reach 

depths of 350 to 400 feet before striking the water table; instances of 

this are cited in the discussion of the county (p. 364). The rainfall in that region appears to moisten chiefly the surface portion, but 

is yet adequate to the needs of the forests, orchards, and crops. On 

many of the elevated gravel plains the water table is 40 to 60 feet, and
12 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

occasionally 100 feet below the surface, and wells must be driven to 

these depths to obtain water, and yet vegetation ordinarily thrives on 

these plains. Similar conditions are found in a number of the prominent moraines, in which a sheet of bowldery till at the surface is 

underlain by sand and gravel of considerable depth. The till at the 

surface is kept moist by the rainfall, so that the crops obtain the 

necessary water. In all these localities there are probably places 

where conditions are such that the rainfall percolates directly down 

to the water table, but there does not appear to be a general percolation to this depth.

Where the ground-water table lies only a few feet below the surface, 

and the percolation of the rainfall to it is general, marked fluctuations 

are found in its level corresponding with the amount of rainfall. The 

underground drainage into the streams is maintained in times of 

drought as well as in wet seasons, and the water table drops down or 

flattens out beneath the hills to depths sufficient to seriously affect 

not only the crops but the supply for wells. As a result the so-called 

surface wells (which are merely basins sunk into the upper part of the 

ground-water table) are being rapidly abandoned and driven wells 

reaching to deeper supplies substituted. This condition is also conducive to health, for many of these shallow or surface wells are receptacles for all sorts of filth.

There is a slight variation in the ground-water table due to barometric changes, the level of water in the open wells being highest in 

times of low barometer or just before a storm. It is barometric 

fluctuation of this sort which produces the blowing wells reported at 

various points in the State. According to the testimony of well 

owners the barometric conditions also affect flowing wells, an increase 

in the rate of flow resulting from a decrease in atmospheric pressure.

An instance of remarkably high water table is found in the dunes 

along the shore of Lake Michigan, where a fine or uniform textured 

sand in sharp ridges with a height of 200 feet above the lake is found 

to be wet to within a very few feet of the surface. Because of this 

condition some of the dunes are covered with hardwood forests.

WELLS AND APPLIANCES.

One of the most common types of well is the large open or dug well, 

walled or curbed, which furnishes a basin in which the water collects 

or stands. This kind of well is in very common use on the farms, and 

is also in use as a collecting reservoir in the villages for the waterworks 

supply. In districts where the drift is of a clayey texture and the 

yield of water is small, these large wells serve a valuable purpose as 

collecting basins, and in many cases can not be dispensed with even 

though known to be more or less subject to surface contamination.
WELLS AND-APPLIANCES. 13

A type in use locally, especially in clayey districts, is known as the 

bored well, the excavation being made by means of a large auger. 

These wells are usually lined with tile. They can be sunk without 

difficulty to depths of 50 to 100 feet. Some of the oldest flowing 

wells in southeastern Michigan are of this type.

A type which is coming into very general use throughout the State 

is known as the tubular well. It is made with the ordinary churn 

drill, the material being brought up by means of a sand pump. The 

size of these wells ranges from 2 inches or less to about 8 inches. They 

are in very common use in the villages for obtaining public water supplies, as well as throughout the country districts. Ordinarily they are 

driven some distance into the water bed, making up in vertical direction for the small diameter of the well, no casing being used after 

entering the water bed. Where flowing wells are obtained, however, 

it is customary to stop the drilling about as soon as the water bed is 

reached. The drills used in making wells of this type are usually 

handled by steam or Horsepower, but in some instances only hand 

power is used, the drill being lifted by a windlass a few feet and dropped 

into the hole.

In some cases no drill is used, but the pipe is driven to the water 

bed, the material being removed by a sand pump if the well is deep or 

if it has a large-sized pipe. Shallow wells with small pipe are often 

driven through to the water bed without sand pumping. It is common to attach a sharp perforated cone or "point" to admit the water, 

which aids in reducing the resistance to driving the pipe. In some 

cases these wells are made by simply using a maul to drive the pipe.

In the discussion by Mr. Davis attention is directed to strainers or 

screens, which are employed in the tubular wells, and to the clogging 

which they experience (pp. 128-130).

Windmills are in very common use throughout the State as a means 

for lifting the water to the surface. In some of the deeper wells on 

elevated tracts the windmill has become a necessity, for the water in 

some instances has to be lifted about 200 feet one case was found 

in which the lift was 400 feet. In this well a 12-foot wheel was in use.

Many flowing wells are allowed to discharge the water without 

restriction, but there is a growing sentiment in favor of using reducers 

or faucets to prevent waste. 0 In some cases pumps have been 

attached in order to prevent the slop attending the flow or, where the 

wells are weak, to increase the supply.

o For State laws on this point see p. 21.
14 WELLS AND WATEB SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

QUALITY OF WATER.

The chemical character of the water, both surface and underground, 

has been considered at some length by Doctor Lane in Water-Supply 

Paper No. 31, where numerous analyses are presented. The present 

report contains many additional analyses, some of them made by 

chemists in the laboratory and some by men in the field. Although 

the latter are designed to show the general characteristics of the 

waters, without pretense to tKe accuracy of a laboratory analyses, the 

results are usually correct within a few parts per million.

In general, the waters from all horizons, both surface and underground, in the Southern Peninsula are hard compared with waters 

found in regions in which readily soluble rocks, like limestone and 

gypsum, are not present. There are very few waters in which the 

carbonate of lime is less than 50 parts per million.

Salt is present in varying amounts, from a mere trace up to several 

thousand parts in a million. An analysis of one water from the drift 

made by Mr. Lewis shows 2,829 parts per million of chlorine, the well 

being supplied presumably from water contributed to the drift from 

the underlying sandstone. Ordinarily the drift waters show less than 

25 parts per million.

Sulphated and sulphureted waters are found at various points in 

the State, both in the drift and in the underlying rock, but ordinarily 

the drift waters have very small amounts of sulphureted hydrogen 

gas and sulphates seem to be principally in the portions of the State 

where gypsum forms a conspicuous ingredient in the drift, as in the 

region bordering Saginaw Bay, and reached by the Saginaw glacial 

lobe and in the region near the gypsum outcrops around Grand Rapids.

Iron is commonly supposed to be present in large amount in the 

flowing wells, and in wells of similar character whose waters are confined below impervious beds. In some cases its presence is proved 

by the staining of objects over which the water passes, but in many 

instances what seems an abundant iron-oxide precipitate is in the 

main a vegetable growth of algae. The few available analyses indicate that the amount of iron is small compared with other mineral 

constituents.

SUBTERRANEAN-WATER TEMPERATURE.

Considerable attention has been given to the temperature of the 

water in flowing wells in order to obtain information concerning th$ 

heat gradients due to depth and to latitude. It was found, however, 

that the temperatures obtained are of very little value in showing the 

increase of heat with depth, for as a rule wells in a given district having variations of ] 00 or even 200 feet in depth, if in the glacial deposits, are very similar in temperature. The circulation of subterranean
SUBTEEBANEAN-WATEE TEMPEEATUEE. 15

waters appears, therefore, to be such that little value can be determined concerning the heat gradient within 200 feet of the surface.

The change in temperature corresponding to the latitude, however, is very marked, there being a difference of about 5.5° in about 

4° of latitude between the northern and southern ends of the peninsula. The air temperature shows a similar range, but averages about 

4° lower than the water temeprature. The true temperature of the 

water at the bottom of a well can be obtained only in wells of rapid 

flow having but little exposure of pipe. Nor can the pipe be carried 

horizontally through the soil without affecting the temperature. It 

was not possible in the hasty examinations in the field to determine 

the causes of variation from the bottom temperature in any given 

well, since this would necessitate much inquiry into all the surrounding conditions. As a result many of the temperatures given in the 

numerous tables of data concerning flowing-well districts are liable 

to be misleading.

Interesting variations in temperature of the wells of a given latitude suggest several problems. For example, wells in swamps are 

generally a little cooler than wells of similar depth on the dry land, 

especially if the wells are comparatively shallow in both cases. Thus 

the wells in the celery swamp south of Ann Arbor have a temperature of a little less than 50° F., while those on the dry land in the 

vicinity are commonly 51°. The question arises whether the evaporation from a swamp, being greater than that from the dry land, 

may not prevent the heating of the soil beneath to the degree experienced in that region on ground where evaporation is less; also whether 

the slow heat conductivity in a swamp may not cause waters beneath 

it to have exceptionally low temperature.

The flowing-well district in southeastern Oakland County known 

as the Troy district has salt water in its eastern portion and fresh 

water in its western portion from wells of similar depth, and the temperature of the salt water averages somewhat lower than that of the 

fresh water. The salt water probably comes up from the underlying 

rock, and one would naturally expect it to be warmer instead of colder 

than water pupplied entirely from the drift.

The observations on temperature were made in 1904, when the air 

temperature was considerably below the normal, the average temperature for the'year being 2.7° below the normal throughout the peninsula. This raises the question whether flowing wells of moderate 

depth may not have suffered a slight lowering of temperature because 

of this deficiency in heat received by the surface. On the whole 

flowing wells less than 30 feet in depth are found to present a slightly 

lower temperature than do wells exceeding that depth, but there are 

so many exceptions that some doubt is felt as to the lowering effect 

of the low air temperature of 1904 on even the shallowest of the
16 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

flowing wells. Some of the very shallow flowing wells may, however, receive contributions of water from considerable depths, 

from beyond the influence of the low air temperature. In the city 

of Ann Arbor there are springs having a uniform temperature of 51° 

throughout the year which must come from depths sufficiently low 

to have been unaffected by the low temperature of 1904, or even by 

the winter severity of cold.

There are certain districts in which the temperature is different 

from what would be expected for that part of the State, a conspicuous case being the wells in the vicinity of Grand Traverse Bay, in 

Antrim and Grand Traverse counties, the temperature of which is 

generally 48° to 50,° whereas about 47° is to be expected. The 

high temperature at Traverse City may be referable to the great 

depth of the wells, the general depth being over 300 feet, but this 

would not apply to the shallow wells at Williamsburg and around 

Intermediate Lake. There is, however, a possibility that these shallow 

wells are supplied by water rising from considerable depths.

The observations on temperatures were taken by several thermometers which have not as yet been standardized. They were, 

however, compared by tests made on the same wells at Ann Arbor 

and found to agree within a fraction of a degree. Errors from this 

source are not likely, therefore, to be appreciable.

In the table below the general averages of air and water temperatures are presented for each tier of counties, as in the rainfall table 

already given, the counties being of the uniform width of 24 miles. 

The excess of the water temperature above the air temperature is probably in large part due to the blanketing effect of snow, which prevents the earth from reaching the low temperature which the severity 

of winter might otherwise give it. The extent to which this and 

other factors, such as the topography, the character of the soil, etc., 

apply, is a matter difficult of determination.

General averages of air and water temperatures in the Southern Peninsula of Michigan.

[Degrees F.]

Fourth tier (St. Clair to Ottawa County) ...............................

Air.

48.25

48.1

47.0

46.4

46.5

45.5

44.5

43.4

43.6

41.3

Water.

52.25

51.3

50.3

50.1

49.4

48.9

48.1

47.7

47.8

47.2

46.8

Excess 

of water 

temperature.

4

3.2

3.3

3.7

2.9

3.4

3.6

4.3

4.2

5.9

3.8
SUBTEKBANEAN-WATEK TEMPEKATUEE. 17

The averages of water temperatures given in the above table are 

based on the temperatures of strong wells which appear to have been 

subject to little surface heating. They fall slightly below an average based on all the wells, weak and strong. The accompanying

FIG 2. General average of flowing-well temperatures in the Southern Peninsula of Michigan.

map (fig. 2) presents the results of a grouping of all the wells except 

those that are known to be subject to surface heating.

Monthly observations were made between May, 1904, and May, 

1905, at Ann Arbor, Mich., on the temperature of springs and wells of 

various classes, an attempt being made to include all the classes within
18 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOTJTHEBN MICHIGAN.

easy reach of the city. Three springs were selected one on State 

street issuing from the base of a gravel deposit, another on the White 

estate west of the city issuing from the base of a till bluff, and a third 

which bubbles up from the bed of a ravine on the Rash property in 

the western part of the city. Five shallow dug wells and one deep 

dug well were taken because of the various conditions which they 

include, one being in a ravine, another on the brow of a bluff, another 

on a gravel terrace, and two others on an elevated moraine, one being 

covered and the other open. The deep dug well maintains a water 

level 40 feet below the surface, while the shallow wells have water 

within 5 to 22 feet of the surface. Two shallow tubular wells, in one 

of which the water stands near the surface and in the other at a depth 

of 18 feet, were selected, and two deep tubular wells which overflow. 

The tubular wells showed very little range in temperature, but the 

dug wells varied greatly. The bubbling spring showed a steady temperature, while the springs issuing from the hillside were influenced 

by the seasons. The lagging of the effect of summer heat and winter 

cold was a matter of principal interest in connection with the observations on the dug wells, the effect of the former culminating in October and that of the latter about April. The accompanying diagram 

(fig. 3) sets forth this feature, while the observations are presented in 

the following table:
AIRND WELL TEMPERATURES.

 ro tj» in cn -J

°o Oo.00., O0

'

/

/

*/

/

$>

(

^

f

/

^

//

 .- *»

fX

0 .\?

- 

X

i.

^

\£s

_^

1904

^^

^^

0^^" -^

~*^

^*~-=-r-

'Mean

"^^

airt

^

imper

^

-

^

s

...1

 ature

- S&

V 

---_

^.

\

ls_

7o/r

Ns

^

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUNE . JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. N

Air temperature Shallow well with wooden pump - Shallow well with iron pump 

FIG. 3. Diagram showing fluctuations in air and well temperature
Observations on wells and springs in and near Ann Arbor, Midi., May, 1

Name and location.

State street spring; base of gravel, piped 

several rods. 

White estate spring; base of bluff, piped 

several rods.

Rash well, on bluff, 34 feet above Rash 

spring.

Schaeberle well ; on gravel terrace capped 

by clay.

Levy well; on terrace sunk through 

gravel into till.

Observatory well; on moraine, with 

plank cover. 

Carroll well; on moraine near observatory, no cover. 

Niederhammer well; on slope of ravine.. 

Dunn well; on South State street, in old 

Huron River channel.

Air temperatures at Ann Arbor, from 

daily observations at the observatory.

Class.

.....do............

Dug.. ............

.....do. ...........

.....do............

.....do............

.....do............

.....do............

Tubular (2-inch) .

Tubular (2-inch).. 

.....do............

Pump.

Wooden . .

Wooden . .

None

Windlass .

.....do....

None. 

.....do....

Depth

in feet.

0 

0

0 

12 

23

18 

80

15 

24

36

28

112

72

Head 

in feet.

0 

0

0 

i ^ 

j 

{ -10 

-22

f - 9

I -17

-40

( -11 

I -H

r -20

i -22

-18

- 2

+ 3

a + 5

May.

51.2 

50.8

 51 

J45.5 

45

J46.5 

48.3

}«

J46.5

50 

49.8

51.1 

51

58.4

June.

53 

51

51

47.5 

47

48.5 

49

46.5 

46.5

51 

50.5

51 

51 

66.7

July.

54.5 

51.3

51

49 

48

49.5 

49.8 

48 

48

51 

50.3

51 

51 

70.8

Aug.

55.5 

51.5

51 

50 

48.9

51.6 

50.5

51 

50

51.15 

51

51 

51 

67.3

5

5

5

5

4

5

5

5

4

5

5

5

5

6

a Original head +22 feet; loss of head due in part to leakage aro
IJSTTKODUCTION. 21

LEGISLATION.

There are two important legislative acts in reference to Michigan 

water supplies, copies of which are presented below:

[Act No. 43, Public Acts of 1S97; 4484^486, Compiled Laws, 1897.] 

AM ACT to provide for the analysis of water in use by the public in certain cases.

The people of the State of Michigan enact:

SECTION 1. That in any case where any city, village, or township in this State shall be 

supplied with water for domestic uses by any individual, company or corporation, city or 

village, or where there is within such city, village, or township any water in swales, wells, 

rivers, or other places, which might be the cause of disease or epidemic, a sample of such 

water may be sent to the University of Michigan for analysis, by the mayor of such city or 

village, or by any alderman or trustee of such village, or by the supervisor of any such township, upon the resolution of the common council of such city, or board of trustees of such 

village, or the township board of such township, for that purpose duly passed.

SECTION 2. Upon receipt of such sample the regents of the University of Michigan shall 

cause a correct analysis of such sample of water to be made, and a correct statement of the 

properties contained therein, with a further statement whether or not such sample contains 

any substance deleterious to health, and return such analysis together with the statement 

aforesaid to the person so sending the same, free of charge, except the actual cost of materials and animals used in making such analysis and experiment.

SECTION 3. It shal be the duty of the board of regents of the University of Michigan to

cause a recoid to be

statute, and in no case shall a second analysis be required of the same water within one year

except in the case of

and then only upon ;he certificate of at least two physicians engaged in active practice in 

that community thai, in their opinion such disease arises from the use of said water. 

Approved March 25, 1897.

A BILL to regulate

[Act 107, session of 1905.]

the use of artesian and other wells to prevent the waste of waters 

therefrom, and provide a remedy therefor.

The people of the 

SECTION 1. Any 

run to waste in 

thereof to the detrini 

shall be deemed a nu 

shall be subject to all 

sons injured that are 

SECTION 2. Where 

colating waters 

licensee puts its 

situation of the land

State

use, lowers or depletes the 

on the same head, ve 

entitled to the use th 

to be a'nuisance, and 

ject to all the actions 

that are or may

SECTION 3. Where 

because of the waste 

such decree shall se'

kept of every sample of water received under and by virtue of this

the breaking out of some disease among the consumers of such water,

of Michigan enact:

aitesian or flowing well, the water of which is unnecessarily allowed to 

an unreasonable manner to the depletion or lowering of the head or reservoir 

;nt or damage of other wells supplied from the same head or reservoir, 

sance, and its owner and the owner of the land on which it is situated 

the actions for abatement and damages in favor of the person or peror may be provided by law for other nuisances or tortious acts, 

any well is supplied by a head, reservoir, stratum, or vein, or by percomrion to other streams or wells, and the owner thereof or his lessee or 

waters to a use unreasonable or unnecessary, in view of the condition and 

:>n which it is situated, and through such unreasonable or unnecessary 

head, pressure, or supply of water of any spring or well dependent 

in, or stratum, to the detriment or injury of the owner or any person 

ireof, the well so unreasonably and unnecessarily used shall be deemed 

ts owner and the owner of the land on which it is situated shall be subfor abatement and damages in favor of the person or persons injured 

be provided by-law for other nuisances or tortious acts.

any decree is rendered under this act declaring any well a nuisance 

)r unreasonable use of its waters and directing the abatement thereof, 

;ify in some practicable manner the daily amount or volume of water
22 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

that may be used or allowed to flow therefrom without violating such decree, and specify 

such reasonable time, as to the court shall seem just within which the provisions thereof 

shall be carried into effect: Provided, That any such decree may be reopened at any time 

after entry on the question of reasonable use on a proper showing of change of circumstances or other equitable reason therefor.

FLOWING WELI S.

Although the number of flowing-well districts already exceeds 300, 

it is probable that many more can be developed in low places either 

among or along the borders of the moraines and in the valleys of 

streams. The fact that wells are usually placed near the dwellings 

and that the sites of the dwellings are naturally on well-drained and 

usually elevated points account for the small amount of testing that 

has been made on the lower land, where flows might be expected.

The flowing wells already in operation have been put to comparatively little use and there seems to be a general lack of appreciation of 

the applications that can be made of these fountains. It is a common 

thing to find flowing wells running to waste in dooryards in rural districts in seasons of drought when the gardens and lawns are suffering 

for lack of water. In many cases it would be necessary only to attach 

a hose to obtain means for properly irrigating the premises. The 

wasted water might also in some instances, by the installation of a 

hydraulic ram, be forced to tanks in the attics of farmhouses, where it 

would have pressure necessary for distribution through the buildings 

and would also afford a supply for fire protection. In some cases the 

wells have been used to fill ponds stocked with fish and thus yield a 

valuable resource for farm and market a device which might be more 

generally adopted. The principal use to which flowing wells have 

been put, however, aside from furnishing water for domestic and farm 

use, is that of cooling milk in the dairy houses, the very uniform temperature of the water fitting it admirably for this purpose.

In some flowing-well districts a loss of head has been reported, and 

in many districts individual wells are either losing head or have fallen 

short of the full head customary at the time of their construction. 

Where the loss of head is general throughout a district it may be 

inferred that there is an overdevelopment by which the water is drawn 

out faster than it can be supplied from the surrounding formations. 

The Ann Arbor waterworks furnishes a case in point, the water drawn 

from the small field in which the wells occur having been sufficient to 

stop those on the border of the field from flowing. Often a single 

strong well on ground lower than the neighboring wells will draw 

down the head sufficiently to stop the wells from flowing. In cases of 

this kind the law pertaining to the restriction of artesian wells should 

be enforced. There seems to be a growing appreciation of the need 

for checking the flow of the strong wells and reducing the waste which 

is sure in time to work to the detriment of the district.
FLOWING WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES. 23

Flowing wells are often deficient in head and rate of flow because of 

defects in the casing which allow leakage into upper strata where the 

water pressure is less than in the lower portion of the well. The head 

is also deficient where water is allowed to rise around the casing. This 

is in some cases due to imperfect driving of the casing and might be 

guarded against. Any obstructions either in the bottom of the well 

or at the top tend to reduce the head. Instances are found where, 

through carelessness, wells which had been cut off near the surface of 

the ground were so filled by sand washed in from above as to cease 

flowing.

The district in southeastern Michigan in which a large number of 

flowing wells have failed was investigated and is reported upon by Mr. 

Fuller, who attributes the loss of head chiefly to drought and surface 

drainage.

Wells in certain regions have lost head through subsurface drainage, 

several instances of which are found in the coal-mining region bordering Saginaw Bay. The extensive pumping necessary to remove 

water and permit mining operations to be carried on draws down the 

head for considerable distances around, and often deprives the border 

district of its flows.

The conditions under which flowing wells may be obtained are so 

various that the reader is referred for detailed information to the 

special reports presented below.

MUNICIPAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL WATER SUPPLIES.

In the entire State there were at the beginning of the year 1906 

about 250 cities and villages and at least 15 State institutions provided with waterworks systems. About 50 of the villages, however, 

use water chiefly for fire protection, and in some cases they have no 

distribution systems. The population of the towns and institutions 

provided with waterworks aggregated about 1,150,000 in 1900, 

when the last Federal census was taken, but in most of the towns 

a large part of the people have not connected with the public supplies and still continue the use of private wells. On the basis of 

the number of taps reported it is estimated that in the cities with 

a population between 10,000 and 100,000 about two-thirds of the 

people are connected with the public supply, and in towns of less 

than 10,000 population one-half or less are thus connected, while in 

Detroit, the only city with more than 100,000 population, nearly all 

are connected. From this it appears that the probable actual users 

of public supplies are between 750,000 and 800,000, say 775,000, or 

32 per cent of the entire population of the State in 1900 (2,420,982). 

Of these, nearly 600,000, or about 24 per cent of the population, 

are supplied from surface water and less than 200,000 from wells. 

Of those not connected with public supplies probably not more than
24 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

20,000 depend upon springs and surface waters, while about 

1,625,000, or two-thirds of the State's inhabitants, depend upon 

private wells.

There are 37 towns on the borders of the State, with a population 

of about 510,000, which obtain public supplies from the Great Lakes 

and their connecting streams St. Marys, St. Clair, and Detroit 

rivers. The metropolis, Detroit, with a population of about 300,000, 

is among the number. The water from this source is not so hard as 

from the majority of the wells, and is therefore especially suitable 

for boiler use. In an uiifiltered state it is often found to be unwholesome and in some cases dangerous for drinking, because of contamination in the vicinity of intake pipes. The worst epidemics of 

typhoid in the State have prevailed in towns taking their supply 

from this source. It is therefore incumbent on the cities and villages thus situated to put in nitration plants with up-to-date methods of purification. Indeed, all surface water, including that from 

springs, streams, and inland lakes, should be properly filtered before 

it is used for drinking or other domestic purposes.

Many of the inland towns have taken public supplies from the 

streams and inland lakes, the population of such towns aggregating 

about 300,000. In not a few cases, however, the domestic use of 

the public supply is largely restricted to closets, baths, and lawn 

sprinkling, while private wells are used for drinking, there being 

considerable prejudice against drinking the public supply, not alone 

for fear of its contamination, but because it is less palatable than 

the well water. This is especially true in hot weather, when the 

surface water becomes too warm to readily quench thirst. The 

streams and lakes are seldom rendered objectionable for drinking 

because of a muddy condition due to freshets, for on account of the 

prevalent porosity of the soil the rainfall is absorbed, and except 

in clayey districts is largely supplied to streams by undergrourid 

seepage. Only the most violent rains cause much disturbance of 

the streams. Michigan is more highly favored in this respect than 

the neighboring States.

Of the cities drawing public supplies from wells only 5 had in 

1900 a population of more than 10,000, namely, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Manistee. The supply at Jackson is 

from deep wells in sandstone and probably is not excelled by any 

city in the State. Lansing also obtains its supply from sandstone. 

The three others obtain supplies from glacial deposits or from the 

overlying gravel. Many smaller cities, the majority of villages with 

public supplies, and several of the State institutions are entirely 

supplied from wells, there being 29 using wells in rock and 104 using 

wells in the drift, while 15 others are supplied in part from wells 

and in part from surface water. The rock wells are chiefly from
WATEE SUPPLIES OF MUSKEGON COUNTY. 25

sandstone, those from limestone being almost wholly restricted to 

the Northern Peninsula and to the northern part of the Southern 

Peninsula. Many data concerning the public as well as private 

supplies from wells will be found in the special reports herewith 

presented.

WATER SUPPLIES OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.

By C. D. McLouTH. 

TOPOGRAPHY."

Muskegon County borders Lake Michigan near the middle of the 

east side of the lake, the city of Muskegon being the county seat. 

It is drained centrally by Muskegon River, while White River crosses 

its northwest corner and Crooked Creek, a tributary of Grand River, 

its southeast corner. Along the shore of Lake Michigan are several 

wide-mouthed streams, some of which head but a few miles inland. 

Muskegon and White rivers also enter lakes near their mouths. The 

county is very largely a sand plain, though there are prominent 

moraines in the eastern end and weaker ones in the northwestern 

part, in which productive land is found. On the sand plains water 

is ordinarily obtained at depths of 25 to 50 feet, the water table 

being in harmony with neighboring streams, but on the moraines 

the wells vary greatly in depth within short distances, irrespective 

of elevation, because of the irregular distribution of water beds.

WATER-DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS.

In Muskegon County four communities have public distributing 

systems, viz, Muskegon, North Muskegon, Whitehall, and Montague, 

while Casnovia has fire cisterns. In all of these the water is used 

for fire protection and for lawns and gardens, and in all except Montague and Casnovia for general domestic use as well. In Muskegon 

a considerable quantity of the water is used for general mill purposes. In Whitehall such use is limited to refilling boilers.

In the Muskegon system water flows from the lake by gravity 

into two wells at the pumping station, from which it is distributed 

by direct pressure through 4 miles of 24-inch, 2 miles of 16-inch, 

3 miles of 12-inch, 1 mile of 10-inch, 1 mile of 8-inch, 26 miles of 

6-inch, and 11 miles of 4-inch mains.

At Whitehall the ordinary supply is pumped from four wells 

described on pages 28-29. The water is stored in large tanks, from 

which it is drawn and forced through the mains by a pump larger 

than those working in the wells. Before the wells were opened the 

supply was drawn from White Lake, and the old intake is still cono By Frank Leverett.
26 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN" SOUTHERN MICHIGAN".

nected with the distributing pump and is used in case of fire or other 

emergencies.

At Montague water from a small brook is collected above a dam 

and pumped into the mains.

Casnovia has a municipal supply stored in cisterns for use in fire 

protection.

The following table gives the statistics for the waterworks systems 

in the towns. All are owned by the municipality and all use steam 

power for pumping.

Statistics of water-distributing systems, Muskegon County.

Town.

North Muskegon. 

Whitehall....'...

Population 

(1900).

20,818 

513 

1,481 

998

Source of water.

La 

4 

Be 

i 

Fc

Br

Town.

Muskegon . .

North Muskegon 

Whitehall

ke Michigan, at 

1 feet, 

ar Lake, at 7 

eet.

ook reserve

Pressure.

Pounds. 

040 

685 

«40 

6160 

<40 

6120 

6170

Depth 

of 

well.

Feet. 

20

None. 

67

Water 

bed.

Sand. . . . 

....do... 

_.r1n .

]

Daily capacity.

Gallons. 

| 6,000,000

! 1,000, 000 

72,000

Mains.

Miles. 

48

5

4 

1.5

Quality of water.

Medium hard .... 

Soft.............

Soft.............

Hydrants.

600 

40

40 

17

Taps.

21,000 

175 

160

Pump.

Holly vertical. 

Walker.

Downie deep well 

double-acting.

Cost.

$450,000 

28,000

20,000 

4,350

When 

built.

1891 

1884 

1892

o Domestic. 6 Fire. «Ordinary. 

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

Village supplies in- Muskegon County.

Town.

T>Q ilpv

Canada Corners....

Lake Harbor. .....

Slocum ............

Source.

Open and driven wells. .....

Open and driven wells; cisterns for fire.

Driven wells and lakes.. ....

Driven wells. ............... 

.....do......................

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

10 

9 

25

25 

25 

10 

12 

24

To 

Feet. 

30 

20 

100

30 

35 

130 

20 

32

Common.

Feet. 

25 

20

25 

30 

30

24

Depth 

to 

water 

bed.

Feet. 

30 

20

25 

30 

130

Head.

Feet. 15

-^0

 20

 20

Springs.

Small. 

Large. 

Small.

Large. 

Small. 

Do. 

Medium. 

None.

FLOWING WELLS.

GENERAL STATEMENT.

The flowing wells known in this county seem to indicate seven districts, which may be designated (1) White Lake, (2) Muskegon Lake, 

(3) Lake Harbor, (4) Spring Lake, (5) Moorland, (6) Fruitland, and 

(7) Casnovia.
MUSKEGON COUNTY. 27

The first four of the districts named are very much alike in surface 

features. Each includes a lake, from which it is named, and the narrow shore margins and the underlying portions of the more or less 

extensive marshes and river valleys continuous therewith. The elongated lake troughs all have a general direction from northeast to 

southwest and extend from about 4 to 7 miles inland from Lake 

Michigan, into which all have outlets. The principal feeders of these 

lakes enter through marshes and the valleys in which they flow 

exhibit such features of continuity with those of the lakes as to leave 

little doubt that the lakes are but drowned valleys where the streams 

once flowed directly into Lake Michigan, when its level was lower relatively to the land surface. The land in the region including these 

districts is mostly a plain of glacial sand, having an elevation of about 

50 feet" at the north and descending gradually to lake level at the 

south. A moraine traverses all these districts, except perhaps that 

of Spring Lake at the extreme south, its prominence compared with 

the sand plain being much greater northward. Throughout this 

region the surface stratum of coarse sand generally extends to some 

depth below the lake surface, consequently the water that falls upon 

the land in the vicinity of the lakes and their larger tributary streams 

filters down near to surface level of the lakes, thus making the water 

table low.

The other three districts differ from the lake districts so greatly and 

have so little in common among themselves that no general description 

is applicable.

WHITE LAKE DISTRICT.

Topography. In the vicinity of White Lake the crest of the moraine 

is of medium height and has a general direction nearly at right angles 

to the length of the lake. It is intercepted by the marsh, White 

River seeming to have cut a gap about \\ miles long in the moraine. 

Montague lies north from the head of the lake and Whitehall on the 

east about a mile down the lake. The crest of the moraine lies outside both corporation limits, running northward on the east side of 

Whitehall and nearly northwest on the north side of Montague. The 

morainic till, at an elevation of about 50 feet, extends into the northern part of Montague and to the lake bluff in the northern part of 

Whitehall, constituting perhaps one-half the area of the latter place. 

From White Lake to Lake Michigan the surface is mostly a sand 

plain, which is 50 or more feet above lake level where it meets White 

Lake, in the vicinity of Montague, and seems to overlap the edge of 

the moraine. The same sandy features continue to the south and 

east of the lake, but with less even surface.

All altitudes, unless otherwise stated, are given in feet above Lake Michigan.
28 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells. All the wells, except one at the United States life-saving 

station at Lake Michigan, are in Montague and Whitehall. Thus a 

large part of the district is undeveloped. Most of these wells are 

situated near the border of White Lake, the farthest being not more 

than 1,000 feet from, the water margin, and a number are on docks 

built into the .lake. More than one-half of the wells are less than 5 

feet above Lake Michigan. The shallower ones, which are also the 

most remote from the lake shore, are on higher ground, between 10 

and 15 feet above lake level.

The wells which have flowed in this district number somewhat more 

than 25. Most of them are still active and yield about 70,000 gallons 

daily, including 50,000 gallons pumped from four wells at the Whitehall 

municipal plant.

The depth of the wells varies greatly. The shallower ones referred 

to above are near the edge of the moraine in Montague and vary from 

28 to 40 feet in depth, one of them being possibly only 18 feet. There 

are eight wells clearly belonging to this group.

The most satisfactory record obtained was that for the well in the 

village hall, driven by R. D. Hall, the village marshal, in the autumn 

of 1903. The record follows:

Record of well at Montague.

Depth (feet).

Muck ...................................................................... 4-5

Red clay................................................................... 5-6

Quicksand.................................................................. 7-8

Blue clay................................................................... 15

Fine sand, coarse sand, and water.

Another well which should probably be classed with those just 

described is in the Montague iron works, about 400 feet toward the 

lake from the village hall well. Its record is very indefinite, although 

it was driven in the spring of 1904 and is the latest well opened in 

that vicinity. The depth is stated to be between 40 and 50 feet. It 

is remarkable in having water which stands several feet lower than 

in the others. The water from all these wells is soft.

Nearer the lake and on lower ground are two old wells said to be 

between 60 and 70 feet in depth, both of which are more "sulphury" 

and " irony." No definite records were obtained. The temperatures 

were 0.5° and 1.5° C. higher than that of the water from the well in the 

village hall, the difference of 1° between the two evidently being 

caused partly by unequal exposure.

On the Whitehall side the four 6-inch wells from which the village 

supply is pumped are 67 feet deep, the strata being as follows:

Record of Whitehall villaqe wells.

Depth (feet).

Sand....................................................................-.: 12

Blue clay................................................................... 57

Sand....................................................................... 67
MTJSKEGON COUNTY. 29

About one-half of the wells in Whitehall are stated to have depths 

running between 55 and 70 feet, and presumably their records are 

represented in a general way by that of the village wells. The well of 

the Nufer Cedar Company, located some 700 feet southwest from the 

pumping station, may be taken as an example. Its elevation is several feet lower and its depth 57 feet, all through blue clay below a 

level 10 feet lower than that of the water of White Lake.

The deepest well found is the one at the life-saving station. This 

has a well-authenticated depth of 153 feet, entirely through blue clay 

below 12 feet. The nature of the water bed is not known. The well 

was driven by W. H. Dennis in 1887.

At the office of L. T. Covell, very near the head of the lake, is a well 

129 feet deep, which, so far as known, is next in depth to the Government well. Its water is decidedly strong in mineral quality. The 

character of the strata is not remembered by the owner, but he states 

that there were sand, clay, and some marl, and that turbid flowing 

water was found at 54 feet. The well was driven by Peter Denneau, 

of MontagueIt appears, therefore, that there may be several sources of the flowing wells in this district. The two deepest ones must penetrate 

nearly to bed rock, if, indeed, they do not reach it. It seems fair to 

suppose that the shallow wells in Montague have their sources in the 

moraine and that the veins tapped are not essentially different from 

those that break out in numerous springs along the foot of the bluff. 

The municipal wells of Whitehall represent another class supplied 

from a sand stratum between strata of blue clay which probably lie 

below the greatest depth of White Lake.

Mr. W. F. Nufer, of Whitehall, asserts positively that the first well 

to flow in this district is the one farthest to the south in Whitehall and 

located on the property of the New York Mill Company. It was put 

down about 1868 by Mr. George M. Smith of the firm of C. A. Alley & 

Co. Its depth is 107 feet. It is still flowing.

Mr. J. W. Young, of Montague, claims that the well in the blacksmith shop at the corner of Water and Spring streets antedates all 

others in Montague and Whitehall. The well was dug with a spade, 

evidently without expectation of finding a flow. After the hole overflowed with water a pipe was inserted and the earth was returned. 

Mr. Young places the date at 1873.

The well of Mary Reed (see p. 31) is stated to have been put in 

about 1870.

Quality and uses of water. The character of the water has been 

referred to above in relation to the various depths. Mr. S. J. Lewis, 

of the United States Geological Survey, analyzed samples from well 

No. 25 in the Montague village hall, 37 feet deep, and from No. 18 on 

village property near Church street, said to be 62 feet deep, and found
30 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

the chlorine content to be very low compared with that in water from 

Muskegon wells. (See p. 37.)

Most of these wells were opened to get water for drinking purposes. 

Three of the shallow Montague wells along Water street are in private 

houses, and the water serves for general household uses. The one in 

the Montague iron works supplies water for cooling. The water from 

the well at the life-saving station is reported to be "soft" and suitable 

for "family use." The Whitehall village supply is taken in houses, 

stores, and stables, and used on lawns and gardens, for fire protection, 

and in the mills for refilling boilers.

Head. Except in a very few cases the water head is not known. 

Mr. Berndt Carlson, keeper of the life-saving station, found by careful 

trial that the water there would rise 8.5 feet above Lake Michigan. 

Water from the well in Montague village hall has been carried in a pipe 

that was found to be about 12 feet above the Pere Marquette rail at 

the station, which indicates a head of 20 feet or more above lake level, 

and from appearances a similar head is present in the shallow wells, 

except in that at the Montague iron works, which does not flow, 

although, according to the statement of Mr. R. D. Hall, who was present when the well was finished, the water then rose about 2 feet above 

ground.

The Whitehall municipal wells now rise only a foot or two above the 

ground, or about 6 or 7 feet above the lake. Mr. J. H. Williams, who 

was president of the village at the time the wells were opened in 1892, 

states that the rise then was fully 6 feet above the ground.

It is notable that the wells which are pumped, viz, those at the 

Whitehall plant and the Montague iron works, have suffered a loss of 

head. At the iron works the maximum amount pumped per minute 

is estimated at 10 gallons, and this is sometimes continued for hours. 

The supply has not been noticed to fail. At Whitehall waterworks the four wells are placed so that the lines joining them form a 

trapezium, the least distance between two wells being about 25 feet, 

the greatest about 50 feet. When one of these wells is pumped alone 

at full capacity the water is lowered slightly in the others. When all 

the wells are in good order and are pumped simultaneously the yield 

per well is estimated at about 80 per cent of that when pumped singly.

The opening of these wells caused a striking instance of loss of head 

in a well located about 200 feet northward and owned at that time by 

Mr. A. T. Linderman. This well was 82 feet deep and would flow at a 

height a little above ground, but ceased when the village wells began 

to flow. The depleted well appears to be on slightly higher ground. 

It is stated that by digging down and lowering the pipe the water was 

found to have fallen about 4 feet, and that the flowwas kept up at the 

lower level for a time. The well is now not in use.
MUSKEGON COUNTY. 31

About 120 feet still farther north is a flowing well formerly owned 

by Charles Johnson, but now the property of E. Duttenhoefer. The 

flow of this well was diminished at the same time as that of the Linderman well, but not to so great a degree. It does not flow at present.

Many of the wells continue to yield water nearly or quite as 

abundantly as when they were put in. A well by the mill of L. T. 

Covell, which was flowing about 5 gallons a minute in the summer of 

1900, was not flowing in November, 1904. The cause is not known. 

The flow of the well at the life-saving station is stated to have diminished. A well at the corner of Colby and Lake streets in Whitehall, 

owned by Mary Reed, was put in about the year 1870 and had ceased 

to flow about ten years ago from accumulation of sand and silt. 

When it was pumped out, the flow was restored, and it now yields 

about one-half gallon a minute. The pipe is 4^ inches in diameter and 

the depth 96 feet. This is possibly the oldest flowing well in the district, although the claim it disputed.

In November, 1904, three of the Whitehall public wells were useless, 

and the entire ordinary supply was being drawn from one well. In 

February following one of the three was being pumped with a moderate, yield. The cause of stoppage was not definitely known. Mr. 

Charles Deane, the engineer, thought that "magnesia" had accumulated on the sieves and.that this, with the fine sand in which the sieves 

lie, effectively clogged the meshes when the pressure of the pump was 

applied. Mr. Deane asserts that the sieves do not corrode.

Cost of wells. A few typical wells cost as follows:

Cost ofwetts in White Lake district.

Heel. 

153

37

57

110

Diameter.

Inches. 

2

2

2.5

9

c

Total.

$174

25

57

100

ost.

Per foot.

$1.20

.67

1.00

.91

MTTSKEGON LAKE DISTRICT.

Topography. The moraine occurs here nearly parallel to the shore 

of Lake Michigan and about 3 miles inland. It is decidedly lower than 

it is to the north, barely exceeding 55 feet at its greatest elevation, and 

being entirely covered by sand except at a prominence on the south 

shore of Muskegon Lake, known locally as "Brewery Hill." About 1 

mile of the moraine has been cut out in forming the trough occupied 

by Muskegon Lake, and the section of the bluff where the moraine 

meets the lake on the north side shows 20 feet of sand overlying the 

ridge.
32 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

This district properly includes Bear Lake, a tributary of Muskegon 

Lake from the north. The water head, as shown below, seems to 

decrease toward the upper end of Muskegon Lake, and the same 

decrease continued would extinguish it 2 or 3 miles upstream from the 

head of the lake, thus making the limit of the district some 10 miles 

inland from Lake Michigan. These indications, however, are not 

borne out by a well belonging to Leon J. Smith in the marsh in the 

NE. 1 sec. 17, T. 10 N., R. 16 W. The well is about 2 miles northeast 

from the upper well in the lake proper and flowed with a head of 12 

feet when first opened in 1898. The surface is probably not less than 

6 feet above the lake, thus making the head above the lake about 18 

feet. It would seem, therefore, that the river valley may be expected 

to afford flowing wells for many miles up.

Wells. With very few exceptions, the wells in this district are on the 

water side of the original shore line. They were located on docks and 

built land adjacent to the sawmills to furnish drinking water for the 

mill crews, and their elevations therefore are generally very low. 

The highest well, which belongs to Frank Alberts, is on the north shore 

of Muskegon Lake, on natural land 9.5 feet above the lake.

About 15 flowing wells have been opened here. The total natural 

flow of water from those remaining active is about 15,000 gallons 

daily, to which must be added 50,000 to 100,000 gallons pumped from 

the well at the plant of the Central Paper Company. About 10 wells 

are now flowing.

In this district most of the wells are so old that reliable information 

as to their strata is not obtainable. Three comparatively new wells, 

two on the north side and one on the south side of the lake, have records 

that are presumed to be accurate. Of these three, the one on the south 

shore, owned by the Central Paper Company, located in the SW. J 

NW. J sec. 35, T. 10 N., R. 17 W., has a record as follows:

Record of well of Central Paper Company, Muskegon.

Thickness.

Feet. 

40

197

2

57

Total.

Feet. 

40

237

239

296

Depth to water, 237 feet. Surface elevation'; 13 feet above Lake Michigan.

Across the lake, 2 miles slightly east of north from the site of the 

paper mill, in the SE. J sec. 23, T. 10 N., R. 17 W., is a well on land 

owned by Dr. J. G. Jackson, which was drilled by C. C. Jacks in December, 1901. The record stated for this well is as follows:
MUSKEGON COUNTY. 

Record of Jackson well near North Muskegon.

33

Clay... ...........................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

50

3

7

2

170

2

2

1

Total.

Feet. 

50

53

60

62

232

234

235

237

Surface elevation, 1.5 feet above Lake Michigan.

The third recent well is 4 miles nearly due northeast from the paper 

mill in the SE. \ NW. \ sec. 18, T. 10 N., K. 16 W. It was drilled 

for Gow & Campbell by C. C. Jacks in 1901. The record was given as 

follows:

Record of Gow & Campbell well, Muskegon.

Thickness.' Total.

I

Sand..--.....-.--..-.---....--------..---..--..--....--.----..--...--..---...-..-

Clay .......................-.--...---..--...--..--..---.----...-..----..--..---..-

Feet. 

40

164.5

1

1.5

Feet. 

40

204.5

205.5

207

Surface elevation, Lake Michigan level.

The surface stratum of clay in the Jackson well is doubtless the edge 

of the moraine of till, the crest of which lies about one-half mile east 

under a cover of sand, as stated above. The well is by the edge of the 

water at the outlet of Bear Lake, where the sand cover has been worn 

away. The other two wells are probably beyond the extent of the 

moraine, one west, the other east.

Nearly due south, 1J miles from the Gow & Campbell well and about 

3 miles east-northeast of the paper mill well, is a deep hole, drilled 

several years ago in search for oil. The record was carefully taken and 

is as follows:

Record of well about 3 miles east-northeast of paper mill, Muskegon.

Thickness.

Feet. 

65

160

10

.Total.

Feet. 

65

225

235

Surface elevation, about 10 feet above Lake Michigan.

The four records given exhibit a uniformity that is significant. The 

quadrilateral drawn with the wells at the angles includes about onehalf of Muskegon Lake and more than 50 per cent of the deep wells 

on its borders. It is probable that the records of all the wells are 

essentially like those given. The bed rock penetrated in the two
34 WELLS AND WATER .SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

borings on the south side is a white micaceous sandstone of the Marshall group. None of the flowing wells are known to extend into this 

rock, but it is presumed that all, with one exception, reach it and 

that it forms their water bed. The water pumped from the well at 

the paper mill is evidently from the same source and would flow if the 

elevation of the well were a few feet less.

The exceptional well to which reference has just been made is in 

the shade-roller factory of the Stewart Hartshorn Company, near the 

foot of "Brewery Hill," mentioned above as a conspicuous part of the 

moraine. The well is 57 feet deep, and the strata penetrated were 

given as follows by Hubert Young, the driller:

Record of well of Stewart Hartshorn Company, Muskegon.

Thickness.

Feet.

7

10

10

3

10

3

7

7

Total.

Feet.

7

17

27

30

40

43

50

57

At 40 feet water was found that rose about 6 feet above Lake Michigan. At 57 feet the head was about 10 feet.

Assuming the depths of wells approximately correct as given, the 

inference follows that there is a general and decided dip of bed rock 

to the west, but by comparison of the two most reliable records only 

(those of the experimental oil well and the paper-mill well) the dip 

appears much less.

Head. The head evidently varies somewhat in the wells of this 

district, appearing to rise westward and northward. The highest rise 

of water was observed at the Alberts well, located near the mouth of 

Greene Creek in the NW. J NW. J sec. 22, T. 10 N., R. 17 W., where 

there is a strong flow of water at about 12 feet above Lake Michigan. 

The owner states that about twenty years ago the water from this well 

was piped into the second story of a boarding house near by, rising 18 

feet above the surface or about 16 feet above the present exit, making 

about 28 feet above Lake Michigan. The statement of Mr. Alberts 

can be questioned only on the supposition that the.house stood on 

somewhat lower ground, so that he was deceived as to the actual 

height. A man living near the well states that the present head is 

about 15 feet above Lake Michigan.

At the paper-mill well, nearly 2£ miles to the south, the rise of 

water is between 10 and 12 feet above the lake. At the Jackson well, 

somewhat less than a mile south of east, the head is about 9 feet. 

Four miles north of east from the Alberts well, one of the Gow & 

Campbell wells, on the site of a mill formerly operated by John Tor-
MUSKEGON COUNTY. 35

rent, had a head of 7 feet at the time of Mr. Torrent's ownership. At 

the well of the Racine Boat Company, about 3 miles up the lake from 

the paper mill,- the head is 7J feet. This well is 3 miles from the 

Alberts well also, and thus indicates a loss of head of about 1 foot a 

mile northeastward and of somewhat more than twice that amount 

southeastward.

Very few instances can be found in this district in which a well is 

known with certainty to have lessened the flow or lowered the head 

of others. As indicated before, the Alberts well (No. 6) has undoubtedly decreased in both flow and head. The owner believes that the 

pipe leaks underground, but whether the change is due wholly to this 

or to the tapping of the water bed in a number of other places is 

uncertain.

About 200 feet from the paper-mill well and on the same premises is 

another well of like diameter (8 inches), which was made about the 

same time, but was drilled to a depth beyond 1,600 feet in search of 

oil. Only a trace of oil was found, and the inner tube was withdrawn, 

leaving the casing, so that the water was admitted at the bed-rock 

level. It was intended to use water from both wells, but trial proved 

that when one well was pumped at the maximum rate of 150 gallons 

a minute the water was lowered decidedly in both to about the same 

level. It seemed that nothing was to be gained by operating both 

wells, and the deeper one was abandoned. Evidence of free communication between the wells now appears constantly in the presence of 

oil with the water pumped from the shallower well.

When the well by the mill of Gow & Campbell, at North Muskegon, 

was opened in 1901, no effect was noticed in the flow of the other three 

wells in the immediate vicinity. But when the new well was tested, 

by putting on a boiler injector, which drew about 150 gallons a minute, the flow of one of the wells, 700 feet distant, ceased while the 

injector continued in action. The combined natural flow of the two 

wells is about 1 gallon a minute.

According to the evidence collected, the yield of wells in this district 

has not materially changed in the aggregate, and in very few instances 

have individual wells ceased or greatly diminished their flow except 

from causes having no relation to the source or supply. Well No. 2, 

known commonly as the Blodgett well, has become isolated from the 

shore by the wearing away of the dock on which it was built, and is 

said to have ceased flowing because of obstructions thrust into the 

upper part of the pipe by meddlesome persons. A case has been 

mentioned in which it was believed that leakage in the pipe had diminished the apparent yield. Incrustation doubtless chokes the pipes of 

old wells more or less. Engineer Metcalf of Gow & Campbell's mill 

stated that 700 feet of pipe conducting water from well No. 8 was half 

filled with "magnesia" during one summer.

IKE 183 06 4
36 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOTJTHEBN MICHIGAN.

A well on the Magoon & Kimball dock is stated by Mr. Jacks to be 

choked with "muck," by which he means a material like quicksand or 

silt that has filled the lower part of the pipe.

In the severe winter of 1903-4, two of the four wells on the premises 

of Gow& Campbell (Nos.8and9) stopped flowing for about two months. 

Observers of the phenomenon think the cessation was not caused by 

freezing in the pipes.

A well near the intersection of Western avenue and Eighth street 

was probably the first to flow in the district. It was put down beyond 

2,000 feet about the year 1868 by parties prospecting for salt. Mr. 

Hubert Young states that two pipes were afterwards planted so that 

water was delivered by one from a depth exceeding 300 feet and by 

the other from a shallower source, the deeper water being much the 

stronger in mineral qualities. This well flowed until a few years ago, 

and furnished an abundant public supply greatly relished by horses. 

The site is now owned by the Pere Marquette .Railroad Company and 

is covered by a shed used in storage of coal. The well is supposed to 

have been stopped by plugging the pipe.

Quality and uses of water. With a single known exception these 

numerous wells were opened to obtain suitable water for drinking. 

The flavor of the water, which is variously called "irony" and "sulphury" as well as salty, is not pleasant to many at first, but becomes 

agreeable after continued use. The healthfulness has always been 

found superior in comparison with water obtainable from any other 

source except Lake Michigan. Before a satisfactory public supply 

was obtained for the town, people living near carried water from these 

wells to their houses. The water from Doctor Jackson's well is now 

used in culinary processes.

The water from the well of the Central Paper Company is used for 

general mill purposes, especially for cooling. The temperature given 

is 11° C. or 51.8° F.

The only complete analysis found is that of the well belonging to the 

Central Paper Company, which follows:

Analysis of water from well of Central Paper Company, Muskegon.

Parts per million. 

Silica............................ 12

Alumina ......................... 22

Iron oxide.......................Trace.

Sulphate of lime.................. 227

Carbonate of lime................. 156

Calcium chloride.................. 87

Magnesium chloride................ 254

Sodium chloride................... 1307

2065

Color, none. Appearance,' turbid. Odor, none.

Parts per million. 

Total evaporating residue...... 2202

Total hardness. ............... 181

Temporary hardness........... 87

Permanent hardness........... 94

Nitrites and nitrates........... 0

Phosphoric acid............... Present.

Free ammonia................ 0

Combined ammonia............ 1.7

Albuminoid ammonia.......... .425

Sediment..................... 36

Taste, salty. Reaction, neutral.
MUSKEGON COUNTY. 37

On the following table are given, in addition, the results of a number 

of partial analyses of water in the vicinity of Muskegon. The high 

chlorine constituent is considered as due to leakage from deep saline 

rock wells in the vicinity. The Montague samples were from wells in 

the village street sunk to obtain water for fire protection and other 

purposes. The data were furnished by M. O. Leighton, of the United 

States Geological Survey.

Partial analysts of water near Muskegon and Montague. 

[Parts per million.]

Color..................................

1

Not det.

59

63.32

83

2

10

62.88

99

139+

3

5

1.5

77.39

10

139+

4

5

1.5

84.86

10

139+

S. J. Lewis, analyst. 1. J. G. Jackson; depth, 237 feet. 2. Hackley & Hume; depth, 230 feet. 3. 

Montague village; depth, 60+ feet. 4. Montague village; depth, 37 feet.

The water from the shallow well belonging to the Stewart Hartshorn Company was analyzed for sanitary purposes by Davenport 

Fisher, of Milwaukee. The analysis follows:

Analysis of water from well of Stewart Hartsh'orn Company, Muskegon. 

[ Parts per million.]

Total solids............................... 440

Chlorine................................... 33

Sulphate of calcium....................... . 184

'' Free ammonia "........................ .03

"Albuminoid ammonia"................. .068

Nitrogen as nitrates...................... 110

The following comments are culled from a letter by Mr. Fisher, 

which accompanied the report:

The water is contaminated with'sewage or vault seepings. * * * The salt, represented by chlorine, also comes from the same source. * * * Though such water may 

be safe for a long time, it might at any time bring disease germs and any health officer would 

condemn it.

LAKE HARBOR DISTRICT.

Topography. In the lower portion of the district the sand plain 

has an elevation of about 15 feet, increasing gradually away from 

Lake Michigan and reaching about "40 feet above the bed of Black 

Creek or 50 feet above the lake at the location of the upper well near 

Cloverville. The moraine lies about 2 miles inland. ~ It is very low, 

appearing only as a clay bed a few feet under the level sand surface.

Wells. Only one flowing well is known in this district. It is in 

the valley of Black Creek on land owned by Doctor Gordon, of Muskegon, in the NE. J NE. J sec, 2, T. 9 N., R. 16 W. This well is 

about 6 miles from the Lake Michigan shore line and about 5 miles 

from the only other deep well known in the district.
38 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

No accurate record of the well could be found, but it was put down 

to a depth of 1,500 feet or more in the season of 1903 by parties prospecting for oil. The elevation is estimated to be about 6 feet above 

the bed of Black Creek under the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, 

somewhat less than half a mile distant, indicating an elevation of 

between 15 and 18 feet above Lake Michigan. Bed rock is stated to 

be more than 300 feet below the surface, and the water is thought to 

come from a crevice in the rock at a depth of 340 feet. The temperature is 11° C., or 51.8° F., which would indicate a depth of not more 

than 250 feet.

- The 8-inch casing put down to bed rock by the drillers was not 

removed and stands about 3 feet above ground. The inner pipe was 

removed and the casing plugged at the top with a block of wood, 

leaving a hole about 1 inch in diameter. From this opening water 

gushes up about 10 inches, flowing 16 gallons a minute, or nearly 

25,000 gallons daily. A resident of the neighborhood asserts that he 

saw the water rise at least 10 feet above the surface when the pipe 

was being driven. This shows a head of no less than 25 feet above 

lake.

The quality of the water, judged by taste, is essentially like that 

of the deepest Muskegon wells but probably less salty.

The only other deep well found in the district is the property of 

the Forest Park Association and is located in the SE. J SE. J sec. 12, 

T. 9 N., R. 17 W. The surface is between 25 and 30 feet above the 

lake and the water rises to about 12 feet below the surface, or to 13 

to 18 feet above the lake. The record given by C. C. Billinghurst is: 

Sand 15 to 18 feet, clay to 6 inches from bed rock; total depth 218 

feet. The water bed is called "shaly," but is undoubtedly the same 

sandstone found in the Muskegon wells. The water is used for drinking and by some for cooking, but others find it undesirable for the 

latter purpose on account of its "mineral" qualities. When raised 

with an ordinary hand pump, the water has always been turbid. An 

attempt to siphon it over the lake bluff has not been entirely satisfactory, but the turbidity was corrected while the siphon flowed. A 

summer population of about 30 people is supplied from the well, 

which is said to have cost $250.

Although the elevation of the Ian4 has prevented this well from 

flowing, it is believed that the water is from the same source as that 

of the deep Muskegon wells and the Cloverville well. Comparing its 

head with that of the latter well about 5 miles distant, it is seen that 

there is an average gain in head of at least 1 foot a mile up the valley 

of Black Creek.
MUSKEGON COUNTY. 39

SPRING LAKE DISTRICT.

Topography. Only a small portion of the upper part of Spring 

Lake is in Muskegon County. The land is generally sandy, with clay 

lying near the surface in many places. The general surface elevation 

is between 25 and 3.0 feet. In the near vicinity of Fruitport village, 

where the wells are located, water saturates much of the soil to the 

surface where not removed by artificial drainage.

Wells. The only flowing well found in the portion of the district 

lying in Muskegon County is in the SW. \ sec. 35, T. 9 N., R. 16 W. 

This well is on the property of the Spring Lake Iron Company and 

has flowed since 1883, when it was bored to furnish water for the 

employees of the company working at the furnace. The present 

measurable flow is about 5 gallons a minute, which is less than formerly, but some of the water is known to escape through a leak in the 

pipe below ground. The surface elevation is 16 feet, and the head 

about 26 feet.

A partial record of the well was given by an employee who aided 

in the boring, as follows:

Record of well of Spring Lake Iron Company, Fruitport.

Thickness.

Feet. 

10

22

60

4

8

4

3

2

12i'

2

Total.

Feet. 

10

32

92

92J

100J

104J

107J

109J

1914

121g

123|

The total depth of the well was stated to be 150 feet, and that 

depth was verified by Mr. J. C. Ford, president of the company. The 

temperature, 12° C., or 53.6° F., suggests a greater depth. A partial 

analysis of the water follows:

Analysis of water from well of Spring Lake Iron Company, Fruitport.^

Parts per million. 

Sodium chloride........................................................ 3, 467. 17

Magnesium chloride..................................................... 327. 15

Calcium chloride........................................................ 937. 14

Potassium sulphate..................................................... 91. 43

Calcium sulphate....................................................... 76. 72

Calcium bicarbonate.................................................... 1,119.15

The only other deep well in this portion of the district is on the resort property iiow owned by the Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and

o Expressed by analyst in grains per gallon; recomputed to parts per million at United States Geological Survey.
40 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IF SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

Muskegon Railroad, and located in the NW. J SW. \ sec. 36, T. 9 N., R. 

16 W. This well does not flow, the elevation being over 25 feet above 

Lake Michigan. It was opened about 1871. The record on file in the 

office of the Spring Lake Iron Company follows:

Record of well of Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railroad, sec. 36, T. 9 N.,

R. 16 W.

Thickness.

Feet. 

30

140

9

24

5

41

6

Total.

Feet. 

30

170

179

203

208

249

255

Some claims of medicinal properties have been made for the water. 

Before the well became the property of the railroad it was on public 

ground and the water was freely used by citizens of Fruitport. Formerly the water was shipped in carloads to places as distant as New 

Orleans and used for curative purposes in cold and hot baths.

MOOBLAND DISTRICT.

Topography. This district, indicated by a single well, is presumed 

to be coextensive with the great marshy region that covers about 

one-half of Moorland Township and extends into the eastern part of 

Eggleston. The main branch of Black Creek, which flows into Lake 

Harbor, has its origin in the marsh. At Moorland station, where the 

well is located, the surface elevation is about 95 feet. On the south 

the marsh area terminates in gradually rising land that merges into a 

rolling surface of till. On the east it is separated from the valley of 

Crockery Creek by a morainic ridge. On the north and west the confine is sandy and somewhat higher. The soil of the marsh is generally 

sandy with a few streaks of loam. It was found covered with water by 

the pioneers, but by an extensive drainage system supplementing and 

deepening the natural lines most of the surface water now flows away.

Well The well is located in the NE. J SE. J sec. 29, T. 10 N., R. 14 

W., on property now owned by N. A. Cook, of Moorland. The depth 

is stated to be 115 feet, but no one was found who knew the record of 

the strata, though it may possibly be among the papers of the State 

geologist. The well at first yielded a considerable amount of an inflammable gas, which was collected and burned experimentally by 

elevating the pipe and reducing the exit. The gas is not so evident 

now, if it is delivered at all. The water is strongly mineral in quality. 

The head of the water is about 8 feet above the surface or not far 

from 100 feet above the lake. The flow is 6 gallons a minute.
MUSKEGON COUNTY. 41

It is notable that this well is in the catchment of Lake Harbor and 

on the same drainage line with the well near Cloverville. The location is somewhat more than 16 miles in a direct line from the outlet of 

Lake Harbor and about 10 miles from the Cloverville well, and, while 

the indications are strong that the water of the two wells rises from 

entirely distinct strata, yet their locations, height of head, and abundant flow, suggest the probability that the Lake Harbor and Moorland 

districts are continuous.

FRUITLAND DISTRICT.

Topography. The extent of this district, which is represented by a 

single well, can only be conjectured. The well is located in the SW. i 

sec. 36, T. 11 N., R. 17 W. The moraine, which gradually loses prominence, as it extends southward from Whitehall, appears to terminate 

somewhat abruptly on the same section near the northeast corner. 

In fact, the moraine probably continues unbroken to the point where 

it appears in the bluff qf Muskegon Lake, but is so low that it is covered 

by 10 feet, more or less, of sand. The soil is sandy with spots slightly 

loamy. The surface is a plain interrupted by numerous swells and 

knolls that appear like very low dunes. The region was originally 

swampy, and Greene (|reek, which flows southward about 4 miles into 

Muskegon Lake, has its origin here. The elevation is probably between 40 and 50 feet.

Well. This well was probably driven about 1890 for Mr. John 

Miller, who then resided on the place. It has since become the property of Jacob Johnsoij, of Whitehall. When seen several years ago, 

the pipe stood about 5 feet above ground and the flow of water was 

very slow, seeming to indicate that the top of the pipe was about at 

the height to which the water would rise. The depth is stated to be 

88 feet.

The existence of a flowing well at the mouth of Greene tUreek and

I another at the source suggests the probability that flowing water can 

be found throughout the course of the creek, although the great difference in depths of the two wells and in the quality of water, which is 

decidedly less mineral in the Fruitland well, tend to negative the inference that the so-called Fruitland district is a part of Muskegon Lake 

district.

CASNOVIA DISTRICT.

Topography. The region in which the Casnovia wells are found 

has very pronounced features in the form of morainic prominences 

of till and gravel. TJie highest land in Muskegon County lies in Casnovia Township. The railroad track at Casnovia station is 300 feet 

above Lake Michigan. This elevation is greatly exceeded by hills
42 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

in the immediate vicinity and much of the surface in the township is 

not far from 800 feet above the sea. The depth to bed rock is probably as great as 600 feet in some places and not less than 300 feet at 

any place. It is extremely improbable, therefore, that a flowing 

well from any except a local source would be found here. The high 

land in Casnovia village has been deeply penetrated, in one instance 

more than 300 feet, without encountering water.

Wells. A flowing well belonging to Mr. D. Neff is located in the 

NW. i NE. 1 sec. 33, T. 10 N., R. 13 W. (Casnovia Township). The 

well was driven in 1895 by May Doubledee, of Casnovia village. It 

is 45 feet deep, in clay and gravel, and flows 1 gallon a minute, the 

yield not having varied appreciably since the well was put in. The 

head is only about 1 foot. The cost was $45.

Near the northwest corner of sec. 28, slightly more than a mile 

from the Neff well, Mr. Charles Fraligh has a flowing well, the record 

of which is not known.

The territory in which these wells are located abounds in natural 

springs, some of which are remarkable for their size and form the 

heads of small streams.

SUMMARY.

The flowing wells of the county are distributed as follows: White 

Lake, Nos. 15 to 37, inclusive; Muskegon Lake, Nos. 1 to 14, inclusive, and Nos. 46 and 47; Lake Harbor, Nos. 38 and 39; Spring Lake, 

Nos. 41 and 42; Moorland, No. 40; Fruitland, No. 43; Casnovia,

Nos. 44 and 45.
Data of flowing wells and of other deep weUs having similar source and he

No.

1 

2

3

4 

5

6

7 

8

9

10 

11 

12

13 

14 

15

16

Location.

55 

ft 

3

o

EH

10 

10

10

10 

10

10 

10 

10

10

10 

10 

10

10 

10

11

12

£ 

s>

«

17 

17

16

16 

16

17 

17 

16

16

16 

16 

16

17 

16 

18

17

S 

_O 

4J

8

02

33 

26

30

19 

20

22 

23

18

18

18 

18 

19

25 

19 

2

28

Part of section.

SW.JNW. J.. 

SW. iSW. J..

NW. 1 NW. 1 .

NE. JSE. 1... 

NW. i NW. 1.

NW. i NW. I. 

SE. JNW. 1-. 

SE. JNW. i.. 

SE. JNW. J. .

SE. JNW. J..

SE. JNW. J..

NE.lSW. J..

SW. JNE. i.. 

NE. JSW. J..

SW. i SE. i..

SE. iNW. 1..

Owner.

/Central Paper Co., 

1 Muskegon. 

J. M. Uerrish, Muskegon. 

/Hacfcley & Hume, 

1 Muskegon. 

1 Racine Boat Co. , Mus1 kegon. 

John Torrent, Muskegon. 

/Frank Alberts, Mus1 kegon. 

/Dr. J. G. Jackson, 

1 Muskegon. 

/Gow & Campbell, 

1 Muskegon.

.....do................

.....do................

.....do................

W. H. Dewees, Muskegon!

J Stewart Hartshorn 

1 Co., Muskegon.

Magoon & Kimball, 

Muskegon. 

United States LifeSaving Service.

/L. T. Covell, White1 hall.

Elevation.

Feet.

}ll 

}'

| 5.5 

1

! 9

u.

| 5.5

1 

1

1

} 

1 

5.5

} 

a

1 

P

Feet 

296 

237

220

208 

204

240 

237

207

57

153 

129

Diameter.

Ins. 

8 

2

I 

2.5

2.5 

2.5

3.5

2

2.5 

2

When made.

1903 

1886

1889

1887

1883 

1901

1901

1900

1887

Driller.

/Central Paper 

1 Co. 

C. C. Jacks, 

Muskegon.

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

C. C. Jacks , . .

[Hubert 

< Young, Mus- 

[ kegon.

W. H. Dennis, 

Montague. 

{Peter Denneau, Montague.

Water bed.

.g

ft S? 

R

Feet. 

| 237 

237

220 

208

240

237

207

1 40

r 57

153

1 54 

J 129

Characte

Sand rock 

.....do...

.....do...

Sand rock 

Sand rock 

}..........

}..........

a P under " Daily yield " indicates that the well is pumped.

6 The upper number in temperature column is the temperature as read in Centigrade. The lower nu
Data of flowing wells and of other deep wells having similar source and head, M

No.

17

18 

19

20

21 

22

23 

24

25 

26

27

28 

29

30 

31

32

Location.

K

PH 

1

OE-i

12 

12 

12

12

12 

12

12

12

12 

12

12

12 

12

12 

12

12

Range W.

17

17

17

17

17 

17

17

17

17

17

17

17 

17

17 

17

17

§

1

02.

29

28 

28

21

21 

21

21 

21

21 

21

21

28 

28

28 

28

28

Part of section.

NE. JNE. J..

NW. J NW. J. 

NE. JNW. J..

SW. |SW. 1..

SW. JSW. 1-. 

SW. iSW. J..

NW. JSW. J. 

NW. | SW. 1 .

SW. JSW. }.. 

SW. JSW. J..

SW. JSW. J..

JlineW. J.... 

lline W. J....

SE. JNW. 1..

SE. J NW. J. .

SE. JNW. J..

Owner.

Montague village ..... 

.....do................

L. T. Covell, Whitehall.

/W. E. Osmun, Mon- 

\ tague. 

/Charles Wyard, Mon- 

\ tague. 

 Dieske, Montague. 

Charles Rathbun, 

Montague. 

Herman Runcil, Montague.

Montague village. .... 

W. E. Osmun ........

f M ontague iron 

\ works, Montague.

Whitehall village..... 

.....do................

Carrie Mears, Chicago.

E. Duttenhoefer, 

Whitehall.

Mary Reed, Whitehall.

Elevation.

Feet. 

1

2

}»

}'»

9 

8 

10

9 

12

}»

8 

5

7 

7

6

A"ft 

ca 

fi

Feet. 

62

37 

30

18 

28

37 

40

50

67 

110

82

96

Diameter.

Ins. 

2 

2 

2

2

2 

2

2

6

2

4.5

When made.

1870

1878

1873

1903

1902 

1900

1904

1892 

1904

1870

Driller.

Peter Denneau.

JJ. W. Young, 

\ Montague.

Peter Denneau.

fR. D. Hall, 

\ Montague.

.....do........

Frank 

{

Coleman, Montague.

R. Saxton, 

Whitehall.

Water bed.

4 

ft 

o

Feet.

| 30

}.....

}-"

Characte
33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

4?

43

44

45

46

47'

g

10

9

9

11

10

10

17

17

17

17

17

16

14

16

16

17

13

13

16

16

?,S

?S

33

19

?,9

35

QC

36

33

?,8

qri

NE x SW 1

SW. JSW. J..

NW. iNW. 1.

NW. i NW. J.

NW. i NW. \.

SE. JSE. J...

NE.lNE.i..

NE. JSE. J ..

SE.iSE. i....

SE. JSW. i...

SW. JSW. J..

NW. J NE. J .

NW. JNW. iNW. i NW. 1.

SE. JNE. i...

Whitehall.

Whitehall. 

New York Mill Co.,

Whitehall. 

.....do................

hall.

ation, Muskegon. 

(Doctor Gorden, Musl kegon.

(Spring Lake Iron Co.,

\ Fruitport.

Haven and Muskegon R. R., Grand 

Rapids.

Whitehall.

F. D.

ada Corners.

kegon.

3

25

lift }16

95

}l6

26

50?

6

57

107

218

1,600

115

150

88

45

2.5

2.5

2

2

2

1875

1868

1885

1903

1895

1883

1895

1898

neau.

C. C. Jacks . . .

(Fred Vance,

\ Geneva, Ind.

C. C. Jacks . . .

218

| 340?
46 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

WATER SUPPLIES OF OCEANA COUNTY.

By MYRON L. FULLER.

TOPOGRAPHY.

Oceana County borders on Lake Michigan about midway of the 

eastern side of the lake, the village of Hart being the county seat. 

The southeastern part is occupied by a gravel plain, through which 

White River flows. North of this gravel plain is a very prominent 

morainic system about 12 miles in width running across the county in 

a course north of east, the villages of Hart and Crystal Valley being on 

its inner border and New Era, Walkerville, and Ferry near its outer

border. White River drains its southern 

part and Pentwater River most of its 

northern. The south branch of Pere Marquette River drains a small tract in the 

northeastern part of the county, and there 

are small streams directly tributary to Lake 

Michigan along the western edge. In the 

northwestern part are sandy plains which 

have been covered by the glacial lake 

waters, but elsewhere the glacial lakes 

extended but little beyond their present 

limits of Lake Michigan. The morainic system reaches altitudes of more than 1,000 

feet, or about 450 feet above Lake Michigan, and has a general elevation of about 

300 feet above the lake. The rock surface 

appears to lie nearly 300 feet below the lake, 

as indicated by borings at Hart and Shelby. 

The drift may therefore reach a depth of 

fully 700 feet in places within the county. 

Numerous wells in the high parts are 100 to 180 feet in depth, and 

water there shows the very little rise. Flowing wells are obtained 

in recesses along the borders of the morainic system and in valleys 

traversing it.

FLOWING WELLS.

FLOWER CREEK DISTRICT.

The. Flower Creek district lies along lowlands, mainly in sees. 11, 

13, and 26, T. 13 N., R. 18 W., including a small area in sees. 12 

and 24. It is situated in the southwestern part of the county near 

where Flower Creek post-office was formerly located, and is about 

5 or 6 miles northwest of Montague. The thirteen flowing wells of 

the district (see fig. 4) are located along the flat terrace bordering

13 \ o

\ v.

If

0

o

o / § 9

/SEC.£ 

o / 23, 6

' ^0 *

.J. '/^!

o! <<$

1.17 l5/'n

j'6 8*A°c.

/ 26

0

2.

SEC. 35

o

o

R. 18 W.

._

SEC. 2 '-^

12

o

N

»

 id ° /4

8 i

9 1 

 J / ^"

5/ ^

%)~~ ~~

SEC.

o 25

o

o

0 SEC. 36

o

o

^: SEC. 1

H'

FIG. 4. Sketch map of Flower 

Creek artesian district, Oceana 

County.
OCEANA COUNTY. 47

the creek, some 30 feet or more above it. Back of the terrace, on 

both the east and the west, the morainal hills rise to a considerable 

height. The statistical data relating to the wells are presented in 

the table below. Sufficient agreement of depths is shown to indicate for the northern wells at least (Nos. 3 to 11) a uniform source 

of supply from a water-bearing layer sloping somewhat rapidly to 

the northwest and drawing its water from the morainal hills to the 

southeast. Of the three wells (Nos. 15, 17, and 18) at the southern end of the district, Nos. 15 and 18, or the two easterly wells, 

yield a medium hard water containing iron, while No. 17, although 

drawing its supply at the same depth as No. 18, gives a soft water 

free from iron. This probably indicates a separate source of the 

water in the different wells, due either to the presence of two distinct beds or to a single bed receiving additions of water from both 

the east and the west, the former hard and irony and the latter soft. 

It seems probable that Nos. 15 and 18 are not on the same vein as 

Nos. 3 to 11, as the flow under similar conditions is many times 

greater. The source, however, as in the case of the latter, is in the 

hills to the southeast. The Charlotte Smith well (No. 1) belongs 

to a separate and very limited district occurring along the creek 

bottom in sees. 1 and 2, T. 12 N., R. 18 W.
Wells of Flower Creek artesian district.

 *' 

M<rt

a o

6 

X

1

?,

3

4

5

fi

7

8

9

m

11

i?

13

14

15

Ifi

17

IS

Owner.

Charlotte Smith a.

Unknown. . . .

Jacob Conrad & c

Conrad & Fuller c

J. H. Conrad d....

George Kinkie . .

Peter Delemater e

George Kinkie /............

Peter ShirtumA ...........

Carl Strohl*... ............

J. T. Fohlbrook............

Eagle J. ....................

Pfund. ..................."..

Driller.

..... do.. ..............

.....do................

Elevation of 

well.

Feet. 

611

649

638

645

640

649

CCJ.

649

673

678

685

685

635

600

630

635

Approximate 

date 

drilled.

1890

1901

1891

1884

1872

1895

1886

1899

1899

Diameter.

Inches. 

2

9

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

9

Depth.

Feet.

30

103

107 -

105

112

130

130

139

180

150+

90

117

40

1 50

153

Elevation of 

water 

bed.

Feet.

GIG

531

540

con

537

594

519

524

493

578

535

595

518

560

480

482

Flows 

at 

Feet.

+ 1

+ 4

+ 7

1 C

+ 5

-t- 2

+ 3

+ 2

- 3

- 3

- 9

+ 5

20

+ 4

+ 3

Fl

p

min

Ga

a Located on a low terrace, less than 10 feet above the creek, and has flowed a tiny stream for many yea

look for wells in that vicinity is therefore not good.

6 Encountered clay all the way to the quicksand except through a few feet at the top. Flow varies with t

c Used in a creamary and in boilers, the latter requiring cleaning every two months. Well reduced to one-

to bottom, with water between 35 and 60 feet. No decrease of supply. A curious statement is made tha

but that those on the east fluctuate with the level of a swamp 2 miles east, but it is doubtful if the fluctua

d Formerly flowed, but now piped into barrel set in ground and supplying the barn at lower level by an o

« First flowing well of the district. Nothing but clay was found except a thin water bed at 70 feet and t

but little.

/Decreased since first sunk; show seasonal variations of flow.

a Now pumped.

h Ceased to flow in dry spell about 1895, and has not flowed since, possibly because of the clogging of the 

« On a knowl in a rolling morainal country, some of the hollows being low enough to give a flow if the sam

They have not therefore been tested.

/ No attempts to obtain flow. " Houses along road bordering sees. 23 and 26 on the west have only shallow 
OCEANA COUNTY. 49

The water of the Flower Creek wells carries a much larger amount 

of iron than most Michigan waters, but is of about the average hardness. Wells Nos. 15 and 18 are highest in iron and lime. Wells Nos. 

3 and 11 carry somewhat less iron, but are about as hard. No. 17 is 

low in iron and unusually soft.

It is probable that wells drilled anywhere along the road between 

Nos. 3 and 11 would obtain flows, but they would not be large, since 

the supply, as indicated by the seasonal fluctuations, is limited, being 

about all utilized by the present wells. Wells drilled some distance 

west of the road and nearer the center of the district would also probably obtain flows. The best wells will perhaps be found at the southern end of the district, where the supply seems to be more abundant. 

It is not probable that the flowing area will be extended much to 

the west, as the land begins to rise rapidly within a short distance, 

but it is not impossible that deep wells east of No. 15 and not far 

away would obtain good flows. The water bed at the Charlotte 

Smith well (No. 1) seems to be too close textured to give up water 

rapidly, hence the prospects for satisfactory flows in this vicinity are 

small.

SHELBY DISTEICT.

The Shelby district in western Oceana County is in sees. 30 and 31, 

T. 14 N., E. 17 W., and sees. 25 and 36, T. 14 N., E. 18 W., and is 

about 3 miles southwest of Shelby village. It lies along the east-west 

valley near the south line of sees. 25 and 30, and is bordered by high

R. 17 W.

 Flowing wells o Nonf lowing wells

FIG. 5. Sketch map of Shelby artesian district, Oceana County.

morainal hills on both the north and the south. The creek has cut its 

channel to a considerable depth below the rolling terrace on which the 

wells are located. The character of the wells surrounding the district 

is shown in the table given below. (For locations, see fig. 5.) With 

only one or two exceptions, every house in the district has a deep well 

which flows. All are stopped down to small pipes.
Wells of Shelby artesian district.

No. 

on 

fig. 

5.

?r-4

fi

7

9

10

11

13

16

18

19

30

31

32

33

Owner.

F. Perkins b ...............

I. Floyd<*. ................

Driller.

.....do................

.....do................

.....do................

d) O')

Elevation of 

well.

Feet. 

700

705

685

677

685

675

675

667

687

CQQ

650

655

640

680

665

660

Approximate 

date 

drilled.

1891

1894

1892

1894

1890

1893

1DQO

Diameter.

Inches. 

2

2

 >

2

o

2

 >

2

Depth.

Feet.

112

115

125

174

125

100

220

182

180

50

on

50

40

12

85

80

Elevation of 

water.

Feet.

593

570

552

511

475

637

673

KQC

605

600

580

580

Hea

Fee

+

+Ma

+

+

+

-

a All shallow, being simply short pipes driven into the sand and other material, and using suction pump

b Small flow, a mere drizzle at 90 feet, but lost it on going deeper.

< Used for the irrigation of strawberries.

d Started with a small flow, which rapidly increased. Sand 5 feet, hardpan 3 feet, sand 5 feet, quicksand 

« Piped to a residence, a house across the street, a barn, and a watering trough in the road.

/Under cover in a house.

9 Threw a 2-inch jet 5 feet high at first, now piped to residence, milk-house, and barnyard.

h In sinking well 100-foot length of pipe sunk under its own weight and disappeared in the soft gravel.

»In clay for practically entire depth.

/ Dug.

* Went 20 feet without getting water, but during a thunder shower, when the workmen were away, the w

flowed. The breaking through was possibly due to the lessening of the atmospheric pressure during storm a

under pressure. .
OCEANA COUNTY. 51

If the records of the wells are studied two interesting points are evident: (1) Wells Nos. 9, 13, 14, and 15 are much deeper than the 

others of the district, and (2) the waters of these wells contain much 

iron, while the others do not. Constructing a section from the records 

(see fig. 6) we have not only evidence of two distinct water beds 

along the township line, but evidence of slopes toward the valley 

in both directions, presumably due 

to the bending of the beds into a 

trough, which probably accounts in 

part for the unusually large flows.

The water of the Shelby district 

is considerably softer than the average Michigan water, and is therefore unusually satisfactory for domestic purposes. There is a very 

slight amount of iron in the waters from the upper sand, but about 

three times as much in the lower sand. Partial analyses of the John 

Anderson water, representing the upper sand, and the Nelson water, 

representing the lower sand, are given on page 91.

The area in which flowing wells may be expected is outlined in fig 5 

(p. 49). This area might be extended slightly by wells at low points

FIG. 6. Diagrammatic section across Shelby 

artesian district from north to south, s'howing upper and lower artesian horizons and 

trough-like structure.

 F"/o\ving we/Is o /Vonf/ow/'ng we//s 

FIG. 7. Sketch map oi Hart artesian district, Oceana County.

of the valley to the east or to the west, but not to the north or to the 

south, as the land rises steeply in these directions. There is sufficient 

water in the district to supply the needs of a much greater number of 

people than now live there. 

IBB 183 06 5
52 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

HAKT DISTEICT.

Hart, the county seat of Oceana County, is located on a somewhat 

irregular sloping terrace. At the north edge of town it is cut by a 

valley occupied by ponds and a large creek some 30 feet below the 

railroad. To the south, or away from the creek, the surface rises 

gently for three-fourths of a mile or more to the foot of morainal hills 

of some height (see fig. 7).

The shallow-water supplies at Hart have been found to be irregular in depth and in amount, but in general only small amounts of 

water have been obtained. At present very few shallow wells are 

used, nearly every house at the upper end of town having either a 

flowing well or a deep well pumped by windmill, while in the town 

itself nearly all supplies are obtained from the public water system 

(p. 59), which furnishes an abundant supply from an unusually 

complete system of mains. The location of a portion of the wells is 

shown in fig. 7, while data relating to these and to others not shown 

on the figure have been compiled into the following table:

Wells of Hart artesian district.

Owner.

Robt.Currie ........

S. C. Brigham e .....

J.K. Flood"*.........

Van Alsburg /...'....

H. B. Thompson g ...

P.M. PringleNo. 1* .

P.M. PringleNo. 2 ..

P.M. PringleNo. 3».

Driller.

Joe Mull.

.....do..

.....do..

o

G ~; 

'^2 o

<B

W

Ft.

747

736

742

730

730

730

710

700

690

715

 o

 a

g

£

1900

1903

1901

1904

1900

1 1895

1900

o'S

3

fi

Tn.

2

2

2

2

3

1 fi I 6

2

o

2

^3

ft

fi

Ft.

no

135

160

100

117

(112

1152

107

150

120

40

ac

"o .

B«

 2f

w' SB S

Ft.

637

654

582

630

613

578\

618J

603

550

600

675

645

2M

+0

0

+ 18

+9

+20

+20

+ 40

+ 2

0

-0

+ 4

a

rH

M^ 3 o

^

Gals.

36

Many.

2

£r^

g

a&

°F.

49f

4Q1

Water bed.

Sand, gravel

.....do......

.....do......

Sand, gravel

Clay ........

Quality of 

water.

Hard.

hard.

Do.

Hard.

Iron; hard.

« Obtained water at 82 feet and below, but on reaching depth of 135 feet it was all lost in the hardpan 

at that point.

& Originally about 50 feet deep, but deepened to 160 feet on account of failure of the supply.

c Shallow water was encountered above clay at 40 feet; flow from the lower horizon is a strong one 

but it is restricted to a small pipe; not affected by the village wells.

d No water above the main flow except at the surface. Piped to barn, house, and watering trough. 

There are several hydrants on the place to which flre hose and hose for sprinkling can be attached. The 

supply is said to be affected by tlip town wells.

« Threw jet to top of porch 15 feet high when first sunk.

/ Located near south line of block 137, several hundred feet south of a slaughter house, and oneeighth of a mile from the road. Head tested to height of 40 feet; a 2-ineh jet was thrown 8 feet. Much 

sand and gravel was brought up by the water at first. Soil 3 feet, hardpan 1 foot, sand 15 feet, clay 127 

feet sand and gravel 4 feet. Water is piped to barn, slaughterhouse, and residence and used for all 

purposes. No effect by the town wells is noted.

g Formerly owned by Mr. Waller; is small well, but is used by 5 families.

ft Encountered only sand.

* Penetrated only clay until near the bottom.

The deepest well at Hart is the test boring made just north of the 

railroad opposite the warehouse, at an elevation of about 730 feet 

(see p. 59), which was drilled by Mr. Jacks to a depth of 412 feet.
OCEAFA -COUNTY. 53

Sandstone was encountered at 371 feet and the bottom of the well 

was in shale. The vein furnishing the flows in the vicinity was 

drilled through without stopping, and the final well furnished little 

water. A boring known as "Henman's boring," said to be located 

some 40 feet lower than the preceding and to be 200 feet deep, is 

reported, but could not be located. Four wells are reported at the 

warehouse: One is said to be 171 feet deep and flows; the other three 

are noted in connection with the waterworks on page 59; the 

materials penetrated were: Clay 5 feet, sand 25 feet, clay with pebbles to bottom. The water was from sand and gravel, surface supplies being encountered at 7 and 20 feet. These wells were drilled 

in 1902 and are 4 inches in diameter.

Beginning with the Brigham well and going north to the warehouse there is a very regular increase in the depths of the wells. This 

indicates a uniform source of supply from a bed tilting gradually 

northward. The Gebhart well, if its depth is correctly stated, draws 

its supply from a bed probably 75 feet lower, while the Currie and 

Spencer wells seem to draw from a higher horizon, although if the 

bed furnishing- supplies to the waterworks wells rises sufficiently 

abrupt it may be present at the depths indicated by the two wells 

mentioned. The Billings and Van Alsburg wells probably draw 

from the same bed, which possibly is the same as that at the waterworks. The Thompson well, judging from its small flow, is probably 

from a higher horizon, although its depth could not be ascertained. 

The horizon at the Pringle No. 3 well can not, with the present 

information, be correlated with any of the water beds nearer town.

The water carries a small amount of iron, a considerable amount 

of salt, and is of average hardness. A partial analysis is given in the 

table on page 91.

The conditions, while sufficiently variable to make prediction of 

the exact depth at which water will be found uncertain, appear to 

be unusually favorable to artesian flows, which can probably be 

obtained almost anywhere on the lowlands to the north of the morainal 

hills, indicated in fig. 5, where the altitude is less than 73Q feet (or 

that of the Brigham well), and when the distance is not more than 

one-half to three-fourths mile from the hills. At distances greater than 

this flows are less likely because of the liability of the water-bearing 

sands to pinch out. The depths of the wells will generally vary from 

125 to 175 feet, although it may be necessary to go deeper in some 

cases. If the well is properly sunk, the flow should be large.

CEYSTAL VALLEY DISTRICT.

The village of Crystal Valley, in northern Oceana County, is located 

on a terrace bordering a small stream, to the north and south of which 

the morainal hills rise to a considerable height. (See fig. 8.) There is
54 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

only one well (No. 1) actually flowing at the point where drilled, 

although several (Nos. 2, 3, and 4) rise nearly to the surface, and one 

(No. 5) is piped sidewise to flow at a slightly lower level. Statistical 

data relating to the wells at this point are given in the following table:

Wells of Crystal Valley district.

Owner.

L. C. Beadle.... .

J. W. Perkins . . .

R. W. Kittridge.

Driller.

L. C. Beadle.

.....do......

"S

c^_.

03 'f.

O>

W

Ft.

71?

730

720

730

drillec e 

03

P

1898

1898

O>

n03

P

Tn.

2

4J

&

O

Ft.

97

40

16

87

0

nation bed. tr 

o <S W "

W.

615

680

704

599

*

t-H

W. +11

_ 2

-1.5

O

n

S ^

o

Pn

Galls.

5

aS

S

-M

§

§

^

°F.

a50A

aSO1

T3 o.

O>

03

^

»

Sand . .

...do...

Quality of 

water.

Soft.

Soft.

 \\-~T-- R^6W. \

16

, Morainal hills i-wfHViii«\vv

a Both measurements of temperature were made after the water had flowed through a pipe of some 

length and are possibly one-half degree too high.

An examination of the table shows that there is no general waterbearing bed, unless, as is very likely the case, the Lockwood and

Perkins wells draw from the same horizon. 

If this is so, its slope is decidedly to the 

south, and the source of supply is doubtless 

in the hills to the north. The water of the 

Kinney well, although having approximately 

the same head as the others, is not from the 

same bed. The Beadle well is inserted simply as a type of the shallow wells. The 

Kittridge well may possibly be from the 

same horizon as the Perkins and Lockwood, 

o Nonfiowing weiis but in the absence of wells in the mile stretch 

FIG. s. sketch map of crystal intervening this can not be certainly deterValley artesian district, Ocean'a mined 

County.

The deep-well water is of about the average quality. It tastes of iron, is hard, and gives considerable scale. 

The supplies from the surface wells are considerably softer.

Flows can probably be obtained at almost any point which is 

not more than 6 or 8 feet above the level of the creek. The head is 

sufficient to give flows on the terrace on the south side of the stream, 

but not on the north. The volume is such that hydraulic rams 

attached to wells at creek level would pump sufficient water to the 

houses for domestic supplies.

ELBKIDGE DISTRICT.

The Elbridge district, at present represented only by a single flowing well, is located a few miles east of Hart along the broad valley 

bordering the streams in the northern portion of sees. 8 and 9,. TV
OCEANA COUNTY.

15 N., H. 16 W., the supply coming from the high morainal hills 

about Elbridge settlement, one-half mile to the south. (See fig. 9.)

The flowing well (No. 2) is owned by Isaac Timmons. The data 

are as follows: Altitude, 712 feet; drilled in 1901; depth, 93 feet; 

water from blue gravel; flows at +4 feet; tested to 18+ feet; yield, 

3 gallons a minute; temperature, 49^°. The materials are: Sand, 35 

feet; clay, 55 feet; gravel, 3 feet. The well is located several feet 

above the level of the creek bottoms.

At the mill one-half mile east and a little north of Timmons a well 

failed to get water on the flats at 100 feet, although most wells in the 

vicinity (as No. 1) get abundant surface water. Near by are large 

sulphur springs, which form a considerable stream and deposit a 

white coating of sulphur. A deep well (No. 3), one-fourth mile north 

of Timmons, failed to get a flow, which was to be expected, as it is 

many feet higher. A well at the corner blacksmith shop in Elbridge 

(No. 4) went through 20 feet of sand and 40 feet of clay into waterbearing gravel at 60 feet, the water rising to 

within 16 feet of the surface. Surface water 

was obtained at the store on the opposite 

side of the road at 16 feet. A well 60 feet 

deep in the hollow back of the blacksmith's 

and 20 feet lower got water rising to within 

1 foot of the surface. Gus May, 2 miles 

east and one-half mile south of Timmons 

well, drilled 92 feet and obtained about 1 

quart a minute. The well was drilled by 

Hardy. The wells in the morainal hills are 

generally 50 to 100 feet deep.

The water of the Timmons well is of average quality as regards iron and lime. For partial analysis see page 91.

The only good prospects for flows are along the flats of the creek 

bottoms adjacent to the base of the morainal hills. The majority of 

wells sunk at such locations to 100 or 150 feet would probably be 

successful, although an occasional failure is to be expected, as was the 

case at the mill. Abundant water supplies, however, are generally,v to 

be had at slight depths, and will doubtless prove satisfactory as long as 

the country is not too thickly settled.

TIGRIS DISTRICT.

The Tigris district is a short distance east of Hart. Like the 

Elbridge district it has at present only one flowing well, although the 

drilling of others is contemplated. The conditions are illustrated in 

fig. 10. Along the north and east side of sec. 13, T. 15 N., K. 17 W. 

the land rises into morainal hills of considerable height, while the 

remaining portion of the section is moderately flat. Along the base

 Flowing well

o Nonflowing wells

FIG. 9. Sketch map of Elbridge 

artesian pool, Oceana County.
56 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

of these hills occur a considerable number of springs, a few of which 

have formed mounds of silt of some size.

It was near the base of the hills that the Amos Kelinger well was 

sunk in 1902. It is a 2-inch well, 115 feet deep, and obtains its water 

from gravel. The water, which will rise 15 feet or more, is piped into 

the house. The yield is 12J gallons a minute. It tastes slightly of

iron and is medium hard, though 

giving little scale.

The water of the Relinger well 

doubtless comes from the east, 

although in the northern portion 

of the section supplies may also 

be received from the north. It is 

probable that deep wells almost 

anywhere along the base of the 

hills would obtain flows.

I Low and -* 

I Mound ^ 13 sprs. z *=?fl

undulating

Relinge

 »*'^r

J8 

MORAINE.

FIG. 10. Sketch map of Tigris pool, Oceana 

County.

LATTIN DISTEICT.

The postmaster at Lattin reports the wells in the neighborhood to 

be from 30 to 250 feet deep, the largest supplies being at about 100 

feet, which is the common depth in the vicinity. The water in both 

the shallow and the deep wells is hard. He states that some flowing 

wells are obtained at the surface .without pumping.

WEABE DISTRICT.

This district is located in sees. 34 and 35, T. 16 N., R. 17 W., a mile 

or two west of Weare and 3 or 4 miles northeast of Hart. The flowing 

wells are on a gently rolling slope pitching away from the high morainal 

hills in the northern portion of the sections (fig. 11). The ground is 

still lower to the south, but because of lack of persistence of the waterbearing beds and the loss of head no flows are obtained. Data relating 

to the wells are given in the following table:

Wetts of Weare district.

^

<fl

H

0

fc

1

2

Q

4

5

6

7

Owner.

Victor Symonds ....

/John Lipp, jr .......

\... .do. ...... .......

Driller.

Joe Mull . .

.....do....

K. Clay. . .

.....do....

"8

I is

&i

R

750

690

690

680

670

665

662

$~

fi 1^

? §

fH 0}

 ^

1899

1897

1904

1

cS

fl

Tw,.

2

2

2

2

+3

R

.Ft

90

58

58

(a)

128

6

428

150

"8 .

H *

isw

Ft

660

632

632

54?

659

51?

K

Feet.

 75

 2

'+5

 1

None. 15

a

S

!»

JSB 

O

&.

fflaJ.

i

*

£

D

1

^

^

°F.

AQf

Water 

bed.

gravel.

Gravel..

....do...

....do....

Clay....

....do...

Quality of 

water.

moderately

hard.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

a Shallow. 6 Several feet below surface.
OCEANA COUNTY. 57

R.I7W.

X

Mora

34 

X

yV

* * -I

x 3 o

 >v'

03

04

05

**6

°7

^

35 ^

o

*fo

NQ wells

E

j Flowing wel/s 

o Nonflow!ng ivel/S 

x Windmills

FIG. 11. Sketch map of Weare 

pool, Oceana County.

The wells at the crest of the hill (No. 1), of which there are several, 

get plenty of water, although it rises but little. The Victor Symonds 

and Henry Baker wells are piped sidewise to lower ground to give 

flows. The surface material is sand to a depth of 15 to 20 feet, after 

which clay is struck, which continues, with 

the exception of a few thin sandy beds, to a 

depth of at least several hundred feet. 

Several attempts to obtain water were made 

at the John Lipp, jr., place. Except for 10 

feet of sand at the top all was clay to the 

bottom of the deepest well at 428 feet. 

Another well a few feet away was sunk to 

150 feet and found water at tfce bottom, 

which rose to within 15 feet of the surface, 

but the clay from which it came so clogged 

the pipe that the well could not be used. 

Another well 135 feet deep gave similar 

results. These wells are said to have been located by means of the 

"switch" or divining rod and are notable failures.

The water is low in iron and of about average hardness. A partial 

analysis is given on page 91.

The prospects of additional flows in this locality are poor, because of 

the presence of a great thickness of clay with very few porous seams 

capable of carrying water. Doubtless such seams occur locally, but 

their location can not be foretold.

FEBBY DISTBICT.

This is not a district in the proper 

sense, as the two flowing wells in the 

vicinity are several miles apart and of 

diverse occurrence. The name is simply given for convenience of discussion. 

The locations of the wells are shown 

in fig. 12.

Well No. 1, the James Osborn well, is 

located on a flat lying between the high 

morainal hills which rise along the 

northern edge of sec. 23, T. 14 N., R. 

16 W., and the westward flowing stream 

one-fourth mile to the south. The 

elevation is about 950 feet, diameter 

2 inches, depth 90 feet. The materials were alternating clay, sand, and 

gravel, with some water for 40 feet, then clay for 50 feet to the waterbearing sand at the bottom. The well ran a small stream for a year 

and suddenly the flow changed to a strong stream, as if the water had 

broken through a hitherto impervious layer. It was drilled in 1900 by

HIGH HILLS

Scale of miles

FIG. 12. Sketch map of 'Ferry district, 

Oceana County
58 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Charles Cushman. The flow is through a J-inch perforation in the well 

cap 3 feet above the surface, but the water would probably rise considerably higher. Shallow waters are readily obtained in the vicinity 

and no other deep wells have been sunk. The water is unusually soft 

for Michigan and has but little iron. For partial analysis see page 01. 

Well No. 2 was sunk in 1898 for B. A. Wiswell by Charles Cushman, 

driller. It is located on a slope between the stream flats in the SE. i 

sec. 34, T. 14 N., R. 16 W., and the morainal hills rising immediately to 

the west. Its altitude is probably about 955 feet. The well is 2 

inches in diameter, 78 feet deep, and penetrated 8 feet of clay loam, 10 

feet of quicksand, and 60 feet of clay. The flow is three-fourths of a 

gallon a minute at 6 feet, but will be nearly as strong 10 feet above the 

surface. It has no taste, but has slight sulphur odor. It forms little 

scale. The flow increases before a storm. The temperature is 48f°. 

No other wells in the vicinity go deep enough to obtain flows.

The lowland area bordering the stream passing through Ferry and the position of the bordering highlands are indicated in fig. 12. The

Sec.12 hills are high and sandy and present ideal catchment conditions. The two deep wells which 

have been sunk near its edge have been successful in obtaining flows, and it is probable that 

o3 ' similar flows could be obtained elsewhere along 

o fN°nf/rowf%gwe//s tne border and probably for a distance of oneFiG.i3.-sketchmaP show- fourth to one-half mile distant from the margin. 

ing flowing and adjacent It is possible that flowing wells might be had,

even in tne middie °f the iowiand area- As y^

however, because of the abundance of shallow 

water supplies, no deep wells have been sunk in this region. At Ferry 

the wells are all probably under 30 feet in depth. The materials are 

very variable, but some clay is reported. It is probable that at Ferry 

a depth of 100 feet or less would be sufficient to give flows.

GREENWOOD DISTRICT.

The name of Greenwood Township is applied, for want of a better 

one, to the district containing the wells about 3 miles southwest of 

Hesperia in sec. 12, T. 1«3 N., R. 15 W. and vicinity, the location of 

which is shown in fig. 13.

The flowing or nearly flowing wells are located near the base of a 

series of morainal hills of some height bordering the flats in the southwest corner of the section. A few details regarding the wells are 

given in the accompanying table:
OCEANA COUNTY.

Wells of Greenwood district.

CO

£a

6

K

1

3

4

Owner.

 8

c__.

jj

H

Feet.

950

960

970

1,000

£

s> McS

ft

1898

o>

1

s

7».

2

ri

&

ft

J'eei!.

40

46

71

200

o .

||

j>"c3

H

^ee«.

920

916

899

800

S

K

Feet.

 16

+ 18

£

a _

o

s

Go.Z*.

4

c

-M

fi

0}

EH

0 f,

48i

Water 

bed.

Quality 

of waterhard.

The Bronstrom well was driven 28 feet and drilled the rest of the 

way in "pebble rock," possibly cemented gravel. It may be, however, that bed rock was actually encountered, as rock is reported in 

other wells in the region and bowlders are unusually numerous a 

short distance farther west. The casing extends only 36 feet. The 

original flow was 8 gallons a minute, but the well is now stopped down 

to about half. The Donahue well originally flowed a small stream 

2 feet above the surface, but ceased a few hours after the Bronstrom 

well was opened, thus furnishing an interesting case of a higher well 

affecting the supply of a lower well on the same vein.

WATERWORKS.

HART.

The Hart waterworks are located on a terrace at the southern edge 

of the town, 45 feet or more higher than the lower or northern edge 

and 75 feet higher than the creek. (See p. 52.) The supply is 

from 6 flowing wells 112 to 152 feet deep, the individual depths being 

152, 138, 125, 116, 114, and 112 feet. The altitude of the wells is 

about 730 feet, which would make the elevation of the water bed 578, 

592, 605, 614, 616, and 618 feet, respectively. Three of the wells 

were sunk in 1895; the others in 1898. Mr. Jacks was the driller. 

The diameter of the wells is 6 inches; head, 16 feet; supply, large-; 

temperature, 49f°; no taste; slight scale; medium hardness. For 

partial analysis, see page 91.

The water flows directly from the wells into the pipes, the pressure 

being about 8 pounds at the station in winter. In summer this is 

reduced to zero. The capacity of the pumps is 750,000 gallons a day, 

but 500,000 gallons is the greatest amount so far used, this draft lowering the water to 15 feet below the surface. There are 30 fire hydrants 

and about 400 taps, supplying somewhat over 1,000 people. The supply is not as large as could be desired and a reservoir is talked of.

An additional supply is derived at times from three wells at the 

Slaght warehouse, which are owned by the village, but leased with the 

building. They are 4 inches in diameter and 157, 164, and 166 feet 

deep.
60 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

SHELBY.

Shelby is located in a valley between hills of morainic drift, the elevation at the railroad station being 807 feet. The hills are 100 feet or 

more higher. The wells in town vary from about 45 to 120 feet in 

depth, the most common depth being between 50 and 100 feet. The 

largest supplies are said to be obtained at about 70 feet. The water 

was mostly quite hard.

The deepest well in the town is at George Getty's mill, at an elevation of 807 feet. The depth of the well is 516 feet. Near the bottom 

the pipe struck a stone and was deflected, making it necessary to 

abandon the well. Very little water was obtained, and it did not 

originally rise near the surface, but it was thought that a flow was 

passed through on the way down. The well was capped and allowed 

to stand for some time. On taking the cap off the well flowed weakly, 

but ceased soon after. An attempt was made to dynamite the pipe 

at the supposed water horizon, but the shot was exploded by a blunder at 50 feet and the well was ruined. It is not impossible that flows 

may be obtained along the valley near Shelby.

The public water supply is derived from two wells located at the 

electric-light and water plant on the east side of the village and owned 

by the town. The wells are 125 feet deep, but the water rises to 

within 70 feet of the surface and is pumped to a circular brick reservoir on the hill east of and above the waterworks, and from there it 

is distributed. It is under a pressure of 72 \ pounds. The daily supply is usually from 100,000 to 200,000 gallons.

PENTWATEB.

Pentwater, in northwestern Oceana County, is located on a sandy 

flat about 5 to 15 feet above Pentwater Lake, an inclosed bay connected with Lake Michigan by an artificial channel. The country 

back of the town rises more or less gradually to a broad terrace 100 

feet or more above the lake level.

The wells in town are generally very shallow, extending to lake 

level or less, 16 feet being about the average depth. The material 

near the shore is mainly sand; farther back there are some thin clay 

seams. In a well sunk by Sands and Maxwell at the corner of Hancock and Fourth streets to a depth of 187 feet, the material was all 

till below the upper 15 to 20 feet, which was sand. The well did not 

flow.

The public supply is obtained mainly from 40 to 45 wells, 8 to 10 

feet above lake level, situated along Hancock street between Second 

and Third, and west along the latter streets for half a block or more. 

The depths are from 16 to 24 feet and the diameter from 2 to 4 inches. 

Three-foot strainers are used with the 2-inch pipe and 5-foot strainers
OCEANA COUNTY. 61

with the 4-inch pipe. Strainers 4 inches in diameter were formerly 

connected with 1^-inch pipes, but the flow was so sluggish through 

them that they soon became clogged. The strainers now used are 

only slightly larger than the Well pipe and much less trouble is experienced. The water, though not tasting of iron, deposits a reddish 

sediment. There is also a distinct organic taste, variously attributed 

to lack of proper flushing of the pipes or to the drawing in of lake 

water when pumping is excessive. It should be noted, however, that 

the taste is less conspicuous at the wells than in the more remote parts 

of the system.

While the water is only moderately hard and there is nothing in its 

analysis to indicate any difference from other Michigan waters (see 

analysis, p. 91), the supply can not be regarded as an entirely safe 

one. There is no clay or other impervious layer to prevent the seepage from privies, cesspools, etc., from passing directly downward and 

polluting the ground waters, especially near the surface. It is true 

that natural sand acts to a certain extent as a filter and through its 

bacteria tends to break down the dangerous substances present, but 

when new polluting matter is constantly being added a time will come 

when the ground is saturated and the ground water inevitably polluted. The remedy ordinarily would be to go deeper, where the water 

would be from a more remote and less thickly settled source. At 

Pentwater, however, glacial till, which carries very little water, is 

encountered a few feet below the surface. Wells sunk above the town 

on the east would give safe supplies, but it is not known whether sufficient volume could be obtained there. The next best source would 

doubtless be from wells across the harbor on the Lake Michigan shore 

or even from that lake itself.

The waterworks are owned by the village, but are leased to the 

Oceana Electric Light Company (B. C. Lindly, manager), which for 

the sum of about $165 per month supplies the town with water and 

twenty 1,000 candle-power lights. The franchise is for ten years. 

The average daily supply is said to be 250,000 gallons, but this can be 

increased to 600,000 from the wells alone, and to 1,000,000 if the lake 

is drawn upon. The water is distributed from a trunk main, 10 inches 

in diameter, along Hancock street, and by various smaller laterals. 

The ordinary pressure is 40 pounds, which can be greatly increased in 

case of fire.
62 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

The following table gives data on village supplies:

Village supplies in Oceana County.

Town.

Elbridge...........

Gale...............

Hart...............

Shelbv. ............

Walkerville........

Source.

Driven wells, creeks, and artesian wells. 

Driven wells (artesian wellsnear) . 

.....do..........................

Driven wells, artesian wells .... 

Driven wells, artesian wells, 

springs.

.....do..........................

.....do..........................

...*.. do. .........................

Driven wells (artesian wells 

near) . 

No returns (artesian wells near) 

.....do..........................

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet.

12 

25

10

12 

10 

98 

15

30

30 

32 

16

15 

26 

44

6

To 

Feet.

205 

100

80

30 

60 

197 

175

104

250 

112 

100

50 

30 

121

90

Common.

Feet.

100 

50

50 

25

175

90

100 

50 

25

25 

28 

50

60

Depth 

to 

principal 

supply.

Feet.

ioo

100 

75

25 

60 

175 

175

100

25

25 

28 

70

60

Head.

Feet.

- 0

4- 0

-40

- 8 

- 0 

+ 30 

+ 35

- 0

± 0 

- 0 

- 0

- 0 

- 0 

- 0

- 0

Springs.

Small. 

Do.

None. 

Medium.

Large. 

Medium.

Do.

Small. 

Medium. 

Large.

Small.

WATER SUPPLIES OF NEWAYGO COUNTY.

By MYRON L. FULLER. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Newaygo County is situated immediately east of Oceana and Muskegon counties, about midway of the western side of the Southern 

Peninsula. It was covered by the Lake Michigan glacial lobe, at 

whose junction with the Saginaw lobe is in an interlobate moraine 

which occupies the eastern part of Newaygo County and the western 

part of Mecosta. This moraine has points within the county whose 

altitude exceeds 1,200 feet, and its general elevation is more than 

1,000 feet. It is traversed by Muskegoii River, which leaves it on 

the west at about 700 feet above tide and descends to about 600 feet 

at the southwest corner of the county. West of the interlobate 

moraine is a gravel plain several miles in width occupying much of 

Home, Monroe, and Wilcox townships and parts of Everett, Brooks, 

and Grant townships. The western half of the county is occupied by 

prominent morainic tracts, which are interrupted by a network of 

valleys, which served as lines of glacial drainage, and which are now 

traversed by the South Pere Marquette and White rivers and their 

tributaries and by Muskegon River. Flowing wells have been found 

at Newaygo, in the valley of Muskegon River, at Hesperia, in the val-
NEWAYGO COUNTY. 63

ley of White River, in and near Fremont, on a plain on the western 

border of a prominent moraine, and near Grove, in the southeastern 

part of the county on the western border of the interlobate moraine. 

The writer has examined all but the last of these districts and that is 

discussed by Mr. Bowman. As in Oceana County, wells on the elevated morainic tracts are often 100 to 180 feet in depth with but little 

rise of water. Much of the county is unsettled, and its water supplies are thus only partly developed. The village supplies as well as 

the flowing wells are discussed below.

FLOWING WELLS.

There are four artesian-well districts of some importance in this 

county at Hesperia, Fremont, and Newaygo, and in Ensley and 

Grant townships. Several scattered flowing wells are also reported 

from a number of other points. A small district southwest of Hesperia is described under Oceana County.

Hesperia is located on the boundary between Newaygo and Oceana 

counties, the county line passing through the principal street. Two 

of the three wells are located in Oceana County, but as the largest 

well which furnishes a private water supply for a part of the town is 

located in Newaygo County, this district is considered here.

1OOO FEET

 Flowing-wells Q Nonf/owmg tubular we/fs 

FIG. 14. Plat of Hesperia, Newaygo County, showing locations of wells anfl private wate'rworks.

HESPERIA. .

Fig. 14 shows the locations of the three wells. They ate Situated on 

a terrace adjoining White River and some 15 feet abov6~tM stream. 

The approximate elevation is 750 feet. The statistical rfata' of the 

various wells are presented in the accompanying table for purpose of 

comparison.
64 WELLS AND WATER SUPPUtES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells of Hesperia district*

Owner.

Hotel..........

C. M. Perkins..

O. H. Johnson.

H. K. Bush . . .

Driller.

>

R.Wilson et al.

J. F.Bush.....

"o

«__.

%M

Ft.

750

750

750

750 *7cn

750

 S-r

°3 ijj

 §|

|J<o

Old.

1880

1OQQ

JS

o

<S

ft

7w.

2

2

a

0,

ft

Ft.

50

100

180

110

65

o .

T3

Is

fe <* 5 ^ w

J1*.

900

850

770 asi

OQO

Head.o

Feet. -20

0

T+34

T+ 5

rp i e

 3

171

* per minute.

Galls.

Many.

8

ftP

g

8

1H

«j.

48J

Water 

bed.

Sand ..

Gravel.

Qoaiil^of 

water.

Some iron.

Sulphur, iron

Do.

a T=tested head.

The Johnson well encountered many seams of sand and gravel with 

water all the way down, as did the Bush and Maze wells, but, with 

the exception of a small supply in the Johnson well at 70 feet, no 

flows were obtained. The water at 180 feet in the Johnson well was 

found beneath 20 feet of clay, which stands without casing. In the 

Bush and Maze wells the upper part was predominatingly sand and 

the lower part predominatingly clay, with water in gravel at the 

bottom.

Mr. F. B. Henry, well driller, Wilcox Township, reports a 2-inch 

well, drilled for Robert Wilson, of Hesperia, in 1900. The. depth is 

170 feet, the head is 38 feet above the surface, and the flow is very 

strong. No such well was heard of when inquiry was made on the 

ground, unless it may be the Johnson well (formerly owned by G. E. 

Eldridge).

There are at least four different water horizons being drawn upon 

in the town. The first general horizon is about 50 to 60 feet below 

the surface, and, although not furnishing flows, it is the source of 

most of the town wells, including the hotel and Carlisle wells. The 

next horizon is that encountered by the Perkins well at 100 feet, and 

the water rises near enough to the surface to be piped laterally to a 

trough on lower ground. The third horizon is at 120 feet and was 

encountered in the Bush and Maze wells; it gives moderate flows. 

The fourth is at 180 feet, yielding large flows and a strong head. A 

very shallow horizon was also struck in. 1899 by S. Hagerdorm at 10 

feet, but the flow was poor and the well was abandoned.

The surface water is probably lowest in mineral matter, and as it 

underlies a clay can be regarded as a safe drinking water. The water 

from the 100-foot or 120-foot horizons carries little iron, but is marked 

by a large amount of sulphates, which is very unusual for Michigan 

drift waters. The 180-foot water shows no sulphates, but a considerable amount of iron. Partial analyses are given in the table on 

page 91.

The wells are put to all ordinary uses store, barn, hotel, and 

domestic. The Johnson well is especially important, since it affords
NEWAYGO COUNTY. 65

the supply of a private water system, furnishing water to 15 buildings, 

including a hotel, barber shop, market, and several private residences 

(see fig. 14). The water at the highest house will rise 8 feet above the 

ground or 20 feet above the well. A large fountain in the yard of the 

owner also gets its supply from the well.

It seems almost certain that many more flows could be obtained 

from both the 120-foot and 180-foot horizons by wells located almost 

anywhere on the flat on which the town is situated. Flows may possibly be obtained on the high terrace at the southern edge of the town, 

but they would be less satisfactory than on the lower land. An 

amount sufficient for the town could probably be obtained from wells 

without much difficulty, and the sources are probably ample to supply 

a large number of private wells if not allowed to flow too freely. The 

water appears to come from the morainal hills south of town.

FREMONT DISTRICT.

In this district are included two clusters of wells in the town of 

Fremont itself, a group at Fremont Lake, a mile southwest of town, 

and outlying wells in the SW. i sec. 8, T. 12 N., R. 13 W., and in the 

E. i sec. 22, T. 12 N., R. 14 W.

5* TEftWORKS

5OO IOOO I5OO FEET

Flowing wel/S Nonf/owing wells

FIG. 15. Plat of Fremont, Newaygo County, showing location of waterworks, mains, and important

wells.

The location of the town wells is shown in fig. 15 and that of the outlying wells in fig. 17 (p. 69).

FREMONT.

The town of Fremont has for many years obtained its water from 

wells, the first being sunk about 1883. They were twenty in number, 

four being 6 inches in diameter and the remainder 2 inches, and were 

arranged along a trunk pipe extending west and a little north from the 

pumping station, the four large wells being at the end of the pipe. 

(See fig. 15.) The depths varied from 60 to 97 feet, and the materials 

encountered were gravel, sand (some of it much like clay), and a little
66 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

clay. Ninety-mesh screens were placed at the bottom, but soon 

became clogged, as the water carried much iron and lime. The old 

wells failing to give an adequate supply, two new 2-inch wells were 

sunk in 1902 to 225 and 226 feet, respectively, which together yield 

125,000 gallons daily. Much clay was encountered and somecemented 

material, like sandstone. The water is from immediately under a clay 

bed, and is strongly mineralized, carrying much iron, lime, and sulphates. (See table, p. 91, for partial analysis.) Some sand is brought 

up with the water.

The wells, which have a head of 20 feet, flow into two cisterns or 

reservoirs back of the station, from which the water is pumped into 

the mains. The ordinary pressure maintained is 60 pounds, but this 

can be raised to 120 pounds if necessary in case of fire. There are 18 

fire hydrants.

The wells at and near the Hagerdorm Laundry, in Fremont, are 

located in a depression among low, rolling, drift hills, at an altitude of 

about 775 feet. The land rises distinctly both to the north and to the 

south.

The laundry is on 'the site of a former creamery. In digging a hole, 

about 1901, in which to dispose of the refuse of the creamery flowing 

water was encountered, and this led to the sinking of six wells. (Fig. 

15, Nos. 1-6.) No. 6 is located in the laundry, and supplies the boiler; 

the others are situated in the rear of the building. No. 5 is the largest, 

and is said to have thrown a jet 3 feet high from a 3-inch pipe the top 

of which is about 3 feet above the ground. The water flows into a sort 

of reservoir. No. 2 feeds a small fish pond, and will throw a 2-inch jet 

1 foot high. The water was found underneath a rather uniform clay 

bed at approximately the same depths in all the wells, the different 

depths depending upon the distance the pipe was driven into the 

underlying sand.

The water is free from iron and sulphates, and has only about half 

the lime usually present in Michigan drift waters, which makes it an 

ideal supply for the purpose for which it is used. A partial analysis 

will be found in the table on page 91.

The success of the laundry wells led the owners of adjoining property 

to try for flows, but none were obtained, notwithstanding the fact that 

trials were made within 50 feet on both sides, one neighbor putting 

down 6 test holes. The houses along the opposite side of the road are 

only about 50 feet apart, but, although all have wells deep enough to 

have encountered flows, none were obtained. A block and a half 

south, however, Mullins & Bode obtained a flow from the same horizon 

as the laundry, as was determined by the fact that its supply was cut 

off in.three hours when the largest laundry well was allowed to flow 

freely (No. 5). This would indicate that the water seam continues for 

some distance, but that it is very narrow. The width can not be much
NEWAYGO COUNTY. 67

over 50 feet, as it was not encountered by the neighboring houses. Its 

form suggests an old sand-filled stream channel afterwards covered by 

clay. The source of the water is probably the low hills to the south. 

There is some talk of utilizing the wells for a fish hatchery or public 

park.

The character of the materials in the adjacent wells is very variable. 

Some find sands with nonflowing water, others all clay, still others 

clay in part and sand, with water rising nearly to the surface. One 

well a block north went 200 feet without getting water at all. There 

seems to be some clay in the water-bearing bed at the laundry, as the 

water was roily during thunderstorms when the wells were first sunk. 

The flow is said to slacken when the wind is northwest.

The largest well in Fremont outside of those already mentioned is 

the tannery well, which is variously reported as from 200 to 280 feet 

deep. What appears to be the best information places it at 225 feet, 

or the same as the adjacent waterworks well. A shallow well, 18 feet 

deep, which will flow at 1 foot above the surface, is reported at the 

house of John Timmer, but a pump is used to raise the water to the 

sink. Mr. Yergin, at the west end of town, is said to have a small 

flow, while still another has been reported at the planing mill beyond 

the railroad.

FKEMONT LAKE.

The wells at Fremont Lake are located on a low, flat, sandy terrace a 

few feet above the water's edge and within a few hundred feet of the 

shore. A short distance farther back the land rises abruptly some 20 

feet or more to a rolling terrace, while still farther north it becomes 

hilly. The materials penetrated in the different wells are quite variable. In the Chamberlain well they were as follows: Sand 95 feet, 

clay 30 feet, sand 18 feet (water at 54 feet and at bottom), while in 

the Hain well there was sand to 50 feet, then clay to 100 feet. A well

 48" _ __>

FIG. 16. Arrangements at Hain well, Fremont Lake. Newaygo County.

sunk by Gerber, Raider, Schoolmaster, and others went 300 feet 

through alternating clay and sand. It is said some water was 

obtained at 150 feet and at the bottom, but the pipes clogged and the 

IRK 183 06 6
68 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

supply was lost. It is reported that it was intended to dynamite the 

well at 100 feet, but by accident the charge went off at 50 feet and 

spoiled the well. No flows were reported. Further data relating to 

the wells are given in the table on page 70.

The Hain well is so piped that it is possible to determine the flow under a number of different conditions. The results are presented below. 

The well is 2 inches in diameter, the casing projecting about 2 feet 

above the surface. At 1J feet a 2-inch horizontal pipe 4 feet in length 

is attached, at the end of which is a f-inch pipe with two faucets, %- 

and f-inch, respectively. (See fig. 16.) The results of the measurements were as follows:

Measurements of flow of Hain well.

T> i ,. , n Gallons Both faucets flowing: per minute.

f-inch faucet............................................^............ 22

i-inch faucet.......................................................... 8

Combined flow...................................................... 30

One faucet flowing:

f-inch faucet.......................................................... 23

i-inch faucet.......................................................... 11

Faucets removed:

f-inch horizontal pipe.................................................. 40

Estimated yield if flowing from 2-inch horizontal pipe.......................... a 286

OUTLYING WELLS.

The schoolhouse well (fig. 17) is located in sec. 8, T. 12 N., R. 13 W., 

on a southwest-facing -slope, about 10 feet below the crest of a rise 

immediately behind it and about 10 feet above the creek bottom in 

front. South of the creek, in the SE. \ sec. 7, are low, rolling, drift 

hills. All other wells in the vicinity are shallow. The water presumably comes from the north, probably for some distance, as the 

hills in the immediate vicinity are thought to be too low to give the 

observed head. The water tastes of iron. A partial analysis is given 

in the table on page 91. For additional data see table on page 70.

The H. B. Markle well (fig. 17) is located in sec. 22,T. 12 N., R. 14 W., 

on the north slope of the morainic hills in the S. \ sec. 22, about 10 

feet above the west-east valley extending across the center of the 

section. The water probably comes from the south. The flow has 

decreased considerably on account of clogging. The water is high in 

iron and carries about the usual amount of lime. The table on page 

70 gives additional data.

« Dependent on the quantity drawn upon and the ability of tfte sand to give up its supply witlj sufficient rapidity.
NEWAYGO COUNTY.

SUMMARY.

69

The number of flowing wells at Fremont is greater than in the majority of districts, largely because a greater number of deep wells have 

been sunk on account of lack of satisfactory shallow supplies such as 

are commonly present in Michigan. There is no single horizon of any 

great extent, each well or group of wells drawing from an independent 

bed, often of very limited extent. At the laundry, as has been 

described, the water-bearing bed is less than 50 feet wide, and even at

R.I4-W. R.I3W.

FIG. 17. Map showing relation of outlying flowing wells of Fremont district.

the lake, where the conditions for flow are most favorable, one 300- 

foot well failed to get water. Near the schoolhouse well flows may 

possibly be had along the creek valley or a few feet above, but they 

will probably be small. Somewhat larger flows might be found in the 

valley near the Markle well. The points most favorable for flows are 

on flats adjacent to hills of considerable elevations. Flows would 

probably be quite general about the shores of Fremont Lake.
70 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The statistical data of all the wells are given in the table below:

Wdls of Fremont district.

figs. and No.175on 

1

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7

8 

10

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

16

17 

18 

19

Owner.

S. Hagerdorm. 

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

Mullins & 

Bode.

City waterworks.

.....do......

.....do......

G. E. Hain..

N. L. Chamberlain. 

D. Ger beret 

al.

H.B.Markle. 

John Timmer.6

DriUer.

S. Hagerdorm. 

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Heinde . . .

Company 

and J.A. 

Heinde. 

.....do....

.....do....

Biglow . . .

well. Elevation of

Ft.

775

775 

775 

775 

775 

775 

780

780

780

780 

780 

770 

770 

772

770 

710

720

Approximate "date 

drilled.

1901

1901 

1901 

1901 

1901 

1901 

1903

1883

1902 

1902 

1899 

1904 

1901

1903

1890 

1901

Diameter.

In. 

2

2 

2 

2 

3 

2 

2

2 

6,2

2 

2 

2

2 

2

2

2 

2

t

n

Ft. 

20

15 

20 

20 

18 

29 

23

224 

60-100

226 

225 

108 

101 

138

300

70 

200 

18

Elevation ofwater 

bed. ,

Ft.

(a)

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

757

556

554 

555 

662 

669 

634

640 

520

Flows at

Ft.

+ 2

+ 2 

+2 

+5 

+2 

+2 

+ 1

+6"

+0 

+0+2"

+2J 

-0

+1

+6 

+ 1

Maximum head.

Ft.

+ 8

+ 8 

+ 8 

+ 8 

+ 8 

+ 8 

+ 2

+20 

+20

+20 

+ 20 

+ 16 

+ 12 

+ 14

Flow 

per minute.

Gals. 

Cap.

M.

Cap. 

1 

M. 

M. 

4

M.

Med.

M. 

M.

36 

40

8

1 

2

Temperature.

F.° 

48J

48J 

48i 

48J 

48J 

48^ 

48£

....

48f 

48! 

48i

48| 

48}

Water bed.

Sand..'......

Coarse gravel

Pocket ......

.....do....... 

.....do.......

Sand, gravel. 

Coarse sand.

Quality of 

water.

Very soft.

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do.

Hard. 

Iron.

Hard. 

Do. 

Iron. 

Do. 

Slight iron.

Do. 

Hard. 

Soft.

a Bottom of clay at 760; wells go different depths into the water-bearing sand. 

& This well has cistern pump attached' with spout high enough to prevent a flow.

NEWAYGO. 

FLOWING WELLS.

The Newaygo district, which has about 10 wells, is located along 

the State road, the principal street in town. The wells (fig. 18) are

all sunk to an imperfect 

terrace 15 to 30 feet 

above the flood plain of 

Muskegon River. Back 

of the lower terrace the 

land rises abruptly to 

the extensive upper terrace 100 feet or more 

above the river. The 

wells are within a few 

hundred feet of the base 

of the bluff. The catchment area is probably on the upper terrace, perhaps several miles 

back from the river.

Much of the information relating to the wells is given in the table

FIG. 18. Plat of Newaygo, showing location of waterworks 

mains, and flowing-wells.
NEWAYGO COUNTY. 71

below. From this it appears, after making allowance for slight variations in the level of the ground and in the depths of the wells, that all 

the wells, with the exception of the Eckard and Whitman wells at the 

east end of town, obtain their supplies from a single shallow horizon 

30 feet from the surface. The first flowing well was obtained about 

thirty years ago by Edwards (at hardware store). This was dug 20 

feet and then bored with auger to a water bed at about 30 feet, at 

which depth a powerful stream, which filled the well and overflowed 

on the surface, was encountered. The well has since clogged up and 

is now pumped. In fact, all the wells show more or less loss of water 

from clogging, supposedly by clay, but possibly from the deposition of 

mineral matter on the screen. The materials encountered are alternating sands and clays, largely the latter, the water being generally 

found in gravel beneath the clay.

v For description of the flowing wells at the waterworks see discussion 

of the public supply (p. 72).

Wdls of Newaygo artesian district.

«5

M 

W 

fl

o

o

fc

1

?,

3

4

r>

6

8

9

10

11

1?

13

Owner.

'»

S.K.Ribleta.....

J.F. A. Raider*..

Thompson Bros.

&Co.c

block, d

store. /

J. W. Brown g ....

Wm. Whitman*..

Driller.

Teachout .

.....do....

.....do....

.....do.....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

"8

.S? 

5*

o<

W

Ft.

690

690

695

695

695

f.95

695

695

6QO

690

670

665

« tiTJ roxims drille e 

<;° £g

1885

1884

1889

1885

1888

1883

1885

g 

F5

.3

p

In.

7,

7,

2

7,

?

3

7,

7,

7,

7,

7,

2

a

ft a>

fl

Ft.

30

35

32

30

OK

40

30

30

30

on

50

49

"S^

Ifc3 -*-»

1?

w

Ft.

fim655

663

665

660

655

665

665

660

660

620

616

Flows 

at 

Feet.

-0

+2

+1}

+11

+0

+1

' 4-91

-1*

±0

a

imu x

head.

oj

§

Ft.

- 0

+ 8

+ 6

+ 6

+ 1?

+12

+ 0

fl

a t-, . &t

-o

PH

Gal

i

f

1

7

oi

!0>ft

a

H

F.

48

48

4R

Water 

bed.

Sand. . . .

.....do..

Quality of 

water.

dium.

Iron sulphate;

medium.

dium.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Slight iron;

medium.

dium.

Do.

« Only known failure within limits of developed area; failure probably due to fineness of waterbearing material.

6 In a cellar about 7 feet below sidewalk. Strong flow at first utilized in a fotlntain in the store, but 

as it prevented the flow of adjacent wells it was stopped down.

c Decreased in flow. Nos. 3 and 4 are only 50 feet apart, and when No. 4 at corner of the building 

inside sidewalk is allowed to flow freely No. 3 at the watering trough ceases or is greatly diminished.

<* Does not flow now, but is drawn to the second story by a suction pump.

e First successful flow.

/ In sidewalk in front of the store; now capped.

Q Sulphur water, piped 250 feet to the next house west. Although the piping leaked badly when seen, 

there seemed to be considerable pressure and a good flo-w.

* Ceased to flow; remedied by forcing small pebbles through pipe into clay at bottom.

* In lot next west of Methodist Church. 

i Roily water.

* Flowed for eight or ten years, but has now ceased.

The quality of the water is indicated in the table. It is medium 

hard and carries somewhat more than the average amount of iron. A 

partial analysis of the Thompson well (No. 4) is given on page 91.
72 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The prospects for extending the district drawing from the present 

horizon are slight. If more wells were sunk, they would doubtless 

obtain flows, but would result in a loss to the other wells, since 

the supply is nearly all used. Surface supplies are to be had in 

abundance; in fact springs of some size formerly broke out where 

the road now is, but they would be dangerous to use for drinking 

purposes. It is stated that the flowing wells in town are affected by 

the drawing of supplies from the waterworks wells. If this is the case, 

it would point to a common water bed. It is not improbable that 

other flows could be obtained by going deeper, say from 50 to 150 or 

200 feet. This may soon be desirable if the town continues to draw 

a portion of its supply from the creek.

WATERWORKS.

The water system of this place is owned by the town and has the 

reputation of being one of the cheapest in the State. The waterworks are located in a deep ravine cut by a creek crossing the terrace 

above the town. This terrace is about 70 feet above the village, but 

the waterworks are perhaps 60 feet lower. The supply is from about 

14 wells, most of them 2 inches in diameter and 18 to 20 feet deep. 

Six are located in the large cistern in the rear of the plant and eight 

are outside. All but two flow, the water rising about 4 or 5 feet 

above the surface and being conducted into the cistern, which is 14 

feet deep and 22 feet in diameter. The cistern fills to within about 2 

feet of the top and would probably overflow if the supply was not 

drawn upon. The tops of the wells are about 6 feet below the top of 

the cistern.

The supply from the wells is about 500,000 gallons per twenty-four 

hours and was ample until recently, when the large cement plant 

began using water. It is now necessary to draw from the pond just 

above the pump house. The water carries some iron and is fairly 

hard, but is used in boilers.

The water is forced into the mains by means of pumps operated by 

water power, the pressure required to force it over the hills in volume 

sufficient for the demands being about 45 pounds. The pressure in 

town is 60 pounds. The location of the mains is shown in fig. 18. 

There are about 15 fire hydrants.

The use of the water from the stream or pond should be discouraged, as it is practically impossible to foresee or prevent pollution, 

even with the present small number of buildings on the watershed. 

The health of the users of the supply should not be endangered for 

the sake of the additional revenue derived from the sale of water to 

the cement plant or other manufacturing establishments. A safer 

way than drawing from the river would be to sink more wells or, perhaps, utilize the large springs near the station. The water, however, 

would be hard and would carry some iron.
NEWAYGO COUNTY. 73

R.I IW.

ENSLEY DISTRICT.**

The Ensley flowing-well area is about 12 square miles in extent, and 

lies just east of Rice Lake in the two eastern tiers of sections of Ensley 

Township. There are eight flows in all, yielding a total supply 

about 41 gallons a minute (fig. 19). The development of this area is 

of recent date, the first well being driven in 

1894. The water contains a considerable 

amount of iron, which incrusts the pipes. 

Topographically the area is of strong relief 

in its central part, and is thus suitable for 

flows. It lies on the western border of a 

high sandy moraine, which is probably the 

catchment area for the artesian supply. Its 

northern part is flat, with a clayey subsoil. 

The whole is drained by small westwardflowing streams, which empty into Rice Lake 

or its outlet, River Rouge.

The following record of material illustrates 

the sandy portion of the district, but in 

places clay is at the surface.

Record of Albert Marvin weti.

Very fine yellow sand, water-bearing. ....

Fine sand, growing coarser with increasing depth until coarse water-bearing

Thickness.

Feet. 

30 

15

15

91

Total.

Feet. 

30 

45

60

O-l

18

Toffice Lgk

19

30 29

ouf/et ffouo offff

[^^} Present development , 

|:;V-i'-':$-| Possible extension

FIG. 19. Location of Ensley flowing wells, Newaygo County, in 

relation to local drainage.

The above well is exceptional in the area 

because its flow has decreased. This is ascribed by the owner to the corrosion of the 

pipe and the incrustation of the screen. 

With a small flow and water containing: a o

high percentage of iron this occurs more 

quickly than with a strong flow. It is a condition, nevertheless, 

toward which all the wells furnishing chalybeate water are tending. 

There is opportunity for much further development of the area, and 

no attempt to get a flow on the western and southwestern borders of 

the area has been unsuccessful so far as known. The ability to get a 

plentiful supply at a depth of a few feet often delays the complete 

development of an area, despite the fact that in the case of a flow at 

less than 200 feet there is a good return for the outlay.

o Data by Isaiah Bowman.
74 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells in Ensley district (T. 11 N., B. 11 W.).

Letter 

on fig. 

19.

A

B

C

D

F

E

G

H

Section.

7

5

8

17

20

17

19

31

 Owner.

School district No. 3. ...........

J. M. Small.....................

David Hotell ...................

School district No. 9. ...........

When 

made.

1901

1894

1901

1895

1900

1899

Depth.

Feet. 

113J

45

45

30

65?

54

81

112

Elevation.

Feet. 

833?

883

880

883

884

888

880

888

Water rises 

to 

Feet. 

849?

883

883

889

886

900+

882

891

Flow per 

minute.

Gallons. 

20

.33

.5

.5

18

.75

1

Temperature.

°F. 

49.1

51

50

50.5

50.1

50.5

50.1

ISOLATED FLOWS.

In addition to the foregoing districts, a number of isolated flowing 

wells have been reported. These are given below:

Kirk. A flow rising several feet above the surface is reported, but 

details are lacking.

Volney. A well sunk by S. Hagerdorm on a ridge in village of Volney found water, which rose to surface at 40 feet. If located a few 

feet to one side, wells would flow. The conditions are not uniform, 

however, as another well near by went 80 feet in sand and gravel without getting a flow.

Lincoln Township. A well with a small flow is reported on property 

of C. Kent, about 4 miles northwest of Whitecloud.

Wooster. A well flowing a ^-inch stream is reported on the Murphy 

and Hill farm near Long Lake, Wooster station, Sherman Township, 

a few miles northeast of Fremont.

Brunswick. A well is reported to have been drilled by S. Hagerdorm in NW. \ sec. 18, T. 12 N., R. 14 W., in 1902. It is located 

in a flat district, with elevation about the same as the railroad (approximately 750 feet). The depth is 28 feet and diameter 1J inches. The 

material is all clay down to water-bearing gravel. The well flows a 

J-inch stream of hard water, with much iron, giving considerable scale.
NEWAYGO AND MECOSTA COUNTIES.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

Village supplies in Newaygo County.

75

Town.

Big Prairie. ....

Bridgeton. .....

Diamondlock.. .

Hungerford....

Bark...........

Lilley. .........

Otia.. ........

Parks..........

Shaw..........

Whitecloud .... 

Woodville. .....

Source.

No returns ............... .............

.....do..................................

Driven wells and open wells, creeks. ....

.....do ..................................

Driven wells ...........................

... .do ..................................

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet.

20 

12 

8

12 

20 

15

15 

8

20 

8 

12 

12

10 

20 

14 

' 16 

16 

20 

8

15 

50

\

To 

Feet.

45 

160 

16

40 

120 

250

35 

70

150 

12 

60 

32

25 

130 

75 

100 

80 

105 

25

25 

70

Common.

Feet.

35 75 

12

20 

80

25 

25

12

40

35 

30

35

25

65

Depth 

to principal 

supply.

Feet.

35 

50 

16

18 

80 

250

30

12 

40 

30

25

70 

30

35

25

Springs.

Small. 

Medium. 

Large.

Small. 

Do.

Do. 

Do.

Do.

Variable. 

Large.

Do.

Variable. 

Large. 

Do. 

Small. 

Large. 

Small. 

Do.

Variable.

WATER SUPPLIES OF MECOSTA COUNTY.

By MYRON L. FULLER. 

TOPOGRAPHY.

Mecosta County, of which Big Rapids is the county seat, is situated 

a little west of the center of the Southern Peninsula. It was covered 

by the Saginaw Glacial lobe, its western part being in an interlobate 

moraine between the Saginaw and Lake Michigan lobes. This moraine 

and others closely associated with it cover the western half of the 

county. East of the morainic system is a gravel plain several miles 

wide, while on the eastern border of the county is another morainic 

system. Muskegon River traverses the interlobate moraine in the 

western part of the county in a deep valley a mile or more in width. 

The gravel plain referred to above is drained southwestward by the 

Little Muskegon, except in the northeastern part of the county, which 

is tributary to Chippewa River, which flows eastward. The same 

gravel plain thus contributes water both to Lake Michigan and to 

Saginaw Bay.

In the morainic belt many deep wells have been made, in which 

water stands far below the surface, flowing wells being obtained only 

on the low ground along the streams. In the gravel plain and in the
76 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

valley of Muskegon River an abundance of water is found at moderate 

depths, but a few deep wells have been sunk at Big Rapids and Mecosta 

to get supplies below the surface water.

FLOWING WELLS.

BAEEYTON DISTBICT. !

The flowing-well district at the growing town of Barryton, in the

northeastern township of Mecosta County, is the largest in the county.

The flowing wells, five in number, are scattered over a large part of

sec. 27, T. 16 N., R. 7 W., one 

being just across the road from 

the northeast corner of sec. 22. 

The developed area is something 

over one-half square mile, but it 

would doubtless be greatly extended if more wells were sunk.

The town and wells, except the 

Kunzman well, are located on the 

flood plain or terrace of Chippewa 

River, about 10 feet above the 

stream. On the south side of the 

river the land rises sharply into

morainal hills, which also extend around to the west and north and

west of the town, but at a greater distance from it.

For purposes of comparison the data relating to the wells have been

grouped, as far as possible, into the tables given below. The location

of the wells is shown in fig. 20.

Wells of Barryton district.

FIG. 20. Sketch map of Barryton artesian district, Mecosta County.

"

Owner.

& Co.

Sage...........

E. Kunzman. ..

John Kinney. . .

H. Walroth....

Driller.

Moyce Bros..

Movce Bros..

 R

 N

><D

H

Ft

97O

Q7O

970 

980

975

975

a

0)

ft

1RQ4

1898

1903

1C<M

1903

1

i0

fa

2

2

"§,

a>'

ft

PV.

130

70?

60

Q7

72

120

'o .

 a

Is

{x c3

03 ^

w

p^.

840

son

910

883

903

CO

e

^

0)

W

Feet.

T9

F10

T8+ 

F3

T9

.g

S

^

^

Galls.

1

4

5

<B

9

g

P, h

H

°F.

48

48

Water 

bed.

Sand. . . .

Gravel. .

Quality ol

water.

Slight iron.

Hard.

a T= tested; F= flows.

It is significant that the three wells of which records could be 

obtained, the Kinney, Teed, and Kunzman, all passed through essentially similar materials, consisting of a few feet of sand at top, then 

clay down to the thin water sand at bottom. The Sage well also 

draws from the same horizon, but the Plato-Renwick well comes from
MECOSTA COUNTY. 77

a bed about 55 feet lower. It is said that the Teed well is affected 

by the wells in town, and it is certain that its head, which was formerly 3 feet above the surface, has now been so reduced that the 

water only barely reaches the surface and has to be pumped.

The slope of the upj»r sand is clearly shown by the wells, its altitude being 910 feet in the Kunzman well, 900 in the Sage and Kinney 

wells, and 883 in the Teed well. Notwithstanding the good flows 

which it gives when the wells are properly sunk, it was drilled through 

in two instances the Plato-Renwick and Sage wells to the inferior 

sand below. The former, which still flows, draws from the lower sand, 

but the pipe in the latter was pulled up to the upper sand. The Sage 

well is now partly clogged, and the flow and head much reduced. 

It originally flowed as high as the second story of the house.

The water is about the same as the average drift water of the State, 

being fairly hard and containing some iron. A partial analysis of the 

water from the Kunzman well is given in the table on page 91. The 

water is used for store, domestic, and farm purposes, is perfectly safe 

for drinking, and is much preferable to the waters of the shallow wells, 

which are in general use in the town.

The source of the water is in the morainal hills south of town, as is 

indicated by the slope of the beds from that direction. It is almost 

certain that flows can be obtained almost anywhere in sec. 27 when 

the elevation is not more than 15 feet above the river. Flows could 

also probably be obtainetl on the flats at similar elevations with reference to the river, both above and below town. It is thought a supply sufficient to meet the demands of the town could be had by drilling a series of wells along an east-west line parallel to the creek on the 

west side of town.

The available supply of the water sand seems to be large, but if a 

considerable number of wells are drilled it would be wise to stop down 

the flow to a point where it just meets the need and not allow the 

water to run to waste.

SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP.

The school well of the first district is located at the crossroads on 

a hillside in the southwest corner of sec. 1, T. 15 N., R. 7 W., about 

15 feet above the bottom of the valley. Its elevation is about 965 

feet, but a short distance to the north the morainal hills rise considerably higher. The well, which is the property of the school district, was drilled in 1901 by Moyce Brothers. It is 2 inches in 

diameter, 59 feet deep, and flows 20 gallons a minute from a 1-inch 

discharge pipe. A much stronger flow was obtained from the original 2-inch casing. The water will rise 24 feet above the surface. 

It now issues into a circular cement tank 5 feet in diameter, protected by a spring house, an overflow pipe leading to a trough by
78 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IK SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

the roadside. The water tastes strongly of iron, has a slight odor 

of sulphur, and is decidedly hard. A partial analysis is given in 

the table on page 91. Its temperature is 47J° F. Clay was encountered most of the way down to water gravel.

Other wells among the hills within a distance of a mile have gone 

for 100 to 180 feet without finding flows. There appears to be no 

general water-bearing horizon, and flows will be difficult to obtain, 

although they might be had by wells in the near vicinity of the 

schoolhouse well, and possibly elsewhere.

MECOSTA.

The village of Mecosta has a small flowing well at the watering 

trough on the main street near the eastern edge of town. It is 

located on a flat slightly above the adjacent valley on the west,, at 

an elevation of about 950 feet. It was drilled by R. D. Parks, is 

2 inches in diameter, 160 feet deep, and flows about one-half gallon 

a minute at 1 foot above the surface, although it is said that it will 

rise 2 feet higher. The flow has decreased considerably, owing to 

clogging of pipe. The temperature is 49°, and the water tastes 

slightly of iron. (See partial analysis in table, p. 91.) The materials penetrated were: Wet sand, 110 feet; clay, 45 feet (with water 

at 140 feet); sand, 5 feet. 'Probably other flows could be obtained 

on the flat on which the village is located, especially near the base 

of the surrounding hills. The elevation of these hills in the immediate vicinity, however, is not high, and large flows or strong heads 

 are not to be looked for.

PARIS.

A flowing.well is located at the fish hatchery about 10 feet below 

the Paris station, which has an altitude of 928 feet. It is 2 inches 

in diameter, 135 feet deep, and flows 8 gallons a minute. It was 

drilled in 1902 by J. K. P. Snyder & Son, and its head tested to a 

height of 7 feet above the surface. The materials penetrated were 

mainly sand and gravel, with about 15 feet of clay below 100 feet. 

The water tastes of iron and rapidly corrodes the pipes.

MILLBROOK.

It is reported that Philip Capen has a flowing well at Millbrook, 

in the southeastern part of the county, but it was not visited and 

no data concerning it were obtained.

TOWN SUPPLIES.

BIG RAPIDS.

About 1892 an attempt was made in Big Rapids by Mr. G. F. 

Waring to develop a water supply from wells, his intention being to 

dispose of it to the city if successful. It is said that nearly a hun-
MECOSTA COUNTY. 79

dred 2-inch wells were sunk. No flows were obtained,. and because 

of the failure to pump successfully the project was abandoned. It 

is said that a similar difficulty was encountered at Jackson, but was 

finally overcome by the use of the air-lift process.

At present the supply is taken directly from the Muskegon River 

without filtration. There is generally more or less typhoid fever, 

and a few years ago a severe epidemic occurred. Although this was 

attributed to the use of open wells, and was possibly independent of 

any pollution of the river water, it is certain that as long as the 

river is used an outbreak is liable to occur at any time. The pollution from a single case of typhoid at a point within a distance of 

several miles upstream might lead to hundreds of cases in town. 

The river and shallow wells should be abandoned as a source of 

domestic supply. Deep wells located possibly along the river 

above town would afford the most desirable source.

In the present system direct pressure is used, but the erection of 

a standpipe is contemplated. The domestic pressure is 65 pounds at 

the pumping station, and the fire pressure is 110 pounds. The 

pressure in the town is 27 pounds less. The daily capacity of the 

two pumps is 1,300,000 and 500,000 gallons, respectively. There 

are 11 miles of pipe from 4 to 18 inches in diameter and 9 fire 

hydrants. The plant is owned by the city.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Village supplies in Mecosta County.

Town.

Fogy....... ......

Stimson. ........

Source.

.....do..........................

Driven wells. ................... 

.....do..........................

.....do.........................l

Driven wells, springs ...........

.....do..........................

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

20

18 

20 

14 

50 

16 

9 

20

80 

12 

50

15 

20 

15 

24

To 

Feet. 

25

90 

60 

90 

160 

190 

90 

40

152 

120 

60

20 

120 

SO 

90

Common.

Feet. 

25

40 

40 

90 

140

30 

30

125 

50 

55

25 

50

Depth 

to principal 

supply.

Feet. 

25

40 

90

165

30

125

60

40

Head.

Feet.

-25

± 0 

+ 2 -20

± 0

......

Springs.

Small. 

Medium. 

Small. 

Do. 

Large. 

Do. 

None. 

Large. 

Small.

Do. 

Do. 

None

Small 

Large. 

Small.
80 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

R. 18-w. R. 17 W.

WATER SUPPLIES OF MASON COUNTY. 

By MYRON L. FULLER.

GENERAL STATEMENT^

Mason County borders on Lake Michigan near the middle of the eastern side of the lake, Ludington being the county seat. It lies immediately north of Oceana County, and one of its flowing-well districts 

extends into that county. The southern half of the county is drained 

mainly by Pere Marquette River, the northern part by Great Sable 

River, and the intervening territory by Lincoln River. The streams 

all have wide mouths or lakes lying back of a range of dunes that 

border the shore of Lake Michigan. There is a belt of sandy country 

from Ludington northward along the shore of Lake Michigan, which is 

unsettled, the settlements beginning 4 to 6 miles back from the lake.

The northern part of the county 

also is a sandy plain, with very few 

settlers north of Great Sable River. 

Along the south side of this river, 

from near Freesoil westward for 

about 10 miles, is a morainic belt, 

which is settled and has numerous 

wells 50 to 100 feet in depth. South 

of this is a sandy strip along Lincoln River, which is sparsely settled. There are few settlers in the 

eastern range of townships except 

in the vicinity of Branch, Bachelor, 

Tallman, and Millerton. As is indicated in the tabulated data below, 

the wells at these villages are generally shallow. The central and 

southwestern .parts of the county are pretty well inhabited. Water 

is usually obtained at moderate depths except on the high range of 

hills fronting Lake Michigan south of Ludington, where some wells 

are 100 to 150 feet in depth. A few flowing wells have been obtained 

along the Pere Marquette Valley near Ludington and Amber, and there 

is a small district in the southwestern part of the county bordering 

Bass Lake.

FLOWING WELLS.

BASS LAKE DISTRICT.

This district lies east and south of Bass Lake near the line of Mason 

and Oceana counties, two wells being in sec. 31, T. 17, R. 17 W., Mason 

County, and a third in sec. 6, T. 16, R. 17, Oceana County. The district is limited on the east by a till ridge capped by sand, but it may be

S U M M

Sec. 36 

MASON

 Myres

IT TWP.

%

OCEANA -x. ... Neilson 

J> ENTWA.T E

Sec. I

Sec. 31

hsen 

I

COUNTY

X.1NE 

R T'WP.

1 

1 

1

1 

1 

1

FIG. 21. Sketch of Bass Lake artesian district, 

Mason County.

By Frank Leverett,
MASON COUNTY. 81

extended westward and southward. It can not well be extended 

northward, as the country rises rapidly in that direction.

The locations of the wells are shown in fig. 21, and the data relating 

to them have been compiled in the following table:

Wdls of Bass Lake district.

Owner. When 

made.

1901

1901

1892

Diameter.

Inches. 

2

2

Depth.

Feet. 

102

85

122

Elevation.

Feet. 

600

585

590

Head. «

Feet. 

T.+15

T.+ 10

F.+ 2

Flow 

per 

minute.

Gals. 

4

2

2

Temperature.

50.5

49.75

Quality.

.....do....

.....do....

Water 

bed.

oT.=tested; F.=flows.

The Myres well penetrated gravel and sand 10 feet, clay 90 feet, and 

gravel 2 feet. In the Jensen well the clay was 83 feet thick. In the 

Neilspn well much trouble was experienced in driving the pipe, and as 

it was finally broken it seems probable that clay was encountered, as 

in the other wells. The Myres well alone discharges in the ordinary 

way above the surface; the Jensen well is connected with a pump, 

which raises the water into the house, while the Neilson well opens into 

a plank-lined cistern, from which it overflows. No material decrease 

in flow has been noted except in the Neilson well, for which the broken 

casing is probably responsible, as some of the water now rises along 

the outside of the pipe.

There may be another flowing well on the Anderson farm, a mile 

south of the Neilson well, for near the house a pipe was found which 

overflows into a tank in the barnyard. This pipe is in a box inserted 

in the ground, from which a horizontal pipe leads toward the house, 

probably to a pump. No other data were obtainable.

The water of this district tastes quite strongly of iron and is hardjer 

than the average Michigan water. It is, however, used for all domestic and farm purposes. A partial analysis is given in the table on 

page 91.

The source of the water is probably in the bordering sand-coverpd 

clay ridge a short distance east of the wells, though it may be at a 

greater distance.

WATERWORKS.

Waterworks have been.installed at Ludington and at Scottville. 

The Ludington supply is drawn from Lake Michigan. Though originally built by a private company, the system is now owned and operated by the city. The Scottville supply is from a well 54 feet deep, 

from which water is pumped to an elevated tank, The village 

the plant, which wa.s installed in 1898,
82 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

The following date concerning village supplies were obtained by correspondence with residents of the villages:

Village supplies Mason County.

Town.

Amber... ....... .

Custer...........

Manistee Junction.

Scottville........

Source.

Driven wells (some flow) ......

Driven wells, open wells. . ..... 

Driven wells

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

10 

15

25 

15 

15 

16 

14

6

22 

25 

20

To 

Feet.

20

500 

98 

96 

62 

94

2,000+

28 

77 

35

Common.

Feet. 

40

30 

45 

50 

40

20

26 

45 

30

Depth 

to principal 

supply.

Feet. 

150

500 

30 

45 

62 

97

10

26 

50 

30

Head.

Feet. 

±0

-4-0

Springs.

Small.

Small. 

Do.

Do.

Do. 

Do.

Variable.

a The Ludington salt wells are nearly 2,000 feet deep, and are reported on in volume 5 of the Michigan 

Geological Survey. They penetrate about 600 feet of drift, mainly sand, which is a good water bearer. 

The rock surface here is about at sea level. No other borings in the county have reached rock, so it is 

not known whether it has a low altitude far back from the shore of Lake Michigan.

WATER SUPPLIES OF LAKE COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT.

Lake County is situated west of Osceola County, in the western 

part of the Southern Peninsula, Baldwin being the county seat. Its 

eastern range of townships are in the elevated interlobate moraine 

between the Saginaw and Lake Michigan lobes, the greater part of 

which lies in Osceola County. The highest points in Lake County are 

about 1,300 feet above sea level. The remainder of the county is 

largely a gravel plain; but the southwest township has morainic 

belts, and there are several small moraines in the northwestern quarter of the county. The settlements are mainly in the eastern part of 

the county on the interlobate moraine, the county seat being the only 

village west of the moraine. The gravel plain is dotted with lakes in 

the vicinity of Baldwin and southwestward to the edge of the county, 

and the water table in this part of the gravel plain is usually within 40 

feet of the surface. There are also lakes in the northwestern part of 

the county, on the borders of which water is reached at convenient 

depths; but as a rule the gravel plains are so high above the lakes and 

streams that the water t-able lies at depths of 50 to 100 feet or more. 

The settlements in the eastern part of the county are mainly on the 

lower portions of the morainic belts, the high points being usually 

rather barren, gravelly, or sandy knolls. Wells have been obtained
OSCEOLA COUNTY. 83

in these depressions at depths of 50 feet or less. At the Carr settlement in the southwestern part of the county, which is partly on a 

moraine and partly on a till plain west of it, wells range in depth from 

25 to 100 feet or more. The drift in this county is probably several 

hundred feet in depth, but as yet no borings have reached the rock. 

The following data on village supplies have been obtained by correspondence with the residents of the respective villages:

Village supplies of Lake County.

Town.

Baldwins..

Luther* . . .

Population.

388

300+

837

Elevation.

Feet. 

834 

868 

1,075 

856 

975 

975

Source.

.....do...............

.....do...............

.....do...............

.....do...............

.....do...............

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

12 

18 

25 

16 

20 

8

ToFeet. 

16 

27 

65 

30 

30 

25

Common.

Feet. 

12 

20 

25 

20 

25 

20

Depth 

to 

water 

bed.

Feet. 

12 

20 

60 

20 

25 

20

Head.

Feet. -10 

-18 

-10 

-16 

-24 

-8

Springs.

Large. 

None. 

Small. 

Large. 

Do. 

Do.

aThe Pere Marquette Railroad furnishes a partial water supply and is to put in fire hydrants. The 

water is pumped from a well at the station to an elevated tank. 

&The village has six cisterns averaging 200 barrels each, which are used for fire protection.

WATER SUPPLIES OF OSCEOLA COUNTY.

By MYRON L. FULLER. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.**

Osceola County has the distinction of containing the highest point 

in the Southern Peninsula. It is about 1,700 feet above tide and is 

located on the northern edge of the county in sec. 12, Sherman Township. The interiobate moraine between the Lake Michigan and 

Saginaw Bay lobes occupies the western half of the county, and its 

foothills extend eastward nearly to the eastern limits of the county, 

there being little or no flat surface, except in the valley of Muskegon 

River and in the swamps inclosed among the morainic knolls and 

ridges. The elevation of much of the interiobate moraine is above 

1,300 feet, and that of Muskegon River is about 1,000 feet where it 

enters the moraine near Evart. The Lake Michigan lobe extended 

only into the western range of townships and into the edge of the 

range east, the remainder of the county being within the limits of the 

Saginaw lobe. The county is all tributary to the Muskegon, except 

the northwest corner, which drains to Manistee River, and the southeast corner, which drains to Chippewa River.

Much of the elevated morainic country is very sparsely settled, so 

that few borings for water have been made. The very high tract in 

the northern end of the county, however, is settled and has some deep 

wells. One on the farm of Albert Miller in sec. 11, Sherman TownIBB 183 06 7 rank Leverett.
84 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN -MICHIGAN.

ship, is 337 feet, and one on the farm of Francis Goodman in sec. 3, 

240 feet deep. There are numerous wells 100 to 200 feet in depth in 

that region. The water in nearly all has very little rise above the level 

at which it is struck. No wells within the county have ever reached 

rock, and it is possible that the highest points have 1,000 feet or more 

of drift. A boring at Reed City on ground only 1,025 feet above tide 

reached a depth of 276 feet without finding rock, the bottom of the 

well being nearly 1,000 feet lower than the highest point in the 

county. No borings in the northern part of the Southern Peninsula 

have found rock at an altitude more than 900 feet above tide, and it is 

scarcely probable that any points will be found within the limits of 

Osceola County at which the rock will reach an altitude of 900 feet. 

It is more likely to be entirely below 700 feet.

Flowing wells have been obtained in the vicinity of Marion, Rose 

Lake, Evart, and Reed City, and it is probable that they may be 

obtained in valleys and on the borders of lake basins in many other 

places in the county. Those in the southern part were examined by 

Mr. Fuller, who has prepared a report on them and on the village supplies of the county.

WATERWORKS.

EVART.

The public water supply of Evart is derived from two dug wells 

approximately 10 feet in diameter and 15 feet deep. They are 

located near the bank of Twin Creek, the surface of the ground being 

about 4 feet above the creek bed, about 30 feet above the railroad 

station according to barometer, and approximately 1,030 feet above 

sea level. The water stands 4 feet below the surface.

The wells were sunk and the waterworks constructed by the town 

about fifteen years ago. The pump has a capacity of 1,500,000 gallons per twenty-four-hour day. The domestic pressure maintained 

is 30 pounds to the square inch; the fire pressure, 80 pounds to the 

square inch. There are 5 miles of water mains and 30 fire hydrants.

Ordinarily the two dug wells furnish the entire supply of the town, 

but the amount is somewhat limited and sprinkling is allowed only 

between the hours of 5 to 8 a. m. and 5 to 9 p. m. The creek, however, can be drawn from in emergencies. A short distance back of 

the pumping station is a small flowing well, which could be made to 

furnish 3,000 additional gallons of water daily, but as yet no use is 

made of it. (See p. 86.) The location is such that additional supplies from shallow wells could be obtained at a very moderate cost. 

Small supplies from deep wells, similar to the one mentioned, could 

also probably be obtained at a depth of about 200 feet.

The water from the two wells is low in iron and of only medium 

hardness. A partial analysis is given in tables on page 91.
OSCEOLA COUNTY. 85 

EEED CITY.

Tne public supply of Reed City has been from a large dug well, 

20 feet in diameter, supplemented by pond water in cases of emergency. The waterworks, which are owned by the city, are located 

on the bank of the mill pond in the northern part of the town, the 

well being just back of the pumping station and a few feet above 

the river. The elevation is approximately 1,005 feet. In 1904 the 

supply was short, and even with sprinkling hours limited to morning 

and evening it was necessary to draw from the river. Fifteen new 

driven wells, to be about 65 or more feet deep, are contemplated 

(1904), several of which will be located inside of the large dug well 

and the rest piped into it. It is expected that the water will rise 

about 6 feet above the level of the pond.

The pumps, which have a capacity of 1,500,000 gallons in twentyfour hours, draw directly from the dug well or cistern. The average 

consumption is 380 gallons a minute. There are several miles of 

mains and about 36 fire hydrants. A small supplementary water 

supply is obtained from a deep well sunk about fourteen years ago. 

This is not turned into the general supply, but is piped to one or two 

troughs and a drinking fountain.

The quality of the town water could not be determined at the time 

of the writer's visit, as it was then mixed with lake water. The water 

of the deep well resembles that of the J. PI. Andrews well, an analysis 

of which is given in table on page 91.

FLOWING WELLS.

EVAET DISTEICT.

What is here known as the Evart district does not consist of a continuous area in which artesian waters are universally found, but 

rather of a number of isolated wells scattered along the valley of the 

Muskegon River for several miles. (See fig. 22.) These are in the 

part of the valley immediately east of the great interlobate moraine 

formed between the Lake Michigan and Saginaw Bay ice lobes. This 

moraine, within 5 miles northwest of Evart, reaches an altitude 300 

feet above the village, and being composed of loose-textured drift 

absorbs a large part of the rainfall. It thus seems well adapted to 

supply strong wells to the districts through which its waters pass 

underground. The full exploration of the valley above Evart, especially of the portion north of the river, may yield strong flows supplied 

from this catchment area. There were in the summer of 1904 only 

four flowing wells in the district; one at Evart, one in sec. 26, T. 17, 

R. 8 W., one in sec. 23 of the same township, and one in sec. 21, T. 17, 

R. 7 W. During the summer of 1904 E. C. Cannon drilled a well in 

the flats just south of Muskegon River in sec. 25, T. 17 N., R. 8 W.
86 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

In August the well had reached 350 feet, but at that time the tools 

were lost and the well was abandoned. No flows were encountered.

The only flowing well found in the village of Evart is located in the 

southwestern part just back of the waterworks, near Twin Creek, at 

a level about 3 feet above the creek bottom, and very nearly 1,030 

feet above tide. It is 195 feet deep, and flows at 1J feet above the 

surface. It was sunk about 1901 to supply a proposed fish hatchery. 

The water is said to have been analyzed and found suitable, but no 

use has yet been made of it. The yield is said to have decreased, but 

it now flows 2 gallons a minute from a 2-inch pipe. Its temperature 

is 48° F.

The water could be turned into the wells of the public water supply 

without difficulty and would add, if flowing at its present elevation, 

some 3,000 gallons daily. This flow would probably be considerably 

increased if it was piped into the waterworks wells at a depth of 3 or 4 

feet below the surface.

R.8W. R.7W.

FIG. 22. Sketch map of Evart artesian district, Osceola County.

The J. K. Grandy well (sec. 26, T. 17 N., R. 8 W.), which is one of 

the largest drift wells in Michigan, is located on a high terrace bordering Muskegon River, and half a mile southeast from the face of 

the moraine which crosses the southern half of sec. 23. The well was 

drilled by Jenkins and others in 1896, and is 2 inches in diameter and 

about 120 feet deep. No flows were encountered, except the one at 

120 feet, which issues from a pipe at about 3 feet above the surface. 

Its full head has not been measured but is probably considerable, as 

the water issues with some force, throwing a 2-inch jet 5 feet horizontally in a vertical drop of 3 feet. The yield is 88 gallons a minute, 

and the temperature is 48° F. The water tastes slightly of iron, is 

medium hard, and gives a little scale. A partial analysis is given in 

the table on page 91.

The Henry Baker well (sec. 23, T. 17 N., R. 8 W.) is located on 

the steep southeast slope of a high moraine, about 35 feet above the
OSCEOLA COUNTY. 87

edge of the adjacent flats bordering Muskegon River. The elevation 

is about 1,050 feet. The well is 2 inches in diameter, 60 feet deep, 

and was sunk in 1901. It yields a flow of 15 gallons a minute at 3 

feet above the surface, but will rise at least 6 feet higher. The flow 

is said to have been over 75 gallons a minute before the well was 

stopped down to its present small orifice. No decrease of volume 

has been noted. The flow comes from sand at the bottom, no other 

flow being encountered. The water has no taste, is only medium 

hard, and gives but slight scale. It is used for dairy, household, and 

farm purposes.

The Charles Conn well (sec. 21, T. 17 N., R. 7 W.) is located on a 

flat terrace near what is known as the Elbow of Muskegon River. A 

seam giving a flow about the size of a pencil was found at 80 feet. 

The well was drilled deeper, but, as no other water was found, the 

casing was pulled back to the first-found flow.

Water is generally found at less than 50 feet throughout the flats, 

but is not under artesian head, and windmills on deep-well pumps 

are required to bring it to the surface. The few attempts made to 

get flows have been generally successful, but, owing to the difference 

in fineness of material and the pinching out of the water-bearing veins 

away from the moraine, the results are very variable and can not be 

predicted. It is probable, however, that along the northern side of 

the river and within half a mile of the morainal hills, flows could be 

obtained within 200 feet of the surface at most points. A drawback 

to development is the high charges made by drillers in this locality, 

it being cheaper to drive shallow wells and install windmills than to 

sink deeper for flows. More flows could also probably be obtained 

near creek level along the stream west of Evart on which the waterworks are located.

REED GITT.

Besides the deep well at the waterworks, mentioned on page 85, 

the only flowing wells in town are those owned and operated by J. H. 

Andrews, and situated at the electric-light station, at the foot of the 

mill pond on the eastern edge of town. At an elevation of about 

1,000 feet are two wells 230 and 168 feet deep, respectively, drilled 

by Jacob Null in 1902. Small flows were obtained at 40 to 45 feet, 

but the water did not rise much above the surface. The wells are 

located on the flood plain of the small stream just below the mill pond, 

or about 10 feet below the pond level, and the water will rise from 12 

to 14 feet above the surface. The flow of the deeper well is reported 

as 105 gallons a minute, and of the shallower as 65 gallons, but they 

are now cased in and can not be measured. A ram is attached to 

one, which raises the water 15 to 20 feet into the electric-light plant 

and residence of Mr. Andrews. The water is high in iron and rather 

hard. For partial analysis see table on page 91.
88 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

The success of the well at the electric-light plant seems to indicate 

the possibility of obtaining good flows along the creek below the pond, 

and smaller flows from a low head could probably be obtained along 

the border of the pond itself. The head of neither the wells at the 

waterworks nor of those at the electric-light plant is sufficient to carry 

the water to the level of the flat on which the town is located, making 

it doubtful whether flows can be obtained in the business portion of 

the town, within reasonable distance of the surface.

MARION.

Marion is located in the northeast township of Osceola County 

near a branch of Muskegon River and east of the morainal hills occupying the greater part of the county. The wells are reported to vary 

from 20 to 80 feet in depth, the largest supply being at 60 or 70 feet. 

Some w.ells are said to have a weak flow, the head being sufficient to 

lift the water 6 to 8 feet above the surface. A public supply is maintained for fire purposes, but it is proposed to extend it by drawing 

from a pond. There is also a reported flow in the woods in the northeast corner of the county.

ROSE LAKE.

This village is located in the north-central portion of Osceola 

County in the hilly moraine. The wells vary in depth from 20 to 80 

feet. In some instances the water has a weak flow and will rise about 

a foot above the surface. The shallow water is reported to be moderately soft, the deep water rather hard.

SPRINGS.

NO-CHE-MO SPRINGS.

The No-che-mo Springs near Reed City rank among the wellknown mineral springs of Michigan, the waters being extensively 

advertised and sold throughout the country. A few years ago an 

attempt was made to develop the locality into a resort, and the springs 

were converted into flowing fountains, sometimes of considerable 

beauty. Over 100 springs are said to be found close together, but 

many of them are as yet undeveloped. The grounds are laid out with 

walks and trout ponds, and there is a bottling house of considerable 

capacity. The No-che-mo Springs are located about a mile north of 

Reed City in the marshy bottoms along Hersey River. They are 

mostly situated from 3 to 5 feet above the water level and are po sibly 

10 feet above the dam at Reed City. They occur in a sort of shallow 

amphitheater marking a former meander of the river. The ground is 

marshy throughout, and the springs are found within an area of a comparatively few acres.
OSCEOLA COUNTY. 89

The following is a list of the more important of the developed 

springs, together with data regarding quality of water, volume, and 

temperature:

Data ofNo-che-mo Springs.

Name rf spring.

Three Sprinsrs

Number 

of jets.

3 

3 

1 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1

' Total 

volume.

Gals, per 

minute. 

3 

12 

4 

5 

Several. 

i+

\ 

3

4

Temperature.

°F.

49

48J

49

Taste.

Strong iron. 

" Iron.

None. 

Do. 

'Strong iron.

The quality of the water as regards taste has been indicated in the 

above table. A complete analysis of the No-che-mo Spring, which is 

regarded as possessing the most valuable medicinal properties of any of 

the springs, is given below:

Analysis of water of No-che-mo Sprinf/.a

[By Richard Fisher and Albert A. Prescott, Ann Arbor, Mich.l

Parts per million. 

Silica (SiO2) ............................................................ 14. 35

Phosphoric acid (PO4)....................__....__..............._..-........ .36

Iron (Fe)................................................................ 2. 00

Aluminum (Al) .......................................................... .48

Magnesium (Mg).......................................................... 18. 36

Bicarbonate radicle (HCO3)................................................ 265.12

Calcium (Ca)............................................................. 50.04

Sodium (Na)............................................................. 14. 61

Chlorine (Cl)..........:.................................................. 8. 30

373. 62

The water is bottled and extensively sold for table and medicinal 

purposes, shipments having been made to California and Hawaii. A 

sort of snuff, said to be very beneficial in cases of cold and hay fever, 

is made by passing the water through a series of square, metallic cans, 

in which on the bottom a brownish sediment, mainly of the hydrous 

oxide of iron, collects.

The "springs" as they now exist are really all shallow artesian 

wells, although most of them were natural springs before being artificially confined by an impervious cover and made to rise through 

pipes into the fountains. It is reported that in a few instances flows 

were obtained by simply driving pipes 10 to 12 feet into the ground. 

The most interesting spring scientifically is the Geyser Spring, the

« Expressed by analyst in grains per gallon and hypothetical combinations; recomputed to ionic 

form and parts per million at United States Geological Survey.
90 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

water of which is piped laterally for some distance underground. 

Most of the time it flows weakly, but about every two hours it is said to 

throw a jet several feet into the air. This flow continues for five to 

ten minutes, and then subsides. During the activity of the Geyser 

Spring the Osceola Spring, which is piped from the same source, stops 

flowing. The geyser-like activity is probably due to a peculiar method 

of piping, doubtless some form of siphon action.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

Village supplies in Osceola County.

Town.

Ashton.. ........

Chippewa station.

Dighton.........

Garmer

Source.

.....do................. .....

Driven wells, open wells, and 

springs. 

Driven wells, springs (flowing 

wells near) .

Ina. ............

Tustin

Driven wells, springs... .......

Driven wells and river (some

Driven wells, springs, creeks . .

.....do.........................

Driven wells, pond, spring 

(some flows). 

Driven wells (some flows) .....

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

20

10 

12

10

20 

20

160

20

25 

12 

12 

12

10 

20

To 

Feet. 

60

85 

135

197

100 

125

225

80

125 

35 

65 

200

80 

196

Common.

Feet. 

55

40 

TOO

50

60

190

65

75 

18

30

20 

25 

40

Depth 

to principal 

supply.

Feet. 

55

40 

100

15

20 

25

Head.

Feet.

-20

.......

± 0

± o

± 0

Springs.

Large.

Variable. 

Small.

Variable.

Do. 

Small.

Do. 

Large.

Small. 

Variable. 

Medium.

Do.

None.

QUALITY OF WATER IN OCEANA, NEWAYGO, 

MECOSTA, AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES.

BY MYRON L. FULLER.

The following table gives miscellaneous analyses made in the field. 

The field apparatus did not determine the exact amount of sulphates 

present when there was less than 30 parts per million. The figures 

are based on estimates and are probably correct within 5 parts per 

million.
Field analyses of waters in Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, and 

[Parts per million.]

No.

1 

2 

3

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22

23

24 

25 

26

Town, township, or district.

Hart.........................

Shelby............... ........

.....d6. ...... ................

.....do.......................

.....do.......................

.....do.......................

Location.

2

oH

15 

16 

16

16 

16 

15 

14 

14 

14 

19 

19 

18

18 

16 

.14

15

12 

12 

12 

12 

12

14 

14 

14 

13

M

C 

cS 

tf

17 

18 

18

17 

16 

16 

17

18 

18 

8 

8 

10

10

7

7 

12

14 

14 

14 

13 

14

14 

15 

16

18

.0 

1

02

17 

14 

1

35 

17

8

25 

36 

33 

26

27

1 

19

2 

2 

3 

17 

22

30 

25 

23 

26

jj

I

oj

&

SE. 

SW.

NE.

SE. 

SE.

NE.

SE.

NE. 

SE. 

NE.

SW.

SW.

NW. 

NE. 

SW. 

SW. 

SE.

SW. 

SE. 

NE. 

C.

Source.

Well........................

.....do.....................

.....do......................

.....do......................

.....do......................

Well........................

.....do......................

Well ..... .............. .

.....do......................

Well........................

.....dOTT-.... ................

.....do......................

.....do......................

.....do......................

Owner.

.....do..................

Town.............. ....

Town... ................

No-che-mo Springs Co .

J. H. Andrews. ........

E. Kunzman ...........

School district No. 1 ...

Town..... ..............

H. B. Markle. ..........

H. K. Bush............
92 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IF SOUTHEEF MICHIGAN.

WATER SUPPLIES OF ISABELLA COUNTY.

By W. M. GREGORY. 

GENERAL STATEMENT, a

Isabella County, of which Mount Pleasant is 

the county seat, is called the central county of 

the Southern Peninsula. It lies entirely within 

the drainage basin of Saginaw Bay, and was 

covered by the Saginaw glacial lobe. It carries 

a concentric series of moraines, running in a 

curving course across the county, concave to the 

east. The drainage has a trellised arrangement 

because of the control exercised by these moraines. The principal stream is Chippewa River, 

which drains the central and northwestern parts 

of the county. The southwestern part is tributary to Pine River and the northeastern to Salt 

River. The Glacial Lake Saginaw extended a 

few miles into the eastern part of the county, 

and its bed is now a smooth plain sloping eastward. It is on this plain that some of the large 

flowing-well districts here discussed have been 

developed. There are also flowing-well districts 

in the sags between the morainic ridges.

On the moraines wells are often driven to 

depths of 50 feet or more, but as a rule water 

in plenty is found at moderate depths. Except 

for the flowing wells, which are sunk deep in 

order to obtain a flow, it is rare that a well is 100 

feet in depth. The only wells which have reached 

rock are those at Mount Pleasant, known as the 

bromine wells, of which there are four or more 

sunk to depths of about 1,500 feet. The drift 

is between 400 and 500 feet in thickness at 

Mount Pleasant, and may exceed 700 feet in the 

western part of the county on the high morainic 

tracts, which stand more than 200 feet above 

the town. .

FLOWING WELLS.

GENERAL EELATIONS.

Isabella County has three large flowing-well 

districts, which extend into the adjacent counties of Midland and Clare. One district in

rank Leverett.

d!M!

tfl

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ISABELLA COUNTY. 93

Nottawa and Gilmore townships lies between two morainic ridges, 

while the other two are on the eastern or lakeward slope of the more 

eastern of these moraines. The western district is called the Nottawa 

artesian basin; the large district in the eastern part of the county 

and in western Midland County the Isabella basin; and a district 

embracing the southeastern part of Isabella and southwestern part 

of Midland the Coe basin, each being named from the township in 

which flows are most widely distributed and most numerous. In 

addition there are two isolated flowing wells in the southwestern 

corner of Isabella County. The following table indicates the townships included in each basin, the number of flowing wells which have 

been located, and the total flow of 256 of these wells:

Summary of flowing wells of Isabella. County and parts of Gratiot, Midland, and Clare

counties.

COE BASIN.

County. Township. Number 

of wells. Area. Flow per 

minute.

Sq. miles. Gallons.

Isabella....... Coe (T. 13 N., R. 3 W.)................................. 38 9 66.1

Do........ Chippewa(T. 14 N., R. 3 W.)........................... 26 6 130.1

Midland ....... Jaspera (T. 13 N.,R.2 W.)......... ................... 17 6 89.7

Gratiot........ Befchany (T. 12 N., R. 2 W.)............................ 3 2 65.0

23 351.9 

. ISABELLA BASIN.

Isabella....... Isabella (T. 15 N., R. 4 W.)-......-...-...----..-...... 91 26 216.1

Do........ Southeast Vernon (T. 16 N., R. 4 W.).................. 13 8 27.0

Do......... Denver (T.15N.,R.3W.).--....-....-.----..-.-...-.. 25 5 52.4

Do........ Wise (T. 16 N., R.3W.)................................ 8 2 12.6

Midland....... Geneva& (T. 15 N., R. 2W.)............................ 3 3 6.1

Do........ Warren& (T. 16 N., R. 2 W.)........................... 1 1

141 45 350.0 

NOTTAWA BASIN.

Isabella....... Nottawa (T. 15 N., R. 5 W.)........................... 13 6 35.3

Do........ Gilmore (T. 16 N., R. 5 W.) ............................ 6 3 72.3

Do........ Northwest Vernon (T. 16 N., R. 4 W.)................. 8 11 19.0

Clare.......... Grant (T. 17 N., R. 4 W.).............................. 4 5 8.1

31 25 131.7 

SUMMARY.

Coe basin............................................................. .. 84 23 351.9

Isabella basin........................................................... 141 45 315.0

Nottawa basin.......................................................... 31 31 134.7

256 801.6

» Davis found a flow of about 110 gallons a minute from 52 wells in Jasper Township. 

6 The wells of Geneva and Warren townships are somewhat isolated and may not fall within the 

Isabella basin.

Isabella Township has the largest number of flows, and the wells 

are widely distributed, being highly prized by farmers for domestic,
94 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

stock, and dairy purposes. The water is suitable for laundry use, 

although requiring in some cases the addition of softening compounds. In cheese factories and creameries it is used for cooling and 

makes it possible to dispense with the use of ice. The better methods 

of well drilling have lessened the cost and led to a great increase in the 

number in the last five years. The wells cost from 25 to 50 cents a 

foot and are drilled usually under a contract for a flow. They are 

allowed to flow freely, not being checked in any of the basins which 

were visited. There is little danger of a well diminishing the flow of 

its neighbors by this practice, because they are widely separated, but 

in time it may result in a general loss of head in the area, and this 

should be guarded against.

In the western half of Isabella County a supply is secured easily by 

shallow pump wells, or by deeper wells with water near the surface or 

even overflowing. The shallow flowing wells yield better water than

Ground surface

/Water lei/el ivhen//rir£t dritlect

-*________ _y/_ _______[__ _.

Water _leve_ I ^prting, I9O6 _ _^_ \

Water /ere/,

CATCH TANK

Jl

FIG. 24. Sketch showing fluctuations of Abbott's well, 2 miles north of Shepherd. Coe Township,

Isabella County.

the deeper, for the latter are apt to be slightly brackish, a condition found in some of the wells along Chippewa and Salt rivers.

The total flow of the wells in these three districts is about 800 gallons a minute, estimates having been made from 256 wells, which are 

distributed among the different basins, as shown above. In the Isabella basin the flows average about 2 gallons a minute. Several local 

failures of the supply were found in this basin, but there was no indication of any general change. In the Coe basin the wells average 4 

gallons a minute and show no indications of any general decrease. 

Mr. Abbott, a well driller, has his well (No. 38, Coe Township) so 

arranged that its fluctuations have been determined. The well was 

drilled in 1898, and the head was 6 inches higher than at present 

(July, 1905). The annual variation in head is 4 inches, being highest 

in the spring and lowest in the summer, as shown by the sketch (fig. 

24), which was made on the ground. It will be observed that the
ISABELLA COUNTY. 95

highest water level of the spring now falls 2 inches short of reaching the original level when the well was first drilled.

In the Nottawa basin the wells average about 3 gallons a minute, 

not considering Mr. George Cook's well, which flows 60 gallons a minute. None of the wells have shown any decrease, and the probable 

area from which these flows can be obtained is larger than that now 

developed, but it is limited by the moraines on the west and east.

COE BASIN.

In the Coe basin, in the southeastern township of Isabella County, 

and in the bordering parts of Gratiot and Midland counties, the slope

R. 3 w. R. z w.

FIG. 26. The Coe flowing-well district of Isabella and Midland counties.

of the water beds appears to be to the east (fig. 25). The western 

edge of this basin follows, in a general way, the borders of Lake Saginaw, an old Glacial lake, whose beaches in this region are about 750 to 

765 feet above sea level. The material from which flowing waters are 

derived is more sandy than that of the other basins, and considerable 

trouble is experienced because of clogging and caving, which requires 

frequent sand pumping and repair. Many fragments of drift coal 

from the Michigan formation are encountered, but no bed rock is 

reached. The following record of J. L. Coon's well (No. 15, Coe 

Township) gives an idea of the material to be encountered:
96 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 

Record of Coon well, Coe Township.

Sand ...............

Sand, gravel, and fli 

Hardpan ...........

Sand, gravel, and se 

Reddish clay above

Thickness.

Feet. 

20 

14 

44 

10 

10 

117

Total.

Feet. 

20 

34 

78 

88 

98 

215

Mr. Abbott (No. 38, Coe Township) drilled three wells on his 

property, 205, 105, and 87 feet in depth, respectively. The last one 

flows a small stream, which fluctuates during the year. The deeper 

wells were some 200 feet distant from the flow, and, after passing 

through 50 feet of sand and gravel, the remainder was red and blue 

clay. In the northern part of the Coe basin, in Chippewa Township, 

Mr. Salisbury's well had the following record:

Record of Salisbury well, Coe basin.

Clay. .............................................................................

Hardpan and clay ................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

32

53

12

15

Total.

Feet. 

32

85

97

112

Mr. Salisbury has an abundant supply of water, which is forced to 

the second story of his residence by a hydraulic ram. The well has 

been cased 97 feet. In the Coe basin, Midland County, the well 

owned by Mr. W. H. Fox (No. 18 Jasper Township, Midland County) 

found water-bearing beds at 40 feet and 55 feet, and the present supply, under hardpan, at 84 feet. The Coe basin extends south nearly to 

St. Louis, Michigan (see report by C. A. Davis, pp. 219-220).
Wells in Ooe basin. 

JASPER TOWNSHIP (T. 13 N.. R. 2 W.), MIDLAND 

Section.

7 

31

"1

30

19 

19 

30 

19 

20 

29 

29 

30

30

"1

29 

31 

31

32J

31 

33 

32 

29

*!

16 

16{

15 

15

Owner.

C. Baker.............

N. S. Baldwin.......

A. W. Baldwin......

.....do...............

.....do...............

A. J. Austin. ........

T. D. Martin .......

R. C. Martin........

.....do...............

.....do...............

.....do...............

W. Hanley..........

.....do...............

.....do...............

.....do...............

W.Billock.. .........

J. W. Fox...........

.....do...............

W. Keefer... ........

L. Pickens...........

When 

made.

1897 

1897

1901

1880 

1885 

1896

1889 

1884 

1889

1903 

1901 

1884 

1884

1895 

1895 

1890

Elevation.

Feet.

740 

740 

740 

f 730 

\ 725G 

728 

728 

725 

730 

730 

730 

730 

730 

I 725 

t 728G 

725 

725 

725 

725 

730 

730 

725 

728 

728 

725 

715 

710 

718 

725 

720 

720 

720 

718 

720 

720 

722

Diameter.

In.

5 

&

Q

Feet. 

60

120 

70 

50 

20 

76

17 

32 

32±

140? 

50 ± 

47 

41 

42

43 

76

55

63 

90 

90 

50 

86 

87 

53 

SO 

60 

20 

32 

33 

66

33 

33 

42 

33

 a

03 

a> W

Feet.

+ 1 

+ 1.75 

+ 1.5>

+ .5

+ 1

+ 1.5 

+ 12 

+ .3

+ 2 

+ 3 

+ 2 

+ 2 

+ 4

+ 4

+ 3 

+ 1.5 

+ 4 

+ 3 

+ 2.5 

+ 2.5 

+ 1.5 

+ 2 

+ 14 

+ 1 

+ 1 

+ 1

+ 2.5 

+ 0 

+ 2 

+ 2

Water bed.

Elevation.

Feet.

670 

690 

720 

654 

649G 

711 

696 

693

590 

680 

683 

689

682 

649 

670 

693 

667 

640 

635 

678 

642 

648 

662 

630 

658 

705 

688 

687 

654 

685 

687 

678 

689

Character.

Sand . . .

....do...

....do...

> Gravel. .

....do .. 

Sand . . . 

....do...

....do...

....do... 

....do... 

....do... 

....do...

|...do...

....do... 

....do...

Sand . . . 

....do... 

....do... 

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do... 

....do...

....do...

....do...

Sand.... 

....do...

(-1&z

3

ls.S

r a &

Galls.

0.5

2

.25

.25

1G 

1.12 

1

3 

.25 

.25 

4

2

3

2 

8-10

1 

2 

2 

2-3

8 ,

1

.5

33 

Small

..do.

..do.

3

Temperature.

°F.

50

51

50G 

52

50 

51 

51 

50 

50

50 

50

50 

50 

50

50

50.5

Quality of 

water.

Rather hard . 

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

Rather hard. 

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do.........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

Hard; iron . . .

.....do........

Hard.........

.....do........

W

H

N

F

H

F

J

JB

H

H

C

\ T

/ 

F

W

F

F

o Data chiefly from C. A. Davis. The letter "G" after certain figures indicates that the
WeUs in Coe basin Continued. 

JASPER TOWNSHIP (T. 13 N., R. 2 W.), MIDLAND COUN

Section.

22 

21 

8 

17 

17

19

30

22

18 

18 

27 

36

 * 

Owner.

L. Orwig..... .....

E. Hartford .......

E. Sheldrake .......

.....do .............

.....do..............

.....do................

.....do................

A. T. Shivelya .... ..

G. Smock t> ...........

H. Buletz &...........

F. Ostweld 6.........

H. Bailer 6...........

Tuger & Son& ........

When 

made.

1900

1898

1884

Elevation.

Feet. 

715 

715 

725 

724 

720 

725 

725

725

725

727

722

725 

725 

705

725

728 

730 

710 

716 

717 

715 

710 

725 

715 

720

: !;3Diameter.

ft 

P

Feet. 

65 

60±

42

47± 

87

W

Feet. 

+ 2 

+ 2 

+ 1.5

. .! 16

9

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2

28 ........

25 ........

30 ........

50+ + 2 

26 ........

33

90? 

30+

80

60 

20 

80 

50 

29 

50 

30 

20 

45 

25? 

38

+ 2 

+ 2

Water-bed.

Elevation.

Feet. 

650 

655 

683 

676 

633 

709 

698 

697 

700 

695 

687

672 

699 

692 

615

645 

668 

710 

630 

666 

688 

665 

680 

705 

670 

695

Character.

....do... 

....do ...

Sand....

Flow per minute.

Galls. 

1

1.5

8

4

9

2

.8

.7 

.6

.7 

.9

1

1.5

10 

1.5

Temperature.

°F.

50 

50

50

4Q PI

50

50

50 

49.5

49.5

49

Quality of 

water.

.....do........

.....do........

Hard .........

Soft ..........

.....do........

.....do........

Soft ..........

Soft ..........

T

(

S

L

H

H

H

H

I

S

H

H

I

H

COE TOWNSHIP (T. 13 N., R. 3 W.), ISABELLA CO

E. Rivett.............

.....do................

747 

747 

747

747

80 

130

43

86

+ 20 667 

617 

704 

681 .......... 2

51 

51

51

Soft ..........

.....do........

S

H

S
.....do................

.....do ................

.....do................

G. Mills. ..............

W. E. Warner........

D

"Po-f-c»r«!

R. Elliott ............

A nia-rr

739

742

740

739

739

710

738

740

742

727

79=;

738

738

7*?Q

747

749

7 en

743

7 on

745

7qn

730

79^

746

745

766

760

777

767

735

766

730

7QA

79

108

43

47

49

38

49

60

205

70

30

40

80

80

92

58

88

30

92

50

89

25

35

20

50

46

80

50

50

60

87

74

+ 4

I Q

+ 7

+ 14

+ 1

660

634

697

692

690

672

689

689

672

667

655

708

698

659

667

657

692

655

700

653

704

680

636

721

710

715

716

714

697

717

685

706

643

716

(?;

2

1

1.5

2

2

1

1

1

1

1.5

1

1

1.5

2.1

1

1.5

.5

1.5

9

2.5

2.5

3

1

50

50

50

50

50

50

49

49

49

49

49

49

49i

.....do........

Soft ..........

Soft. .........

Soft ..........

Soft ..........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

..... do ........

.....do........

.....do ........

.....do........

.....do.........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

.t... do. .......

.....do........

.....do........

.....do........

Records furnished by Mr. Armstrong Kinney, well driller, from memory. 
Wdls in Coe basin Continued. 

CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP (T. 14 N., R. 3 W.), ISABELLA 

Section.

Owner.

P. Alien...............

N. Hill... .............

S.J. Alien...... .......

B. Gardiner....... ....

H. R. Kelley.. ........

E. Y. Kelley..........

E. P. Peat............

E. J. Doyle...........

W D Seeley

Mr. Mullett...........

B. Wing. .............

D. Hall...............

B. Wing..............

W. B. Wing..........

F. C. Coomev.........

B. Walters...........

When 

made.

Elevation.

Feet. 

715

718

715' 

710 

710 

712 

710 

719 

721 

720 

721 

715 

707 

718 

730 

718 

719 

720 

730 

738

735

725

722 

720 

710 

705 

685

Diameter.

In. 

2

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2

.2

2

2 

2 

2 

2 

2

"2"

2

"2" 

2

"2"

XI +3 

a 

a 

Q

.Pert, 

f 50 

I 47 

f 71? 

1 60 

86 

76 

36 

82 

80 

57 

70

62 

62

89

76 

80 

46 

76 

30 

64 

54 

f 20 

t 35 

) 36 

i 15 

28 

49 

100 

90 

112

W

Feet. 

} +10

+ 11 

0

+ 13 

+15

+11

+ 12

+ 14 

+13 

+6 

+ 12

Water bed.

Elevation.

Feet. 

665 

668 

647 

658 

629 

634 

674 

630 

630 

662 

651 

658 

659 

626

642 

650 

672 

643 

690 

666 

684 

715 

700 

689 

710 

694 

671 

610 

615 

573

Character.

}.........

}.........

}.........

Flow per minute.

Gall* 

1

2

1.5

8

2

2.5

1 

2

12

1

10 

1.5

9

10

40

4

5.1 

2

Temperature.

F .

m

49

48

49J

48*

.48

48i

49J

49i

'"56"

Quality of 

water.

Hard .........

Soft...........

Hard .........

Hard .........

Hard .........

}...............

Soft...........

.... .do ........

Hard.......... 

....do.........

H

C

H

S

H

H

In 

H

H

N

S

H

S

H

H

H

A

I

H

B

H

H

B

L

a Wells Nos. 9, 11, 13, 19, 21, 23, and 26 have a diameter smaller t
ISABELLA COUNTY.

ISABELLA BASIN.

101

The water beds of the Isabella basin yield small, uniform flows. 

The beds extend eastward from the crest of the moraine which separates it from the Nottawa basin into the western townships of Geneva 

and Warren of Midland County, and are distributed over the gradual slope of the plain on the lakeward side of the moraine (fig. 28, 

p. 107). Along the western border of the basin many trials have 

been made to obtain water, but when the elevation is above 820 feet 

flows have never been obtained, and on the morainal crest the water 

is very scarce. In sec. 7, Isabella Township, several trial wells from 

90 to 191 feet deep have failed to secure sufficient water, and the 

largest part of the material drilled through was tough clay. This 

experience has been repeated at a number of places on the western 

border of the Isabella basin, as shown by the records of Nos. 3, 35, 

102, 104, 105, and 108 (Isabella Township). One of the strongest 

flows in the basin has 30 feet of clay, 18 feet of hardpan with pebbles and gray clay, and 16 feet of consolidated sand and gravel over

Feet /Crest of moraine

9001 £ 

Scale of miles 

2 3

FIG. 26. Cross section from Isabella to Denver Township.

the water bed. In the eastern extension of the Isabella basin, in. 

Denver Township, beds are found under the same conditions. The 

following record of George Cole's well (No. 2, Denver Township) is 

typical:

Record of Cole well, Denver Township.

Clay..............................................................................

Sand ........................................................................... . : 

Thickness.

Feet

22

20

10

15

1

Total.

Feet. 

5

27

47

57

72

73

No rock has been reached in any of the wells. Mr. Mal Bloom 

drilled a well (No. 22, Denver Township) 200 feet without reaching 

rock, and the water was so scarce that the pipe was pulled back to a 

small flow at 28 feet. In this well the material was clay under 90 

feet of sand and gravel. Several wells of this region are quite high 

in chlorides, but no rock has been revealed by any of the trials. 

Several large springs, some of which are salty, occur in this basin 

along Salt River. One of the "salt licks" is in the northwest cor-
102 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

ner of sec. 23, Denver Township. A number of these salty springs 

are found farther east along the river in Geneva Township, Midland 

County. The wells in the southeast corner of Vernon Township are 

in the Isabella basin, as are those to the east in Wise Township. 

The crest of one of the Saginaw moraines is the western border of 

the Isabella basin in Vernon, where the water beds range from 15 to 

88 feet below the surface and is scarce in the lower bed and more 

abundant in the upper layers. Flows ought to be obtained at any 

place in sec. 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36, Vernon Township, and in Wise 

Township good flows will be found at moderate depths in sees. 29, 

30, 31, and 32. The limit of the bed to the east in Midland County 

has not been determined, but at Coleman a test well 300 feet deep 

was made for water, and the material passed in drilling was reported 

as sand at the surface and the remainder clay. No shallow wells 

have an abundant supply of water at Coleman, and driven wells 

100 to 180 feet deep have only a scant supply. Excellent flows are 

reported about Coleman in sees. 7, 11, 16, 17, and 18, Geneva Township. Northeast of Coleman, Edenville Township, a few have been 

reported, showing that the belt of flows, of which the Isabella and 

the Coe basins are parts, is nearly continuous along the slope of the 

Saginaw moraine from St. Louis, in Gratiot County, through Isabella and Midland to Gladwin County, near Highwood, and thence 

past Bourrett Township to West Branch, in Ogemaw County.

Wells in Isabella basin, Isabella County. 

DENVER TOWNSHIP (T. 15 N., R. 3 W.).

OD 

(M

U>

c 

a 

o

6 

X

1

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23

24 

25 

26 

27

Owner.

P.J. Marty...........

.....do. ...............

J.Lfoyd..... .........

Mrs. P. Epple. ........

J. Day................

T. T. Tompkins. ..... 

Wm. Blendheim ......

Fred Thorpe .........

O. Alien ........ ...

Wm. Bloom. .........

Joe. Bloom..... ....

Elevation.

Ft. 

770 

765 

760 

751 

765 

760 

765 

760 

760 

765 

760 

769 

765 

760 

759 

760 

760 

750 

755 

755 

765 

758 

763

765 

760 

760 

755

A

ft <o 

ft

Ft. 

150 

60 

65 

80 

82 

65 

105 

65 

77 

64 

73 

50 

115 

50 

70 

81 

60 

30 

50 

60 

78 

92 

28

125 

64 

55 

60

of Elevation bed. water 

Ft. 

620 

705 

695 

671 

683 

695 

660 

695 

683 

701 

687 

719 

650 

710 

689 

679 

700 

720 

705 

695 

587 

666 

735

640 

696 

705 

695

®

~ I 

<«°

 2

03 

£

Ft.

------

Flow min-per 

ute.

Gals. 

2 

.5

1.2 

.3

2.5 

1.5 

2

1.5

1.9 

1.2

2.3

4.5 

1.2 

2.4

1.5

9 XL

3.6

1.8

1.2

2.5

2.3

1.5

3.8

Temperature.

°F. 

49i

51

51 

51 

50 

50

49

48J 

49

48J

49J

48J

49

Quality.

Hard. 

...do.. 

...do..

...do..

...do..

Hard.

Salt... 

Hard.

Salt...

Remarks.

House and barn. 

House use. 

House and barn: 2 wells. 

Stock farm; salty water. 

House use. * 

Storeroom for butter. 

At barn, for stock. 

House use. 

Decreased by No. 8; house use. 

House use. 

Used for drinking at store. 

House use. 

In field, for stock; no flow.

House; drinking and cooling. 

Used for drinking only. 

House and barn. 

At house on river fiat. 

At barn, for stock. 

Domestic and stock use. 

House. 

Domestic and stock use. 

House and stock; no water at 

200 feet. 

House and stock. 

Do. 

Do. 

Stock and domestic use.
ISABELLA COUNTY. 103

Wells in Isabella basin, Isabella County Continued. 

ISABELLA TOWNSHIP (T. 15 N., R. 4 W.).

a

£

a 

o

6 

X

1

?:

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1?

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28,

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

V7

38

39

40

41

42

43

45

46

47

48

49

Kfl

51

52

53

cc

56

Owner.

O.H.Philips.........

Mr.Fall....... ........

J. Burr...............

Mr. Mitchell ..........

W Neif

Mr. Priest (?).........

A. Miller..............

W Neif

J Neifs

^V Gavhart

W Angel 1

T. Carroll.... .........

Elevation.

Ft. 

870

870

866

780

770

780

785

783

770

778

771

775

77Q

780

782

775

775

777

780

770

772

765

765

760

763

770

778

780

780

779

788

796

808

815

829

820

821

810

798

820

783

794

784

780

779

770

790

790

777

778

778

770

f

D 

fl

Ft. 

30

130

160

150

115

100

50

100

90

90

100

90

180

106

142

100

90

160

40

80

100

90

115

90

180

90

100

70

53

55

82

200

100

146

120

110

98

105

100

120

103

100

90

97

92

80

of Elevation bed. water 

Ft. 

840

740

630

666

630

670

683

739

670

688

696

685

690

602

669

633

677

690

610

7OO

670

660

663

680

678

630

665

689

608

706

708

845

776

739

610

698

674

619

674

692

670

670

687

690

705

687

681

686

690

D

^ 1 

fe£

3

Ft.

789

795

790

770

820

818

801

790

785

Flow min-per 

ute.

Gals.

6.5

.3

.1

2

.9

1

1

.8

1.5

1.1

1.5

1.5

2.5

3

1.5

1

.9

.5

2.1

3.5

1.5

2.6

.8

'2.8

3 9

4.2

30

5.2

3.2

2

1.3

4.2

2

.5

1.3

2.5

1.5

2.5

2.1

1.5

1

Temperature.

°F.

491

4Q1

491

4Q1

48i

49J

50

49

49

491

51

50

49J

49

50

49|

4Q1

49J

494

49

50

49J

48*

50

Quality.

Hard' .

...do..

Hard.

Hard.

t

Soft . .

Remarks.

Do.

Do.

In field; only 8 feet of pipe

Flow decreasing; water hard.

Domestic and stock use.

In field.

House use; water soft.

In field; water soft.

House use; water soft.

House and barn use.

a Several trials for water have been made here, depths varying from 90 to 193 feet. The water is scarce 

and hard to get. Most is present at 98 feet. Largest part of material is hard clay.

& Well drilled through sand and clay to water bed at 50 feet and continued to 100 feet in hopes of strong 

flow. No water found at deeper point. Pipe pulled back to flow at 50 feet.

c Clay 40 feet, remainder sand. Gravel at 100 feet, good flow.

<* In field for stock use. Only 8 feet of pipe drilled through the hard clay to gravel bed. Flow has 

decreased.

« This well lowered No. 91 across-the road on the property of Wm. Graham.

/ Well at house. Record: Clay 30 feet; hardpan and gray clay, some pebbles, little water, 18 feet, 

consolidated sand and gravel, 16 feet; water at 64 feet; strong flow and has been difficult to control;, 

coming up on outside of pipe. Much CO»; some iron; water is hard.

9 Water beds and flows at 50, 90, and 100 feet. '

ft Well at house 105 feet lowered heads of Nos. 46, 45, and 31. Two other wells same elevation as well 

at house are 110 feet and 95 feet, respective!}. Combined flowage of wells exceeds 4.2 gallons per second. 

Water at house hard.

* Well mostly in gravelly clay. Three feet of hardpan at about 96 feet. A small water bed at 85 feet. 

Water rose 16 feet in pipe.
104 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wdls in Isabella basin, Isabella County Continued. 

ISABELLA TOWNSHIP (T. 15 N., R. 4 W.) Continued.

a

<§> 

§

6 

£

57 

58 

59

60 

61 

62 

63 

64 

65 

66

67 

68 

69 

70 

71 

72 

73 

74 

75 

76 

77 

78 

79 

80

81 

82 

83 

84 

85 

86 

87

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99

100 

101 

102 

103 

104 

105 

106 

107 

108

Owner.

F. Polwalker. ........

Wm. Pfohl............

Wm. Kellar...........

Wm. West ............

F. Wright............

F. J.Clare c ...........

P Folley

Wm. Elliot . ..........

Rosebush station. ....

J. Potter..............

School................

J.Roy................

Ed. Roberts..........

F. Miller..............

O. F.Dart. ...........

Wm. Bellunger f ......

Elevation.

Ft.

760 

765

759

775 

770 

759 

7CO 

760 

759

750 

749 

747 

770 

760 

763 

770 

780 

783 

780 

770 

767 

771 

790

778 

785 

813 

800 

815 

775 

795

770 

772 

785 

788 

780 

770 

781 

773 

768 

760 

753 

748

745* 

815 

800 

790 

810 

815 

760 

793 

840

.d-4^>

ft

0}

O

Ft. 

90

85 

104

100 

29 

86 

97 

84 

80 

110

114 

60 

100 

93 

100 

80 

90 

90 

44 

38 

44 

83 

80 

68

40 

97 

89 

90 

186 

170 

100

148 

201 

60 

90 

93 

80 

38 

38 

50 

70 

130 

50

115 

80 

30 

80 

30 

30 

157 

60 

70

of Elevation bed. water 

Ft.

675 

659

659 

756 

684 

662 

674 

680 

649

636 

689 

647 

667 

660 

683 

680 

690 

739 

642 

626 

684 

691 

722

738 

688 

724 

710 

629 

605 

695

622 

571 

725 

698 

687 

690 

743 

735 

718

623 

698

630 

735 

770 

710 

680 

685 

603 

733 

770

Water rises

to 

Ft.

765

769

745

775

805

779

Flow min-per 

ute.

Gals. 

1.8 

2.5

3 

2.1

5.8

1.6

8

8 

1.2 

1.3 

1.5

2

1.5

2.1 

.9

1.3 

2.1

1.4

3.6 

4.1 

1.1 

1.2 

1.5 

2.3 

.8

1.6

1.1

1.2

1.3 

1.5

.3

1.8

778 8. 2 

1.5

800

829

790

2.8

1.5

9 

2

5

1.5

3

Temperature.

0 F. 

50

49J

49J

51 

51 

51

49J

49

49* 

50 

49

48 

48

50 

51 

50J 

50

50

51

50

49J

49

Quality.

Hard . 

...do ..

Soft . .

Hard . 

.. do .. 

...do.. 

...do ..

...do .. 

...do ..

Hard . 

...do..

Hard .

Hard . 

...do..

Hard .

Soft. . .

...do..

Hard .

Remarks.

House use. 

Do. 

House and stock use; water 

soft. 

House use. 

Pump well; water soft. 

House use. 

In field, for stock. 

House use. 

Stock barn. 

Decreased by well east 300 

feet. 

In heavy gravel bed. 

House use; water hard. 

Stock and house. 

Water from sand bed. 

Stock barn. 

In field, for stock. 

Decreased since drilling. 

In field, for stock 

Barn. 

Drinking. 

House and barn. 

House. 

House use; nearly all clay. 

Barn and house; water from 

gravel bed. 

Stock barn; piped to house. ' 

House and barn. 

House use. 

Stock, in field. 

House and barn.

Formerly good flow, but 

drained by No. 47. 

Drinking and steaming. 

House use. 

No water; mostly clay.- 

Stock and domestic use. 

Domestic use. 

At barn; piped to house. 

Drinking. 

House. 

Barn and house. 

No water; several trials. 

House use. 

Clay 25 feet, sand 10 feet, 

clay 15 feet. 

Domestic use. 

House use. 

Pump well in sand. 

House use. 

Do. 

Barn and house. 

House, piped to barn. 

House use. 

Pump well.

a Two water beds passed before this flow. Drift chiefly clay and gravel. Flow not as strong as 

formerly.

t> Good flow. Mostly clay. Small flow at 70 feet.

c Said to be all clay to 60 feet, remainder quicksand. Much iron deposit and algse. 

d Record: Sand and gravel, 40 feet; clay, 70 feet; sand and gravel, 75 feet. 

« Water at 32 feet. All clay.
ISABELLA COUNTY. 105

Wells in Isabella basin, Isabella County Continued. 

WISE "''TOWNSHIP (T. ie N.; R. 3 w.)

8

bO

§

6

X

1

2

3

4

5

6

V

8

9

Owner.

M. McGuire..........

W. Sharp.........."..

R TVTpOoTiTipll

C. L. Recher .........

fl

O

+1

§H

PA

760

764

760

76?

70

779

750?

a

%

ft

Ft.

85

113

46

45

67

70

58

60?

151

*o .

Pi 5^

^i

S fe

H

^

675

651

714

717

703

709

>PH

SH 

^ O

1

^

^.

770

778

770

765

780

719

755?

a

"

ft<2

o

fH

Gals.

1.8

2.3

1.5

1

9

2.5

1.5

S

s+s

§

§^

OJ.

48i

49

48

1

0>

Remarks.

Do.

top.

1900; water soft.

VERNON TOWNSHIP (T. 16 N., R. 4 W.), SOUTHEAST PART.

8

9

10

1?,

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

S. Leight .............

G.Sterne....... ....

F. Battle. ............

R. McConnell.........

F. Battle, jr..........

W. Sharpe............

800

789

778

795

809

785

786

7Qn

800

768

788

770

27

15

39

25

32

27

58

25

25

88

30

60

773

764

739

763

782

727

761

712

738

757

710

815

799

803

794

798

1.8

9

2

1.5

1.6

2

4.5

2.8

1.5

2.3

2

49*

48

49

48

48J

484

49

Hard.

...do ..

Soft . .

...do..

...do ..

...do..

...do ..

...do ..

Hard.

...do ..

foot clay bed.

clay.

NOTTAWA BASIN.

The limits of the Nottawa basin in Isabella County are roughly 

determined by the moraines of the Saginaw ice lobe, and the few wells 

already drilled show the water beds to be entirely in the drift. In 

the northward extension of the Nottawa basin Mr..S. A. Gleason has 

drilled a well in sec. 35, east of Clare village, Clare County, which has 

the following record:

Record of Gleason well] Nottawa basin, Clare County.

Water in gravel .................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

20

2

30

15

25

10

31

Total.

Feet. 

20

22

52

67

92

102

133
106 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

In the northern extension of the Nottawa basin in Grant Township, 

Clare County, at a small sawmill south of Dover post-office, near the 

east quarter post of sec. 11, the water beds have been reached by three 

small flowing wells, as shown in fig. 27.

The water bed of sand and gravel is reached by wells A and B, 300 

feet apart, with depjbhs of 39 and 28 feet, respectively. In well B the 

water rises 16 feet in an open pipe and in A it rises 5 feet. If well B 

is opened and allowed to run twenty-four hours, the head in well A 

slowly decreases and the flow stops. These changes do not affect the 

18-foot well which is half-way between the two deeper wells, and in 

which the water rises 20 feet in an open pipe. The July temperature 

of the deeper wells is 48° and that of the shallow well is 47°. The 

flow of the deeper well is 1.2 gallons a minute. The water of all the 

wells is soft and suitable for boilers and domestic purposes. To the

Well A 

Temp.48°

Well B 

Temp.48°

Sand and gravel 

FIG. 27. Relation of wells near Dover, Clare County.

west of the wells for one-fourth of a mile are hills of clay and sand, the 

tops being 35 feet higher than the mill, and this probably is the catchment area of the beds.

In Isabella County the Nottawa basin does not extend farther south 

than the lower tier of sections in T. 15 N., R. 5 W., and it takes in the 

southeast corner of Gilmore and the northwest half of Vernon townships. Duncan's well (No.4, Vernon Township) is a good representative of this part of the basin which is between the well-defined Saginaw moraines.

Record of Duncan well, Isabella County.

1

Thickness.

Feet. 

50

.5

3

Total.

Feet.

50

50.5

53.5
ISABELLA COUNTY. 107

Wells on the eastern and western edges of this basin pass through 

heavy clay under a covering of sand and gravel. Water is very 

scarce.

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FIG. 28. The Nottawa flowing-well district in Isabella and Clare counties, and the Isabella flowingwell district, Isabella County.
108 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN" MICHIGAN.

Wells in N Ottawa basin. 

NOTTAWA TOWNSHIP (T. 15 N., R. 5 W.), ISABELLA COUNTY.

1011

12 

13 

14 

15

W. Garber ."...........

822 

810 

828 

830 

860 

835

47 

50 

14 

29 

180 

67

775 

760 

804 

801 

680 

768

832

848

4.1 

2.1 

3.2

.5

3.5

49

49

...do..

Hard.

Hard . 

...do..

...do..

House and barn. 

House use. 

House. 

At house. 

Noflow(7).

GILMORE TOWNSHIP (T. 16 N., R. 5 W.), ISABELLA COUNTY.

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7

C. Scofleld. ............

T. T. Wood...........

H. Glass..............

C. Scofleld. ............

830 

815 

830 

820 

840

850 

815

50 

50 

48 

30

200 

35

770 

765

772 

790

650 

780

859 

820

828

650

60 

4

1.5 

2.3 

3.5

1

48J

m48" 

48

48

Soft . .

Soft . . 

...do..

Soft . .

House use. 

Two wells. Barn for stock. 

Drinking. 

House and barn use. 

A spring piped to road. 

Very little water. 

At house.

NORTHWEST VERNON TOWNSHIP (T. 16 N., R. 4 W.), ISABELLA COUNTY.

1 

2 

3 

4

5 

6

7

School................

W. Warren...........

860 

850 

862 

850

850 

866 

870

24 

30 

30 

54

50 

40 

49

736 

820 

832 

796

800 

826 

821

872

869

876

1.3

2.3

1.5

9.5 

1

2.1 

1.3

48

48i

49

Soft . .

Medium. 

Hard.

Hard.

Drinking. 

All clay; flow in gravel. 

Stock barn. 

Drinking fountain, house 

and barn. 

House use. 

House use and piped to barn. 

House use.

GRANT TOWNSHIP (T. 17 N., R. 4 W.), CLARE COUNTY.

1

?

3

4

878

880

POO

848

60

60

133

818

820

715

891

895

861

1.5

2

1.6

3

48

48 Soft . .

Hard.

...do.. Do.

NOTE. The wells in the Nottawa basin a.re all 2 inches in diameter.

ISOLATED FLOWS.

Boyden. The "magnetic mineral" flowing well, near Boyden, 

Deerfield Township, was obtained in prospecting for coal on the farm 

of Mr. W. Wykes in October, 1897. The drillers had reached a depth 

of 168 feet and left the work for the night. On returning in the morning they found a flowing well, which filled a 2-inch pipe to a height of 

15 feet above the surface. The beds penetrated were as follows:
ISABELLA COUNTY. 109

Record of Wijkes weU, Boyden.

Clay ..............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

20

2

8

20

25

5

35

15

38

Total.

Feet. 

20

22

30

50

75

80

115

130

168

The water is hard, with some gas, probably CO2 , and much carboiiate of iron is deposited about the well. It flows 6 gallons a minute 

and has a temperature of 49°. The following partial analysis was 

made by Dr. A. B. Prescott, of the University of Michigan, November 

23, 1897:

Partial analysis of water from Wykes weU, Boyden.

Parts per million. 

Total solids..................................................................................... 187

Free ammonia................................................................................... .08

Albuminoid ammonia........................................................................... . 007

Hardness, 140.

It is stated in connection with the analysis that there are light 

quantities of iron, sulphates, and chlorides, and larger quantities of 

carbonate.

This water is used commercially, the price for a 4-gallon case, 

including the packages, being $1.50, delivered at freight or express 

offices in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The water is also shipped in barrels, at the rate of 5 cents a gallon.

The well is situated on low ground near the Chippewa Valley, and 

the catchment area is probably on the higher land to the west.

Blanchard. From a water-supply schedule obtained by W. F. 

Cooper it is learned that a flowing well was made on the farm of 

Stephen Pumfrey, 3 miles from Blanchard, in 1895. It was dug to a 

depth of 30 feet, with a diameter of 3 feet, and discharges about 3 

buckets a minute at the well mouth. The water will rise several feet 

above the surface if confined in a pipe. The water is hard, with some 

iron. The cost of the well was $50.

There are springs along Pine River in this township which carry an 

oily scum, which is thought by the residents to indicate the presence 

of oil, but as the drift in that vicinity is very thick it is improbable 

that there would be oil issuing from the underlying rocks.

MOUNT PLEASANT WATER SUPPLIES.

Waterworks. The public water supply of Mount Pleasant was originally obtained from a well 17 feet in diameter to a depth of 20 feet 

and 6 feet in diameter for 8 feet farther, in the bottom of which four 

short pipes were driven to the water bed. To this supply has been
110 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

added seven 6-inch and 8-inch driven wells located on the river flat. 

These wells are 24 and 26 feet deep through 7 feet of surface soil, 16 

feet of hardpan, and 2 feet of water gravel. The wells at one time 

flowed, one having sufficient head to flow 8 feet above the surface 

from an open pipe. The wells are all supplied from the same water 

beds, as is shown by the fact that pumping one well will lower the 

water in others 200 feet distant. These wells having failed to furnish 

a sufficient supply, several cisterns modeled after the original one used 

at the installation of the waterworks plant have been made, each being 

in part 25 and in part 6 feet in diameter and having driven wells in the 

bottom. This arrangement now supplies 750,000 gallons daily, but 

during a dry summer the supply is low.

Private wells. The shallow pump wells of private citizens generally give a good supply of water at a depth of 15 to 20 feet in the northern part of the city, while in the southern part there is a marked difference in the shallow wells. Those in the vicinity of the normal 

school pass into clay under a slight covering of sand. The well drillers 

have found the change there quite sharp between a belt of gravel and 

sand bordering the river and the clay which sets in near the normal. 

None of the wells used to furnish water for domestic supply reach bed 

rock, all being in the drift, which in the vicinity of Mount Pleasant 

is about 435 feet thick.

Doctor Getchell, lots 3, 4, and 6 of block 31, has given the following 

record of a well drilled on his property:

Record of Getchell well, Mount Pleasant.

Sand....................................... ......................................

Clay..............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

30

30

5

8

9

5

14

Total.

Feet. 

30

60

65

73

82

87

101

This well caused some excitement because of the presence of the 

drift coal, and other wells 200, 255, and 355 feet in depth were drilled 

on various lots adjacent to Doctor GetchelFs properties, but no rock 

was found. Later careful drilling by the Midland Chemical Company 

on their property on section 10, north of the city, on ground about 

770 feet above sea level, has shown the rock to be reached at 435 feet 

below the surface and to have the drift covering shown in the following 

record:
CLAEE COUNTY. Ill

Record of Mount Pleasant city and Midland Chemical Company well, (sec. 10, T. 14 N., R. 4 

* [From samples and notes of A. Borden; determinations by A. C. Lane.]

Blue till...... ....................................................................

Blue till ..........................................................................

Black shale with streaks of coal (410, 435, and 560 feet) , sandstone, limestone,

Shale ... . .

Shale.............................................................................

Sandstone, dark, with heavy brine originally 1,463 feet deep, afterwards about

Thickness.

Feet. 

80

20

20

160

74

26

55

185

90

80

30

30

120

55

5

20

75

100

45

103

8

5

4

15

180

Total.

Feet. 

80

100

120

280

354

380

435

' 620

710

790

820

850

970

1,025

1,030

1,050

1,125

1,225

1,270

1,373

1,381

1,386

1,390

1,405

1,585

At the basket factory of J. Flynn, according to a statement from 

memory by L. J. Lincoln, a small flow was found at 150 feet and a 

small flow of brackish water at 355 feet. The future city supply is 

not likely to be obtained from deeper wells, as sufficient tests have 

been made to show that the water is not abundant in the lower 

part of the drift and that it is also too highly mineralized to be 

satisfactory.

WATER SUPPLIES OF CLARE COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

GENEKAL STATEMENT.

Clare County, of which Harrison is the county seat, lies immediately north of Isabella County, near the center of the southern 

peninsula. The northwestern part is traversed byMuskegon River, on 

the borders of which there is a rather barren sandy plain from 5 to 

10 miles in width. The extreme northwest corner has a few square 

miles of tillable land which has been settled and where wells have 

been obtained at moderate depths, usually less than 50 feet.

Southeast of the Muskegon River sand plain is a prominent 

morainic system running from the northeast corner of the county 

southwestward past Harrison into northwestern Isabella County. 

A large part of it is unsettled. The few wells indicate that the 

water table generally lies 75 to 100 feet or more below the surface. 

In Greenwood Township, however, there is a settlement in which
112 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

wells have been found at 40 to 60 feet, the altitude being lower 

than in the part of the moraine to the east and south.

The southeastern part of the county slopes rapidly down to the 

old lake plain covefed by the Glacial Lake Saginaw, and is traversed by weak morainic ridges. Flowing wells have been found in 

the valleys and low tracts in this part of the county, which are 

partly discussed in the report by Mr. Gregory (p. 106) and partly by 

the writer herewith.

WATERWORKS.

CLARE.

Clare, with a population of about 1,600, has a waterworks system 

supplied by a well about 40 feet in depth. The water is from gravel 

and rises nearly level with the surface. The supply is of good quality and adequate to the needs of the town. Tobacco River is also 

connected with the system and can be utilized in case of fire. The 

ordinary pressure is 20 pounds and the fire pressure 60 pounds. 

The wells of this village range in depth from 17 to 42 feet.

FARWELL.

Farwell, with a population of about 500, has a waterworks system 

supplied from a pond fed by a spring brook. Water is pumped 

direct, and an ordinary pressure of 40 pounds and a fire pressure 

of 140 pounds furnished. The wells "of the town are 20. to 23 feet 

in depth and are in common use by the residents.

HARRISON.

The public supply of Harrison, the county seat, is pumped from 

Bud Lake direct to the mains, which have a length of 1J miles. 

Very few private wells are in use.

MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUPPLIES.

At Temple, which is located on the bank of the Muskegon River, 

wells are driven through sand about 40 feet and obtain an abundant 

supply.

At Clarence the wells vary greatly in depth, there being a range 

from 16 to 116 feet in the vicinity of the hamlet. The water in the 

deep wells stands about 20 feet below the surface.

At Crooked Lake driven wells and the lake constitute the water 

supply. The wells are from 25 to 50 feet in depth and have water 

standing about 12 feet below the surface.
CLAEE AND GLAD WIN COUNTIES. 113

FLOWING WELLS.

SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP.

In the central part of Sheridan Township, the southeast township 

of Clare County, at an altitude about 800 feet above the sea, is a 

small flowing-well district. It is 1 to 2 miles northwest and a little 

above the level of the highest shore of the Glacial Lake Saginaw.

Only five wells were noted, but possibly others occur, as the notes 

were made some years ago when tracing the shore line through the 

region. The strongest flow is at the residence of Joseph Schenck, 

on the east side of sec. 16, its yield being 5 gallons a minute from 

a IJ-inch pipe. It is reported to have flowed 12 gallons a minute 

from a 2-inch pipe before the reducer was put on. The temperature 

is 47° F. The depth is 103 feet and water will rise to at least 5 feet 

above the surface. The well passed through a clayey till for 75 feet 

and then through sand to a crust at bottom, beneath which the 

strong flow was found. The other flows are: George Chunz well, in 

west part of sec. 15; schoolhouse well, in northeast part of sec. 15 

(very weak flow from well 66 feet); John Smith well, in southwest 

corner sec. 11 (depth 106. feet, altitude 10 to 12 feet above schoolhouse well, and stronger flow); George Schunk well, in west side 

sec. 10 (depth 75 feet, weak flow). The catchment area is likely to 

be in higher land that lies immediately northwest of these wells.

WATER SUPPLIES OF GLADWIN COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Gladwin County is traversed nearly centrally from southwest to 

northeast by the shore line which marked the upper limits of the 

Glacial Lake Saginaw. There is a rapid rise from about 800 feet at 

the shore line to 1,100 feet or more in the northwest corner of the 

county. East from the shore line is a gradual descent to Tittabawassee River, followed by a slight rise to a water-laid moraine that -lies 

east of the river.

Flowing wells have been obtained at several places along or near the 

old lake shore, and there is a possibility of much more extensive development not only in the vicinity of this shore line but in valleys and 

lowlands between morainic ridges to the west. Flows may perhaps 

be obtained along Tittabawassee River, but that portion of the 

county is still largely unsettled.

The catchment areas which supply the flowing wells are to be 

found, in all probability, in the more elevated country west and north 

of the wells, as in the neighboring larger flowing-well districts in 

Isabella County described by Gregory (pp. 92-111), of which this 

chain of -flowing-well districts may be regarded as the continuation.
114 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOTJTHEEN MICHIGAN.

FLOWING WELLS.

GLADWIN DISTRICT.

This includes not only flowing wells in the village, but scattered 

flows to the south, between Gladwin and Beaverton, and a flow at the 

county infirmary north of Gladwin. The strip is nearly 10 miles long 

and lies along or near North Cedar River. The flows in Gladwin and 

at the infirmary are in the valley, but some of those south are on the 

bordering lake plain, not far below the old shore.

At the Gladwin waterworks, in the west part of the village, on 

ground about 15 feet lower than the railroad station, or 765 feet 

above tide, are two wells which flow with a head about 25 feet above 

the surface. One well was sunk to a depth of 465 feet, but found a 

bitter water hi the lower part, so that it is shut out and the supply is 

obtained from 160 to 180 feet, in rock which immediately underlies the 

drift. The other well was sunk to a depth of only 165 feet. The first 

well is reported by Gregory to flow about 100 gallons a minute. The 

river is drawn upon in case of fire, and pumps (Gordon & Maxwell) are 

installed which have a daily capacity of 1,500,000 gallons.

The flowing well at the infirmary in sec. 25, T. 19, R. 2 W. is only 37 

feet deep and has a head of at least 6 feet. It is from glacial deposits.

W. M. Bush, a short distance south of Gladwin, has a flowing well 

reported to be 230 feet deep and 4 inches in diameter. Gregory 

learned that its rate of flow is 5 gallons a minute.

About 5 miles south of Gladwin, on the W. H. McCulloch farm, in 

the east part of sec. 34, T. 18, R. 2 W., is a flowing well 68 feet deep. 

It stands near the bluff of the North Fork of Tobacco River, about 25 

feet above the level of the stream.

In the south part of sec. 36, T. 18, R. 2 W. is a well on the farm of 

Frank Finsel, which has a head level with the surface. It stands 

near the beach of Lake Saginaw at an altitude very nearly 800 feet 

above tide. The depth is 135 feet, and the well is entirely through 

clay to the water-bearing gravel at bottom.

Fraser and Button, of Gladwin, made in 1902 a flowing well 400 feet 

in depth and 4 inches in diameter. The water is running to waste in 

large quantities. 0

On the farm of A. Adams, 6 miles south of Gladwin, in sec. 36, a 

well 44 feet in depth and 2 inches in diameter was made in 1902 at a 

cost of $50. It flows 25 gallons a minute. The water is reported to 

be hard. 0

McCLTJRE DISTRICT.

On the plain west of .Sugar River, north of McClure post-office, several flowing wells have been obtained at moderate depths, none being 

more than 100 feet. Six of the wells are on the Jacob Schwartz farm

« Data collected by W. P. Cooper.
GLADWIN AND BAY COUNTIES. 115

and one on the Dutscher farm. The altitude is about 810 feet or but 

slightly higher than the beach of Lake Saginaw, which comes to Sugar 

River south of McClure. This plain, however, is back of a moraine 

which, to the southwest, lies near the shore of the old lake. The 

catchment area is probably in the country which rises west or northwest from the wells. No data were obtained as to the strength of 

these wells further than the statement that they all had "good flows."

EDWARDS DISTRICT.

About a mile south of Edwards post-office, in the northern edge of 

the northeast township of Gladwin County, is a small group of shallow 

flowing wells 30 to 35 feet deep. They are in sees. 5, 8, and 9, T. 20, 

R. 2"E., on a plain of black, sandy loam, between the middle and east 

branch of Tittabawassee River, standing about 800 feet above tide. 

There is a slight depression where the wells are located, perhaps 10" 

feet below bordering tracts. The catchment area seems likely to be 

within a mile or two north, on sandy ground, near Edwards post-office, 

for the shallowness of the wells and the slight head which they show 

(scarcely 5 feet) seems consistent with a near, rather than a remote, 

catchment area. The wells appear to have passed through a few feet 

of clayey material under the sandy loam before striking water. The 

following were the wells in operation at the time of observation in 1901: 

Ira Mayes, east part sec. 5, depth about 30 feet; Ed. Hayes, north 

part sec. 8, depth about 30 feet; Lewis Harrell, northwest corner 

sec. 8, depth 33 feet; and Henry De Lord, west part sec. 9, depth 

about 35 feet.

WATER SUPPLIES OF BAY COUNTY.

By W. F. COOPER. 

FLOWING WELLS.

The artesian area of Bay County (PL III) is in the lowlands lying 

west of Saginaw Bay and in the valley of the two forks of Kawkawlin 

River, though there are other small tracts on higher land. The 

greater part of the artesian water is from the drift.

WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP.

In the northeastern part of Williams Township (T. 14, R. 3 E.) the 

depth of flowing wells ranges from 80 to 95 feet, the wells being found 

in sees. 1, 2, 3, 4,11, 12, and 13. The water is slightly salty and comes 

from gravel beds in the drift. This area formerly extended farther 

east into Monitor Township (T. 14 N., R. 4 E.), where flows were 

obtained in the valley of Culver Creek in sees. 7, 17, 18, 19, and 20. 

Quite recently Mr. Theodore Archambeau while drilluig for coal in the

1KB 18c
116 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

valley of the south fork of Kawkawlin River obtained a flow near the 

north line of sec. 10, T. 14 N., R. 4 E., which seems to be a northerly 

continuation of the former Culver Creek area.

Numerous wells in the eastern half of Williams Township obtain 

their supply from the drift down to a depth of 220 feet, as in the deep 

well at Auburn, which penetrated first 80 feet of clay, then 138 feet 

of sand and 2 feet of gravel, the latter resting on the shale rock of 

the coal measures. The gravel is water bearing, but the overlying sand, although allowing the water to permeate it, will not furnish 

it in sufficient quantities for an adequate or stable supply. The 

drift-filled pre-Glacial drainage valley over which Auburn stands 

trends east to west and increases in depth westward. Along its 

course it would be well wherever possible to obtain water at a depth 

of less than 80 feet. The process of drilling through sand is difficult 

and expensive, besides added to the difficulty of keeping the casing 

free from clogging.

KAWKAWLIN VALLEY.

Northward from Williams, in Beaver Township (T. 15 N., R. 3 E.), 

the area of artesian water is in a general way contiguous to the basin 

of the two forks of Kawkawlin River, and to a drift-filled pre-Glacial 

channel which has a southwesterly course across Beaver Township, 

as indicated on the map. Beds of gravel, apparently of inter-Glacial 

age, deposited in the coal measures, within the limits of this old 

channel, furnish the conditions necessary for flows. The source of 

water is probably from the north and the west. Where such beds 

are tapped in this relatively depressed area, flowingwells are obtained. 

There are at least two and probably three water horizons in Beaver 

Township the uppermost at a depth of 60 to 80 feet, a lower one at 

110 feet, and a still deeper one at 173 to 197 feet. Some wells obtain 

flows both at 65 and 110 feet. The amount of flow does not seem 

to bear any relation to the depth. Two of the heaviest of the flowing 

wells have depths as widely different as 93 and 173 feet, one in the 

SW. J sec. 35 being 93 feet and the Cherry well in the SE. J sec. 16, 

Beaver Township, being 173 feet.

In Kawkawlin Township (T. 15 N., R. 4 E.) artesian waters have 

been obtained in rather limited areas adj acent to north fork of Kawkawlin River in the northeastern and southwestern portions of the 

township. This latter area formerly opened out to the south to 

include the lower reaches of the north fork down to its junction with 

the south fork in Monitor Township. The very limited area at the 

northeast corner of sec. 31 is in a swale (traversed by drain No. 1). 

The depth here is 82 feet to water, which comes from a gravel deposit 

overlying the rock. An artesian well from the rock is found in NE. 

J sec. 21, the depth being 175 feet.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 183 PL. Ill

TOPOGRAPHIC AND ARTESIAN-WELL MAP OF BAY COUNTY.

BAY COUNTY. 117 

FRASER FIELD.

In Fraser Township the artesian conditions appear comparatively 

simple, flows being obtained in gravel-bearing beds probably just 

overlying the rock, in a plain whose catchment area is on higher land 

to the northwest. The wells are restricted to the area adjacent to 

Saginaw Bay, a portion of the valley of Mitchie Creek, and the valley 

adjacent to the Chute Creek drainage in the western half of Fraser 

Township. The depth varies from 28 or 30 feet in the northern portion of the township to as much as 75 feet along the road west from 

Linwood, and follows very nearly the inequalities of the rock elevation. A subordinate area formerly extended a short distance up the 

swale now traversed by theRyan drain at the line of sees. 21 and 28, 

22 and 27. In the NW.,J sec. 18 is a well to bed rock, 128 feet deep, 

which has ceased flowing.

PINCONNING FIELD.

In Pinconning Township the Chute Creek area of artesian water is 

extended northward through the central part of the township, flows 

being obtained from depths ranging from 45 to 85 feet. Apparently 

the water is obtained from gravel beds overlying the rock, in a similar 

position to those southward. East of the Algonquin beach, along 

the State road, flows have occasionally been tapped at depths ranging from 38 to 60 feet. Detailed data regarding wells at Pinconning, 

collected by W. M. Gregory, are given on pp. 270-271.

MOUNT FOREST FIELD.

A small area of artesian water has been found in Mount Forest 

Township, which with further drilling may be considerably extended. 

The flows are obtained in the SE. J sec. 10, where coal drillingwas 

carried on for John Mansfield. There are flows at 90 feet (at the 

base of the drift), and in beds of sand rock in the coal measures. 

Prospectively the best area to test further would be to the north and 

west in the basin of Saganing Creek.

SUMMARY.

Taking the artesian waters as a whole almost all the flows are obtained from gravel beds, either at the base of the drift formation or 

interbedded with Glacial clays. Artesian water is also often obtained in relatively depressed areas in the line of pre-Glacial valleys. 

While it is not possible to determine precisely the origin of the flows 

in the central and northern part of the county, it seems probable that 

the elevated moraine, covered with sand and gravel, traversing the 

western portion of Gibson Township in a southwesterly direction, 

and thence running southerly through Gladwin and Midland counties, furnishes the catchment area. It is also thought that these beds
118 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

of sand and gravel which hold the artesian water are inter-Glacial 

and were covered by beds of clay and hardpan deposited during a 

later ice advance.

The absence of flowing wells from the drift in the southeastern 

part of Kawkawlin and the northwestern part of Bangor townships, 

adjacent to the shore .of Saginaw Bay, seems due to the upward rise 

of bed rock in that direction, and to the almost entire absence there of 

gravel beds in the drift. The artesian water seems to come from the 

northwest and to be thus ponded back by the bed rock.

No precise data were obtained concerning the actual amount of 

water running from the wells nor of the capacity of the nonflowing 

wells. Shallow wells show a tendency to become lowered in summer, 

and in some cases fail entirely. The flowing wells are on the whole 

diminishing slightly in flow and in area, which makes it seem important to keep the water shut off when not in use. The following record 

sets forth observations which are at hand:

Flowing wells in Bay County.

Township.

Do.................

Do.................

Do. .............. ..

Do.................

Do.................

Do.................

Do.................

Do.................

Do.....--.--.-.....

Do....----.........

Do.................

Do. . ...............

Do.................

Do.................

Section.

16

32

2

6

28

3

34

8

39

34

5

31

27

32

32

23

34

4

When 

made.

1880

1898

1871

1875

1878

1884

1894

1894

1896

1897

1897

1887

Remarks.

strongest flow in county.

Depth, 28 feet; continued steady flow, 1900.

-2 feet in 1892; -6 feet in 1900.

Flowed 1 year; 9 feet in 1904.

in 1900.

The first shaft of the Pittsburg Coal Company, near Amelith, struck 

a bed of water-bearing sand at a depth of about 40 feet. The great 

quantity which was pumped out at that time affected the water 

supply more than 2 miles away, as, for instance, in the case of the 

well at the Michigan House, which went dry.

WEIXS.

In Merritt and Portsmouth townships shallow surface wells having 

depths of from 15 to 20 feet often contain an insufficient amount of 

water, beside being otherwise objectionable on account of surface 

drainage and organic matters, while brackish water sets in at a depth 

of about 80 feet, thus leaving but a narrow zone from which water of 

good quality can be obtained.
BAY COUNTY. 119

In Hampton Township fresh water is obtained at depths ranging 

from 30 to 80 feet.

In Frankenlust Township fresh water may be obtained down to 

depths of at least 85 feet, and in general a fairly abundant water 

supply may be obtained at a depth of less than 50 feet.

In Bangor Township an abundant water supply of good quality is 

generally obtained at a depth of less than 30 feet, and fresh water is 

often found to a depth of 80 feet, but brackish water sets in at a little 

over 100 feet.

In Monitor Township there is no difficulty in obtaining water at 

depths of less than 90 feet, below which depth it is liable to be brackish.

In Williams Township troublesome sand deposits make deep drilling sometimes necessary; but the western portion of the township 

usually affords good supplies at moderate depths.

In Beaver and Kawkawlin townships, outside the areas of flowing 

wells already described, a sufficient supply of water is generally 

obtainable at a depth of less than 90 feet, though one well in the 

southwestern part of Beaver went down to 130 feet. Mr. Shaw, in sec. 

28, Kawkawlin Township, found fresh water at 105 feet and also hi 

the rock, but at a depth of 160 feet encountered brackish water.

In Fraser and Garfield townships, outside the area of the flowing 

wells of the Fraser field, fresh water supplies are obtained down to 

112 feet, as at Crump post-office. However, in the southwestern 

portion of Fraser Township several wells 80 or 90 feet have become 

dry. This may be due to subsurface drainage, though the cause for 

failure is still an open question. It is probable supplies may be 

obtained by deepening the wells into the underlying bed rock, say to 

a depth of about 125 feet. Wells hi the western part of Garfield 

Township are generally shallow and the water is of a quality that 

suggests a need for deepening to better supplies.

Wells in Pinconning Township usually obtain a sufficient supply at 

depths of less than 80 feet, but are occasionally much deeper. In 

the SE. | sec. 9 a well 200 feet deep obtained a good supply of water 

without objectionable mineral properties.

In Mount Forest Township the wells are generally shallow, except 

in the southeastern portion, where a few have a depth of 90 to 145 

feet, one deep one being at the schoolhouse in sec. 13. These deep 

wells seem to be free from any objectionable mineral matter.

In Gibson Township most of the wells are shallow, and many 

should be deepened to insure a permanent and pure supply. In the 

morainal region hi the western part of the township wells have hi 

some cases failed to reach a good supply at 100 feet. At Bentley, 

however, Mr. William Hinman obtained an abundant amount of good 

water hi a sandstone of the coal measures at a depth of 160 feet.
120 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEBN MICHIGAN.

In order to obtain a permanent supply in the morainal region in the 

western third of this township it may be necessary to go to a depth 

similar to that at the Hinman well.

v QUALITY OF WATER.

The records of several wells east of Saginaw River in Hampton 

township show that water containing brine percolates upward in the 

coal measures to within about 125 feet of the surface, above which 

fresh water has been obtained at depths ranging from 30 to 80 feet.

A number of well records in Merritt and Portsmouth townships indicate that wells in the drift having a depth of 80 feet generally contain 

a small amount of saline matter.

A well in sec. 14, Frankenlust Township, obtained freshwater at a 

depth of 85 feet, but upon being extended to a depth of 135 feet 

became saline. For, the central part of Frankenlust Township the 

upper limit of saline water is a depth of about 100 feet.

InBangor Township the upper limit of the percolation of brines is not 

far from that in Frankenlust Township, while westward in Monitor 

Township the depth to brines is about the same as in Hampton Township, 125 feet, although wells in the drift are occasionally slightly 

brackish at about 90 feet.

WATER TEMPERATURES.

The folio wing observations were taken with a standard thermometer, 

Green No. 7529:

Temperatures of Bay County waters.

°F. 

Shaft of Whatcheer mine, sec. 30, T. 13 N., R. 6 E. at 139 feet.................. 54. 5

Same shaft at 155 and 198 feet.............................................. 54

Shaft 1J miles east of Auburn, water pumped in large volume from a depth of 90 feet 

(tested also by Dr. A. C. Lane)............................................ 50

Flowing well near southwest corner sec. 27, Pinconning Township (Lane).. _.._.-_. 51. 5 

Rich's bakery well at Pinconning, August 6, 1901 (Lane)....................... 48. 5

Saginaw Bay:

Average of 84 observations, September 12 to 26, 1904, between 5.30 a. m. and

7p.m..................__....................-....--....-..,...... 72.11

Highest temperature, September 12 to 26, at 3 p. m.; seven observations...... 75.11

Night observations between 9 p. m. and 3 a. m., September 22 to 23 and September 25-26; eight observations, average.........................'........ 66. 54

Lowest temperatures noted were at 3 a. m; average....................... 65. 25

Bay City, wells 80 feet deep (tested by Lane)................................. 50

TOWif SUPPLIES.

BAY CITY AND WEST BAY CITY.

Bay City and West Bay City (now one corporation) obtain public 

supplies from Saginaw Bay, there being two pumping stations, one 

taking water near shore, the other 3 miles out. The water is not up
SAGINAW BAY DEAINAGE BASIN. 121

to the standard desired, owing to the shallowness of the bay and consequent turbidity during storms, and to the dangers of contamination 

when an off-shore breeze carries the sewage into the bay. The 

present supply may be rendered more satisfactory by a further extension into the bay and fuller protection from contamination. As to 

other sources of water supply, it may be stated that it will be feasible 

to take water from wells in the Marshall sandstone in Huron County, 

where large quantities of fresh water are found, though perhaps this 

source would need to be restricted to supplies for drinking, leaving the 

factories, lawns, and fire protection to be supplied from the bay water. 

It will also be feasible to pipe water from the headwaters of Tittabawassee River, a scheme suggested by Superintendent Dunbar of the 

Bay City waterworks. There does not appear to be an adequate supply of fresh water obtainable either from the glacial deposits or the 

rock in wells within the limits of the city or on its immediate borders.

SAGINAW BAY DRAINAGE BASIN SOUTH OF BAY 

AND ISABELLA COUNTIES.

By CHARLES A. DAVIS.

INTRODUCTION. 

LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES.

The district covered by this report forms a considerable part of one of 

the physiographic units which make up the Southern Peninsula 

namely, the drainage basin of Saginaw Bay. It includes Midland 

County and counties lying south of Isabella and Bay counties. The 

natural boundaries of this area are, in general, moraines left by the 

Saginaw lobe of the last ice sheet as it melted back into Saginaw Bay. 

From an inspection of the map of the State showing the streams it is 

seen that the district under discussion includes the western part of 

Sanilac County, all of Tuscola, all of Lapeer except a small part of the 

eastern side, the northern half of Oakland, the northern half of Livingston, the northeast half of Shiawassee, all of Genesee and Saginaw, 

and the larger part of Gratiot County.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES.

A brief account of the physiographic features of this region will make 

plain its peculiarities of water supply, and especially the infrequency 

of flowing-well areas in some parts and relative frequency in others.

There is a close relation between the development of the flowingwell areas and the physical features of the region.

The borders of the greater part of the district are rather rough and 

hilly, with more or less well-defined, but frequently ill-drained, valleys.
122 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

In other words, the bordering divide of the district is made up of a 

series of well-marked ridges of glacial origin, with valleys which represent either times of rapid melting, channels which originally carried 

off the water from the front of the melting ice, or, more rarely, preexisting valleys which were occupied by ice masses that persisted until 

masses around them melted.

The width of this hilly area is greatest in the southern and eastern 

parts of the district, where also the hills are more prominent and the 

valleys broader. It is very narrow and the ridges scarcely noticeable in 

the region extendingfromOwosso, in Shiawassee County, northeasterly 

into Gratiot County, where the divides between the headwaters of the 

streams running into Lake Huron through Saginaw Bay and those 

tributary to Lake Michigan are so flat in places as to be occupied by 

sWamps.

Passing from any part of this outer rim of the drainage basin of Saginaw Bay toward the bay one usually traverses a number of ridges of 

successively lower height, with intervals of gently sloping plain, upon 

which are more or less extensive and continuous lines of low sand 

ridges. The plain is slightly undulating in places, but in the main 

gives a definite impression of being very flat and featureless. In it 

the valleys of the streams are narrow and shallow, with steep sides, and 

the streams themselves are generally sluggish and their waters muddy. 

Much of this basin is an old lake bottom covered by the waters from 

the melting ice impounded between the front of the ice and the bordering rim of the basin at the level of the lowest point on the rim that 

could serve as an outlet.

The sandy ridges which occur upon it are shore lines, marking 

various stages or halts, longer or shorter, in the subsidence of the 

temporary body of water. There are, therefore, two distinct types 

of territory covered by this investigation, the hill and valley type and 

the flat or slightly undulating plain.

Theoretical considerations would provide for flowing wells oftener 

in hilly districts than in plains, because conditions under which flows 

occur are more common in this type of country. Such, however, does 

not seem to be the case in the area under discussion, for the larger 

flowing-well areas and the larger number of wells exist in the plain 

and not always, by any means, in the vicinity of the ridges.

This is, however, due to several easily determined reasons, "not the 

least of which is purely accidental and in no way connected with causes 

which do or do not produce flowing wells. Flowing wells are better 

-developed on the plains than in rolling districts, for the simple reason 

that the farm buildings in the rolling districts are generally placed on 

the higher land, often on the tops of the hills, unless the valleys are 

very.broad and well drained, and in this general location the wells are 

above the level to which artesian water will rise. Farmers often seem
SAGIKAW BAY DKAINAGE BASIN. 123

unmindful of the fact that the water table is farther from the surface 

at the top of an elevation than it is on the bordering lower ground if 

the water-bearing material is of the same character throughout the 

ridge.

If the water is in a bed of coarse material, such as sand or gravel, 

and this lies between much less permeable beds or deposits, all running 

from the top of a hill to the bottom, the water at the top of the elevation will have less tendency to rise in the well than it will halfway 

down the slope or at the bottom.

Moreover, the supply will be much more easily exhausted in a well 

near the top than near the bottom of the slope or in the valley bottom, 

for it is to the valley that the water of the entire bed is passing. In 

case there is pressure enough to create artesian or flow conditions the 

head is greatest at the valley bottom, and there, if anywhere, flows 

can be obtained. Thus the location of farm buildings on the high 

lands tends to discourage the exploration of lower ground for water, 

and many places in which good flows might in all probability be 

secured remain untested, while the owners of the land pump all the 

water which they use from considerable depths.

In the lake plain, on the other hand, th'e building sites are not usually elevated much above the general level, and, if flowing wells are 

found at all, the area is frequently fully explored and thoroughly 

developed.

Aside from the above considerations, the different origin of the surface deposits in the two districts must be taken into account. In the 

ridged district the coarse and fine materials are interbedded about as 

they were deposited by the melting of the ice which brought them to 

the place where they occur and are either entkely unsorted or incompletely sorted, with coarse rock fragments usually present in great 

abundance. As a consequence,' water can find its way into the soil 

readily, and usually, also, into beds of sand or gravel, in which it may 

be stored and from which it is given up readily to wells. In the lake 

plain, which was developed under water, the surface deposits have 

been thoroughly sorted, the coarse material usually being left in the 

bottoms of the valleys draining into the plain and the finer sands or 

clays being carried to the lower-lying parts of the plain, where there 

was deep still water. Such materials are slow to take up water and 

very slow to give it up, and, in general, in this region there are few 

coarse beds near the surface to receive the water. Those which do occur 

seem generally thin and of small extent, so that the water is easily 

exhausted. Hence the .average well is deeper and the water-bearing 

beds are more fully explored in the plain than in the ridged districts, 

and if flows can be had the fact is more likely to be known and the area 

fully developed.
124 WELLS AND WATEB SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The head of flowing wells is likely to be less in the plain than in the 

ridged areas, since the differences in surface level are generally slight, 

and unless it is assumed that the beds containing the water are widespread and continuous for long distances (many miles in some cases) 

the head must be derived from the slight elevations or slopes which 

do occur, but which, because of the1 friction, can not give much pressure. Even here, also, the head is strongest at the bottoms of depressions, and frequently it is in valleys alone that flows can be obtained. 

WEJLLS.

TYPES OF WELLS.

In each of these types of country several kinds of wells are in use, 

but certain types may be considered fairly characteristic of each. In 

the ridged districts dug and walled wells of the basin type are most 

common. This is due to the ease with which water is found near the 

surface, to the abundance of stone for walling up the basin, and to the 

difficulty which often arises in getting enough water from the bored or 

tubular wells. Wells of the bored type are usually difficult to put 

down in these districts, because of the bowlders present in the soil. 

Drilling and driving are frequently hindered by the same cause. Since 

dug wells with open basins are always more in danger of contamination from surface drainage, those with iron tubes are coming into use. 

These are to be preferred, and when a well has been dug down to a 

good strong supply of water it is possible to convert it from a dug well 

into a tubular one, which will furnish plenty of water by inserting the 

proper length of pipe, with or without a strainer, and filling in around 

it, first, with clean cobble stones or coarse gravel for 3 feet or more, 

then with finer gravel, "which should be carefully tamped down, and 

then with sand, ending with a few Iqads of clay at the top. Such a 

well does not need curbing and is generally guarded against contamination if the work is properly done and clean materials are used in 

filling in around the tube. Other types are the cemented well, the 

drain-tiled well, the timbered well (which is especially bad and probably now not common), and the bored, driven, or drilled wells. Flowing wells are usually of the tubular construction. In the plain the 

most frequent type is the tubular well. Apparently, this is due to 

the facts that permanent supplies of water are not found near the 

surface and that in many cases tubular wells are easily put down by 

boring. Along sand ridges and in other sandy areas in and bordering 

on the lake plain shallow dug wells are in general use and constitute 

an important source of supply for farm and house use.

Rock wells also are more frequent in the plain than they are among 

the ridges, largely because of the greater depth of rock in the latter 

region, but also because of difficulty with which water is 'obtained 

above the rock surface in parts of the plain.
SAGINAW BAY DRAINAGE BASIN. 125

Only a small proportion of the wells in the regions here discussed 

actually flow, and in areas where flows are known to occur the number of wells requiring pumps is often larger than the number of flowing wells. This is due to several causes, among which are the following: (1) The occurrence of good supplies of water above the water 

levels from which flows come. (2) Location of the mouth of the well 

above the level to which water will rise. (3) Irregularities in permeability and thickness of the water beds from which the flows come, 

so that water is not yielded with equal readiness .from all parts of 

them. (4) Local development of "hardpan" or impermeable capping stratum, so that flows are to be had only locally. (5) Driving 

the pipe beyond and casing off the water by the driller through carelessness. This latter may be due to accident or to wilful cheating by 

dishonest drillers. -(6) The shutting off of the flow by raising the casing so high that water will not run from it. This is sometimes done 

to escape the necessity of disposing of the waste water. (7) The 

smaller cost of shallow wells compared with deep ones, and some 

uncertainty of getting a flow tends to restrain residents from trying 

to get them.

Flowing wells occur in 129 districts, distributed as follows: Oakland County, northwestern part, 4; Lapeer County, including those 

discussed by Leverett, 9 (2 from rock); Genesee County, 15; Livingston County, 5; Shiawassee County, 5; Gratiot County, 21 (rock flows 

in part of 2 of these); Midland County, 7 (including rock flows); 

Saginaw County, 12 (not including rock flows); Tuscola County, 

61 (29 from drift).

In this list flows from rock are of small consequence except in 

Tuscola County, and about one-half the number in Tuscola County 

are drift flows, many of which are within areas of flowing wells from 

the bed rock. Saginaw County would have a larger number if the 

areas of flows from bed rock were included in this list.

UTILIZATION OF FLOWING WELLS.

It often seems that there is too little appreciation of the possibilities 

of flowing wells, for, beyond the rather frequent use of the waste for 

cooling in dairies or milk houses and its rather rare use for irrigating 

gardens or grass plots, little utilization is made of the great volumes 

of water which many flowing wells pour out. Some additional uses 

which occur to the writer are the following: (1) Its more frequent 

use to irrigate lawns and gardens. ' This could often be arranged b}^ 

attaching a hose to the outlet of the well or by dividing the flow by 

the use of underground pipes, as is occasionally done to conduct the 

water of a well to some distant building. (2) As source of supply 

for fish and ice ponds. Near Midland and at a few other points such 

ponds have been constructed and not only pay the owners largely for
126 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

the investment but add materially to the beauty of their farms. 

The ponds are simple in construction and are apparently not expensive to build. Carp and other fish nourish in them, and the ice from 

them is of much greater purity than that from rivers. (3) To fill reservoirs. Most farms, where there are flowing wells, are without any 

protection against fire except the small amount furnished by the 

water held in the tanks at the wells. A large cistern or even an old 

dug well could be kept full all the time by turning the waste water 

through it. (4) By the use of a water motor, where the head is sufficient, the water could be .automatically pumped from the well to the 

house or barn of the owner and then stored in tanks and all of the 

benefits of a waterworks system be enjoyed in both places, provided 

the tanks were placed high enough to give pressure. (5) By the use 

of a hydraulic ram, which is less expensive than a motor and very 

efficient, even with a very small flow and slight head (2 feet or more), 

the pumping could be -done more cheaply and the water of flows at a 

considerable distance could be forced to the buildings. This means 

of pumping seems to have been entirely overlooked by the farmers 

throughout the region visited, and if used, would solve many problems 

relating to water supply.

LOSS OF HEAD.

Loss of head in flowing wells in the region may be due to overdevelopment in a given basin, either by sinking too many wells or by unwise 

distribution of wells, or by allowing wells to flow freely; leaks caused 

by splitting the casing in driving (a defect that is in some cases not 

apparent for some time); leaks caused by rusting- of the casing; 

water rising around the casing because of imperfect driving; fine sand 

filling the bottom of the casing; filling at the bottom, by caving from 

the sides where the casing is incomplete; obstructions put in at the 

top of the casing; clogging of the strainer on the point; drought in the 

catchment area; excessive draining of the surface of the catchment 

area; or subsurface drainage.

OVERDEVELOPMENT.

This consists of putting down wells until the continued outflow is 

greater than the amount of water which flows into the water-bearing 

strata from all sources, and the loss of head which invariably follows 

is directly due to useless waste in most cases. In a considerable number of places it was reported that there had been a gradual loss of 

head or that some wells had ceased to flow, as the area had been 

fully developed. In many cases it was said that wells had ceased 

flowing when others were put down on lower ground near by.

There is no absolute remedy for this, but it is evident that a reasonable use and conservation of the supply of a given area will allow
SAGINAW BAY DRAINAGE BASIN. 127

many more to use the supply and prolong the period of use. The 

easiest and cheapest method of conserving the supply is to reduce the 

size of the outflow pipes to such a diameter that the owner's needs 

are satisfied without great waste. The use of cocks or valves is to be 

recommended in some cases where there is no danger of the well silting up. Wooden plugs with small holes bored through them are 

effective and very quickly and cheaply provided. The need of intelligent means of checking overdevelopment and waste was observed in 

nearly every part of the region covered by this investigation. At 

Alma there was considerable discussion regarding the advisability of 

securing legislation to prevent further deterioration of the supply. 

At St. Louis the flowing wells of most private owners were stopped by 

the public wells, but after these were abandoned they were not properly plugged, and some at least are still flowing and keep the head 

permanently low.

LEAKS CAUSED BY SPLITTING THE CASING.

The splitting happens when the casing is being driven, but the 

results are not apparent for some time after this, because it takes 

time for the water to make a passage for itself through the ground, 

either to the surface, or to some stratum into which it can flow. The 

only remedy is to pull the casing out and replace the split pipe with a 

new section.

LEAKS CAUSED BY RUSTING OF CASING.

These leaks occur in wells which have been down a long time, especially where 1-inch or IJ-inch black pipe was used for casing. The 

leaks frequently occur so near the surface that the water finds its w&y 

up around the casing and makes the trouble known. The use of 

galvanized pipe and of large-sized pipe with thick walls will probably prevent this sort of trouble for a very long time. The drift 

waters contain so much dissolved carbon dioxide that they have a 

marked corrosive effect upon unprotected iron.

IMPERFECT DRIVING.

This is a frequent cause of the loss of head in shallow wells of the 

bored or driven type. The pipe is not driven straight, and in trying 

to get it right the strata above the water becomes sufficiently disturbed for the water to find a way to the surface and thus less goes 

through the casing. This condition may sometimes be remedied by 

tamping clay, then cement, around the pipe where it comes from the 

ground. The clay alone will sometimes be sufficient, if a considerable 

thickness is used. In case the leak is a very large one some heavier 

material like cobble stones may be used first, and the clay put over 

them.
128 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IF SOUTHEBF MICHIGAN. 

FINE SAND AND SILT.

In some areas trouble with fine sand was reported, as at Ortonville, where the sand was so fine that a sand screen could not be used. 

In several areas where the water-bearing strata were coarse, there 

was often enough fine material in them to fill up gradually the lower 

part of the casing or the point when this was present. Sand pumping is the usual remedy for this trouble,-and was reported as fairly 

cheap and satisfactory.

CAVING IN AT THE SIDES.

In the Ortonville and Davison-areas, and in other districts where 

the clays over the water-bearing beds are sufficiently compact, many 

of the holes are not cased beyond a single length of the pipe. Such 

holes sometimes break down at the sides, the debris stopping or 

reducing the flow. Such accidents may be repaired by reaming out 

the hole, but usually a new well is sunk.

OBSTRUCTIONS PUT IN AT THE TOP OF THE CASING.

A few cases came to notice where children had put pebbles and 

other obstructions in the pipe where flows were small, with the result 

that they were still further reduced or entirely stopped.

CLOGGING OF THE STRAINER ON THE POINT.

This is a subject to which the writer has given particular attention. 

The clogging is found to happen in three ways: (a) By the gradual 

accumulation of fine silt or sand in the meshes of the strainer and in 

the point itself, so that the water can no longer find its way into the 

pipe. (6) By the breaking of the screen during driving and subsequent filling of the point with sand or silt, (c) By the incrustation 

of the strainer by chemical precipitation.

Character of incrustation. Of these, the first two can usually be 

remedied by sand pumping. The third is of such importance that it 

needs further investigation, but deserves notice here, in order that 

attention of other observers may be called to it. The "point" of the 

well tube is a section of galvanized-iron pipe, from 2 to 4 feet in 

length, and of the same diameter as the casing of the wall, in which 

holes a fourth of an inch or more in diameter are bored at frequent 

intervals. The lower end is provided with a solid conical point, the 

upper with a thread, all except the point is covered with brass-wire 

gauze, having 60 meshes per linear inch for ordinary sands and gravel 

and 80 or 100 meshes for finer quicksands. Outside this gauze jacket 

is a protecting sheet of perforated brass to keep the gauze from injury 

while being driven. It was found on inquiry among well drillers that 

in some tubular wells in the drift, both flowing wells and pump wells, 

in which these points were used, the strainers become "corroded"*
SAGINAW BAY DBAINAGE BASIN. 129

after a longer or shorter time, varying even in the same locality, and 

no water was to be had. Inquiry as to the nature of the corrosion 

failed to bring forth any satisfactory description of it or of the appearance of the strainer after it was corroded, but all agreed that the only 

remedy was to pull the pipe out and take the old strainer off and 

replace it with a new one. Efforts to secure one of the corroded 

points were finally successful through the kindness of Mr. H. Chivers, 

of Alma, a driller of much experience in putting down tubular wells 

in the drift, who furnished a "corroded" point from a pump well 62 

feet deep, which had been in use four or five years, and in which the 

water stood at about 12 feet below the surface. In this well the 

water came from fine gravel mixed with sand. It took but a glance 

to establish the fact that the point was not corroded, but incrusted 

by a dense coating of mineral matter which not only had filled up the 

meshes of the fine wire gauze but also had covered the outer protecting sheet. This coating was firm, hard though easily scratched with 

a knife, compact^ of a bluish or grayish-white color, and in some places 

2 millimeters or more thick but not uniformly spread over the entire 

surface. It was so firmly attached to the metal that it generally 

resisted the severe scraping which it received while being palled from, 

the ground, and was not easily scaled off, even when dry. Upon the 

lower part of the strainer, where the incrustation was thickest, large 

numbers of sand grains and small pebbles were cemented to the surface. Upon the upper part of the strainer the coating, while thinner 

and rather fragile, was still effective,in closing the meshes of thescreen. 

In some places it was brownish red (from the presence of iron), and in 

others dark bluish gray.

Composition of incrustation. A qualitative analysis of the incrusting material showed that it was principally calcium carbonate mixed 

with fine silt and containing iron in small quantities. It dissolved 

very readily in acids with effervescence, and it is probable that 

incrusted points could be quickly freed from the coating by painting 

with dilute muriatic acid. It might also be feasible to devise some 

way of dissolving this coating off without drawing the pipe out of the 

ground, since the solubility is so great.

The incrustation was noticeably heavier at the bottom of the 

strainer than it was above, and even extended down on the cone at the 

end,. This greater thickness may be due to the fact that only that 

part of the point and strainer penetrated the water-bearing stratum 

and that only that part which was in water was heavily coated.

Manner of coating. A study of the wire gauze under a hand lens 

made it apparent that the deposit was at first laid on around the wires 

and as it increased in thickness the openings of the mesh were filled 

and the deposit thus formed was then coated over by later deposition. 

It is evident that with a 100-mesh (linear to an inch) screen the 

IEE 183 06 10
130 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

deposit upon the wires has only to be one two-hundredth of an inch in 

thickness to practically close the opening.

Cause of the deposit. The deposition was due to some chemical 

action, which apparently released the calcium carbonate from solution 

or decomposed the bicarbonate of calcium, probably the latter, freeing the carbonic acid and precipitating the calcium as monocarbonate 

upon the metal.. This would be natural if the metal showed any 

effects of the action of the acid upon it, but none could be discovered 

in the material at hand. The suggestion also was made that there 

was a feeble electrolytic action set up by the contact of the brass and 

the zinc coating to the iron pipe, or to the iron itself, and this is 

somewhat the more worthy of investigation, since there is on the market the Walker sand screen for large-sized tubular wells, which is 

entirely constructed of brass and which is reported to keep entirely 

free from incrustation, even in water where the brass and iron screens 

soon coat over and stop the inflow.

Importance of incrustation. In the course of the season's work it 

became apparent that in a region where the drift is an important 

source of water supply, incrustation may become a. very important 

cause of the diminution or entire loss of water. In single cases the 

cost of repairing and restoring a well is not great, but in the aggregate the loss to the persons depending upon tubular wells, in both 

money and time consumed, must be very great. Moreover, towns 

depending on this type of wells for their public supply may find it 

failing and attribute this to some irreparable cause and abandon the 

wells entirely or go to the expense of putting down new ones when this 

cause is alone responsible. At St. Louis, Midi., the wells were abandoned when they began to fail, and the water now in use is pumped 

from Pine River. At Holly a new set of wells was being drilled, in 

part at least, because the old ones were so nearly stopped up. At Ann 

Arbor the tubes of some of the wells have been pulled out and the 

strainers removed and others abandoned. At Owosso several of the 

wells of the city waterworks were reported to be out of commission 

for no known reason unless from this cause. They had ceased to yield 

water and had been abandoned. These instances might be multiplied, but it is evident that the whole matter of the formation of such 

deposits needs careful study.

DROUGHT IN THE CATCHMENT AREA.

This is a very effective cause of failure in districts where the development of wells of a given area is so great that .the amount of water 

used by them is nearly equal to the amount sent into the water-bearing stratum from the catchment area. A slight decrease in the rainfall affects the supply of the whole area very quickly, the head being 

lowered so that the wells may cease flowing entirely, either for a long*
SAGINAW BAY DRAINAGE BASIN. 131

period, where there is a prolonged drought, or simpfy during the dry 

season of the year. In Midland County a number of wells were 

reported to stop flowing each summer, unless the season was a very wet 

one. In Genesee County, near Flint, was a well whic' i showed marked 

fluctuations in level according to the rainfall. Many other cases 

might be cited.

SURFACE DRAINAGE IN THE CATCHMENT

The effects of surface drainage are certain to make themselves felt 

in the near future, if they have not done so alread y. The last few 

years has witnessed an immense amount of ditching to carry off the

surface waters and of drain laying to remove quick

AREA.

y the subsurface

waters which may interfere with certain crops. Tie effect is to so 

rapidly carry off the water of rain and snowfall to the rivers that, 

except in very sandy soils, but little gets into thb ground. As a 

result the ground-water level must be gradually lowered. In fact, it is 

already much lower than it was before ditching began, and, as is 

pointed out in several places in this report, has been the primary cause 

of the extensive use of deep wells to reach supplies far below the surface in areas where formerly abundant water was to be found near the 

surface. If the ditching is carried much farther, the rock supplies 

even may be affected and the farm owners be reduced to storing rain 

water. A remedy for this threatened danger lies in more intelligent 

planning of drains, such as following the contours instead of crossing 

them, and the use of devices to hold the water back oil the land during 

seasons when it can do no harm by its presence.

SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE.

In mining operations it is sometimes necessary to pump from the

shafts enormous amounts of water or to drain sand and gravel beds

which are passed through in sinking shafts. In most cases such beds 

furnish the whole or part of the water used by the people of the region, 

and the result of the draining is to cause either entire loss of supply, as 

where gravels are drained, or partial loss where the workings enter 

water-bearing strata at some distance from the wells. Thus the coal 

mines in Huron, Saginaw, and Bay counties have stopped the flows in 

a number of districts of rock wells which formerly used to flow and are 

reported to have drained dry considerable areas of shallow drift wells. 

The same thing happens locally when large waste from flowing wells 

on low ground is allowed to go on unchecked, and sometimes where for 

some manufacturing purpose large amounts of water are pumped 

from shallow strata, or where a group of wells is put down for public 

supply and is pumped sufficiently to affect the amount of water in the 

water-bearing strata of a district with a limited catchment area.
132 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN,

QUALITY OF WATER.

In general, all waters from the drift are hard, but in varied degree, 

some much more so than others. The cause of hardness is the presence of lime or calcium salts, usually the carbonate, but in the lakeplain region sometimes the sulphate or gypsum. In Midland County 

the drift waters from the deeper wells were of a remarkably low 

degree of hardness when compared with those of other localities. 

These hard waters usually have considerable amounts of iron present also, sometimes sufficient to give reddish scale when evaporated. 

Both the lime and iron are derived much more abundantly from 

clay beds than from sand, hence the waters drained from clays are 

harder than those drawn from sand. The calcium and iron carbonates thus derived from the soils are usually acidic rather than normal salts, and are generally accompanied by an excess of carbonic 

acid, which when the water is exposed to the air at normal pressure 

and temperature soon escapes as free carbon dioxid. It is this acid, 

and not the iron in the water, which attacks and destroys unprotected iron pipes and utensils and rusts tinware in which it is allowed 

to stand. The rusting in the case of the tinware seems usually to 

start at some point where the tin coating oh the iron is thin or 

broken and spreads from this until holes are dissolved in the iron. 

The use of so-called galvanized or zinc-coated pipe and utensils or 

of "granite" ware is recommended as a partial protection against 

loss in this way.

The drift waters are sometimes saline, but not to a marked degree 

except in a few areas in the lake plain. It is probably true, however, that the salt content of the waters of the drift in the district 

covered by this report is abnormally high, because of the great 

abundance of salt waters in the rocks below the drift, from which 

they escape through faults or other fissures or abandoned salt wells. 

More rarely, salt may have been retained after inclusion in the drift. 

Compounds of magnesium are also present. For fuller statements 

regarding the waters of the drift, the reader is referred to the separate accounts of the various areas.

The character of the water from the bed rock varies with the 

nature of the rock, but is usually less hard than that from the drift. 

It is nearly soft (free from lime) when from certain sandstones, 

harder from shales, and very hard from limestones or rocks with 

calcareous cement or from gypsiferous beds. The rock water in certain parts of the lake-plain district is highly salty and in others 

brackish, and in many cases, where the rock from which it comes 

is a shale, magnesium compounds are present in considerable 

amount and may give well-marked tastes which are characteristic. 

In case the water comes from rocks with iron pyrites or iron sulphide present in it in quantity the water may become impregnated
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 133

with, hydrogen sulphide, a gas which gives the characteristic "sulphur" odor to it, and is particularly prized in medicinal waters. 

From the change of the pyrites to the sulphate of iron (copperas), 

which may occur in certain cases, the water may acquire an astringent taste, which is not uncommon in water from the shales, especially those of the sub-Carboniferous and Carboniferous formations.

It may be stated here, however, that the best wat.er for any and 

all uses, except the manufacture of certain chemical compounds, is 

that which is free from mineral matter and from organic matter. 

While small quantities of gases and minerals may do no serious 

harm in water used for domestic purposes, large quantities demand 

that the water should be distilled, if possible, for drinking purposes.

Taken as a whole, both the quantity and the quality of drift as 

well as rock waters in the region studied are excellent, and the local 

areas where the supply is not adequate or the quality is very poor 

are few in number and comparatively small in extent. The natural 

waters from the drift and rock are undoubtedly wholesome, and it 

is only where they are contaminated from the surface through the 

medium of the open-basin type of well or through careless disposal 

of sewage that they become the cause of disease.

WATER SUPPLIES OF TUSCOLA COUNTY. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

The report on the water resources of this county is based on notes 

gathered by the writer for. the Michigan geological survey, made 

available by the courtesy of State Geologist Alfred C. Lane, who 

has kindly placed at the disposal of the writer these notes and all 

other material bearing on the question in the records of the Michigan survey. With this are a small amount of new material gathered by the writer in a two-days' trip into the more recently settled 

parts of the county at the end of the field season of 1904 and some 

data collected by correspondence during the same period by Mr. 

Leverett."

TOPOGRAPHY AND WATER SUPPLY.

Tuscola County is situated on the southeast side of Saginaw Bay. 

From the level of the bay the land surface rises very gradually from 

12 to 15 miles to the foot of a well-marked morainal ridge and then 

rapidly to the top of the ridge, which is from 50 to 125 feet in height 

and from 1 to 3 or more miles in breadth. This ridge enters the 

county a short distance west of the northeastern corner and runs 

diagonally nearly across it, about parallel to the shore of the bay,

a A more extended discussion of the same subject will be found in the forthcoming bulletin of the 

Michigan Geological Survey on the resources of Tuscola County.
134 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN. .

gradually getting lower until it fades into the plain a short distance 

southwest of Vassar. To the east the ridge descends abruptly to 

Cass River; in fact, it forms the western boundary of the broad 

valley in which this stream runs. From this valley, which makes 

a third distinct area in the county, the land ascends on the eastern 

side by broad terraces to a sandy plain several miles broad, from 

which to the southeast there rises sharply a massive moraine which 

occupies the southeastern part of the county.

The soil of the plain is principally a heavy compact clay or clay-loam, 

with narrow ridges and broader strips and areas of sand or sandy 

loam winding across and scattered over it, while that of the morainal 

ridges is a gravelly clay, or even, locally, a pure gravel, on the whole 

much more porous than the elay soil of the plain.

In the valley the surface is usually covered with sand, generally of 

rather shallow depth, but frequently piled up in ridges of considerable 

extent and height, and the same condition prevails until the ridged or 

morainal district to the southeast is reached. Below the sand, at 

varying distances, is a compact, tough, dark clay. In a few places the 

stream cuts down to bed rock, which is generally a sandstone where 

exposed.

Corresponding to the peculiarities of topography and soil are variations in the ease with which water is obtained, the quantity obtainable, 

and to some extent the quality. In the lake-plain district (that bordering upon the bay) the soil is too fine grained and too compact to 

permit of rapid percolation of water, and the clays are too homogeneous and fine throughout to furnish water in large quantity. In the 

morainal districts, on the other hand, the surface soils are gravelly 

and much more porous and permeable, while below the surface strata 

of sand and gravel are common, easy to reach, and usually contain an 

abundance of water. Rarely, in the higher parts of the southeastern 

district, the ridge is wholly made up of compact clay or dry gravel, in 

which case it is necessary to seek water deep down in the drift or to 

drill down to rock.

The valley of Cass River, above Vassar, is generally so sandy that 

most of the rainfall is absorbed by the surface soil and soaks rapidly 

through to the clay, which lies at varying distances beneath. The 

usual supplies in this area are obtained from wells sunk to the top of 

these underlying clays and from springs which appear in the valleys 

of streams that have cut through the rather shallow sand into the 

clay. These springs result from the water running along on the surface of the clay to the valley, where it finds an outlet. Below Vassar 

the conditions are less favorable for the absorption of the rainfall, 

but are still such that good supplies are usually obtainable near the 

surface.
TtJSCOLA COUNTY. 135 

LAKE-PLAIN REGION.

It is evident from the foregoing that the only district of this county 

where there is any especial difficulty in obtaining a supply of water 

for ordinary domestic uses is that bordering on the bay and lying 

between it and the foot of the central morianal ridge, for here the soils 

being very fine grained are not absorbent, and have few coarse layers 

between the surface and the bed rock, making it difficult to secure 

readily an adequate supply of water.

SOURCE OF WATER. 

SURFACE WATERS.

In the early days of the settlement of the region this part of the 

county was covered by a heavy swamp forest, and the ground-water 

level was near the surface; in fact, in many places the ground was 

flooded during the rainy part of the year, and especially when the snow 

was going off in the spring. At this time water was easily obtained 

from shallow dug wells. As settlement, accompanied by clearing and 

draining, progressed, more and more of the rainfall was carried rapidly 

away, and, as a natural result, the ground-water level sank until the 

dug wells gave out or were deepened. In a few cases they were carried down nearly a hundred feet. Usually, however, they were deepened, not by digging, but by boring with large-sized well augers, 4 to 8 

inches in diameter. This method was in use some time, but it was 

soon found that in many areas no permanent supply of water could be 

had in the clays above the bed rock, and the next development was the 

driven well, reaching down nearly to the rock surface, where, as in other 

parts of the lake plain, a fairly satisfactory supply of water is frequently to be found. In many cases, however, conditions seem to 

have been unfavorable for storing such a supply, and the drilled well 

in the rock was the last resort. At the present time, since the region 

has become more thickly settled and the system of drains has been 

largely developed, drilled wells reaching down considerable distances 

into the bed rock are the usual type over a large part of the district.

The surface waters, as, they are termed that is, those which are 

obtained from shallow dug wells -vary in quality according to the type 

of surface material, whether of clay or sand. The clay soils were originally so swampy that the water in the wells of the old dug-basin type 

was never looked upon with favor, and was probably justly condemned, 

as the conditions were all in favor of contamination from the surface, 

and the waters probably were frequently the cause of disease, especially when the supply was diminished by drought.

It is evident that the original swamp soil could be easily infected by 

disease germs, as it was damp, contained large amounts of organic 

matter, and was easily warmed by the sun in the summer time; that in
136 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

flood times, which were frequent, the waters from cesspools, drains, 

and other sources of infection would be spread over the ground and 

might, and often did, find their way to the wells; and that in dry 

times cracks would open up in the clay, on account of shrinkage, and 

through these water from the contaminated surface, from sinks and 

other drains, and often from privy vaults, could find a way to the 

wells. Under such conditions it is not difficult to understand thai the 

dug wells were not in favor in the clay regions. In addition to these 

considerations, it must be taken into account that the soil contains 

much finely pulverized limestone, which renders the water hard. And, 

as was usually the case, when the water contained considerable 

amounts of organic matter, iron, as well as lime, was dissolved and 

gave it a strong astringent taste.

In places where there were several feet of sand, however, the water 

of shallow wells was more wholesome, better in quality, and more 

abundant, this being due to the filtering power of the sand, which removes and holds near the surface organic matter and disease germs, to 

its greater permeability, and to the scarcity of lime and iron salts. 

Cracks and fissures do not easily develop in sandy soils, and hence 

direct channels between the well water and the sources of contamination are less frequent or entirely wanting. For these reasons, and 

because the supply of water is so much greater in the sand, dug wells 

are general in the sandy areas, where the sand is deep enough to 

afford any permanent supply. Upon sand ridges, especially, the wells 

are generally shallow open basins dug through the sand to the underlying clay.

DEEP DRIFT WATERS.

In general there is very little water in the clay between surface and 

bed rock. The clay is too fine and too compact to be porous and on 

this account absorbs little water, and is too slowly permeable to yield 

it up readily even where nearly saturated. The clay seems to have 

been laid down under water, and has very little embedded gravel or 

sand into which water can penetrate and accumulate. Where waterbearing strata are found, however, the water is healthful, but is hard 

and contains much iron. These water-bearing strata in the clay are 

thin, limited in area, and occur at all depths, but are not generally 

depended on as sources of supply in the flat lands.

A more constant source of supply utilized over a wide area, and not 

infrequently yielding flows, is a porous stratum just above the bed 

rock. This seems often to be bowldery gravel lying on the rock surface, and is from one to several feet thick. This generally yields a 

good supply of water, which is frequently so like that from the rock 

itself that the natural inference is that the water comes from the rock 

and is forced from it into the overlying gravel by pressure. On the
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 137

other hand, it not infrequently happens that the water in the rock 

will be brackish while that above will not taste of salt at all, in which 

case it seems probable that the water in the gravel is derived from 

above rather than forced up from the rock. All of these waterbearing beds may be reached by dug, bored, or driven wells.

ROCK WATERS.

These are of varying character according to geologic formation and 

the type of rock from which they come. As a full account of these 

will be published by the Michigan Survey, and as this report deals 

especially with the drift and its waters, no discussion of the formations and types of rock will be entered upon here, except to state that 

the water comes from sandstone, or rarely from shales, of the Michigan formation in the eastern and central parts of the district under 

discussion, and from those of the Carboniferous in the western part. 

It should also be stated that a large part of the present supply of 

water for farm and house use in this district comes from bed rock.

The rock water is, in a marked degree, less hard than that from the 

drift, and in many cases it is so free from dissolved lime or calcium 

compounds as to give no trace of these by ordinary tests; in a few 

cases it was reported as "softer than rain water." This softness 

may be attributed to the absence of calcium minerals from the sandstones in which the water is moving, and also to the probable iixation 

of the calcium by the action of sodium or magnesium sulphates upon 

the more soluble calcium compounds. In many cases the purity of 

the water is such that the first explanation seems reasonable and 

probable, but in the case of salt and bitter waters, the second is quite 

as likely to be correct. Three well-marked districts may be distinguished by the character of the water from the rock in this region, as 

follows:

1. The district of fresh, soft, or relatively soft, water, extending 

from the foot of the low central moraine westward to the northwest 

corner of Columbia Township (T. 14 N.,K. 8 E.), and thence diagonally southwestward nearly to Reese, whence it runs more nearly due 

south, finally leaving the county near the northwest corner of Arbela 

Township (T. 10 N., R. 7 E.). This district may extend still farther 

eastward than the moraine, but there are few rock wells to show its 

limits in this direction.

2. A belt a mile or two, rarely more, in width lying just west of the 

first district in which the rock water is all more or less bitter to the 

taste of a person not accustomed to it, and is frequently slightly 

brackish as well. This belt is not well marked at the northern end, 

but is easily traced across the county. This bitter water is so free 

from lime and its compounds that it seems probable that a chemical
138 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

precipitation of the calcium salts as the sulphate has occurred, and 

that soluble magnesium chloride has been formed, to which substance 

the water owes its bitter taste. In general these bitter waters show 

only a small amount of sulphate present, but considerable amounts 

of chlorine, leading to the conclusion that the bitter taste came from 

magnesium chloride rather than the sulphate; however, no very careful examination of the water was made.

3. An area immediately west of the last, lying between it and the 

bay, contains brackish water from the rock, or, frequently, salt to 

such an extent that it is unfit for cooking and can be used for watering 

cattle or for drinking only when one has acquired a taste for it. The 

saltness of the water increases as the district is crossed from east to 

west. In the western part also the waters near the rock surface are 

more likely to be usable, the deeper ones much less so. In one small 

area in Wisner Township, near Saginaw Bay, the drift wells, even 

where shallow, were said to be salty and it was reported that in early 

days "deer licks" were formed in this vicinity, an indication either of 

a percolation upward from the rock surface by the salt water or the 

pressure of direct fissures, not improbable in a region where the bed 

rock is known to be more or less faulted. These salt waters were often 

very nearly without hardness, showing only small traces of the calcium salts.

The Salt comes from the shales and sandstones of the coal measures, which are strongly saline in this region. The deeper beds of 

the Marshall sandstone are also salt bearing, while the upper ones 

yield little or no trace of salt, this substance having been leached out, 

possibly, as suggested by Lane, by the great draft on the lower 

brines by the salt-manufacturing industry in Saginaw Valley. Whatever the cause the salt is gone from these beds, but at lower depths 

the water, even from the Marshall sandstone, is salt, so that wells in 

the lake plain more than 300 feet in depth are usually salt or brackish.

Depth to rock. The drilled wells in the district under consideration 

are so distributed as to make it apparent that the rock surface is a 

gently-sloping plain, with at least one well-marked valley in it, and 

possibly more than one. The slope of the surface of the rock is toward 

the west and about the same as that of the present land surface (on an 

average about 10 feet to the mile). Local elevations of the land surface do not usually coincide with those of the rock surface, so there are 

minor areas in which considerable variations in depth of rock are 

shown, which would entirely disappear if the land surface were a true 

plain. On the other hand, there are equally great differences where 

the land surface is flat.

In the following table it will be seen that the average depth to rock 

in the various townships is relatively uniform, varying only about 20 

feet from the lowest, found in the northern and western part of the
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 139

area, to the highest, found in the extreme southern part. Wisner 

Township has the lowest average and the least variation, but three 

others, Akron, Columbia, and Fairgrove, show an average depth but 

6 or 7 feet greater, although the surface of the county is more uneven 

and rises many feet higher.

Rock wells of Tuscola County.

Township.

Gilford. ................................

Fair°ri*ove

Township, N.

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

15 

13 

12 

14

Range, 

E.

7 

7 

7

 7 

7

8 

8

9

Number 

of wells 

reported.

7 

76 

45 

9 

2 

51 

60 

6 

70

326

Number 

of wells 

in which 

rock is 

over 100 

feet deep.

0 

11 

8 

3 

1 

9 

6 

4 

11

53

Depth of rock.

Greatest.

Feet. 

85 

170 

140 

200 

120 

229 

230 

112 

+160

+230

Least.

Feet. 

70 

70 

60 

49 

70 

60 

55 

84 

50

49

Average.

Feet. 

77 

86 

89 

79.5 

95 

83 

84 

98 

83.6

81

The greatest depths occur in certain restricted areas which seem to 

be definitely related to each other and indicate that there is a buried 

valley extending from Huron County southwestward beneath the village of Unionville, across Akron and Fairgrove townships into Gilf ord 

and Denmark, where it is lost track of. This valley is of interest, 

since in places it furnishes abundant supplies of water, sometimes with 

strong head, so that fine flows are obtained from it, but in other places 

it seems to contain little water, and when struck increases the cost of 

well driving by adding to the number of feet of casing required to 

reach bed rock.

FLOWING WELLS.

Distribution. Over a considerable part of the lake-plain area the 

water from the rock is under sufficient pressure to rise nearly to, if not 

above, the surface of the ground, and there are in consequence many 

flowing-well districts. It might almost be said that the whole area 

constitutes a single district, for the water will overflow the surface 

when this is low or when very permeable strata are struck; but in 

places where the surface elevation is high or the water-bearing strata 

are very fine grained a flow will not be obtained. The low-lying districts, depressions, and valleys, then are the places where flows are 

found in the largest numbers. Even slight ridges are sufficient to 

shut off the flows. The largest areas of flows were found in Columbia 

Township, where depressions of several square miles in extent exist, 

over the whole of which it may be possible to secure good flows of 

excellent water from the rock, and in occasional wellg almost equally 

good supplies from the drift near the rock surface.
140 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Extending west and southwest from this township are numerous 

other areas, usually of small extent, in which both rock and drift flows 

are found, the water usually flowing in good quantity, but being, as 

already pointed out, often brackish or salty in the western part. The 

water from the drift where flows of this type occur was reported to 

come from near the surface of the rock and may get its pressure from 

the rock itself.

Loss of head. In northern Akron Township, north and west of 

Unionville, are several small flowing-well areas in which the flows have 

greatly diminished or in many cases entirely ceased. The date at 

which the failure began w^as so closely connected with the opening and 

working of the coal mines at Sebewaing that the owners attribute the 

loss of head to the immense drain on the underground waters which 

the operations in these mines entailed. The connection between the 

two phenomena is the more close when it is considered that the wells 

to the eastward of what is assumed to be the border of the lowest beds 

of the coal measures were not affected, as they draw their supplies 

of water from beds which are below the ones worked for cbal at Sebewaing.

Loss of head was noted at many other points where single wells, 

usually on high ground as compared with the others in the same area, 

were reported to have flowed formerly. Not infrequently the time 

when the flow ceased could be fixed by the date when some neighboring well on lower ground was completed. In a few cases, deepening 

a well was reported to have restored the flow after it had ceased.

During the excitement attendant upon the development of the coal 

deposit about Saginaw many holes were drilled by coal prospectors, 

which after the drilling was completed were plugged more or less perfectly and the casing pulled out. In some cases, because of imperfect 

plugging, the water from the rock worked its way out to the surface, 

and, flowing freely, was the cause of diminution or loss of head for 

several wells in the neighborhood.

It has already been pointed out that the rock surface rises from the 

bay eastward. At the shore of the bay the altitude of the rock surface is about 520 feet above sea level, or about 60 feet below the bay; 

near Cass City it crops out in the bed of the river at an elevation of 

about 700 feet above the sea; while to the northeast at Tyre it rises in 

places to about 800 feet. These elevations are important, as they 

show a steady increase in the height of the rock surface, sufficient to 

give pressure to the water at the lower elevations, especially since the 

dip is from the higher to the lower elevations. That these differences 

are really sufficient is evident when it is remembered that the majority of areas of flows occurring in the lake-plain district are below the 

660-foot surface-contour line, and none are above the 680-foot contour, that is, the surface in the flowing-well areas in Columbia, Akron,
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 141

and Fairgrove townships is from. 30 to 50 feet or more below the surface of the rock in the valley of the river a few miles to the east, and 

much more below what it is a little farther northeast. In the same 

regions, where the rock surface is higher, the surface deposits are very 

absorbent, and a much larger percentage of the rainfall penetrates 

the ground and finds its way into the permeable sandstone than in the 

clay-covered districts. These areas supply much of the water as well 

as the pressure of the flowing wells.

In this connection it may be well to note that the rather porous 

moraine, or high ridge, between Cass River and the flowing-well 

areas under consideration is also a catchment area of considerable 

importance, and if the clay underlying it is as penetrable to water as 

its own surface a large part of the rock water, and the head as well, 

could be derived from it. One objection to such an hypothesis is the 

great scarcity of lime in the rock water compared with the amount of 

lime and other mineral matters in water from the drift, which could 

hardly be eliminated in the passage of the water through the rock. 

The sandy areas to the northeast and east would not yield the 

soluble minerals, hence are the more probable sources of supply.

Flows from drift. In the lake-plain district flows from the drift 

are rare compared with those from the rock. The largest area is 

situated a mile southeast of Unionville, and is about a square mile in 

extent, the group consisting of eight or ten wells wljich have good 

flows, with a head of from 3 to 5 feet. The depth of these wells is 

from 50 to 75 feet, and most of them get their water from a stratum 

of quicksand which lies upon the surface of the bed rock, from which 

neighboring wells draw their supply at slightly greater depth.

The water of these wells is generally of about the same character as 

that from the rock, and it is probable that it finds its way into the 

sand from the rock, rather than from the clay above.

A small group of flowing wells from the drift also occurs a mile west 

of the town of Akron. As in the Columbia area, these go down nearly 

to the rock surface and get their water from quicksand or fine gravel 

just above the rock.

Aside from these areas there are about thirty small areas with one or 

two wells each, located near or in areas of flows from the rock, 

which present about the same characteristics as the two areas mentioned above. In all of these wells, with possibly, one or two exceptions, the water comes from near the surface of 

difficult to say whether the wells should be cla^s

the rock, and it is 

ed as drift or rock

wells, since it seems probable that the water conies from the rock, 

while the wells extend only into the quicksand, which is part of the 

drift.

It was reported by one of the early settlers that the first well to flow 

in the northern part of Tuscola county was a dug well about half a
142 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IK SOTJTHEEN MICHIGAN.

mile south of Unionville, put down, or deepened in a very dry time, 

until it had penetrated the clay about 90 feet. The diggers left the 

hole at noon to go to dinner, and when they returned the well had a 

large amount of water in it, and soon was flowing over the top. This 

well was the means of showing the farmers of the region that abundant water was to be obtained near the rock or from it, and deep wells, 

bored or driven, soon became common.

As has already been pointed out, the districts where the soil is 

sandy or gravelly get sufficient water for ordinary uses from shallow 

dug wells from 10 to 40 feet deep. The eastern border of the plain, 

where it approaches the foot of the ridge which marks the limits of the 

flat lands, becomes sandy or loamy, and is much more permeable than 

the clays, and furnishes much more water in the upper layers of the 

drift. Here also are ridges of gravel or sand making former shore 

lines and extending for many miles parallel to the high ridge to the 

east, and these furnish extensive reservoirs of water which appears in 

dug wells, or in the form of springs at the edges of the ridges, or in 

marshy areas bordering them. The whole length of one of the best 

marked of these wave-formed ridges is bordered by large springs, 

some of which are impounded for domestic uses, in one or two cases 

forming good-sized fish ponds. The water from these springs is 

medium hard, fresh, and of excellent quality, and often the quantity 

is large, especially after the outlets have been enlarged. The wells in 

such localities are usually only a few feet deep and yield an abundance 

of water.

MORAIKAL REGION.

GENERAL CONDITIONS.

The height of these districts above the level of the bay, amounting 

to about 200 feet in the western and from 300 to 400 feet in the southeastern portion, makes the rock surface hard to reach, and precludes 

getting flowing waters from the rock, and on the highest land from the 

drift. The greater permeability of the surface soils of the ridges compared with the clays of the lake-plain district permits a much larger 

percentage of the rainfall to be absorbed, while the unsorted and 

loosely compacted subsurface materials serve to give storage to the 

water thus absorbed at no great distance down. In these districts 

the wells are usually of the open dug type, of depths varying from 12 

to 60 feet, beyond which they are sometimes deepened b}^ boring or 

drilling. In a few cases it was found that wells had been drilled 

through the drift to the rock, sometimes nearly 300 feet down; but 

this is rarely done.

The location of wells in the morainal districts is often most disadvantageous, since they are placed on or near the top of the ridges, 

where the water table or zone of permanent ground water is the far-
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 143

thest possible from the surf ace, and is much mqre subject to fluctuations 

than it is in the depressions or near the bottoms of the slopes. Even 

when a well gets its water from a gravel veil it is evident that the 

water is much more quickly exhausted, at least so far as a given well

is concerned, if it is tapped near the top of a :slope than at or near the

bottom, because of the effect of gravity, whi^h is constantly drawing 

the water down the slope and away from !the higher levels. The 

deepest well of which record was obtained iiji these districts was one 

in the northwest corner of Watertown Township, which was reported 

to be 352 feet deep, with bed-rock at 272 f^et from the surface, the 

altitude of the surface being 900 feet above 4ea level.

The water from the wells of the morainal districts is variable in the 

amount of the dissolved mineral matter which it contains, consisting 

chiefly of lime or of calcium and iron compounds. It is harder in clay 

strata than where it passes through sand and gravel. No saline or 

brackish water known to come from the drift was found in these areas.

FLOWING WELLS* '

Near the foot of the steeper slope from tile high morainal district 

toward Cass River are five small areas of flowing wells from the surface deposits or drift and one from the rock. On the southward slope 

from the'same ridge, extending also into Lape^r County, is still another 

group. \

Two of these districts are situated in Arbelaj Township, one in Watertown, one in Fremont, and one in Wells, on tile north side of the ridge, 

and one in Dayton Township on the south si4e. The others are small 

in the extent of area covered, embracing froijn one to three wells.

AKBELA TOWNSHIP.!

The first area in Arbela Township is on tpe line between sees. 14 

and 15, where the wells are about 30 feet deep, with a slight head of 

rather hard water. The well on the farm of D. N. Van Wormer, for 

instance, is 27 feet deep, having surface clay and gravel to 10 or 11 

feet and hardpan thence to the bottom.

The second area is on the east side of sec. 13, and consists of two 

wells 60 feet deep. These are at the foot of nhe sharp slope of a ridge, 

and the water was reported to come from gravel, was hard, and contained iron. It flows with a head of about 2 feet, and discharges less 

than 1 gallon a minute. i

The sources of head and the catchment aifea are apparently in the 

ridge lying to the south, which is the westwftrcjl extension of a higher 

moraine to the east.

If this ridge is the catchment area, there seems to be no good reason 

why the present areas should not be extended both east and west of 

the present development over an area extending a mile, more or less,
144 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

from the foot of the steeper slopes and flows obtained from various 

depths. This seems the more probable because in Saginaw County 

the same ridge and conditions exist, and the area of flows is much 

larger than here.

In the center of Arbela Township, at the town hall, is a flowing well 

270 feet deep. The record is as follows:

Record of well in Arbela Township.

Thickness.

Feet. 

70

194

6

Total.

Feet. 

70

' 264

270

FREMONT AND WATERTOWN TOWNSHIPS.

Both of these townships, which have each a single well in the present stage of their development, lie near the foot of the high moriane 

in the southeastern corner of the county 4J miles west of Mayville. 

The Fremont well was not visited, but was reported to be about 70 

feet deep and to flow a good stream. From the situation and topography it seems likely that flows might be had northeast and southwest of the present location. The well of Mr. Arthur Wills, in Watertown Township area, is situated 1 mile south and 5| miles west of 

Mayville, on the north side of sec. 6. It is 65 feet deep, has a 2-inch 

casing, which is reduced at the outlet to one-half inch by a valve used 

to shut the water off so it will flow to the barn. The flow is about 5 

gallons a minute, with a head of more than 6 feet, and but for the 

reduction of the size of the outlet the water would apparently flow the 

full size of the pipe to this height. The water has a temperature of 

49° F., is hard and contains considerable iron, and is of good quality. 

It seems probable that this area could be connected with the Fremont 

area and extended to the west and south along the gentle slopes at the 

foot of the high ridge, but the district is at present sparsely settled 

and the rather sandy till yields sufficient water for general uses in 

open dug wells of slight depth.

WELLS TOWNSHIP.

This area is situated in a recently cleared district on sees. 27 and 

34, 1 mile north and 4J miles west of the village of Kingston and 

about 11 miles southeast of Caro. The district is at present less than 

1 mile long and contains two wells 43 and 48 feet deep, respectively, 

which derive their water from gravel. The head is about 18 inches 

and the flow from 1 pint to 1 quart a minute. As these wells are 

near the foot or the slope from a high ridge to the south, they prob-
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 145

ably derive their head and supply from, this source, and the area may 

be capable of extension both east and west along the same level and 

possibly also north of the present area.

Along the foot of the moraine, where it crosses sees. 25 and 36 of 

Wells Township, is the outcropping of a more compact, less permeable clay, under a gravel deposit of considerable extent. The clay 

exposure forms the lower part of an extensive slope, down which the 

water which runs out upon it from under the gravel finds its way, 

often forming springs of considerable size. One of these springs 

appears by the road on the northeast quarter of sec. 36 and flows into 

the roadside ditch. The water conies from sand, is hard, contains 

iron, and is of excellent quality. The amount of water furnished by 

this spring was about 15 gallons a minute after a long period of drought. 

The whole district along the base of the ridge is more or less favorable 

for such springs.

VALLEY REGION.

Cass River Valley, in Tuscola County, is a well-defined district in 

which the water-supply conditions differ from those in either of the 

other districts. The Glacial or lake history of the valley explains the 

generally sandy nature of the surface deposits throughout the upper 

and central parts of the districts, but can not be entered into in this 

place except to state that this valley was first occupied by ice, then 

by an arm of the Glacial Lake Saginaw, into which flowed a large 

stream from the melting ice to the north. This lake subsided by 

slow stages, leaving shore and shallow-water deposits in the form of 

sand, which was either heaped up into ridges or spread out in thin 

layers over the surface by the falling waters. The stream constantly 

brought down more sand, which was built into bars and deltas. All 

of these deposits are readily permeable to water, and nearly all of the 

rainfall upon the surface is readily taken in by the coarse soils. This 

either runs off below the surface or remains in hollows upon the top 

of the clay subsoil or upon the top of the rock, where this was the 

underlying stratum, as it is in the northeastern part of the county.

As the result of this structure and history, in most parts of the area 

shallow wells, dug down to the surface of the clay or into it a short 

distance, furnish a good supply of water.

Aside from this ease of getting water in shallow wells, the district 

is much more fully watered than either of the other districts by small 

streams tributary to the river. These and the river furnish water for 

stock in large quantity. The valleys of the streams, and of the river 

as well, in many places cut through into the clay underlying the sand. 

This clay is dark colored, very hard and compact, and is probably of 

greater age than the surface clays of the other districts. It is nearly 

impenetrable to water. Along the junction of the sand and clay the 

water flows out into the valleys, forming springs, which vary in size 

IKR 183 06 11
146 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

from seepage lines scarcely recognizable to large outflows of many 

gallons to the minute, such as the springs from which the town of 

Caro draws its water supply.

This area, however, is the least thickly settled in the county and is 

likely to remain so, because of the small agricultural value of much of 

the land; hence the water resources are poorly developed and little 

utilized.

At Tuscola, Vassar, and Caro, and in the immediate vicinity of 

these towns are a few rock wells, which will be considered in connection with the water supplies of these towns.

MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUPPLIES.

Each of the districts described above has some of the towns of the 

county located within it, and in general it may be said that the village 

supplies in each district are characteristic of that area in which they 

are obtained.

LAKE-PLAIN KEGION.

UNION VILLE.

This village, with a population of 457, has no public supply and 

gets the water for domestic use and for manufacturing from wells, 

which in many cases penetrate the rock here from 90 to 150 feet 

below the surface. The greater depths occur in the eastern part of 

the town, where the depth varies abruptly from the least to greatest, 

indicating a valley in the rock, as the land surface is nearly level. A 

few of these wells flow, but usually the water is pumped, and is soft 

and fresh and in good quantity for all present needs.

In case a public supply is required the rock should, from present 

indications, furnish a good and very pure supply, and if the wells 

were put down in the lowest possible places they would in all probability flow.

AKRON.

This village is situated on a low, broad, sand ridge. It has two 

sources of supply, the clay under the sand and the rock deep down 

below the clay. There is no public supply, and a large number of the 

people get water for domestic use from shallow dug wells 10 to 15 

feet deep.

As this supply chiefly comes from water which leaches through the 

shallow sand, it is more or less likely to be contaminated by percolation from cesspools, drains, and vaults. Such wells, especially in 

dry times, are unsafe unless every precaution is taken to guard 

against pollution. As the population increases, these shallow wells 

will have to be abandoned, as the supply is limited because of the 

small catchment area, and even at present is noticeably affected by 

dry weather.
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 147

Bored, driven, and drilled wells in the neighborhood reach rock at 

about 70 feet and same penetrate it to a depth of 100 or 150 feet. 

Some of these rock wells flow 3 or more feet above the surface. The 

water is fresh and nearly soft, but has a slightly bitter taste, not 

noticeable except to those unaccustomed to its use. If the town ever 

develops a public water supply, the rock will be the best available 

source, though wells to it probably will not flow unless located on the 

low ground or off from the ridge. The upper strata of rock seem to 

be shales, so, for a large supply, the wells must be,sunk to underlying 

sandstone at considerable depth.

FAIRGROVE.

This village is situated on a low, broad, morainal clay ridge, somewhat above the surrounding plain, and is too high to have flowing 

wells even from the rock. The town has a public water supply for 

fire protection and sprinkling purposes, the water being obtained 

from surface supplies distributed from cisterns. Supplies for domestic and farm use are obtained from dug wells ranging from 12 to 35 

feet in depth, and from driven or drilled wells which reach or enter 

the rock. The water of the dug wells comes from sand or gravel beds 

in the drift and is hard, but otherwise of good quality, except in the 

shallowest wells, in which it is liable to contamination from the 

surface.

The depth to the rock surface is from 90 to 100 feet and more. 

The deepest well in the village is probably that at the railroad station, 

drilled by Mr. McMillen in February, 1895, of which the following 

record has been preserved:

Record of well at Fairgrove station.

Thickness.

Feet. 

98

2

4

11

13

7

26

54

10

18

34

6

16

6

7

3

10

8

12

2

10

31

i

Total.

Feet. 

98

100

104

115

128

135

161

215

225

243

277

283

299

305

312

315

325

333

345

347

357

388

388J

a This sand and gravel had plenty of water in it, which rose to within 12 feet of the surface. No water 

above this.
148 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

This well furnished a large supply of good water. If the record is 

typical of the locality, it is evident that the most easily obtained supply is from the layer of cemented gravel near the surface of the rock. 

Below this level shales are likely to predominate, and do not furnish 

good supplies of water.

REESE.

This village, with a population of 427, is located on the slopes of a 

somewhat gravelly morainal ridge, and spreads out upon a plain at 

its base. As in all cases where there is a porous surface stratum with 

less pervious strata below, shallow dug wells are the chief source of 

water supply for domestic use. Here this type of well is reported to 

vary from 12 to 20 feet, rarely more, in depth, and to furnish a sufficient supply of hard water. The public supply comes from wells of 

this type, and is pumped for fire protection, sprinkling, etc., but is 

not used much as yet for other purposes. Aside from these shallow 

wells, others are drilled and driven down to and into the rock, which 

here ranges from 80 to possibly 100 feet from the surface. The following record of wells in Reese shows the character of the strata 

passed through:

Record of well No. 1 at Beese.

Soft blue clay ............................ .......................................

Soft soap rock. ...................................................................

Gray sand rock. .................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

45

27

7

7

3

14

2

1

1

4

3*

1*

1

4

3

4

5i

Q3

4

qx

Total.

Feet. 

45

72

79

88

S9

103

105

H4J

117

121

 124

128

133J

143

147

150J
TUSCOLA COUNTY.

Record of well No. 2 at Reese.

149

Thickness.

Feet. 

12

66

2

6

3

9

13

4

2*

9

2*

1

3

i53

I

4*

2J

5

Total.

Feet. 

12

78

80

86

89

98

111

115

1174

118

127

129.1

130*

133J

134

137J

138t

143

145*

150*

The water from the rock wells here is brackish or salty; the deepest, which formerly flowed, found strong brine from white sandstone 

at about 430 feet.

RIDGE EEGION.

Of the ridge region nothing need be said aside from what has already been noted in connection with the general discussion of these 

districts.

GAGETOWN.

This town, with a population of 400, is near the northern county 

line, upon the crest of the western moraine. Dug wells with a depth 

of 10 to 40 feet or occasionally more are the most common source of 

supply for domestic.use. The water comes from sand-or gravel beds 

in the clay, is hard, of sufficient quantity for ordinary demands, and 

is said not to be affected by the seasons. It rises in some of these 

wells to within 10 feet of the surface.

Wells are occasionally drilled to rock, but no records of the depth 

were available. The deepest well in Gagetown is reported to be 140 

feet.

KINGSTON.

This village, with a population of 350, is located on a morainal 

ridge, 30 to 40 feet above the bottom of the valley in which the railroad runs. The wells are generally dug, and range from 20 to 50 feet 

in depth, with an average of 35 feet; the water is hard, but of good 

quality, and sufficient quantity for domestic use, and is said not to 

vary with the season. The supply comes from sand or gravel beds 

in some of the wells.

A waterworks system owned by the village was installed in 1902, 

the water being pumped from a 4-inch drilled well 217 feet deep,
150 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

which, reaches rock at about 150 feet. The water comes from sandstone and rises to within 10 to 12 feet of the surface, giving ample 

supplies. It is distributed from a standpipe, and is used for fire protection, sprinkling, and boilers. There is also a well 215 feet deep, 

in rock, at the schoolhouse, having the same characteristics as the 

waterworks well.

Along the railroad and at the bottom of the valley west of it, both 

of which lie 15 to 20 feet below the water level in the waterworks 

well, it is probable that water from the same source would be reached 

at about 185 feet or a little more, and would flow with strong head. 

In this valley is a small stream, and along the margin of it are seepage 

springs, the water from which is sometimes used.

MAYVILLE.

This town, with a population of 750, is the most elevated in Tuscola 

County, the moraine rising to nearly 1,000 feet above sea level within 

its limits. As a result of this situation the wells for domestic supply 

are often deep, but do not reach the rock surface. There is no waterworks system; one was projected some years ago, but was abandoned 

on account of the difficulty of getting water in sufficient quantity.

A test well was drilled 400 feet and bed rock was reached at 285 feet. 

In this well water rose from sandstone about 300 feet or to within 100 

feet of the surface.

The dug wells are often shallow, from 15 to 20 feet deep, the shallowest being only 10 feet, but driven wells in the higher parts of the 

town often go down nearly or quite 100 feet to water of sufficient quantity. The water in the shallow wells is said to come from sand or 

gravel beds in the till, is hard, and is never large in amount; yet the 

supply is fairly constant, so that moderate demands on it are met 

except in very dry weather, when it may fail.

Bed rock is the most available source for a large supply for the town, 

but the great depth to which it is necessary to go to reach rock, and 

the depth from which water must be pumped makes it an expensive 

source. If, however, wells were put down in the lowest part of the 

town, or, better still, in the valley north, and pumped from these to a 

reservoir in the highest part of the town from which it could be distributed, it seems probable that a satisfactory supply may be had. 

Nearly 100 feet in the depth of the wells could be saved by locating 

them in the lowest part of the valley, which runs through the eastern 

part of the town.

MILLINGTON.

Millington, with a population of 632, is situated on a broad, gently 

sloping, sandy, and gravelly plain, which is on the edge of the rolling 

country and is morainal in its origin. The surface soil is permeable 

enough to take in a considerable amount of the rainfall, and this accu-
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 15l

mulates in the underlying gravels, which lie from 15 to 20 feet below 

the surface. This supply is easily reached by open dug wells, and is 

largely drawn upon, the majority of the houses of the town depending 

on wells about 20 feet deep for their supply for domestic uses. This 

supply is uncertain and affected by drought. Persons requiring larger 

supplies drill down to bed rock for water, reaching it at from 90 to 

112 feet. In this rock, which is sandstone, water may be found at 

varying depths in good quantity and of excellent quality.

In 1904 the village completed its public waterworks, the water being 

obtained from two 4-inch drilled wells 187 feet and 200 feet deep, 

respectively, located near the center of the town. The rock surface 

is about 110 feet down, and the rock was reported as sandstone the 

whole distance until water was struck. The water rises within 17 feet 

of the surface and is said to be of excellent quality and abundant. It 

is distributed from an elevated tank or standpipe, into which it is 

pumped from the wells.

FOSTORIA.

This village lies on a slope from the high moraine to the north and, 

so far as learned, gets its supply for domestic use from dug wells 20 to 

40 feet in depth. A stream flows through the edge of the town, and 

from this some water is taken for use in boilers.

CASS RIVER VALLEY REGION.

CASS CITY.

This village, with a population of 1,212, has for its site a broad gravelly terrace about 40 feet above the bed of Cass River and has behind 

it, to the north, a well-marked morainal ridge. The gravel gives 

abundant water in dug wells about 20 feet deep, some going deeper, 

and these are the common sources of supply for domestic use.

CARO.

This town, with a population of 2,268, is located at the foot of a 

well-marked morainal ridge upon a gently sloping or nearly flat gravelly terrace of the river valley. It is well situated for the development 

of a system of waterworks, depending on gravity for the distribution 

of the water from a properly located standpipe. For several years 

such a system, owned and operated by a private company, has been 

in use, the water being pumped, in part, at least, from springs located 

across the stream opposite the town. Recently the supply has been 

augmented by drilling wells into the rock. The standpipe is situated 

in the northern part of the town upon a morainal ridge about 100 feet 

above the principal business street. The water is of good quality 

and that from the springs is relatively soft. The springs have their 

catchment areas to the east of the river in the gravel and sand ter-
152 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

races, the town standing on the west, the water percolating through 

the gravel and sand down to a dense clay substratum, upon which it 

finds its way until it reaches some place where streams cut this in 

running to the river, when it flows out as springs. The water is used 

for all purposes, including domestic and drinking, but there are many 

dug wells in the town from 16 to 20 feet deep which, upon the gravel 

flat, reach through the gravel to the top of the clay and intercept 

some of the water moving along upon it. This water is reported as 

soft and pure, but unless care is taken to dispose of sewage eventually 

the gravel will become so contaminated that the wells in the more 

thickly-settled parts of the town may be unsafe to use and will afford 

breeding places for the germs of various diseases.

The following is the record of the deep well of the Peninsular Sugar 

Company; the altitude of the mouth is 15 feet above Cass Eiver, and 

about 646 or 650 feet above the sea level:

Record of Peninsuta Sugar Company's well, Cam.

,000 gallons in 24 hours, soft; rose 5

Thickness.

Feet. 

113

7

25

40

5

50

2

10

1

' 29

Total,

Feet. 

113

120

145

185

190

240

242

252

253

282

Drift (sand, gravel, hardpan, and bowlders) 

Limestone...................................

Shale (blue).................................

Sandstone (very soft; first flow of water, 50 

feet above derrick floor)...................

Limestone ....................................

Sandstone...................................

Shale, black.................................

Sandstone...................................

Shale

Sandstone.................

Streak of sandy limestone.

At 275 feet a flow yielding 350,000 gallons in 24 hours was struck. 

The water has a slight mineral taste, leaving a sweet aftertaste, probably of magnesium sulphate. The well is 8 inches in diameter; temperature, 47° F.

VASSAR,

This village, with a population of 2,032, is the third important 

valley town to be considered, and like Caro is located upon the terraces of Cass Eiver, but unlike that town reaches across the stream 

to the eastern bank. A considerable part of the town also lies upon 

the morainal ridge, here relatively low and inconspicuous. The 

ridge is covered with gravel, and hence is more permeable than 

such ridges usually are.

The village owns its waterworks system, the water being derived 

from seven drilled flowing wells, which average about 200 feet deep. 

The deepest well is 230 feet, but is cut off at 200 feet. At the depth 

of- about 125 feet a small flow was struck, and this increased with 

the depth until it reached its greatest volume at 175 feet, when the 

flow was about 100 barrels an hour. The total depth of one of the
TUSCOLA COUNTY. 153

other wells is 207 feet, with the rock surface at about 50 feet. The 

water rises 4 or 5 feet above the surface and is pumped td a standpipe on the ridge, from which it is distributed. It is relatively soft, 

giving only a slight powdery scale after prolonged use in boilers. 

The following analysis by Dr. R. C. Kedzie, of the agricultural college, was made about the time the system was installed:

Analysis of Vassar public water supply.a

Parts per million 

Total solids.............................................................. 271.43

Volatile at red heat....................................................... 71.43

Total mineral matter................................................ 200

Mineral composition:

Calcium (Ca)......................................................... 65. 49

Carbonate radicle (CO8)............................................... 100. 82

Sulphate radicle (SO4)................................................. 20.16

Magnesium (Mg)......................'............................... 6.17

Chlorine (Cl)......................................................... 4. 32

Sodium (Na)......................................................... 2. 82

199.78 

Nitrates and nitrites...................................................... None.

Free ammonia................'......................,.................... .05

Albuminoid ammonia..................................................... .04

Hardness by soap test..................................................... 85. 71

Permanent hardness...................................................... 57.14

Total hardness..................................................... 142. 85

The amount of water yielded by these wells is about 110,000 gallons a day. Two deep wells were put down at Vassar; one near the 

railroad junction, which has a depth of about 600 feet, flows a considerable quantity of brackish water, which has been bottled and 

sold for medicinal purposes; the other, which was put down as a 

test well about the time the waterworks were established, is 467 

feet deep, and gave salt water of 6 degrees of saltness. This well 

was reported to be plugged and abandoned.

Dug wells from 20 to 30 feet deep are frequently used, furnishing 

sufficient water for domestic use, and private drilled wells from 45 

to 200 feet deep are not uncommon. Most of the latter flow when 

located on the lower terraces of the river. The rock water is generally softer than that from the drift, especially that from sandstone, the most common source.

a Expressed by analyst in grains per gallon and hypothetical combinations; recomputed to ionic 

form and parts per million at United States Geological Survey.
154 WELLS AHD WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

TUSCOLA.

This village, with a population of 275, lies a few miles southwest 

of Vassar on the lower terraces of the river valley, here somewhat 

sandy and relatively narrow. The town is spread over both banks, 

the parts being connected by a bridge. The general sources of 

water for domestic use and for stock are shallow dug wells from 12 

to 40 feet deep, the most common depth being about 20 feet. The 

water usually comes from strata in the clay which underlies the 

shallow surface sand and rises within 6 feet of the surface in some 

of the wells. The water is hard and the supply constant and sufficient in most cases for the needs of the owners.

A few drilled wells on the higher slopes of the valley yield excellent supplies of somewhat brackish water from the rock at about 

175 feet in depth. A drilled well at the north side of the village 

is reported to be 175 feet deep in sandstone, the rock surface being 

struck at 49 feet. This well flows several gallons a minute, with a 

head of 2 feet. It is situated on land 30 feet above the level of the 

river, higher than most of that on which the village is located, hence 

it would seem probable that other flows could be developed by 

going down into the rock. The rock surface was reported as 70 feet 

in another well, but as it appears in the bed of the river a short 

distance northeast of the town it is probable that this well was on 

higher ground than the flowing w^ell above cited.

WILMOT.

This small village is situated on the southern edge of the broad 

sloping plain which rises to the morainal region on the south. The 

generally sandy or loamy character of the soil, and the fact that it 

is underlain by clay at moderate depths, makes the water supply 

good and easily obtained. The wells average about 20 feet in depth 

and give a good supply of hard water, which is not easily exhausted. 

No rock wells have been put down in this vicinity.

DEFORD.

This is the next station north of Wilmot on the Pontiac, Oxford 

and Northern Railroad, and is in much the same situation as Wilmot. The plain is slightly flatter and somewhat sandier. Water is 

obtained from shallow dug wells at about the same depth as at 

Wilmot.

SILVERWOOD.

This is a small village on the Pere Marquette Railroad, on the 

southern border of the county, and is interesting from the fact that 

a part of its water supply is obtained from flowing wells from the
GENESEE COUNTY. 155

drift. The area extends southward into Lapeer County, forming a 

good-sized district.0 The few wells which flow in the village are about 

40 feet deep. Dug wells from 15 to 30 feet deep are also common 

sources of water for domestic uses. The water tank at the railroad 

station is filled with water from a flowing well 40 feet deep.

WATER SUPPLIES OF GENESEE COUNTY. 

TOPOGRAPHY,

Genesee County lies in the southern part of the district tributary to 

Saginaw Bay, its county seat being at the city of Flint. The northwestern part is a plain which was covered by a glacial lake, the shore 

of which enters the county from southwestern Tuscola County, near 

the middle of its north line, and runs southwestward, near Clio and 

Flushing, to leave the county west of the latter village. There are 

small flowing-well districts on the plain or in valleys leading into it 

from the southeast. A prominent morainic belt, the continuation 

of the one lying south of Cass Valley in Tuscola County, already 

described, passes across Genesee County in a southwesterly course a 

short distance southeast of the border of the Glacial lake and crosses 

Flint River at the city of Flint. Southeast of this morainic belt is a 

plain in which one of the best flowing-well districts in Michigan (the 

Davison district) is located, together with several small districts. 

East and south of this plain is another morainic belt with a few small 

flowing-well districts located in depressions among its ridges. The 

extreme southern edge of the county from Fenton westward embraces 

gravelly plains, with numerous lakes and marshy depressions separating the morainic belt just mentioned from a much higher one south of 

it in Livingston County.

The writer gave attention principally to the flowing-well areas, but 

was informed by well drillers and residents that throughout the 

county wells are generally obtained at moderate depths. The deep 

wells are mainly along the western morainic belt that passes near 

Flint, and there they seldom exceed 200 feet; wells exceeding 100 

feet in depth are comparatively rare.

Throughout the county a clayey till is the predominating deposit. 

The beds of sand and gravel from which wells are obtained appear to 

be in thin strips intercalated at various levels in clayey till. The bedrock surface is from 50 to 200 feet or more below the drift surface, with 

an average of perhaps 100 feet for the county.

"Discussed by Leverett in Water-Sup, and Irr. Paper No. 182.
156 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 

PUBLIC A]ST> PRIVATE SUPPLIES.

OTISVILLE DISTRICT.

This village, which stands in a rolling tract in the northeastern part 

of the county, has a public supply pumped from a small lake into reservoirs in case of fire, but this supply is not used for cooking or for 

manufacturing purposes. Dug wells are the most common source of 

supply and are shallow, about 15 feet deep. Driven wells are from 

25 to 100 feet deep, an excellent supply being struck at about 60 feet, 

the water rising in some places within 6 feet of the surface.

The following data of two recent wells that struck rock have been 

supplied by Grant Parker, a well driller at Otisville. The well of 

C. D. Doan, in Otisville, reached rock at 158 feet and continued to 220 

feet. The rock is sandstone, and the water in it rises to 16 feet below 

the surface. The well of Robert Hammill, one-half mile north of Otisville, struck rock at 160 feet and entered it only 4 feet. The water rises 

within 7 feet of the surface.

Southeast of Otisville, at the Traver schoolhouse, in sec. 26, Forest 

Township, a boring reached a depth of 240 feet without striking rock. 

Sand in the lower part of the boring rose in the pipe and prevented 

further drilling. The altitude is perhaps 15 to 20 feet lower than at 

Otisville, or not more than 800 feet above sea level.

At the gristmill of Mr. Peter Hart, in Otisville, is a flowing well 26 

feet deep which has a head of 2 feet and flows 3 gallons a minute. The 

water is soft enough to be used in the boiler at the mill without forming 

any scale. This well was put down in 1904 near an old one which had 

formerly flowed but had become clogged. The elevation of the surface at this well is about 20 feet less than at the railroad station.

CLIO DISTRICT.

In the valley of Pine Run, east of the village of Clio, are two flowing 

wells which were not visited, but were reported through correspondence with Mr. Fred Tinker, of Clio. One well, in sec. 13, owned by 

Fred Tinker, is 68 feet deep and flows 1.5 gallons a minute with a head 

of about 3 feet. The water is from gravel under a hard clay. A weak 

vein of water was struck at 13 feet. The well shows no perceptible 

change in rate of flow since it was made ten years ago. The other 

well is in sec. 23, within a mile east of Clio, and is owned by J. V. 

Valiquet. It is of similar depth and strength to the Tinker well.

Dug wells in the vicinity of Clio are only 12 to 14 feet deep, too 

shallow to be safe for continued use, on account of the danger of contamination from the surface. Some driven wells range from 60 to 85 

feet in depth, and in some of these the water rises nearly to the surface. The water from the shallow wells is harder than that from the 

deep ones.
GENESEE COUNTY. 157

MONTROSE TOWNSHIP. 

MONTROSE.

Water in Montrose Township is mainly from dug wells 20 to 40 feet 

deep. Rock is struck at about 45 feet, and an excellent supply of 

water is obtained from it at about 65 feet. The water rises to within 

16 or 18 feet of the surface. A public supply for sprinkling and fire 

protection only is obtained from dug reservoirs.

Near the bottom of the valley of a small tributary of Flint River, 

5 or 6 miles southwest of Clio, in the northeast corner of Montrose 

Township (T. 9 N., R. 5 E.), is a group of six flowing wells (see fig. 

29). The water in these is excellent, not very hard and with little 

iron. _ The rate of flow is not large in any of them, but is sufficient for 

the owners, who use it for stock and all domestic purposes. The 

K5f. . R6E. water rises to about 12 or 15feet above the 

level of the creek; hence further development must be confined to the area below 

that level, which is only a narrow strip 

along the creek.

The deeper wells for a mile or more to 

the west were reported to strike water, 

which rose within 2 or 3 feet of the surface, and it is possible, since the slope is 

in that direction, that still deeper wells 

would strike a water bed with greater head 

and flows might be obtained. Other than 

this, as indicated above, there seems to be no possibility of extension 

of the area of flows except in the valley of the stream at points intermediate between those where they are now present and beyond to 

the north, quite low down in the valley.

The sides of the valley, especially a broad sandy slope on the west 

side of it, may well serve as the intake and storage reservoir.

Fig. 29 is a sketch map showing the approximate location of the 

wells and the relationship of the valley, etc. The accompanying 

table gives particulars regarding the wells of the area. They are 

obtained from gravel below a bed of tough clayey hardpan.

Wells of Montrose area (T. 9 N., R.

" L / 

 y \

dy

slope

FIG. 29. Sketch map of Montrose flowing-well area, Genesee County.

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158 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

BRENT CREEK.

In the vicinity of Brent Creek the shallow wells are 20 to 30 feet 

deep and are dug. The drilled wells reach 100 feet, and the water 

from them is slightly salty. The best supply of water is obtained 

from 75 to 100 feet.

FLUSHING.

Flushing is located on the terraces and sides of the valley of Flint 

River, in the western part of the county. The soil is generally porous, 

and the border plains are part of an old lake plain.

The water for the waterworks is pumped from the river, and is only 

used for fire protection, sprinkling, etc., and not for drinking and 

cooling. Wells were put down 350 or 400 feet, but struck water too 

salty to use.

Private wells are the source of supply for domestic use, and are usually from 15 to 20 feet deep, finding water in gravel. Rock is struck 

at 30 to 80 feet; and some wells have been put down into it, obtaining 

good supplies of rather soft water at about 100 feet. The deepest 

well is about 200 feet. Water rises in the deep wells to within 12 to 

16 feet of the surface.

FLINT TOWNSHIP. 

FLINT.

The city of Flint is located in the valley of Flint River at the 

mouth of Thread Creek, a southern tributary. The public waterworks take water directly from Flint River above the town, and 

pump it chiefly for fire protection, sprinkling, and manufacturing.

The following partial analysis shows the composition of the water 

in the deep wells in the streets of Flint. This water is highly esteemed 

throughout the town, and is supposed to be of medicinal character; the 

high percentage of salt and sulphate constituents are its most noticeable features. The data were furnished by M. O. Leighton, of the 

United States Geological Survey.

Partial analysis of deep-well water at Flint.a

Parts per million. 

Color.................................................................. 32

Iron (Fe).............................................................. 1.2

Chlorine (Cl)........................................................... 1,042

Carbon dioxide (CO2 ).................................................... 94. 38

Sulphur trioxide (SO3)................................................... 478

Hardness (as Ca Co3).................................................... 139+

S. J. Lewis, analyst. Depth, 376 feet.

The valley in which the river now runs is partly filled with coarse 

dry gravel lying directly on the bed rock, which ranges from about 25 

feet deep near the level of the river to 70 feet or more in higher parts
GENBSEE COUNTY. 159

of the town. Tubular wells extending into the rock are common. 

They furnish good water and supply many of the residents.

A flowing well 376 feet deep on Saginaw street supplies a city 

drinking fountain. The water is mineral, containing among other 

constituents salt and hydrogen sulphide, which gives it a decided taste 

and odor. It is very largely ujsed during the summer months.

At the Oak Grove Sanitarium is a well 265 feet deep, with a large 

flow of mineral water. The following analysis was made by Dr. J. E. 

Clark, of Detroit:

Analysis of well water at Oak Grove Sanitarium, Flint.®

Parts per million. 

Sodium (Na), .......................................................... 663. 42

Potassium (1\)......................................................... 26. 64

Magnesium (Mg)....................................................... 42. 25

Calcium (Ca)........................................................... 128. 46

Bicarbonate radicle (HCO3).............................................. 365. 88

Sulphate radicle (SO4) ................................................... 165.46

Chlorine (Cl).......................................................... 1,059.43

Iron and alumina (Fe^Al-jOg)........................................... 9. 93

Silica (SiO2)............................................................ TraceLithium ............................................................. Trace.

2, 461. 45

The following record of tine strata passed through in the Oak 

Grove Sanitarium well was furnished by Mr. George De Witt, of Flint, 

who drilled the well:

Record of Oak Grove Sanitarium well, Flint.

"" Ft. in.

Surface (mostly gravel) .................................................. 33

Light sandstone......................................................... 85

Flint rock.............................................................. 8

Black slate^............................................................ 10

Coal...................................................... ............. 10

Slate................................................................... 2

Hard sandstone......................................................... 15

White slate (fine clay) ..................................................... 5 6

Flint................................................................... 8

White slate....................... j..................................... 9 6

Sulphur rock............................................................ 7

Blue slate ............................................................. 16

White slate............................................................. 6

Blue slate..........:.............,..................................... 28

Sand rock.............................................................. 67 6

265 8

At a schoolhouse about 2 ifniles south of the city limits in a creek 

valley on the Fenton road, at the southeast corner of sec. 25, Flint

° Expressed b, y analyst in grains per ga.ltlon and hypothetical combinations; recomputed to ionig 

form and parts per million at United States Geological Survey.
160 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Township, is a well from rock, small flow, which supplies a watering trough. There are no other flowing wells in that locality. The 

accompanying table gives the statistics of these wells:

Wells at Flint.

No.

1

2

d 

o

o

03

25

Owner.

a

a'&

1900

0

aian

!

 ^>

a

s>ft

^

"5

s

w

! Feet.tFeet.

111 750

 d

o3

Feet.

+ 1.33

+8

3

o3 

ft

g

e

°F.

52.2

51

Quality.

Iron; soft.

water.

Mo*

o

SH

O

a

Kind of 

rock.

O

ft

Feet.

+ 70

33

Sandstone.

Do.

a In valley of creek; flow, 1 gallon a minute.

6 Used for baths and medicinal purposes; flow, 7 gallons a minute.

OTTEEBUEN.

The wells in this vicinity range from 12 to 200 feet in depth. Bed 

rock is struck about 150 feet from the surface, and is reported to yield

a good supply of rather soft water, while 

the water from the drift is hard. The 

water rises in some of the deep wells 

within 3 feet of the surface.

ElRolling

Roiling ii o

FIG. 30. Sketch map showing valley in 

which flowing wells occur in Genesee 

and Richfield townships, Genesee 

County.

./ / v v\ RICHFIELD AND GENESEE TOWNSHIPS.

Richfield Township, whish is on the 

eastern border of Genesee County, is 

rather strongly morainic or rolling and 

is crossed by Flint River. The surface 

is sandy along the river and thrpugh the 

central and northern sections. There 

are very strong springs along the north 

side of Flint River in sec. 1, one of which, 

on the farm of R. J. Whaley, is carried by hydraulic rams to the 

dwelling and barns. It issues from the bluff as a 4-inch stream. 

Wells were generally reported as shallow, and mostly of the open, dug 

type, although some are tubular. The depth was said to be from 

12 to 40 feet or more, with the supply and quality generally good.

Flows occur in three isolated areas, as follows: A group of two wells 

on the farm of Peter Cimmerer on NW. i sec. 30 (see fig. 30); a single 

shallow well on the north side of sec. 28 on the farm of J. F. Armstrong, near a spring in a pasture, and one on the north side of sec. 34, 

belonging to Dr. J. F. Roemmer. None of these seem favorably situated to make any marked extension of the present development possible. Those on Mr. Cimmerer's place are in a shallow valley connecting with one of the tributaries of Flint River, and it is probable 

that along the stream other flows might be struck if wells were put
GENESEE COUNTY. 161

down near the bottom of the valley, but because of the slight head it 

is probable that they could not be obtained on higher levels.

Other probable places for flows were noted along the valley of Flint 

River, but as the houses are all on high ground above the river no 

wells have been sunk to test the matter. Leverett says: "On the 

south bluff just east of the county line a flow has been obtained at a 

level of 50 feet or more above the river."

In Genesee Township, which lies west of Richfield, one flowing well 

has been obtained near the Cimmerer wells and in the same valley. 

It is on the farm of C. and G. Galing in the NE. \ sec. 25. The drainage relations are shown in fig. 30.

There are a few deep tubular wells in this township which do not 

flow. One on the farm of K. B. Todd, in sec. 11, on a plain about 60 

feet above Flint River, is 222 feet in depth, and strikes rock at 194 feet. 

The water, as reported by the owner, stands 50 feet below 'the surface, 

the temperature is 50° F., and the water soft, with a trace of oil in it. 

The rock resembles a grindstone in texture. The drift is largely a 

hard, stony clay. Mr. Todd furnished the following data concerning a 

well at the schoolhouse in sec. 2 on the same plain. Rock was struck 

at 175 feet, and the well carried to a depth of 194 feet. The water 

stands 33 feet below the surface, and its temperature is 50° F.

Wells of Richfield and Genesee townships.

d

h'n

6

1

2

3

ft

a

8

8

8

8

8

hfl

a

ni

«

7

8

8

8

8

fl

02

25

30

30

34

Owner.

C. and G. Galing..

P. Cimmerer ......

.....do............

Dr. J. F. Roemmer.

"S

a

2

1890

1896

.

<s

O

In.

2

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

^

ftIB

o

Feet.

60

65

20

50?

_o

03

OJ

W

J'ee*.

785

788

800

OJ w

Feet.

+3

+ 1.5

+ 1.5

i

a

ffl O

o

fH

Gals.

0.5

.75

.5

2

£

5

§

&

°F.

51

51

49

Quality.

Hard .....

Hard; iron

.....do....

Remarks.

Stock use.

House well.

DAVISON AND BURTON TOWNSHIPS.

A flowing-well area lies in and about Davison village, in the northern part of the township of Davison, extending southwest into Burton, the next township to the west. The area covers approximately 

10 square miles, 8 of which are in Davison. (See fig. 31.)

DAVISON.

Davison village and the flowing-well district about it is situated on 

the plain which lies on the western or inner slope of the morainic ridge 

running southwestward through the southeastern part of the county. 

Through the village a low, sandy spur runs nearly east and west, the 

top of which is about 15 feet higher than the bottom of a shallow 

stream valley, along which most of the flowing wells occur. 

IKB 183 06 12
162 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

The largest number of wells which flow is in Davison village, on the 

Grand Trunk Railroad, where -about one-half of all those in the district are located. The whole number of wells recorded is 156. A few 

are no longer flowing, however, but were noted as indicating the possibilities of the locality for properly constructed wells.

FIG. 31. Sketch map showing flowing-well district in Davison and Burton townships, Genesee

County.

The water comes from sand or gravel strata ranging from 20 to 80 

feet, and in one case (L. Raisin, No. 24) from 95 feet below the general 

surface. A large percentage were reported as less than 40 feet deep. 

As in all districts where there are several water-bearing strata there is 

much variation between the depths of adjacent wells, owing to irreguFIG. 32. Diagram showing probable relationship of the water beds across sees. 10 and 11, Davison

Township.

larity in the thickness of the strata, apparently in some such manner 

as is shown in the ideal section (fig. 32).

This water is of about the same quality in all of the wells rather 

hard with some iron present, but in other ways excellent. That from 

the deeper wells seems rather less impregnated with mineral matter
GENESEE COUNTY. 163

than that from the shallower ones, but no accurate determination 

was made. The water should be healthful and as pure as ground 

water in this type of territory ever is.

A tough hardpan is reported as generally present over the waterbearing strata, which were said to be usually of fine sand for the upper 

and gravel for the deeper ones. Mr. A. Armstrong, however, reported

FIG. 33. Plat showing distribution of flowing wells in Davison village, Genesee County.

that the well at the creamery, 66 feet deep, if shut off, always started 

roily, and when first put down discharged more than a wagon load 

of fine sand.

The wells in many instances were reported to be cased down into 

the clay for a few feet only, and but few of them had sand screens on 

the points.
164 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The deeper wells have the greater head and the stronger flows, 

except a well near the stock yard of the railroad company, which war 

reported to be only about 16 feet deep and which flowed 10 gallons 

per minute at a height of 8 feet above the ground, quite equaling any 

other well visited. The well of Mr. L. Raisin when first put dowr 

was said to have flowed over the top of 32 feet of pipe, and while now 

reduced still has a strong head. One other well, that of J. F. Cartwright, the first to be put down to 70 feet, was reported to have r, 

head of about 30 feet at first, but slowly fell as others were put down 

and is now below 8 feet. The 30-foot wells are all apparently of 

slight head and small flow.

At present the village has no public water system, and fire protection is obtained by allowing the water from some of the flowing wells 

to run into reservoirs. It is apparent, however, that it would bo 

possible to get a good supply for public service by putting down r, 

few wells in the lowest part of the valley to the depth of the lowest 

stratum, which, being least used, would give the best supply anc1 

would also interfere least with the existing wells.

The well of Mr. A. Tenney (No. 56) was on slightly higher ground 

than any other flow and proved to be a rock well 115 feet deep anc1 

said to be about 15 feet into the shale rock. In case this is a correct 

record, the 95-foot well of Mr. Raisin is probably in gravel lying or 

top of the rock.

Fig. 33 shows the location of wells in Davison village; the data arc 

given in the following table:

Wetts in Davison.

s

<a 

a o

o

1

9

3

4

5

R

7

8

10 

11

19

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

J)

Owner.

A. N. Trumbull..

A. J. S. Seeley . . .

.....do...........

.....do...........

Mr. Uptograff...

.....do...........

.....do...........

.....do...........

j-Brickyard .......

Chas. Blackmore

}. ...do. ..........

S

£

1904

1904

1

S

Tn.

2

9

ii

U

ii

ii

U

ji

ii

ii

11

o

11

11

5

p

Ft.

72

75

OQ

30

30

95

8

$72

7H

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30?

[20 

{or

|30

94

30

30

' §

t>

3

Ft:.

785

785

785

784

784

785

784

784

784

78?!

78?,

1-788

700

785

785

 6

H

Ft.

+ 10

+ s

+ 1

+ 1

0

+ u

-1- 9 1

+ U

+ 1

+ 2

+ 1

1 **

+ 1

+ 1

i

If

S

ffa/.

8^

7

i

. i

i

1

*

i

i

i

i

i

i

i

«

8

CD 

ft

£

OJ.

50

51

51

51

51

51

51

51

53

5?,

54

Quality.

Iron; limp.

.....do....

....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do-...

.....do....

.....do....

»

Iron; lime.

Water 

bed.

Gravel...

....do....

....do....

....do....

....do....

....do....

Sand ....

....do....

Sand ....

....do....

....do....

Kemarks.

of No. 1.

f Used in boilers; 

< does not seal") 

I badly.

Do.

more.

"Plow lifl R rlpnypfl ^pff

Flows in crock.
GENESEE COUNTY.

Wells in Davison Continued.

165

CO

bb

a o

6

21

24

%27

?8

29

30

31

3?

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

4?

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

5?

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

6?,

63

64

65

66

67

68 

60

Owner.

J. J. Schweitzer.. 

.....do...........

A. Bird..........

vator company.

R. R. 

.....do...........

J. Smith....... ..

M. Smith........

H.Welsh........

W. F. Burdick...

J. F. Cartwright.

.....do ...........

vator) .

house well) .

A. Armstrong...

George Hill.... .

Mrs. Cottrell

H. C. Dayton....

.....do...........

A. Tenney ......

Wm. Hall......

Mr. Johnson. . . .

Mrs. Towar ....

S. Lane.........

C. N. Sallick....

J. Hibbard.....

Wm. Travis....

George Hall....

Barney Cole.... 

L. Gifford......

When made.

1903

190?

190?

1891

1904

1902

1897

i . . .

jDiameter. 

In. 

2

2

U

1

3

?

2

U

H

1*

H

H

H

H

1*

1*

2*

H

11

1,

1

1*

?

I 1

1 1

2

14

2

H 

a

«

Ft.

90

40

25

70

66

78

115

65

 . . .

o

o

$70 

60

95

40

16

40?

73

J30

3?

37

70

,50

40?

?,7*

18

70

30

30

30

30

66

78

3?

30?

104

9?

26

115

30

93

30

360

40

60

35

(?) 60'

Elevation.

Ft.

787 

786

788

783

780

780

780

782

785

785

784

785 

786

785

783

785

783

785

786

786

785

785

785

785

785

786

786

786

784

785

787

794

794

804

795

789

785

785

785

789

786

789

791

786

786 

786

1 

W

Ft. 

- 6? 

+ 2

+3?

+ 1

+ 3

+ 7

+ 1

+ 3

+ 1

- 5

+ H

+ 1

+ I1

+ U

+ 1

0

+ 8

+ 2

+ 1

+ 1*

+12

+12

+ 2

+ 1

+ 1

i 9

+ i

+ 3

+ 1

+ 4

- 6

+ 2

0

+ 3

+ 3 

+ 3

Flow min- per 

ute.

Gal. 

1

1

4

i

f

10

\

2

I

1

1

H

i

i

i

A

8

8

i

i

i

i

1

i

i

i

j

Temperature.

".*:

49

50

49

50

50

,50

50

50

49

51

50

50

50

50

50

51

50

50 5

50

50

50

60.2 

53

Quality.

Iron; lirne. 

.....do....

.....do....

Hard .....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Soft......

.....do....

.....do....

.....do.... 

.....do....

Water 

bed.

Gravel... 

..._do...-

....do....

....do..-.

....do....

gravel.

.....*...!

Remarks.

In cellar. 

At barn; flows on

ground below well 

mouth. 

'No data.

Flow controlled;

said to have overflowed a 32-foot 

pipe at first. 

Used for irrigating

garden. 

Do.

wasted. 

Not flowing now.

drinking fountain.

clogged.

Flows into tank.

lage reservoir.

Do.

+30 feet at first; 

piped to house.

creased.

Small flow at 30

feet; used in boiler and creamery.

well.

tank.

eral; 15 feet in 

rock. 

Intermittent. ;

above surface.

Too hard for

laundry.

tank.

Flows from pump.
166 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN".

Wells in Davison Continued.

S3

§

fc

70

71

7?

73

74

75

76

77

78

80

81

Owner.

C. A. Uptegraff . .

J. P. H. Bradshaw.

F. H. McGreggor

J.Deal. .........

Mrs. Black......

J. F. Cartwright.

D. Cobus........

,

L

>

a 

s

a

£

1876

1898

1

CB

o

Tn.

3

2

H

H

ji

U

2

«

03

 o

FY.

0

$6?

80

60

70

30

30?

60

1

<c

H

Ft

786

7S5

7XS

787

785

785

7s f;

786

787

T3*

w

Ft

+ 3

+ 3

+ \

+ 3

+ 1

+ 2

+ 1

+ 1

+ 1

+ 4

a'S

&!

0

PH

fffrfi

*

i

i

i

\

ii

S3 +^

o>

ft

M

H

°F.

,50 ?

50 ?

cfl o

50

50

Quality.

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Water 

bed. Remarks.

Do.

leaky casing.

pan, one-half foot;

clay, 25 feet.

(In cellars; use dis-

| 50 feet deep.

VICINITY OF DAVISON.

In the country district south and west of the village the wells 

were generally reported as bored by the owners and at most only a 

single length of pipe used for casing. This method of putting down 

makes the cost of construction very small, but it is not conducive 

to permanency. From the varying depths at which water was 

reported in this part of the area, it seems likely that the strata are 

not continuous with those of the village, nor is it probable that 

they are.

It seems probable that the rolling land east of the area serves as 

the catchment area and gives the head necessary to make the wells 

flow. The diagram, fig. 32, and the sketch map, fig. 31 (p.. 162), show 

the supposed relation of the strata in vertical section, and the approximate position of the wells of the area to the rolling lands to the east.

In sec. 29, Davison Township, there is a single light flow in the 

bottom of a small marshy depression in the moraine. The marsh is 

but a few acres in extent and surrounded by hills. The well was 

remote from any house, and no data were obtained regarding it, 

but from the way it was constructed and its location it was evidently shallow. This was the only flowing well in the township 

found in the rolling country.

BURTON TOWNSHIP.

On the farm of A. C. Skinner, 3 miles southeast of Flint, in the 

NE. \ sec. 28, in the valley of Thread River, is a tile well 25 feet 

deep. The water flowed the year round until recently, when it was 

purposely shut off, and now in a wet season it rises 4| feet above
GENESEE COUNTY. 167

the surface and runs from the spout of the pump. The well is 

about 5 feet above the level of the water in the stream and 25 feet 

below the level at which any of the neighboring houses stand. This 

well suggests the possibility of putting down other wells in the valley of the stream, with the reasonable expectation of getting flowing water from no great depth.

In the central part of the township the wells are commonly shallow, dug or bored 12 to 20 feet deep. One tile tubular well was 

reported to be 50 feet deep, with a good supply of water. Doctor 

Chase's well, at the northwest corner of sec. 16, flows from the rock, 

which is said to be 75 to 80 feet from the surface. Below 20 feet, 

until rock is reached, water is rather scarce in this part of the county.

In the southeastern part of the township, especially in sees. 23 

and 24, water is abundant, and there are numerous flowing wells, 

which form the eastern extension of the Davison area.

SUMMARY.

The following table gives data of the wells in Davison and Burton 

townships, exclusive of those in Davison village, which are given on 

pages 164-166.

Wells in Davison and Burton townships.

rH 

CO

# 

§ 

6 

£

1

2 

3 

4

5 

6

7 

8

9

10 

11 

12

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

21 

22

£

I 

o

e

7

7 

7 

7

7 

7 

7 

7

7

7 

7 

7

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7

7 

7

Range E.

8

8 

8 

8

8 

8 

8 

8

8

8 

8 

8

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8

7 

7

Section.

30

19 

19 

30

20 

20 

20 

19

19

19 

15 

15

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

30

23 

23

Owner.

H. R. Thomas.... 

Bert Thomas.....

Fred Knapp ......

F. Blackman..... 

Israel Hill........

.....do. .. .........

.....do............

Oscar Harris..... 

W. Walterhouse..

E. B. Ten-ill......

Mrs. Wm. Fagin. .

.....do............

L. S. McAUister. . . 

.....do............

R Van Tiffin a...

1 

%

1902 

1894

1884 

1884 

1898

1894 

1892

1902 

1902

1880

....

i'-,

I

o

In. 

20

li 

li 

1*

li 

li 

li 

li

li

li 

li 

2

?

2 

2

li

2 

2 

1J

2

2

,d

1 

O

Ft. 

14

25 

30 

30

40 

40 

48 

50

50

60 

4Q 

40

55 

55 

30 

30 

30 

30

20 

15

Elevation.

Ft. 

790

782 

785 

780

785 

780 

780 

780

780

780 

810 

812

808 

790 

790 

785 

795 

790 

790 7sr>

770

775

w

Ft.

+3

+2 

+2

+2 

+ 2

0 

+ 1

+ 1 

+3 

+3

+ 1 

+ 2 

+ 1 

+2 

+ i 

+3 

+ li

+ 2 

+ li

Flow min- per 

ute.

Gls.

1

i

\

1

li

J 

i

1

i

I

i 

3

i 

li

3

1

Temperature.

°F.

50.5 

50

50 

50

50

54 

52

50 

50

50 

50 

50

50 

50

Quality.

Hard . . . 

....do...

....do... 

....do...

....do...

....do...

Hard . . . 

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

Hard . . .

....do...

....do...

Hard . . .

....do...

Water 

bed.

Gravel. . 

....do...

....do... 

....do...

....do...

....do...

Gravel. .

Sand. . . . 

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

Remarks.

This well is in neighborhood of flows, 

but on higher 

ground.

Has two wells. 

Well in pasture; another at house. 

Well in pasture. 

Do.

Water flows at surface; rock at 90 

feet. 

Drilled well at bar, 

111 feet deep, 16 

feet in rock.

Another well about 

the same on back 

of farm. 

Water nearly soft. 

Do. 

Do. 

Flow very small.

In hollow !in field. 

Infield. . Bored well; small 

flow.

Easy to get flows 

here anywhere at 

about 15 feet.

« W. Skellinger, a driller at Davison, states 'that the Van Tiffin wells are 30 to 40 feet deep. The 

strongest has a head of 12 to 14 feet.
168 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells in Davison and Burton townships Continued.

?3

Mtfi

n 

o

d 

fc

23 

24 

25 

26

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32

33 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42

43 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51

£ 

ft '3 

a

o 

EH

7 

7 

7 

7

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7

Range E.

7 

7 

7 

7

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7

7 

7 

7 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8

8

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8

|'+*

8

02

23 

24 

24 

24

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25

24 

24 

24 

16 

16 

16

8 

8 

8

8 

10 

10 

3 

3 

2 

2

3 

3

Owner.

.....do............

.....do............

.....do............

H. A. Day. .......

Chamberlin place .

P. P. Hill.........

.....do............

.....do............

M. H. Flint. ......

.....do............

E. N. Demanois.. 

F. Hill............

I. W. Cole........

.....do............

W. Dillenbeck . . . .

.....do............

.....do............

When made.

i898

i+-3

5

In.

2 

2

2 

2

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2

21 

 >,

2 

11 

11 

H 

14 

2 

2 

2

i

«

JV.

15 

15 

15 

15

30 

35? 

30 

30 

30 

30

iu

25 

40 

40 

40 

30 

60 

50 

50

Elevation.

Ft.

775 

775 

775 

775

780 

780 

780 

785 

785 

785 

789 

789 

790 

785

780 

785 

788 

790 

790 

785 

785 

785 

785

 6

3 

W

Ft.

+ li

+2 

+2 

+ 2

+ 11

+2 

+2 

+2 

+2 

+ 2 

+ 11 

+ 11 

+ 1*

+2 

+2J 

+2 

+2J 

+ 1 

+2 

+ 14 

+ 1* 

+2

Flow min-per 

ute.

Gls. 

2 

2 

3 

1

11 

4 

1 

i 

6 

1 

i

I

2

" 5 

1 

i 

i

i 

i

Temperature.

OJ.

50 

50

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

51

50 

50 

50 

,50 

50

50 

50 

50

Quality.

Hard...

....do...

Medium. 

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

Hard . . .

....do...

....do...

....do...

Water 

bed. Remarks.

These and others in 

neighborhood said 

to be 25 to 35 leet 

deep. Flow varies 

from one-half gallon to 3 gallons. 

Mostly old wells. 

Rather hard water. 

Do.

In stream valley. 

In woods. 

Water medium hard. 

Flowed 2 years, then 

stopped; water 

medium hard.

In marshy pasture. 

In pasture.

a W. Skellingef, a driller at Davison, states that the Van Tifflin wells are 30 to 40 feet deep. The 

strongest has a head of 12 to 14 feet.

GAINES AND MTTNDY TOWNSHIPS. 

SWARTZ CREEK.

The village of Swartz Creek is situated on the side of the ridge 

bordering the valley of the stream of the same name and is about 20 

feet above it.

In the village the wells are said to be generally shallow from 12 

to 30 feet in depth the water coming from below a thin layer of 

hardpan.

The well of Mr. William Clark, on the broad flat terrace of the 

stream, usually flows with a head of about 2 feet, but had just ceased 

when visited by the writer. The flow was said to be a small one. 

The well is about 25 feet deep.

From this single well it seems likely that tubular wells put down in 

low places on the terrace of the creek would give flows, and especially 

so since the ridge bordering the valley gives a good catchment area 

and head.
OENESEE COUNTY. 169

T. 6 N. R.5E. T. 6 N. R.6 E.

GAINES AND MUNDY AREA.

This area lies 2 to 3 miles south and from 1 to 2 miles east of Swartz 

Creek in a flat trough or plain, with a low ridge to the north. (See 

%. 34.)

Both rock and drift flows occur, but the drift or gravel flows 

occupy, as would be expected, much the smaller part of the area. No 

attempt was made to get a full list of the flowing wells from the rock 

in these townships.

The area where flowing wells occur covers only about 1 square mile 

and is entirely without features, being so flat that little difference of 

level can be seen over the whole of it. The wells are shallow, ranging 

from 10 to 12 feet in depth at the western end of the area to 40 or

even 80 feet in other parts, though 

most of them were reported as 

being about 25 feet deep. The 

water usually flows in sufficient 

quantity for the owners' needs, 

but a few wells had ceased flowing 

or had become so feeble that 

pumps were used. This seems to 

indicate that the catchment is 

small and local, being affected by 

the local weather conditions, the 

head of many of the wells being 

reported as less in the summer 

than in the winter.

The water is medium hard, with 

a small quantity of iron present. 

The catchment area may be a low ridge to the north of the area 

where the larger number of wells are, or it might be any tributary higher 

land near by, since the head is so low.

Rock wells are situated around the border of the area of drift wells. 

Tbe rock surface is reported to vary from about 100 feet in most of 

the wells to 180 feet in the well of Mr. J. H. Short, in which the rock 

is remarkably deep considering the showing in the wells on either side. 

The water is from sandstone, is fresh and sweet, is usually softer, 

has less iron than the waters from the drift, and the supply is likely 

to be more permanent because of the much greater area from which 

the water can come. The table on the next page gives data relating 

to this group of wells.

,a

?ts a?

23

GAJNES

13

T-WP.

R ff

3 2

/' 19 7

\:{9g . /

I, MUN: 

18

* -e 7*

19

8

s ^^ .^

>Y TWP.

17

20

FIG. 34. Map showing flowing wells in the GainesMundy area, Genesee County.
170 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells in Gaines and Mundy area.

SB

g 

6 

fc

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6

7

8 

9

10 

11

12 

13

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23

21 

25

26 

27

Township.

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6

6

6 

6

6 

6

6 

6

6 

6 

6 

6

t

6 

6

6 

6

6 

6

<£ a

5 

5 

5 

6 

6 

6

6

6 

6

6 

6

6 

6

6 

6 

6 

6

6

6 

6

5

5 

5

6 

6

Section.

24 

13 

13 

18 

IB 

18

18

8

7

7 

7

18 

18

7 

7 

18 

18

7

18 

18 

13

12 

12

8 

8

Owner.

.....do............

G.S. Eigentrager.. 

A. D. Stevens. .... 

R.N. Barlow.....

School district... .

'.'..'.'.do'.'.. '.'.'.'.'...'..

I. D. Gazley. ......

W Beebe

C.W. Curtis......

Mrs. C. Wood .....

M.N. Wood.......

J.W. Wood.......

M.N. Wood. . ....

W. A. Stoner. .....

W.S. Blass.......

made. When 

1903 

1902 

1896 

1897

1898

1902 

1900

1903

Diameter.

In. 

11

2 

2 

2 

2 

2

1

3 

11

11 

11

2

ii

H 11

2

14

2

!

Ft. 

17

280 

130 

132 

130 

30

37

101

25

25 

15

40 

80

25 

29 

30 

25

^

30

20

12 

10

100

o 

I

Ft. 

820?

830? 

800 

830 

835 

830

835

820 

820

820 

820

820 

820

820 

820

818 

818

816

815 

833

820

io> W

Ft. 

+ 11

+ 1 

+2 

+ 3 

0 

+2

+ 2

+3? 

+ 11

+1 

+2

-3

+21

+8

+ 2 

+ 2 

+ 2

+ i

+ 2 

+ i

+ 2

Flow min-per 

ute.

Gal. 

5

i 

11 

3 

3

i

i 

i

"i"

1

3

j 

i

21

5 

1

2

I

1 

1

a H

50

55.2 

51 

51 

51

50.6 

50"

52

52 

51

50

49 

50

50

Quality.

Hard..... 

Soft......

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Hard; iron 

.....do....

Hard; iron

.....do.... 

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Hard; iron 

.....do....

Soft... ... 

.....do....

Water 

bed.

Gravel..

....do....

....do. ..

....do....

Gravel.. 

....do....

Rock?.. . 

Gravel. .

....do.... 

....do....

....do....

....do....

....do....

....do....

Gravel. . 

....do....

Rock.. . . 

....do....

Remarks.

Bored in creek valley. 

Sandstone at 180 

feet; cost, $168. 

Water from top of 

sandstone. 

25 feet in sandstone. 

15 feet in sandstone. 

Bored with a u - 

ger; affected by 

drought. 

Very feeble flow; 

well near has 

ceased. 

Said to be just to 

rock. 

Affected by seasons; used for 

cooling.

Low ground in 

pasture. 

Small flow. 

Flow has d e - 

creased.

Flows.

(Three small flows; 

\ one pumped.

Flows no more. 

Do. 

Bored; flo^s in 

tub. 

On bank of ditch. 

Crock well; overflows. 

Well in sandstone. 

Sandstone.

GAINES.

The wells at Gaines range from shallow dug ones to deep drilled 

ones from 120 to 195 feet. Good supplies of water are found in sand 

and gravel below clay at from 20 to 175 feet. Rock has not been 

reached in any of the wells.

GRAND BLANC.

Grand Blanc village is located in a rolling district, and is perched on 

a low ridge overlooking the valley of Thread Creek. Wells on the 

ridge, to obtain permanent and sufficient supplies for ordinary use, 

have to be sunk into the rock (which is reported as being from 160 to 

200 feet below the surface) to a total depth of 200 to 360 feet. Shallow wells vary from 25 to 70 feet deep, but usually do not give good 

supplies. The water rises in the deep wells to within 25 feet of the 

surface. On the edge of the valley on the east side of the town there
GENESEE COUNTY. 171

are some quite shallow wells. A well of Mr. M. Frazer, bored to a depth 

of 20 feet, has the water within 3 or 4 feet of the surface, rising from 

below a thin bed of hardpan. The locality is a springy one, and 

another well only 8 feet deep has the water nearly to the surface. 

The well on the place next south of Mr. Frazer's is said to be 56 feet 

deep, partly dug and partly bored, and the water rises to within 4 feet 

of the surface.

Springs are reported to occur along the edge of the valley on the 

north side of the town.

In case the village ever attempts to incorporate a public system of 

water supply the best place to make preliminary tests will be in the 

bottom of the creek valley at as low level as possible. The test wells 

would determine the best location for a pumping station. In the valley the water would be more likely to be abundant, land would be 

cheaper, and the chances of getting a flow either from the gravel or 

from the rock are excellent. The water could be pumped to a standpipe in the highest part of the town and good pressure thus assured.

AEGENTINE.

The wells in Argentine are from 15 to 30 feet deep, usually through 

a clay bed into water-bearing gravel.

FENTON TOWNSHIP. 

LINDEN.

The village of Linden is situated in the valley of Shiawassee River, 

and gets a considerable part of its domestic supply from dug wells 20 

to 35 feet deep. The drilled wells are from 75 to 175 feet deep, reaching rock about 100 feet from the surface. The quality of the water is 

good, though hard, as is usual in the region. That from the rock wells 

is reported as softer than that from the dug wells. The water in the 

rock wells rises to within 20 feet of the surface.

FENTON.

Fenton is built on the terraces of Shiawassee River, which has here 

cut a narrow valley in the bottom of a line of glacial drainage. The 

pumping station is on the bank of the stream at the lowest possible 

level, about 20 feet lower than the railroad station. The water is 

from a group of nine or ten flowing wells with slight head, ranging 

from 70 to 240 feet in depth, the majority of them being about 90 feet 

deep. The water flows into a brick reservoir of about 50,000 gallons 

capacity, from which it is pumped at the rate of 155,000 gallons in 

twenty-four hours, in spite of which fact there is a constant overflow 

into the stream. The pumps are connected with the stream in case 

of emergency, although the wells furnish 500,000 gallons a day.
172 WELLS AKD WATER SUPPLIES IK SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

quality of the water is excellent, and seems less hard and has 

less iron than is usual in supplies of this sort.

The low bottom on which flows are obtained being subject to overflow, few if any dwellings have been built on it. For this reason the 

bottom has not been well tested for flows, but it seems probable that 

all along it flows might be obtained near the level of the river.

The larger number of these private wells were said to be of the shallow basin type, 12 to 40 feet deep. The water in those from the rock 

in the country around is said to be soft.

ATLAS TOWNSHIP. 

ATLAS AKEA.

These wells occur in the part of Atlas Township immediately adjacent to Oakland County on the slope of a stream valley about 5 miles 

south and west of Goodrich, just east and south of a low ridge. This 

flowing-well area is practically continuous with the Groveland area in 

Oakland County. The Atlas area is a small one, containing about 1 

square mile, with six wells, one of which is from the rock. The drift 

wells are noticeably deep, and seem to come from near the top of the 

bed rock. The water probably rises out of the rock and accumulates 

under the overlying clay in a sand and gravel stratum lying on top of 

the rock.

There seems to be a locally developed shallow stratum, with slight 

head, in the eastern part of sec. 33, where two wells (one abandoned) 

of small flow from 20 feet down were reported.

Wells in Atlas area (T. 6 N., R. 8 E.}.

ui

O

O

6

fc

1

2

3

4

0

fi

g

 2

OQ

00

33

33

33

34

33

Owner.

J. P. P1att<=.. ..........

+^

O

895

80

81

91

186

 c

03

a

§&^

 I QQA

1892

1893

1891

1

 a

p

In.

f)

1

§"

P

Feet.

96

78

81

20

186

 d

W

Feet.

_1_1C

+ 3

I 0.

+ 1

+ 2

1 0.

.9

a

£

" s TL tO

fc

Galls.

O I

10

3

2

e3

I

g

^

0 J1 .

50

51

Quality.

iron.

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Water bed.

/-i ,. "p]

Do.

Do.

o Piped to house, horse barn, and barnyard. Mr. Ries formerly had a well in the low part of his 

garden 20 feet deep, with a small flow of 2 feet head.

& Located in springy place in the woods, 

e Plows just above the surface; piped tobarn and flows there a J-inch stream.

GOODKICH.

The village is situated in Atlas Township in a rolling district on the 

side of the valley of Hartley Creek, which is dammed at this point for 

power purposes,
GENESEE COUNTY. 173

The wells are said to be mainly shallow, from 20 to 30 feet deep. 

They are dug or of the tile basin type, and have abundant hard water 

of good quality.

There are several rock wells in and near the village in which, generally, the water rises within 8 to 15 feet of the surface. The water 

conies from a fine gray sandstone, and is of good quality, with some 

mineral matter, mainly iron, in it. It is softer than the waters from 

the gravel above the rock. Doctor Whelock's well is 171 feet deep, 40 

to 50 feet into the rock, and the water stands 14 feet below the surface. 

The deepest rock wells are said to be over 200 feet.

The well at the schoolhouse, 235 feet deep, is 105 feet into the rock. 

It flows 2\ gallons a minute, 2 \ feet above the surface. The water has 

a temperature of 51° F. as it flows from the pipe, is slightly saline, and 

has considerable iron in it. The well was drilled about 1898, at a cost 

of $91.

This well is on ground high enough to make it seem probable that 

good flows could be secured in other parts of the village by going down 

to the same stratum.

The stream and pond at this place suggest the practicability of 

securing water for fire protection easily and cheaply, and eventually 

these sources of supply will probably be utilized for the purpose.

ATLAS-HADLEY AREA.

This area occupies a valley that lies between morainic ridges, and 

embraces perhaps 10 square miles in the townships of Atlas (Genesee 

County), Hadley (Lapeer County), and Brand on (Oakland County). 

(See fig. 35.) The Ortonville and Brandon Township flows are near 

its south end and are treated separately a because of their great development. From Ortonville the flows extend as far as Hadley, Lapeer 

County, 7 miles to the northeast, appearing at frequent intervals 

along the valley and the lower part of its slopes.

The area includes six or seven wells in Atlas Township, and at least 

eight in Hadley Township, and there may be some which escaped 

notice in both of these townships. The number in Brandon Township, which should properly be included, is about 100.

It is probable that in many places in the lower parts of the valley 

flows could be obtained, but because of the undraiiied character of the 

soil and the scattered population of the district there are relatively 

few houses at low enough levels to be within the limits of flow. The 

fact that the porous graA^els along the sides of the valley yield good 

supplies of water for shallow wells does away with the necessity of 

putting down deep ones. Along the road between sees. 15 and 16, 

Hadley Township, is the greatest development of any place in the

a- See Water-Sup, and Irr. Paper No. 182, pp. 184-187.
174 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

area. Here the first well to flow was a dug well, in which, at the time 

of construction, in the early sixties, the water rose so rapidly that .the 

bottom had to be choked with stones to enable the owner to have it 

walled up. This well is still flowing several gallons a minute into a 

tile drain.

R. 8 E. R - 9 E '

R. 8 E. 

FIG. 35. Sketch map of the Ortonville, Hadley-Atlas, Groveland, and Atlas flowing-well areas.

At Hadley, the well on the school grounds, 147 feet deep, is 14 feet 

into the rock, and flows just above the surface. North of Hadley no 

flowing wells were found. The well of Mrs. Jones, in the northern part 

of sec. 22, Hadley Township, was reported as 284 feet deep, with rock 

at 274 feet. It passed through 50 feet of till at the top, and white 

sand thence to the rock.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 

Wdls in Atlas-Hadley area.

175

3

1 

6

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

19

13

14

15

17

18

Township.

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

fi

fi

fi

f>

a

§

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

Section.

30

19

16

15

16

15

9

9

10

15

15

9fi

95

95

36

93

97

15

Owner.

D.Riley 6. ................

C. S. Riley................

Silas Rileyd. .............

Spring/...................

S. Spicer *.................

made. When 

1864

1902

1QO1

Diameter.

In.

9

2

9

9

1

9

9

9

9

9

2

R

80

4

31

50

38

147

110

5

35

fiS

fiO

195

1fi5

131

133

Elevation.

Ft. 

950

890

890

895

895

885

880

875

888

 930

910

iCD B

Ft.

+ 4

+ 1

+ 1

+ 10

+ 1

+ 1

0

+ 5

+ 2

- 4

+ 1

- 1

+ 4

Flow per 

minute.

Gal.

3

4

1

2

9

1

4

Temperature.

°F. 

51

51

51

59

59

51

50

fiO

50

Quality.

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Hard .....

.....do....

Water 

bed.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Rock 14 ft

Sandstone

Do.

Rock.

« Spring boxed in woods with spout to trough.

& Flowed until within two months when it lowered 4 inches and is now pumped; flows at barn.

cTJsed to flow £-inch stream; very small flow now.

d First flow of the area; dug well; partially filled with stone to check overflow.

eWould flow at surface, but is pumped,

/From a near-by spring; used for watering-stock.

g Pumped at barn, but piped to stock trough on hillside and flows there.

ft In pasture; piped to farmhouse.

* Piped to barn, where it flows.

i Sand 55 feet, clay 10 feet, gravel with water at bottom.

ft Piped to barn, where it flows.

I Flows at barn; water at 118 feet in gravel; best flow from rock.

WATER SUPPLIES OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 

TOPOGRAPHY.

Livingston County, of which Ho well is the county seat, is west of 

Oakland County. The interlobate morainic system which traverses 

Oakland County centrally from northeast to southwest passes across 

its southeastern part, and Huron River traverses it in a southwesterly 

course about on the line between the Saginaw and Huron-Erie portions of the interlobate system. There are numerous lakes along the 

river and in the moraines on either side. From this interlobate 

moraine there is northwestward drainage to Cedar and Shiawassee 

rivers. The former drains the western part of the county to Grand 

River and thence to Lake, Michigan, while the latter drains the northern part of the county northward into Saginaw Bay. The northwestern part of the county is occupied by a much smoother tract 

than the southeastern, though feeble moraines are traceable, and 

there are several gravel ridges or eskers which lead up into the 

interlobate moraine.

Wells are obtained throughout the county at moderate depths, 

usually without reaching the rock. A number of wells, however, in 

the northwestern portion have been sunk a short distance into the
176 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

rock, which is reached at about 100 feet. This part of the county is 

embraced in the discussion, by Doctor Lane, of the region around 

Lansing.a

SUPPLIES BY DISTRICTS.

HOWELL.

The town of Howell is situated on a gently undulating plain near the 

geographic center of Livjngston County. To the south is a depressed 

area, in the bottom of which are marshes and several small lakes.

WATERWORKS.

Howell has a waterworks system, which obtains its supply from a 

group of ten 6-inch tubular drilled wells, located in a shallow drainage 

valley near the Pere Marquette Railroad station, in the western part of 

the town. These wells have been in use since 1894, and the water is 

said to come from gravel, lying at a depth of 65 feet below the surface, 

and to rise to within a foot of the surface when the pumps are not in operation. When pumped at the rate of 600 gallons a minute, the water is 

lowered 7 or 8 feet, but at the usual-rate of pumping during the summer season (from 275,000 to 300,000 gallons in twenty-four hours) the 

lowering is only 4 feet. The supply was said to show some signs of 

failure, but this is attributed to the tendency of the strainers to become 

clogged, as all the wells show this tendency after a few months of use, 

and unless the wells are frequently sand pumped the supply is reduced. 

The supply is, however, adequate for all the present demands, and the 

water is of good quality, though hard and containing some iron. It is 

used for fire protection, lawn sprinkling, for boilers, and for -general 

domestic purposes.

(1) There are many shallow dug wells in Howell, which are used 

commonly as sources of drinking water and as domestic supply. The 

depth of these wells ranges from 15 to 50 feet and the water is generally less hard than that of the city supply described above.

FLOWING WELLS.

In the southeastern part of the town, in one of the areas of marsh 

land mentioned above, is a group of flowing wells (see fig. 36) of slight 

head and generally small flow, which forms the largest group of this 

type in the county.

From their situation in relation to the higher lands around it is difficult to determine whether the sources of supply for this area are in the 

morainal hills and sandy slopes to the south or in the long, rather sandy 

slope to the north, as either or both might contribute water. The 

small flows and slight head would indicate, however, that there is

a See Water-Sup, an<J Irr. Paper No. 182, pp. 170-175,
LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 177

either a small catchment area or one in which the porosity is too slight 

to yield any considerable amount of free water. The general configuration of the locality and direction of drainage seems to favor a 

catchment area to the south, where the area of porous soils is more 

limited than to the north.

The obtainable records of wells put down in this locality indicate 

that there are two 'water-bearing strata, generally available. The 

upper, of about 1 foot in thickness, is a coarse sandy gravel, which 

yields a good supply of water at depths varying from 6 to 12 feet. 

This is usually capped by a clay bed, and the water has sufficient head 

to give slight flows at or slightly above the surface. The usual practice is to shut off this vein and go down to the lower one, a wise

S\ope to morainaf h///s

Approximate border of drained marsh

FIG. 36. Plat of portion of Howell, Livingston County, showing flowing-well district.

practice, since there is no general sewer system, and the chances of 

contamination from cesspools, etc., are considerable under existing 

conditions. The only wells obtaining their supply from this-vein 

are those of Mr. Charles Arnold and his neighbor across the street.

The lower water-bearing stratum is from 40 to 60 feet below the surface and is of unknown thickness. It is covered by a thick bed of blue 

clay so free from stones as to be easily bored through with the small 

auger commonly used in sinking the wells, and so compact that usually 

no casing is used, except enough to shut off the water from the upper 

vein. In most of the wells this water-bearing gravel is said to be 

white, rather coarse, and free from sand.. The water is hard, with 

considerable iron in it. 

IBB 183 06 13
178 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The valley extends east, west, and southwest, but at present is not 

inhabited, because of its marshy character. Wherever the surface is 

sufficiently low the conditions would seem to be favorable for finding flows, either from the stratum from which the present supply is 

obtained or at a greater depth, and as the marshy area becomes 

settled the present area of flows may be extended.

The only other flowing well near Howell is that on the farm of 

E. P. Gregory, in sec. 2, Marion Township. This is a bored well, said 

by Mr. Gregory to be 34 feet deep, but by the driller, Mr. Andrew 

Feeley, from memory, to have the following record:

Records ofE. P. Gregory's well, Marion Township.

DRILLER'S RECORD.

Total (feet). 

12 

57 

67

MR. GREGORY'S RECORD.

Sand and gravel _..____..

Tough blue clay .........

Water gravel; strong flow.

Total (feet). 7' 

33 

.... 34

Sand...................

Clay, very stony.........

Clay...................

Water gravel; strong flow.

This well is situated 20 feet above and 60 rods north of Shiawassee 

River on the slope of a well-marked drift ridge. The head is about 

7 feet, and the flow, as arranged at present, is about 12 gallons a minute. 

The water is hard and with considerable iron, but of excellent quality. 

It is used to cool milk, to water stock, and for all domestic purposes.

From the situation of this well, so much above the stream level, it is 

probable that the side of the valley farther down the slope would 

yield flows, but there are few residences in the neighborhood, and 

these are all on higher ground, while the pastures bordering the stream 

are sufficiently watered to make the sinking of wells unnecessary.

Mr. W. S. Papworth, in putting down a well some sixteen or eighteen 

years ago, struck a small flow of gas in the sand under the upper clay. 

When first struck, the gas was said to burn at the mouth of the pipe 

with a flame "as large as a barrel." The gas was piped to the house 

and supplied a single burner for six months with sufficient gas to give 

a constant bright flame. The sand constantly clogged the well so that 

the water could not be pumped, and the well was finally abandoned 

and filled up. The gas was in all probability "marsh gas," which in 

some way had accumulated in the sand as the result of decaying vegetation in the neighboring marshy area.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 

Wells at Howett.

179

s

£ 

§

6 

K

1

?,

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

in

11i?

13

Owner.

W.S. Papwortho.. ..........

W.S.Papworthft............

Wm.Barrett/. ..............

Fred Mischke g ..............

Mrs. L. Tilden. ..............

F. Crandall & ................

made. When 

1897

1888

1896

1895

1897

1900

1899

1901

1900

Diameter. 

In. 

2

1

9

 >

 >

1

1

2

o

o

4

3

3

4

4

4

5 

& 

p

Feet. 

55

20

4C

12

35

37

35

4040'

44

40

Elevation.

Feet 

910

915

 Qf\C

909

912

912

914

913

910

914

910

91'

-d

03

0)

K

Fee*. 

+3

-3

+ 5

+ -5

+ 1.5

+ 1.5

+ .5

_i_o

+ 2

0

+ 2

+ 1

Flow min- per 

xite.

Gals. 

0.5

.5

1

1.5

2.5?

1

Temperature.

°F. 

51

AQ O

50.5

50

dQ ^

50

52

50

Water bed.

Gravel.

Do.

Coarse gravel.

Gravel.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

a Forty-five feet blue clay; 20 feet of casing.

&Well flowed gas for a year, then filled with sand.

cMuck, 5 feet; sand, 15 feet; blue clay, 20 feet; reddish hardpan, 5 feet; watetgravel at bottom.

d This well now flows in basin; used to flow above surface; pumped now. Sand, 6 feet; clay, 5 feet; 

gravel, 1 foot. Mr. Arnold has two similar wells.

e Flow affected by pumping Arnold's well across street. Sand, 8 feet; clay, 26 or 27 feet.

/ Sandy loam, 2 feet; clay, 35 feet.

g Has pump, but would now if owner cut down to head and deepened slightly.

ft Surf ace sandy soil 4 feet; clay,6feet; gravel with water, 1 foot; blue clay to 40 feet. The lower gravel 

is coarse, white, and has little sand; more than 4 feet thick.

< Best flow in group, but runs into tank.

i Cut off just below surface; flows into basin.

The following are partial analyses of the public supply and a shallow 

well at Howell. The city water has to be mixed with rain water from 

cisterns for use for laundry purposes. The data were furnished by 

M. O. Leighton, of the United States Geological Survey.

Partial analyses of well waters at Hffwell. 

[Parts per million.]

Color...............................................................................

Iron (Fe).......................... .................................................

Chlorine (Cl) .......................................................................

51

2

11

89.39

10

+139

65

2

27.6

139. 96

51

322

S. J. Lewis, analyst. 1. William Barrett; depth, 38 feet; water at 15 feet. 2. City; depth, 68 feet.

PINCKNEY AREA.

This area consists of a group of three wells in a shallow valley 1J 

miles east and 2 miles north of the village of Pinckney.

These wells are about 60 feet deep, and flow 2 or 3 gallons a minute, 

2 feet above the surface.

No explorations were known to have been made to determine 

whether this area can be extended, but it seems probable that it could 

be to the east, toward Hay Creek.
180 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

COHOCTAH AREA.

Cohoctah Center is a small village located on one of the branches of 

Shiawassee River. The houses generally stand on a sandy terrace 

10 or 15 feet above the level of the stream, and water is obtained from 

shallow dug wells.

Near the stream level are three tubular wells which flow (fig. 37),

but the quantity is small and the 

head slight, so that at one well a 

basin has been built into which 

the water flows and another has 

been fitted with a pump. The 

cost of one of these wells (No. 2) 

was but $4.50. The indications 

are in favor of a possible greater 

development along the valley of 

the stream if conditions should 

arise making this desirable. It is 

also quite probable that deeper 

wells would give larger flows with greater head. These wells were 

bored with an auger. The accompanying table gives the statistics 

of these wells and fig. 37 shows their approximate location:

Wells in Cohoctah area.

FIG. 37. Sketch map of Cohoctah flowing-well 

area, Livingston County.

CO

o

o

^

1

2

3

Owner.

J. Trowbridge a ...

CD a

S

g 

a

^

1903

1892-3

LI CD 4J

S A

O

In.

1.5

1.25

2

ft

CD

O

.Ft

33

01

49

'o

' si o ^

£*

a> W

Jee^.

918

918

 a

'-§ '-1

23 4^>

(a

J'eef.

882

887

868

 a

CD

ft

Feet.

+ 2

+ .5

0

d

R

0,-S

^ 

o

P=H

Gals.

2

6

"J.

49

49

X2

S

^

Quality.

iron. An old

well.

Hard.

" This well had just ceased flowing. Said to flow during the wet part of the year over the end of pipe, 

which is cut off near the surface of ground.

Cohoctah station is situated on the Ann Arbor Railroad, above the 

level of the old village. It has shallow dug wells from 23 to 67 feet in 

depth, the usual depth being about 50 feet. The water in them rises 

from a gravel bed to vrithin 18 to 23 feet of the surface. The water is 

hard and has considerable iron in it.

DEERFIELD.

About 2J miles east and 1 mile north of Oak Grove, on the north 

side of sec. 29, Deerfield Township, is the sawmill and cider mill of 

Wm. H. Wenk. This is placed on the edge of the terrace of a swampy
LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 181

valley running off to the north, and at the foot of the terrace, in the 

boiler room of the mill, is a well 72 feet deep, which, if it were not shut 

off, would flow the full size of the pipe. The water comes from a 

stratum of sandy gravel 11 feet thick, and, has a head of 16 feet. It 

was put down in 1896 by the owner, who furnished the following 

record:

Record of Wenk flowing ivell, near Oak Grove.

Hardpan.

Thickness.

Feet. 

6

64

2

11

Total.

Feet. 

6

70

72

83

The pipe was drawn back to the top of the water-bearing str'atum. 

The water was not hard, and had a temperature of 51° F. A bored 

well at the house of Mr. Wenk, across the road, showed nearly the 

same section, except that there were 22 feet of sand before the gravel 

was reached. This well is on high ground, and the water rises in it 

within about 7 feet of the surface.

It is quite probable that other flows might be obtained along the 

sides of the valley to the north by going down to the level reached by 

the Wenk well. With the large head and thick water-bearing stratum 

there should be abundant water with which to use a hydraulic ram or 

water motor for elevating water thus found to buildings at higher 

levels, but as yet, so far as learned, no other attempt than Mr. 

Wenk's has been made to strike a flow in this vicinity.

HABTLAND AREA.

Beginning a short distance west and south of Hartland post-office 

and extending northward along a swampy valley drained by one of the 

minor branches/of Shiawassee River are four or five flowing wells. 

The limits of the area are as yet undetermined, because of the sparse 

population and the general location of the houses and farm buildings 

upon the higher ground, but it is probable that flows would be struck 

in both directions along the valley beyond the present wells. The 

flows are from tubular wells, are rather weak, with slight head, and 

present no phases of general interest. Their approximate location, 

and the area of the basin, as at present developed, is shown in fig. 38.

On the farm of J. B. Crause, sec. 17, T. 3 N., R. 6 E., Hartland 

Township, about a half mile west of Hartland post-office, is a remarkable spring, really a natural artesian well, although now given an 

improved outlet by the owner. It is located near to and east of the 

house and 12 or 15 rods south of the road, below the edge of the highest 

terrace of a marshy valley. The natural outlet of the spring has been
182 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

dug out to a depth of 11 feet, down to the water-bearing stratum of 

fine gravel, and walled up with stone laid in cement, to a height of 

about 6 feet above the surface. The water rises to the top of this 

cistern and flows out in three streams; one, a waste pipe 1 inch in 

diameter, is allowed to run full into a ditch to the stream valley. A 

second pipe 1J inches in diameter runs into a cooling tank in the milk 

house, and a third pipe runs a hydraulic ram which pumps water to the 

house and barns. The waste water from the milk house runs through

a series of watering troughs in the 

barnyard before it is allowed to go 

to waste. Besides these outlets, a 

considerable quantity of water runs 

off through cracks in the cement and 

stonework near the top of the cistern. 

The entire outflow from this spring 

can not be much less than 20 gallons 

a minute, as the quantity received in 

the milk house is about 8 gallons. 

While the improvements were being 

made on the natural spring the water 

was carried off at a low level by ditch. 

Simultaneously some of the wells to the 

northwest are reported to have stopped 

flowing, thus suggesting an underground connection with the wells.

Wells of Hartland area.

FIG. 38. Sketch map of Hartland area, 

Livingston County, showing locations of 

wells.

00

1

iz

1

5

Owner.

A. M.Townley. .........

a03

fi

Inches.

1

2

2

2

48

B1

fi

Feet.

15

50

62

30

»w

Feet.

+1.5

1 °

+3

1 9

+6

a

S

<B 03

O

PR

Go^s.

1

1.5

20

R

a

a

e

0Jf.

49.2

50

50

50

Quality.

.....do....................

.....do....................

.....do....................

.....do....................

Water 

bed.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Below is given a partial analysis of the water from the Lockwood 

Hotel, at Fowlerville. It seems to be very highly contaminated from 

seepage from the livery stable across the road. It is probable that the 

typhoid, which has been prevalent in the town is due to the polluted 

supplies from wells of this sort. The data were furnished by M. O. 

Leighton, of the United States Geological Survey.

Partial analysis of well water at Fowlerville.

Parts per million. 

Color....................................................... ........ 46

Iron(Fe) ................................................................ .5

Chlorine (Cl) ............................................................ 57.2

Carbon dioxide (CO2) .................................................... 137. 58

Sulphur trioxide (SO3).................................................... 55

Hardness (as CaCO3) ..................................................... 139+

S. J. Lewis, analyst. Depth, 40 feet.
SAGINAW BAY DRAINAGE BASIN. 183

WATER SUPPLIES OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY. 

TOPOGRAPHY.

Shiawassee County lies west of Genesee County, and is traversed 

by the same system of moraines noted in the discussion of that county. 

The northern edge was occupied by the Glacial Lake Saginaw. The 

county is generally either plain or gently undulating. Between the 

moraines are large valleys which represent lines of glacial drainage 

leading westward to Grand River. One of them, which passes just 

north of Durand and south of Corunna and Owosso, is known as the 

Imlay outlet and carried the waters of the large Glacial Lake Maumee. The southwestern part of the county is now tributary to Grand 

River, but the remainder drains northward through Shiawassee River 

and tributaries of Flint River to Saginaw Bay. The southwestern 

part of the county is discussed by Doctor Lane in his report on the 

region about Lansing.a

SUPPLIES BY DISTRICTS.

OWOSSO. 

FLOWING WELLS.

The Owosso flowing wells form the most important group in Shiawassee County. They are located in and near a subdivision of the 

city known as Maple Ridge, which lies on a slightly sloping terrace 

in the valley now occupied by Shiawassee River and south of the 

stream. It is a short distance north of a morainal ridge, which seems 

to be the catchment area for the wells, and which here runs nearly 

east and west for some distance.

The wells are in three groups; the larger one in Maple Ridge Park 

proper (see fig. 39) has about 25 wells, including those which 

would flow above or at the surface if not pumped, while the smaller 

one, five blocks west and one south, has only six wells. What is 

considered by the writer to be a third group in this area occurs still 

farther southwest near the south end of South Chipman street, 

where a single flowing well (No. 15 in table) and two pump wells 

which would flow occur in the same neighborhood and have the same 

characteristics.

The water in each group comes from a gravel stratum 18 to 25 feet 

below the generally even land surface, the cover being a compact clay 

till. The water is moderately hard and is somewhat impregnated 

with iron, and judging from the analysis of the sample from the 

mineral spring given below, has a considerable amount of magnesium 

salts as well.

a Water-Sup, and Irr. Paper No. 182, pp. 170-175.
184 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

The water in the wells on the highest part of the Maple Ridge 

district rises not more than 8 feet above the lowest part of the district, which is a shallow drainage valley. A well (No. 1) recently 

put down in this lowest part has, because of faulty construction, 

allowed the water to rise around the casing and run to waste in large 

quantities. Coincident with this large waste several wells at higher 

levels have lost head and either decreased in flow or ceased flowing 

altogether.

Some of the wells are on property which has frequently changed 

hands, and it was not possible to secure data regarding them. HOWFIG. 39. Sketch map of Maple Ridge Park and vicinity, Owosso, showing approximate locations oi

flowing wells.

ever, statistics relating to those of most interest, sufficient to show 

the characteristics of the area, are given in the accompanying table; 

the relation of the area to the river and moraine is shown in fig. 39.

The districts between these groups are not yet built up, and it seems 

probable that when they are the number of flows will be increased 

by new wells in the intermediate spaces unless the water is lowered 

so far by that time as to fail to give flows. This area should furnish 

a very cpnstant and good supply of water for household use from 

tubular pump wells, at small expense, even where flows can not be 

obtained.
c

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Owner.

*

J. A. Armstrong . .

.....do............

.....do............

F.J.McDavid....

L. A. Hamblin ....

Dr. Sutherland . . .

A. V. Leonardson.

1 8

9

10 

11

12

13

14

15

.Baldwin estate...

.....do............

.....do............

.....do............

..... do. ...........

A.B.Pulver ......

G. S. Kinney <* . . . .

D. D. Rust. ......

QJ "S

S

In.

1.5

1.25

1.25

1.23

1.25

1.25

1.23

1.5

1.5

1.5 

1.5

1.5

1.25

1.5

1.5

f.

I

O

Feet

20

26

26

25

20i

20:

25

25- 

100- 18-:

20-1

20-

25-

d

.2 "S

CD

S

Ft.

753

760

760

760

762

765

765

765

766

767 

765

0 765

766

765

768

"S

COCD M

Ft.

+2

+1.5

+1.5

+2.5

+ .5

+2

+2

+ .5

+0

+ .5 

+ .5

+0

+1

+1.5

+1.8

.a

§1

o

S

Gals.

2.5

1-2

1

2

2

1.5

1

.......

.25

2

1

32

£

3

1 

ft

1

£

op50 '

49.2

~50~"

49

49.5

"49." 5 

49.5

49

47.4

49

50

Quality.

Hard; iron

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Hard; iron

.....do....

.....do....

.....do.... 

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Water 

bed.

Gravel..

....do...

....do...

....do ...

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do... 

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

Remarks.

Lowest in the series.

6 feet from No. 2.

A second well used to

flow.

Pumped to avoid

sewer connections.

Water not very hard.

Used to flow; now

pumped.

Now pumped.

Just drops from pipe.

Lowered by No. 1.

Flows more after

heavy and prolonged rains; 1884.

Flow varies with seasons; water medium

hard.

Westernmost flowing

well in district.

3HIAWASSEE COUNTY.

Wells at Owosso.

185

o Owing to change of owners no 

were sa,id to be. of about the same

The following is a pa 

ing well at Owosso, o 

nished by M. 0. Leigh

Part

Color....................

Iron (Fe)................

Chlorine (Cl).............

Carbon dioxide (CO2).....

Sulphur trioxide (S03)....

Hardness (as CaCO3).....

S. J. Lewis, analyst. Dept

ata could.be had concerning four other wells in this group, but they 

epth as the others. The flows are small.

tial record from a very shallow but good fiowned by Charles Terry. The data were furon, of the United States Geological Survey.

al analysis of well water at Owosso.

Parts per million.

........ 5i

........ 1

........ 1.5

........ 121.36

........ 56

........ 139+

, 16 feet.

SPRINGS.

Associated with this 

from the same source, 

of the moraine on South 

tarium and bath house 

waters as a remedial ag 

artificial basin in the b* 

a way that it is hard 

finally runs off in a su: 

inches deep. This spri 

Owosso Sanitarium ar I 

was abandoned, and at

area are two large springs, which may come 

One is situated at the foot of the sharp slope 

Washington street and is covered by a saninow closed, which were erected to utilize its 

ent. The spring is a large one, issuing from an 

sement of the cellar in several streams in such 

i determine its amount; but the waste water 

:ace stream more than 2 feet wide and .6 or 8 

ig water was for a time bottled and sold by the 

Mineral Bath Company, but the enterprise 

present this large supply is entirely running to
186 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES I1ST SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

waste. 

50° F.

The temperature of the water as it issues from the spring is

A second large spring occurs at the foot of the same moraine about a 

mile farther east and is utilized by the city as a source of supply to 

supplement that obtained from the wells at the pumping station. The 

water from the spring is pumped to the large receiving well at the station 

and furnishes no insignificant part of the supply.

PIG. 40. Distribution of wells at Owosso waterworks, on a terrace of Shiawassee River, 5 feet above

low-water level.

WATERWORKS.

The records of the Owosso waterworks wells are of interest in showing the variations in depth, character, and thickness of the drift beds 

within a very limited area, and are therefore presented in full. Fig. 

40 shows their relative positions.

Driller's record of Owosso salt well (waterworks well No. 1).

Muck. ..........................................................................

Gravelly mixture................... ... ..... ..............

Gravel............................... . ....... ... ..............................

Clay...............................................................................

Sand rock. ...................................... ....................... ......

Salt water which flowed.

Thickness.

Feet. 

3

32

10

6

2

7

6

19

125

30

Total.

Feet. 

3

35

45

51

53

60

66

85

210

240
"This well is located 

tracks, about 200 feet west of 

in the low lands owne 

for the first 85 feet \ 

hard blue clay was reached 

was struck at a depth 

rock a depth of 30 fe< 

a height of 4 or 5 fee 

the locality was abam Loned 

and eastward across

on the south side of the Ann Arbor Railroad 

the east line of the corporation of the city, 

by J. L. Wright. It is 240 feet deep, cased 

rith 5f-inch tubing. At the depth of 85 feet 

, continuing down to the sand rock, which 

of 210 feet. Drilling was continuBd into the 

t and there water was reached, which flowed at 

above the surface. The water was salt and 

, the drill being moved 150 feet northward 

tie track.""

Dr ller's record of waterworks well No. 2.

Soil.... .........................

Clay............................

Sand ...........................

Clay............................

Thickness.

Feet. 

2

5

155 -

3

3

2

5

6

6

 16

1.5

Total.

Feet. 

2

7

22

27

30

33

35

40

46

52

68

69.5

This well was 

hours. The first few 

after which it did not 

Sf-inch tubing.

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY. 187

pumped 60 gallons a minute for eighty consecutive 

strokes of the pump lowered the water 12 feet, 

lower it below 14 feet. The well is cased with

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 3.

Sand...........................

Clay............................

Clay........................."...

This well is 71 feet 

.the same' line.

Thickness.

Feet. 

7 

5 

1 

14 

15 

1 

12 

13 

3

Total.

Feet. 

7 

12 

13 

27 

42 

43 

55 

68 

71

deep and is located 200 feet east of well No. 2 on

Record in waterworks office.
188 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOTJTHEBN MICHIGAN.

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 4-

Glstj... ...........................................................................

Clay..............................................................................

Clay..............................................................................

Water gravel.

Thickness.

Feet. 

3

6

9

16

6

13

13

7

Total.

Feet. 

3

9

18

34

40

53

66

73

This well is 100 feet west of No. 3.

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 5.

-

Soft clay. .........................................................................

Clay ..............................................................................

Gravel with flow ........................... ....................................

Clay..............................................................................

Clay..............................................................................

Quicksand ................................ .......................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

3

6

23

6

5

5

6

3

4

11

13

Total.

Feet. 

3

9

32

38

43

48

54

57

61

72

85

This well is 85 feet deep and is located 120 feet south of No. 4. 

"This well does not flow as strongly as the other wells do. There are 

large quantities of coarse sand mixed with the gravel, presumably 

keeping the water back.""

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 6.

Muck. . ...........................................................................

Gravel. . ..........................................................................

Clay..............................................................................

Clay........................ . .... .......... ....................

Coarse sand .................. .... ......... . .....................

Thickness.

Feet. 

4

3

11

8

13

2

16

10

4

Total.

Feet. 

4

7

18

26

39

41

57

67

71

This is the best well obtained as yet.""

Record in waterworks office.
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY. 

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 7.

Clay..... .......................

Quit drilling.

Thickness.

Feet. 

22

17

4

11

13

3

15

5

Total.

Feet. 

22

39

43

54

67

70

85

90

This well is 100 fe< 

gravel at 70 feet has 

water." 0

Dr

189

t east of No. 6. "This well is a failure. The 

quicksand below it, which prevents the flow of

Tier's record of waterworks well No. S.

Sand. .........................

Clay...........................

Clay...........................

Sand..........................

Clay...........................

Hard blue clay.

Thickness.

Feet. 

4

12

21

10

10

9

2

9

4

9

Total.

Feet. 

4

16

37

47

57

66

68

77

81

90

"This well was a : 

placed at 43 feet 

flowed at a tremendous 

banner well of the lo

ailure at this depth, but a dynamite cartridge 

the casing off at that depth. The well then 

rate for several months and was called the

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 9.

Clay............................

"This well is 20 fee 

the bottom of the we

Thickness.

Feet. 

5 

7 

38 

2

Total.

Feet. 

5 

12 

50 

52

t south of the bank of the river. The gravel at 

[ is very clean." 0

a Record in waterworks office.
190 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 10.

Clay... ....................... .."...... ............................................

Clay..............................................................................

Clay..............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

6

9

7

12

16

20

3

Total.

Feet. 

6

15

22

34

50

70

73

This well is 65 feet southwest of No. 9 and 50 feet east of No. 2. 

"There is considerable coarse sand and fine gravel at the bottom of 

this well. The well was nearly lost by driving through the vein of 

water-bearing gravel, hoping to shut out the sand." a

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 11.

Clay... ................. ..........................................................

Clay.....--..------.......-....-..-......-...-.......--.....-.........-.-.........

Clay. .............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

4

6

20

10

5

3

3

5

13 1.5

Total.

Feet. 

4

10

30

40

45

48

51

56

69

70.5

This well is 60 feet south of No. 9 and 50 feet west of No. 6. 

a strong flow; about the same as No. 5." a

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 12.

"Not

Clay..............................................................................

Clay..............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

3 

3 

23 

44 

17

Total.

Feet. 

3 

6 

29 

33 

50

This well is 50 feet west of No. 3 and in line with Nos. 2, 3, and 4.

Driller's record of waterworks well No. 13.

Clay. .............................................................................

Sand..............................................................................

Clay. .............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

3 

4 

3 

15 

7 

2.5

Total.

Feet. 

3 

7 

10 

25 

32 

34.5

This well is 60 feet north of No. 12 and 60 feet west of No. 8. "The 

effect on this well of dynamiting No. 8 was to almost stop the flow of 

water in it." a

a Record in waterworks office.
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY.

This small area, covering 

valley of one of the minor 

west of Byron, and at 

fair flow, but with a s' 

to it, but flows through 

level below the pump 

of the pump. It seems 

by putting down wells 

the lands adjacent are 

need of wells is not

Fig. 41 shows the 

data follow:

about 1 square mile (fig. 41), is in the 

branches of Shiawassee River, 3 miles 

present has two wells. One of these has a 

light head. The other has a pump attached 

a branch pipe to a watering trough at a 

platform and sometimes flows from the spout 

probable that other flows would be, obtained 

near the level of the stream, but at present 

used only for pastures and fields and the 

great, 

ap aroximate locations of the wells. Tabulated

 *

q 

o

6

1

Owner.

c

£

c

,£

*

1 C m

acS

ft

/M.

1.25

1 50

a

A

ft

Feet.

25

o'"P

<B

H

Feet.

845

835

o>

B

Feet.

+5

i o

Flow per

minute.

q

<B

dn

Gals.

0.75

1.5

fi

*H

Gals.

1.5

Quality.

Hard; iron

1

03 

O)

a

a

^

cp

50.2

Water 

bed.

Sand.

191

BUENS TOWNSHIP.

ells of Burns Township area.

There is reported to 

in a creek valley on the 

2 inches in diameter, 

flows about a barrel an 

a head of about 1 foot, 

are from a water-s 

obtained from Mr. Sm: 

Cooper.

Byron is located on a 

terrace, 30 or 40 feet 

wassee River. The 

mostly from dug wells 

lar driven wells 15 to 5( 

deep, none of which

A small amount 

pumped from the riv 

boilers and for waterin

On the lowest river 

spring of considerable 

nated with iron salts, 

outlet. This spring is 

with clay.

be a flowing well in sec. 3, Burns Township, 

farm of J. S. Smith. It is 84 feet deep and 

a.ncl was made in 1884 at a cost of $30. It 

hour and has 

These data 

lupply schedule 

th by W. F.

broad gravelly 

above Shiawater supply is 

r from tubufeet or more 

flow.

)f water is 

r for use in 

* stock.

terrace, near the dam, there was formerly a 

size, the water of which was strongly impregas shown by the pebbles in the vicinity of its 

now closed up by the owner, who -filled it

FIG. 41. Sketch map showing location of 

flowing wells in Burns Township, Shiawassee County.
192 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

It is probable that good supplies of water could be had by sinking tubular wells on the lowest terraces of the river, with excellent 

chances of flows, if the town should ever need a public supply.

VERNON TOWNSHIP. 

DUEAND.

Durand is located on a very gently undulating plain. The town 

has a public waterworks, the water being obtained from a group of 

driven wells near the business center of the town, where the pumping 

station is situated. The wells are from 40 to 75 feet deep, with one 

which has brackish water at 150 feet. The shallower wells have fresh 

water. They were put down in 1901. The supply is not large, and 

test wells have been put down in other parts of the town to locate 

additional sources of supply.

There is a flowing well in the western part of the town, which is 

said to be 287 feet deep and goes a short distance into rock. The 

water from this well is rather strongly impregnated with mineral 

matter and slightly brackish to the taste, but is used for drinking 

and domestic purposes by the people in the vicinity. The flow now 

is only about 2 gallons a minute, with a head of more than 2 feet. 

The temperature was 51.8° F. in July, 1904. Near by this well is 

a second flowing well, of whose depth no record could be obtained, 

but as the water is of different character and temperature from that 

of the first, it is probable that it is from the drift above the rock. 

This water is hard and contains considerable iron, but is not saline. 

The head exceeds 18 inches, the rate of flow is 1.5 gallons a minute, 

and the temperature 50.9° F. This lower temperature would indicate a less depth than'that of the first.

In the same block, to the east of these two wells, is a third, which 

formerly flowed at a height of 6 01 7 feet, but which was stopped 

apparently by the putting down of the deep well. The water at 

present just reaches the surface of the ground.

It was reported that feeble flows of a temporary nature had been 

secured a short distance south of town by driving short lengths of 

pipe into the ground in a swampy area of pasture land. None of 

these wells, however, are now in operation.

VEENON.

This village is situated on a morainal ridge and is without any 

public water supply. The wells are all from the drift, the deepest 

being about 50 feet. The depth to rock surface ranges from 50 feet 

in the valley of the river to 80 or even 100 feet on the higher ground. 

The supply of water obtained from the wells here is probably sufficient for present needs and is of good quality.
SHIAWAi

On the farm of Johr 

well from the rock, 10C 

too salty for use.

Corunna, the county 

the slope of a faint mo 

River.

The greater number 

an abundant supply of

In 1903 a public 

ing station being located 

of the town. A 

from driven wetls only 

water, but a part of 

trating sandstone from 

rock wells is said to be

An interesting fact is 

that pumping one of 

gesting a coarse texture5 

along which the pressure

A block east of 

is a shallow bored well 

the spout of the pump, 

flowing well, but the 

Other wells of the same 

formerly, but all ceased

The valley between 

occurrence of flowing we 

of the valley, even the 

pipes in some cases n

The depth to rock at 

by a driller at work there 

a resident of the town, 

well in the park is said 

rock. This is near the 

informant savs the rock

svs:em

consic erable

the

them

the court

pump

This county was not 

studied by State 

Cooper, a short time be 

disposal, and from 

As the State inquiry was

IEB 183 06 14

SEE AND SAGINAW COUNTIES. 193

Pierce, one-half mile south of Vernon. is a 

feet or more deep, the water from wnich is

COETJNNA.

seat of Shiawassee County, is situated on 

irainal ridge on the south side of Shia.wassee

of the wells of the town are shallow, but give 

good water.

of waterworks was installed, the pumpnear the railroad station, on the south side 

part of the water now in use comes 

30 to 40 feet deep, which give very good 

wells are from 90 to 120 feet deep, pene40 to 60 feet. The water, from these deep 

soft and free from lime compounds, 

reported regarding these rock wells, namely, 

affects the others 300 or 400 feet away, sugin the sandstone or communicating fissures 

is carried.

-house, in the lumber yard of H. T. Wilson, 

L8 feet deep, which in wet seasons flows from 

2 feet above the ground. It was formerly a 

was put on to insure a supply at all seasons, 

depth in the neighborhood were said to flow 

some time ago.

Owosso and Corunna seems favorable for the 

11s, as the water in the wells along the margin 

hallow ones, shows a tendency to rise in the

to the surface of the ground. 

Corunna near the railroad station was stated 

to be 72 feet. According to another driller, 

is from 60 to' 75 feet below the surface. A 

be 120 feet deep and about 35 feet into the 

river at the lowest level of the town. Another 

surface is only 50 feet down.

early

rock

to

WATER SUPPLIES OF SAGINAW COUNTY. 

GENERAL, STATEMENT.

visited in 1904, because it had already been 

Geologist Alfred C. Lane and his assistant, W. F. 

!ore. Their notes were placed at the writer's 

them the present report is principally compiled, 

made with somewhat different ends in view,
194 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

it was found impracticable to construct tables for the county such as 

accompany the reports on other areas.

Saginaw County lies south of Saginaw Bay, within the region 

formerly covered by a Glacial lake at a higher level than the present 

bay, and is very flat, with practically no relief forms except the shallow 

valleys of the numerous streams which cross it, and a few low, narrow, 

and irregular ridges of sand, sometimes blown up into dunes. The 

surface rises gently from the level of Saginaw Bay to about 100 feet 

above it along the southern, eastern, and western borders. The soils 

are principally heavy clays and clay loams, generally rather impervious to water, with scattered, more or less irregular, tracts of con 

siderable extent composed of sands and sandy loams, deposited 

chiefly by the Glacial lake. These are easily penetrated by water, 

and differ greatly in this respect from the clay types of soils.

The depth to bed rock is somewhat variable in spite of the flat surface of the county, and is remarkably irregular in some localities, with 

variations of about 200 feet in short distances, showing that the rock 

surface here had hills and valleys before the present deposit of drift 

was left upon it. So far as is known the rock is nearest the surface a 

mile or two south of St. Charles, where it is from 35 to 45 feet below, 

and ranges from this to 200 feet below about Merrill, 250 feet below 

just west of Saginaw, and more than 260 feet below in the northern 

part of Swan Creek Township. The variations in depth are sometimes so abrupt that a well-marked valley can be traced for some distance, where drill holes are frequent, and such valleys afford an excellent supply of water, because they are generally filled with relatively 

coarse material. In such cases it is probable that no inconsiderable 

part of the water comes from the rock walls of the valley, where the 

eroded strata come into contact with the material which fills the 

valley.

The county is watered by four large but sluggish rivers and by numerous smaller streams which come in from various directions. The 

rivers finally unite near the city of Saginaw, forming Saginaw River. 

These numerous waterways, and the low gradient of most of them, 

produce extensive overflows during the wetter parts of the year, 

causing a large part of the low land to be swampy before the settlement and draining of the region.

Because of the type of soil and because the overflows continued 

more or less frequently after the land had been cleared and drained, 

the water obtained from open, dug, shallow wells throughout the 

greater part of the county, was never entirely satisfactory or wholesome for drinking and other domestic purposes. The compactness of 

the soils, especially after drainage had been artificially improved, 

made the supply from this type of wells small and uncertain in 

quantity.
SAGINAW COUNTY. 195

As a result of these conditions, early attempts were made to secure 

better and more certain supplies, and bored, driven, and drilled wells 

of considerable depth, drawing on the water from lower water-bearing 

strata, became common. In many cases these deeper wells extended 

down into bed rock, and here, while abundant water was found, in 

many cases it was brackish or salty, sometimes so much so that it wag 

impossible to use it for many purposes.

In the sandy districts and the higher parts of the county the upper 

ground waters are often more abundant and wholesome, and here dug 

wells may give a sufficient supply, although even in these districts the 

deep tubular wells are frequent and are the most reliable.

The impurity of the water from shallow wells was due in part to the 

great accumulations of organic matter in the soils and in part to the 

readiness with which unwholesome and disease-impregnated matter 

found its way from the surface into the shallow basin wells, both by 

washing in at flood time and through fissures in the soil formed during 

drought. Aside from this, water from the clay is usually very hard 

and liable to be roily from the ease with which the finer matter of the 

clay is washed into the wells and the length of time which it remains 

suspended after it once mixes with the water. The water of such dug 

wells is sometimes colored brownish or blackish by organic matter.

The water from the deeper layers of the drift, or clays, is usually 

hard, with considerable iron in it, but not enough to make any change 

in its appearance. The amount of hardness is variable, and without 

apparent reason, except that the beds from which it comes are variable 

in the amount of soluble calcium salts they contain.

It is frequently true that the best and most certain supply of water 

from the drift is found just above the rock surface and in districts 

where the drift is very compact and fine grained, as in and around 

Saginaw; this supply is the one most depended upon for ordinary 

farm and domestic uses. This water is fresh, or only slightly saline, 

and often very hard. In and near Saginaw this supply is somewhat 

affected by leakage from abandoned salt wells, and is more or less 

brackish in consequence.

The rock waters, though often brackish, and occasionally so salty 

that they are not used for drinking or cooking, are in some cases, 

where sandstones are the source, much freer from hardness than those 

from any other source.

At from 200 to 300 feet down the salt content increases and becomes too high for any ordinary use; even stock will not drink it. 

At a depth of 300 to 500 feet a strong impure brine is struck, and below this, at from 650 to about 1,000 feet, the brines are found from 

which the Saginaw Valley salt wells have drawn supplies, which have 

yielded enormous quantities of salt, and which are still capable of 

great development.
WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 

WASTE WATER.

In a region so flat as this, where the soil is not absorbent, the disposal of the waste water from flowing wells is often a rather difficult 

matter. 'The usual method is to turn it into the roadside ditches and 

give it no further attention. Here it forms stagnant pools, in which 

mosquitoes and gnats breed in abundance, and in which various waterloving plants flourish and help by their growth to clog the ditches, 

thus impairing their efficiency and shortening their period of usefulness 

to a very considerable extent. A much better method of procedure 

would be to turn the water over some considerable area of cultivated land 

by means of irrigating ditches, or better still, probably, to carry the 

pipe or casing up nearly to the level of the head into a large tank, and 

allow the water to rise in this to the level of the head, but not overflow, 

as at the level of the head the water would stop flowing until it was 

needed and drawn off, when it would begin to flow again. A properly 

fitted valve or cock could be placed in the casing to draw off water for 

domestic use, while the water could be distributed automatically to 

various points where it is needed, as it often is where a windmill pump 

is used to fill a tank. Such a method would not only make it unnecessary to dispose of waste water, but would tend to conserve the supply. 

The cost of this type of trough or tank would not usually, where the 

head is slight, be great, and in most cases would be less than the cost of 

putting in a drain to cany off the waste.

CATCHMENT AREA.

The shallowness of some of the wells (from 10 to 25 feet) is an indication that the water-bearing strata are not, for these depths at least, 

extensive, nor can they be continuous for any great distance. Hence 

it is not likely that they reach to the nearest high land, which is several 

miles away to the west. These facts would lead to the conclusion that 

the catchment area is in the immediate vicinity, and it may lie in a 

district of heavy sand to the west and northwest, 2 or 3 miles from the 

shallowest wells, especially as the land rises slightly in these directions. 

The sands would readily absorb a large amount of the rainfall; and if 

the underlying strata are sufficiently permeable to take in this supply, 

or a large part of it, it is probable that this is the catchment area.

FLOWING WELLS.

FLOWS FROM ROCK.

Flowing wells are numerous, and from a number of horizons, both in 

the rock and in the drift. Of the rock it may be said that, if the well 

is drilled deep enough, flowing water would be obtained in almost any 

part of Saginaw County; but it must be remembered also that this 

water would generally be salty if the well penetrated the rock for any
SAGINAW COUNTY. 197

considerable distance. Hence it is not wise to go too deep for water 

for farm use when trying for a flow.

A well on the north side of sec. 2, Chesaning Township, 350 feet 

deep, with rock at 60 feet, flows salty water. Another in the same 

neighborhood is 180 feet deep with fresh water, and is 130 feet in the 

rock. Still another is 150 feet deep, and flows slightly salty water. 

On the east side of sec. 1 is a flow 120 feet deep, with rock at 47 feet. 

On the south side of sec. 5 is a flow 117 feet deep, with rock at 45 feet, 

and on sec. 17 is a flow 250 feet deep, with rock at 65 feet. The temperature is reported as 54° F.

The pump wells range, for drilled wells, from 61 feet deep with 10 

in the rock, to 465 feet deep with 405 in the rock. In this last the 

water was fresh down to 260 feet, below which it was salty. The 

rock surface is reported as 119 feet deep on the north side of sec. 23, 

45 feet deep on the south side of sec. 5 and the north side of sec. 2, 47 

feet on the east side of sec. 1, and 70 feet on the south side of sec. 2.

FLOWS FROM DRIFT.

The flows from the drift are confined to definite areas. If a line is 

drawn from north to south through the middle of the county, all but 

one group of flows from the drift will be found on the western side of 

it. The exception is the area in Birch Run Township, in the extreme 

southeast corner of the county. All of these areas are on plains, with 

no noticeably higher land near by, yet the gradual rise toward the 

border of-the county is sufficient to furnish head.

There are seven areas in which three or more flows occur and five 

isolated wells apparently remote enough from other developments to 

be considered independent areas, thus making 12 in all. These areas 

are located as follows: (1) The Merrill area, in T. 12 N., R.I E., extending from Merrill north and northeast; (2) a single well in sec. 1, Lakefield Township (T. 11N.,R.1E.);(3) an area of considerable extent in 

Marion Township (T. 10 N., R. 1 E.); (4) the Brant area, in the northwest part of T. 10 N., R. 2 E.; (5) a single well in the south part of the 

same township (sec. 33); (6) the Fremont area, in the eastern part of 

T.11N.,R.2E., and along the line between this and the next township, 

east; (7) the Swan Creek area, in the northeast corner of T. UN., 

R.3 E.,near Swan Creek post-office; (8) an isolated well on sec. 18 

(T. 10 N., R. 4 E.); (9) three wells near Luce post-office, in Albee Township (T. 10 N., R. 4 E.); (10) the Birch Run area in the southeastern 

part of T. ION., R.6E.; (11) a single well in sec. 1, Chesaning Township 

(T. 9 N., R. 3 E.); (12) a single well at Frost post-office.

As the slope of the country is toward the north and east, it is probable that the valleys of streams and other depressions in that direction 

may yield flows beyond the limits of the present development.
198 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

FLOWS BY DISTRICTS. 

MERRILL AREA.

This is known to cover about 10 square miles, and is the most 

extensively developed area of flowing wells from the drift in Saginaw 

County. Merrill lies on the southern border of the area, from which 

it extends north and northeast; in it the majority of the flowing wells 

of the district are found, about 25 being reported from there, the water 

coming from depths varying from 35 to 150 feet from sand or gravel 

strata.

It is possible that conditions here are similar to those of Alma (see 

p. 207), with coarser layers interspersed with the finer. The fact 

that wells near together are of very different depths points to this as a 

possibility, but in the absence of accurate records of the wells nothing 

definite can be stated.

North of Merrill the depth is generally 60 to 70 feet, but some wells 

are only 10 feet deep. None that flowed is -more than 100 feet deep, 

so far as learned.

The water in the flowing wells, as in the other wells of the Merrill 

area, is hard and more or less impregnated with iron and carbon 

dioxide. It is otherwise of excellent quality and is wholesome and 

good.

In general, the head of wells of this area is slight, being only 1 to 3 feet 

above the surface. But the well of Mr. Dubay, 1 mile east and threefourths of a mile north of Merrill, is reported to have had a head of 11 

feet. This well is also reported to have the largest flow in the area 

10 to 15 gallons a minute from a depth of 65 feet. The average flow 

of wells in this area is, however, small, 1 to 5 gallons a minute, except 

in a few cases where the flow is from a dug basin, in which case the 

amount of water running away seems to be larger.

MARION TOWNSHIP.

The Marion area is about 6 square miles in extent, is narrow, and 

trends from northwest to southeast. It includes about 20 wells, 

ranging from 60 to 102 feet in depth. The records available indicate 

that after a shallow bed of sand and gravel 2 or 3 feet deep has been 

passed there is a thick bed of clay, with occasional thin beds of gravel 

from which the water comes. The flows are usually small with slight 

head, but sufficient for farm and domestic uses.

BRANT AREA.

The Brant area is about 7 square miles in extent and as developed 

has 11 flows, all but one being from the drift. These wells range from 

about 75 to 140 feet in depth, several of them being between 90 and
SAGINAW COUNTY. 199

100 feet, and only two more than 100 feet deep. At Brant post-office 

is a flowing well from the rock, 282 feet deep. It is probable that in 

this area a larger number of flowing wells may be developed. The low 

ground along the streams and the sags in the general surface would be 

the most favorable places to test.

The single well in the southwest corner of sec. 33 of Brant Township 

is 80 feet deep, and from its location would seem to be independent of 

the area to the north of it. It is possible that explorations along the 

creek valley in this vicinity would yield other flows.

FREMONT. TOWNSHIP.

The Fremont area covers 4 or 5 square miles and, as developed in 

1900, included about a dozen wells which flow from the drift. In this 

area the majority of the flowing wells were reported to be 42 to 85 feet 

deep, but one, in the southeast corner of sec. 12, is said to be 212 feet 

deep, entirely in drift. This is the more probable, since about 1 mile 

north and one-half mile east is a pump well 260 feet deep, in which the 

rock was not reached; on the other hand, there is a well on sec. 14, 

only 2 miles southwest, in which rock is reported at 145 feet. In 

these wells the general report is that they are in clay from, the surface 

down, the water coming from gravel or sand strata. The flows are 

reported as medium or small.

SWAN CREEK AREA.

The Swan Creek area is located 3 miles east and 1 mile north of the 

Fremont area and is much smaller, consisting of three wells along the 

north and south road between sees. 3 and 4. The wells are all of different depths, that of the southernmost being 58 feet, that of the 

northernmost 78 feet, and that of the one between 69 feet. These 

wells are all reported as being through clay to the water-bearing 

stratum, which is sand or gravel.

This area may possibly be extended both north and south along the 

valley of Swan Creek, which lies one-half mile to the east of the present development, but at present this district is not settled thickly.

LUCE AREA.

Near Luce post-office, in Albee Township, is a group of three small 

flows, 32 feet deep, which are reported to pass through 3 feet of sand, 

then shallow sand and gravel, and then clay to the water-bearing 

gravel. Further testing may increase the extent of this area, particularly to the west.
200 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

ALBEE AREA.

The single well on sec. 17, Albee Township, is 49 feet deep, with a 

small flow, in a relatively unsettled region. Further prospecting may 

extend this area to the north.

BIRCH RUN AREA.

This area is about 5 square miles in extent and is situated on the 

inner slope of a low morainal ridge, which just touches the southeast 

corner of the township and county. The slope of this ridge is gentle, 

but the differences in elevation here reach the maximum for this 

county, and amount to 30 or 40 feet to the mile. The flowing-well 

district lies near the foot of this slope and has its greatest length parallel to the axis of the ridge.

The development of this area is small, only'8 wells being reported 

in it, and these range in depth from 25 to 65 feet. The water in some 

of the wells is reported to come from sand sufficiently fine to work 

into the casing and obstruct the flow. The rock surface within the 

limits of the area is from 60 to 90 feet below the soil surface and flows 

from the rock are not infrequent in the vicinity of the area. The drift 

flows give Hard water in sufficient quantity for ordinary farm uses, 

though the wells tend to clog rather quickly, as mentioned above.

The catchment area is probably the morainal ridge, from which is 

also derived the pressure which develops the head of the wells. The 

area might be extended to the northeast and to the southwest of its 

present development if care were taken to locate the wells in depressions below the general surface.

CHESANING AREA.

The single well from the drift in Chesaning Township, of which any 

record was obtained, is that of C. M. Johnson, which is only 18 feet 

deep, from a small vein of gravel ih the clay. The water is hard and 

fresh. This is probably due to a purely local development of conditions favoring a flow.

THOMASTOWN TOWNSHIP.

As developed at present, this area has but a single flowing well from 

the drift, that of William Wurtzel, at Frost, 10 miles west of the city of 

Saginaw. This well is situated in the valley of a small stream, being 

developed in 1896 while boring for silver. The flow was struck at 40 

feet, the water spouting out of the casing several feet above the ground. 

The flow is still good and the temperature is about 45° F.
SAGTNAW COUNTY. 201

This water is sold under the name of the "Wurtzel Saginaw Magnetic Mineral Spring Water," and its character is shown by the following analysis:

Analysis of Wurteel Saginaw Magnetic Mineral Spring Water, a

Parts per million.

Chlorine (Cl) ........................................................... 1,460.90

Sodium (Na) .......................................................... 949.82

Calcium (Ca)........................................................... 260. 62

Sulphate radicle (So4 )....... . ....... .................................. 201.89

Magnesium (Mg) ........................................................ 54.76

Iron (Fe).............................................................. ' 1. 48

Silica (Si2O4) ----------------------------------------------.----------- 16.44

Carbonate radicle (CO3) ................................................ 255. 25

3,201.16

Organic matter:

Free ammonia........................................................... 15

Albuminoid ammonia........-..._..-.......-............................ 05

20 

Dr. R. C. Kedzie, analyst.

It is not known that any other flows have been struck in this vicinity, but it seems probable that by making careful explorations others 

might be developed near the stream level.

SAGINAW WATER SUPPLY, b

The city of Saginaw has two pumping stations, inherited from the 

time when there were two corporations. Both of them draw water 

from the river, the West Saginaw plant from the center of town, 

near Court street, the East Saginaw plant from farther up the river, 

being located at the corner of Lane and Douglas streets, about onefourth mile below the junction of Tittabawassee and Shiawassee rivers. 

Neither of the supplies is considered wholesome. They are used primarily for fire protection and incidentally for lawn sprinkling, etc. 

For drinking purposes the city has put down a large number of drilled 

wells. The last detailed list of these at hand gives 20 on the east side 

and 10 on the west side, the depths ranging from 120 to 185 feet. 

Many have been made since, and probably there are now (1905) twice 

as many. All draw their supply from sandstones of the coal measures. Bed rock is usually encountered at 80 to iOO feet, and not 

infrequently water is found in pervious beds at the base of the drift, 

but never in such quantity and quality as to be satisfactory for a 

water supply for so large a population (52,428).

« Expressed by analyst in grains per gallon and hypothetical combinations; recomputed to ionic 

form and parts per million at United States Geological Survey. 

6 By A. C. Lane.
202 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Besides these city wells most of the hotels and many of the factories and private institutions have similar wells. Analyses of well 

water and of Saginaw River water are given in Water-Supply 

Paper No. 31.

Saginaw River is practically a dead-water estuary as far up as 

Saginaw, and the current runs up or down, according to the wind, 

the rainfall, and the fluctuations of the Great Lakes. A table of 

elevations showing the height of the river each day and month 

from 1887 to 1890 is given in the first annual report of the board of 

public works in 1891, which shows plainly a correspondence between 

these fluctuations and those of Saginaw Bay. The range is from 

6 feet above to 3 feet below the datum. There is no especial safety 

to be gained by going upstream, and there is no available safe supply 

within easy reach. A thoroughly effective system of filtration seems 

to be the proper means of obtaining a safe city supply.

Some years ago a well was dug and bricked down about 80 feet, 

but then encountered such a rush of water -and quicksand as to endanger the life of the man in the well and to fill the well with quicksand. More recently, in the spring of 1903, a well was put down in 

the "middle ground," a former island in Saginaw River, to test the 

water supply. It passed through lumber waste and sawdust, and at 

12 feet struck river sand, then cla3r; at 42 feet it reached fine gravel, 

and from 44 to 53 feet coarse gravel. While there was quite a volume of water, it was contaminated from the old salt wells, and ran 

up to 2,809 parts per million of solids and 87 per cent hardness."

WATER SUPPLIES OF GRATIOT COUNTY. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Gratiot County is just west of Saginaw County, and is partly within 

the morainal region and in part within the area formerly covered by 

a Glacial lake. The western half, approximately, is rolling, the ridges 

running in a general north and south direction, while the eastern half 

is a plain sloping to the east and south. The western and northern 

parts of the rolling area are higher and usually more sandy or gravelly 

than the eastern, and have been cleared and settled but a short time.

The principal stream of the county is Pine River, which flows 

along the western border and northwest corner. The southern half 

drains into Maple River, and thence to Lake Michigan, while the 

northeastern third is drained by small tributaries of Shiawassee 

River, which leads to Saginaw River and the bay. The streams are 

small, and in the smaller ones there is little or no water during a 

large part of the year. These natural waterways have been extensively added to, in the flat portions of the county, by large ditching

a Helm Brothers, analysts.
GEATIOT COUNTY. 203

operations, so that portions of the area are overdrained except for a 

short flood time in the spring.

The rolling portion of this county, as in the others discussed, has 

the more penetrable soils, with strata capable of storing large 

amounts of water near the surface. Hence in this area the wells are 

not usually deep, many of them being of the open dug type, with 

stone sewer tile or cement curbing. Such wells are often as shallow 

as 10 or 12 feet, while they sometimes reach a depth as great as 60 

feet. They frequently yield abundant supplies of excellent water; 

but where they are in the depressions and valleys the supply is larger 

and less affected by drought than it is when they are on the slopes 

or tops of the ridges.

Tubular wells are general in almost every neighborhood in the rolling portion of the county. In a list of over 200, furnished by Mr. 

Chivers, of Alma, the greatest depth reported was 195 feet, reached 

in attempting to increase the flow of a shallow well, while the shallowest was 13 feet deep. About one-half the entire number were 

less than 55 feet deep, while less than one-eighth were over 100 feet. 

Of the entire number nearly 25 per cent were flowing wells, located 

chiefly in the Alma area.

In a list of wells on the farms of Mr. A. W. Wright, of Alma, in the 

townships of Arcada and Pine River, in the same region, 17 wells are 

reported. Of these all but four are more than 100 feet deep and two 

are over 200 feet, the deepest being 218 feet and the shallowest 45 

feet. These are nearly all pump wells, equipped with windmills.

There are several areas of flowing wells in this part of the county, 

the most extensively developed being in Alma.

On the lake plain the supply varies with the character of the surface deposits, whether they are sandy or loamy, as they are in certain 

parts of tb i district, notably along its border, and in the vicinity of 

Ashley, Breckenridge, and Wheeler, or whether they are compact 

clays, as they are over the greater part of the district. Where the 

surface is covered with sand or gravel strata, overlying clay, the wells 

are shallow dug basins from 8 to 20 feet deep, and where the clay type 

of soil is general, the wells are tubular and may be very deep, in a few 

cases running down over 300 feet and then getting only small supplies 

of water. The deepest drift wells in the "county are found in Lafayette township, where a few wells nearly 400 feet deep have been 

drilled. In this part of -the lake plain tubular wells are more common 

than in the rolling country, and probably average deeper. In the 

western part of the lake plain shallow dug wells are the main water 

supply. I

The only rock wells in the northwestern part of the county are the 

salt wells at Alma and St. Louis, where the rock surface is down 325 

to 500 feet.
204 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

In the southeast corner of the county, around Ashley and Bannister, 

the rock surface is not so deep as farther north, and here are many 

rock wells, a considerable number of which flow. In the same part 

of the county are areas of flows from the drift, while dug, bored, and 

drilled wells of various depths reach small supplies of water in the 

more porous strata of the drift, but the largest and most permanent 

supplies in this district come from the rock, which ranges from 

about 20 feet in sec. 24, Elba Township, to about 150 feet in the 

vicinity of Ashley.

The western part of the district 'depends mainly on shallow bored 

or dug wells for its water supply.

SUPPLIES BY DISTRICTS.

AECADA TOWNSHIP. 

ALMA.

Alma is situated in the northern part of Gratiot County, on the 

broad terraces and slopes of the shallow valley, here a mile or more 

wide, in which Pine River flows.

Public and private supplies. The public water supply is furnished 

by a well-equipped municipal plant in charge of a public board, which 

has leased the pumping for a term of years to a private company 

which controls the water power developed by a dam in the river. The 

water is pumped from Pine River, below the dam, the direct system of 

distribution being used, and serves to give fire protection and street, 

lawn, and garden sprinkling, and also water for flushing, sanitary 

purposes, and manufacturing. There is a well-planned and partly 

developed sewer system.

Since the public supply is not safe to use for cooking, drinking, and 

other potable purposes, a supply is obtained for these uses from dug 

and driven wells of various depths from less than 10 to 150 feet. 

Shallow dug wells are the only source of water for domestic use in 

some parts of town, and in a number of cases the water used by a 

family was reported to come from a basin made by sinking a single 

sewer tile of large diameter in the cellar of the house, the water rising 

in this sufficiently to be dipped or pumped out. This type of well is 

found at the foot of a low ridge with sandy slopes which runs irregularly across from the western to the northeastern part of the city.

A second kind of well, common in the higher parts of town, is made 

by sinking a cement cylinder through the clay to some water-bearing 

stratum 15 to 30 feet down; this and the sewer-tiled well are about 

equally popular. Deeper wells are generally drilled or driven, and are 

50 to 100 feet deep.

Flowing wells. In the parts of the city on the terraces of the river 

valley, however, the greater part of the water used for domestic pur-
GBATJOT COUNTY. 205

poses comes from flowing wells, a great development of this supply 

having been made here (fig. 42).

The area of the present development is small considering the large 

number of wells, for the total length of it is somewhat less than 1J miles

along the lower terraces of the river and the greatest width about a 

quarter of a mile.

The wells are all or nearly all driven or drilled, and are from 20 feet 

or less to 150 feet in depth, and vary in the rate of flow from less than a 

pint to 20 or more gallons a minute. The head where greatest is only 

about 18 feet above the level of the mean water level of the river.
206 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The water is invariably hard, and contains a considerable amount of 

iron in the form of the acid carbonate; enough to give a distinct 

blackish coloration to strong tea if turned into it when fresh from the 

well. The water also deposits these salts in the form of abundant reddish or yellowish incrustation on the surface of the glass and crockery 

ware in which it is allowed to stand. This incrustation is so closely 

adherent that it can be removed only by the use of some acid. The 

water also actively attacks tinware and soon rusts holes in it.

The water when fresh from the wells contains an excess of carbonic acid, which decomposes on exposure to the air, the carbon 

dioxide passing off and the calcium and iron bicarbonates (which are 

also decomposed) being in part precipitated as the normal carbonates, 

forming the incrustations mentioned above and the tea-kettle scale. 

The carbonic acid is probably the active agent in rusting the tin.

The water, although somewhat heavily charged with mineral matter, is a good chalybeate (iron) water, and except in certain cases 

should be as healthful as any ground water in this region. A certain 

amount of the excess of lime and iron may be removed by boiling if in 

any case this is considered desirable.

The water is reported to come from a thick bed of sand, with gravel 

intermixed, apparently in beds of small lateral extent and rather 

slight thickness. The only well which has been put down to the bed 

rock is the deep mineral well at the Alma Sanitarium. The driller's 

record of this is as follows:

DriUer's record of Alma Sanitarium well.

Clay..............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

60

97

3

315

OC

Total.

Feet. 

60

157.

160

475

cnn

This record is in part confirmed by the report of Mr. Harry Chivers, 

of Alma, who kindly furnished the following record of the east town 

well, put down by him in 1904. Aside from those of the sanitarium this 

is the deepest well in the city.

Record of east town well, Alma.

Thickness.

Feet. 

50

93

Total.

Feet. 

50

143

Mr. Chivers also reports that in general throughout the city the 

hardpan or clay on the higher elevations is about 70 feet thick, vary-
GRATIOT COUNTY. 207

ing from this to about 40 feet near the bottom of the valley. Below 

this depth it is rather rare to find clay, but beds of coarser sand and 

gravel in the finer sand bed are not uncommon, and from these the 

flowing water comes.

It is apparent that this stratum of the drift consists of a very thick 

bed of permeable,material, which has scattered through it coarser 

beds of greater or less extent, through which water can move more 

rapidly if opportunity offers. The fine sand is very greatly in excess 

of the coarser gravel, both in thickness and in area, and, while it contains water, probably to the point of saturation, will give it up to the 

more permeable gravel rather slowly. However, because of its 

greater abundance, the sand will yield a total amount of water 

which will always keep the gravel full unless the drafts on the latter 

are very heavy.

Although the sand itself, because of its relatively small capacity of 

transmitting water, will not yield flows or even supply pumps of 

ordinary capacity (unless large-sized pipe is used, a thing not commonly done), it nevertheless serves an important purpose, for, being 

more or less completely saturated, it serves as a capping stratum to 

the gravel, and, as back from the valley it rises to a greater altitude 

than the wells, 'it may be a chief agent in causing the flows from the 

coarser material.

It is probable that the whole or some part of the margin of this 

deposit of sand is more or less exposed, either directly at the surface 

or through permeable beds of surface material, to the rain water as it 

soaks into the ground. This exposure needs only to be far enough 

above the level of the height to which the water rises in the wells to 

hold the ground-water level sufficiently high (allowing for a certain 

loss due to friction)- to give the existing pressure or head, which is 

about 18 feet above the river. This would not require land any 

higher than much of that which lies west and north of the city, and it 

is in this region, in all probability, that the catchment area lies, as the 

surface rises steadily in these directions. But it is also likely that all 

of the surrounding country to some extent contributes to the supply 

from its ground water. The head here could not have its origin in 

the region to the east and northeast, for this is too low, and the same 

may be said of the region to the south, where also the soil may not be 

sufficiently porous to take in the requisite amount of water.

As the development of the area at the lower levels, near the bottom 

of the valley, has gone on there has been a gradual lowering of the 

head of the wells of the higher parts of the town, and not a few wells 

which formerly had good flows have ceased entirely, and are now 

pumped or flow below the level of the surface.

A very large part of this permanent lowering of the head is due 

to entirely useless waste, which may even be a detriment to the
208 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

owner in that it compels him to maintain a larger drain to carry off 

the water than would otherwise be necessary. Sometimes the waste 

is larger than necessary, because of thoughtlessness or indifference,' 

but in most cases it seems to be due to the owner's vanity. He 

likes to have it said that his well has the largest flow in the neighborhood, and he does not consider that this spirit may eventually, or 

even immediately, cut off the supply to some other owner entirely 

and put him to the expense of providing a pump. By inspecting the 

list of wells it will be seen that some are allowed to flow at the rate of 

10 gallons or more a minute, or more than 450 barrels per day an 

amount enormously beyond the needs of any family or any neighborhood. Two wells at the lowest level of the river valley, very near 

the level of the water, were, at the time of the writer's visit, flowing 

the full size of the casing at the level of the ground and the water was 

not being used at all, as the wells were located on vacant land. These 

wells, because of the low level at which they are placed, have undoubtedly been a chief cause in lowering the general head of the area, as 

they have been running a number of years, except for brief intervals, 

when they have been temporarily closed.

Alma is justly proud of these flowing wells, and it would be wise 

for her citizens to guard against the waste of this important natural 

resource by reducing the size of the flows of the wells near the river 

and in other low places to something like the needs of the owners. 

If the structure of the water-bearing beds is as explained above, then 

the waste of any large amounts of water from any well will affect the 

whole supply and tend to decrease the flows of all the wells, and of 

course this tendency will be first noticed in the wells nearest the 

level of the head and later on the lower ground. The wise thing to 

do would be to reduce the size of the outlet pipes in all the wells to 

such a diameter as will give-water enough for the needs of the owners, 

but not allow any large waste. It would be very rare, indeed, that 

any family could not get all the water it needed from the flow which 

would run through a pipe one-fourth of an inch in diameter, and 

except in special cases this should be the size used.

Aside from waste there are a number of other causes which in individual cases are responsible for diminution or cessation of the flow. 

Among these are leaking through or around the casing, the filling of 

the lower part of the well tube with fine sand, the clogging of the 

strainer by fine silt or mud or by incrustations, as discussed on pages 

128-130, and probably also the general lowering of the ground-water 

level in the catchment area during dry times, which affects all the 

wells to a greater or less extent, those on higher ground first and most.

From consideration of the height to which the water will rise above 

the level of the river, it is evident that all parts of the river valley
GRATIOT COUNTY. 209

which are more than 17 feet above this level will be too high for flows, 

so any extension of the area will be confined to the lower parts of the 

valley.

Since the lower terraces of the valley are generally narrow, and in 

places, both above and below Alma, disappear almost entirely, it is 

evident that the area of flowing wells can not be greatly extended. 

Unfortunately, no records are available which give any correct idea of 

the directions in which the water-bearing sand extends, for, as will be 

seen by inspecting the tables of the Alma wells (pp. 210-211), the depth 

to water is variable in the area, some well getting its water from nearly 

every foot of the vertical distance within which the beds have been 

explored, a fact which makes it practically impossible to identify the 

strata in isolated pump wells beyond the area of flows. It is probable, 

however, that both up and down the river valley for some distance 

flows could be obtained on the lower terraces of the valley, and it is 

quite possible that the Alma, the St. Louis, and the Jasper Township 

areas may all eventually be connected along this valley by continuous 

lines of flowing wells.

The great depth to bed rock in this vicinity (nearly or quite 500 feet. 

as shown by the record of the Sanitarium well, p. 211) and the fact that 

the overlying drift contains abundant supplies of good water, have made 

it a rare thing for wells to reach down to the rock. At the sanitarium, 

however, is a rock well 2,860 feet deep. At this depth the water is 

very highly charged with salt and other mineral matters and is used 

only for medicinal purposes and baths- and in the manufacture of several proprietary articles. The water in this well rises nearly to the 

surface.

The fact that at Alma the rock surface is 500 feet below the surface 

of the ground, while at St. Louis and Ithaca the depth is about 150 

feet less, the ground smface being about the same level, indicates the 

presence in the rock surface of a valley which has been buried by clay 

and gravel deposits. Such buried valleys are often important factors 

in producing flowing-well areas, although here the bottom of the waterbearing stratum is so far above the level of the bluffs of the buried 

valley that this may not have any effect on the head in this area.

The data given in the following table are largely furnished by drillers 

or well owners. The drillers, except Mr. Hover, of St. Louis, all reside in Alma.

IBB 183 06 15
210 WELLS AND ATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells at Alma.

s»

ti

« 

a

O

6 

£

1

2 

3 

4 

5

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12

13 

14 

15

16 

17 

18 

19

20

21

22 

23 

24

25

26

27 

28 

29

30 

31 

32 

33 

34

35

36 

37 

38

39 

40 

41 

42 

43

44

45 

46 

47

48

49 

50 

51 

52 

53

Owner.

W. S. Turck..........

.....do................. 

M. Ferris......... ....

J. M. Montigel. .......

A. W. Wright........

M. Pollasky...........

M. Pollasky........... 

Air. Griffeth. ..........

A. J. Hall. ............

J. F. Suydam.........

J . F. Schwartz ........

G. S. Ward...........

W. S. Turck..........

Church Block...

J. Caple...............

Alma village (east) . . . 

E. Brewbaker. .......

E. Emsley. ..

J. M. Montigel.

.....do ......

M. J. Dallas..........

S, Wetherel....... ..

Chas. Deplanty .......

H. Brewbaker........

Electric Light Co ....

Union school

W. A. Bahlke.....

J. M. Montigel .... ...

G. W. Pringle....

H. B. Currence. ......

George Young... .. ..

T. M. Barker.........

Doctor Pringle. . ......

Mr. Struble....... ..

E. Amsberry ....

H. F. Thompson... ..

W. S. Turck..........

George Young. .......

C. A. Hicks...........

O. M. Gargett........

G. Bildson........ ..

N. F. McCullough.....

Driller.

H. Chivers 

.....do....

.....do.... 

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do.... 

.....do....

C. Hover..

Chivers...

Chivers...

When made.

1895 

1895 

1897

1884

1897 

1900 

1896 

1882

1882 

1880

1893

1900

1903

1904

1878

1897 

1904

1885 

1888

1903 

1903 

1901

1878

1880

«'

1 

S

03

5

In.

2

2 

3 

2 

2

2 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2

2 

2 

2

2 

2 

2 

2

2 

2

3 

2 

1

3

2 

2 

3

3J

2 

2

9

?:

2 

2

2 

2 

4

2 

2 

2 

4

2

2 

1

2 

o

2 

li 

9

1 

2

4 P<

fi

Ft. 

56

68 

60 

32?

72

77 

125 

65 

48 

57 

48 

60

55 

55 

75

103 

70 

100 

60

55 

f 601 

\100f 

98 

73 

65

143

60 

60 

55 

32

50 

55

116 

50

80 

55 

-65

65 

70 

72 

85

71 

70

70

78

70 

90

60 

103

 6

03 

V

M

Ft.

+2.5

+2 

+ 1.5 

+ 1.25 

+ 1.16

+2 

+0 

+ 1.8 

+2 

+ 3 

+ 10 

+6

+ 8

+ 1.25

+ 1 

+ .5 

+ .5 

+6

+ 4 

+4 

+ 1.

+ 1 

+ 1.25

+2.25 

+2.5 

+ 1.5 

+ -5

+ 1.25

+2.5 

+2 

+2 

+2.5

+16

+ 1.5 

-b

+6

+2 

+ 4.5 

+3 

+2 

+3

+4

+ 4.5 

+3 

+2.5 

+ .5

+1.5 

+ 1.5 

+2 

4- .5 

+ .5

Flow min- per 

ute.

Gals. 

2.5

1.5 

1.5 

1.5 

.16

1.25 

.75 

1 

2 

2.5 

10 

4

6

.5

.5 

.25 

.25

1.25

.25 

2.5

2 

1 

1 

.12

.25 

2 

.25 

.5 

1

.5

1 

1 

5

1 

4 

2.5 

3 

10

5

8 

1

.25

1

2 

.25 

1.5 

.12 

1

Temperature.

o j^

50 

50 

50 

53

49.8 

50 

50.6 

49.8 

49.8 

49.8 

50

49.8

51

50.5 

50

50.2

51 

50

49.8 

51 

51 

55

52 

51 

52 

52 

52

50

50 

50 

50 

50 

50

50

50 

50 

50 

50

50 

50 

50.2 

52 

49

Remarks.

Piped underground to 

outlet.

Pasture well.

First lowered by wells of 

N. Church (No. 22), 

then by those of Union 

School (No. 36), from 3 

feet to 0, and from 5 

gallons to f gallon.

Flow at 25 feet. 

One of the oldest in 

town; reduced by No. 

13.

Head and flow less than 

at first.

In cellar; used to flow 

above. 

Do. 

( In cellar; flow here form- 

\ erly at 100 feet.

Flow in cellar; pumped. 

Improved by sand 

pumping. 

Town well, used as 

drinking fountain.

Head 2.5 feet lower than 

formerly.

Feed barn on Superior 

street. 

At power station, bank 

of river, 8 feet above 

water; 3 veins of water 

above this; clay with 

hardpan between.

Flows in cellar. 

Used to cool engine cylinder.

Opposite residence.

Head much more, but 

cut off here. 

Flows at 20 and 40 feet 

also.

At dairv barn. 

Cut off at 3 feet to secure good flow.

Formerly flowed above 

surface; now cut off in 

cellar.
GBATIOT COUNTY.

Wells at Alma Continued.

211

sS

M

«

a 

o

6 

Z

54

55

56

.58

5«)

fin 6i 6?

63

fi4

fi5

fifi

fi7

68

fit)

70

71

7?,

73

74

75

7fi

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

8fi

87

88

89

90

91

9?

93

94

9.5

9fi

97

98

99

100

101

10?

103

104

10,5

106

107

108 

109

110

Owner.

H. Clark. .............

E. P. Caldwell. .......

Wm. Clubb... ........

J. McCarthy..........

F. A. Leonard. .......

M. Medler.............

P. M. Smith ..........

Alma village (west) . . 

T. Hypolite...........

M. Wilcox... .........

Co.

James Chase ..........

W. Vliet. .............

Mrs. T. Nelson........

P. M. Smith..........

T. A. Ely.............

M. Ring...............

H. Clark..............

V. M. Hollenbeck.....

M. Van Valkenberg...

Driller.

Chivers... 

.....do....

Chivers...

.....do....

.....do....

Chivers . . .

When made.

1885

1898

1904

1888

1888

i903

1903

1890

1893

1888

1886

-} - -

Diameter.

In.

?,

li

<>

?

?,

?,

?,

2

?,

?,

?,

?,

?,

?,

?,

3 

1

3

3

3

?,

?,

?

?,

?,

?

f

?,

?,

?,

?,

?,

?,

?,

?,

1

?,

?,

2

?,

J3 4J

& 

P

Ft.

87

60

73

60

55

55 

56

55

bO

58

60

100

60

65

70

93

55

58

40

58

56

55

55

63

53

70

67

83

80

65

22

20

77

«2

40

12

20

62

107

93

93

93

55

60

78 

90

65

 a

03a? W

Ft.

11 C

-r2

+ 1

+ .75

+ 1

+6

+3 

-2.5

H-l

H-l

+2

+ 1.5

H-l. 5

+ 1

+ .5

+ 1.5

+ 1.25 

+3

+ 1

+8

+8

+0

+ .5

+ .5

+ 1

+1.5

+ 1.5

_I_O C

+ .5

+ .5

+ .5

I C

I C

-1.5

I C

+1

+2

+ 1

+ 1.5

+ 1

+ 1.5

+ 1 

+0

+ 1.5

Flow min- per 

ute.

Gals. 

0.5

.25

.16

1

1.5

5

1 

1

.5

1

.5

1

.5

.25

2.5 

.12

3

15

10

2.2

.75

1

.5

1

.5

.25

.25

.50

.25

.33

2.5

2

.5

.25

.5

1

1

Temperature.

Of50

50

50

50.5

50

50 

50

51

50

50

50

50

50

50

50 

52

50

50.5

50.5

50.2

50

50

49.8

50

50

50

50.5

50.3

50

49.5

50

50

Remarks.

formerly good flow.

Park well, flows in bottom of well house; 

used for medicinal 

purposes.

Now pumped.

Used for drinking fountain.

[In 1904 flowing full size 

1 of pipe, but with dij minisned head; water

I entirely wasted. 

Flows at surface, but

pumped.

Two wells flow in basement. 

Flow in basement.

a little. 

Now pumped.

Do.

Flow in cellar.

Still flowing, but

pumped. 

Used to flow more; sand

has clogged strainer.

The elevation of the wells in the above table ranges from 728 to 746 

feet above tide. The watery of almost all are reported as hard, with 

some iron. The water bed in all is gravel.
212 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Number of wells of different depths.

Depth in feet.

10 to 20. ...................................

30 to 40. ........................ ..........

40 to 50. ...................................

50 to 60.... ................................

Number of 

wells.

2

6

21

11

Depth in feet.

60 to 70. ..................................

70 to 80 ...................................

80 to 130 ..................................

Number of 

wells.

6

6

4

VICINITY OF ALMA.

Aside from the large development of flowing wells at Alma, which 

is located in Arcada Township, there is a single small group of flowing 

wells 1\ miles southwest of the town, on the farm of John Wolf, in 

the northeast part of sec. 8. This group consists of two wells situated 

on the terrace of Pine River, a short distance west of the stream and 

about 15 feet above its level. The flows are small, rising about 6 feet 

above the surface from gravel 41 feet below it. The water is not so 

hard as that in old dug wells near by.

The catchment area is probably to the west or northwest, but the 

head may well be derived from the ground water in the slight ridge 

which lies only a short distance to the west. It is probable that this 

terrace at other points would yield flows from the same waterbed. 

Indeed for many years there was a small flowing well at the schoolhouse, across Pine River, in the northwest corner of sec. 17, which 

has now ceased flowing.

Water is reported to rise a considerable distance in tubular wells 

to the west and south, and in the "great swamp" district in this 

township some of the wells were said to have flowed at one time. 

These, however, have gradually lost head, until now the water 

stands' 3 to 4 feet below the surface.

In this township the banks of the river have many places in which 

seepage springs occur at the junction of gravel and underlying clays. 

These springs are generally very small and unimportant. By the 

roadside in a stream valley, nea/1 the east and west quarter line of 

sees. 5 and 6, is a larger springy area, which, if it were developed and 

a basin provided, would yield a good supply of water for stock.

Wells southwest of Alma, (sec. 8, T. 11 N., B. 3 W.~).

Owner.

John Wolf &..

When 

made.

1QO9

Diameter.

In. 

2

Depth.

Feet.

Elevation.

Feet.

7cc

Head.

Feet. 

+6

+6

Flow 

per minute.

Galls. 

0.5

Temperature.

°F.

Quality. Water 

bed.

Do.

o Inclosed in house. & Barnyard well.
GttATIQT COUNTY. 213 

SEVILLE TOWNSHIP. 

EIVEEDALE.

Riverdale is situated in the broad flat valley now occupied by Pine 

River, and is only a few feet above the level of the river. The soil is 

coarse gravel, underlain at from 3 to 6 feet or more by a stiff blue clay.

Wells are generally from 23 to 26 feet deep, the shallowest 16 and 

the deepest 100 feet. The water comes from a gravel stratum, and 

rises in the pipes nearly to the surface. A few wells in low places are 

allowed to flow into basins, and the water is then dipped or pumped. 

At Strong's hotel is a well 52 feet deep, in which the water rises from 

the bottom nearly to the surface.

It is evident from the above that at the lowest points in the town 

the water would rise above the surface. Indeed, one such well at 

Bryant's mill, nearly threehfourths of a mile south of town, in the 

NW. i sec. 6, Sumner Township, flows at an altitude of 790 feet. 

This well is reported to be) 25 feet deep. It used to flow about 1J 

feet above the surface, but in dry weather lowered a foot, the supply 

lessening from 2 or 3 quarts to 1 quart a minute. The temperature 

is 5i° F. The well was bored in 1903, and the following beds' were 

passed through:

Record of well at Bryant's mill, near Riverdale.

Thickness.

Feet. 

12

9 or 10

3

Total.

Feet. 

12

21 or 22

24 or 25

There are several possible sources for public supplies: The river, 

which in the region north and west of Riverdale is a spring-fed 

stream flowing through a thinly-settled country, should furnish 

a good supply of pure water. Several brooks, fed by. springs, 

are near enough to be considered, and would be more easily 

kept free from contamination than the river, because of smaller 

drainage areas. Mud Lake, a small lake near the town, should give a 

good supply of water in spite of its name, because of its situation and 

the amount of water which, flows out of it. There are many strong 

springs within short distances of the town, and careful investigation 

might easily develop a gootjl supply from this source. There is a very 

springy track a short distance south of town, across the river, which 

should furnish an abundant supply of pure water by enlarging the 

outlets and constructing artificial basins. A series of large tubular 

wells might be put down in the lowest part of the town, or a large 

cistern .might be built down to the water-bearing stratum which most 

of the private wells reach, and a sufficient supply be obtained.
214 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

ELWELL.

This village in the northwestern part of the county has wells dug 

from 14 to 26 feet deep and tubular wells to 40 feet deep. Several 

tubular wells get a good supply of water in gravel below clay at 26 

feet. The water is hard and rises to within 4 to 8 feet of the surface. 

The average depth of 17 wells is 23 feet, the deepest being 27 feet 

and the shallowest 14 feet.

NORTH OF ELWELL.

About 1J miles north of Elwell there is a flowing well area, which 

lies on the south side of sees. 23 and 24, near the foot of the southeasterly slope of a high and gravelly morainal ridge, which here runs 

northeast and southwest. This ridge is the probable catchment area.

There are two wells now flowing and three others in the area which 

were reported to flow when in order. One of these, a dug well, has 

purposely been partly filled to prevent the strong overflow and is now 

pumped. The flows were small with slight head, and the water is 

obtained from a depth varying from 9 to 110 feet, the supplies seeming very irregular in their distribution. The water is of medium 

hardness and rather free from iron. The table below gives the facts 

relating to these wells.

It might be possible to extend the area to the south of the present 

wells if the water-bearing strata continue in that direction, as seems 

probable. No wells in that part of the town flow at present, but 

this is probably because they do not go deep enough.

Three large springs in this vicinity were pointed out by Mr. Wm. T. 

Pitt, whose interest in this survey is highly appreciated. One of 

these, on the farm of Mr. George Sandel, in the SE. J SW. J sec. 23, is 

estimated to flow about 50 gallons a minute. The water boils up 

from coarse sand and gravel in the bottom of a shallow basin and 

flows off in a considerable stream. It is used only to water stock. 

^The second of these springs is really a group of considerable size on 

the farm of Henry Carl, situated in the NW. J NW. i sec. 26. These 

are "mound springs," built up of calcareous tufa to a height of about 

2 feet above ground level, from which height the water now issues. 

The outflow from these springs is at least 50 gallons a minute, probably much more, running off through many small channels.

The third "spring" is apparently a very shallow flowing well, dug 

to supply water for a portable sawmill. It is on the farm of Alien 

Sadler in the NW. £ sec. 34. The outlet is about 3J feet square 

through 4 feet of clay to coarse gravel, with no attempt to wall it up. 

The water runs in at the bottom of the hole about 8 feet below the 

surface in a swift-flowing stream and overflows in an outlet 16 inches 

wide and 2 inches deep. It is now used only to water stock while in 

the pasture.
GRATIOT COUNTY. 215

The water from all of these springs is cold and clear, quite hard, 

and with no large amount of iron present.

Wells north o/Elwell (T. 12 N., B. 4 W.}.

a

V03

24

24

23

94

Owner.

G. F. Tayloro .

L. Small.......

E. A. Daileyd.

Driller.

Chivers . . .

.....do....

02

o

S35

9Q

85

 §

as

a

«

r^

P

1895

1900

M

P

In.

2

1.5

2

2

8

^

ft*>

P

Feet.

50

9

32

113

14

y

o3

fe

H

Fee*.

775

778

775

775

780

785

-o

<s

W

Feet.

+0.5

+ 2

+ 1

+ 1

0

f +50

I 75

i

a

^P

PR

Gals.

0.12

.25

\

J

aJ

3

Mft

H

o F

.51

.50

Quality.

Hard; iron

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Water 

bed.

Gravel.

Sand.

Do.

Do.

Do.

"Hard clay from 2 feet below surface; sanded up.

6 Not flowing at present because of loose casing.

c Said to flow 8 to 10 gallons a minute; now stopped by sand.

d Dug well; flowed a large amount formerly, but was partly filled at the bottom, and is now pumped.

« Called a spring.

RIVER TOWNSHIP. 

FLOWING-WELL AREAS.

Aside from the development of flowing wells in Alma and St. Louis, 

both of which were originally partly in Pine River Township, there 

are five small areas of flowing 

wells in the rural parts of the 

township which probably may 

be considered as independent of 

one another and of those in the - 

towns, since they " are getting 

water from different depths, and 

are separated from one another 

into well-marked and distinct 

basins by low ridges.

Area No. 1. The first area 

(see fig. 43) is in a shallow, rather 

narrow, poorly drained valley, 2 

miles north of Alma, running 

from the east side of sec. 20

ir

FIG. 43. Sketch map of flowing-well district in areas 

, 1 and 2, Pine River Township, Gratiot County.

southeast and then east toward

Pine River. The valley extends farther to the northwest, but no wells 

were reported in that part of it, possibly because it is not yet fully 

under cultivation. The area developed is less than 2 square miles.

The wells are shallow, from 15 to 30 feet deep, bored or driven, and 

have slight head, which has already been lowered by increasing the 

number of wells and allowing the water to waste. The wells number 

about a dozen. The largest flow is that of George Weeks (No. I),
216 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

which flows 6 gallons a minute. The water is medium hard, with 

some iron.

The catchment area most probably lies in loose-textured morainal 

ridges either to the north or south of the area, but may possibly be 

in a more extensive district of rolling country to the west and north. 

Conditions seem favorable for flows in the upper part of the valley, 

northwest of the present development, especially if the larger flows 

now running are reduced to conserve the supply. It is not probable 

that flows would be obtained from this water-bearing level on much 

higher land than that on which the present wells are located, because, 

as noted above, the head has already been lowered 3 or 4 feet by the 

existing development.

Area No. 2. This second area (see fig. 43) is less than a mile north

of No. 1, along and north of the line between sees. 21 and 22. It lies in a shallow 

valley between low ridges; covers less than 

one-half a square mile, and contains only 

three wells, two of which now flow. These 

wells might be considered a part of area 

No. 1, and possibly they come from the 

same stratum, but they are at a slightly 

higher level, and it was reported that they 

are considerably deeper, except that of 

Mr. Mills, although this statement could 

not be verified.

This area is not likely to be extended, 

because it already includes the area below 

the level of the head. The wells to the 

north for some distance are reported as 

having the water rise to within 5 or 10 feet 

of the surface. It is probable that one or 

both of the low ridges bordering the valley supply the water for this 

flowing-well area.

Area No. 3. The next area is 3 miles north and 1J miles west of 

St. Louis (fig. 44), and about the same distance north and east of 

area No. 1. It lies in a shallow depression which is the head of a 

drainage valley opening out to the south. Low hills of clay and 

gravel surround it on the three other sides. Like No. 2, this area is 

small less than one-half a square mile in extent and includes only 

seven wells, reported as varying in depth from about 15 to 42 feet. 

The flows are all of more than average size, ranging from 1 to 4 gallons a minute, of hard water of good quality. The head averages 

from 1| to 3 feet or more, although most are cut off about 2 feet 

above the surface. Just east of the area is a pump well at the schoolhouse, which was reported to be 129 feet deep, the water not rising 

verv near the surface.

FIG. 44. Sketch map showing approximate position of the flowing 

wells in areas 3 and 4, Pine River 

Township, Gratiot County.
GRATIOT COUNTY. 217

As the ground level rises rapidly in all directions, except to the 

south, this is the only direction in which further development may 

be made, and here only near the bottom of the valley.

Probably the ridges lying to the north and west of the area furnish 

the water for these wells, but it may come from the more porous areas 

6 miles west.

Area No. 4- The fourth area (fig. 44) contains a single well about 

40 feet deep belonging to Mr. W. J. Brooks, which flows in wet seasons but not in dry. It is located in a depression, and lies about a 

mile to the northeast of area No. 3, and may possibly derive its water 

from one of the strata which the wells in that area strike, but there 

is a high ridge between the two areas and they are best considered 

distinct.

Area No. 5. rThis is a fifth area with a small group of wells 2% 

miles west and 2 miles north of Alma, and 1J miles west of area No. 

1, covering only one-eighth of a square mile as at present developed. 

The wells are located on the slope of a stream valley, bordered on 

the north and west by a low ridge with a sandy slope. At the time 

visited only two were flowing; the other had recently failed and ha<i 

been equipped with a pump. The well with the best flow (Whitcraft's well) was near the foot of the slope, and was flowing 5 gallons 

a minute of excellent, nearly soft water, with a head of about 5 feet.

There seems to be no reason why this area should not be extended 

southward along the stream valley if the water-bearing stratum holds 

out in that direction, for the slope is favorable, and other conditions 

seem equally so. The catchment area is probably in the higher land 

to the north and west.

Summary. The flowing table contains data of the. Pine River 

flowing wells, arranged by areas:
218 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells in Pine River Township (T. 12 N., E. 3 W.\ 

AREA NO. 1.

SB

JNpi's

O "

d 

fc

1

?:

3

4

5

6

8

9

10

11

Section.

28

21

21

27

27

28

28

27

26.

Owner.

.....do........................

.....do.......................

E. Wilkinson. ...............

H. E. Kirby < ......._......_.

F. C. Olmstead. . ............

Diameter.

In.

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

i

q

Feet.

16?

OKI

25

25

OKI

OC i

20+

195

Elevation.

Feet.

765

765

764

765

763

 d

cS

03

K

Fee«.

+2

+3

+ 1

+ .5

i K

+1

+ .5

l C

+2

+2

Flow min- per 

ute.

Gals.

3

o

.25

.12

.25

.25

.5

Temperature.

°F. 

48.5

49

48.8

49

49

49

Quality.

Not very

hard. 

Hard.....

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

Water bed.

Do.

Do.

Sand.

Do.

Do.

AREA NO. 2.

1

2

3

21

22

15

T.J. Clark.. .................

D. Milled....................

9

9

2 30+

770

770

772

+0

+ 1

+ 1

2 49.5

49

Hard.......

.....do...... Do.

AREA NO. 3.

1

3

4

5

6

2

11

11

2

0

2

A. Walls.....................

C. A. Kiter........... .......

.... .do.. ........._... .......

2

2

11

2

2

?

2

50±

42

33

15?

°0+

760

760

758

760

762

+ 1.5

_|_O

+2.5

+2

+2.5

+2

1.5

3.5

4

3

2

1

49

49

49

49

51

49

Hard.......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

.....do......

Gravel.

Do.

Do.

D.o.

Do.

Do.

AREA NO. 4.

1 1

30

30

30

W.J. Brooks/...............

N.Whitcraft.......... .....

.....do.......................

9,

9,

7,

40-4-

ARE^

33

L NO.

760

765

+ 1

5.

+5

 3

+ .5

5

1

49

49

iron.

Hard.

a. A 25-foot well on this place stopped flowing when this one was made. 

*> Pumping these wells affects all of them; head has lowered 6 to 8 feet.

c Said to have struck flow at 25 or 30 feet, but to have been deepened to present depth in-hopes of getting a larger flow. 

d Used to flow, but does not now.

f Flows from old pump log in two streams. Evidently old, but has good flow into ditch. 

/Has a small flow in wet seasons, but does not flow in dry.

FOREST HILL

This village, on the Ann Arbor Eailroad north of Alma, has dug 

wells from 18 to 20 feet deep, and drilled wells 80 to 150 feet deep, not 

reaching rock. The water is hard, and rises within 20 feet of the 

surface.
GKATIOT COUNTY. 219 

BETHANY TOWNSHIP.

This township lies in the north-central portion of Gratiot County, 

next east of Pine River Township, and is almost wholly east of the 

morainal ridges and is,'therefore, free from the roughness of surface 

present in the rolling portion of the county.

ST. LOUIS.

The greater part of this city is on a flat gravelly terrace, which forms 

the bottom of the valley along Pine River, and which is 20 feet or more 

above the stream. The sides of the valley are morainal ridges, and 

these are occupied by part of the residence portion of the city.

A public supply was formerly obtained from a group of three or four 

flowing wells at the level of the mill pond, near the north, end of the 

principal street, but because of a partial failure of these, due to the 

incrustation of the sand screens by calcareous matter deposited from 

the water or to sand clogging, or both, they have been abandoned, and 

the water now used in the town is pumped from the mill pond. This 

is used for sprinkling, fire protection, etc., and not for drinking.

Most of the flowing wells, which were said to derive their water 

from 50 to 75 feet below the surface, ceased to flow when the waterworks wells were put down. Many were abandoned; a few were 

deepened and the flow resumed; and some were furnished with 

pumps. Dug wells range from 15 to 40 feet in the clay on the ridges, 

and tubular wells have been drilled to various depths, some even 

reaching the rock at 325 to 350 feet.

St. Louis has long been famous for its "Magnetic Mineral Spring," 

which for thirty-five years has been pouring out its waters. This is a 

flowing well 270 feet deep, situated on the bank of Pine River near the 

level of the water and has a head about 16 feet above the river. It 

flows a large amount of water, but from the way in which it was piped 

no estimate could be made of the amount of flow. The water is used 

for baths and various other purposes at the sanitarium near by and 

from 15,000 to 18,000 gallons are sold and shipped to Saginaw each 

week and a considerable quantity to Chicago. This well also supplies 

a large number of the people of the town with drinking water for table 

use, for which purpose it is supplied fre'e of charge. It is sold at $5 

for a barrel of 30 gallons, with a rebate of $2.50 when the barrel is 

returned to the shipping point. It is also shipped in cases of 50 

quarts, carbonated, at $5 a case.

A few other private wells in the town flow at the present time, and 

one, at least, of the old waterworks wells is still open, the water running to waste.
220 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The following record of one of the wells at St. Louis was gathered 

by Alexander Winchell:

Record of drift well at St. Louis.

Rock (not positively) .

Thickness.

Feet. 

40

30

13

39

15

55

8

Total.

Feet. 

40

70

83

122

137

192

200

There is a chemical manufacturing plant in the city which depends 

on deep drilled wells for the brine from which it obtains its product. 

No data could be obtained regarding these wells, as the plant was not 

in operation.

Wells at St. Louis.

Owner.

M. Hoffstetter ...........

0) 

13

0 

a

g^

1869

1 

0

cS

ft

In.

2

6

2

,d

n

ft

.Feet

270

60

45

40+

|

Ol

W

Feet.

725

730

730

725

700

'd

o3

w

.Feet

+16

+ 1

+ 1

+ 2

^ 9

B

1 

o

fc

Gals.

10?

.12

.12

S

0

^

op

52

51

52

Quality.

Hard.....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

8

o

ft

ft

Feet.

350+

350

350

350

325

Water 

bed.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

"Waters, "magnetic;" used externally and internallyas remedy for diseases. Sanitarium in connection. Water shipped to sell in cities.

6 Only waterworks well now flowing. Flow is through a hole in the cap of the casing. 

c Flows into tank 2 feet below surface.

BEECKENEIDGE.

This village is situated on a slight gravel ridge 6 miles east of St. 

Louis. The depth of the wells is very variable, according to their 

nearness to the gravel tract. On this tract dug wells are from 8 to 20 

feet deep and driven wells 16 to 20 feet. Away from the gravel area 

the driven wells are much deeper (some between 100 and 200 feet 

deep), while one hole in the village was visited which was 208 feet 

deep and had no water. At this well there was 15 feet of rather 

porous surface material with a small supply of water, and then 168 

feet of compact clay, below which the material was variable, but 

chiefly clay with stony streaks in it.

There are no flowing wells here, but A. W. Stone's well, 115 feet 

deep, was reported to have water to within a foot of the surface. 

The water of this well has a strong taste resembling petroleum 

"much stronger after pumping, so the horses will not drink it."
GBATIOT COUNTY. 221

Those of the wells about 100 feet deep strike a large supply. The 

water in all of the wells but the one just referred to stands from 8 to 10 

feet below the surface. Rock was not struck in the 208-foot well.

There is no system of public supply and no good prospect for sufficient supply except from deep wells, unless a supply should be found 

under the sand and gravel ridges lying north of the town a short distance. These serving as a catchment area should have considerable 

water below them if the condition of the soil is favorable for holding it.

R. 2 W.

16

28

10

27 Z6

13

24

25

FIG 45. Bethany Township flowing-'vell areas, Gratiot County. 

WEST OF PINE RIVER.

Besides the development at St. Louis, Bethany Township has two 

small areas of flowing wells separated by Pine River, one lying to the 

west and the other to the east of the stream.

The first of these areas lies in the immediate vicinity and wholly on 

the west side of Pine River (fig. 45), extending down the river to the 

county line from a point 1^ miles northeast of St. Louis. Its extent 

as at present developed is approximately 2J square miles, in which 

there are 15 or more flowing wells. It is possibly continued into the 

Coe district of southeastern Isabella and southwestern Midland counties.
222 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The wells of this area, like some of the others studied, show considerable variation in depth, head, and size of flow, the deeper wells having the best supply of water, which is not always the case in this 

region, notably at Alma, where deep flows are small. The flows were 

reported to come from a number of depths 30 feet for the shallowest 

and about 100 for the deepest. As the surface is nearly flat, these 

probably represent variations in altitude of strata.

The most remarkable well is that of W. H. Fox, in sec. 4, about 3 

miles northeast of St. Louis. This is locate'd on the river terrace, is 86 

feet deep, and is said to be 16 feet into the rock. It had a head of 

nearly 20 feet and was flowing the full size of the casing, at 4 feet 

above the ground, with such force that it was scarcely possible to fill 

a small vessel from it. The owner reported that the flow amounted to 

very nearly 3 barrels a minute, or more than 100,000 gallons a day, 

the greater part of which runs to the river as waste.

The water-bearing stratum was said to be 3 J feet thick, apparently, 

as it was described, an underground stream or basin below the rock. 

Small flows were struck at 45 and 56 feet. It is possible that the rock 

reported at this point is not a part of the underlying Carboniferous 

deposits, but a thick, hard bed of glacial material indurated by calcium carbonate, which acts as a cap stratum to confine the water. 

At St. Louis rock is reported at from 332 to nearly 400 feet below the 

surface.

The catchment area for the majority of these wells is the higher 

country to the west and north. If the Fox well is really in bed rock, 

the water may still come from the drift, working into the rock from 

the sides of exposed strata where these have been eroded.

As the land rises quite rapidly to the west from the river, there is 

no probability of extension of the flowing-well area in that direction, 

and as it was reported that no flows had been struck on the east side 

of the river, although there were some deep wells, it seems possible 

that no extension can occur there, because of the slightly higher level 

of the land. To the north along the river and at low levels generally 

the chances of getting flows in this area seem excellent if the wells are 

made deep enough.

EAST OF PINE RIVER.

The other area (fig. 45) is 3 miles north and 2 miles west of Breckenridge, or 2J miles east of the first. It is in the northern half of sec. 11 

and the southern half of sec. 2.in the scarcely perceptible valley of a 

small stream flowing northeast to Pine River.

The entire area as developed is less than a square mile in extent and 

contains but five wells, which are from 65 to 75 feet in depth, with 

slight head and small flows of hard water, the largest flow being but 2
GEATIOT COUNTY. 223

gallons a minute. The Holton well (No. 4) is reported by the owner 

to receive most of its water from a fine sand at a depth of 35 feet.

The catchment area is probably the higher land to the west of the 

river, and the stratum from which the water comes may be an eastward extension of one of the upper strata of the western area. There 

is no evidence to demonstrate this, however, because of the lack of 

consecutive borings between.

The flows from the strata already reached seem to be limited to the 

shallow depression made by the stream; hence development of flows 

over a much larger area is not probable, except near the bottom of the 

creek valley to the northeast of the present area.

The wells on the east side of the creek which reach down to the depth 

of this stratum do not flow, but the water rises to within a few feet of 

the surface, the land being slightly higher than that on the west side.

SUMMARY. 

The facts relating to the wells of this area appear in the table below:

WdLs in Bethany Township (T. 12 N., R. 2 W.).

WEST OF' PINE RIVER.

fig. 45. No on

1

9,

3

4

6

8

9

10

11

12

Section.

7

7

8

8

8

5

4

4

4

4

5

Owner.

W. H. Walland a. . ........

Mrs. E. Shook c...........

Mrs. E. Shook............

.....do....................

P. D. Smith. .............

W. H. Foxd. .............

C. H. Colbey..............

made. When 

1895

1897

1894

1904

Diameter.

In.

9,

?,

9,

H

14

?

3

 >,

2

i

ft

Feet. 

30

100?

i80KH

50

86

86

85?

inn

100

40

ElevationFeet. 

740

740

735

743

733

740

730

740

735

738

745

 d

H

Feet.

+ 2

+2.5

+ 3

+ 2

_i_O

+2.5

+ 2

+ 18

+ 2

+ 3

+ 2

+ 1

min- Flowper 

ute.

Gals.

.25

.75

.12

.25

.5

100

8

10

5

Temperature.

°F.

50.5

50

51.5

50

50

Quality.

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Water 

bed.

(?)

Do.

Do.

Do.

Rock?

EAST OF PINE RIVER.

1

3

5

11

2

2

9

D. D. Gidley/... ..........

A. Gidley.................

1900

1900

1904

?

2

2

9,

75

65

68

65

740

738

733

730

735

+ 1

4-9

+14-1 f;

+ .75

0.5

.33

2

52

50

51

49.8

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Do.

a Flows a few drops a minute; formerly flowed much more.

& Said to be in rock, but doubtful.

c Piped to house; No. 5 is in pasture, and No. 6 at barn for stock.

<* Said to be from rock at 70 feet, hard rock at 78 feet. Flow said to be about 3 barrels a minute, but 

force too great to be measured with anything at hand. Water also at 45 and 56 feet.

f Flows into cistern and is dipped out.

/Cut off below surface and flows inside of gully. Will flow above surface at mouth.

g Cased 27 feet; water from 35 feet; used to flow more but filled in with sand. Hard smooth clay with 

few stones all the way down. Water from fine sand under crust of hardpan.

Jt Drill dropped 3 feet when water was struck. Cost about $45/ .
224 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

ELBE TOWNSHIP. 

BANNISTER.

Bannister is situated in a very flat region on the bank of Maple River 

in the southeast corner of Gratiot County. The soil is a heavy compact clay loam, hence it is not very porous and lets in very little 

water, now that the drainage has been so highly developed, and therefore the shallow ground-water supply is poor and small.

There are, as in many villages, shallow dug and bored wells from 18 

to 25 feet deep. In the western part of the town it was reported that 

a bed of gravel 16 to 18 feet below the surface furnishes a small supply of water, usually enough for family purposes, but the shallow,

dug, open wells, are not in good 

repute, and tubular flowing 

wells scattered over the town 

now furnish the greater part of 

the potable water used.

The drift clays and gravels 

are reported to be about 150 

feet thick in the village, and 

the predominance of rather 

compact stony clays makes the 

difficulty of getting flowing 

water from the drift very considerable, but there are five 

wells which are certainly not in 

the rock, and others are probably of this type. The characteristics of these wells are 

shown in the accompanying 

table. The water from them is 

rather hard and contains iron, 

but is as good as the waters from the drift usually are. The flows are 

rather small, with slight head. Wells here of this class are much 

more apt to fail than those from the rock, and the present tendency 

in the village seems .to be to drill to the latter for water.

These wells are numerous in the village and surrounding country, 

and are of varying depths, those of the village generally being reported 

to be more than 200 feet deep. They enter rock at about 150 feet. 

The deepest reported was 390 feet, probably a mistake, and the shallowest about 200 feet. The flows from the rock are generally better 

and with more head than those from the drift.

In case the town desired a public water supply, it could be pumped 

directly from Maple River for fire protection and other general uses,

5OO FEET

FIG. 46. Plat of village of Bannister, Gratiot County.
GEATIOT COUNTY. 225

and its potable water be secured from private flowing wells from the 

rock.

The cost of putting down wells in this locality is 75 cents a foot for 

drilling and casing, if a pump is required, but the drillers often hire out 

with their machine by the day, and the owners of the prospective wells 

may assist by their work or furnish casing themselves, thus reducing 

the cost of the wells materially.

Wells in Bannister.

tab

03 -fJ

^

Q

D

F

H

.T

K

Owner.

E. Western <*.....................

03

mad en 

a

*

1885

*H

03

O

In.

2

2

2

2

a

O

Feet.

160?

36

+ 90

60

ccn

vation.

W

Fee?.

688

688

688

688

fiQfl

13

M

Feet.

+1

+1

+3

+6

+1

a

wperm ute.

^

Gais.

0.12

1.25

.5

2.5.

.66

8

s

03 

ft

EH

«F.

50.5

52

53

Quality.

Hard....

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

Water 

bed.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

a May be from drift as suggested by low head. 

& Now pumped from tank used for refrigerator, 

c Piped underground.

d Piped underground 10 feet. 

* Not flowing now but crocked above head and 

pumped.

ASHLEY AREA.

Ashley. Ashley is situated in the southeastern part of Gratiot 

County, in the flat bottom land which marks the bed of the Glacial 

Lake Saginaw, which at one time covered the region. The site of the 

village is a faint terrace, which extends northeastward some distance 

and which is elevated a few feet above the level of the land to the 

south and southeast.

The soil here is a compact clay, which, previous to the clearing and 

ditching, was covered with a heavy growth of swamp timber, and had 

its upper layers saturated with the product of decay of the abundant 

vegetation. As a result of this type and condition of soil the waters 

near the surface are impregnated with organic matter. The amount 

of water was small, and as clearing progressed became smaller, so that 

shallow dug wells were early found to be inadequate, going dry quickly 

and furnishing poor and unwholesome water.

Tubular wells were therefore resorted to, and deeper supplies of better water were obtained, so that at present the majority of the people 

get water for drinking and domestic purposes from deep-drilled wells, 

which reach down nearly to bed rock, or, in some instances, penetrate 

it for considerable distances.

Wells in the rock frequently flow with a good supply of water, and 

in all the rest the water rises nearly to the surface. The rock surface 

was reported to be from 100 to 120 feet deep in the village. The public well, near the railroad station, is a good example of this class of 

IBR 183 06 10
226 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

r

wells. It is 270 feet deep, about 170 feet in the rock, and the water 

flows 2 feet above the surface at the rate of 2| gallons a minute. The 

water is of excellent quality, rather soft, and has a small amount of 

iron and other mineral matter in it. The overflow runs into a reservoir from which it may be pumped in case of need for use in protection 

against fires.

Within 150 feet from this well is a pump well, which was reported by 

the driller to be about 100 feet shallower but still deep in the rock, in 

which the water stands a few feet below the surface. When this well 

was vigorously pumped a very few strokes, the village well would 

cease flowing. This fact soon became a source of great annoyance to 

those using the flowing well on account of the temptation it afforded 

to play practical jokes, and after a time the authorities of the town 

purchased the pump well and dismantled it. This is an interesting 

case of transmission of change of pressure through considerable distances of rock very quickly. The raising of the water by the pump 

evidently reduced the hydrostatic pressure and buried the head sufficiently to stop the flow in the other well. This lowering of head 

manifestly need not be more than an inch or two, provided the outlet 

of the-flowing well was about at the level to which the water would 

rise under the existing pressure.

One-half mile northeast of the village is a flowing well owned by Mr. 

Charles Kerr, which is reported to be about 600 feet deep. The 

water is strongly impregnated with mineral matter, the most noticeable constituents being hydrogen sulfid and salt. This water has been 

put upon the market, and is sold at the well at 1 cent a gallon. It is 

also used for mineral baths.

Aside from the few shallow dug wells, there are also in the village a 

few bored, driven, or drilled wells from 50 to 65 feet into the drift, 

the water having sufficient head to rise to within about 5 feet of the 

surface. Such wells are sometimes provided with a cistern of drain 

tile, from which the water is pumped.

The two partial analyses given below are from a deep sulphur well 

whose water is being bottled for medicinal purposes, and from a deep 

gravel well at Ashley, respectively. The analyses were furnished by 

M. O. Leighton, of the United States Geological Survey.

Partial analysis of well waters at Asttey. 

[Parts per million.]

Color ..............................................................................

Chlorine (Cl) ......................................................................

Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) .............................................................

1.

15

2.25

384

79. 15

+ 522

+ 139

2.

10

2.75

29

86.18

383

+ 139

S. J. Lewis, analyst. 1. Charles Kerr; depth 600 feet. 2. Village; depth 270 feet.
GEATIOT COUNTY. 227

Vicinity of Ashley. The country about Ashley, especially to the 

south, southeast, and southwest, has nearly the same soil characteristics as the village, being, if anything, more swampy. Hence it has 

been still more necessary to get supplies of water from the deeper 

gravel strata in the clay, or, failing in this, to go down to the sandstones and shales of the coal measures lying still deeper. This necessity has led to a large development of the deeper water-bearing strata, 

especially those in the bed rock, from which, in many cases, flows 

have been obtained in the east half of Washington and the south part 

of Elbe Township. (Fig. 47.)

R. I W.

FIG. 47. Ashley and Bannister flowing-well areas outside of village wells.

As this region has been carefully prospected for coal, many of the 

prospect holes have been utilized for water. The usual arrangement 

made is that the owner of the land shall have the hole for a well if 

water is struck, by paying for the pipe used in casing down to the 

rock. Some of the prospect holes, usually 4 inches in diameter, have 

yielded large supplies of water with strong heads, but the owners have 

wisely reduced the flow to their needs rather than try to care for the 

larger waste in the flat and not easily drained region.
228 WELLS A1STD WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

East and south of Ashley, on the broad flat below the terrace on 

which the town stands, is an area of shallow wells deriving supplies 

from the strata of sand and gravel in the clays. The shallowest 

flowing well reported was 14 feet deep, but otherwise the range was 

from 25 to 72 feet. The flows usually are quite small, and show a 

tendency to decrease. The head is 1 to 4 feet and the water is hard, 

with some iron in it.

The area as now developed is approximately 1\ square miles, all 

north of the river, and in general it does not seem possible that this 

can be increased much, except in the number of wells, for in the eastern part of the township the rock surface rises until in places it is covered by less than 25 feet of drift. In this region also the material 

overlying the rock changes from clay to gravel, and as this is not covered by a compact stratum, the water is dissipated and does not rise 

in the wells. To the north of the area the ground rises above the 

level of the head, so there can be no flows in that direction.

Much more extensive is the area over which flowing wells may be 

obtained from the rock. These occur both east and north of the area 

in which the drift flows are struck, and also throughout the eastern 

half of Washington Township. The water from the rock wells usually contains less iron and is less hard than that from the drift, and the 

supply is not so likely to fail, both because of the greater extent of the 

water-bearing strata, and because of the less danger from clogging 

from the action of the water, on the pipes, the working in of sand, or 

the clogging of screens. Ultimately the greater part of the water 

used in this region will be obtained from wells drilled in the rock.

The sources of supply of this area may be, and probably are, in the 

gently sloping districts of considerably higher level lying north of the 

flowing-well area, where a large part of the rainfall is absorbed by the 

ground because of its loamy and sandy character, and finds its way 

very gradually to the lower levels, from which it is forced by the pressure behind it when a well tube finds its way into a more porous 

stratum than usual.

Summary. If, as assumed, the area to the north is an important 

source of supply, the present policy of developing an elaborate system of ditches across the contours in this region must operate to reduce 

enormously the supply of ground water, and one can not but view 

with concern the present activity in seeking means to carry off water 

which should have a chance to soak into the ground. Cultivation, 

as commonly carried on, tends still further to decrease the supply of 

ground water, by hastening evaporation, and of decreasing the absorbing power by rendering the surface of the soil hard and nonabsorbent.
GEATIOT COUNTY.

ofAsUey area (T 9 N.,R. 1 W.).

229

I>I <*»

# 

%

6 

X

I

?:

3

4

5

fi

7

8

q

in1112

13

14

Section.

8 

8

7

7

8

7

7

17

1ti

Ifi

Ifi

91

?1

?,1

Owner.

E. J. Strattoh a. .....

.....do. ...............

R. E. Parker.........

C. J. Brubaker <*......

S. R. Hubbard /......

When made.

1903 

1885

1900

1900

1895

1895

1900

1894

Diameter.

In. 

2 

?,

H

1*

?,

?:

?,

?:

?:

?:

?:

?:

?:

?,

A "S.

0> fi

Feet.

57

45

65

30

30

25

72

14

85

55

72

KA

Elevation.

Feet. 

680 

680

678

678

680

680

676

680

685

680

680

680

685

685

 d

oS <D w

Feet. 

+ 2.5 

+0

+ 2

+ 3

+ 1

+ 1.55

+3

+ 1

+ 1

+ 1

+ 1

+ 1

+2

4-9

min- Flow per 

ute.

Gals. 

4

8

.5

.25

.2

.12

.25

.12

3.5

±.5

.25

.25

£

3

1

ft

H

50.3 

50

50

50

51

51

19

52

19

Quality.

Hard .....

...do......

...do......

Hard.....

...do......

...do......

...do......

...do......

...do......

...do......

...do......

...do......

Depthtorock.

Feet. 

150

±125

±120

±133

Water 

bed.

Gravel. 

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do

Do.

Do.

Do.

« Very little iron present; leaves granular scale 

in teakettle.

6 Well at brickyard; casing leaks badly, 

c Will flow 1 foot above surface, but is pumped.

<* Will flow a small stream, but is pumped; bored.

« Will flow a small stream, but is pumped.

/ Supply is decreased by clogged screen.

a Thought to be filling with sand at bottom.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES. 

ITHACA.

Ithaca, the county seat of Gratiot County, is situated in the exact 

center of the county, with no stream or pond in its vicinity. It is 

built upon a low morainal ridge, which slopes off to the east into a 

broad plain and to the west into an extensive swamp. The moraine 

here is of compact till or clayey gravel, and does not yield much 

water. On its slopes it becomes more sandy, and shallow wells here 

give rather limited supplies.

The problem of a public water supply was settled two years ago by 

putting down a series of three 6-inch tubular wells 600 feet deep, 

through 300 feet of drift, into the sandstone below, from which a supply of hard but otherwise good water, which rises to within 50 feet of 

the surface and is sufficient for present needs, was obtained. The 

water is used for all purposes, domestic, fire protection, sprinkling, 

and boilers, and the supply is constant. The plant is a public one in 

charge of a water board.

The private wells are shallow, dug, open basins, or in a considerable number of cases tubular drilled wells, ranging from 50 to 90 feet 

deep. The water is hard and possesses the usual characteristics of 

water from the drift in this section.

BEEBE.

In the vicinity of Beebe, to the northwest of Ithaca, water is 

obtained either from open dug wells 25 to 30 feet deep or driven 

wells 30 to 40 feet or more. The water rises within 10 feet of the
230 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

surface in some of these, and is hard, with considerable iron. It 

comes from gravel below rather stiff clay. There is a public well 

here, but nothing is known about it.

EDGEWQOD.

This hamlet, in the eastern part of the county, has dug wells 10 to 

30 feet deep. The water is from sand or gravel, is hard, and rises 

within 6 to 10 feet of the surface.

ELM HALL.

This village lies in the shallow valley occupied by Pine River, 

which has here a gravel bottom. The wells are shallow, dug to the 

bottom of the gravel to abundant water at 12 to 20 feet below the 

surface. The deepest wells lying outside the valley are from 50 

to 60 feet in depth. The water is hard and from gravel. Water for 

fire protection could easily be obtained from Pine River.

MIDDLETON.

Middleton, in the southern part of the county, has dug wells from 

12 to 30 feet deep and driven wells 50 to 65 feet deep. A large 

supply of water, found at from 60 to 65 feet, is hard and rises within 

10 to 15 feet of the surface. The wells in this vicinity are frequently 

bored with large augers, driven by horse power, and walled up with 

drain tile carefully cemented.

NEWARK AND NEW HAVEN.

These two hamlets, southwest of Ithaca, are well supplied with 

easily accessible water, usually reached by digging or boring from 

20 to 40 feet and stoning or tiling up the sides of the well.

NORTH STAR.

This village, which is southeast of the county seat, has open or 

dug wells 12 to 16 feet deep and one drilled well, 214 feet deep, which 

obtains a large supply of water in sand and gravel at about 200 feet. 

No rock was struck at this depth.

OLA.

This village, in the southern part of the county, has open wells 

12 to 30 feet deep and driven wells down to 60 feet. The water 

rises within about 10 feet of the surface.
GBATIOT AND MIDLAND COUNTIES. 231

PERRINTON.

This village is on the banks of Pine Creek, a tributary of Maple 

River, in the southern part of the county. The wells are from 12 to 

34 feet deep, either dug or bored and tiled. The water, which is 

hard, is abundant, but does not rise much in the wells except in 

wet seasons.

POMPEII.

This village, in the southern part of the county, has dug and 

bored or driven wells from 20 to 40 feet deep. There is no difficulty in getting a plentiful supply of good, though rather hard, 

water. There are no flowing wells in the vicinity. In North Shade 

Township, west of Pompeii, the wells are generally dug 20 to 45 feet.

Water is plenty and easy to 

township, wells are usually 1

The water rises within 8 to 20 feet of the surface and is rather hard.

IATHBONE.

Rathbone, which lies in th 

wells ranging from 10 to 15 

of the surface. Driven wells 

the water rising within 20 fe

This town is located on a 

county, which is here cover 

loam. Most of the wells of 

15 feet deep, dug or bored 

clay. Those on the clay soi 

25 to 28 feet there is plent 

deepest well was reported to 

east of the village, on SW. 

wells 28 feet deep, in which 

face, coming from a thick b 

Wheeler wells are often 60 

only 12 to 14 feet deep.

Gregory was to have covered 

command did not admit hi

get. Around Brice post-office, in this 

to 30 feet deep, but a few are 45 feet.

3 eastern part of the county, has open 

!eet in depth, with water within 4 feet 

are reported as deep as 160 feet, with 

t of the surface.

WHEELER.

plain in the northeastern part of the 

d with a shallow deposit of gravelly 

:he village are very shallow, from 6 to 

through the gravel to the underlying 

s are dug somewhat deeper. At from 

r of water, though rather hard. The 

be about 80 feet deep. One-half mile 

sec. 22, Wheeler Township, there are 

he water rises within 9 feet of the surd of gravel. In the vicinity of North 

eet deep, though some dug wells are

WATER SUPPLIES OF MIDLAND COUNTY.

GENERAL STATEMENT.* 

The examination of flowin wells in the western part of Midland

County was made by W. M. Gregory. In the original plan Mr.

the entire county, but the time at his 

doing so. Mr. Davis therefore gave

Frank Leverett.
232 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

such time as he could spare to this study, but it was scarcely sufficient to insure a thorough survey, and small districts in the northern part of the county were not visited.

It is probable that flows can be obtained along all the valleys 

in the county, and perhaps over wide areas between the valleys 

in the western half and the southeastern fourth of the county; the 

northeastern part is too high to expect flows. Much of the county 

is covered with sand, and wells are obtainable at its base at a usual 

depth of 20 feet or less. This fact and the sparseness of settlement 

accounts for the present limited development of flowing wells.

As in Saginaw County, the slopes are very gentle, and the catchment areas likely to be a little farther up the slope than the wells, 

rather than in some distant morainic ridge, though some water may 

be contributed from these remote sources. The very slight head is 

in keeping with the interpretation that the bordering parts of the 

sloping plain are the chief catchment areas.

SUPPLIES BY DISTRICTS.

LAEKIN TOWNSHIP.

About 4 miles north and 1 mile west of Midland, lying along the 

shallow valley of a small tributary of Tittabawassee River, is a group 

of ten flowing wells, which differ from those of the other areas in Midland County in yielding water which is noticeably brackish.

These wells are from 45 to nearly 80 feet deep, the deeper ones 

occurring at the north and the shallower ones at the south end of 

the area. It is probable that the water comes from two or possibly 

three different strata. The flows are all of very moderate or small 

size, the largest being only about 2 gallons a minute. The head is 

slight, the maximum reported being only 5 feet.

This part of Midland County is a region of salt springs, some large 

ones existing in the valley of Tittabawassee River, a few miles west 

of this flowing-well area. These probably owe their origin to fissures 

in the bed-rock, extending down to the salt-bearing coal measures, or to the deeper Marshall sandstone. The salt water from 

these formations, which rises in salt wells nearly to or above the surface, in passing through the unconsolidated clays and gravels above 

the rock surface, would spread out in the more porous strata, and 

give a brackish taste to the water already present. It might also be 

true, in some cases, that the brine would find its way directly upward 

from the fissure into a bed of sand or gravel anS spread laterally for 

a long distance without breaking out at the surface at all. An interesting feature of these wells is that those which are shallow are rather 

more brackish than the deeper ones, a fact that would lead to the 

conclusion that the water comes from different strata, since the
MIDLAND COUNTY. 233

heavy brine would naturally sink to the lowest part of the stratum 

in which it occurs, leaving the lighter mixed waters above.

It is possible that the deposits above the bed rock may have been 

largely derived from salt-bearing rocks, and that this material now 

gives the brackish taste to th0 water. The limited area over which 

this brackish water occurs, its nearness to known salt springs, and the 

known history of the sands and clays from which the water comes, 

however, favor the first theory.

The wells to the west of the present development which are deep 

enough to reach the water of these strata do not flow above the surface, although the water rises in some of 

them nearly to it, and if especial care were 

taken to find depressions in which to locate 

the wells, flows might be secured for a mile to 

the west. The area might also be extended 

near the stream, both north and south, if the 

strata which yield the water are present. As 

yet the country in these directions is not developed, and nothing is known of the extent 

of the water-bearing strata.

The question of the wholesomeness of salty 

or brackish waters is often raised, and while 

the matter is not absolutely settled, the consensus of opinion seems 

to be that slightly salt waters are not in any way injurious to health. 

Their use probably should be accompanied by a lessened use of salt 

for seasoning food, and in this way the salt ration kept from running 

too high, as excess of salt undoubtedly has an irritating effect on the 

excretory organs.

The following table and the sketch map (fig. 48) give the data 

relating to these wells and show their approximate position with 

regard to the stream. The address of well owners and drillers is 

Midland.

FIG. 48. Sketch map of Larkin 

flowing-well district, Midland 

County.
234 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES Iff SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells of Larkin Township (T. 15 N., B. 2 E.).

$

M<fl

§ 

0

£

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 

10

Section.

30

29

3?

31

3?

31

351

31

32 

3?

Owner.

G. W. Stearns a.......

R. Blaine 6 ............

J. Cole c.... ...........

E. Town<z. ...........

G. B. Weidemann .... 

.....do. ...............

When made.

1904

1904

1904

1895

1903

1901

1897

 

1897

Diameter.

In.

2

?

?,

2

?

9

51

2

L 2

fl 

Q< 5? 

ft

Feet. 

79

_I_7K

73

70

-(-60

±dO

icn

±45

Elevation.

.Fee*. 

±625

±625

±625

+ 625

+ 620

+ 625

+.625

+ 620

620 

620

tj 

W

Feet. 

+2

+li

+4

+ 2

+2

+ .5

+3

+ 1 

+2

Flow min-per 

ute.

Gals. 

0.25

.12

2

.25

.12

2

1.5

2 

.12

Temperature.

°F. 

49.5

49.2

49.8

52

51

49.2

49

Quality.

.....do....

bitter.

.....do....

Hard;

salty.

Hard;

slightly 

brackish. 

Hard; 

slightly 

brackish; 

iron.

Water bed.

Do.

Do.

Gravel.

Gravel.

a In barnyard. House supplied by seepage spring on bank of stream.

6 Clay all the way down to gravel.

c Used for cooling milk, etc.

d Head near surface; flows small amount into underground reservoir from which it is pumped.

« Used in cooling milk.

MIDZAND TOWNSHIP. 

MIDLAND.

The town of Midland is situated in the southeastern part of Midland County, on the banks of Tittabawassee River, at its junction 

with the Chippewa, which comes in from the west, shortly after uniting with Pine River from the southwest. The larger part of the town 

is on the north bank of the river valley, 35 or 40 feet above the lowwater level of the stream.

The bank rises in a series of rather narrow terraces, the highest 

being a sandy ridge, which is probably part of a shore line of the 

Glacial lake which covered this county. The south bank of the river 

is much lower, and a broad flat terrace, the bottom of what may 

have been formerly a wide estuary or narrow bay connected with the 

lowest level of the Glacial lake, stretches away to the south for more 

than a mile before the south side of the valley is reached. Outside 

this broad shallow valley and others similar in origin, the greater part 

of Midland County is very flat, the soils varying from heavy clays to 

light wind-blown sand. The principal relief forms, as elsewhere on 

the "lake plain," are sand or gravel ridges which wind across the 

plain irregularly, forming low lines of elevations above the general 

surface. The plain in the vicinity of Midland is especially flat, and 

the river here is but a very few feet above the level of Saginaw Bay. 

There is a gradual rise of a few feet to the mile toward the west, northwest, and north. The whole county is exceptionally well watered by 

surface streams.
MIDLAND COUNTY. 235

The town of Midland has a public water supply, the pumping station of which is situated on the lower river terrace, on the south side 

of the river near the point of union between the two streams. Formerly the supply was obtained from driven wells which flowed above 

the surface, but now it is drawn from the Chippewa River at its junction with the Tittabawassee, the wells having failed to give an adequate supply. The Chippewa is fed by springs along its entire course, 

and flows for a long distance through a practically uninhabited country, as does its tributary, the Pine, but the growing cities of Mount 

Pleasant, on the Chippewa, and Alma, and St. Louis, on the Pine, all 

turn their entire sewage into these streams, which ultimately will thus 

become highly polluted. At present the water is generally used for 

drinking and all domestic purposes, as well as for fire protection, etc.

The wells of the higher part of the town are generally dug or driven 

from 12 or 15 to 30 feet. The sandy upper stratum of the soil in this 

part of town is underlain, at a relatively short distance below the surface, by a compact clay on top of which it is usually easy to get water. 

Such shallow wells as are thus obtained, more especially the dug wells, 

in the more thickly peopled parts of town should be looked on with 

suspicion on account of the ease with which they may be contaminated 

from cesspools and outhouses. Driven wells from 25 to 200 feet or 

more deep are, however, frequent, and to these there can be no objection as sources of domestic supply. The deeper wells give the best 

supply of water, which, however, is often a trifle brackish and which 

rises in the casing to within a few feet of the surface.

On the north side of the river only two flowing wells were found 

within the town limits, and these were both in the river valleysome 

distance below the general level (fig. 49). This seems to indicate that 

the head of the numerous flows on the south side of the river is not 

sufficient to raise the water to the height of the north bank. On the 

south side of the river, within the limits of the town, are many wells 

which flow. These are generally from 100 to over 200 feet deep, and 

the strongest have a head of 16 to 18 feet. The largest flows are from 

10 to 22 gallons a minute, while the smallest ran but a thread of water. 

The Burt farm, on the lower terrace of the river, on sec. 21, has one 

of the most powerful wells, flowing more than 20 gallons a minute 

with a strong pressure. It was reported that in putting down the 

well small flows were struck at four levels above the one from which 

the present supply is obtained.

The water from the deeper flowing wells is nearly free from hardness, as is that of some of the shallower ones, and in many cases is 

slightly brackish. The salt probably comes from the neighboring 

salt wells, from some of which the brine may have leaked into the 

sands and gravels of the drift.
236 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

R.I E. R.Z E.

FIG. 49. Map showing distribution of flowing wells in and near Midland.
MIDLAND COUNTY. 237

The following partial analysis shows the composition of the water of 

the "^[agnetic Mineral Spring" or well at Midland, owned by W^Jj. 

Steams. The high iron constituent is a conspicuous feature, but 

may be due to the rust of the pipe. Water is from the rock. -The 

data were furnished by M. O. Leighton, of the United States Geological Survey.

Partial analysis of well water at Midland.

Parts per million. 

Color................................................................. . 214

Iron (Fe).............................................................. 6

Chlorine (Cl)........................................................... 802

Carbon dioxide (CO2)................................................... 63. 76

Sulphur trioxide (SO3).................................................. +522

Turbidity.............................................................. 293

S. J. Lewis, analyst. Depth, 375 feet.

VICINITY OF MIDLAND.

The area over which flows are found beyond the limits of the town 

extends southward to the township line and into the southeast'corner 

of Homer Township, the northeastern part of Mount Haley Township, and the northern part of Ingersoll Township. The entire area, 

as now developed, is about 14 square miles.

The flowing wells to the south of the river valley are generally 

much shallower, have less head, and flow with much less energy 

(rarely more than 1 gallon a minute) and it is probable that they are 

derived from entirely different strata. In these wells the water was 

not saline, was frequently hard, and contained iron.

Many of the wells in this and in the Ingersoll Township area were 

noticeably affected by the local drought which prevailed a»t the time 

of the writer's visit, and were commonly reported to be flowing much 

less than usual or to have ceased altogether since the drought had 

begun. North of Midland is a small extension of the area on sees. 

9, 10, and 15, in which all but one of the drift wells, which was in a 

stream valley, had ceased to flow.

It is probable that in almost any part of the southwestern portion 

of Midland Township, in the lower places, flowing wells can be 

obtained by going deep enough. The rock surface is, however, 

irregular, and may rise in places in such a way as to interfere with 

the continuity of the water-bearing strata above, but so far as learned 

the rock was not usually struck at much less than 200 feet from the 

surface south from Midland. On the top of the higher sand ridges 

the level is usually above the head of the flows. Wells would best be 

driven in depressions if flows are desired. Good water, though often 

somewhat brackish, may be obtained from the rock, and there is 

head enough to bring it nearly or quite to the surface.

Some springs were reported along the river southeast of Midland 

running out from under the sand at its junction with the underly-
238 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOTJTHEKN MICHIGAN.

ing clay. In this case the catchment area is undoubtedly the sand 

ridge, and such springs should be rather common in the sandy region 

north and west of Midland wherever a stream cuts through to the 

clay.

Mr. J. P. Sugnet kindly furnished the following record of his deep 

well on sec. 10, Midland Township:

Record of Sugnet wett, Midland Township.

Clay..................................................:...........................

Clay..............................................................................

Sand rock.

Thickness.

Feet. 

50

20

30

19

19

3

114

Total.

Feet. 

50

70

100

119

138

141

155

It was reported also that in the neighborhood of Midland the surface clays and sands were only 10 to 12 feet deep, followed by a bed 

of sand, often full of water, below which was a hard dark-colored 

clay or hardpan with small bowlders in it, which was very hard to 

work. The top clay, often a relatively thin surface deposit, was as 

hard as the lower bed, and dark colored.

SUMMAEY. 

The following table gives well data in Midland Township:

Wells in Midland Township (T. 14 N., R. 2 E.)

QJ

 81

Q

6

1

2

3

4

5

fi

7

8

9

10

11

a

 g

02

20

20

20

21

21

29

28

28

29

28

Owner.

W. M. Lee d .......

S. E. Taft .........

.....do .............

E. F. Abbott? ....

F. ClisdaleA .......

cS

s

P3 H^

1904

1893

1890

1 OCQ

1889

1889

tH-S

c3

q

/ws.

2

2

2

2

2

F5

q

.Feei.

1194 1-20

98

206

98

/86

i 95

95

125

95

113

a o

cS

fe

w

Jeei

600

600

595

598

590

595

J600

600

CQO

600+

03

K

Feet.

+20?

+3.5

+ 4

+3

+20+

+ 4

+ 4

+3.5

ai

1

.Sfi

03 

ft

O

PR

GaUs.

1

.12

1

20+

4.5

J4

15

.25

4

S

g

03

ft

a

e

°F.

49.5

53.8

49.2

50

J

49.5

Quality.

Soft......

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Soft; saltSoft ......

.....do....

soft.

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Z3 2

0

 p

i£3

oT

P

Feet.

Water bed.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

a 75 feet of tough clay, stony below that. Cost, $60. 

6 Flow cut off at H feet. 

c Formerly good flow; water has some salt. 

d Piped into house. 

e Three wells in small ice pond.

f Piped to house and barn and fish pond. Used for ice pond in whiter. Would flow more, but cut 

down to prevent waste.

g Head about 15 feet when first put down; cased 15 feet; cost, $35. 

ft Piped to milk house for refrigerating, and to barn.
MIDLANIX COUNTY.

Wdls in Midland Township (T. 14 N., R. 2 E.) Continued.

239

$

tab <rt 

a

o

6 

fc

12

13

14

151fi

17

1S

19

?o21?2

?3

24

?5

?6

?7

?S

29

30

31

3?33

34

35

3fi

3738

3940-

4142

43

44 

45

Section.,

77

33

34

34

33

33

?9

19

19

19

31

3?!

3?!

17

3?

31

34

35

35

9

9

10

10

15

15

21

?9

?9

31

31

3?

20 

33

Owner.

W. J. DeHarte ....

W. M. Stoats......

B. Pessley .........

J. Tolman c .......

C. M. Sinclair e . . . .

S. H. Smith/ ......

E. C. Stokes .......

H. Gifford i .......

E. McArdle* ......

...I.do.z ...........

J. P. Sugnet o .....

J. P. Sugnet P .....

C. Overton i .......

A. Hinkley r .......

C. Martindale .....

T. Pear ............

R. C. Stokes .......

Midland w a t e r - 

works.

When made.

1904

1903

1900

1903

1898

1902

1900

1884

Diameter.

Ins.

2

?<

?

?

?

?

2

?

2

?

?

?

?:

2

?

?

2

?

?

?

2

?

?

2

?

?

?

?

?

?,

2

2 

?

,4

1

O

.Feet 

94

127

554-

45

64

80+

68

109

90?

32

11

192

45

ioo

100-4-

1004-

79

116

288

50

60

127

124

144

32

100

210

190 

106

E evation.

Feet. 

595

600

610

610

615

620

615

615

620

6304-

630

610

590

590

600

608

605

600

592

 d

cS 

Ow

Feet. 

+ 4

+ 4

+?,

10 C

+ 4

-L.9

I C

+3

+0

4

+2

+ 1.5

i 1 F:

+ 1

i 1 ^

+0

+ .5

+ .5

+ 1

+ 1

+ 1

+ 1

- .5

+0

+ 2 4-

+ 1

+ 1

+ 4 

+ 2

Flow minute. per 

Galls.

1.5

.12

.06

.25

.12

.12

.5

C

.25

.25

.12

.25

.12

.25

3

.5 

2

Temperature.

o -p^

49 5

49 8

ci

51.5

C1 C

^9

49.8

50

51

50

50.5

50

50

Quality.

soft. 

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

'.....do....

.....do....

Soft; brackish. 

.....do....

.....do....

hard. 

Soft......

Soft; brackish. 

.....do....

Hard.....

Soft; brackish. 

.....do....

Salt......

.....do....

Soft......

Salt ......

.....do....

Hard.....

.....do....

Salt......

Soft; salt . 

Soft......

Depth rock. to 

Feet.

2004-

2004-

155

155

2604-

260±

Water bed.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

stone.

Do.

Do.

Da.

Do.

Do.

a Cased only 16 feet. 

6 Used for cooling milk.

 e Cut off at 3 feet below surface to flow into reservoir and is pumped. Plows to stock trough below 

tank.

d Flows in cellar and at trough at side of bank. Cost, $27. 

e Used in milk house for cooling. 

/ Stopped flowing from barrel into which pipe runs. 

g Flow smaller than usual; leaks around casing, 

ft Just drops from pipe; decreased from 1 gallon a minute.

i Barn well flows more hi wet season; house well, 16 feet, has large supply good water; head, 3 feet. 

} Flows into basin: water rises about to surface; two wells of same kind at barn.

* Flows more than formerly. 

l Too salt to use.

ra Pumped with chain pump from tile basin; used to flow small stream 1 foot above surface. 

»In stream valley hi pasture 10 feet below general surface. 

o Being sand pumped when visited.

P Flow from 195 feet, smaller one at 116 feet, also at 157 feet.

3 No. 36 stopped within an hour of the time No. 37 was completed; then had head of 2,+ feet and flow 

of 1 gallon a minute; pumped now. 

r Flows into reservoir and is pumped.
240 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

INGERSOLL DISTRICT.

There is a distinct area of flowing wells in the southern half oi 

Ingersoll Township, extending into Mount Haley and Homer townships and separated from the southern part of the Midland area by 

a broad, low-ridged tract of sand which runs nearly west across the 

township from the river to the western town line and then southward and eastward. The flowing wells in the north part of the township belong in the Midland area (fig. 49).

The surface of this district is very flat, aside from sand ridges, and 

the soil, except on the ridges, is a heavy clay loam, which from its 

fineness of texture is relatively impermeable to water.

In the sandy areas water is easily obtained by digging or boring 

from 10 to 20 feet through the sand to the underlying clay. Such 

wells usually furnish a good supply of water, the sand acting as the 

catchment area and absorbing about all the water that falls on it. 

In this type of wells, however, care should be taken to locate the 

well at a considerable distance from all sources of contamination, such 

as barnyards, outhouses, etc.

In the early settlement of the township dug wells were general in 

the clay lands as well as on the sand, but as the timber disappeared 

and the land was cleared, the ground-water level became lower and 

the wells were deepened either by digging or, more commonly, by 

boring in the bottom of the basin of the old well.

It was found that over a considerable part of the township the 

water which was struck by boring at a relatively short distance 

down would rise to the surface or flow over it. - As indicated above, 

these wells are usually relatively shallow, with a few exceptions in the 

eastern part of the township, where they are reported to be from 100 

to 200 feet deep, their depth usually exceeding 50 feet. The head 

is slight, not often more than a foot or two, and frequently the water 

does not rise quite to the surface. Many of the wells of the area 

flow, not from a casing, but from the top of the dug basin, through 

an open ditch to the roadside. This is a probable source of contamination to the basin, since in this open ditch filth of all sorts may 

accumulate and, -despite the fact that there is a constant current 

flowing from the well, will eventually find its way to the basin and 

pollute it. A glance at the condition of some of these open ditches 

would convince even a casual observer that they Were foul in the 

extreme, and it is easy to see how a heavy rainfall might wash much 

of the filth into the basin. If this type of well is to be used and the 

overflow is to be allowed to run off near the surface, a tile drain should 

be carefully laid to replace the open ditch.

In every flat country where it is difficult to dispose of waste water, 

it would be a most excellent plan to construct a basin of concrete, 

which should be water-tight and built high enough above the ground
MIDLAND COUNTY. 241

to prevent overflow. The same purpose could be attained by the 

use or large-sized sewer tile, or by piping the well above the surface 

and into a trough, which should be high enough to prevent overflow. 

In this way a surplus of water would always be on hand, and yet 

there would be no waste.

The water from these wells is of medium hardness in most cases, 

fresh, and of good quality.

The water is said to come from a thick bed of sand, lying under a 

relatively shallow clay deposit. In one well on sec. 4, the record 

was clay 60 feet, sand 116 feet. In another well farther south it 

was reported that the record was clay 35 feet, sand 72 feet. Neither 

of these wells flowed, and they were deepened in the hopes of securing flowing water.

It is frequently reported that there has been a loss of head in these 

wells. Several have ceased flowing entirely, and have been cut off 

and fitted with pumps. The cause of this loss is not apparent, unless 

it be the dry weather. It did not seem to be generally true that the 

supply had been drawn on too heavily by overdevelopment, for in 

no case were the wells closely crowded together, nor were there any 

very large flows found. The apparent cause, therefore, is the general 

lowering of the ground-water level by excessive drought, which has 

in turn reduced the pressure that caused the head.

An extension seems possible to the west when the country is fully 

settled, and it also seems likely that a greater number of flows might 

be had in the district at present developed if care is taken in putting 

down the wells and in properly casing them.

The sketch map of southeastern Midland County (fig. 49) shows 

the relation of this area to the Midland area, and the approximate 

extent of the area, while the facts relating to the wells are to be found 

in the table on the next page. 

IBE 183 06 17
242 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells in Ingersott district. 

INGERSOLL TOWNSHIP (T. 13 N., R. 2 E.).

9

IP 

a

0

6 

fc

9

3

4

5

6

7

8

11

1?

13

14

15

16

17

1 Q

19

20

21

23

24

25

26

27

28

Section.

6

6

6

6

5

5

5

4

14

9Pi

35

35

27

34

W

29

20

20

20

22

27

27

23

23

12

13

Owner.

.....do..................

Jos.Yottfc .............

F. Yott c ...............

W. Saas d ...............

G. O. Walker e ..........

Geo. Cook /.............

W.Gould. ..............

W Baker A

.....do..................

.....do.*.. ..............

.....do..................

made. When 

1890

1895

1896

1894

1894

1902

1903

1895

1884

1898

Diameter.

In.

9

2

2

9

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2?

2

2

?,

2

2

2

2

 2

2

2

a -t^ 

ft

ft

Feet.

50±

00

108

625

112

97

36

180+

167

160

30

37

30±

25±

22

CO

17

on_i_

70

60

20+

20

°.A

60

Elevation.

Feet.

630

625

625

626

 d

Q) 3

m

Feet. 

+1

+1

+2

+2

+2

+ 2

+ 2

_r_0

+1

+ 5.

3

+0

+ 1.5

+ 1.5

+0

+0

_i_o

+ 1.5

+1

+2.5

+0

+0

0

min- Flow per 

ute.

Gals. 

0.25

.12

.25

.25

.25

.5

.35

.33

5

.25

.25

1

1

.5

.5

5-10

1-2

Temperature.

°F.

51

52

50

50

49.6

50

Quality.

Soft .......

.....do.....

.....do.....

Medium ...

Hardiron . .

Soft.......

.....do.....

.....do.....

Salt.......

Soft .......

Soft .......

.....do.....

Hard ......

.....do.....

.....do.....

.....do.....

.....do.....

Medium

hard.

Medium

 hard.

Hard ......

Iron .......

Hard ......

Iron .......

Water bed.

Gravel or

sand. 

Do.

Sand.

Do.

Gravel.

Do.

Sand.

Do.

Gravel.

Sand.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Sand.

Do.

HOMER TOWNSHIP (T. 14 N., R. 1 E.).

1

?:

3

36

36

36

36

C.Muddr....... .... 1895

1 SQ^

2

2

35

40

35

630

630

+ 1.5

+ 1.5

5

0.55 49

51

Soft; iron..

.....do .....

.....do.....

.....do.....

Gravel.

Do.

Do.

MOUNT HALEY TOWNSHIP (T. 13 N., R. 1 E.).

3

"

1

1 .....do.................

.....do.................

o

2

9

100

55

65

72

635

635

635

635

+0

1 K

+ 1

0.06

.12

.12

50.2

54

Soft .......

.....do.....

.....do.....

.....do.....

Gravel o

sand 

Do.

Do.

Do.

a Flows more in wet seasons.

& Flow has decreased. Dug well here formerly used to flow; head, 1 foot.

c Both wells flow less than in the spring.

d Flows into old dug basin from which a good stream of water runs into roadside ditch.

e Cut off into basin.

/Formerly flowed in barnyard on side of bank, but is stopped now.

g Dug 9 feet, drilled 21; flows from basin into ditch; pumped.

ft Flows more in wet seasons.

» Partly dug; pumped with chain pump; flows into ditch.

j Pumped; lost head during dry weather; water turbid when pumped.

* Pumped.

I Flow stopped temporarily by sand.

TO Flows into cemented tank. Factory uses 6 to 8 barrels a day.

» Mr. Bartlett has four or more wells of about this depth which formerly flowed; now pumped, 

o House well, pumped from brick cistern 261 feet deep. 

p Bored in bottom of dug well; flows over s'urface in large stream. 

1 Flows less than formerly.

r Water just drops from pipe because of drought, 

s Does not flow, but water comes near surface.

* In a pasture; water rises to within a foot of surface into a barrel. 

» Flows into barrel near barn; flows better in wet parts of year. 

» Much affected by drought; runs only about a drop a second.
MIDLAND COUNTY. 243

GREENDALE TOWNSHIP.

This area is located in the south part of Greendale Township, about 

midway between Midland and Mount Pleasant, in the valley oi a 

tributary of Chippewa River. (Fig. 50.)

The area includes four wells, all about the same depth, located 

within a mile of each other. All have small or medium flows presenting no peculiarities. It is probable that other flows could be 

developed along the stream valley east and west. The owner's postoffice address is Stearns. The driller, Mr. A. Kinney, resides at 

Pleasant Valley. The following table sets forth the available facts:

Wells of Greendale Township (T. 14 N., E. <2 W.}.

No. 

on !og:

i

 ?

3

4

Section.

28

27

27

28

Owner.

T.C. Gibbs.. ..................

W.Conrad.....................

G. W. Hitzmann.. ............

When 

made.

1900

1900

1900

Diameter.

1-nchrs. 

2

9

2

9

Depth.

Feet.

72

68

68

1 fiQ

Head.

Feet.

+2±

+3

+ 2-4-

Flow 

per 

minute.

Galls. 

0.25

.5

5

3

Quality.

Good . . .

Soft ....

....do...

....do...

Water 

bed.

Sand.

Do.

Do.

Do.

JASPER TOWNSHIP.

This area lies in the southwest corner oi Midland County, 5 miles 

east oi Shepherd and 5 miles north of St. Louis, and covers an area 

of about 10 square miles, a location that 

brings it well within the region formerly 

covered by a Glacial lake in the Saginaw 

basin. Because of this history its surface 

is nearly flat and its soils are usually clays or 

clay loams, broken by low, irregular ridges 

of sand.

Depending on situation and the kinds of 

soils, there are two types of wells shallow 

dug wells and deeper drilled or bored 

wells. The former are generally in sandy 

districts and the latter in the clay and 

loamy areas. The sand is usually rather shallow and superposed 

upon the clay. This allows the rain water to run through to the 

underlying clay, saturating the bottom layers of the sand, from 

which shallow wells may draw an abundant supply of water at a 

depth of 6 to 15 feet. Such wells are usually made by sinking a few 

lengths of sewer tile of sufficiently large diameter to the'wet sand.

In the clay and loamy sections the dug wells are usually deeper 

than in the sandy areas, but there are many which were originally 

about 15 feet. These obtained their water from thin strata of sand 

or gravel in the clay. Since the settlement and clearing of the country these shallow wells have in many cases failed and have been

FIG. 50. Map of Greendale Township flowing-well area, Midland 

Countv.
244 WELLS AND W^-TEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

deepened by boring. Tubular wells are very common in the clay 

lands, and range frcjm 17 to 200 feet in depth, generally obtaining 

good supplies of ratner hard water from sand or fine gravel interbedded with the clays.

Many of the tubular wells flow above the surface, and the whole 

southwestern part of the township is apparently underlain by waterbearing strata at depths varying from 15 to more than 200 feet, 

from which the water rises 6 to 14 feet or more above the surface. 

Mr. Armstrong Kinnjey, of Pleasant Valley, stated that one-half mile 

west of Pleasant Valley flows are obtained at from 16 to 30 feet. 

At Pleasant Valley post-office the shallow wells do not flow, and 

flows are only obtained from below 100 feet, but 1 mile east oi: the 

post-office there is a flow, said to be from about 200 feet. Farther 

east the flows are from nearer the surface, forming a distinct flowing-well area. The usual head is only from 1 to 4 feet, but J. M. 

Fox's well, in sec. 33, was reported to flow 14 feet above the surface 

when first completed. Mr. Kinney estimated the average height 

to which the water rises above the surface in the flowing wells of 

the township as 18 Inches or less.

The water usually comes from fine sand, and drillers report it as 

too fine to be screeried out. In confirmation of this some wells are 

said to become more or less turbid before a storm and to require frequent sand pumping. This turbidity, in part at least, is due to the 

effects of lessened pressure of the atmosphere at such times, which 

allows the water to f|ow from the outlet more rapidly and carry with 

it the finer particles of sand or gravel from the water bed.

The flows are generally of medium or small size, but sufficient for 

ordinary farm and domestic purposes. The wells of Messrs. M. Robeson and J. W. Fox, sec. 32, and J. Tuger, sec. 29, are among the

largest flows in the area, while a few of those visited are apparently 

nearly clogged up from the packing in of sand at the bottom of the 

casing. A few wells were reported as affected by the weather, 

flowing more freely in the rainy seasons.

The water of the wells of this area is moderately soft and contains 

less iron than is usually present in waters from the drift.

Tliis township may be considered as having two areas of flows, the 

deeper wells on the western side belonging to the Coe area, extending 

from Isabella County, and the shallow ones deriving water from 

local strata. The latter area is best developed along the east and 

west county line in sees. 15, 16, 21, and 22, where the wells give 

small flows with rather slight head at depths from 30 to 70 feet. 

These wells are affected by droughts, and several of them have 

ceased to flow.

Flows from shallow strata are obtained in various other parts of 

the township, notably in the southern sections. In sec. 32 are three
MIDLAND COUNTY. 245

wells arranged in a triangle about 100 feet on a side which are 32, 55, 

and 76 feet deep, respectively. These are on the farm of Mr. Mark 

Robeson, who has another well 43 feet deep which flows a 2-inch pipe 

full.

It is possible that these areas of flowing wells may be extended to 

the north a. id to the east beyond Pine River, as the need for deeper 

wells in these districts arises. At present, since there is considerable 

sand in these sections, the wells are mostly shallow. The well at the 

schoolhouse, sec. 27, is reported as being the most eastern flow in the 

township and the most northern in the vicinity of the river. If flows 

are desired, it should be borne in mind that here, as elsewhere, other 

things being equal, the wells put down where the ground surface is 

lowest, that is, in depressions, are most likely to flow and give large 

quantities of water. Where the owners' buildings are on elevations, 

the wells should be at the lowest possible point and the water from 

them forced to the buildings by a hydraulic ram.

For particulars relating to the flowing wells of this area and a map 

showing their distribution see pages 93 100, which include also data 

previously gathered by Mr. Gregory. In some cases where there is a 

slight disagreement the record obtained by the writer is supplemented 1 

by the data collected by Mr. Gregory, the latter being followed by the 

initial "G."

GENEVA AND WAEBEN TOWNSHIPS, a

There are a few" flowing wells in sees. 16, 17, and 18, Geneva Township, and one in sec. 19, Warren Township, which are so remote from 

the wells of the Isabella basin that it scarcely seems advisable to 

include them in it. The data given below concerning the depth and 

flowage of these wells were obtained from a well driller, none of the 

wells being seen by the writer. Possibly other flowing wells occur 

farther east in the county, for the surface descends eastward and the 

underground water probably takes that course from the higher land 

in Isabella County. There was insufficient time at the writer's disposal to clear up that district properly.

Wells in Geneva Township, Midland County (T. 15 N., R. & W.).

Section.

8

16

16

17

17

17

IS

4

Part of 

section.

NE. 1...

W. side..

NE.J...

NE.J...

NE.J...

Owner.

M. McDonald ..........:............

D.A.Wilson........................

Depth.

Feet. 

80

106

106

115

90

190

80

29

Flow 

per 

minute.

Gallons.

2.5

.5

3.1

2.

Remarks.

a By W. M. Gregory.
246 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells in Warren Township, Midland County (T. 16 N., R. 2 W.}.

Section.

19

7

19

17

Part of 

section.

SE.}....

NE.J...

NE.J...

Owner.

Phil Preston .......................

Depth.

Feet. 

80

100

300

70

Flow 

per 

minute.

Gallons. 

0.8

Remarks.

Do. '

WATER SUPPLIES OF SANILAC COUNTY. 

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

TOPOGRAPHY.

Sanilac County fronts on the southern part of Lake Huron. Along 

the border is a plain 3 to 5 miles wide, once covered by lake waters, on 

which several small flowing-well districts have been found. Back of 

this is the Port Huron moraine, filling the interval of 2 to 6 miles 

between the lake plain and Black River and forming a catchment area 

for the flowing wells east of it. Along and west of Black Eiver are 

.extensive swamps, and the western two-thirds of the county is largely 

level land. The Marlette moraine crosses the southwestern part of 

the county from Marlette to Melvin. Narrow ridges run from the 

inner or north border of this moraine northward several miles into the 

plain. There are also narrow strips of ridged drift, generally gravelly, 

scattered over the western part of the county. The northwestern 

part of the county, on each side of Cass River, is moraiiiic and very 

thickly strewn with bowlders. There are a few small flowing-well districts west of Black River discussed below.

The western part of the county is tributary to Cass River through 

streams draining westward or northward. The central portion is 

drained southward through Black River, which enters St. Clair River 

at Port Huron. The eastern edge of the county drains directly 

toward Lake Huron. The waters of the Glacial Lake Whittlesey covered much of the swampy land along Black River and discharged 

through the Ubly outlet in southern Huron County into a lake across 

whose bed Cass River takes its course from Ubly south westward.

The southern part of the county and all the shore except the northern third is thickly covered with drift. But in the remainder, or more 

than half the county, rock is struck at depths usually of 25 to 75 feet, 

and there are a few rock outcrops along Cass River in the northwestern 

part and along the lake shore in the northeastern part. The rock in 

the central, northern, and western parts is Marshall sandstone, and 

contains abundance of excellent drinking water. The southeastern 

part is underlain by shale, and this affords but little water and that 

generally of poor quality. The drift is therefore the main source for
SANILAC COUNTY. 247

water in the southeastern part, but the sandstone is largely drawn 

upon in the remainder of the county. East of Black River in parts of 

the morainic ridge and in parts of the lake plain the drift is also a poor 

water bearer. As a result farmers on the lake plain have in some cases 

been obliged to haul water either from neighboring wells or from Lake 

Huron and have impounded water for stock by placing dams across 

small streams tributary to Lake Huron.

WATERWORKS.

The following villages have waterworks for fire protection and lawn 

sprinkling, but not for domestic use: Brown City, Croswell, Lexington, and Carsonville. Marlette has a supply for domestic use as well 

as fire protection.

BBOWN CITY.

This town, in the southwestern part of the county, has several 

shallow wells, excavated to depths of 6 to 20 feet along the base of a 

drift ridge. These are drawn upon in case of fire. There is also* a 

village well 217 feet deep and 3 inches in diameter, made in 1903, 

which is strong and is used for street sprinkling. It struck rock at 

about 190 feet. The water in it rises to 12 feet below the surface, or 

787 feet above tide. Another well at the electric-light plant is about 

200 feet deep, penetrating into rock a few feet. In it also water 

stands 12 feet below the surface, but it is not a strong well. The 

water is used in boilers. Other deep wells in the village similar to 

those just mentioned are at the Harrington Hotel, a creamery, and a 

canning factory. The Harrington Hotel, however, now obtains a supply at 140 feet from gravel. Wells in the northwest or main residence 

part of town get plenty of water in gravel below till at 50 to 70 feet.

MARLETTE.

Marlette, in the southwestern part of the county, obtains a waterworks supply from, wells drilled into rock on low ground in the northern part of town. The water stands nearly level with the surface and 

is pumped direct to the mains with an ordinary pressure of 40 pounds 

and a fire pressure of 80 pounds The plant was installed in 1896 at a 

cost of $15,000.

CROSWELL AND LEXINGTON.

The village of Croswell, in the eastern part of the county, has a supply from. Black River for fire protection and sprinkling. Water is 

pumped to an elevated wooden tank. The plant has been in operation since 1895. The domestic supply is from private wells, usually 

about 30, but in some cases 100, feet deep.
248 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Lexington is the only village on the lake shore in this county that 

has water stored for fire protection. The wells used for this purpose 

flow into two underground wooden tanks 8 by 16 by 10 feet deep with 

which the hose and fire engine are connected. The wells are 21 to 23 

feet deep. The public school has a flowing well 42 feet deep. (For 

flowing wells of the district see pp. 249-251.)

In the following table partial analyses are given of water from several sources at Croswell and Lexington. The Black River supply is 

used only for sprinkling and fire purposes and is as good as the water 

froin the shallow wells. A safer supply is from deep wells, such as 

that at the Croswell Hotel. The deeper well at Lexington is in the 

rock. The data were furnished by M. O. Leighton, of the United 

States Geological Survey:

Partial analyses of waters near Croswell and Lexington. 

[ Parts per million.]

»

Color ..........................................................

Chlorine (Cl)..... .............................................

1.

46

1

36.9

90.53

36

139+

2.

24 -

1.25

29.3

58.88

5

139+

3.

149

3

49

105. 70

15

139+

4.

71

2

11.5

94.32

5

139+

S.J.Lewis, analyst. 1. Black River, Croswell. 2. Croswell Hotel, Croswell; depth, 101 feet. 3. R. 

Pabst, Lexington; depth, 910 feet. 4. School district No. 6, Lexington; depth, 42 feet.

CARSONVILLE.

There is a waterworks plant connected with a mill in Carsonville, 

but it is apparently not for general use. The water is pumped to an 

elevated tank.

SANILAC CENTER.

In 1904 plans were developed at Sanilac Center to install waterworks and draw the supply from drilled wells, which afford a large and 

excellent supply from 70 feet or less.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

The tabulated data on village supplies in 1904 were obtained largely 

by correspondence with residents. The data collected by C. H. Gordon some years earlier for the Michigan Geological Survey pertain 

both to village and rural supplies, and may be found in vol. 7 of the 

report of that survey published in 1899.
SANILAC COUNTY. 249

Village supplies in Santtac County.

Town.

Elmer... ........

Melvln.. .........

Port Sanilac..... 

Sanilac Center...

i Po1taon p u

(1900).

603 

400

606 

398

282

619 

996

408

314 

578

Elevation.

Feet. 

763 

740 

800

811

767 

760

731

(7781 

\830/ 

790

610 

800 

800

780

/6201 

\660/ 

840 

826 

818

C1 0

600 

780 

780

Source.

Open and driven wells. . . 

Bored and driven wells. j

Open and driven wells 

and creek. 

Open and driven wells 

and river.

Open and driven wells. . . 

.....do...................

Open wells, Lake Huron.

Open and drilled wells. . . 

.....do............... ...

Open and drilled wells. . .

.....do...................

.....do...................

Depth rock. to 

Feet.

40 

190 

+213

40

60 

20

40 

36

40

60 

120

75

vX)

50 

f 201 

I 100/

Depth of wells.

i

a h

Feet. 

15 

10 

16

14

15 

20

10

16

20 

10 

20 

8

8

18

20 

12 

20 

13 

12 

10

15

o 

H

Feet. 

30 

30 

104

217

65 

152

100

80

60 

33 

160 

70

165

72

150 

380 

100 

176 

60 

100

175

Common.

Feet. 

20 

20 

25

60

30 

22

20

35

26 

25 

60

20

20

6P 

30 

80 

100 

40 

80

15

Depth to wa-bed. ter 

Feet. 

25 

20 

65 

f 1801 

\ 200/ 

30

70

26 

25 

60

75

20

300 

30 

100 

100 

40 

80

75

 d

oS® 

B

Feet.

-14 

-12 

-12

{=#

-20 

'-20

«

H- 7

-10 

-30

-36 

-25 

- 6

-10

Springs.

Small. 

None. 

Small.

Do. 

None.

Small.

None. 

Small. 

Do. 

Do.

None. 

Strong.

Small. 

None. 

Do.

Small.

FLOWING WELLS.

LEXINGTON DISTBICT.

The flowing wells of the Lexington district are restricted to a narrow strip extending from the cemetery at the north end of Union 

street southward through the west part of the village between Union 

and Main streets and about a mile beyond, or into the southwest part 

of sec. 31, T. 10 N., R. 17 E., as shown in the sketch map (fig. 51). 

TMs strip is scarcely one-eighth mile in average width. The bordering tracts appear to have been thoroughly tested, several attempts 

to obtain flows at lower levels along Main street having been unsuccessful as well as those on the higher ground along and west of Union 

street. There are springs to the north of this strip of flowing wells 

and also to the south, which may belong to the same pool. The 

entire area of the flowing-well strip, not including the springs, is less 

than half a square mile, while the number of successful flows in operation in October, 1904, is not less than 21. They are at an altitude 

about 50 feet above Lake Huron or 630 feet above tide. The wells 

are from a bed of sand, beneath a thin sheet of clay apparently till, 

and those in the village are just east of the Elkton beach. With one 

exception they are less than 25 feet in depth, while some, as indicated 

in the table below, are but 10 or 12 feet. The schoolhouse well on the
R.I7 E.

250 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IK SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

west side of Valen street is 42 feet deep. It reached a deeper vein 

than the others, and apparently is at the eastern edge of the district, 

for a boring 88 feet in depth on the opposite or east side of Valen 

street failed to get a flow. The water is piped to the school grounds. 

The first well was made about twenty years ago by John Bell near 

the north end of the present strip of flows. Others nearly as old are 

the Purkiss well on the north side of Lake street, west of Valen, and 

a well owned by Walters & Co., sunk only a few feet from the schoolhouse well.

It is the custom for two or more families to join in putting down a 

flowing well and then pipe the water to each residence.' In this way 

nearly all the residents east of the flowing-well strip as well as in it

have been supplied, for there is a 

rapid descent in the lake plain from 

the well strip to the lake bluff.

The water is not very hard and 

contains only a moderate amount of 

iron. (See analysis of schoolhouse 

well, p. 248.) It is very highly 

prized by the residents because of 

its quality, and care is taken to prevent waste, most of the wells having 

faucets or other means for shutting 

off the flow when not needed.

The rate of flow where tests were 

made is about 2 gallons a minute from 

1-inch pipes having half-inch nozzles. 

In most cases the rate is difficult to 

determine because of the distribution 

of water through two or more pipes.

The temperature tests were of more value in showing the warmth 

of the soil through which the pipes are conducted than the water 

temperature. Several wells had, on October 11, at 9 to 10 a. m., a 

temperature of 55.5° or about 7° above the usual temperature of the 

flowing wells in that region and 7.2° above that of a large flowing well 

3 miles south of Lexingtqn, discussed below. It is probable that the 

soil temperature at that time was sufficient to increase the temperature of the wells 7°. The winter and early spring temperatures of the 

water as it issues from the pipes are likely to be much below the normal water temperature. A series of carefully conducted water-temperature observations would, if carried through an entire year, be 

likely to yield important data on variations in soil temperature.

FIG. 51. Map of Lexington, Sanilac County, 

showing flowing wells and neighboring 

springs.
SASTILAC COUNTY. 251

The following data concerning the wells, and the plat of the village, 

were furnished by the president of the village, J. F. Meyer:

Flowing wells at Lexington.

Owner.

John Bell..............

H~otel Cadillac.........

Walters & Co .........

S. Purkiss. ............

Mrs. B. Miller.........

D. Hicks..............

F. E. Willard.........

Smith Bros........ ....

D. Clark...............

Location.

.....do.......................................................... .......

West side of SW. \ SW. J sec. 31 ......................................

South side of SW. \ SW . J sec. 31 .....................................

Depth.

Feet. 

18

19

19

20

21

42

21

21

21

21

17

23

23

20

19

19

18

18

10

12

12

Important springs near Lexington.

Owner.

A.M. Clark....

John Davison.. 

Ira Armand....

E. G. Shipley... 

Geo. Armand... 

D. Clark........

F. Kaneill......

Joseph Kenney. 

Mrs. Janett....

Location.

SE. i NE. J sec. 25, T. 10 N., R. 16 E. (Boils up with great strength.)

SW. JSE. J sec. 25.

SE. i SW. J sec. 25.

Near center of NW. J sec. 25.

Northeast corner of NW. J sec. 36.

East part of NE. J SE. i sec. 36.

South part of NE. JSE. \ sec. 36.

East part of SE. J SE. \ sec. 36.

NE. \ SE. i sec. 36.

Mr. R. Pabst, of Lexington, sunk a well 900 feet deep in the valley 

of Mill Creek, 3J miles south of Lexington and about one-fourth mile 

from the shore of Lake Huron, at a level 10 to 15 feet above the lake or 

590 to 595 feet above tide. At a depth of 132 feet, near the base of the 

drift, a strong flow of water was obtained, which runs 15 gallons a minute and will yield by pumping ten times that amount. The water is 

fresh and of excellent quality, with a moderate amount of iron. (See 

analysis, p. 248.) Another vein with sulphur water was struck at 

540 feet, which rises to the surface but does not flow with such 

strength as that from the glacial deposits. The temperature of the 

combined waters as they escape from the well mouth was 48.3° F. 

October 11, 1904. The same water was found by Doctor Lane some 

years earlier to have a temperature of 48°, but his observations were 

in colder weather. Whether this difference is attributable to a change 

of that amount in temperature of the water or is merely referable to 

differences in the graduation of the thermometers is not known. The 

water is going to waste at present, but may be developed if that part 

of the lake shore becomes a summer resort, for it stands in a very 

attractive piece of forest suitable for a park.
252 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOTJTHEBN MICHIGAN.

BUEL FIELD.

The main group of wells in Buel Township is on the western side of 

a sharply ridged belt of gravelly drift a short distance southwest of 

the center of the township. There are other flows at the south end of 

the ridge on the Fremont side of the line of Buel and Fremont townships and a very strong spring issuing from the base of the ridge 

between these groups of wells in the west part of sec. 33, Buel Township. It seems proper to throw all of them into a single field with the 

gravel ridge as the catchment area. There are two other flowing wells 

in Buel Township about 3 miles east of this ridge, which, though fed 

perhaps by the same catchment area, are on its opposite side and perhaps in a different pool, unless the flowing-well field completely surrounds the ridged belt.

The group of wells west of the ridge are at an altitude about 760 feet 

above tide, those at its south end about 770 feet, and those on the 

plain to the east of the ridge about 750 feet, while the ridge has an 

altitude of 800 to 810 feet along its crest. The water has barely sufficient head to flow, and probably would not rise more than 5 feet 

above the surface in any well. In some it rises barely level with the 

surface and escapes along ditches connecting with the wells. In some 

wells pumps are attached.

The oldest wells were made in 1871, and several have been made 

twenty years. The head seems to have decreased slightly, and this 

has led to the use of pumps, for it is considered more convenient to 

pump the water tlian to maintain a good drinking place for stock at a 

level a foot or two below the ground surface.

The wells on the west side and south end of the ridge are very shallow, ranging from 10 to 30 feet in depth. Those on the plain east are 

40 to 50 feet. They all pass through clay before striking the water, 

which is obtained in sand or fine gravel.

The temperature showed a range from 49° to 53° in the different 

wells, all being taken in a single forenoon on October 8, 1904. The 

temperature of the large spring referred to above was 52° on that 

date. The varying effect of the warm surface layers of the earth on the 

waters rising through them seems a sufficient reason for the variations displayed.

Only one well, that of C. J. Nelson, was in good condition for testing 

the rate of flow, arid this yields but a gallon in four minutes. The 

spring flows a stream several inches in diameter, producing a small 

creek as it runs across the plain west of the ridge, and yields much 

more water than the combined flow of all the wells.

The water is hard and has sufficient iron to produce the characteristic orange-colored scum upon objects over which it passes.
SANILAC COUNTY. 253

Wells in the Bud field (T. 10 N., E. 15 E.}.

Section.

29

28

28 

28 

28 

21

36 

25

14

26

4 

5

Part of 

section.

NE. J...

NW. 1..

NW. 1..

W. side. 

N. side. .

N. side.. 

S. side . .

SE. 1...

N. side. . 

N. side. .

Owner.

.....do................

Aaron French (barn 

near house) . 

Aaron French (in pasture). 

W. Francis ...........

Thos. Coggin, Buel... 

Geo. Carey, Buel .....

W. H. Carey, Buel . . .

C. J. Nelson, Fremont. 

I. Johnson, Fremont .

When 

made.

1874

1894 

1893 

1889

1884 

1880?

1894 

(?)

Depth.

Feet. 

15

17

25 

30

21

9Q

50 

40

40

13 

12

Head.

Feet. 

-1.5

-1

(?) 

0 

+2 

+ 1

+ 1 

0

-10

+3

(?)

Temperature.

°F.

52

50.5 

49 

49

(?) 

(?)

50.5 

53

Remarks.

Pump attached.

Water rises to surface and 

forms pool. 

Dug 12; bored 9 feet through 

clayey till to sand.

Well plugged. 

Head was lowered by flow of 

Coggin well.

tide. Head higher than in 

wells to the. east. 

Crock well; flow 1 quart a 

minute. 

Pump attached.

PECK DISTEICT.

The village of Peck stands on the eastern slope of a morainic spur 

that extends northward from the Marlette moraine in Speaker Township (T. 9 N., R. 14 E.) into the southern part of Elk Township 

(T. 10 N., R. 14 E.). The water in the wells on the flanks of this 

morainic spur, both east and west, rises nearly to the surface in a strip 

extending from the base of the spur in sees. 9, 10, and 11, Speaker 

Township, northward about 4 miles; seven flows have been obtained 

on low ground in the eastern part of the village of Peck, along the line 

of sees. 27 and 34, Elk Township. The first was obtained twenty 

years ago by Barney McGrory; it was dug 18 feet and bored 20 feet 

farther, where a strong gushing flow was obtained that filled the dug 

well and flooded the street and dooryard. The dug portion was filled 

with cobblestones and bowlders to prevent caving, but the water 

continues to rise through these stones and flow out into a gutter in the 

street. The other wells have been made within a very few years. In 

most cases they have been banked up and pumps attached to prevent 

a flow, the pump spout being above the height reached by the water, 

thus avoiding a muddy place around the wells. The head is apparently but 1 to 3 feet, and in one or two cases is barely level with the 

surface, so it is easy to prevent a flow. In all the wells the water is 

strong in iron and hard, and is not popular for domestic use. The 

temperature of the water is 49° F., if pumped sufficiently to bring it 

up from below the effect of atmospheric heating. The observations 

were made October 3, 1904, on which date some of the wells showed 

54° F. as the result of atmospheric heating of the pipes near the surface of the ground. The rate of flow could not readily be determined, 

for the escape is not through pipes, but from a tile into a ditch a little 

below the surface of the ground.
254 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells at Peck.

Section.

27.... 

27....

27.... 

34....

34.... 

34.... 

34....

Part of 

section.

S. side . . 

S. side . .

SE. i...

N. side. . 

N. side. . 

N. side. .

Owner.

Mrs. Barney McGrory 

Mrs. Sunfleld .........

John Welch .... .

M. W. Henry.........

When 

made.

1884 

1898

1904

Depth.

Feet. 

38 

30 

18

29

Diameter.

Inches.

2

38

Head.

Feet.

+2 

+2 

+2

+ 1

0

+ 1

Temperature.

°F. 

49

(?)

49

54

Mode of escape.

By pump and by ditch.

Not visited. 

Pump.

Do.

VALLEY CENTEE AEEA.

Two flowing wells have been obtained near Valley Center (T. 9 N., 

K. 13 E.), at the border of a plain that lies on the northwestern side of 

a moraine passing just south of the village. They are both shallow, 

one made by Andrew Cook in the SW. J sec. 24, being 18 feet, and the 

other made by James Campbell in the east part of sec. 22 about 25 

feet in depth. The latter well was dug 18 feet and then bored about 7 

feet to the vein of water from which the flow was obtained. The 

former was dug to the water vein. The wells were not flowing at the 

time of the writer's visit in October, 1904. No definite information 

could be obtained as to their head in wet compared with dry seasons, 

though they appear to have a lower head in the dry seasons of the 

year. It is the opinion of residents that the draining of marshes near 

the wells has lowered the head sufficiently to stop the flow.

A well 876 feet deep one-fourth mile south of Valley Center in the 

west part of sec. 27, of which the record was published in the 

annual report of the State geologist for 1901, has water rising to 8 feet 

below the surface or 797 feet above tide. The supply apparently 

comes from near the base of the glacial deposits at a depth of 117 to 

149 feet. This well is on ground a few feet higher than the two flowing wells, so may have fully as great head.

The shallow wells probably derive their supply and their head from 

the neighboring moraine southeast of them. The catchment area for 

the water supply in the deep well is perhaps in the same moraine, since 

the record shows the upper 95 feet of the drift to be fine sand, saturated with water, and separated from the lower water bed by only 22 

feet of clay. Conditions seem favorable for a rise of water nearly to 

the surface all along the northwest border of this moraine, for in other 

wells than those mentioned the rise is within 15 feet of the surface. 

Yet it may not be possible to obtain flowing wells, since those already 

obtained seem to have suffered a permanent loss in head that has 

caused them to cease flowing.
SANILAC COUNTY. 255 

POET SANILAC FIELDS.

In Sanilac Township, on the shore of Lake Huron, southwest of 

Port Sanilac (T. 11 N., R. 16 E), flowing wells have been obtained in 

two distinct pools. One in the southern part of the township embraces 

a group of five wells, the other in sec. 10 has as yet but a single well. 

They are all on the old lake plain, less than a mile east of the shore of 

Lake Warren, and about 2 miles from Lake Huron, at an altitude 75 

to 100 feet above the level of Lake Huron. The catchment area is 

apparently in each case on the inner or eastern slope of the Port 

Huron moraine. The sand and gravel ridges formed by Lake Warren 

are on this slope, and probably supply some of the water struck in 

wells farther east, though, as indicated below, much of the water thus 

absorbed comes out in springs along the eastern or lakeward base of 

the shore deposits. There is a rapid descent from the crest of the moraine past the flowing wells, the crest being 125 to 150 feet above the 

level of the wells and only 2 to 3 miles distant.

The topographic conditions found in connection with the flowing 

wells are continued along all of this slope of the Port Huron moraine, 

but the stratigraphic conditions seem to be favorable for flowing 

wells in only a few restricted areas where water-bearing beds are present between sheets of clayey drift. There are intervening places 

where wells do not encounter such beds, and what little water is 

obtained shows much less pressure than 111 the flowing wells. No 

predictions can be made as to the extension of the flowing-well areas 

because of this restricted distribution of water beds.

The flowing well in sec. 10 is at the residence of Joseph Pohizehl, on 

the west side of the northwest quarter of the section, at an altitude 

about 675 feet. It was made in 1895, and flows a very weak stream, 

at the rate of a gallon in six minutes from a pipe 2^ feet above the surface. The depth is 48 feet, and it enters a sandy gravel below blue 

till at 44 feet. Neighboring wells toward the south, on ground of 

similar altitude, have been sunk to depths of 80 feet or more without 

obtaining a flow, the water in some cases remaining fully 30 feet below 

the surface. A well in the NW. { sec. 14 on ground 40 feet lower has 

a depth of 59 feet and only 15 feet of water.

The group of wells in the south part of the township are very shallow, the deepest being only 30 feet. They are at an altitude about 660 

feet above tide. The Suerwier wells are on the lake plain, but the 

Roys and Cronkheit wells are in the valley of a small stream trenched 

10 to 15 feet into the lake plain. The escape pipes in each are 1J 

inches.
256 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells in the southern part ofSanilac Township (T. 11 N., B. 16 E.).

Section.

34

34

27 

34

34

Part of 

section.

S. side.. 

SW.J...

SW.|...

Owner.

C. Suerwier (at barn)«...

When 

made.

1894

1888

1886 

1904

1903

Elevation.

Feet. 

660

660

665 

660

660

Diameter.

In.

4

18

3

Depth.

Feet. 

28

30

28 

20+

16

Flow per 

minute.

Iqt.......

Ipt.......

Pumped . . 

Igal......

Temperature.

°F. 

49.5

49.5

49.5 

53

49.5

Quality.

Do.

Do. 

Do.

Do.

« Original head 6 feet.

6 Probably warmed by exposure of pipe in sunlight; date of observation on wells, October 12,1904, a 

warm, sunny forenoon.

SANILAC CENTER FIELD.

A single flowing well was obtained in September, 1904, about a 

mile east of Sanilac Center, on the farm of James McCaren, in sec. 32, 

T. 12, R. 14 E. It is reported by the owner to obtain the flow from 

shale rock at depth of 78 to 83 feet, rock being struck at 40 feet. 

The well is 4 inches in diameter, and flowed a 1-inch stream that rose 

when struck, to 1^ feet above the surface, but within two months 

lowered 6 inches. The water is soft, with a slight taste of salt. This 

well is near the western edge of a swamp that stands only a few feet 

below the drier land to the west. It seems probable that other flows 

may be found in this swamp, or at least that water will rise nearly to 

the level of the well mouth.

In the village of Sanilac Center, in wells of a depth similar to the 

McCaren well, the water stands 6 to 20 feet below the surface in accordance with the altitude, those on the lowest ground having water 

nearest the surface; probably in all it rises to very nearly the same 

altitude as in the McCaren flowing well. The water is soft, and has 

very little taste of salt.

SNOOVEB, FIELD.

South of Snoover, at the edges of the swamp which is traversed by 

the south fork of Cass River, are a few flowing wells from the rock. 

The strongest is in sec. 25, LaMotte Township, in the pasture of T. J. 

Miller, and has a depth of 280 feet. It flows the full capacity of an 

escape pipe one-half inch in diameter at a level 3 feet above the 

surface. The water is not chalybeate and is apparently soft.

Samuel Moore's well, in the central part of sec. 32, Moore Township, has a pump attached, for it barely rises to the surface. The 

temperature (49.5°) was obtained by pumping.

Albert Jones well, in the east part of sec. 30, Moore Township, was 

made in 1904 and flows 1| gallons a minute. This water is rather 

soft, with little or no iron, and flows 1 i gallons a minute.

A well across the street from the Jones well, on J. R. Dorman farm, 

in sec. 29, once flowed, though on ground several feet higher. It 

has stopped now, and as the head became less before the Jones well 

was made, that is not the entire cause for loss of head.
HUEON COUNTY. 257

WeUs in Snoover field.

Township N.

12

12

12

12

Range

.111.

12

13

13

13

Section.

25

32

30

29

Part of 

section.

S. side..

Center . .

E. side..

W. side.

Owner.

T. J. Miller ....

Samuel Moore .

Albert Jones ....

J. R. Dorman...

When 

made.

1903

(?)

1904

(?)

Depth.

Feet.

280

100

148

(?)

Diameter.

Inches.

3

3

3

(?)

Temperature.

°F

49.3

49.5

49.0

(?)

Remarks.

Rock at 36 feet.

Rock at 40 feet.

AEGYLE TOWNSHIP.

Two flows are reported in Argyle Township, one at Laing postoffice, the other on the farm of William Cole, in the southeast part of 

sec. 14. They are both on low ground along a tributary of South 

Cass River. The one at Laing post-office was not properly manipulated, and has become clogged, while the one on the Cole farm had so 

low a head and so slow a rate of flow that a pump is now attached. 

Each well enters rock a few feet, and the depth of each is not far from 

70 feet.

MINDEN CITY FIELD.

A flow reported by Gordon a at the farm of E. Seaman, about 1 mile 

east of Minden City (T. 14 N., R. 14 E.), obtains its supply from the 

Marshall sandstone at a depth of 73 feet (67 feet to rock).

A neighboring well on the farm of G. Schweighert has a head only 2 

feet below the surface. These wells are at an altitude of fully 800 

feet and stand near the eastern edge of the sandstone. In the lower 

country to the east, underlain by shale, no flows are reported, though 

wells frequently reach depths of 60 to 80 feet, and occasionally 200 

feet. The altitude to the west is higher than at the Seaman flowing 

well, being 850 to 860 feet along the crest of the Port Huron moraine, 

so no flows are to be expected. The favorable conditions for flows 

seem to be restricted to a narrow strip along the edge of the Marshall 

sandstone at the inner border of the Port Huron moraine.

WATER SUPPLIES OF HURON COUNTY.

By A. C. LANE. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

The water and wells of Huron County have been treated quite 

fully in the writer's Huron County report. 6. This county constitutes 

the thumb nail of the thumb of Michigan and is bordered, except on 

the south, by the waters of Lake Huron. The lake is so shallow 

around much of the county that it can not be highly recommended

a Geol. Survey Michigan, vol. 7, pt. 3, 1900, p. 26. 

& Ibid., pp. 118-201.

IBS 183
258 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

as a source for water, though it is used as the town supply of Harbor 

Beach. Wells in rock are common and are from three distinct horizons within the county. Those on the east shore strike into shale 

with little or no water, and that likely to be salt; those in the 

central part of the county into the Marshall sandstone, where a good 

supply of water, such as that furnishing the Bad Axe waterworks, 

can be readily obtained; those in the western part of the county for 

an area of about 10 miles around Pigeon, pass through gypsiferous 

beds, but may obtain a good water from the Marshall sandstone if 

that from the overlying beds is cased out. Probably a more permanent water supply can 

be obtained from the 

Marshall sandstone 

throughout the region 

covered by it than from 

the drift.

At the highest outcrops of the Marshall 

sandstone the water level 

is about 760 to 780 feet 

above tide, and probably 

continues so for about 

10 miles north of Ubly. 

But toward the northwest it drops down to 

lake level. In general, 

it may be stated that 

flowing wells are obtainable on the west-sloping 

part of the county directly in front of the 

west-facing terraces and 

along the stream valleys, or that, at least, 

the water will rise very close to the surface of the ground. The 

altitude of the top of the Upper Marshall above sea level is shown in 

fig. 52, which is taken from the Huron County report. By comparing 

these contours with the altitude of the present surface the necessary 

depth of wells can be determined, remembering that the Upper Marshall or Napoleon should be penetrated a certain distance, not over 

100 feet, to get the best results.

With the exception of some high ridges in the southern part of the 

county the surface was once beneath the waters of the lake, and 

numerous sand ridges running more or less parallel with the present 

shore indicate old lake beaches. On these sand ridges surface water

R.9E. R.IOE. R.I2E.

FIG. 52. Contour map showing the elevation of the top of the 

Upper Marshall sandstone above sea level.
HURON COUNTY. 259

can be obtained, but it is liable to contamination. Water can often 

be found on this old lake bottom at various depths in ,the drift, and 

especially just above bed rock. Flowing wells can be found all along 

the shore from Grindstone City to Sebewaing, and sporadically as far 

as Owendale, Elkton, Grassmere, and even to Bad Axe, but draw 

largely from the underlying rock or its top. Near the Bayport quarries is a small flowing-well area, in Fairhaven and Winsor townships, 

in which the water level fluctuates with that in the Bayport quarries, 

as indicated in fig. 53. Although prospects for flowing wells are 

generally good on the northwest slope of the county below the 750- 

foot contour line, there is not more than 3 or 4 feet of head in any 

well of which I have knowledge.

In the high ridges in the south part of the county, in Sheridan, 

Bingham, Paris, and the south part of Verona townships, it is not difficult to get an ample supply of water without going into the underlying 

rock. There are also some springs in this region. The ridges are 

often composed of clay till at the surface, but have gravel in the lower 

parts.

Feet

FIG. 53. Cross section from Bayport quarries southwest, showing relations of the present surface,

rock surface, flowing wells, etc.

WATERWORKS.

There are only two systems of village waterworks in this countyHarbor Beach and Bad Axe.

-at

HARBOR BEACH.

The Harbor Beach waterworks draw from Lake Huron, a supply 

pipe being carried 1,200 feet out into the lake and outside the harbor 

breakwater. It was put in by M. Walker, of Fenton, Mich., at a cost 

of $16,000, and is described in the Huron Times of September 17, 

1897. It supplies 150,000 gallons a day, or about 100 gallons per 

capita, though more than half the supply goes to t|ie starch factories.

BAD AXE.

The Bad Axe waterworks are supplied from a number of wells 

about 200 feet deep, from which water is pumped to a standpipe 200 

feet high. The water originally rose 11 feet above the surface; now
260 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOTTTHEKN MICHIGAN.

it is 15 feet below. It must be remembered that besides the draft on 

the formation by these and other wells, such as those put down 

recently in Bad Axe for the sugar factory, the region from which the 

water is derived has been extensively drained.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

The following table, made up in large part by correspondence with 

postmasters, presents a summary of conditions at the post-offices of 

the county:

Village supplies in Huron County.

Village.

Center Harbor. ....

Elkton.............

Gotta..............

Johnst.on. .........

Linkville.... .......

Port Crescent ......

Pointe aux Barques

Ruth..............

Sisrol

Ubly. ..............

Elevation.

Feet. 

780 

650 

768 

602 

627 

680 

594 

590 

720 

590 

651 

694 

590 

635 

600 

612 

716 

600 

765 

645 

630 

701 

, 648 

770

651 

785 

775 

633 

630 

770 

595 

595 

597 

597 

740 

710 

720 

754

593" 

740

785 

781

Population.

(?) 

25 

1,241 

250 

150 

25 

505

ffl (V) 

471 

25 

450 

30 

1,400 

25 

35 

60

(?) 

75 

175 

150 

50

75 

125 

25 

582 

175 

45 

507 

25 

319

( ^5 

25 

80 

180

1,431 

60

432 

20

Source.

Gravel, sandstone . . .

Marshall sandstone. .

Drift............... .

Wells and stream. . . .

Marshall sandstone. . 

.....do...............

Marshall sandstone. . 

.....do...............

Drift................

Drift, sand rock. . . . .

Lower Marshall .....

.....do...............

.....do...............

Drift and sandstone. 

Marshall sandstone. .

Lake and drilled wells 

Sandstone and drift. 

Lake and rock wells..

Open and drilled 

wells.

At edge of Marshall 

sandstone. 

Driven or drilled 

wells. 

.....do...............

Depth 

to 

rock.

Feet. 

40 

30-40 

30-50 

5-20 

40 

30 

30-40 

5 

30 

10 

30-35 

40 

10 

30+ 

30-50

30 

90 

5 

60 

20 

70 

50 

75?

(?) 

38-56 

65 

60 

40 

30 

80? 

10 

20 

5

50-70 

40 

57 

70-90

60-80 

5

70-80 

30-40

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

43 

30 

12 

12 

28

12

19

27

19

100

12 

30

62

43

65 

87 

12 

35 20' 

10

73 

10

10

10 

20

ToFeet. 

102 

90 

400 

60 

36

145

25 

200

25+

218

70 

60

185

170

250 

110 

35 

150 

30 

30

126 

100

300

100 

115

Common.

Feet.

60 

180 

30

22

65

28

50-60

175

20

75

25

30 

60+

10-12 

80-115

Depth 

to 

water 

bed.

Feet.

50-60 

40-180 

30

20

35-65

60

150

20

75

25

100-200

'90-100 

100-115

Head

Feet.

(?) 

+3 -8

-5

-20

1

+ 2

-10 

-20 

-6

"~-3 

+ ? 6-10

-4

Flow

-6 

-20

SUPPLIES BY TOWNSHIPS."

SEBEWAING TOWNSHIP.

In Sebewaing Township (T. 15N.,R.9E.) there is very little water 

in the drift, for it is composed almost entirely of clay. In some cases, 

however, the wells obtain water just above the rock, but since coal 

mining has become extensive such wells are generally deepened into

« From detailed records of State survey; see report on Huron County.
HURON COUNTY.

the rock. These at first flqwed, but pumping out 

from mines has stopped thb flow. There are 

sand ridges supplied by surface water. A 

tour map of the county (fig. 52) shows a pretownship southeast of Sebewaing. The extra thi 

to be due mainly to an addition of sand and 

Possibly some of the sand and gravel is pre-(jrla< 

been inspected in the drillings is plainly Glacial, 

following illustrate the difference between a 

valley and those outside:

261

the 100 feet of water 

also shallow wells on the 

reference to the rock-conGlaci il valley crossing the 

;kness of drift seems 

gravel at the bottom. 

?ial, but all that has 

The three sections 

well in the pre-Glacial

Record of Charles Winter well in pre-Glacial valley, sec. 20,

Clay......................................................................

Sand and gravel.. . .......................................................

Record of Joseph (?reen well, sec. 11, Sebewaing

Hardpan and bowlders ................................................. j

a Low in chlorides and strong in sulphates 

Record of well at Saginaw mine, sec. 17, Sebewair

Thickness.

Feet. 

74 

45 

97

Total.

Feet. 

74 

119 

216

Township.

Thickness.

Feet. 

9 

48 

2 

1

Total.

Feet. 

9 

57 

59 

60

g Township.

Thickness.

Feet. 

8 

12 

28 

5 

212

Total.

Feet. 

8 

20 

48 

53 

265

Sebewaing Township.

wel

at

The waters vary in the amount of chlorine, are 

phates, and are not infrequently cathartic, espec

In sees. 32 to 34 there is a flowing-well district 

peratures are from 50° to 52°. In one case a 

its supply just above the bed rock in quicksand 

the altitude was 629 feet and the head 2 feet.

The rock wells of the township may be dividi 

Wells from the Carboniferous limestone or from 

at from 56 to 100 feet, and wells from the Upper Marshall 

depths of 150 to 200 feet. Since the latter pa! 

shales and perhaps gypsum of the Michigan formation 

for casing off the sulpha ted and cathartic waters 

carry.

often strong in sulally in rock wells.

in which the temin sec. 34 obtained

a depth of 60 feet,

sd into two groups: 

gravel just above it 

sandstone at 

s through dolomitic 

there is need 

which these rocks
262 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

BBOOKFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Brookfield Township (T. 15 N., R. 10 E.) is very flat and except for 

a triangular tract of about 2 square miles in the southeast corner was 

originally swamp. The water rises generally above or nearly to the 

surface. The drift, like that of Sebewaing Township, is mainly clay, 

with sometimes a little sand or gravel above or below it. From sees. 

10 and 14 southwestward' the drift is not thick, being usually less 

than 50 feet, but in sec. 5 it is 115 feet, as shown in the record below, 

and in sec. 3, 135 feet. The water is variable in quality, chlorine 

being often perceptible and sulphates varying from nothing to strong.

Record of L. Wisner well, sec. 5, Brookfield Township.

Blue clay .........................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

13

52

8

2

40

25

Total.

Feet. 

13

65

73

75

115

140

The well of Fritz Matz in sec. 3, 235 feet in depth, apparently penetrated 135 feet of drift, mainly blue clay.

GBANT TOWNSHIP.

In Grant Township (T. 15 N., R. 11 E.) the thickness of the drift 

varies from only 30 to 35 feet in the northwest corner to a very considerable thickness at the southeast and contains a larger proportion 

of sand than the townships to the west. Wells are usually obtained 

at 35 to 60 feet in the southeast part of the township without reaching rock, and the character of the drift is variable. The most detailed 

and accurate record is that of Mrs. Walsh's well, presented below:

Record of Mrs. Walsh's well, sec. 17, Grant Township.

Clay... ...........................................................................

Rock.

Thickness.

Feet. 

15

20

22

Total.

Feet. 

15

35

57

SHEEIDAN TOWNSHIP.

In Sheridan Township (T. 15 N., R. 12 E.) the wells are generally 

shallow, often getting an abundant supply in gravel at 12 to 20 feet, 

though occasionally bored 20 to 30 feet. No doubt a good supply of 

soft water from sandstone could be obtained within 200 feet. On 

the southeastern edge of the township are a few wells in rock, the
HURON" COUNTY.

distance to rock ranging froin 24 to 102 feet, as fellows 

24 feet; in sec. 24, on a hil^ 102 feet; in sec. 35, 

60 feet.

BIl^GHAM TOWNSHIP.

In Bingham Township (T. 15 N., R. 13 E.) th 

of till, which is not a good water bearer, and 

often 100 feet deep, enter the underlying Upper ]M 

The well of R. Harrison, in the southeast part of 

879 feet above tide, penetrated 130 feet of drift 

level 60 feet below the surface. There was 80 fe 

blue clay beneath which was 50 feet of fine 

valleys sandstone is struck at 25 feet or less and 

gravel. Wells are often obtained around Ubly in 

12 feet, while at Wadsworth they are 20 to 40 fe< 

there is a bed of till under the surface saiid 

some cases is underlain by another gravel bed 

at 70 to 80 feet.

tie

In Paris Township (T. 15 N., R. 14 E.) the 

northeast corner, but increases in thickness to the 

the rock may be struck anywhere from 40 to 

Sandstone underlies the whole township.

e hills are largely 

wells on them, 

arshall sandstone, 

sec. 2, at altitude 

and has a water 

st of hard till and 

or silt. In the 

:he drift is largely 

:he gravel at 10 to 

deep. At Ubly 

gravel which in 

extending to bed rock

sand

and

PAEIS TOWNSHIP.

drift

SHEEMAN TOWNSHIP.

In Sherman Township (T 

shallow and chiefly in the 

the underlying drift appears 

in which salty water is s

15 N., R. 15 E.) most 

sand or gravel of the old 

to be a heavy clay and 

truck in limited amounts

WHH'EEOCK TOWNSHIP.

In Whiterock Township 

lar to those in Sherman Township 

be on shallow surface wells 

There are springs along the

15 N., R. 16 E.) cc 

and the best 

carefully protected frc 

bank of the old Lake

SAND

In Sand Beach Township 

is mainly clay except for sand 

from a feather edge to 83 

likely to be salty. The village 

is supplied by pumping from

BEACH TOWNSHIP.

(T. 16 N., Rs. 15 and

on the surface, ar 

feet or more. The \v

of Harbor Beach, 

Lake Huron.

263

: In sec. 13, 

3 feet; in sec. 36,

is thin at the 

southwest, where 

100 feet or more.

of the wells are 

lake shores, for 

the rock is shale,

editions are simireliance seems to 

m contamination. 

^Igonquin.

16 E.) the drift 

id varies in depth 

ells into rock are 

a|,s indicated above,
264 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

SIGEL TOWNSHIP.

In Sigel Township (T. 16 N., R. 14 E.) are large surface deposits 

of sand and gravel, and shallow wells using surface water are common. Good water may be obtained from the underlying sandstone.

VERONA TOWNSHIP.

In Verona Township (T. 16 N., R. 13 E.) the wells are either shallow, with a depth of but 10 to 12 feet, or are over 40 feet. There 

is usually 40 to 45 feet of clay above the sandstone. Wells in the 

sand rock flow at an elevation of 4 to 5 feet above the lowest level. 

The following are typical records:

Well records in Verona Township.

Clay..:.....................

Thickness.

Feet. 

5

20

5

15

30+

Total.

Feet. 

5

25

30

45

7^-1-

Thickness.

Feet. 

12

20

7

3

9

16+

Total.

Feet, 

12

32

39

42

44

60+

The flowing-well water has a temperature of about 47° F. and a 

hardness of 5° to 6° on dark's scale.

Wells put down to test the possibilities of water supply for a 

sugar factory in Bad Axe near the Pere Marquette Railroad tracks, 

in sec. 19, Verona Township, at an altitude of 756 feet, are all 

reported to flow at times after storms, etc. At the time of the 

writer's visit, however, only one was flowing. This had a temperature of 47°. These wells are 340 feet deep and have 46 feet of 

7-inch casing, reaching probably to bed rock. The Ba'd Axe public 

supply is discussed above.

COLFAX TOWNSHIP.

In Colfax Township (T. 16 N., R. 12 E.), which includes the western part of the village of Bad Axe, the Marshall sandstone is struck 

at no great depth, the drift being usually 20 feet or less in thickness, 

but in sec. 19 the drift is 60 feet. A cherty limestone, with gypsum 

and shale in places, immediately underlies the drift, but the three 

have a combined thickness of only about 50 feet, thus making the 

depth to the Marshall sandstone about 70 feet.

OLIVER TOWNSHIP.

In Oliver Township (T. 16 N., R. 11 E.) there were many flowing 

wells, but most of them have failed, the failure being attributed in 

part to the draft made by the railroad water tank, in which the 

pipe was cut off below ground and the water allowed to flow into
HURON COUNTY.

the tank. No doubt the lowering of the ground-water level by

WINSOR TOWNSHIP.

Winsor Township (T. 16 

township full of wells, man 

through the Michigan forr 

Glacial valley traverses th

ment toward this valley li

deep obtain, just at the top 

the surface. In sec. 6, also 

mer. They are obtained fr< 

rock being entered at 7 to 

5 and are liable to go dry. 

times flow and give a temp 

the rock is from 2 to 38 fe

265

ditching has something to do with the failure, 

obtain their water just above the rock at a depth 

At Elkton sandstone was reached at 25 feet, and 

is 20 to 35 feet through sec 

not uncommon and have a 

feature is reported from a 

charged with H2S. When tl 

black. By some change of 

eate water may enter at su

Wells in sec. 8 

of 50 to 65 feet, 

he depth to rock

20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 33. Flows are 

temperature of 47.5° F. An interesting 

ell in sec. 36 only 13 feet in depth and 

3 wind is from the east the water becomes 

relative head an iron-bearing or chalybh times.

N., R. 10 E.) is a fertile, well-settled 

f of them deep. Some of those passing 

lation are highly mineralized. A pretownship from north to south, nearly

following Pigeon Valley, an [ a limestone ridge with a steep escarpjs to the west of it, thus giving much

variety in the wells. Near !3erne, in sees. 1 and 2, wells 30 to 40 feet

of the rock, water which rises barely to 

wells almost flow, or flow until midsumm the rock at depths of 20 to 29 feet, the 

3 feet. Wells are shallow in sees. 4 and 

In sec. 7 wells 27 to 37 feet deep somerature of 49° to0 50 F. In sees. 8 and 9

it from the surface, and in the latter section wells 180 to 190 feet c ?ep flow with temperatures of from 47° to

48°. Around Pigeon the c 

90 feet. The lower part i 

up the wells. Water is ol 

In sees. 13 and 14 dug we 

to go dry. There are also

sees. 15, 16, 17, and 18 many wells are put to the limestone 24 to 40

feet, and shallow wells ar 

sees. 27 and 28 they pass 

school district No. 1.struck 

section:

Record of school,

rift is largely clay and reaches a depth of 

slippery blue clay, which tends to close 

rained from sandstone at about 120 feet. 

s 12 to 15 feet deep occur, but are liable 

^ells 175 to 200 feet deep which flow. In

usually obtained in sees. 19 to 26. In 

hrough a large amount of drift. One at 

rock at 74 feet, as shown in the following

ouse well, sec. 28, Winsor Township.

Thickness.

Feet. 

12

39

3

1

19

12|

Total 

depth.

Feet. 

12

51

54

55

74

86J
266 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

In sec. 29, Winsor Township, wells range from 69 to 188 feet, the 

upper limit being the bed-rock surface. In sec. 30 bed rock is at 

about 60 feet and wells are from 40 to 200 feet. In this southwest 

part of the township they are likely to be strong in sulphates. In 

the southern sections the drift is thick, being about 60 feet in sec. 31, 

64 to 80 feet in sec. 32, 70 to 80 feet in sec. 33, 104 to 120 feet in sec. 

34, and 73 feet, at Linkville, in sec. 35. In these sections the drift is 

very largely clay, and water is obtained at its base or in the rock.

FAIEHAVEN TO\vNSHIP.

In Fairhaven Township and Bayport (Tps. 16 and 17 N., R. 9 E.) 

a heavy belt of sand, the Algonquin beach and dunes, is present, on 

which surface wells can readily be obtained. Back of it is an old 

muck swamp under the north end of which limestone sets in at a 

very few feet and water comes nearly to the surface, rising a little 

above when the quarries are not pumped and falling below when they 

are pumped. The temperature of these wells when flowing in the 

summer was 50° to 51.5° F. A flowing well on sec. 28 struck bed rock 

at 60 feet and terminated at 100 feet; temperature of water 51.5°. 

Most of the wells at Bayport are in the sub-Carboniferous limestone, 

which is covered mainly by sand.

CASEVILLE TOWNSHIP.

In Caseville Township (Tps. 17 and 18 N., R. 10 E.) is a belt of sand 

dunes east of which the soil and drift is mainly clay. An abundant, 

though highly sulphated, supply of water is generally found at the 

base of the drift. Wells which terminate in the Michigan formation 

or which are not cased through that group are often highly mineralized. When the wells are sunk into the Marshall sandstone, it would 

be better always to case off the supply from the Michigan formation. 

Bored or dug wells when over the line of pre-Glacial channels penetrate 70 feet or more of drift, but elsewhere rock is struck at less 

depth. In Caseville the water comes to within about 5 feet of the 

surface.

CHANDLER TOWNSHIP.

In Chandler Township (T. 17 N., R. 11 E.) there are good wells in 

the sandstone in sees. 1, 2, 3, and 4, rock being entered at about 25 

feet. The deeper wells in sec. 4 have a head close to the surface. 

On the west side of sec. 5 wells begin to be brackish because of the 

gypsum, whose line of outcrop runs from this section to Soule. 

Wells in se" ^ are shallow, in sec. 7 deep and saline, and in sec. 8 

strongly sulphated, being drilled into the gypsum. They sometimes 

flow even when only 18 to 25 feet deep. In sees. 10 to 13 rock is 

entered at 30 to 37 feet and in sec. 14 at 40 feet, the drift being 

largely blue clay, but supplied with water beds at 12 to 18 feet in
HURON COUNTY. 267

sec. 14. Sulphated waters are struck at the top of the rock in sees. 

16, 17, 18, and 20 at about 30 feet. In sec. 19 a fair water was 

obtained at 16 feet, but a well 45 feet deep was too highly mineralized. In the southern half of the township wells in the drift are not 

very reliable, and in several sections wells have been sunk to the 

Marshall sandstone. There are springs on the banks of the Pinnebog 

in sec. 26 and some dug wells 18 to 30 feet in depth. In sec. 33 is a 

till ridge flanked by gravel, in which very shallow wells are sometimes 

obtained.

MEADE TOWNSHIP.

In Meade Township (T. 17 N., R. 12 E.) the Upper Marshall sandstone is usually drawn upon and bed rock is sometimes practically at 

the surface. A series of sand and gravel ridges, which afford surface 

water, traverses the township from the southwest to the northeast 

corners.

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.

In Lincoln Township (T. 17 N., R. 13 E.) there are a number of 

shallow wells in gravel beneath blue clay. Those at Kinde run from 

11 to 20 feet deep. Rock is struck in sec. 19 at 37 feet and in sec. 20 

at 50 feet. In the northern part of sec. 22 a well 21.5 feet deep has 

water which comes from sand under the clay within a foot of the 

surface. The well apparently has. iron and organic matter derived 

from the marsh.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP.

In Bloomfield Township (T. 17 N., R. 14 E.) the Lower Marshall 

sandstone is struck at from 11 to 30 feet, though in sees. 20 and 22 the 

distance to rock is 40 feet or more.

RUBICON TOWNSHIP.

Rubicon Township (T. 17, R. 15 E.) is traversed diagonally by 

several sand ridges parallel to the lake shore, which furnish surface 

water at a depth of about 12 feet. The drift beneath is largely clay 

with a scanty yield of water, and the wells which enter rock are liable 

to obtain salty water.

LAKE TOWNSHIP.

In Lake Township (T. 18 N., R. 11 E.) is a heavy belt of dune sand 

bordering the shore behind, which is a swampy area from which the 

surface rises back from the lake. Sandstone is very probably not 

very far down, though in sec. 26 the distance to rock is 40 feet. In 

sec. 32 are pits that suggest the presence of cavernous limestone or 

gypsum.
268 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

HUME TOWNSHIP.

In Hume Township (T. 18 N., R. 12 E.) the shore-sand belt and 

general conditions are much as in Lake Township. The drift in places 

is but 5 to 7 feet, though in sec. 13 it reaches 32 feet. The only well 

that reports anything but clay before reaching bed rock is on sec. 26. 

It strikes quicksand or silt at 12 to 14 feet. On sec. 28 is a flowing 

well bored 40 feet. The distance to rock in sec. 31 is 30 feet and 

about the same in sec. 35.

DWIOHT TOWNSHIP.

In Dwight Township (T. 18 N., R. 13 E.) sandstone is in places at 

the surface, and numerous wells are obtained from it at a depth of 

20 feet or less A flowing well on sec. 8 is 100 feet deep with a head of 

1 foot, the ground being 10 or 15 feet above the neighboring stream. 

Aside from the sand ridges the drift is generally a blue clay, though 

on sec. 35 a well is said to have passed through 20 feet of coarse gravel 

above the clay.

HUEON TOWNSHIP.

In Huron Township (T. 18 N., R. 14 E.) are numerous wells which 

enter rock at depths ranging from 3 feet to 40 feet; usually'they are 

said to be through clay. In sees. 18, 19, and 30 wells are obtained in 

gravel or sand just above the rock at depths of about 25 feet. Along 

the Lake Huron shore there is a strip of country about 2 miles wide, 

where shale is penetrated immediately below the drift and yields salt 

water in scanty amount.

GOKE TOWNSHIP.

In Gore Township (T. 18 N., R. 15 E.) the rock water is likely to 

be somewhat salty and the supply from the drift scanty, since the 

latter is largely clay. The best chance for water is at the junction 

of the drift and rock at 26 to 30 feet.

POET AUSTIN TOWNSHIP.

In Port Austin Township (T. 19 N., Rs. 12 and 13 E.) rock is usually 

struck within 12 to 22 feet of the surface. In the village of Port Austin the shallow wells penetrate clay about 10 feet and gravel 3 feet, 

obtaining water at the top of the rock.
WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 269

WATER SUPPLIES OF THE NORTHWEST BORDER

OF SAGINAW BAY.

By W. M. GREGORY. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

There is a gradual rise from the shore of Saginaw Bay northwestward across Arenac and losco counties to the upper limits of the 

Glacial lakes that once covered the region to an altitude about 800 

feet above tide (PI. IV). The lake plain is in places sand covered and 

barren. Clayey portions are rapidly becoming settled. In northern losco County there is a large sand plain standing 100 to 150 feet 

above the valley of Au Sable River, in which the water table is probably nearly as low as the stream, but as the country is unsettled no 

wells have been made in it, except along the borders. On the clay 

tracts wells are ordinarily obtained at less than 50 feet and often at 

but 10 to 20 feet.

WATERWORKS.

Waterworks are in operation at Au Sable, Oscoda, and East Tawas, 

which draw their supply from Lake Huron. At Standish is a waterworks plant used chiefly for fire protection, which draws from wells 

and a small creek.

FLOWING WELLS.

LOCATION.

In the belt of lowland bordering Saginaw Bay from Pinconning to 

East Tawas flowing wells are numerous. Some of these are from the 

drift, but the larger number are from tie rock. There are also deep 

wells drilled for brine some years ago when the sawmills had plenty 

of fuel for the manufacture of salt. These are located at East Tawas, 

Tawas, Harmon, Augres, Standish, and Pinconning. At East Tawas 

one of the brine wells flowed. At Tawas after plugging the wells and 

drawing the upper part of the casing, thus allowing water from higher 

levels to enter, flows have been obtained in wells in which the brine 

rose only to 30 feet below the surface.

There is another flowing-well belt running nearly parallel with the 

one just mentioned, from Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, to Rose 

City, Ogemaw County. The district lying between the two belts 

has occasional flowing wells, usually along stream valleys, but generally no flows can be expected, and in places water is difficult to 

obtain. The western flowing-well belt is discussed on pages 92-115, 

the present discussion being confined to the belt bordering Saginaw 

Bay and the district with few flows lying back of it.
270 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The flowing wells are most numerous at three villages in the belt 

bordering Saginaw Bay, namely, Pinconning, Twining, and Tawas. 

the remainder being scattered or in small groups. Data concerning 

them are assembled in the table on the next page.

FIG. 54. Map of Pinconning, Bay County, showing distribution of flowing wells. 

PINCONNING.

General conditions in the vicinity of Pinconning are described under 

the discussion of Bay County, by W. F. Cooper. The detailed data 

in the table were collected by the writer in connection with other 

flowing-well districts bordering Saginaw Bay.
U. 8. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 183 PL. IV

Mumbers an'd letters refer to we//s discussed in. the text 

Special flowing well areas

Scale 

z o z 4- e smiles

TOPOGRAPHIC AND ARTESIAN-WELL MAP OF THE NORTH SHORE OF SAGINAW BAY.

NORTHWEST BOEDER OF SAGINAW BAY. 271

Wetts at Pinconning.

3g

M

C

g

6 

£

1

3

4

fi

fi

7

8

9

10

11

1?

13

14

15

16

17

18

Owner.

School.............

F. W. Klump. .....

W. A. McDonald. .

F. W. Klump......

W. A. McDonald. .

Elevation.

Feet. 

596

597

596

596

591

594

596

596

596

598

597

597

595

596

597

3 P.

0> 0

Feet. 

56

58

72

60

53

50

52

48

65

60

28

42

46

64

65

59

65

of Elevation bed. water 

Feet. 

540

539

524

536

542

542

548

531

536

570

555

551

531

531

538

Water rises 

to 

Feet. 

597

601

fine

606

596

607

Flow min- per 

ute.

Galls. 

0.1

.3

9

.8

.5

g

2

.3

.9

1

1.5

1

2

1

.9

.6

Temperature.

°F.

C1

51J

491"

4.81

49

Quality.

Hard...........

Hard...........

.....do..........

Saltv. ..........

.....do..........

Salty; hard .....

Hard...........

Remarks.

Weak flow.

Store well; drinking.

Store.

Flow decreasing.

House use.

Flow decreasing;

rock at 50 feet. 

Stopped flowing.

Sand, 20 feet; clay, 22

feet; water from 

gravel.

Good flow at60 feet;

coal at 140 feet; 

salt water.

Do.

The diameter of each of these wells is 2 inches. There are six other 

flowing wells concerning which no data could be obtained owned by 

Doctor Grosjean, Peter Collie, M. Doan, A. W. Fisk, J. Morris, and 

John Francis, respectfully.

TWINING.

The water supply of the village of Twining in Arenac County is from 

rock wells, and the neighboring villages of Standish, Omer, Augres, and 

Turner (PI. V, A) have a like source of supply. In Twining the largest 

number of village wells have been developed, but there are many 

more wells scattered over Arenac, losco, and Bay counties. In Twining the rock is covered by 12 to 20 feet of drift, which is largely clay 

with bowlders of limestone and gypsum from the Michigan formation, 

which, is the bed rock of the region, outcropping at Alabaster and Harmon on the shore of Lake Huron.

Water is never obtained from the gypsum beds in the Michigan 

formation except in a few cases where crevices allow a small amount 

of percolating water. Where the gypsum beds are near the surface 

sink holes are frequently found in places where the water has dissolved 

a considerable passageway, a few being found southwest of Alabaster. 

Beneath the larger gypsum beds are the sandstone and limestone beds 

in which the smaller seams of gypsum are frequently entirely dissolved, and when these beds are opened by drilling through the gypsum plenty of water is found.

In the village limits the water supply is from thirty rock wells which 

have been drilled within the last twelve years and have been flowing
272 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

uninterruptedly since they were made. A slight decrease in volume 

during the summer months has been observed by some of the well 

owners. The supply derived from these wells is valuable, and all 

wells should be carefully piped and properly controlled so that no 

unnecessary waste of the water would result, as it might cause permanent loss of head and volume.

It is necessary to case each well down to the rock to shut out the 

bitter water which collects above the rock. The presence of this bitFIG. 55. Map of Twining, Arenac County, showing distribution of flowing wells.

ter water in the drift often renders the supply from this source useless 

for stock and unfit for domestic purposes. The rock wells afford an 

abundant and suitable supply for all purposes, and failures to obtain 

a flow have seldom occurred when the drilling was properly done. The 

presence of sulphates in the water gives rise to deposits of calcium sulphate which tend to choke the pipe and decrease the flowage, but this 

is not general enough to seriously interfere with the supply. The cost
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 183 PL, V

A. LARGE FLOWING WELL FROM ROCK, TURNER, ARENAC COUNTY.

11. FIRE-SERVICE TEST, ARCADIA, MANISTEE COUNTY. 

Showing five streams from a single well under natural pressure.

NOKTHWEST BOEDER OF SAGINAW BAY. 273

of drilling averages about $0.75 a foot, which is cheap for wells in the 

'rock, but higher than the price usually paid for obtaining flows from 

the drift.

The largest flow is 25 gallons a minute from a well (No. 6 of table) 

on the mill property of T. MacCrady. The flow of some of the wells 

varies at different times of the year. For instance, Mr. T. Eeade's 

well (No. 14) ceased to flow during a drought in July and August, 

1904, while at the time of the writer's visit, which was four days after 

the close of a week of heavy rainfall, there was a flow of 0.8 gallon a 

minute. Mr. F. L. Twining has had the same experience with a well 

(No. 5) which flows much stronger in the spring and late in the fall 

and shows a noticeable increase several days after a period of prolonged rain. In July, 1903, Mr. Twining's well at the store (No. 5) 

flowed 10 gallons a minute, while in July, 1904, its flow was very small 

and a pump was required. A number of other wells have shown a 

tendency to decrease. At the Hotel Normal in July, 1903, the well 

had a flow of 3 gallons a minute, while in July, 1904, the water level 

was 2 feet below the surface. That several of the wells have a common supply is shown by the decrease in the flow of wells Nos. 2,3, and 

5, when in May, 1903, well No. 6 was allowed to flow for three days. 

In July, 1903, Mr. George Dillon's well (No. 16) flowed nearly 10 gallons a minute, but in July, 1904, the flow was very small and varied 

from day to day, its variations depending on the rainfall, according to 

those who had observed it carefully. The flow differs somewhat with 

the character of the rock in which the well is drilled. If it is largely 

sandstone, the supply is more uniform than where the beds contain 

considerable gypsum. In the latter case the water follows dissolved 

passages from the surface and frequently brings to the well silt and 

plant remains after heavy rains.

The shallow wells which are deep enough to meet ordinary domestic 

needs furnish water high in sulphates and carbonates and are often 

quite bitter when from near the top of the rock. Of the wells which 

flow from the rock, the water highest in sulphates and carbonates 

comes from wells Nos. 1 and 9. In the latter the water was mixed 

with surface water for use in steaming, but has been discarded 

because of trouble with boiler scale. In Mr. J. W. Jaynes's well (No. 

15) the water is so soft that it is used for laundry purposes without 

addition of the softening compounds that are necessary with much of 

the water in this region. 

IBB 183 06 19
274 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells at Twining.

8

cH1

o 

o

£

1

?,

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1?

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

?1

?,?,

23

?4

?5

?,6

?,7

28

29

30

Owner.

Hotel Normal a.....

E. F. White c.......

mill)/. 

B. W. Bodine g.....

E. Brush...........

Chas. Bartlett*....

T. Reade*..... .. .

Wm. Monroe o. .....

F. L. Twining......

Stevens restaurant.

Hub Mill. ..........

L. White...........

J. E. Esler. ........

T. Stall.............

Elevation.

Feet. 

639

639

639

639

639

632

635

633

635

636

636

636

642

639

640

639

638

639

642

639

638

638

638

636

633

633

639

637

639

a &

0)

ft

Feet. 

76

57

43

64

00

28

21

CO

25

32

26

28

42

46

21

20

22

60

78

22

37

27

3251'

60

23

20

Elevation ofwater bed.

Feet. 

563

582

596

575

600

CQ1

610

608

594

618

618

617

COO

561

618

601

611

604

582

c.79

614

619

Water rises to.

Feet. 

642

fi41

635

636.5

641

643

648

Flow min- per 

ute.

Galls.

1 9

25

10

5

.5

1

0

1.5

1 9

9

1.8

.5

.9

g

3

1.5

Temperature.

°F.

48

47

47

48

49

47

46J

47

51

49

47

48

49

47

48

47

48

48

48

47

48

4fil

4fil

Quality.

Hard.....

.....do....

.....do....

Hard.....

Soft......

Hard.....

.....do....

Hard.....

.....do....

.....do....

Soft......

Hard.....

Remarks.

Hotel use.

Domestic use.

Do.

Drinking.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Stock.

a Well not flowing in July, 1904; flow in July, 1903, 3 gallons a minute; water high in sulphates.

6 Flow about 2 gallons a minute in July, 1903; no flow in July, 1904.

c Discharge of wells 2 and 3 decreased by well 7. Rock (bluish shale and gypsum) at 11 feet.

d Blue shale at 14 to 16 feet; then thin bed of gypsum; at bottom thin bed of sandstone. When this 

flow was made, the flow of wells Nos. 1, 5, 21, and 17 increased.

« Water used in a large butter room for cooling purposes. Mr. Twining says the large percentage of 

mineral salts in the water improves the quality of the butter. This well flowed 10 gallons a minute in 

1903; in 1904 only 1 quart a minute. Much stronger in spring and late in fall; some increase after several 

days of heavy rain.

/16 feet to rock. Well controlled by check valves. In May, 1903, was opened and allowed to flow for 

three days, lowering the head of Nos. 2, 3, and 5.

0Rock at 23 feet; water from beneath a shale.

>t In 1903 good flow; decreased by well No. 11; drift 10 feet.

* Too hard for boiler use. High temperature of water caused by boilers located near well. 14 feet to 

gypsum; head lowered by No. 11.

i Flow decreased soon after No. 7 was drilled. Allowed to flow freely for a few hours.

k Drift, 12 feet; blue shale, 5 feet; gypsum, 5 feet; shale, 5 feet; gypsum, 3 feet; sandstone and shale, 

6 feet.

l Rock at 13 feet (gypsum and shale); water in sandstone.

m Flow decreased by well No. 16 on George Billon's lot.

» The flow of this well ceased during the drought in June and July, 1904. At the time of the writer's 

visit, four days after a week of heavy rainfall, the well was flowing about 8 gallons a minute.

o Rock at 17 feet (sandy shale rock). Water from sand veins at 19, 24, 30, and 42 feet.

P Flow decreased since 1903; it was then nearly 10 gallons a minute; rock at 21 feet.

TAWAS.

This area of flowing wells occupies nearly 1 square mile on the 

shore of Saginaw Bay in Tawas, the county seat of losco County (fig. 

56). Two miles west of Tawas there is a low moraine which is the 

catchment slope of some of the wells. At East Tawas, 1 mile to the 

east, flows can not be obtained, although water rises just to the surface in some wells near the lake shore. To the north and west of 

Tawas flows are obtained on the plain between the town and the 

moraine.
NORTHWEST BOEDEE OF SAGINAW BAY. 275

In this area rock outcrops are entirely absent, but the first or upper 

rock formation is known, from the records of the deep brine wells, to 

be near the base of the Michigan formation and top of the Marshall 

sandstone. The sandstone yields abundant water when penetrated 

in regions to the southwest, and possibly part of the supply, for the 

wells here may be derived from the same source. The Marshall sandHard water 

Soft water

FIG. 56. Map of Tawas flowing-well district, losco County.

stone dips to the southwest from Tawas, and 5 miles south, at a test 

shaft in the quarry at Alabaster, it was reached at 90 feet and water 

found in 'the sandstone with sufficient head to fill the shaft.

The drift at East Tawas and Tawas is 80 to 120 feet in thickness. 

Rock is reached at 84 feet in Frank Black's well in East Tawas, and
276 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES 1ST SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

in the same place on the property of the Michigan Brine Works rock 

is 100 feet from the surface. In Tawas the Wenoiia Salt and Lumber 

Company struck rock at 100 feet, and at the Bayside Hotel rock was 

found at 120 feet. In a cut on Dead Creek, in the western part of 

this village, is a hard compact clay containing minute shells, such as 

inhabit the lake, and some driftwood, overlain with 15 feet of lake 

sand and gravel. In several wells driftwood has been encountered 

at 50 to 75 feet. The drift material is not generally water bearing 

except at bottom where sand and gravel are found in thin layers. 

The wells are usually drilled by contract for a flow, the price averaging from $40 to $70, while some of the test wells which penetrate the 

rock some distance are made for $1 a foot without the pipe.

The total flow of 43 wells at Tawas is 137.3 gallons a minute. The 

strongest flow is from a well on the Blust estate (No. 34), which yields 

19.3 gallons a minute. The flow is decreased in some cases by the 

escape of the water at a lower level, owing to corrosion of the pipes, 

while in other cases wells on lower ground have checked flows 

on higher ground. It is thought that the former is the cause of the 

decrease in flow of Joseph Minor's well, though possibly it may be 

drained by well No. 22 on the property of Mr. Davidson. The wells 

require frequent sand pumping and removal of the deposits inside the 

pipes. The Phelan well (No. 26) and German Lutheran Church 

well (No. 41) ceased to flow in the fall of 1903; after being sand 

pumped and cleaned, the flow returned to about the amount when the 

well was drilled. The wells which do not yield water readily are 

increased by a small blast of dynamite at the bottom. A greater 

flow in these wells following a prolonged season of rain is reported by 

some well owners, but not verified.

The quality of the water varies considerably with the depth of the 

well. It is common to find a soft water at a greater depth and evidently near the rock surface. The water in most wells over 90 feet in 

depth is soft, but in those less than 90 feet is usually hard and in some 

cases is so high in sulphates that it is unfit for domestic purposes, as 

at Grice's blacksmith shop (No. 11) and on the Blust estate. Following are analyses of water from some of the wells:

Analyses of water from wells in Tawas. 

[Parts per million.]

1.

273

616

Much.

ISO

173.4

2.

273

536

140

120

3.

88

321.6

190

81.6

4.

522

600

95

204

1. Bayside Hotel. 2. Blust estate. 3. German Lutheran Church. 4. Grice's blacksmith shop.
NORTHWEST BOEDER OF SAGINAW BAY. 277

The wells have been drilled rather uniformly throughout the village, 

going a little deeper in the eastern than in the western part, where 

water is reached at a higher altitude. The wells in the western part 

are from 70 to 80 feet in depth, and supply a harder water than that of 

the deeper bed, indicating a different source of supply. An examination of the above analyses and tests of several waters for hardness 

show a water bed supplying a hard water, beneath which is a bed supplying a softer water. The well owners are acquainted with these 

facts from the use of the water for laundry purposes. The lower bed 

is believed to be supplied by water forced upward into the gravel and 

sand from the underlying bed rock of the Michigan formation, which 

in other localities supplies a soft water. Mr. Van Way, owner of Bayside Hotel, gives the following record of well No. 10:

Record of Bayside Hotel well, Tawas.

Cluy.. ...................... ......................................................

Cl&y.. ............................ ................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

35

15

30

15

5

25

Total.

Feet. 

35

50

80

95

100

125

Record of Davidson flowing well, Tawas.

Ci&y.................................................................... ..........

Thickness.

Feet. 

10

50

10

10

Total.

Feet. 

10

60

70

80

Mr. Gilbirth, a well driller, gives the following record for a flowing 

well (No. 29) on the property of G. A. Prescott:

Record of Prescott well, Tawas.

G^cy.... ..........................................................................

Sand. .............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

40

5

30

15

Total.

Feet. 

40

45

75

90
278 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

%

Wells at Towas.

CD lO

W> <H

O 

0 

fc

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

IS

19

20

21

22

23

24

OC

26

27

28

29. HO

31

32

34

35

36

37

38

39

40 

41

42

43 

44

46

47

Owner.

N. C. Hartingh . .

G. A. Prescott. . . .

Bayside Hotel ....

smith shop.

Lumber Co.

G. L. Cornville . . .

(Rev. Emmel).

City well. ........

T \T Walb-OT

City public school.

(Rev.Wuggazer). 

F. Ballotman ....

Chas. Zurek...... 

F. W. Schlecht . . .

Steve Klish.......

Mr. Bolt..........

Elevation.

Fee 

590

592

CCQ

593

590

584

585

588

590

590

cno

595

CQfi

590

CQA

CQQ

590

589

coo

KOO

KC7

594

CQO

589

588 

585 

586

587

588

a ^ 

a 3?

O

.Fee? 

104

86

80

106

146

101

93

114

90

125 

75

98

870

87

85

100

100

90

90

104

90

80

84

QC

105

90

90

114

85

95

70

84

pe

85

78

76 

90

112

90 

73

87

104

Diameter.

In

2

2

2

2

3

2

2

2

li

2

3

4

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

9

2

2

2

1|

3

2

 7

3

2

2

2 

2

2

2

2

Elevation ofbed. water 

Feet 

486

506

509

486

443

492

497

475

502

459

285

501

504

490

490

500

CfiO

491

505

503

495

4C£

490

508

505

494

KOA

CAC

coi

KAQ

518

CAO

477

498 

512

500

484

Water rises 

to 

Feet

602

572

594

594

604

610

596

597

Flow min- per 

ute.

Gal 

1.2

.4

1 5

.4

1 2

2

6

2 

4

4

1

.5

.5

1

0

.5

1.5

1

6

0

6

8

3

8

5

1

o e

9 3

8

7

9

3

1.5 

3

3

2

Temperature.

op

50

49

49

49

50

49

49

49

48

49 

47

49

49

49

49

50

49

49

50

49

49

48

48

48

48

48

49

47

48

47

48

49

48

48

47

48

47

48

48 

48

49

48 

47

48

48

Quality.

.....do...

.....do...

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Hard ..... 

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Soft......

.....do....

Hard .....

Soft ......

Hard .....

phates. 

Hard .....

Soft......

Hard .....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Hard.....

.....do....

Soft ...... 

....do....

....do....

....do.... 

Hard .....

Soft ......

....do....

Remarks.

creased.

pump well.

shale at 140 feet.

Do.

Said to reach rock at 100 feet; 

cased, 40 feet; decreased; sulphates present.

present.

creased.

salt well; flows from upper 

beds; rock at 100 feet. 

Some COi present.

phates; domestic use.

Domestic use.

Sand, 10 feet; clay, 50 feet; hardpan, 10 feet; gravel, 10 feet; 

water from gravel. 

Muddy before storms.

hard water at 70-foot vein.

50 feet; gravel, 6 feet; 96 feet 

to flow.

See section (p. 277).

Weak flow; supplies 4 houses.

Water considered slightly cathartic; some chlorides present; sulphates strong.

phates. 

Sulphates present.

and gravel, 20 feet.

was pulled well stopped flowing.

Flow checked; much iron carbonate; not good for laundry 

purposes; sulphates strong. 

Drinking; flow decreased; trace 

of sulphates.

Sand, 25 feet; gravel clay, 50 

feet; sand and gravel, little 

water, 10 feet; hard clay, 20 

feet; coarse gravel, 7 feet.

Domestic use for 2 families. 

Decreased; no flow at present.

Made in 1897; no decrease.

Domestic use.
NORTHWEST BORDER OF SAGINAW BAY. 

Wells at Tawas Continued.

279

to

bij <fl 

fl

O

48

49

50

Owner.

Mr. Malone (east

of town) .

of town).

t3

0

03

w

Feet.

590

588

S

ft

Feet.

68

101

65

o

§

ft

7«.

2

2

2

"o .

I"0

j>?

W ^

.Feei.

522

487

a

IS

* 1

<3

£

Feet.

s

aL. .

2> <u

o

3aZs

.... 1

3

»

(3

&

e

OJ?

47

49

47

Quality.

Hard .....

Soft......

Hard.....

Remarks.

Sand,14feet; clay, 40 feet; hardpan, 5 feet; gravel and sand, 9

feet.

Wetts in region north of Tawas.

Letter IV. PIon 

A 

B

r,

D

F,

F

o

H 

T

,T

K

r,

M

'0N

P

Q

R

R

T

TT

V

w

X

Y

Owner.

Andrew Arnold. . .

E. T. Do well. ....

J. Miller..........

beach).

Elevation.

Feet. 

660 

663

648

650

660

653

648

633 

665

670

630

665

655

615

650

670

690

702

703

700

695

658

615

Diameter.

Ins. 

2 >,

U

2

?

9

 >,

3 91

?

?

2

2

?,

a

9,

9,

9

9

9

9

9

2

9

rg 'ft

5

Feet. 

Ill

1 t*7

40

39

50

40

58 

60

83

82

35

90

79

291

78

110

115

68

69

160 MC

104

Elevation ofwabed. tr 

Feet. 

449 

505

608

611

610

594

608

575 

605

587

570

583

620

525

571

379

692

588

632

626

498

438

Water risesto 

Feet. 

670 

667

640

644 

685

675

712

h

a

p.fe| 3

0

fe

Gals. 

0.8 

.5

1.8 

2.5

2

3

1.5

1.2

1

1.3

Quality.

Hard.. 

...do..

Hard..

Salt. . .

Depth rock. to 

Feet. 

108

57 

62

78

82

70

40

91

96

59

83

84

Remarks.

Stock well; made in 1900. 

Water bed at 155 feet.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

All clay; made in 1903.

Water at 50 and 60 feet.

Made in 1903.

Water at 45 and 60 feet.

o Flow estimated by driller. 

MISCELLANEOUS WELLS.

Scattered wells (mainly flowing) on the northwest border of Saginaw Bay.a

M

s

d

o

!H

As

^

1

2

3

4

5

6

Owner.

E. Sack.............

Bradley farm.......

E. Butler...........

Primary school,

Standish.

High school, Standish.

Court-house, Standish.

o

1

W

Feet.

615

PAA

592

626

626

626

1

ft

Feet.

"i05~

60

50

230

258

S

1 H

O .

.2 1

01

W

Feet.

"485'

532

576

396

368

i

CD

"C

fe-

^

Feet.

605

608

632

,

"S

d

ft

o

s

GaZs. "i.'g"

.9

i

e3

I

1

^

°F.

"49"

48J

48

48

Quality.

Hard . . .

Hard...

Remarks.

Pump well.

Rock at 30 feet.

Domestic and stock.

Just flows; high in sulphates.

Not flowing now.

Flowed in 1893; not flowing

now.

o The diameter of all the wells is 2 inches except the following: Omer village, 1§ inches; August 

Badour, 3 inches; James Daley, \\ inches; N. Knight, 1 inch.
280 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN. 

Scattered wells (mainly flowing) on the northwest border of Saginaw Bay. Continued.

Number IV. PI on

7

8

9

10

11

13

.13

14

1,5

16

17 

18

19

20

31

22

33

34

3,5

36

37

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36 

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

4,5

46

47

48

49

,50

,51

,52

,53

,54

.55

,56

.57

58

Owner.

M. M. Milling Co....

H. Ullman..........

August Badour. ....

B.C. Cole...........

J. Pollock...........

J. Pollock (barn)....

Mr. Campbell. ......

Public school, Turner 

S.Churchill.........

J. Clukey. ..........

Philip Rosenthall . . . 

Sam. Rosenthall ....

M. Siebeck. .........

S. B. Dryer.........

T. Applin ...........

H. McGrady........

N. Johnson .........

Hotel. 

J. Curtiss........ .

James Daley. .... ..

Chas. Jones.........

Jas. Thompson .....

Robert Garner. .....

Old coal shaft ......

Black's test well....

Elevation.

Feet. 

628

625

626

591

611

604

608

601

586 

587

587

595

600

587

622

624

622

625

630

631

638

650

640

638

642 

638

625

635

630

640 

640

640

670

630

fiCA

699

640

677

770

730

738

810

740

795

618

760

595

,13 

ft01

P

Feet. 

85

78

1,900

101

148

350

342

16

200Rf;

301 

126

90

108

322

315

146

83

57

83

65

240

39

17

28

9<\

140

105

130 

10

300

300

53

105 

104

40

19

ocri

ocn

139

40

180

40

100

60

165

78

106

135

of Elevation water 

bed.

Feet. 

543

547

1,276

490

261

262

592

401

285 

461

558

482

273

285

539

567

539

560

591

614

610

625

500

533

512

628

325

335 '577

535 

536

600

651

280

435

279

501

637

590

£on

658

750

591

630

540

654

460

+3i

CO

*C8

1

08 

£

Feet.

631

609

618

631

611

587

611

587

629

625

631

CCC

652

653

658

660

645

fi49

Flow minute. per 

Gals. 

1

1.1

12

.9

1.9

10

3

3.5 

2

2.5

8.2

3.2

2.1

.8

2.1

.8

1.2

12

2.5

1.1

1.8

3

12

2.3 

2.5

1 C

2.5

2.8

Temperature.

°F.

48

48

,50

48

49

49

48

48

48

48

48

49

49

49

,50

50

48 

49

cn

48

Quality.

Hard . . .

...do....

...do....

Hard...

...do....

...do....

...do....

...do....

Hard...

Bitter;

hard.

Hard...

...do....

...do....

...do....

Hard . . .

...do.... 

...do....

Salt ....

Hard...

Soft ....

Remarks.

Rock at 8 feet.

hotels. 

Rock at 22 feet.

Rock at 12 to 18 feet.

Formerly bath house.

and house.

Rock at 28 feet. 

house. 

Rock at 20 feet.

Rock at 8 feet.

Rock at 7 feet.

Rock at 10 feet.

Do.

ing in 1904.

Rock at 14 feet; pump well.

Rock at 40 feet.

Rock at 30 feet.

mestic. 

Rock at 26 feet; stock and 

domestic.

domestic.

clay.

no flow; little water.

40 feet; sand 10 feet; hardpan 30 feet. Pump well.

water 10 feet; clay 35 feet; 

sand and gravel 1 foot. 

Pump well.

Pump well.

20 feet; clay 30 feet; sand 

and gravel 75 feet. Pump 

well.

Sand 20 feet; clay 10 feet; 

rock at 30 feet.
OGEMAW COUNTY. 

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

281

The tabulated data on wells and villages and near country postoffices, presented below, were obtained chiefly by correspondence:

Village supplies on northwest border ofSaginaw Bay.

Town.

Melita. ............

Sterling ...........

East Tawas .......

Hale...............

Source.

.....do............................

.....do............................

.....do............................

.....do............................

.....do............................

.....do............................

rock. Depth to 

Feet.

16

20 

28 

70 

40

60

Depth of wells.

4

g

Feet. 

15 

8 

12 

12 

18 

15 

15 

12 

6 

12 

14

10

12 

20

i

Feet. 

100 

50 

220 

45 

50 

50 

104 

138 

70 

350 

48

80

33 

60

Common.

Feet. 

20 

14 

16 

35 

14 

35 

40 

30 

20

24

40

33 

40

Depth water to

bed.

Feet. 

80 

14 

180 

35 

14 

45 

40 

138 

20 

50

40

33 

60

 d

03 

Oj

M

Feet.

 5 

+ 15

-15

+ 10 

- 8 

+ 8 

-14

-35

-25 

-20

Springs.

Small. 

Do. 

None. 

Small.

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do.

None. 

Small.

Do.

Do. 

Do.

WATER SUPPLIES OF OGEMAW COUNTY.

By W. M. GREGORY. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.«

Ogemaw County, of which West Branch is the county seat, lies 

east of Roscommon County. The elevated moraine which crosses 

the southeast part of Roscommon County continues northeastward, 

passing a little east of the center of Ogemaw County, leaving the 

county at its northeast corner. There is an elevated gravel plain on 

the northwestern face of this moraine,, which at one time was occupied by settlers, but has been abandoned because of the failure of 

crops in dry seasons. The distance to water on this gravel plain 

ranges from 10 to 15 feet near the Roscommon County line to about 

100 feet in the vicinity of the moraine from Beaver Lake northeastward. On the moraine there are very few residents, and the water 

table appears to lie at great depth, for the drift is very loose textured.

Southeast of this large moraine are the flowing-well districts of 

Rose City and West Branch, which stand in recesses in the moraine. 

There is a broad gravel plain leading from near Rose City and Lupton 

southward along Rifle River, where the water table lies only a few 

feet below the surface, but in which there are few settlers.

a By Frank Leverett.
282 WELLS AND WATEB SUPPLIES IK SOUTHEBN MICHIGAN.

In the eastern range of townships is a fertile till tract with gently 

undulating surface which has as yet but few settlers. Wells are 

obtained at depths from 20 to 75 feet.

There are exposures of rock along Rifle River in the southern part 

of the county, but the wells, both flowing and non-flowing, usually 

obtain their supplies from the drift. One well at Rose City entered 

the rock and got only a weak flow. Others at West Branch may have 

reached the rock, and two deep borings near Edwards Lake entered 

rock.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

At Prescott there are wells ranging in depth from 18 to 75 feet, in 

which the water stands 12 to 20 feet below the surface, coming: from 

sand beds in the clay. Both open and bored wells are in use.

At Lupton, which stands in the valley of Rifle River, the wells are 

20 to 50 feet in depth, and are largely through gravel and sand.

At South Branch, in the eastern part of the county, on the inner 

border of the large moraine, wells are driven to depths of 20 to 30 

feet and obtain abundance of water.

At Edwards post-office, in the southwestern part of the county, 

the wells are from 6 to 50 feet in depth, the largest supplies being 

from 35 to 50 feet. Dr. A. C. Lane reports several test borings for 

coal. One at the south side of Edwards Lake in sec. 29 struck sandstone at 205 feet, and penetrated rock of various kinds for 33 feet. 

Another near Chapman Lake struck sandstone at 190 feet and continued to a depth of 400 feet. A fresh, soft water was struck at 202 

feet, which had a head of 8 feet. A third well, 214 feet in depth, on 

the east side of George Lake, did not reach rock, but found a flow of 

fresh, soft water yielding a barrel a minute.

Plans have been made to install a waterworks plant at West Branch 

in 1906, the supply being taken from flowing wells northwest of the 

village. These wells discharge into a reservoir from which water will 

flow by gravity to the village, a distance of about 2 miles.

FLOWING WELLS.

WEST BRANCH AREA.

Location. The flowing-well area of which West Branch is the center (fig. 57) embraces 2J square miles on the headwaters of the West 

Branch of Rifle River. This district is located in a recess along the 

eastern side of one of the stronger moraines of the Saginaw ice lobe. 

The actual extent of the area, outside of the above city limits, has 

riot been determined, but it has been traced north and south along 

the eastern slope of the moraine, and may connect with the welldeveloped area at Rose City. An almost continuous belt of springs 

occurs at the edge of the high hills between West Branch and Ogemaw
OGEMAW COUNTY. 283

Springs station, at which place the principal spring flows about 13 

gallons a minute. Part of this water comes from loose drift on top 

of the clay, while the larger share is from beneath a clay bed which 

has been opened by small creeks working back into the hills. This 

condition of abundant springs is present about the western edge of 

the entire area and the flow of water is in proportion to the extent 

that the creeks have worked back their heads.

Wells. At present (August, 1904) the number of wells in the general district is 119, of which 106 have fair flows. Of these, 102 flows 

are within the village limits of West Branch. The wells are all 2 

inches in diameter except Nos. 12, 17, and 27, which are 1^ inches. 

Few wells are pumped and the flowing wells are utilized very generally for stock farms, creamery, domestic use, laundry purposes, a 

few for steaming, and one in a brewery.

FIG. 57. Map of West Branch, Ogemaw County, showing flowing wells.

The pioneer well was made by E. V. Goodell in 1880 by driving a 

2-inch pipe to the first water bed at 30 feet and later to the 80-foot 

bed; the supply has decreased since drilling. The number of wells 

has increased rapidly, and with the increase some of the shallow wells 

have ceased flowing entirely. The pressure of the water is sufficient 

in a few cases to warrant piping to the second floor of a dwelling, 

and hydraulic rams are used in several cases to force water into 

kitchens.

The cost of the wells is somewhat less than in other regions, ranging from $40 to $80, the low price being due to the slight depth of 

the water bed and to the use of casing in the deeper wells only. 

That the supply is valued the large number of wells show, but only 

in a few instances are check valves used, the large majority of the 

wells being allowed to flow full capacity throughout the entire year.
284 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

This wasteful practise is believed to be the cause of the decrease of 

the flow shown in the past two years.

Flow. The total flow from 106 wells is about 610 gallons a minute, of which 540 gallons are from wells within the limits of West 

Branch. The strongest flow is 60 gallons a minute, on the property 

of C. J. Blakeley (No. 22), and another large flow is at the West 

Branch brewery of Mr. A. M. Schieke (No. 40), where the combined 

flow of three connected wells is 156 gallons a minute. Many of the 

flows from the upper water beds have been decreasing for the last 

three years, this decrease being noted in many wells that the writer 

saw in 1903 and 1904. In some cases the decrease has been due to 

sand filling the pipe, in some to deposits of iron carbonates or other 

incrustations, and in some to the overdrawing of the supply by the 

drilling of recent wells. If wells were checked and controlled the 

supply might be available longer.

Water beds. The water beds in this locality have been thoroughly exploited, especially the upper ones. The well drillers find 

that they are not as uniform as at Rose City. Their thickness is' 

often 20 to 30 feet, consisting of gravel or coarse sand interbedded 

with clay. The coarser material is generally at the bottom, while 

at the center quicksand has been so abundant as to cause some 

delay in drilling and to prevent the use of the common form of jetting drill which is usually employed in drift wells. The thickness 

and extent of the first water bed is shown by well No. 22, at the 

livery barn of C. J. Blakeley, which was 65 feet at first, when it 

drew the water level down on all wells in the upper bed, some of 

these especially affected being Nos. 23, 32, 31, 30, 100, 33, 101, and 

102. Doctor Newman's well, No. 23, did not flow after No. 22 

reached 65 feet, but when the latter was cased to 108 feet and 

drilled to 165 feet the former regained a small flow. Later it was 

drilled to 130 feet, the level of the third water bed.

The first water bed in West Branch is about 40 feet from the 

general surface and some 25 feet thick. Its elevation above tide is 

about 920 to 945 feet. In the eastern part of the village the upper 

bed is somewhat lower and supplies the brewery well (No. 40), 

which has partly drained wells Nos. 47, 92, and 93. The group of 

wells directly south of the depot seems to reach a second water bed 

at a lower elevation, the drillers there finding a hard clay, varying 

from 20 to 30 feet in thickness, beneath which is obtained the supplies for wells Nos. 7, 91, 97, and 105. At the present time the second water bed is the source of a better supply than is obtained in 

the upper beds. The third bed, with a general elevation of 430 feet, 

is the source of the strongest supply of the area. From it comes 

the supply for the wells of Stephen Weigers (No. 14), Ogemaw Bank 

(No. 85), C. J. Blakeley (No. 22), and Gale Lumber Company (No.
OGEMAW COUNTY. 285

24). In several of the wells in this bed drift coal is found, coming 

from the coal series of the Michigan formation, which outcrops to 

the south and east. The greater supply and pressure of the water 

from the lower bed is due to the presence of the Michigan formation to the east. At the West Branch Bridge over Rifle River, due 

southeast of this area, outcrops of the early Carboniferous limestone 

and sandstone occur at an altitude of 785 feet above tide, and as 

the lower water beds are 790 feet above tide this seems a case where 

the rock cuts off an escape of the water at lower levels.

Catchment area. The catchment area for the West Branch wells 

is in the loose drift material which constitutes the land to the north 

and west, having an elevation of 1,200 to 1,300 feet above tide. 

The presence of springs and lakes on the drift plains where the clay 

comes to the surface is due to the large amount of ground water in 

the porous material and the small run-off. A part of the" supply at 

Ogemaw Springs can readily be traced to the water following clay 

through the drift down to lower elevation, while the larger supply 

is from between clay beds at greater depths.

Temperature. The temperature of the wells averages .nearly 48°, 

or 5.5° higher than the mean annual temperature of West Branch. 

The temperature of the Gale Lumber Company's wells (Nos. 24 and

25) is the same, although there is a. difference of 89 feet in their 

depths. The shallow well has 25 feet of pipe exposed, while the 

deeper one has none. The exposure of 15 feet of pipe may account 

for a temperature higher than normal in the wells of Joseph Merrik (No. 1) and at the village park (No. 3), while representative 

temperatures for that depth are in adjacent wells of Frank Smith 

(No. 2) and the Episcopal Church (No. 105). The difference between 

the air and soil temperatures (5.5°) is larger than in some experiments and observations elsewhere, but may be due to the blanketing effect of the heavy winter snow. The temperature of the springs 

at Ogemaw Springs station, on the Michigan Central Railroad, north 

of West Branch, in July, 1904, was 47°, which agrees with similar 

springs at Rose City.

Data. The table on the next page gives data of wells at and near 

West Branch.
286 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IF SOUTHERN MICHIGAN,

Wells in West Branch area. 

WELLS AT WEST BRANCH.

t^

>o

W> <H

O

6 

K

1

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8

9 

10 

11

12

13 

14

15

16 

17

18 

19 

20

21 

22 

23

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30

31 

32 

33 

34

Owner.

Joseph Merrik

A.C. Irons c. ......

A. L. Shirgley.

James Barker.

Mrs. McKenna .....

F. Smith...........

Mr. Birdsall.......

E.V.Goodell......

Chas. Raymour. . . . 

Steven Weigerscf . .

Mrs. T. L. Lowenzo.

C.E.Camp........

C.W. Longwell..... 

L.Walters.......

Geo. Alexander.. .. 

Alex. Brigham.....

McCannond Wood. 

C. J. Blakeley «._.. 

Doctor Newman . .

Gale Lumber Co./. 

Gale Lumber Co.. . . 

D.McCannon...... 

H. Buckle.........

Chas. Ross. ......

U.V.Guilford..... 

Catholic Churchy. .

Elevation.

Ft. 

950

948 

950 

952 

955 

955 

940 

952

956 

950 

953

953

952 

953

965

965 

960

958 

958 

964

953 

953

958

953 

955 

960 

963 

965 

966 

966

967 

968 

967 

991

a 

ft 

P

ft. 

34

34 

34 

35 

52 

90 

90 

80

50?

81 

82

80

92 

160

45

75

85

86 

85 

90

151 

165 

130

165 

76 

125 

100 

170 

45 

45

45 

45

80 

30

Elevation ofwater bed.

Ft.

916

914 

916 

917 

903 

865 

850 

872

906

869 

871

873

860 

793

920

890 

875

872 

873 

874

802 

898 

828

888 

889 

835, 

863 

795 

921 

921

922 

923

887 

960

OJ

2 e 

£ 1 o

tH+^

OJ

03 

£

Ft.

-----

963

978 

977

Flow min- per 

ute.

dais.

2 

3 

3

18 

15

1

2

1.7

25.7 

1.2

7 

1.2

12 

1

3

60 

3.7

12.7 

6 

1.5 

1 

2

4 

3

1 

1 2

.... 1.8

Temperature.

°p 

49

47A 49"

49

47

47i494 

48^

48 

49

47J 

47J

474 

48

46* 

46£ 

47 

49 

48 

47

49

Quality.

Soft.....

....do...

....do...

....do...

Soft.....

Soft. ....

....do...

....do...

Soft..... 

Salt. ....

Soft.....

Soft.....

....do... 

....do...

... Hard....

-jj

o 

o

$22 

25

72

60

60

375 

40

70

150 

180

100 

50

82 

105

40

100

Remarks.

Flowed 6 gallons a minute in 

1903; drained bv No. 105 in 

1904. 

Store and blacksmith. 

Water trough. 

At store. 

Domestic use.

Barn and house. 

Water has small amount of 

iron carbonate. 

Domestic use. 

Do. 

Water has COa; corrodes pipe 

and tin dishes. 

Made in 1888; 1.5-inch; weak 

flow. 

Not flowing. 

Carefullv piped and controlled. 

Not flowing in 1903, but after 

sand pumping in 1904 good 

flow. 

Reduced to 1 inch. 

Well 1.5-inch; much algfe in 

water. 

Fountain and flsh pond. 

Domestic use. 

Decreased by No. 1*3; much 

iron carbonate on pipe. 

Fountain and livery barn. 

Drift coal in well. 

Original flow at 60 feet; lowered by No. 22. 

Drinking. 

Drinking and steaming. 

Livery. 

Domestic use; well 1.5-inch. 

Domestic and stock. 

Flow decreased since 1903. 

Weak flow in 1903; no flow in 

1904. 

Weak flow.

Decreased since 1903. 

Not suitable for laundry.

a All wells flow unless otherwise indicated, but the head can not be measured in those with goosenecks.

& This well was made in eight hours by hand with a clay auger and driving pipe in 1899. The following 

is the record:

Thickness (feet). 

Sand and gravel................................................................................... 4

Solid blue clay..................................................................................... 47

Water gravel...................................................................................... 1

c Wells No. 1 and No. 3 have 15 feet of pipe exposed above the surface. This accounts for high temperature.

<* Supplies butcher shop and grocery store with a large butter room in basement; also piped to living 

room on second floor; made in 1899.

e Made in 1900 and is cased 108 feet. Is said to flow 2,000 barrels in twenty-four hours (probably an 

overestimate). First water at 65 feet; for a time supply was drawn from a 95-foot vein; later well 

drilled to 165 feet. This well is No. 164 in Water-Supply Paper No. 102, United States Geological Survey.

/ The following is the record of this well:

Thickness (feet). 

Clay................................................................. ........................................................................................ 10

Sand.................................................................

Clay.................................................................

Sand and gravel............................._............,..........

Clay.................................................................

Sand, small pieces of coal ...........................................

Hard blue clay.......................................................

Gravel, coal fragments . ............................................

Water at 80 and 160 feet.

ff Drilled to 130 feet; no flow; pipe pulled back to vein at 30 feet.

15

50

5

20

5

50

10
OGEMAW COUNTY. 287

Wells in West Branch area Continued. 

WELLS AT WEST BRANCH Continued.

t-I

US

si <fl

g

6

fc

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43 

44

45

4R

47

48

49

50

51

5?

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61 

62

63

64

65

6fi

67

68

fi9

70

71

72

73

74

75

7R

77

78

79

80

81

82 

83

84

85

8R

87

88

Owner.

Mike Cullen. .......

A.M.Schieke......

Albert Schugley . . .

A. Clark.. .........

A.M.Guilford.....

James Horton..... 

W.W.English.....

Mr. Talse (?).......

Mr. Gauf..........

T.S.Haig.........

W.H.Gard. .......

K. Weeks. .........

Doctor Witter.....

W.R.Turner......

Elevation.

Ft. 

940

958

955

9fi1

960

950

OfiO

955

954 

955

955

953

960

956

953

957

938

953

957

952

958

962

958

955

962 

961

962

963

964

952

953

953

953

952

952

952

949

QCfl

953

951

948 

946

949

99?

962

a -fj

ft s>

ft

'Ft. 

110

14

4?

15

53

44

45

45

45 

30

35

50

50

50

48

40

50

ea

90

95

50

50

90

100

30 

60

60

45

45

60

185

30

50

45

90

75

80

75

45

90

60

60

90

80

75

40

58

60

175

182

40

Elevation ofbed. water 

Ft. 

830 "944

913

946

907

906

915

910

909 

925

920

903

910

906

905

917

888

893

867

857

908

869

869

932 

901

902

Q9g

902

908

863

878

872

878

917

862

889

con

863

863

876

908

888

889

779

810

910

Water rises

,toFt.

961

943

Flow min-per 

ute.

Gals. 

3

2.5

.5

.8

156

.9

3

1.8

8.5

12.2

1

12

12

3.5

1.5

2

1.5

7.5 

3

1.6

39

31

1.5

1.2

1.5

1.8

1.5

3 

1.8

2

8

5

2

Temperature.

°F.

47*

47*

47*

47*

47

49

48

47i

48

4S

48

48

47i

47J

47-}

47

48

48

471

4S

48

471

48

48

47J

48

Quality.

Soft.....

Soft.....

Soft.....

....do...

Soft.....

Hard...

Hard . . .

Soft.....

Soft.....

Soft.....

....do...

Hard . . .

....do....

Soft.....

....do...

....do... 

....do...

 8

o

o

192

10

100

35

35

35

42

70

40

40

22 

80

75

Remarks.

Weak.

tain. 

Decreased since 1903.

Do. 

Mowed in 1903; not in 1904.

Do.

Domestic use.

Stock.

Do.

House and fountain.

Pumped.

Do.

Good drinking water; unfit 

for laundry purposes.

creasing. 

Domestic use.

1 mile south of village postoffice; pumped. 

Stock farm south of village.

ate. 

Domestic use; weak flow.

Do.

Pump well.

Weak flow.

Well clogged with sand.

Flow decreased since 1903.

House and barn.

Domestic; not suitable for

laundry use.

No flow; pump well.

Domestic use.

Supplies house and barn.

Supplies barn; much COsRam used to raise water to

house. 

Weak flow; medium soft.

Strong flow; piped to second

floor.

Butter, room and for steaming. 

2 wells same depth; medium' hard.

o Water used in brewery satisfactorily. There are three wells 20 feet apart, which lowered head in 

wells 47, 91, and 93. The owner, A. W. Schieke, states that water contains magnesia and plenty of COS . 

The latter corrodes iron pipes and tinware rapidly. No decrease in supply has been noted.

& Sunk 50 feet to first water and continued through water-bearing sand to 108 feet without increase in 

amount.

e One mile south of court-house; penetrates following beds:

Thickness (feet). 

Clay.............................................................-..--.----..-...---..--.--.----..- 30

Sand.............................--....---..----...--..---..-.--..----..--.--...-.----- ------ 8

Clay hardpan...................................................................................... 22
288 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells in West Branch area Continued. 

WELLS AT" WEST BRANCH Continued.

r^iO

si <fl 

fl 

o

6 

fc

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

101

10?

103

104

105

Owner.

O.Day. ...........

E. Clark. ..........

E.Shrively........

T. Wilder..........

E.Blundell........

E.Hutton.........

D.E. Marsh.. ......

Joe Walters ......

Episcopal Church. .

Elevation.

Ft.

962

958

961

9fi2

961

955

951

961?

963

955

968

966

958

958

958

960

950

a '

£ 0) fl

Ft.

30

51

50

5?

00

60

7?,

90

45

80

73

116

70

h5

40

of Elevation bed. water 

Ft.

9?S

910

91?

909

895

891

889

903

8SS

842

8SS

894

910

Water rises 

to 

Ft.

951

min- lowper i 

ute.

Gals.

6.5?

1.5

1.5

.1

.5

4

o

.5

4

3

Temperature.

0 F.

48

48

48.i

48

48

48

47*

Quality.

Hard . . .

Soft.....

Soft.....

....do...

....do...

Medium.

 ij

M 

O

0

Remarks.

Stock.

1904.

muddy.

Made in 1904.

Drained by well No. 1.

WELLS NORTH OF WEST BRANCH.

Township N.

29

22

22

22

22

22

22

22

Range E.

2

2

1

2

2

2

Section.

18

7

17

24

8

7

18

7

Owner .

W.Tallman.. ........

.....do................

A. Ford..............

D.Webster...........

L.Carr...............

School ...............

Elevation.

Feet. 

1,043

1,030

953

1,042

1,000

1,100

ft 

o 

fl

Feet. 

45

62

34

on

fiO

60

50

min- Flow per 

ute.

Gals. 

1

10

1.5

3

1

3

Temperature.

48i

48

48

47

48

49

Quality.

Soft...

...do..

...do..

...do..

Soft...

...do..

Remarks.

All clay.

WELLS SOUTH OP WEST BRANCH.

?,?,

?'?

W

W:

??

W:

?

?

?

?

?

?

31

31

32

30

32

31

Mrs. Place. ...........

P.Mark..............

Mr. Cook.............

Mr. Rice..............

f 20

t 30

75

55

38

26

48

1 '»

5

6

8

5

7

47-1

48

48

47J

Soft...

...do..

Hard..

(Two flows; water rises 2 feet

water rises 1 foot above 

surface.

bed. 

Water rises 12 feet above surface.

ROSE CITY AEEA.

Location. The flowing wells of the Rose City region are distributed 

over an area of 3 square miles (fig. 58), which lies to the east of a 

Saginaw Bay moraine, here 1,200 to 1,500 feet above sea level. The 

eastern slope of this moraine forms the catchment basin for the
OGEMAW COUNTY. 289

headwaters of Rifle River, and the sand plains north and west belong 

to the catchment basin of Au Sable River.

The flowing-well district, of which that at Rose City is a part, extends 

west of north, following the trend of the neighboring portion of the 

moraine, and good flows have been obtained for 3 miles in that direction. Three miles north of the town the morainal ridges turn to the 

northeast, and along this southern slope a few wells have been 

found, and there is a strong probability that 2 miles north of the villages of Lupton and Maltby flows could be obtained near the base of 

these ridges. South of Rose City, on the eastern slope of the morainal 

country, many strong springs occur, but no flowing wells as yet. 

Unsuccessful attempts have been made at Campbells Corners on a 

prominent point, which not only seems too high for a flow, but is liable 

to have its water table lowered by creek-valley drainage on either side.

FIG. 58. Map of Rose City, showing location of flowing wells.

Wells. There are at present 25 flowing wells within the limits of 

the village of Rose City and 8 outside of the village. The first of 

these in Rose City was drilled in 1894, on the property of H. Hodge, in 

the western part of town. The 25 wells furnish an abundant supply 

of good water for domestic purposes to the 300 inhabitants. Some of 

the stronger flows, as that belonging to Professor Karcher, are piped 

to supply several families, a small rental being paid to the owner for 

the privilege.

The shallow wells are made by driving a 2-inch galvanized iron pipe, 

without point or screen, down to the waterbed. These wells are 

made by the job, and $30 to $40 is the average price for the well complete, including pipe and the labor. TheNlfcronger flows, which are from 

the deeper of the two beds discussed below, are made by price per 

foot, which is usually 50 cents, exclusive of piping, making the average

IRB 183 06 20
290 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

cost of each well from 

to $80. The wells require 

very little repairing, but must 

be sand pumped as often as 

once in three years. This 

costs about $10. The average cost of these wells is so 

low and the quality of the 

water so good that such a 

supply is one of the valuable 

resources of the town and 

ought to be carefully guarded 

from unnecessary depletion 

or waste.

Flow. The total flow of 

the Rose City wells amounts 

to about 2,290 gallons a 

minute from 20 of the 25 

wells which could be measured, which gives over 10,000 

gallons daily per capita, or far 

above the maximum amount 

used in any city in the State. 

The individual flow of the 

wells appears in the table 

on page 293. With a few 

exceptions the wells are allowed to flow freely, a practise 

which, as already suggested, 

tends to decrease the head. 

As yet no failure to obtain 

a flow has resulted where 

the trial has been made on 

ground which stands below 

990 feet above sea level, and 

none of the wells have shown 

a marked decrease in flow 

since they were first made, 

except in cases where they 

have become sand clogged; 

but in such cases sand pumping restores the original flow. 

A case in point is that of 

Doctor Kiehle's well, which 

had a flow in 1902 of 108 

gallons a minute, and some
OGEMAW COUNTY. 291

time later was stopped with sand and ceased to flow for several 

months, but on being sand-pumped early in 1904 resumed the same 

flow as at the time of the first measurement.

Water beds. Two water horizons are usually found in driving these 

wells. One from a bed of sand quite near the surface, and the other 

from a gravel bed somewhat irregular in its dip, yet always containing 

an abundant supply of water under considerable head. The first or 

upper bed has been found in nearly all of the wells that have reached 

the lower stronger flow. The relations are set forth in the accompanying diagram (fig. 59), where it will be seen that the thickness of the 

upper bed is from 8 to 10 feet. The supply of water in this upper bed 

may come, to some extent, from the upward rise of water from the 

lower bed, since its outcrop or intake is but a narrow strip not large 

enough to supply the amount of water yielded by some of the wells 

that terminate in this upper bed. Where the upper bed is cut into 

by Hough ton Creek, above the mill pond, many large boiling springs 

occur, and at the time the writer was in this region in 1904 the pond 

and the creek had a gray color from the breaking out of several new 

springs that the creek had opened by its recent active cutting on its 

southern bank.

The lower water bed, which supplies the stronger flows, contains 

coarse gravel. Some sand occurs in the western part of the town and 

forms the larger part of the bed in the eastern part. The fact that 

several of the wells of the eastern part, although of lower altitude than 

those of the western, have less velocity of flowage may be due to the 

finer texture of the material. This stronger bed appears at an altitude of 960 feet in the well of Mr. Hodge (No. 6) in the western part of 

the town and dips only slightly to the east until the public-school well 

is reached. This well apparently passed the main bed, as Mrs. Slater 

has a well only a few feet below it giving a good flow and rising nearly 

14 feet above the surface, suggesting that the schoolhouse well may 

have been carelessly drilled. From the Slater well the deeper water 

bed dips rapidly to the east, being found at 940 feet above sea level in 

the Cooley well, 870 feet in Professor Karcher's well, and 780 feet in 

the Houghton House well.

The porosity of this lower water bed in the western part of the village is well shown when the W. Rose well is shut off, for in twenty 

minutes afterward there is an increase in the flow of the Cooley well 

200 feet to the southwest. This continues to increase for several 

hours, until the well has regained its original flow. The lower water 

bed is the principal source of supply for the larger wells of the village, 

and the limit of flow apparently has not been approached, as none of 

the wells show any indications of decrease.

Quality of water. Examination of the quality of the wafer by field 

methods shows an entire absence of sulphates and chlorides. The
292 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

shallow wells contain a larger amount of carbonates than the deeper 

ones. The degree of hardness in some of the deeper ones is so low that 

no softening preparation is used for washing or for laundry purposes. 

None of the wells have notable deposits of the iron precipitate and the 

pipes do not corrode rapidly.

Temperature. The temperature of the wells averages a little below 

49° F., which is very suitable for water used for cooling and drinking. 

The mean annual temperature of Rose City is 6° lower than the average well temperature; but the soil in northern latitudes, where snow 

prevents radiation for several months of the year, has a greater 

mean temperature than the air. This probably accounts for much of 

the difference here between the mean temperature of the air and of 

the soil. (See pp. 15-20.) The well on the property of the Rose City 

stave mill shows how the well temperatures are affected by outside 

heat. This well ought to have a temperature of about 50°, and its temperature of 56° was first noted by Dr. A. C. Lane, and the boilers of 

the engines given as the cause of the increase. a

Catchment area. Attention was called above to the high morainal 

ridges west and north of Rose City, which form the boundary of the 

flowing-well district in those directions. These in all probability constitute a catchment area for much of the water within the flowing-well 

district. In the portion of the district from which the village obtains 

its supply a catchment area appears to T^e found close at hand. The 

contour map (fig. 58) shows a culminating point in the western part of 

the town, standing 150 feet above Houghton Creek, a stream which 

rises in the heavy springs along the eastern slope of the morainal 

country to the west and which in the eastern part of the town is a 

small stream of about 50 second-feet volume. West of this high tract 

in the west part of the village and outside the town is a lower belt 

of loose-textured material one-eighth mile wide, which lies between 

the High point in the village and the high land to the west, and which 

rises in morainal ridges until the crest is reached at an elevation of 

about 1,500 feet on Cooks Knob, 3 miles west of Rose City. This belt 

of loose-textured material runs parallel with the large ridges to the 

west, having the same general north-south trend, and seems a 

probable catchment area intimately related to the Rose City wells. 

The loose-textured material apparently dips beneath the ridge in the 

west part of town and is covered by several layers of clay, which are 

impervious enough to retain the water and give it considerable head 

in places of lower elevation. This catchment area is probably itself 

fed by the high ridges to the west of it, just as Houghton Creek is fed 

from a portion of the ridges farther north.

. a Water-Sup, and Irr. Paper No. 30, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1899, p. 57.
MANISTEE COUNTY. 

Wells at Rose, City.

293

06IQ

sb 

« 

fi 

o

1

1

2

3

4

5

f>

7

8

9 

10

11

1?

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

90

2122

23

24

25

Owner.

W.Rose........

E. Atherton.....

Wm. Tulloch.... 

A. S. Rose .......

D. Warner.

H. Beach........

J. Machnv-.-.--.

HoughtonHotel. 

Wm. Tulloch....

.....do..........

A. Rose (mill) . .

Elevation.

Feet. 

998

990

978

990

1,000

994

976

958 

957

957

953

1,006

1,007

965

958

964

950

954

910

940 

952

962

930

1,040

Diameter.

In.

0

o

?

2

9,

9

2

2

9.

1J

H

2

9.

H

2

2

9,

n

2 

9

2

9

2

A 'ft

<D

Q

Feet. 

43

4fi

60

45

76

40

41

100

90 

100

05

100

35

100

60

120

100

120

107

241

160 

42

50

120

of Elevation bed. water 

Feet. 

960

918

945

/960

\905

962

953

868 

860

865

972

1974

\907

677

780 

910

/960

0)

'C

|° 

'S

£

Feet. 

1,012

996

987 

969

969

1,007 }......

980+

| 990

Flow min-per 

ute.

Galls. 

109

108

221.7

30+

9g

110

42

150

225 

272

270

5

15

120

60

135

150 

100

140

28

00

Temperature.

°F.

48

48

49

48

48

4S

48

49

49 

49

48*

49

49

50

48

49

4W

Qiiality.

....do...

....do....

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do...

....do... 

....do...

....do...

....do...

Hard. ..

Soft.....

Soft ....

....do...

 +J

o 

u

.wo

67

50

50

38

78

75 

SO

75

125

SO

84

90

no28

Remarks.

Do.

with No. 4.

k tal flowage not meas- 

' ured.

1S94.

Supplies 5 families.

Do.

Do.

feet. 

Used in hotel laundry.

On brow of hill.

WATER SUPPLIES OF MANISTEE COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Manistee County fronts on Lake Michigan in the western part of 

the Southern Peninsula, the city of Manistee being the county seat. 

Manistee River traverses the southern part of the county, and with 

its tributaries drains all of the county except a narrow strip on the 

northern and western borders. The district south of Manistee River 

is largely a sandy plain, and has few settlers except at the village of 

Dublin, outside the city.of Manistee and its suburbs. North and 

west of Manistee River in the east is a prominent morainic system, 

a large part of which has become settled. The wells on it range in 

depth from 50 feet or less up to fully 200 feet. West of this morainic 

system there is a broad, sandy plain traversed by Bear Creek, a tributary of the Manistee, in which a strong flowing well has been obtained. 

The northwestern part of the county west of Bear Creek and north 

of Manistee River is largely morainic, but has recesses extending in 

from Lake Michigan in which flowing wells have been obtained. One 

important district on the borders of Portage Lake, in and near the
294 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

village of Onekama, is discussed by Mr. Gregory (pp. 297-301). 

There is a smaller district near Arcadia, concerning which a few data 

are presented below. The wells on the moraines in the northwestern 

portion of the county are often driven to depths of 75 to 100 feet, 

though as a rule the hills are avoided and wells are sunk in depressions, where water is found at convenient depths.

The salt wells at Manistee penetrate about to sea level before striking rock, but at Onekama rock is reached at a level 100 feet or more 

above tide. It is not known whether the altitude of the rock surface 

continues low £o the eastward across this county, for no other borings have been driven to the rock. The highest points in the eastern 

part of the county have an altitude of more than 1,000 feet above 

sea level. If, therefore, the rock surface does not rise in that part 

of the county, there would be about 1,000 feet of drift. Borings at 

Manistee and Onekama, as well as the shallower ones elsewhere in the 

county, show the drift to be largely gravel and sand, which is filled 

with water below the level of the streams, but which is liable to be 

dry at points much higher than the drainage lines.

WATERWORKS.

MANISTEE CITY.

The city of Manistee, with a population of about 14,000, stands 

on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of Manistee River. It 

is supplied from a system of wells sunk on a terrace a short distance 

from the lake, on the south bank of Manistee River. There is a 

large excavated well, 30 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep, with which 

are connected three 8-inch wells which extend 60 feet below the level 

of the bottom of the large well and about 75 feet below the river and 

Lake Michigan level. The large well was excavated in sand, though 

there was a bowldery bed at 23 feet and an occasional streak of 

gravel. The tubular wells are through sand, except for 10 feet of 

brick clay near the bottom. The water stands 23 feet below the 

surface, or at about Lake Michigan level. The following analysis of 

water was made by Ricketts & Banks, of New York City, July 25, 

1899, just before the purchase of the waterworks by the city:

Analysis of waterworks water, Manistee.

Parts per million. 

Chlorine (Cl)............................................................. 5. 33

Sodium (Na).............................................................. 3. 47

Nitrogen in nitrites....................................................... .02

Nitrogen in nitrates....................................................... 5

Free ammonia. ............................................................ .08

Albuminoid ammonia..........................-.-........-----..------.-. .07

Calcium (Ca)..............'............................................... 74. 84

Carbonic acid (CO3)....................................................... 112. 06

Loss on ignition.......................................................... 35
MANISTEE COUNTY. 295

Analysis of waterworks water, Manistee Continued.

Parts per million. 

Mineral matter, nonvolatile.......... '...................................... 157

Total solids (by evaporation)............................................... 192

Iron (Fe)................................................................ None.

Lime..................................:................................. 72

Magnesium (Mg)......................................................... 14. 50

Appearance, clear; color, none; odor, none.

The works were acquired by the city October 1, 1899, from a private 

water company) the price paid being $125,155.81. The extensions 

made since purchasing the works have brought the cost up to 

$160,394.10, as shown by the annual report for the year ending February 28, 1905. The length of mains is now 21.33 miles. There are 

137 fire hydrants, 1,540 service taps, and 98 meters. The ordinary 

pressure carried is 63 pounds, and fire pressure 100 to 120 pounds. 

The water is pumped direct to the mains.

The average daily consumption of water is 819,344 gallons. This 

is a lower rate than prevailed when the works were acquired by the 

city, although the number of consumers has increased 25 per cent. 

A tendency to guard against waste is therefore developing in the 

community. Superintendent Stephen Cahill, who furnished the data 

concerning this waterworks system, estimates that about 60 per cent 

of the population, or 8,500 people, are now using the city supply. 

The remainder depend on private wells, which range in depth from 

15 to 90 feet.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

At Arcadia the supply is from driven wells 20 to 25 feet deep, 

which strike water at about the level of Lake Michigan.

At Chief the wells are commonly about 50 feet, but wells in the 

country around reach depths of 150 feet, and when on high points 

have only 10 to 20 feet of water.

At Onekama the flowing wells, ranging in depth from. 40 to 300 feet, 

are in general use and have a pressure equal to a head of about 70 

feet and a discharge as high as 168 gallons a minute from a 2-inch 

pipe. These wells are discussed in some detail by Mr. Gregory 

(pp. 297-301). There are a few pump wells on the hill back of the 

village ranging from 10 to 100 feet in depth. Springs in the vicinity 

of the village are strong and yield as high as 50 gallons a minute.

At Pierport, on the shore of Lake Michigan, wells are from 10 to 

125 feet in depth, though they are commonly less than 60 feet.

At Tanner, in the valley of Beaf Creek, wells are commonly about 

18 feet deep, though tubular wells reach a depth of 80 feet.

At Brethren, on the plain east of Bear Creek, and also at Kaleva, 

wells are driven to depths of 20 to 30 feet and find abundance of 

water.
296 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

At Copemish the wells are but 15 to 30 feet in depth, though in 

the higher country immediately east they are much deeper.

At Harlan, in the northeastern part of the county, there are a few 

shallow open wells, but the driven wells in that vicinity are usually 

100 feet or more in depth.

At Dublin, in the southeastern part of the county, the wells are 

70 to 75 feet in depth and have very little head, but at Wellston 

siding, 3 miles north, an abundance of water is found at 16 feet.

FLOWING WELLS.

ARCADIA.

There are two flowing wells east of the village of Arcadia, in northern Manistee County, on a low plain bordering Lake Michigan one 

on the farm of Luther Finch, the other at a German cemetery. The 

Finch well, in sec. 11, T. 24 N., R. 16 W., is about 1 mile from the lake 

and 40 feet above it. It was made in April, 1903. The cemetery 

well is a mile farther east, on somewhat higher ground, and has been 

running for about four years. (See PI. V, B.) The Finch well is 

187 feet deep and flows a half-inch stream from a 3-inch pipe. It 

has the following section, as reported by the owner:

Record of Finch well, east of Arcadia.

Water vein with head of 2 feet ................. ...............................

Thickness.

Feet. 

4

80

80

10

3

10

Total.

Feet. 

4

84

164

174

177

187

The cemetery well is 143 feet deep and flows a 1-inch stream, 

which has shown no perceptible diminution in the four years it has 

been flowing.

The catchment area for these wells is likely to be in the bordering 

morainic hills which sweep around the plain on which they occur 

on the north, east, and south. It is probable that other wells may 

be obtained on this plain if sunk to levels as low as those already 

obtained. In most cases wells are shallow and afford sufficient supplies by pumping. There are numerous springs along the base of 

the morainic tracts bordering this plain, which are utilized by the 

residents.

VICINITY OF KALEVA.

Andrew Kullgren has a flowing well on the bank of Bear Creek, 

about 4 miles northwest of Kaleva, with a depth of 130 feet. At 

about 30 feet he reached the bottom of the surface deposit of gravel 

and sand and penetrated clay to the water-bearing gravel at bottom.
MANISTEE COUNTY. 297

Joseph Gilson has a flowing well in a recess of a moraine about 

4 miles east of Kaleva, in sec. 20, Marilla Township, with a depth 

of 75 feet and a head of 2 feet. Water was struck at 65 feet, with 

a temperature of 45° F.

Joel Gilson has a well in the same region, made in March, 1903; 

depth 75 feet, diameter 2 inches, with a head of 2 feet. Water was 

struck at 70 feet and is soft. The well is located in a stream bed.a

BEAR LAKE.

A newspaper report concerning a flowing well at Bear Lake 

appeared in the Jackson (Mich.) Press October 26, 1904, as follows:

Manistee, Mich., October 26. A farmer living near Bear Lake has an artesian well on 

his farm which spouts both water and gas. The well in 419 feet deep and the pipe is 

forked at the surface and one part, which is considerably higher than the other, emits 

gas, while water flows from the lower one. The farmer intends storing the gas in a tank 

and will use it to light his home this winter.

FIG. 60. Flowing wells in and near Onekama, Manistee County. 

ONEKAMA. 6

The Onekama district is a narrow strip of land about Portage 

Lake, in Manistee County, having an elevation of 582 to 620 feet 

above tide. The lake is surrounded by high hills of porous .drift 

deposited in part by a small local ice lobe. At the west end of 

Portage Lake currents in Lake Michigan have built a bar and piled 

the sand in dunes, so that the once wide mouth of this basin is 

nearly closed. The Lake Michigan shore north of this region has a 

40-foot cliff of clay capped with varying depths of sand and gravel.

a Data by A. L. Gleason, driller. 6 By W. M. Gregory.
298 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

The high hills of 200 to 300 feet above the lake average a mile back 

from the shore of Portage Lake.

The Onekama district has at present 40 wells, 36 of which are 

good flows and the remainder either failures or very weak (fig. 60). 

The wells are all drilled, nine being driven, as the clay is compact 

and the sand is often consolidated. The tubular-well machine with 

a water jet is generally used for sinking wells in this region. In the 

shallow wells and in drift which is less compact and tenacious an 

outfit of similar construction is utilized. The wells are generally 

made by contract, varying from 75 cents to $1 a foot in the deeper 

wells, and by the job for a flow in shallow wells. Some few of the 

wells require a screen, but generally the supply is from a rather 

coarse gravel water bed. The wells are in general use throughout 

the district for domestic purposes, dairy and stock use, and water 

has been occasionally shipped from Mr. Canfield's well to outside 

markets.

The waters are soft enough for all domestic purposes and are preferred by some to the lake water for laundry purposes. The field 

analyses show that the hardness is above the average of the drift 

water, while the carbonates are low, and the chlorides are above the 

normal water.

The combined flow of the 36 wells is 2,197 gallons a minute, or 

61 gallons a well, which is a high rate. Changes in flowage of several wells occurred when Mr. C. J. Canfield's well (No. 23) was made. 

This well has an estimated flowage of 250 gallons a minute.

The deposits of this region consist of alternate clay and sand layers, 

and the latter form many water beds which give flows of varying 

strength, depending on the coarseness of the material. The alternating character of these beds is shown in the record of John Neitzke's 

well (No. 3), where a small flow was found under each clay bed. At 

the western end of the lake no flows are obtained, a few trials showing 

this to be a sand bar built across the mouth of the lake. At the fish 

hatchery the most productive bed is the third one, at 43 feet, though 

porous gravel beds have been found at 19 feet and at 25 to 35 feet, 

while a small flow comes from the Antrim shale, which is reached at 

425 feet. At Mr. Canfield's, one-half mile east of the fish hatchery, 

there is a> coarse gravel water bed, at 160 to 170 feet, which yields a 

heavy flow. This bed apparently rises to the east. In Mr. W. W. 

Davis's well (No. 14) it is found at 160 feet; at A. E. Solomon's (No. 

12), at 157 feet; and at the cheese factory (No. 5), at 138 feet. Below 

this bed there are several others ranging from 224 feet in the well of 

W. W. Davis (No. 14) to 300 feet in A. L. Showalter's (No. 6).

The deposits on the south side of the lake are more sandy than 

those to the north, and the wells have not been so successfully developed. A fairly good supply is obtained at less than 100 feet by
MANISTEE COUNTY. 299

P. Noud (No. 34), Joe Frisbe (No. 35), and H. Hanson (No.,36). Several of the wells which have been drilled to the Antrim shale at 472 

feet yield no water. Mr. August Lipkowski (No. 33) obtains gas 

enough for two burners from a well in this shale.

The catchment area of wells about Portage Lake is in the highlands of Glacial drift which reach an elevation of over 900 feet above 

tide about the border of the lake. Well drillers find it difficult to 

obtain water on the high hills, for wells have much loose, porous material and few seams of claj^. The general absence of creeks north 

and south of this area is the result of the porous character of the 

drift. When the clay comes to the surface at lower elevations lakes 

or springs are the result. The upper limit of strong springs along 

Portage Lake is at 650 feet above tide, and some are well developed 

at 620 feet. Some springs in the western part of Onekama village

have recently burst out in riev 

ery well (No. 27) is evidentl 

plies the small creek which h

625 feet above tide.

The area affords some good data concerning the well pressure

which it has not been possi

W. W. Davis, a competent we 11 driller, has taken much interest in the

pressure of the different wells

by means of a small steam boiler fitted with a gage. The pressures 

have all been carefully recorded in the accompanying table. The 

greatest pressure is 35 pounc s to the square inch, which is reported

by Mr. Davis "from wells No. 

The writer saw Mr. Davis tes 

has been used on the other 

registered 20 pounds to the s 

the well was first made. Mr 

to sand in the pipe.

r places. The supply for the fish hatchT drawn from the water bed that sup- 

"<ads in several springs at an altitude of

le to obtain from other regions. Mr.

and has arranged to measure it in each

21, 22, and 23, and seems rather large, 

t well No. 25 with the apparatus which 

veils of the region. The pressure gage 

quare inch; or 5 pounds less than when 

Davis asserts that this decrease is due
300 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

Wells at Onekama,.

8

SOW

§

6 

fc

1

9:

3 

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Owner.

J. E. Carleton&...

John Neitzke&e ..

A. T. Showalter..

R. F. Wendell & ...

J. E. Erickson....

W. W Da vis e ...

F. Hall...........

Mr. MiniterS .....

C. J. Canfleld.....

.....do............

C. J. Canfield / . . .

C. J. Canfleld.....

Fish hatchery ....

.....do............

.....do............

E. L. Reeves h . ..

Elevation.

Ft. 

607

602

610 eo2

597

597 

597

597

594

592

594

602

607

607

607

612

597

597

607

604

607

607

607

607

602

602

602

602

602

602

592

Diameter.

In. 

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

u

2

2

2

2

2

3 1

2

2

2

U

2

2

a 

& 

ft

Ft. 

185 

132

290 

129

138

300 

101

85

291

83

126

157

159

244

40

134

157

40

85

67

162

168

162

126

43

425

19

25

35

304

Elevation ofwabed. tr 

Ft. 

422 

471

320 

473

359

297 

496

512

509

468

445

448

363

567

778

420

522

547

445

439

435

481

177

583

577

567

298

288

Water risesto 

Ft.

656 

647

667

642 

633

633

649

622

.....

fi 

1

S.2 fts

1 

PM

Gals. 

75

150 

102

150 

125

inn

100

1 dft

100

19^;

7c

125

75

168

250

74

7r

10

30

30

35

100

Temperature.

49J

ACt

ACt

49

49

49

491

49 1

ACt

49

4Q1

48i

49

48J

Quality.

Soft ....

Medium 

Soft ....

Medium 

Soft . . .

Soft ....

Soft ....

Soft . . .

....do...

....do...

Soft ....

Soft ....

Hard . . .

Hard . . .

o 

o

$75

208

83

150

160

120

e

2 ft

O>

60o3

o

L&5. 

3020

25 

25

10

20 

15

15

10

20

8

8

25

fi

32

15

8

30

11

35

35

35

25

Remarks.

Domestic use

Domestic use.

Domestic use. 

Do.

Do.

Hotel.

drinking.

Rock at 300 feet.

No waiter

Water from gravel.

a W. W. Da vis, a well driller of Onekama, is authority for the pressures, which were obtained by connecting well to boiler with steam gage attached. 

b Screen used only in Nos. 1, 3,10, 15, 19, and 38. 

c The following is the record of this well:

Clay..............................................................................

Sand....................................... . . .............................

Clay..............................................................................

Clay.......................................... . . .............................

Sand ............................................................................

Clay..............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

18

99

12

24

32

24

23

45

23

Total.

Feet. 

18

117

129

153

185

209

232

277

300

d A field analysis of the hotel well is as follows:

Parts per million. 

Hardness ....................................................................... ............. 187.6

Carbonates ........................................................................................ 24

Chlorides .......................................................................................... 15

Iron............................................................................................... 0

e A field analysis of water from the Davis well is as follows:

Hardness .......................................................................

Parts per million. 

............. 175. 5

Carbonates ........................................................................................ 29

Chlorides. ......................................................................................... 15

Wood was found in this well at 110 feet.

/ When well No. 23 was drilled, 100 feet west of No. 21, the pressure in the latter was decreased from 

35 to 28 pounds. Wells Nos. 22 and 23 are connected, and the total flow is used to operate a water turbine which gives power for a small electric-light plant.

9 Strong pressure of gas, which rapidly decreased.

h Beneath 96 feet of surface sand and 16 feet of marl and clay are alternating beds of clay and sandy 

gravel, the clay predominating.
WEXFORD COUNTY. 301

Wells at 0

S

bb <n

fi O

6 

fc

32 

33 

34

35 

36 

37 

38 

39

40

Owner.

Wm. Nuttalla.... 

Aug. Lipkowskib.

Hans Hanson .... 

A. Clark estate « . 

Ed. Kinneyd. .... 

Mr. Klein.........

Public school.....

Elevation.

Ft. 

592 

642

612 

592 

594

624

Diameter .

In 

"2

2 

2 

2

11 

2

2

ft -M

ft

Ft. 

225 

418 

83

65 

63 

472 

43 

225

40

Elevation ofwabed. tr 

Ft. 

367 

224

"549" 

120 

551

a. Sand 103 feet; remainder soft clay, with s 

6 Gas enough to supply two burners in one 

c Record of well, with 100 feet unaccounted

San 

Claj 

San 

Claj 

Red 

Bla<

d... .....................................

d..... ...................................

T

eka

Water torises 

Ft.

346 -11

-17

-32" 

Rlfi

ma Continued .

rt 

1

CD OJ ft-g

_o 

S

Gals. 

100

"26"

75 

20

"25" 

5

Temperature.

°F.

Quality.

Hard . . .

Hard . . .

Soft ....

Gage pressure.

Lbs. 

175 15

50 ....

..... 10

'.'.'.'.'. 5

150 ....

Remarks.

Stock and domestic 

use. 

Passed 6 water beds.

No water. 

Some gas at intervals. 

Sand 13 feet; remainder tough clay.

'me sand and gravel, 

house for the past year, 'or:

Thickness. Joto^

Feet. Feet,. 

128 128

14 142

20 162

. 30 192

123 315

57 372

d Screen used only in Nos-1, 3,10,15,19, and 38

WATER SUPPLIE

By FRANK LEVERETT.

Wexford County, of which

Saginaw lobes, on a prominen 

of which rises to a little abo 

which is above 1,300 feet. 

cases reached depths of over

or less. This moraine exten<

Clam lakes are situated, from

OF WEXFORD COUNTY.

Cadillac is the county seat, is immediately east of Manistee County, in the western part of the southern 

peninsula. Its southeast comer is between the Lake Michigan and

interlobate moraine, the highest point

ve 1,500 feet and the greater part of 

n this moraine wells have in several 

200 feet before striking water, though

the high hills are generally avoided and water is reached at 100 feet

s but little north of Cadillac.. Along

its northwest border is a sandy plain several miles wide in which the

one of which the waterworks supply of

Cadillac is drawn. North and west of this plain is a prominent

moraine, with a crest 1,400 to

Boone is near its eastern border, and Harrietta is in a recess on its 

western border, while Sherman and Manton are also near the inner

border. It is a tract in which 

but much of it is still unsettl

1,500 feet above tide. The village of

the few wells made are ordinarily deep, 

;d. West and north of this moraine is

a broad plain through which Manistee River flows. It is largely covered with sand, but portions of it between Manton and Sherman have
302 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

till at surface. The part north of the river is an outwash from, a 

moraine that runs through eastern Manistee and southern Grand 

Traverse County. On this plain water is usually found at depths of 

20 to 50 feet, or in harmony with the streams flowing into Manistee 

River. The county is tributary to Manistee River except a few 

square miles in the southeastern part that drain eastward through 

Clam River to the Muskegon.

Throughout the county the drift is so loose textured that water is 

nearly all absorbed, and there seems to be a general water table in 

harmony with the streams. Wells on high points and elevated 

plains generally go about to the level of the neighboring streams to 

strike water, and this in the highest ridges is about 200 feet. So far 

as known there are no flowing wells in this county. The only places 

where they seem likely to be found are in recesses in the moraine 

south of Manistee River, or along the low bottoms of the river or its 

tributaries.

No borings have been carried to sufficient depth in this county to 

reach rock, and it is probable that the rock lies several hundred feet 

below the surface.

The city of Cadillac and the village of Manton have waterworks 

plants using surface water. That of Cadillac is from Little Clam 

Lake which lies west of the city. The Manton supply is from a small 

stream running through the village. Wells are in common use for 

drinking at both towns. In Cadillac wells which the public utilize 

have been drilled along some of the streets in the business section. 

Analyses of water from the lake and from private wells at Cadillac 

were made by Mr. Lewis, who found that some carelessness is displayed in selecting the sites for wells. The porous character of the 

soil in this region is such that it will readily receive whatever surface 

contamination there may be.

In the accompanying table are given the results of a number of 

partial analyses made by S. J. Lewis in the vicinity of Cadillac. The 

lake water is soft and satisfactory. The Platt and Leeson wells are 

both supplied from sand beds in the drift. The Leeson water shows 

the normal composition, but the high percentage of chlorine in the 

Platt water indicates that it may be polluted by seepage from the 

near-by barns of the owner. The data are furnished by M. 0. Leighton, 

of the United States Geological Survey.
MISSAUKEE COUNTY.

Partial analyses of well and lake waters at Cadillac. 

[Parts per million.]

303

Chlorine (Cl) ..................................

Carbon dioxide (CO2) .........................

1.

46

trace. 

21.7

20.05

0

90.6

2.

65

51

' 78.09

36

139+

3.

37

1

24.25

80.14

0

139+

The data on village supplies

correspondence:

S. J. Lewis, analyst. 1. Lake. 2. J. H. Platt; depth, 36 feet. 3. Dr. J. Leeson; depth, 113 feet.

given below were largely obtained by

Village supplies in Wexford County.

Town.

Benson post-office .

Gilbert............

Elevation.

Feet. 

1,300+ 

1,387 

(1, 280 

\1,400 

1,250+ 

1,115 

1,300

1,132

920 

1,000± 

982

Source.

Springs and driv

/Driven wells, an 

\ works supply f

.....do..........

.....do..........

Spring brook fo 

works and wol 

Open and driven

.....do..........

>n wells .

I water- 

'om lake.

 waters. 

wells . . .

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

16 

104 

30

15 

35 

50 

12

10 

35

15

ToFeet. 

200 

246 

150

135

200 

30

90

185 

150

Common.

Feet. 

40 

104 

50

50

25 

50 

20

Depth 

to 

water 

bed.

Feet. 

150 

104 

50

50

30

25 

60 

20

Head.

Feet. -20

-12

"-40" 

-15

Springs.

Small. 

Do.

None. 

Large. 

Small. 

Large.

Small.

WATER SUPPLIES 3F MISSAUKEE COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

TOPOGRAPHY.

Missaukee County is situated 

crossed by the same morainic 

moraine being in the southwes 

of it running through the cent 

a large amount of till plain between 

and also a till plain in the east 

is generally near the surface, p< 

moraines are of gravelly constfi 

level of their bases or but litf 

moraines have reliefs of 50 to 

them are of corresponding dopths 

siderable swamp underlain wilri 

settlements on its northwestern 

North of this swamp, along 

morainic belt which crosses to

east of Wexford County, and is 

systems as the latter, the interlobate 

} corner and the strong moraine north 

in a course south of east. There is 

the two moraines in the south 

On these till plains the water table 

)rtions of them being swampy; but the 

bution and the water table is near the 

e higher than in the till plains. The 

100 feet or more and the wells along 

In the northeast there is consand; this is unsettled, but there are 

border at Stratford and Moorestown. 

he border of Kalkaska County, is a 

the north side of Manistee River near
304 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

the northwest corner of the county. This morainic belt also is 

largely unsettled.

The greater part of the county drains southeastward into Muskegon 

River, but the northwestern part is tributary to Manistee River. In 

the western part, near Jennings and Lake City, there is a group of 

lakes, one of which is drawn on for the water supplies of those towns.

FLOWING WELLS.

In this district are three flowing wells, one at and two near Dolph 

post-office, in the Muskegon Valley, in the eastern part of the county.

DOLPH DISTBICT.

The well at Dolph is owned by F. L. Witherell, and has a depth of 

62 feet. It stands on ground about 8 feet above Muskegon River, 

and has a head of 8 feet and a flow of about 9 gallons a minute. It 

penetrated blue clay and "putty sand" to the flow at 36 feet. The 

well was continued to greater depth in order to strike gravel, but 

found only fine sand in the lower portion.

A short distance north of Dolph, in sec. 34, Butterfield Township, 

also in the Muskegon Valley, is the flowing well of Elisha Clifford, 

about 40 feet in depth.

Another flowing well was made by a Mr. Bowman on a tributary of 

Muskegon River northeast of Dolph, in the edge of Roscommon 

County, but this was not visited.

McBAIN DISTRICT.

East of McBain, in sec. 21, Riverside Township, is the flowing well 

of John Gates, 34 feet in depth, with a head of at least 2 feet. It 

struck water at 4 feet and found it all the way down. The well cost 

$12.

There is a flowing well at D. G. SprekselPs, 1J miles east and 1 mile 

south of McBain, about 25 feet in depth.

William De Zwaan has a flowing well about 40 feet deep located 3 

miles east and one-half mile north of McBain.

There is also reported to be a flow, made by some hunters or 

campers, in an unsettled tract near the edge of Osceola County, 

southeast of McBain.

The extent of this district and the number of flows can probably 

be greatly increased, for the high moraine to the west forms a good 

catchment area. The flows near Dolph also lie east of a strong 

moraine, and it is probable that this district may be extended along 

Muskegon River and its tributaries. Much of that country is unsettled, so there has been no demand for wells.
BOSCOMMON COUNTY. 305

WATERWORKS.

1LAKE CITY.

The waterworks plant at Lake City is owned by a private company, 

and water is pumped from Lake Missaukee. It is largely used for 

drinking as well as for fire and sprinkling. It is soft enough for 

laundry use and in boilers. Some residents consider this supply less

satisfactory for drinking than

JENNINGS.

ings

from

The waterworks at Jenni: 

and the supply is drawn 

enough for boiler and laundly 

drinking, as there is some distrust 

The wells are usually 60 to

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

Village Supplies in Missaukee County.

wells.

are operated by a private company, 

Lake Missaukee. The water is soft 

use. Wells are in common use for 

of the safety of the lake waters, 

feet deep.

Town.

Butterfleld . . 

Jennings .... 

Lake City . . .

McBain.......

Stittsville . . .

Population.

""966+ 

816

200 ± 

709

Elevation.

Feet.

"i~275 + 

1,260±

1,299 

1,232

Sour

Driven wells 

Driven wells 

Driven, wells 

kee Lake. 

Driven wellg 

.....do......

Open and dri 

.....do......

Driven wells

ce.

lake ..... 

, Missauven wells.

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

14 

20 

15

25 

43

20

16 

25

ToFeet. 

116 

80 

60

40 

185

190 

100

Common.

Feet. 

14-35 

60 

30

40 

80

50

25

25

Depth 

to 

water 

bed.

Feet. 

27 

60 

60

40 

80

50 

100

Head.

Feet. -22

-30 

-20 

f-20 \-40

"-is"

Springs.

Large. '

Small. 

Do.

None. 

Small.

f- Do.'

Do. 

Do.

WATER SUPPLIES 

By

General statement. Roscort 

saukee County, and embraces 

River and south branch of Au 

head of the Muskegon is in Higg 

about 1,150 feet and embraces 

dered on the north by a moraine 

outlet leads into Houghton Lake 

and 4 miles wide, whose altit 

eastern part of the county is a 

whose highest points are fullj 

of Houghton Lake and eastward 

are extensive swamps, underlain 

swampy tract and the high 

IBS 183 06 21

OF ROSCOMMON COUNTY.

LEVERETT.

Linon County is situated east of Misa high table-land in which Muskegon 

Sable River have their sources. The 

Lake, which lies at an altitude of 

an area of several square miles, borwhich rises above 1,200 feet. The 

, a body of water about 10 miles long 

ide is about 1,125 feet. In the southprominent moraine of the Saginaw lobe 

1,400 feet above tide. On the borders 

across the county to Lake St. Helen 

in large part by clay. Between this 

moraine in the southeast are extensive
306 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

sand plains, parts of which are being developed as a forest reserve. 

On these sand plains the distance to water is but a few feet, and basins 

in them are occupied by swamps and small lakes. There are several 

small groups of hills scattered over the county, which, being composed largely of gravel and sand, probably have a water table at considerable depths. The water table also is at considerable depth in 

the high moraine in the southeast.

The county is very sparsely settled, the population in 1900 being 

but 1,787, of whom 465 were in Roscommon village. Most of the 

farming is done in Richfield and Markey townships.

Flowing wells. At the west end of Houghton Lake there is a well 

about 30 feet deep, which flows at a level 8 feet above Muskegon 

River, on the bank of which it stands. It is largely through blue till.

Another flowing well, noted in the Missaukee County discussion 

(p. 304), is a few miles southwest of Houghton Lake, on the farm of Mr. 

Bowman.

So far as known these are the only flowing wells in the county, but 

it is probable that others might be had from Houghton Lake southwestward into Missaukee County in the swamp traversed by Muskegon River. Whether flowing wells could be obtained on Au Sable 

River has not been determined. The stream, however, follows the 

base of a prominent ridge near Roscommon, which may furnish head 

for flows.

In the vicinity of Houghton Lake, on the Hall farm and at King's 

store, wells on ground 25 feet above the lake have been sunk to depths 

of 50 to 75 feet. At Prudenville, a little farther east, the wells are only 

12 to 24 feet in depth, and at St. Helen, on the border of Lake St. 

Helen, they are only 8 to 10 feet. At Nolan lumber camp, on the 

south side of the prominent moraine in the southeastern part of the 

county, wells are 8 to 30 feet in depth, and in the vicinity there are 

large springs. The wells in the neighborhood of Her.bert post-office 

are 14 to 40 feet in depth.

Waterworks. The village of Roscommon has a small waterworks 

system in which a windmill pumps water from a spring brook to an 

elevated tank about 16 by 22 feet, from which water is distributed 

through about 2 miles of mains to all parts of the village.

WATER SUPPLIES OF ALCONA COUNTY. 

By FRANK LEVERETT.

General statement. Alcona County fronts on Lake Huron north of 

Saginaw Bay, Harrisville being the county seat. It is more elevated 

than counties to the north and south, there being a belt of high country fronting on the lake above Harrisville, which extends westward 

across the northern part. The highest points in.the northwestern 

part reach about 1,200 .feet above tide, and there are probably 40
ALCQNA COUNTY. 307

square miles in the western paft that stand above 1,000 feet. About 

three-fourths of the county stjands between 700 and 900 feet above 

the sea. The lowland bordering the lake is limited* to a strip about 

5 miles wide at the south border and 3 miles at the north border, 

which is narrowed to less than 1 mile in the middle part of the county.

The drainage is nearly equally divided between the Thunder Bay 

River and Au Sable River systems, the north half being drained 

northward to Thunder Bay River and the south half southward and 

eastward to Au Sable River. A narrow strip on the border of Lake 

Huron is drained by Black River and other small direct tributaries to 

the lake. Au Sable River cro$ses the southwest corner of the county 

in a deep and broad valley, but receives no important tributaries in 

that part of its course. Pine River, with its numerous tributaries, 

drains six townships in the southeast and enters the Au Sable in losco 

County. The principal tributaries of Thunder Bay River in Alcona 

County are Hubbard Lake, with its main affluents, Sucker Creek, and 

Hubbard Creek in the northeastern part, and Wolf, McGinn, Silver, 

and Wildcat creeks in the northwestern part. Hubbard Lake is a 

body of water 7 miles in lengti i and nearly 2 miles in average width, 

bordered on all sides by ranges of hills. There are numerous other 

lakes scattered over the county.

It is only in the eastern poii ion of the county that wells are sufficiently numerous to test the supply of underground water, and even 

there only to slight depths. IIL the thinly settled central and western 

portions springs and surface wa ter are generally adequate to the needs 

of the residents, and the few wells made are usually between 15 and 

30 feet in depth. In the eastern portion wells that are sunk beyond 

the surface water veins vary greatly in depth and in strength, because 

of the differences in texture of the drift. They indicate that a widespread bed of sand occurs under the surface clay in the eastern part of 

the county, which is often dry for a few feet but is charged with water 

farther down. In such wells tiiere is litt e rise of the water above the 

level at which it is struck.

Flowing wells. It is probable that flowing wells may be obtained 

in several localities within the county by sinking to a depth of 100 to 

150 feet or less, for the situation is very similar to that in the flowingwell districts to the southwest at Rose City and West Branch, in 

Ogemaw County. One favorable belt is on the eastern slope of a 

moraine leading from Lott northward across tps. 25, 26, and 27 N., 

R. 6 E. Flows may perhaps tie obtained in the southeastern part of 

T. 27 N., R. 5 E., and northwestward past McCollum Lake. If the 

ice sheet pushed up into that region from the northeast, as seems probable, the waters that soak in a ong the elevated moraine that constitutes the divide between Au Slable and Thunder Bay rivers are likely 

to be working down the slopes in the direction of surface drainage, and
308 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

may have sufficient head to overflow in the comparatively low tracts 

near the head of Wolf, Silver, and McGinn creeks, and possibly for 

some distance dt>wn these streams.

In the eastern part of the county flowing-well prospects seem good 

along the lake shore, and flows may also be struck in low ground at 

the headwaters of tributaries of Hubbard Lake and of the east and 

west branches of Pine River. One flowing well has already been 

obtained near a branch of Pine River in sec. 11, T. 26 N., R. 8 E., at 

the moderate depth of 65 feet, which is at least an encouragement to 

prospect for others in similar situations along each side of this divide. 

The well referred to is on the land of Frank Blong, 2 miles southwest 

of Lincoln. It penetrated clay 18 feet, gravel (with weak water vein) 

8 inches, clay with hard crust at about 30 to 35 feet from the surface 

and softer clay below at 44 feet, and terminated in gravel which yielded 

a flow of water. The altitude is about 120 feet above Lake Huron, 

or 700 feet above tide.

Springs. Large springs abound along the lake front from near 

Greenbush northward past Springport and Harrisville, which supply 

the needs of residents to such an extent that but few wells have been, 

made. Springs also abound along the headwaters of the several 

branches of Pine River and on nearly every stream tributary to 

Thunder Bay River. The water seeps out in such abundance that 

most of the streams are bordered by marshy tracts.

Miscellaneous village supplies. At Harrisville springs issuing along 

the border of the lake have furnished most of the residents with water. 

In the winter of 1903 and 1904 a boring was made to test for oil and 

gas and flowing water. It was, however, located on the court-house 

grounds at an altitude 60 feet above the lake and a flow was not 

obtained. Before reaching a depth of 40 feet the well struck two 

strong veins of water, estimated to supply 150,000 gallons a day from 

an 8-inch pipe. Another supply was found at 100 to 130 feet in sand 

below hardpaii, and still another was found in the Berea sandstone at 

230 to 260 feet. The boring was carried to a depth of 506 feet and 

has the following section, furnished by J. H. Killmaster, of Harrisville:

Record of Harrisville well.

Thickness.

Feet. 

12.5

14

6.5

6

60

30

59

4

38

30

149

97

Total.

Feet. 

12.5

26.5

33

39

99

129

188

192

230

260

409

506
ALCOJTA COUNTY. 309

At Black River village wateri is hauled from the lake and delivered 

in barrels to the residents, the lake water being of better quality than 

that obtained in shallow wells, i

At Greenbush wells 25 to 3D feet deep furnish a good quality of 

water and are largely through sland and gravel.

At Lincoln lakes are used to: a great extent for watering stock, but 

the houses are supplied by wells 30 to 40 feet in- depth.

In and near Mikado wells are Wbout 30 feet in depth, largely through 

clay. Farm wells in the vicinity of the village have been sunk to 

depths of 60 or 70 feet. *

At Killmaster there is abur 

shown by three deep borings 

water overflows from the base 

and salt water, accompanied 

Berea sandstone at 570 to 61( 

worked up into the base of the 

Berea sandstone, although one 

of 1,530 feet. These wells a 

Annual Report of the State ge<

At Vaughn wells ordinarily 

30 feet, and they are of simila

At Spruce, in the north par 

depths of 20 to 25 feet or less, 

have been sunk to depths of 8

Village s

dance of water at various depths, as 

made in prospecting for oil. Fresh 

f the drift at depths of about 240 feet, 

3y inflammable gas, is struck in the 

feet. In one of the borings gas had 

drift. No water-was found below the 

of the borings was carried to a depth 

e discussed by Doctor LaYie in the 

legist for 1901.

btain a good supply of water at about 

depth in the vicinity of Lott. 

of the county, wells are obtained at 

>ut several farm wells in that vicinity 

to 100 feet.

ies in Alcana County.

Town.

Bamfield ....

Black River . 

Bryant...... 

Greenbush. . .

Harrisville. . . 

Killmaster. . . 

Lincoln...... 

Mikado ...... 

Springport.. .

Vaughn. .....

Elevation.

Feet. 

590

870

590 

850 

640 

693 

f 600 

\ 640 

700 

f 770 

\ 810 

634 

f 600 

\ 640 

750 

f 1,000 

\ 1,025

Source.

Lake Huron, sprij 

shallow wells. 

Au Sable River, spruj 

shallow wells. ' 

Lake Huron, shallow ^

.....do...............^

.....do.........-.....'

[ Springs, shallow well$ 

Wells.................

j-Lake, shallow wells. . 1. 

Wells.................

?s;

5 S)

11s

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

10

40

8 

20 

25 

30

10 

20 

30 

30 

30 

15 

20

To 

Feet. 

30

40

40 

30 

30 

50

40 

240 

40 

70 

40 

30 

80

Common.

Feet. 

20

40

8 

25 

25 

35

30' 

30 

35 

30 

30 

25 

30

Depth 

to 

water 

bed.

Feet. 

20

40

8 

25 

25 

35

30 

35 

30

20 

30

Head.

Feet.

-35

- 4

-20 

-30

+20 

-30 

-20

-10

-25

Springs.

Large. 

Strong.

Do.

Weak. 

Strong. 

Weak.

Large. 

Weak. 

Do. 

Do. 

Large. 

Weak. 

Do.
310 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

WATER SUPPLIES OF OSCODA COUNTY. 

By FRANK LEVERETT.

Oscoda County is situated west of Alcona County, with Mio as its 

county seat. About half its surface is occupied by sandy plains 

unsuited for settlement, and much of the remainder is in sharp 

morainic ridges of gravelly or sandy constitution not calculated for 

successful farming. There are, however, fertile tracts to the northeast near Fairview, to the northwest toward Redoak, and to the 

southwest between Mio and Luzerne. The entire population of the 

county in 1900 was only 1,468; Mentor Township, including the village of Mio, is credited with a population of 119. Au Sable River 

runs through the county nearly centrally from west to east in a valley 50 to 100 feet below the bordering sand plains, draining, with its 

tributaries, all of the county except a narrow strip on the north edge, 

which discharges northward to Thunder Bay River.

The drift is probably several hundred feet in thickness, but no wells 

have yet reached rock. Several in the vicinity of Fairview are over 

200 feet in depth, and are largely through sand. At Mio the dug 

wells are 50 feet, and bored wells in that vicinity are 100 to 150 feet. 

There are few places in the county where wells can be obtained at 

less than 50 feet, except in the valleys.

The village of Mio has a public water supply, built in 1889, in 

which water is pumped from a spring brook to an elevated tank. 

It is credited by the Manual of American Waterworks with 0.6 mile 

of mains, four hydrants, and 18 taps, all of which are reported to 

have cost $2,844. This yields an annual income of $1,000 paid by 

the village for fire protection and about $100 from other sources.

Village supplies of Oscoda County.

Town orpostofflee.

Comins ......

Mio..........

Luzerne......

Population.

7

100±

50±

Elevation.

Feet. 

1,150 

1,250± 

1,000± 

1,100± 

900

Source.

Wells...............................

.....do..............................

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

28 

20 

50 

50 

12 

16

To 

Feet. 

100 

220 

102 

70 

15 

30

Common.

Feet. 

40 -65 

95 

50

20

Springs.

Large. 

Do. 

Small. 

Do. 

Large. 

Do.

WATER SUPPLIES OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT.

Crawford County is situated on the high table-land in the northern 

end of the Southern Peninsula about midwTay between Lake Huron 

and Lake Michigan, Grayling being the county seat. Its western 

side drains westward to Lake Michigan through Manistee River, but
CRAWFOKD COUNTY. 811

the major part of the county drains eastward through Au Sable River. 

Its glacial drainage, however, was westward past Portage Lake to 

Manistee River. This county, like Oscoda, is very largely occupied 

by sandy plains or by moraines of loose-textured drift. The principal part of the farming is in Maple Forest Township, in the northern 

part of the county, and three towns in that part of the county, Judge, 

Frederick, and Deward, are largely devoted to lumbering. There 

are several good farms in the southern end of the county a few miles 

northeast of Higgins Lake. The township in. which Grayling is situated had a population of 1,716 in 1900, a large part of which are 

within the village limits.

The wells throughout the county appear to be to a water table in 

harmony with the inland lakes and streams, and the drift so far as 

penetrated by them is mainly sand and gravel.

In Grayling, which is on a plain but little above Au Sable River, 

the wells are 20 feet in depth, and water stands within 13 feet of the 

surface.

At Judge the conditions are very similar to those at Grayling, wells 

being commonly from 16 to 20 feet deep, or about to the level of the 

north fork of Au Sable River. On moraines near Judge a depth of 

135 feet is reached by the deepest wells.

At Frederick, wells are about 40 feet in depth with the water level 

perhaps 25 feet below the surface. On the moraine east of Frederick, 

in Maple Forest Township, wells are usually nearly 100 feet and in 

some cases about 200 feet in depth, with but a few feet of water in 

the bottom.

At Deward, in the valley of Manistee River, wells need to be driven 

only 10 to 20 feet.

In the southern part of the county near Wellington the wells range 

from 30 to 200 feet in depth, the deepest being on morainic ridges, 

and the shallowest in valleys. On most farms, however, wells are 

obtained at 50 to 100 feet.

The distance to rock, as determined by a boring at Grayling, is 

365 feet, making the rock surface 775 feet above tide at that point. 

The drift here is largely sand and filled with water. This boring, 

which reached a depth of 2,750 feet, is discussed by Doctor Lane in 

the report of the State geologist for 1901. The highest points in 

the county are nearly 1,400 feet and the drift beneath them is liable 

to be over 600 feet, if we may judge by the altitude of the roek at 

the Grayling well.

At Roscommon, just south of the county line, a boring was made 

many years ago which is thought to have reached rock at about the 

same level as that at Grayling, but no accurate record is now to be 

obtained.
312 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

WATER SUPPLIES OF KALKASKA COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT.

General statement. Kalkaska. County lies west of Crawford County, 

on the western slope of the high tract in the northern part of the 

peninsula. Its eastern and southern parts are drained by Manistee 

River and its northwestern parts by Boardman and Rapid rivers. 

The part south of Manistee River has a small settlement around 

Fletcher, in the southeastern township, where there are a few square 

miles of good farming land, but the remainder has scarcely any settlers. The eastern townships north of the river have only lumber 

camps. The principal farming district in the county is on a morainic 

belt lying east of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway and running entirely across the county from its north border to its southwest corner. The railway runs through a sandy plain several miles 

wide that is largely unsettled. In the northwestern part of the 

county is another morainic belt which is nearly all settled. The 

northwest corner is on a low sandy plain bordering Torch and Round 

lakes.

Wells. The only flowing wells noted in this county are in the 

southwestern part near Fife Lake. Walton Blue has a well in a 

valley near the center of sec. 7, Springfield Township, 22 feet in 

depth, which flows a weak stream. About a mile southeast, at an 

old sawmill site, in the western part of sec. 17, is .a flowing well 

63 feet deep, which discharges a 1-inch stream.

It is probable that flowing wells may be obtained in the vicinity 

of Rapid City and Barker Creek at the foot of the moraine in the 

northwest part of the county, for they have been obtained in similar situations a few miles to the west at Williamsburg and Traverse 

City. (See pp. 315-324.)

The wells in the Fletcher settlement go down 60 to 70 feet to 

water and have very little head.

In the moraine east of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway 

wells run from 40 to over 100 feet, the ground-water table being 

generally about on a level with the inland lakes and streams. The 

moraine is loose textured and largely gravel and sand below a few 

feet of surface till.

In the sand plain along the railway wells are also sunk to a general water-table in harmony with the streams and lakes, and range 

in depth from 10 feet near Kalkaska to about 80 feet in the northern 

part of the county. The moraine in the northwestern part has wells 

of various depths from 25 to 200 feet, there being no general water 

table. The deep wells, however, go to a level about as low as the 

sandy plain in the northwest corner. On that plain water is only a
KALKASKA COUNTY. 313

few feet below the surface, or in harmony with Torch and Round 

lakes.

So far as ascertained no wells.have reached rock, and it is probable that the rock surface lies at a depth of several hundred feet 

throughout the county.

Miscellaneous village supplies. Barker Creek is on the slope of 

the moraine south of Round Lake, in the southwestern part, at a 

level about 40 feet above the lake, or 630 feet above tide. Wells 

obtain water at 16 feet, and there are large springs in the vicinity 

which supply part of the residents.

Rapid City is on the sand plain near Torch Lake, and has wells 

16 to 20 feet deep.

Kalkaska, the county seat, is on Boardman River, and wells are 

obtained at 10 to 24 feet. There is a waterworks plant, which 

pumps its supply from the river, and is mainly used for fire protection and street sprinkling. The water, both in wells and river, is 

soft enough for laundry and boiler use. In wells 10 to 16 feet deep 

it is softer than in the deeper ones, probably because of more thorough leaching of the upper part of the sand.

Below are given two partial analyses, one of a shallow-well water 

and one of a river water at Kalkaska. There has been much typhoid 

in the town, and the shallow waters must be regarded as unsafe. 

The data were furnished by M. O. Leighton, of the United States 

Geological Survey.

Partial analyses ofwett and river water at Kalkaska, 

[Parts per million.]

Color...............................................................................

Iron(Fe)...........................................................................

Chlorine (Cl) .......................................................................

Sulphur trioxide (SQa ). ............................................................

Hardness (as Ca CO3 ) ..............................................................

1.

107

2.5

9

66.17

0

139+

2.

10

(«)

9

60.55

0

132.1

' a Very slight trace. 

S. J. Lewis, analyst. 1. Pere Marquette Railroad; depth, 28 feet. 2. Boardman River.

Leetsville, though in the same sand plain as Kalkaska, is 5.0 feet, 

higher, and has wells correspondingly deeper, the usual depth being 

65 feet.

At Westwood, which is north of Leetsville on the sand plain, 

wells are 50 to 60 feet deep.

At South Boardman wells are 18 to 40 feet, the town being on 

the uneven slope of the moraine that lies east of the Grand Rapids 

and Indiana Railway.

At Spencer and Sharon wells are only 12 to 20 feet deep, for they 

are on low tracts bordering Manistee River.
314 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

WATER SUPPLIES OF GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY,

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

GENERAL, STATEMENT.

Grand Traverse County is situated at the south end of Grand Traverse Bay, with Traverse City as the county seat. The south end of 

the county is occupied by an elevated moraine, with a southern outwash apron extending into Wexford County. North of this is a 

broad gravel plain traversed by Boardman River to the meridian of 

Traverse City, and continued westward, past a group of lakes near 

Interlochen, into Benzie County. This gravel plain is an outwash 

apron from a morainic belt that sweeps around the head of Grand 

Traverse Bay in the northern part of the county. Traverse City 

stands in a recess on the inner border of this moraine, and its numerous flowing wells are fed from the water absorbed by the moraine. 

The peninsula which runs northward between the arms of Grand 

Traverse Bay is occupied by a rather porous drift beneath the surface 

coating of till, so that underground drainage is very efficient.

Throughout much of the county the water table appears to be 

nearly as low beneath the moraines and elevated gravel plains as the 

surface of the neighboring streams and lakes, and wells ordinarily go to 

depths corresponding to the relief of the well mouths above the nearest 

stream or lake. On the gravel plain in the south part of the county, 

and the moraine of which it is the outwash, wells are ordinarily from 75 

to 190 feet in depth, those near the crest of the moraine being deeper 

than on the plain to the south. Several wells around Summit City are 

over 100 feet in depth, but the common depth is 35 to 50 feet.

At Fife Lake and Walton, which stand but little above the drainage 

lines, wells are obtained at about 30 feet.

West of Traverse City is a prominent moraine in which the depth to 

water is in some places very great. Henry Sochleben has a well near 

the center of sec. 6, T. 27 N., R. 11 W., which is 293 feet in depth and 

was entirely through sand after penetrating about 5 feet of surface 

clay; water rises in it only 15 feet from the bottom. R. Wiedoft, on 

the west side of the same section, at a level perhaps 75 feet lower, has 

a well 220 feet deep, with but a few feet of water in the bottom. L. 

Ruthart, in the northwest part of sec. 5, has a well 230 feet deep which 

penetrated considerable blue clay and has 20 feet of water.

On the peninsula records of wells near the highest points show that 

water is struck at about the level of Grand Traverse Bay. Joseph 

Eiman has one 180 feet and William Ayers one 197 feet in depth in 

the northwestern part of sec. 10, T. 29 N., R. 10 W., both of which 

strike water in gravel practically at the level of Grand Traverse Bay. 

There are, however, wells on this peninsula which obtain a fair amount
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY. 315

of water at moderate depths, this probably being due to the presence 

of a nucleus of clay beneath the looser textured drift, which prevents 

the water from sinking down to the level of the bay.

The flowing wells of Traverse City and of Williamsburg, a village 

12 miles east, are discussed below by Mr. Gregory. These, so far as 

known, are the only flowing wells in the county. It is probable, however, that flowing wells may be obtained along the north shore of the 

high moraine in the south, for the situation is similar to that at 

Traverse City and Williamsburg, and it is a region of strong springs. 

They may also be obtained some distance up Boardman River from 

Traverse City, and around Fife Lake, as they have already been found 

in the neighboring part of Kalkaska County.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

At Interlochen wells are driven to depths of 12 to 22 feet to a water 

table in harmony with neighboring lakes.

At Karlin the wells are about 40 feet and have very little head.

At Mayfield the depth ranges from 12 to 30 feet.

At Old Mission the wells are 20 to 50 feet deep.

At Summit City the common depth is 35 to 50, but the range in 

depth is from 14 to 112 feet.

At Monroe Center the wells are from 25 to 30 feet in depth.

At Cedar Run, in the northwest corner of the county, is a very 

strong spring, which supplies most of the inhabitants. The wells in 

that vicinity range from 8 feet to 150 feet, the deep ones being on the 

elevated land.

FLOWING WELLS.*

WILLIAMSBURG AREA.

The Williamsburg area, less than three-fourths of a square mile in 

extent (see fig. 61), is located on the banks of a small creek of eastern 

Grand Traverse County. With a general elevation of 690 feet this 

area is bordered by moraines and outwash plains having an elevation 

of 800 feet. The precise limits of the district have not been outlined, 

as few trials for flows have been made along the border of the area, 

which appears to be confined almost to the village itself.

Out of 23 wells in this region 20 flow, furnishing an abundant supply 

of water for domestic and stock purposes.

The first well was drilled in 1892, on the property of Mr. J. H. Bissell (No. 4), and is still flowing, with no perceptible decrease. The 

temperature, quality, and abundance of the water are such that it has 

been utilized by Mr. Bissell for a State fish hatchery. It is valuable 

for keeping in equable and natural condition the young fry. This use

«By W. M. Gregory.
316 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

of water could be profitably extended to some of the other flowingwell districts in the northern part of the State.

The wells are all driven; a few have screens and points, but the 

large number have' simply galvanized pipes driven to the water beds. 

The average cost of the wells, with 2-inch pipe, is $1 a foot, though 

some cost less when made by the owners. The average cost here is 

somewhat higher than in other areas, owing to the fact that wells drive 

harder here and some trouble has been experienced with bowlders.

2OO 4OO 6OO 8OO

FIG. 61. Contour map of Williamsburg flowing-well district.

The combined flow of the 20 wells is 448.5 .gallons a minute, the 

largest flow (130 gallons a minute) being at the fish-hat'chery well (No. 

6). Several cases have been observed of decrease in head, due to 

drainage of one well by a near neighbor tapping the same water bed, 

but no general change in flow has occurred.

The water beds which supply the wells at Williamsburg are two, the 

upper supplying the majority of the wells, for the lower has not been
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY. 317

exploited enough to reveal its extent. The upper 

water bed is of gravel and sand, covered by a few 

feet of hardpan, 35 feet of clay with small sandy 

seams, and 10 feet of sandy soil at surface. The 

general relations of a water bed along an east-west 

section are shown in fig. 62. The wells, with the 

exception of the fish-hatchery well (No. 6), are 

dependent for their supply on this bed of coarse 

gravel and sand. A section (fig. 63) north from 

Mr. B. 'Johnson' s well (No. 12) brings out clearly 

the distinct dip which the water bed has to the 

north, but the 50-foot wells at the Williamsburg 

creamery indicate that this dip is not continued 

to the north as regularly as the profile indicates. 

An attempt was made at the creamery to secure a 

stronger flow by drilling deeper than 50 feet, but 

the drillers reported mostly hard clay from 50 to 

310 feet with no water. Severar attempts about 

the edge of this basin have been made to penetrate the water beds. At Mr. Lidell's farm a well 

(No. 20) 400 feet deep failed to secure water, which 

seems to be due to the fact that the water beds are 

near the surface and are easily overlooked in drilling, as has happened in other locations.

The location of Williamsburg is on the northern 

lakeward side of high plains of morainal outwash, 

which reach an elevation of 800 feet just outside 

the limits of the village. The small creek of the 

village is the product of the numerous springs 

which are so abundant along the edge of the drift 

at an elevation of 740 to 760 feet above sea level.- 

To the south there is abundant chance for a catchment area in the loose porous drift, which has clay 

at bottom, as is indicated by some of the small 

lakes which exist there.

The water is used throughout the village for 

laundry and domestic purposes, and is not considered hard, lathering freely with ordinary soap. 

Analysis shows its hardness to be near that of the 

average drift water. Sulphates and iron seem to 

be absent, and the two field analyses of samples 

from wells No. 16 and 2 show how water from 

the same bed is apt to differ in carbonates. The 

water is very free from surface contamination, and is an excellent 

potable water. Its temperature, purity, and freedom from silt are of 

special value in this region for the fish-hatchery business.

<» o

0 0

O

-a

0)

nrtO

01

V

-

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.0

0

CM

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C*

tj> a> a>

rv> i <J>

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« 1 

1

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2.

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IN)

-
318 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Analysis of water from well at WUliam,sburg.a

 Parts per million.

Silica (SiO2)..............................--.-...--.----..-..----"-..--.-.- 8.40

Sulphate radicle (SO4)..................................................... 7. 32

Carbonate radicle (CO3) ............................... ..^................. 90. 44

Chlorine (Cl)............................................................. 2. 67

Sodium (Na)............................................................. 1-80

Potassium (K) ........................................................... .31

Calcium (Ca)............................................................. 46. 85

Iron (Fe)................................................................ 5. 95

Aluminum (Al)......................!.................................... 2.86

Magnesium (Mg) ......................................................... 9. 93

Lithium...........-..........-...........--..---.-.-.--.------..---.---. Trace.

Organic matter...-....-.....--......-....--....--.-.-....---..----.----.- Trace.

Analyst, John E. Clark, M. D., Detroit College of Medicine.

33 17 I

r68.fi _ _ _Hgi£bt_tg_which jwater/ises 

"Surface

176. 53

12

FIG. 63. North-south section through Williamsburg district.

Analysis of Weeshr-Ko-Wong flowing well water, Williamsburg.*>

Parts per million. 

SDicaCSiOj).........................................--..----------.....- 8.40

Aluminum (Al)...........................---..---...--------------------- 2. 78

Iron (Fe).............................................................. 6.00

Calcium (Ca)............................................................. 46.77

Magnesium (Mg) ........-..............-.----..--.-.--------------------- 9. 96

Sodium (Na)............................................................. 1-78

Potassium (K) ....................................-.---..-----------.---- 34

Sulphate radicle acid (SO4).......................---..-.........-.-.-.--..-. 7. 42

Chlorine (Cl)............................................................. 2. 67

Carbonate radicle acid (CO3) .............--......----..---.------...------- 90. 33

176.45

Analyst, John E. Clark, M. D., Detroit College of Medicine, March 6, 1893.

Field analyses of water from wells at Williamsburg. 

[Parts per million.]

Hardness

1. Charles Wills (No. Ifi). 2. Dr. Prentice (No. 2).

1.

148

110

5

0

0

2

178

160

10

0

0

o Expressed by analyst in hypothetical combinations; recomputed to ionic form at United States 

Geological Survey.

* Expressed by analyst in grains per gallon and hypothetical combinations; recomputed to ionic form 

and parts per million at United States Geological Survey.
GBAND TEAVEESE COUNTY. 

Wells at Wittiamsburg.

319

so

50 <fl

g

6

£

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1H

13 

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

HI

W

23

Owner.

D. E. Rolf a...........

Dr. C. A. Clark.......

J. Abbott.............

Ralph White. ........

F. E. White..........

S. J. Seeley. ..........

Methodist Episcopal 

parsonage.

ery.d

Chas. Wills ...........

W. Herald/...........

H. Hobbs'ff...........

Dr. Van Stickle.......

Bissell farm...........

J.Lidell. .............

T. J. ConklinA. .......

Elevation.

Ft.. 

673

673

70(1

673

655

655

672

675

674

669

673

fi7?

675 

658

650

6fiO

664?

665

672

705

703

705

660

Diameter

In. 

1J

1

14

H

Ol

4

11

U

2

?

2

?

H

2

2

2

2

2

,d ^ 

ft

0>

ft

.FY. 

40

60

96

82

45

87

42

60

65

55

60

35

43 

45

60

64

55

50

60

Ann?

100

.lib

62

Elevation ofbed. water 

Ft. 

633

613

604

591

610

568

630

615

614

613

637

632 

613

590

596

60ft

615

612

603

589

598

Water rises 

to 

Ft.

701

680

680

673

676

674

674

min- Flow per 

ute.

Ols. 

30

28

OC

10

12

130

10

13

13

10

12

6

25

6

Oft

46

15

191

15

Temperature.

°*

48|

48

49

48

48

48

48

49

48

48

50

48

49

Quality.

Soft...

Soft...

Soft. . .

...do..

00

o 

O

112

60

8?

AC

200

130

60

55

35

40

30

25

25

30

50

Remarks.

Ko-Wong well (p. 318).

pipe.

creased by No. 6.

mainder sand and 

clay.

sis.

Decreased bv Nos 5

and 6.

mostly clay from near 

surface.

Do.

aWater rose 18 feet at time of drilling; has decreased to 3 feet now. Beds penetrated as follows: 

Dark loam and sand, 10 feet; sand and clay, 30, and water in gravel bed, 40 feet. Well driven in 15 

hours; throws sand.

*Two wells at fish hatchery have some sand at top, and the remainder is clay, with sheets of sand, 

which contain no water, but are a hindrance in drilling. Water from bed of gravel with some sand; 

Below water bed is a compact clay bed 20 to 30 feet thick.

e Water broke out about pipes, and has required many cubic yards of filling, making the cost high. 

Temperature said to be 43° November 1, 1903.

d Three wells, 45, 49, and 50 feet deep. Attempt was made here for deep water supply; went 310 feet, 

all clay, no water.

« Head 14 feet; affects other wells in near vicinity.

/ Lowered by No. 16.

9 Actual depth not known.

ft Sand 10 feet; clay, with sandy sea us, 40 feet; hard, compact clay 8 feet; gravel water bed.

TEAVEKSE CITY.

The flowing wells of Traverse City are confined to a small area of 

4 square miles in Farfield Township at the head of West Grand 

Traverse Bay. This region is a depression in the drift which was 

filled by an ice tongue of the Michigan lobe and was later covered 

by Glacial lake deposits of considerable thickness, as revealed by 

deep wells in Traverse City. Flows are obtained at from 50 to 400 

feet in depth, and at present are 19 in number, yielding abundant 

and excellent water. These wells are in drift material, and casing 

is necessary, as much sand is encountered and causes considerable 

annoyance. The wells vary from 3 to 8 inches in diameter and
320 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

cost on the average about $1 a foot, the work being done by contract for a flow.

The total flow from these wells is 1,092 gallons a minute, the 

figures being based on measurements made by well drillers at the 

time of completion of the various wells and by the writer where 

the wells were freely flowing. In a special report of the watersupply committee of the Traverse City council, Mr. G. W. Rafter, 

the consulting engineer, expressed doubt as to the ability of flowing wells to furnish a sufficient quantity for a city supply, but a 

flow of 1,092 gallons a minute would be ample. A few of the wells 

have decreased considerably. The Park Place Hotel well, for 

instance, now yields only half its former flow, according to Mr. 

Fairbanks, a well driller of Traverse City. The first well in this 

city was made on the grounds of the Northern Michigan Asylum in 

August, 1897, and flowed 600,000 gallons a day from a depth of 

93 feet. In April, 1890, this flowage suddenly ceased; investigation showed that the pipe was filled with clay; by driving to 190 

feet a good supply was reached. This well, with another recently 

made, 100 feet deep, now supplies the institution with 400,000 gallons a day, much more than is needed. In the well on~ the asylum 

ground the pressure is 8.75 pounds at the well head, which is 70.25 

feet above the engine room of the institution, where the pressure is 

said to be 40 pounds to the square inch. The total cost of the well 

and pipe line was $1,500 and was made by contract. The wells are 

135 feet above Lake Michigan, on the slope west of the asylum buildings, and were discovered by workmen in making an excavation for 

a standpipe. The well on the Lion saloon property is carefully 

piped, and supplies a bottling factory, several stores, a saloon, and 

a large fountain. Water rises 8 feet from the end of a 1-inch nozzle 

on 20 feet of hose attached to the main pipe at the saloon^ and at 

time of drilling the well spouted a 2-inch stream 32 feet above its 

mouth. More use would be made of the artesian,water in Traverse 

City if it were not for a city ordinance prohibiting pipes from crossing alleys and streets.

Several analyses and a number of careful field tests have been 

made of the waters. Mr. George Rafter considered the water rather 

hard for boiler use, and the amount of iron rendered it rather undesirable for laundry purposes. The water from the Park Place Hotel 

has the following composition:
GBAND TEAVEESE COUNTY. 321 

Analysis of water from Park Place Hotel well, Trarerse City.®

Parts per million.

SfficaCSiOj).....................................................'........ 6

Calcium (Ca) ....................................... ....'.................. 48. 55

Magnesium (Mg)......................................................... 9. 88

- Iron (Fe)....................................... _........__..._............_. 1.53

Sodium (Na)............................................................. 2.25

Chlorine (Cl)............................................................. 3.45

Sulphate radicle (SO4)..................................................... 1.20

Carbonate radicle (CO3)................................................... 106. 54

179. 40 

Free ammonia........................................................... .15

Albuminoid ammonia..................................................... .08

Hardened by soap test, 12; permanent hardness, 6; temporary hardness, 6.

Doctor Kedzie, analyst.

The analysis shows nitrites entirely absent and nitrates present 

only as a trace.

The field tests on samples from the Park Place Hotel well show 

carbonates to be 170 parts per million, no reaction for sulphates, 

170.8 parts of hardness, and chlorides 5.2 parts per million. An 

analysis by the Northern Michigan Insane Asylum of the water 

when it came from the 93-foot well is as follows:

Analysis of water from wett of Northern Michigan Insane Asylum, Traverse City.b

Parts per million.

Silica..............................................^.................... 34

Oxide of iron and aluminum............................................... 5. 10

Carbonate of lime........................................................ 168. 75

Carbonate of magnesia.................................................... 68. 47

Sulphate of lime.......................................................... 27. 04

xSodium and potassium chlorides............................................ Trace.

Sodium and potassium carbonates.......................................... 10. 27

313. 63

The Lion saloon well had a total hardness of 178.8; carbonates 

200, chlorides 25.4, and iron 2 parts per million. For the comparison the analysis of water from a spring on the land of Hannah Lay 

& Co., south of the asylum, is given:

Analysis of spring water near Traverse City.

Parts per million. 

Sulphate radicle (SO4)...................................................... 2.12

Carbonate radicle (CO3).................................................... 82.14

Magnesium (Mg).......................................................... .17

Sodium (Na).............................................................. .39

a Expressed by analyst in hypothetical combinations; recomputed to ionic form at United States 

Geological Survey.

6 Expressed by analyst in grains per gallon; recomputed to parts per million at United States Geological Survey.

IBB 183 O6 22
322 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

Parts per million. 

Chlorine (Cl).............................................................. .61

Calcium (Ca).............................................................. 56.17

Silica (SiO2) ............ 1................................................. 3

Free ammonia............................................................ 2

Albuminoid ammonia...................................................... 1.5

The two water beds which have been utilized to supply the present wells are at depths of 450 to 350 feet and at 200 feet, respectively, 

above tide. The upper of the two beds furnishes the greater supply and the best pressure. The following wells are supplied from, 

this bed: Traverse City high school, Jackson's fish house, William 

Brothers, P. Hannah, Park Place Hotel, Lion saloon, and the old 

well at the Grand Rapids and Indiana depot. At the high school 

the following order of drift material was found:

Record of high school well, Traverse City, a

Thickness (feet). 

Sand....................................................................... 30

Gay....................................................................... 40

Sand and gravel............................................................. 60

Marl....................................................................... 5

Gravel and first flow at....................................................... 238

Stronger flow at............................................................. 270

In drilling wells down to this first bed the usual order is 100 feet of 

sand with small streaks of clay, succeeded by 200 feet of gravel, sand, 

and clay, which becomes hard and compact 250 feet below the surface. In drilling the new well at the depot the drillers found a good 

flow at 316 feet and a fair one at 417 feet, both beds being utilized for 

the flow in this well. The two wells of E. S. Pratt, which are situated on hills west of the city, are believed to tap heavy springs such 

as were found in the early exploration for water on the State asylum 

ground. A number of wells have been made on a lower level to a 

depth of 75 feet, east of E. S. Pratt's place, but the water stands 20 to 

30 feet below the surface. The wells which have been drilled below 

the 300-foot bed do not furnish a very satisfactory supply. The well 

at the county jail is 400 feet deep, but never rose more than to the 

surface; in drilling it the following drift was found:

Record of well at county jail, Traverse City,

Depth (feet.) 

Sand and some marl....................................................... 200

Clay................................................................... 200-232

Sand and clay alternately................................................. 252-340

Gravel................................................................... 340

Sand and water......................................................... 390-400

<* For analysis see Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 31, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1899, p. 30.
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY. 323

The well at the Boardman Avenue school is said to be nearly all 

sand, with a little clay at the bottom. The well recently made for the 

Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway is 417 feet deep and has a good 

flow, but the larger part of it is evidently from the upper bed. Many 

attempts have been made to get water at the Oak Park school, in the 

eastern part of the city, one well being drilled to 400 feet, and at present having a very small flow. In this well the following material was 

penetrated:

Record of Oak Park school well.

Depth (feet.) 

Sand (thickness).....-............................-......-...--..........".. 30

Clay (thickness)........................................................... 60

Water in sand (depth)...................................................... 220

Red clay (depth)... ^.................................................... 363-383

Gravel and small flow (depth)............ % ................................ 383-400

The well on the property of Ellis Ramsell was drilled through the 

following material:

Record of EUis Ramsell well.

Clay.. ............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

60

60

40

20

50

60

Total.

Feet. 

60

120

160

180

230

290

At the State asylum Mr. Fairbanks helped to drill the 93-foot well 

and found nearly 35 feet of sand and gravel, the remainder being hard 

clay, under which was the water. At 75 feet a log 3 feet in diameter 

was encountered.

In seeking for flows in this area the wells should not be deeper than 

350 feet, and the lower the elevation of the well mouth the greater 

will be the pressure. _

No rock has been reached in any of the Traverse City wells, but in 

the Provement well at Fountain Point, some 12 miles northwest of 

Traverse City, it is nearly 312 feet to rock, and at Elk Rapids some 

15 miles northeast it is 450 feet.

The catchment area for the Traverse City wells is found on the surrounding moraines and associated plains of porous overwash material, 

which reaches an elevation of 800 to 1,000 feet in the region west and 

south.. In the immediate vicinity the material exposed on some of the 

hills is porous enough to absorb the necessary water to supply the 

strong flows.
324 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOTJTHEKN MICHIGAN.

Wells at Traverse City.

Owner.

ana depot (new) . 

Park Place Hotel........

E. S. Pratt..............

Grand Rapids and Indiana (old well) .

Wilhelm Bartok Co .....

Ellis Ramsell ........:...

Elevation.

Feet. 

605

605

605

605

659

625

715

615

605

605 

585

612

592

Diameter.

In.

6

4

8

4

4

6

J3

P.

s> 

Q

Feet.

Qfl7

417

qc7

Qcn

400

cn

Q£7

290

400

qnn

486

00 C

311 

180

QQA

271

280

of Elevatior bed. water 

Feet. 

248

187

248

205

609

258

527

215

305

oQn

284 

405

305

341

280

'5 

h i

S+3

4J

o3 

^

Feet. 

670

640

630

605

665

645

735

615

635

630 

585

655

656

603

Flow min- per 

ute.

Gals. 

210

54

25

63

SO

112

 277

2

50

5

45 

1

90

15

T pera- e m

ture.o

oF.

4Q1

51

50

49

49i

Remarks.

Do.

Smal' flr-.

a The only satisfactory temperature observation was at the Grand Rapids and Indiana depot well 

(new). The others are affected by buildings, etc.

WATER SUPPLIES OF BENZIE COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Benzie« County, of which Frankfort is the county seat, fronts on 

Lake Michigan in the northwestern part of the peninsula. The lake 

shore presents a succession of headlands 200 to 300 feet high, between 

which are low embayments extending back several miles inland and 

terminating in a strong morainic belt of which the headlands are 

small interlobate spurs. The interior and eastern part of the county 

is a somewhat elevated plain with numerous lakes and basins interrupted by groups of knolls. The altitude of the plain is between 200 

and 300 feet above Lake Michigan, and the lakes on it usually stand 

30 to 50 feet below its general surface. The water table on the plain 

and also on the knolls appears to be in harmony with the neighboring 

lakes and drainage lines, for there is but little clay in them above the 

level of the lakes. The water table also is at a low level throughout 

much of the morainic region of the western part of the county. This 

is well shown at Benzonia, which stands on a moraine south of Crystal 

Lake at a level 200 feet above the lake, and has a water level at least 

125 feet below the surface. There are, however, a few places in the 

morainic tracts where there is enough clay present to prevent the 

downward passage of the water, and thus permit wells to be obtained 

at shallow depths.
BENZIE COUNTY. 325

The principal streams are Betsy and Platte rivers, the former 

draining the southern and the latter much of the northern part of the 

county. Between their mouths and near the shore of Lake Michigan 

stands Crystal Lake, a body of water 9 miles long and 2 miles wide, 

connecting with Betsy River through a narrow gap in the morainic 

hills that encircle the lake. Platte River discharges through Platte 

Lake, a body of water covering several square miles, just before entering Lake Michigan. These lakes apparently occupy basins of considerable depth which were left by the ice sheet. The lakes of the 

interior of the county are all small and are usually in basins in the 

gravel plains.

The drift in this county is shown by borings at Frankfort to extend 

down nearly to sea level, being 570 feet in one boring and 527 in 

another. The rock surface seems to be about as low to the east at 

Traverse City, and may hold a low level beneath the high tracts which 

lie between Frankfort and Traverse City, in which case the drift 

would have a thickness of about 1,000 feet on the highest points.

FLOWING WELLS.

The embayments along the shore in the recesses of the moraine furnish favorable places for obtaining flowing wells, and such wells hav 

already been made at Frankfort on Betsie River, at Beulah on Crysta 

Lake, and at Honor on Platte River, while others may be found nea 

the Herring lakes in a recess a few miles south of Frankfort. There 

is also a single flowing well at Thompsonville in the southeastern part 

of the county, in the valley of a small stream. The wells at Frankfort and Beulah were examined by Mr. Gregory and are discussed on 

pages 327-330. The well at Thompsonville was reported by Mr 

W. F. Cooper; those at Honor were examined by the writer.

THOMPSONVILLE.

The Thompsonville flowing well was made by John Irwin and ha 

a depth of 150 feet, with a head of 5 feet.

HONOH.

The village of Honor stands at the foot of the north bluff of Platte 

River in northern Benzie county. Several flowing wells have been 

made in the eastern part of the village, all very near the bluff or 

ground a few feet above the broad valley bottom. It is probable thai 

flows could be obtained on this lower ground.

George Weaver has a well 70 feet deep on ground about 9 feet above 

the railroad station, or 620 feet above tide. It has a head of more 

than 4 feet. It now escapes around the pipe, and this has reducec. 

the flow through the pipe to a very weak stream about 10 quart
326 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

an hour. It did flow a half-inch stream. The water is hard and has 

considerable iron. The temperature is 47.3° F.

South of this well about 50 yards is the flowing well of Ira Gordon, 

38 feet deep. It flows a very weak stream about 15 quarts an hour 

at a level 3 feet above the surface or 622 feet above tide. The water 

is said to be rather soft. The well struck a hard clay under the surface gravel at about 20 feet and obtained the water from a seep in the 

clay. The well has never been much stronger. The temperature is 

48° F.

At a dwelling occupied by W. M. O'Brien on the south side of Main 

street is a flowing well only 21 feet deep which yields about 30 quarts 

an hour through a small escape pipe one-third of an inch in diameter. 

The altitude of the well is 618 feet above tide. The temperature was 

48.5° F. in October, 1904. Possibly the effect of the summer heat 

would be felt in a well so shallow as this and give it a temperature 

higher than that of deeper wells or higher than it presents at the 

cold part of the year.

At another dwelling on the south side of Main street, occupied by 

Frank Weaver, is a flowing well that yields about 3 quarts a minute, 

and has a temperature of 47.8° F. This is the oldest flow in the village and has been in operation about eight years. The water contains iron in notable amount and is so hard that it needs softening 

for laundry use. The well is at an altitude of 617 feet.

On the north side of Main street, about 100 yards east of the well 

just noted, is a weak flow at the dwelling of Joseph DeWitt now yielding about 30 quarts an hour about as much as it ever did. It is very 

shallow 15 feet and had a higher temperature than the deeper wells, 

it being 49° F. The water carries iron, but is not very hard. The 

well has been in operation about 7 years. The altitude is 618 feet.

Across the street from the DeWitt well and on ground 3 feet lower, 

at a dwelling occupied by V. Pierce but owned by P. Reynolds, is a 

flowing well 21 feet deep. A pump is.now attached because the head 

is very slight. The well was made in 1903.

A similar well, only 13 feet deep, with water rising barely to the surface, was made by J. C. VanBlaricom about 200 feet west of the Pierce 

well. It passed through a bed of clay at 6 to 13 feet and entered 

gravel at bottom. The water is rather hard.

Mr. Van Blaricom has another well at the post-office, with pump 

attached, but with a head of about 2 feet. This well is 23 feet deep. 

Its temperature, when pumped vigorously, coujd not be carried below 

48° F. The altitude is 622 feet at the post-office. West from the 

post-office the dwellings are mainly on ground a little too high to 

admit of a flow.
BENZIE COUNTY.

BETJLAH AND BENZONIA.a

In Beulah, Benzie County, in a narrow belt along the eastern shore 

of Crystal Lake, is a small area with seven flowing wells (fig. 64). 

The wells have a total flow of 56 gallons a minute and no indications 

of any decrease in head have been observed. The best head of water 

is obtained in wells nearest the lake. The irregular flow of a well at 

Small's livery barn is due to the presence of gas which, at the time of 

the writer's visit in July, 1904, was forcing small quantities of water 

out of the well at frequent intervals. The water supplied by these 

wells is hard and unsatisfactory for laundry use, but excellent for

' R. 15 W.

FIG. 64. Map of southeast end of Crystal Lake, Benzie County.

drinking. The best supply in Beulah comes from the beds 100 to 15') 

feet below the level of Crystal Lake, the depth varying in differen 

wells.

The field analyses of samples collected show that the waters are 

high in carbonates, reaching 300 parts a million in one case (the we 1 

of H. A. Bailey, -No. 5), but this is higher than the average. Su 

phates are absent from all the water tested, and chlorides are present 

in varying quantity, 34 parts per million-from a well belonging to

By W. M. Gregory.
328 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Mr. Gibbs being the highest found. In several of the wells much CO3 

was present, especially in the Gibbs well. The water is somewhat 

harder than water at Oden, Indian River, and Williamsburg, varying 

from 136 parts per million in H. A. Bailey's well to 361 parts in J. 

Gibbs's well. It is easily sofened for laundry purposes by any of the 

various washing compounds, otherwise much soap is required. Water 

from the well of H. S. Bozy (No. 6) requires one-half more soap for 

laundry purposes than water from Crystal Lake. / The flowing well 

water is excellent for drinking and in the well of Mr. H. Smith (No. 4) 

the water has mild cathartic properties.^)

Field analyses of water from wells at Beulah. 

[Parts per million.]

1.

136

300

4

0

2.

361.8

240

34

0

0

3.

227.8

120

8.9

0

0

1. H. A. Bailey (No. 5). 2. J. Gibbs (No. !)./ 3. H. Smith (No. 4).

In the houses where the water is used small tanks have been constructed so that full advantage may be taken of its temperature for 

cooling purposes. The temperatures vary slightly in the wells 

because of the difference in the length of pipe exposed, but the 

average is 49°.

Two beds seem to be present in Beulah which yield flows. The 

extdnt and thickness are unknown, for the well records are few and 

lack detail. According to Mr. N. Benson, a well driller of Beulah, 

the first bed of sand and gravel is 90 to 100 feet below the surface; 

the second bed ranges between 150 and 200 feet. (The well of Mr. 

H. Smith (No. 4) is 97 feet deep, 94 feet to water, and has the following (drift layers: \

Record ofH. Smith well, Beulah.

'

Sand.............................................................................

Thickness.

Feet. 

3

6

20

25

40

2

1

Total.

Feet. 

3

9

28

54

94

96

97

In the well on the property of Mr. Small (No. 7) small flows are 

found at 150 and 200 feet. The well was drilled to 250 feet and was 

believed to be nearly to rock. The present flow of this well comes 

from 200 feet, but enough gas is present to cause'an irregular flow.
BENZIE COUNTY. 320

The shallow pump wells of the town have never yielded a good supply of water, being deficient in quantity, and having a "swampy" 

taste. In drilling a well on the property of Fred Bailey (No. 3) the 

following drift was penetrated:

Record of Fred Bailey well, Beulah.

Thickness.

Feet.

27

5

20

50

8

Total.

Feet. 

27

32

52

102

110

Mr. Benson, a well driller, thinks that good flows can be obtained 

along a large part of Crystal Lake at points less than 20 feet above 

the lake.

In the town of Benzonia, which is half a mile south and 180 feet 

higher than Beulah, the water bed is from 100 to 150 feet below the 

porous surface material, water being obtained at considerable expense.

Mr. T. B. Pettit's well, in Benzonia, 176 feet above Beulah, is 

driven 190 feet, and the water stands 175 feet below the surface; the 

entire cost was $230. Mr. Pettit has another well in sec. 27, near 

Benzonia, which is 85 feet deep and in which the water stands 75 feet 

below the surface. The soil here is largely sand and gravel with one 

clay bed of 19 feet near the surface. The village well of Benzonia 

is 213 feet deep, the lower 150 feet of which is fine clay and yields a 

scant supply of water. f

The hills about Crystal Lake consist of loosely consolidated drift 

with irregular beds of clay. In a cut 100 feet above the Ann Arbor 

Railroad depot, on the steep hill road from Beulah to Benzonia the 

clay layers are thin, small, and irregular, but at lower elevations the 

clay is present in thicker layers, and seems to have been plastered 

upon the overwash material at places. A section on the hill road 

has the following layers exposed:

Section in road near Benzonia.

Thickness (feet), 

Sand....................................................................... 3J

Pebbles.................................................................... 1

Clay and sand............................................................... 1Q

Sand.......................................................................

Smooth clay, large, rough, rounded pebbles......................................
330 WELLS, AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 

Wells at Beulah and Benzonia.

^

<a

§

0

£

1

2

3

-t

6

7

8

9

10

Owner.

J. Gibbs. .........

H. Smith .........

E. J. C. Ellis.....

T. B. Pettit......

§

o3

W

Feet.

609

607

608

609

600

S

S03

O

In.

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

t

O

Feet.

150

100

110

97

166

180

222

213

190

213

"8 

1?

o3 -M

£> o3

W

.Fee*.

459

507

498

512

441

420

383

03<o h 1

 f ^

^

.Fee*.

613

628

627

619

a

S

^ a5

o

ft

Gate.

8

5

2

12

10

19

S

s 

g

n

EH

°F.

471

49

49

50

50

S

o

8125

230

Remarks.

analysis (p. 328).

feet.

and windmill.

weak well.

FEANZFORT AREA.a

The city of Frankfort, in Benzonia County, is situated at the 

mouth of Betsie River, on Lake Michigan. Only a few flows are* 

found here in the drift, which is about 550 feet deep, the best water 

beds being 150 to 200 feet below the surface. There are only four of 

these drift wells, two at the Frankfort City waterworks, each 150 

feet deep, one at the Ann Arbor Railroad grain elevator, 100 feet 

deep, and one at the Ann Arbor Railroad depot, 200 feet deep; the 

combined flowage is 7.5 gallons a minute. A sample of the water 

from the elevator showed 278 parts per million of hardness, no sulphatel, 260 parts of carbonates, and 15.5 parts of chlorides.

Frankfort has two deep wells from the rock, both belonging to 

D. B. Butler. The deeper one is 2,200 feet, with a temperature of 

58°, and flows 480 gallons a minute from a 6-inch pipe. It contains H3 S gas.

Wells at Frankfort.

Owner.

Ann Arbor Railroad depot . . 

D. B. Butler o ...............

Ann Arbor Railroad elevator

Diameter.

Inches. 

4

2 

6

2

Depth.

Feet. 

1,800

200 

2,200

100

Flow per 

minute.

Gallons.

1.5 

480.0

1.0

Temperature.

°F.

50.5 

58.0

48

Remarks.

Drinking fountain. 

Mineral water.

Drinking and boiler use.

a For analysis of water see Water-Sup, and Irr. Paper No. 31, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1899, p. 72.

WATERWORKS.

FRANKFORT.

The waterworks supply is from driven wells about 90 feet deep 

which only lack a few feet of flowing. The water is pumped to a 

tank on a hill north of the town.

« By W. M. Gregory.
COUNTY. 331

THOMPSONVTLLE.

The village of Thompsonville has a public supply reported to be 

from driven wells, about 60 feet deep, in which water rises to 10 feet 

below the surface. Water is pumped direct to mains.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

Village supplies ofBenzie County.

Town.

Platte.. .........

South Frankfort. 

Thompsonville...

Population.

500

1,465

550 

241 

±100

639 

893

Elevation.

Feet. 

800

f 600 

I 615

595 

805

611 

816 

885 

700

600 

791

Source.

Driven wells, some 

flowing.

.....do................

Driven wells, stream . 

Lake wells, springs . . .

.....do................

.....do................

.....do................

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

125

} *>

45

8 

12 

20 

10 

10 

30

16

ToFeet. 

250

150

2,200

100 

40 

90 

30 

+200 

90

150

Common.

Feet. 

200

!

100 

150 

90 

150 

50 

30 

30 

18 

75 

30

40

Depth main to

supply.

Feet. 

225

| 100 

1 200

30 

30 

30

30

 d 

$

tn

Feet. 

( -100 

\ -150

Flow .

J - 5 

1 +10

+ 8 -15

-10 

-10 

f -10 \ +s

Springs.

j-Large. 

Do. 

jsmall.

Do. 

Large. 

Small. 

Do. 

Do.

[ Do.

WATER SUPPLIES OF LEELANAU COUNTY. 

By FRANK LEVEEETT.

General statement, Leelanau County comprises the point of land 

that extends northward between Grand Traverse Bay and Lake 

Michigan and also the Manitou Islands which lie a few miles off 

shore. Like Benzie County, it presents bold headlands along the 

shore, between which are low tracts extending back several miles 

and heading in a moraine of which the headlands are considered 

spurs. This moraine comes up from the southwest and curves around 

in the southern part of Leelanau County and then passes southeast^ 

to the head of Grand Traverse Bay. An elevated gravel plain about^ 

300 feet above Lake Michigan lies on the south border of the moraine. 

The highest points on the moraine are about 400 feet above Lak0 

Michigan, and at Sleeping Bear Point there is a bold bluff of nearlyj 

that height. In the recesses between the headlands are lakes, con-j 

spicuous among which are Glen Lake, which lies- east of Sleeping} 

Bear Point and has an area of about 6 square miles, and Carp Lake, 

which leads south from Leland and is about 15 miles long. Between 

these is a chain of lakes extending back nearly to Maple City. On 

the east side are small projections of Grand Traverse Bay, known 

Northport Bay and Sutton Bay. The latter is similar to the recesses 

on the Lake Michigan shore in having headlands on each side.
332 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES Itf SOUTHERN MICHIGAN".

The county has no rivers nor creeks but simply small runs leading 

down to the lakes from the moraines. !

On the elevated morainic tracts and also on tjhe gravel plain in the 

southern part of the county wells are usually deep, ranging from 80 

feet on the gravel plain to 240 feet on the crest of the moraine. 

They reach about to the level of the neighboring lakes, and have 

little or no rise of water. There are wells 80 to 150 feet deep along 

the ridges that run from the moraine out toward the lake and bay. 

These ridges, however, contain clayey drift, and in places shallow 

wells are obtained on them. In the lowlands or recesses water in 

wells generally rises nearly to the surface, and in places will flow. 

It is probable that flows might be obtained at many points if borings 

were made in the lowest lands near the high ridges.

In one boring in the county, made in 1853 near Provement in sec. 

36, T. 30 N., R. 12 W., rock was found at a depth of 312 feet, or 292 

feet below the level of Lake Michigan and 288 feet above sea level." 

It is reported that limestone rock outcrops at the northeast end of 

the county in the bed of Grand Traverse Bay at 20 to 25 feet below 

the water surface, and shale rises to considerable height in the east 

bluff of the bay opposite this point.

Flowing wells. The well near Provement, noted above, which is 

now the property of Mrs. Florence Whitfield, of Ann Arbor, is about 

780 feet deep, and flows with a reported head of 40 feet, or about 60 

feet above Lake Michigan. It discharges with such force as to form 

an umbrella-shaped sheet, and to run a small brook, estimated at 

several barrels a minute. It is strong in sulphates with a considerable amount of H2S gas and also CO2 .

It is reported that the flow of water was struck in the upper part 

of the rock, but no definite data in addition to those published by 

Winchell could be obtained. There was a deposit of sand, gravel, 

and bowlders for 146 feet from the surface, beneath which was laminated clay for 135 feet, and beds of sand and clay for 25 feet. The 

water here came in and kept increasing until the rock was entered 

at about 312 feet.

Whether flowing wells could be obtained in this valley along Carp 

Lake at less depths has not been determined. The topographic 

situation in a valley between prominent drift ridges seems favorable 

for obtaining flows.

The Empire Lumber Company has a flowing well 54 feet in depth 

at its mill on the shore of Lake Michigan in Empire. The water 

comes from gravel under sand and possibly under clay. The water 

rises only about 8 feet above the lake.

Miscellaneous village supplies. The villages are all situated on low 

ground and consequently have shallow wells. No town has a como Record by A. Winchell, Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1875, p. 31.
ANTBIM AND CHAELEVOIX COUNTIES. 333

plete waterworks system, but at Suttons Bay N. S. Johnson has 

vided for a partial supply by damming a spring brook. A larger!

dam and complete waterworks are contemplated.

»

Village supplies in Leelanau County.

Town.

Maple City . . 

Northport...

Suttons Bay.

Population.

609

±300 

±200 

545

±300

398

Elevation.

Feet. 

1 5861 

\ 620/ 

600 

±700 

610 

( 6101 t TOO;

625 

600

Source.

Driven wells, Lake Michigan.

^^ells and t>av

Driven wells, springs. . . . 

Pond by waterworks, 

wells, and springs.

Depth of well.

From 

Feet. 

25

18 

16 

12

20

15 

17

ToFeet.

75

18 

90 

100

200

235 

70

Common.

Feet. 

35

18

25 

100

15 

30

Depth 

to 

water 

bed.

Feet.

18 

80 

100

100

Head.

Feet.

+ 4

-20

. 28

a- 5 

-25

-10 

-20

Springs.

Large.

Do. 

Do. 

Do.

Small. 

Do

o The postmaster at Northport has a well 90 feet deep that flows at 5 feet below cellar floor.

WATER SUPPLIES OF ANTRIM AND CHARLEVOIX

COUNTIES.

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

These two counties, which stand east of Grand Traverse Bay, are 

treated together, since they are so much alike. The part of Emmet 

County south of Little Traverse Bay is also included in the sam0 

description.

This district between Grand Traverse and Little Traverse bay$ 

contains a radiating system of finger lakes separated by prominent 

ridges, upon which drumlins have been developed. The lakes appar+- 

ently lie, in part at least, in deep pre-Glacial valleys whose bottom^ 

are 200 feet or more below the level of Lake Michigan. The ridgefe 

between have limestone exposed along the borders of Lake Michigan 

and Little Traverse Bay in Charlevoix and southern Emmet counties. 

Upon passing back to the southeast, Devonian shale sets in, which, hj 

places, reaches an altitude of 120 feet or more above Lake Michigan], 

or fully 700 feet above sea level. The shale formation has a very 

uneven surface, and the ridges have been padded -out with 'c'la^ 

deposits. These were derived from the shale in large part, probably 

through the abrasion by the ice sheet, and yet they are often lamifnated as if deposited in water and are nearly free from stones sueh-'^js 

appear in till. They are therefore considered lacustral rather thaiji 

glacial deposits. They are overlain by till, and thus shown to bfe 

inter-Glacial. The lake clays are built up on some ridges to a height 

of nearly 300 feet above Lake Michigan, or much higher than the top 

of the shale ridges. The lake clays when not too
334 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

till deposits have been shaped into drumlin form. Throughout 

much of the district, however, the drumlins are composed wholly of 

till. This drumlin district and the finger lakes associated with it 

finds its southeastern border in a* prominent moraine running from 

northeast to southwest across the southeastern part of Charlevoix 

and central part of Antrim counties. On the outer or southeastern 

border of this moraine is a gravel plain forming a well-defined line of 

glacial drainage utilized because of its smoothness by the Grand 

Rapids and Indiana Railway from Elmira southwestward to Kalkaska. East of this gravel plain is an abrupt rise of about 150 feet 

to another moraine and this has a gravel plain on its outer or southeastern face that covers the southeast part of Antrim County and 

embraces the source of Manistee River.

Striking differences in water supplies are found which are determined by the texture of the deposits and the topographic relations 

just outlined. In the gravel plains and also to a great extent in the 

moraines that lie southeast of the drumlin district the water table is 

found at a level as low as the neighboring lakes and streams, for 

there appears to be little or no clay above this level to prevent the 

water passing down.

On the high moraine east of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway, wells are accordingly sunk to a depth of about 200 feet, or to 

the level of lakes in the gravel plain along the railway. Wells are 50 

to 75 feet or more in this gravel plain. In the moraine west of the 

railway some wells have been found at depths of 30 to 50 feet, but 

the best supply is generally found by sinking to depths of 150 feet 

or more to a level in accord with streams on the inner face of the 

moraine.

Upon entering the drumlin area the conditions become more complex, for there no general water table is struck either near the surface 

or at great depths. The lake clay as well as the till carries water only 

along certain favored courses where there are sandy partings or veins, 

and the position of these can not be predetermined. Neighboring 

wells may, therefore, differ very greatly in depth, one obtaining water 

at 20 feet or less and its neighbor going to depths of 100 or even 200 

feet. Instances were found where wells on the crest of drumlins, 

standing nearly 100 feet above the bordering sags, have struck water 

at only 30 to 50 feet, while neighboring wells nearer the level of the 

sags have gone far below the level of the lowest ground in the vicinity 

before obtaining a good supply.

Along the borders of the system of finger lakes several small flowing-well districts have been developed as indicated below, but the 

wells seldom have such head as the great reliefs would lead one to 

expect, and the districts in which flows are obtainable seems to be 

restricted, like the supplies in the drumlin areas to favored localities.
ANTRIM AND CHAELEVOIX COUNTIES. 333

The valleys in which these lakes lie seem to be underlain by a looser^ 

textured material than the lake clay. This is commonly termec| 

quicksand, but in the absence of samples it can not well be compared 

with the lake clay exposed in the ridges. There is generally a coars4 

sand covering the valley bottoms, derived in part from hillside wash! 

whose full extent and relations are undetermined. Many wells in the 

valleys are very shallow and obtain their supply from the coarse sand]

The rock formations furnish but a limited part of this district with 

water, the only points noted being a narrow strip along the. border of 

Lake Michigan from near Norwood to Petoskey and thence eastward 

along the south side of Crooked Lake to Burt Lake.

FLOWING WELLS.

Flowing wells have been obtained from the rock near Norwood, and 

at Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Bay View, and possibly farther east ii} 

southern Emmet County, as indicated in the report by Mr. Gregory 

(pp. 365-378). The flowing-well districts of Charlevoix and Antrim 

counties have received only a hasty inspection by the writer in conj 

nection with other lines of investigation.

ALDEN.

Alden, a village on the east shore of Torch Lake, in Antrim County] 

has shallow wells on the shore of the lake with sufficient head to flowj 

but pumps are attached.

One well, made byL. Armstrong at a feed mill, is only 12 feet deep, 

and another, owned by Mr. Terrell, is of similar depth.

Benjamin Armstrong has a well about 100 feet deep on higheff 

ground in the eastern part of the village, the water in which stands 

just at the surface.

A deep boring was made north of the station in Alden by E. F4 

Foster, which struck water veins at 57, 68, and 86 feet depth. The 

water from the 68-foot vein rose to the surface at an altitude 10 feet 

above Torch Lake, but from the other veins it fell short a few feet^ 

The boring was carried to a depth of 278 feet without reaching rock] 

It was largely through sand, with thin beds of hard clayey material] 

to a depth of 86 feet. The remainder of the section was nearly al} 

clay, though some beds of fine quicksand 2 to 8 feet thick were passed 

through. The lower 27 feet was a hard blue clay, and the boring 

stopped in this deposit.

INTERMEDIATE LAKE DISTRICT. 

GENERAL RELATIONS.

Along the border of Intermediate Lake, from Central Lake village^ 

southward past Bellaire, the county seat of Antrim County, flowing 

wells are obtained at several points. Some are very shallow and pen-
336 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

etrate little but muck and marl. Others go to considerable depth 

through clay before striking a flow. The wells are all on low ground 

bordering the lake or its outlet. Those at Central Lake are at an altitude of 609 feet above tide, or 2 to 7 feet above the lake, and those 

between Central Lake and Bellaire are at similar altitudes, with the 

exception of a well at a schoolhouse in the northeast corner of sec. 7, 

T. 30 N., R. 7 W., which is on ground about 640 feet above tide, or 

33 feet above the lake. The waterworks wells in Bellaire are along 

the outlet of Intermediate Lake below the dam at an altitude of only 

600 feet, and a well south of Bellaire, on the border of Goose Lake, is 

at similar altitude. On each side of Intermediate Lake a rapid rise 

is made to uplands standing 200 feet or more above the lake. The 

head in the wells is only a few feet above the surface, or less than 

might be expected from the height of the bordering uplands. The 

uplands have a large amount of inter-Glacial lake clay capped by only 

a few feet of glacial deposits. This clay is very slowly pervious to 

water and may not therefore contribute much water to increase the 

head in the wells along the lake.

BELLAIRE.

An examination of the several flowing wells of Bellaire was made 

by Hon. Roswell Leavitt, of that city, prior to the writer's visit, and 

the data here presented were mostly collected by him.

There are two flowing wells at the Bellaire waterworks, one being 

a large excavated well 60 feet in depth, the other a tubular well 6 

inches in diameter and 55 feet in depth. The temperature of water 

from the tubular well is 47.8° F. The large well furnishes the main 

supply for the village, and water is pumped from it to a reservoir, 

which gives 72 pounds pressure at the level of the railroad station, 

614 feet above tide. When the flowing wells prove inadequate, water 

is pumped from the mill race. This is at times very unsatisfactory, 

and many citizens depend upon private wells, in which water is 

obtained at depths of 14 to 35 feet. It is thought that a supply from 

Cedar River, which comes into the village from an elevated district 

on the east, would be preferable to the water from the mill race, now 

turned into the public supply, which carries much refuse from a mill 

that stands above the intake.

A flowing well was obtained on the property of G. J. Noteware on 

the site of an old sawmill, about 1J miles south of Bellaire, at the east 

edge of Goose Lake, in the central part of sec. 31, T. 30 N., R. 7 W. 

The well had ceased flowing in 1904. The depth is about 28 feet, and 

it was made about 1890.

The schoolhouse well, in the northeast corner of sec. 7, T. 30 N., R. 

7 W., was not flowing in October, 1904, but is reported to discharge a
_ ANTKIM AND CHAELEVOIX COUNTIES. 33^

small stream from the pump spout in wet seasons. The depth is 47 

feet, and it was made about 1901.

On an island in Intermediate Lake in the southwestern part of sec, 

7, T. 30 N., K. 7 W. is a flowing well 28 feet deep made by S. Brodeway, which is used by summer visitors. No record was obtained, but, 

it is reported to have passed through marl.

Fisk Brothers have a camp and flowing well in sec. 1, T. 30 N., R| 

8 W. near the bank of Intermediate Lake and about 4 feet abov4 

water level. It was driven to a depth of 67 feet through sand and 

gravel and a bed of clay. Water barely comes to the surface. Il[ 

was made about 1902.

CENTRAL LAKE.

The strongest flow in the group in and near the village of Centra 

Lake is from the well of the Cameron Lumber Company, made ir. 

1902, which discharges 4 gallons a minute from an escape pipe three-' 

fourths of an inch in diameter, at an altitude of 10 feet above Intermediate Lake. The temperature was found to be 48° F., at a time 

when the air was 60° F. and the lake 64° F. The temperature is saic 

to be very uniform throughout the year and the flow steady. The 

well penetrated the following deposits: Sand, 2 feet; marl, 20 feet; 

yellow clay, 200 feet; sand and gravel, 7 feet. Another flowing wel 

one-half mile south of the Cameron well at a camp of Fisk Brothers iji 

only 21 feet deep. The well passed through a few feet of marl anc 

then clay before striking water. Analyses of these two wells and o: ! 

one other follow, the data being furnished by M. O. Leighton, of the 

United States Geological Survey.

Partial analyses of waters near Central Lake. 

[Parts per million.]

Color. ...................................................................

Iron (Fe)......................................................... .......

Chlorine (Cl). ............................................................

1.

5

trace. 

11.5

67.14

5

139+

2.

29

3

4

76.77

5

139+

3.

24

Strong

trace. 

9.1

86.9

8

139H

S. 3. Lewis, analyst. 1. Public supply (spring). 2. Cameron mill; depth 222 feet. 3. F. M. Fisk 

depth, 36 feet.

Just north of Bridge street in Central Lake, on the west bank of the 

lake, are four shallow flowing wells, which have been in operation fo:r 

several years. Charles Briggs's well, made in 1897, is 27 feet deep 

has IJ-inch pipe, and flows 3 quarts a minute at a level 3J feet above 

ground, or 614 feet above tide. The water will rise to 616 feet. The 

temperature is 50° F., or somewhat above that usual in this latitude 

IBE 183 06 23
338 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

The well passed through considerable bog line but started and ended 

in sand.

About 50 yards north of the Briggs well is the well of S. Frost, 37 

feet in depth with IJ-inch pipe and 1-inch escape. It flows 6 quarts 

a minute from a pipe 18 inches above the ground, or 610 feet above 

tide. The well has been running ten years.

Across the road from the Briggs well, on south side of Maple street, 

is the flowing well of Will Acker on ground 613 feet above tide. The 

well is 25 feet deep, and flows 5 quarts a minute from a pipe 15 inches 

above the surface. It flowed more rapidly when first made in 1896, 

and flows a little faster for two months in the spring. The well is 1J 

inches, but the escape pipe is three-fourths inch. The water will rise 

3 feet above the top of the pipe or to 617 feet. Considerable yellow 

sand was penetrated, but there is some clay and some marl or bog 

lime. The temperature is 48° F. The water is hard, but does not 

show much iron.

South of the Acker well near Bridge street is Mrs. Hastings's flowing 

well, 20 feet in depth, on ground 611 feet above tide. The water 

issues from the pipe 3 feet above the surface at the rate of 4.5 quarts 

a minute and has a temperature of 50° F. The water is hard. This 

well was driven in 1902. There was one a few feet west of this from 

which the pipe has been drawn because the screen was worn out.

At the old stave-mill site in the north part of Central Lake was a 

flowing well 66 feet deep that used to flow from a vein 33 feet below 

surface. This was not visited as no use is now made of the water.

SUMMARY.

Wells of Intermediate Lake district.

Owner and location.

GJ.Noteware, sec. 31, T.30 N.,R.7 W .

Schoolhouse, sec. 7, T. 30 N., R. 7 W. .

Fiskcamp, sec. 7, T.30N.,R.8 W...

S. Brodeway, sec. 7, T. 30 N., R. 7 W

Cameron Lumber Co., Central Lake.

S. Forest, Central Lake .............

 e

a

G

J3

^

1890

1901

1902

1902

1897

1894

1896

1902

c

0

W

Feet.

600

600

640

611

609

612

612

611

608

611

a

q

Feet.

S 60

\ 55

28

47

67

28

223

21

21

37

25

20

°^

a$

ff"S

W

.Feet

540

572

593

534

581

389

561

584

572

588

591

§

,*5

^

.Fee*.

1

1

643

612

612

+ 617

615

616

616

616

S3

te o>

J2 s

f=H

Gals.

16

3

6

5

4.5

g

2

o>

a

%

°F.

47 S

48

50

48

48

50

Quality.

Seeanalysis(p.337).

Do.

Hard.

Do.

Do.

Do.
ANTRIM AND CHARLEVOIX COUNTIES. 339 

NOBWOOD.

A flowing well 33 feet deep was made in 1866 at a mill in Norwood, 

at the edge of Lake Michigan, which is still flowing 13 feet above 

Lake Michigan. The water is from gravel.

Another flowing well was obtained in rock in 1904, in a test boring 

H miles south of Norwood. It struck the flow under shale at a depth 

of 150 feet and it is reported to discharge a full 4-inch stream."

The conditions seem favorable for obtaining flows at other points 

along the shore, if on ground less than 15 feet above the lake. There 

are numerous springs in the vicinity of Norwood, but they appear to 

seep from the hillside rather than boil up from the bed of gravel that 

yields a flow.

EAST JORDAN-SOUTH ABM DISTRICT.

East Jordan stands at the head of the south arm of Pine Lake in 

southern Charlevoix County. The valley in which the lake lies is 

about a mile wide. On each side is a rapid rise to uplands standing 

200 feet or more above the lake. The wells are on low ground bordering the lake, some of them being in a marsh underlain by marl that i 

probably a filled portion of the lake.

There are nine flowing wells at the East Jordan waterworks, ranging in depth from 75 to 105 feet and having a diameter of 3 inches 

They are all at an altitude of 585 feet and are confined to a space of o 

or 4 square rods, or not more than one-fortieth of an acre. They 

have a slight head and a total discharge of 56,000 gallons a day 

(See p. 346.)

At a shingle mill of the East Jordan Lumber Company, one-fourth 

mile south from the waterworks, is a flowing well 50 feet deep, and. 

there are two others at dwellings near by on the mill property. Th 

altitude is about 585 feet. The well at the mill flows 15 quarts i 

minute through a 1-inch escape pipe, and has a temperature of 46° F 

A well at one of the residences has a flow of 7 quarts a minute, and t 

temperature of 46° F. The rate of flow of the third well could not b 

ascertained, as it escaped from a box. The mill well has been running 

about thirteen years, but those at the dwellings are more recent, on 

being made in 1902.

On the north side of State street, at the drug store of L. C. Mattison 

there was a flowing well which became clogged and was abandoned 

Another well was then sunk to a depth of 70 feet that has a head of 

foot, but the pipe was not brought to a level low enough to allow it t< 

flow. This well passed through 30 feet of bog lime or marl and then 

through fine sand, no clay being present.

A boring near the corner of State and Second streets, made by W. L 

French, was carried to a depth of 280 feet entirely through fine san<

a. Data by William Harris, of Norwood.
340 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

with only an occasional fine pebble. The boring was abandoned without getting water, because of some difficulty in preventing sand from 

rising in the pipe. This boring serves to demonstrate the presence of 

a deep pre-Glacial valley under the lake, for it was driven to about 300 

feet above tide without reaching rock.

George Japson has a well at the east end of the bridge that crosses 

the south end of the lake, which has a head 4 feet above the surface, 

but which is prevented from flowing by having the pump pipe carried 

up to a level above the head of the water. The well is about 45 feet in 

depth, with 1^-inch pipe, and was made in 1897.

J. H. Lamway, in the village of South Arm, across the lake from 

East Jordan, has a flowing well 48 feet deep and 1J inches in diameter. 

It stands at the edge of the lake and has a head 18 inches above lake 

level. The rate of flow is 10 quarts a minute. It seems to be very 

largely through muck and bog lime, but as the pipe was driven with a 

sledge there is very little knowledge of the material penetrated. The 

well was made in 1890 to a depth of 44 feet. It became clogged in 1898 

and was then driven to 48 feet. The temperature is 48° F., or 2° 

higher than the East Jordan flows. An analysis of the water was 

made by Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lamway has two other wells, one at his barn 

and one at his store, each about 46 feet deep, that have a similar head 

to the flowing well by the lake, but being on higher ground they lack 

a few inches of reaching the surface. Other wells in the village when 

carried to depths of 40 feet or more show a rise nearly to the surface.

In the following table are given a number of partial analyses of 

water from Bellaire, South Arm, and East Jordan, including one from 

mill race leading from the river. The public supply at Bellaire is from 

a 60-foot flowing well; that of East Jordan from nine connected wells. 

The data were furnished by M. O. Leightoii, of the United States Geological Survey.

Partial analyses of waters from Bellaire, South Arm, and East Jordan. 

[ Parts per million.]

Color.......................

Chlorine (Cl).. ..............

Sulphur trioxide (SO3) .....

1.

24

19.2

72.99

0 

139+

2.

19

trace. 

4

65.96

5 

139+

3.

19

trace. 

11.6

66.2

5 

139+

4.

5

0

19.2

66.18

0 

139+

5.

5

trace. 

19.2

71.23

0 

139+

S. J. Lewis, analyst. 1. H. Richards, Bellaire; depth, 100 feet. 2. River (mill race), Bellaire. 3. 

Public supply (well), Bellaire; depth, 60 feet. 4. J. H. Lamway, South Ann; depth, 47 feet. 5. Public 

supply, East Jordan; depth, 75 feet.

IEONTON.

This village stands on the west shore of the south arm of Pine Lake, 

about 6 miles southeast of Charlevoix. The land rises rapidly westward from the lake to a drumlin area whose highest points are about
ANTRIM AND CHARLEVOIX COUNTIES. 34J

200 feet above lake level. On the slope wells have strong head when 

sunk to depths of 50 feet or more, but the shallow wells, 14 to 16 fee 3 

in depth, have but little head. There is a flowing well at Sequetata, 

a resort about a mile north of Ironton, at an altitude of 634 feet, or 54 

feet above Pine Lake. It is 120 feet deep and passed through consider - 

able red clay, probably inter-Glacial lake clay, before striking water. 

The water discharges at the rate of 2.4 quarts a minute at a level 2J> 

feet above the surface. The temperature is 48.5° F. and the diameteT 

of pipe 2 inches. The well was made in August, 1903.

About one-eighth mile west of this resort, on ground 31 feet higher], 

or 665 feet above tide, is a well at the residence of H. Coblentz, 50 feet 

in depth, in which water stands 1 foot below the surface. The diamefter of the well is 3| inches. The water is very hard and has a temperafture of 48.5° F.

There was a flowing well at Ironton, on the grounds of the Pine Lak^ 

Iron Company, which flowed a 1-inch stream for several years. It 

was made about twenty years ago, and is at an altitude of 605 feet 

above tide. The water now stands in the pipe about 1 foot above the 

level of the ground, but flowed over the top of the pipe 2 feet above the 

ground until 1903. When first made it would discharge from a pipe 

4 feet above the surface. The depth is 130 feet, and water was found 

in sand below clay.

BOYNE.

This town stands at the east end of Pine Lake, an arm of Lake Michigan, which opens into the main lake at Charlevoix. Several flowing 

wells have been obtained at the shore of the lake about 5 feet above 

water level, and others up the valley of Boyne Creek. They are not 

from a single water bed, but strike water at various depths. The 

shallowest ones only pass through marl or bog lime that fills marshes 

along Boyne Creek valley, but the majority go through clay and find 

water in sand.

The strongest flow is one recently made (September, 1904) at the 

Elm Cooperage Company mill, in the eastern edge of town, nearly one|- 

half mile from Pine Lake, but on the bank of Boyne Creek. The 

depth is 91 feet and the level of the discharge pipe 16 feet above Pine 

Lake, or 596 feet above sea level. It discharges a gallon in seven 

seconds from a f-inch nozzle, or at the rate of 7.5 gallons a minuto. 

The discharge from the 2-inch pipe was much greater. The water will 

rise to 605 feet, or 25 feet above the lake level. The well passed 

through marl and sand for 40 feet, then through a stiff clay to the 

water-bearing gravel at about 90 feet. The temperature of the wat4r 

is 46.5°, somewhat lower than that in wells of shallower depth anp 

weaker flow tested on the same day. The water shows less iron than 

is commonly found in flowing wells, but is rather hard for boiler use.
342 WELLS AND WATEB SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

The cost of drilling this well was 45 cents a foot (driller, Willis 

Wilson).

There are several flowing wells at Van Platen's mill, on the shore of 

Pine Lake, with a depth of 63 to 65 feet. Only one is permitted to 

flow at present, and this discharges nearly 4 gallons a minute from a 

1-inch pipe at 4 feet above the surface, or about 8 feet above the lake. 

The wells are 1 £ inches in diameter. These wells are near the engine, 

and the water seems to be affected by the heat, for it showed a temperature of 50° F.

Across the street the engineer of this mill, James Smith, has a flowing well 78 feet in depth, with a temperature of 48° F. It flows only 

half a gallon a minute, and the water carries considerable iron as 

well as lime.

White's machine shop has a weak flowing'well near the bank of 

Pine Lake, now clogged and out of use. It flows 3 quarts a minute 

and has a temperature of 49.5° F.

John Sudman has a flowing well on north side of Boyne Creek, 

about one-fourth mile from the lake, made in 1904, which obtained a 

flow from 47 feet depth. The water will rise 12 feet above the surface, or to 597 fee,t above tide, and discharges 1.5 gallons a minute 

from a IJ-inch pipe; temperature of water, 47.5° F.

There are two shallow wells across the creek from the cooperage mill, 

which strike flows under a bog-lime deposit at about 12 to 16 feet. 

Wm. Ormsley's well is 12 feet, has a head of 4 feet, and flows a gallon 

a minute. Its altitude is about 590 feet; temperature of water, 

50.5° F. It has a slight taste of sulphur. Mr. Curtis has one 16 feet 

deep that brought up "snail shells" from the bottom.

Wells driven in the business part of Boyne to depths of 30 to 35 

feet have a head very nearly level with the surface, which is 5 to 10 

feet above the lake.

The two partial analyses from drift wells at Boyne are given below. 

The determinations, which were made by S. J. Lewis, were furnished 

by M. O. Leighton, of the United States Geological Survey.

Partial analyses of well waters at Boyne. 

[ Parts per million.]

Colon........................................................................

Iron (Fe).... ............. ... . . ... ...............

Chlorine (Cl).... ................. ..... ... ............................

Sulphur trioxide (SOa) ................... ... ............................

1.

19

14

81.43

5

139+

2.

19

0

4

71.67

10

139+

1. Cooperage mill; depth, 91 feet. 2. City; depth, 26 feet.
ANTRIM AND CHAKLEVOIX COUNTIES. 343 

SPRINGWATER SIDING.

A single flowing well at Springwater siding on the Grand Kapids 

and Indiana Kailroad just south of the Charlevoix and Antrim county 

line gives the name "Springwater" to the siding. The well was du^ 

many years ago by L. Meaker, of Boyne Falls, who reports that for 

24 feet there was loose gravelly material, beneath which he found a 

blue clay, and after penetrating it a few feet struck the flow. It 

pours out over the top of the well and runs away as a small brook. 

The temperature is 46.5° F. The well is in a deep valley with bordering hills fully 200 feet higher near by on the east, which may easily 

serve as a catchment area and give the head.

The valley leading from this siding down to Boyne Falls has springs 

along its borders and bottom, which are probably fed from the water 

absorbed by the bordering hills. On the Kobbins's farm, about midway between Springwater siding and Boyne Falls, two wells 36 and 48 

feet in depth have water only 10 to 15 feet below the surface. They 

penetrated no clay, but are in sand and gravel from top to bottom.

BOYNE FALLS. j

The village of Boyne Falls is in a valley bordered closely on ths 

east by high land, the situation being similar to that at Springwater 

siding, but no flows have been obtained. A test boring was made 

about 1900 to a depth of nearly 300 feet on the McMahon property, 

one block north of the railroad station. There was some water at 

about 30 feet and at various lower depths, but the greatest head obtained was 30 feet below the surface. There is a large amount cf 

inter-Glacial lake clay in the highlands near this village which will not 

absorb water readily, and this may account for the failure to get flowing wells. Other tests, however, may result more successfully.

About 2% miles northeast of Boyne Falls, on the farm of John Haimon, is a well which when first made did not flow. But after the 

pump was attached the water burst in with greater head, causing the 

well to discharge through the pump spout a stream about one-half 

inch in diameter. This well was not visited, but was reported by L. 

Meaker to be in a depression among hills.

WALLOON LAKE DISTRICT.

A well is reported to flow on the Kokopf farm, on the west arm of 

Walloon Lake, but was not visited.

At the outlet of Walloon Lake a well 175 feet deep is reported to 

have flowed until it became clogged because of imperfect casing. 

This well is thought to have entered a gray shale at about 100 feet.

There was a flowing well at the tie mill by Bear Creek at Clarion, 

but it has been out of use for some years, and appears to have stopped
344 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN" SOUTHEEN MICHIGAN.

flowing, though the writer did not visit the spot to ascertain the present condition.

These wells are all located in valleys bordered by prominent drift 

ridges and are of value in showing the promising prospects for development of a flowing-well district in the valleys.

WATERWORKS.

ANTEIM COUNTY.

Waterworks plants are in operation at Bellaire, Central Lake, Elk 

Rapids, and Mancelona, all of which use surface water except Mancelona, though Bellaire is supplied in part by flowing wells (see pp. 336, 

345).

CENTRAL LAKE.

The public supply for Central Lake village is obtained from springs 

that issue on the slope west of the village at an altitude about 100 feet 

above the main part of town, as estimated by the reservoir pressure of 

45 pounds. The springs yield 2,000 gallons an hour. The water runs 

from the reservoir through a pipe only 3 inches in diameter, but this 

is adequate to carry the water needed by the village for domestic use. 

The character of the water is shown by the analysis made by S. J. 

Lewis (p. 337). The waterworks plant is owned by private individuals, but the village is arranging for its purchase at an early date.

The springs do not boil up from deep strata like the flowing wells, 

but issue at the outcrop of nearly horizontal beds of sand which occur 

between beds of inter-Glacial lake clay.

ELK RAPIDS.

The waterworks are in the hands of a private company. The 

supply is derived from Elk Lake, being pumped direct to mains with 

an ordinary pressure of 45 pounds and a fire pressure of 100 pounds. 

Water power is used to run the pumps. The plant was installed in 

1892.«

Private wells, which are in common use, are driven to the bottom 

of the sand at 20 to 25 feet. A boring 526 feet deep made by William 

H. Davis obtained a flow of water which is not utilized. The drift 

here is 475 feet, largely of blue clay said to be free from grit or pebbles.

MANCELONA.

The wells at Mancelona are sunk in the bottom of a natural basin 

about 40 feet below the general level of the town, and thus save the 

pipe necessary to reach water. The deposits penetrated are gravelly 

and the wells are cased to the water bed. Water is pumped direct to 

the mains.

"Manual of American Waterworks,
ANTRIM AND CHARLEVOIX COUNTIES. 6' 

MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES.

The principal data on village supplies of all sorts are embraced in 

the following table:

Village supplies in Antrim County.

Town.

Alba.........

Central Lake.

Echo .........

Ellsworth....

Elk Rapids . . 

Elmira.......

Finkton......

Maneelona . . .

Population 

(1900).

600-v500±

1,157 

1,301

350±

2,200 

300+

1,226 

300

Elevation.

Feet. 

1,171

603 

1,115

825

f 600 

\ 614

f 610 

\ 680

650 

600

620

f 610 

\ 650

595

1,233 

750

1,117

1,197 

600

Source.

fDriven wells, 

\ Torch Lake.

.....do.............

fDriven wells, and 

< stream by water1 works.

(Springs by water- 

< works, flowing 

[ wells, lake.

Driven wells, 

Torch Lake. 

Stream and lake, 

flowing wells. 

Driven wells, 

springs, lake. 

Elk Lake by waterworks, driven 

wells.

.....do.............

[Tubular wells by 

< waterworks, 

I driven wells.

Driven wells, 

Torch Lake.

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

75

1 »

70 

65

}" 

}.

10 

15

}"

1°

75 

50

I 40

100 

15

o

&H

Feet. 

125

278 

300 

150

115

230

20 

25

60

J0526 

\ 186

75 

100

125

100 

30

Common.

Feet. 

100

15

70 

JVaria- 

\ ble.

16-35

20 

20

45

} ,

75 

50

65

10C 

20

Depth to main

supply.

Feet. 

100

15

70 Variable.

100

20 

20

45

20

75 

50

65

100 

20

 s

M

Feet. 

f - 70 

t - 90 

|+2 

\ - 8 

- 65 

- 60 

-135

+ 3

{-"

+ 3

- 10 

- 10

- 16

- 50 

- 30

f - 32 

\ - 50

f + 4? \ _ gg

- 10

Springs.

1 Strong wes 

/ of Alba.

jsmall. 

Weak. 

} Do.

Strong.

I

Very strong 

supplying 

water] 

works. 

Strong. 

Weak?

Strong. 

Small.

None.

Weak. 

Do.

[ None.

Ismall. 

Do.

a Test well.

CHABLEVOIX COUNTY.

Waterworks have been installed in Bay Shore, Boyne, Charlevoi^, 

and East Jordan.

BAY SHORE.

The supply at Bay Shore is pumped from Lake Michigan to an el^- 

vated tank. It serves mainly for fire protection, private wells beinb 

the main domestic supply.

BOYNE.

The public supply is from springs that issue at the base of prominent hills on the south border of the town. The springs are in a ma::l 

bed under a foot or two of peat. The water, as may be expected, :LS 

hard and contains iron. It is collected under a shed which protec 

it from leaves and floating refuse matter, and flows by gravity to 

reservoir 67 feet above the level of Pine Lake, giving it all ,the pressure 

available at present.
346 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

CHARLEVOIX.

At Charlevoix water is obtained from Lake Michigan, a filtration 

gallery being used. This village sunk three deep wells some years ago 

for the purpose of obtaining a supply, but this proved unsatisfactory 

and the present supply was recently adopted. Water is pumped 

direct to the mains, with an ordinary pressure of 50 pounds and fire 

pressure of 100 pounds or more.

EAST JORDAN.

The supply at East Jordan is from nine flowing wells, as indicated on 

pages 339-340. The flow of these wells, amounting to 56,000 gallons 

a day, is not enough to meet the demands of the town, and pumps have 

been installed which draw about 300,000 gallons a day in the dry portion of the summer. The water is pumped to an elevated tank 20 by 

20 by 24 feet, standing on a tower at sufficient height to give 80 

pounds pressure at lake level. It has a temperature of 46° as it flows 

from the wells. The first wells were made in 1897, but some are as 

recent as 1901. An analysis is given in the table on page 340.

MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES.

The principal data on village supplies are embraced in the following 

table:

Village supplies in Charlevoix County.

Town.

Phelps.................

St. James (on Beaver 

Island) .

Population 

(1900) .

lOOdb 

350±

«2,453

431 

2,079 

200± 

1,205

150±

500±

Elevation.

Feet. 

600

625 

590

711

f 590 

\ 620

685

f 590 

\ 600

600 

600 

f 595 

\ 660 

700± 

600

950 

1, 100 ±

Source.

Wells, lake and 

springs. 

Lake Michigan by 

waterworks, open 

and driven wells. 

Springs by waterworks, driven 

wells, some flowing.

{

Lake Michigan by 

waterworks, 

driven wells.

{

Plowing wells by 

waterworks, 

wells and springs.

Wells and Pine Lake 

\Wells and Lake 

/ Michigan.

Driven wells, Lake 

Michigan.

Depth rock. to 

Feet. 

40

15

1 15 

| 230

1280+

}.....

Depth of 

wells.

£5 

2 PN

Ft. 

6

20 

10

14

h10 

25

17 

14

20

8 

12

65 

37

AEH

Ft. 

40

100 

90

120 

482 

30 

280

17 

60

175

30 

35

100 

70

o

s 

so

o

Ft. 

10

40 

20

25 

50 

25 

25

60

10 

25

65 

65

!M 

|

$"$ 

a-0 

"ft

OJ

0

Ft. 

30

40 

20

25 

50 

25

75

60

10 

25

~65"

 d

c3 

o>

K

Feet.

- 5

+ 5

-20

f+ 5 

\-30

+ 5

-15 

+ 1 

(+ 5 

1-30

__ £

-30 

-40

Springs.

Large. 

Small.

Large.

Small. 

| Do. 

Do. 

Large.

Do. 

Do.

| Do. 

Small.

None. 

Large.

a In 1904.
WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 347

WATER SUPPLIES OF OTSEGO COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT.

General statement. Otsego County, of which Gaylord is the county 

seat, is one of the most elevated counties in the north end of the 

Southern Peninsula and contains the headwaters of Au Sable, Manistee, and Cheboygan rivers. Its western edge was covered by the 

Lake Michigan lobe, but the remainder of the county by ice pushing 

southwestward from the north end of Lake Huron. There is an 

interlobate moraine in the southern part of the county, with Otsego 

Lake lying in the midst. The portion of the moraine west of the lake 

is the product of the Lake Michigan ice lobe, while that on the east 

was formed by ice from the Lake Huron basin. To the north and 

west of this interlobate tract is an extensive gravel plain standing in 

the reentrant angle between the two ice lobes. Its altitude at thenorthern edge is 1,350 to 1,400 feet above the sea, or nearly as high as 

the crest of the moraines which sweep around it on the east, north, and 

west. The city of Gaylord stands on this gravel plain. The portion 

of the county northeast of Gaylord is all morainic, but among the 

moraines there are numerous channels apparently formed by glacial 

waters as the ice was shrinking down the slope toward Lake Huron. 

This part of the county is drained northward to Cheboygan River 

through Pigeon and Sturgeon rivers. The southern part is drained to 

the Au Sable, which flows eastward to Lake Huron, while the western 

edge is drained by the Manistee, which leads westward into Lake 

Michigan.

The drift is probably several hundred feet in thickness except, perhaps, in the northeastern part. Rock in this part of the State is no 

known to occur at an altitude greater than 900 feet, and the surface o: 

this county would average about 1,200 feet.

Wells. Wells on the elevated tracts 1,350 to 1,450 feet above tide 

are 100 to 325 feet in depth, the deepest well reported being in Dovei 

Township, a few miles northeast of Gaylord. Two wells on the moraine 

southeast of Otsego Lake, at an altitude of 1,375 to 1,400 feet, are 

each 175 feet deep and have only a few feet of water in the bottom, 

Wells on the high moraine east and south of Elmira are from 130 tc 

250 feet in depth. On the high moraine west of Vanderbilt, Johr 

Warner has a well 275 feet in depth, on ground about 1,350 feet above 

tide, in which there is only 30 feet of water; after penetrating 20 feet o: 

surface till, this well was mainly in dry gravel and sand to the water bee 

at about 270 feet. On the gravel plain in the reentrant angle betweer 

the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron moraines, northwest of Gaylord, 

several wells are 160 to 175 feet in depth, the altitude being aboui 

1,380 feet. South from these wells, on ground about 1,325 feet abovo 

tide, are wells 100 to 120 feet in depth which have scarcely 20 feet o:
348 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

water. At Gaylord, at an altitude of about 1,340 feet, the usual depth, 

of wells is 80 feet, and wells are 80 to 120 feet from. Gaylord eastward 

past Johannesburg. Around Otsego Lake the wells are much shallower, the range being from 18 to. 45 feet, but the altitude there is a 

little less than 1,300 feet. Wells are also obtained at depths of 40 to 

50 feet in a belt running northwest from Otsego Lake to the edge of 

Elmira Township. Around Vanderbilt the wells are only 40 feet and 

strike water at 30 feet; but this town is on a gravel plain much lower 

than that at Qaylord, the railroad station being 1,090 feet. On the 

moraine north of Vanderbilt, near the line of Otsego and Cheboygan 

counties, at an altitude of 1,175 feet, several wells are about 180 feet 

in depth.

The following communication from Mr. J. B. F. Gocha, an experienced well driller at Gaylord, gives the results of a season's drilling in 

1901 in that region, and notes concerning the deepest well yet reported. 

All are tubular wells except one in Livingston Township, which was 

driven.

Wells in Otsego County and vicinity.

Township.

Star. ......................................

Do.....................................

Q aylord ...................................

Do.....................................

Do.....................................

Dover............................ ... ..

Do.....................................

Hayes. ....................................

Do.....................................

County.

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

..:.. do. ...................................

.....do....................................

.... .do.. ...... ............................

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

.....do....................................

Diameter.

Inches. 

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

U

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Depth.

Feet 

112

159

82

59

100

98

91

92

75

30

117

106

73

92

325

89

70

211

110

Mr. Gocha says:

The soil in these wells is mostly plaster sand, with some gravel and cobblestone and hardhead stone and some clay, but not much. These wells were all made with No. 60 gauze 

points or screens, with Eureka brass cylinders and Maud S. pumps. The water does not 

rise at all and you have to case every foot of it [the well]. In my 325-foot well in Dover 

Township I had to dig down 223 feet and put in a 4-inch casing 7 feet long to keep the sand 

and water from holding my 2-inch casing in about 7 feet of clay. There was 3 feet of water 

on the clay. The well is now in good running order, and I am going to put in a 10-foot 

Fairbanks windmill to pump the water. The water is hard. It is for farm use.

Springs. Springs of considerable strength are found along the 

borders of the streams, but hillside springs are exceedingly rare, since 

the water table under the hills is nearly as low as in the surface of the 

streams.
MONTMOKENCY COUNTY. 349

Waterworks. The public supply of Gaylord is from a well 80 feet 

deep, from which water is pumped to a standpipe. The well penetrated gravel for its entire depth and came into water near the bottom, 

the general level of the water table being nearly 80 feet below the surface. Many of the residents depend on private wells, though the public water supply is considered of good quality.

WATER SUPPLIES OF MONTMORENCY COUNTY. i

By FRANK LEVERETT. ;

Montmorency County lies east of Otsego County. The large! 

morainic belt of northeastern Otsego runs southeastward across it, 

covering much of the central and southwestern parts. The south^ 

west corner is on an elevated gravel plain. The northern and eastern! 

parts of the county are largely sandy plains, in which there are small 

lakes and swampy areas, some being of considerable extent. Thesej 

plains extend southwestward into the high moraine in recesses com^ 

parable to the finger-lake tracts of the Lake Michigan slope in Antrirq 

and Charlevoix counties (pp. 333-334), but have only a small part cov^ 

ered with lakes. The prominences between them are morainic and 

not shaped into drumlin form, as they are in Antrim and Charlevois 

counties. The entire drainage is tributary to Lake Huron, bui 

drains in various directions. The northwestern part of the county is 

drained northward by Black River to the Cheboygan; the southwestern corner southward to the Au Sable, and the remainder and greateif 

part eastward by various tributaries of Thunder Bay River to thd 

lake at Alpena. Each stream is bordered by broad sandy tract^ 

along much of its course. Most of the streams originate in springs! 

and there is a large amount of seepage into them from the bordering 

plains. A spring a few miles northeast of Atlanta is reported to disj 

charge a large amount of inflammable gas, but it was not visited bjf 

the writer.

There are few settlers except in or near Vienna and Lewiston in th^ 

southwestern part, Atlanta (the county seat) in the central part, and 

Hillman in the eastern part of the county; the entire pouplation nj. 

1900 was only 3,234. The main farming settlements are within a few 

miles north and south of Hillman, where the soil carries a considerable amount of clay both on the moraines and plains. There are also 

a number of good farms in the southwestern fourth of the county, 

chiefly on the elevated moraine and the gravel plain outside of it.

In this county, as in Otsego, wells generally need to penetrate to 

about the level of the base of the morainic ridges to find adequate 

supplies. At Lewiston, which is built on the borders of Twin Lakes, 

the wells are shallow, although the altitude is high. At Vienna, and 

east from there in the moraine, the wells usually reach depths of 100
350 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

feet or more. Atlanta is in a plain near Thunder Bay River and has 

shallow wells, and Hillman (also on this plain) has wells of moderate 

depth. The neighboring farming districts, also being largely on 

ground but little above the river, have shallow wells. Lewiston has 

waterworks used chiefly for fire protection and supplied from Twin 

Lakes. Hillman has a plant for fire protection supplied from Thunder Bay River. Atlanta is planning for a plant for fire protection 

supplied by Thunder Bay River.

The principal data on wells in and near the villages are included in 

the following table :

Village supplies in Montmorency County.

Town.

Big Rock......

Valentine Lake

Elevation.

Feet. 

900 

950 

800

1,200

950 

1.300

Source.

Thunder Bay River, by 

waterworks, open and 

driven wells. 

Lakes, by waterworks, 

driven wells.

.....do. ...................

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

14 

10 

25

22

30 

50

To 

Feet. 

24 

65 

350

36

217 

140

Common.

Feet. 

22 

30 

50

30

45 

110

Depth 

to water bed.

Feet. 

22 

50 

75

25

45 

110

Head.

Feet. -15 

-30 

-30

-22

-50

Springs.

Large. 

Do. 

Small.

Large. 

Small.

WATER SUPPLIES OF ALPENA COUNTY. 

By FKANK LEVEEETT.

Alpena County fronts on Lake Huron in the northeastern part of 

the Southern Peninsula, the county seat being the city of Alpena. It 

is all within the drainage basin of Thunder Bay River except a narrow 

strip next to Lake Huron. The southwestern part is elevated like 

the adjoining parts of Montmorency and Alcona counties, with ridges 

rising to nearly 1,200 feet, and has very few settlers. The remainder 

of the county is comparatively low, most of it being between 700 and 

900 feet above tide. There are a few square miles of barren sand 

along the shore of Lake Huron west and south of Alpena and a swamp 

in the northwestern part of the county occupying several square 

miles. With these exceptions and counting out the elevated tracts 

in the southwest, the county is well adapted for farming and is 

already largely under cultivation. In the northern half, rock is near 

the surface, and in a limestone district which runs from Alpena 

northwestward the bed rock is often exposed in roadside ditches and 

forms a low cliff south of Long Lake.. Sink holes abound from near 

Flanders, northward past Long Rapids, into Presque Isle County. 

The north branch of Thunder Bay River, when the country was first 

settled, had its entire low-water flow absorbed by a sink hole at the
ALPENA COUNTY. 351

side o'f its valley near the line of Presque Isle and Alpena counties, 

but a dam has now been constructed which prevents it from entering.

In the limestone district in the northern part of the county the 

depth of wells varies greatly because of the different levels at which 

water is found in the rock. This seems to be completely filled with 

water only to a level a little above Lake Huron; but there are in 

places higher shale beds that prevent the water from going directly 

down to this low-water table, and in such places wells can usually be 

had at moderate depth, though even in these places they often reach 

depths of 50 to 100 feet. The water is usually of good quality for 

drinking, though very hard.

In the southern half of the county, where the wells draw their supply from the drift, the depth ranges from 20 feet to about 120 feet, 

the deepest wells being on the ridges.

At Alpena there are several deep wells which obtain a large supply 

of flowing water from 600 to 650 feet, some of the wells being carried 

to much greater depths. The water is reported to rise to about 40 

feet above Lake Huron. It is sulphated and sulphureted, but is not 

very salt and can be drunk without much discomfort. The temperature of a well at the office of the Fletcher Paper Company was 53.5° 

on August 8, 1905. Analyses appear in Water-Supply Paper No. 31, 

pages 72 and 73.

Springs are not so conspicuous in this county as in the higher 

counties to the south and west, but there are weak ones along the 

water courses at numerous points.

The city of Alpena purchased in 1905 the old plant of a private 

water company'installed in 1879, which, it is reported, has a considerable extent of wooden mains and is generally run down. It is 

proposed to use this only until a new plant can be installed. The 

supply is drawn from Thunder Bay and pumped direct to the mains.

The principal data concerning the supplies at the several villages 

and in vicinity of country post-offices are presented in the following 

table:

Village supplies in Alpena County.

Town.

Hubbard Lake. 

Long Rapids . .

Elevation.

Feet. 

585-610

730 

725 

760-800 

725 

725-825 

604

Source.

Thunder Bay, deep and 

shallow wells. 

Open and drilled wells. . . . 

.....do....................

. ....do. .................. .

.....do....................

.....do....................

Devil River, springs, no 

wells.

Depth 

to rock.

Feet. 0-80

0-20 

5-20 

50-80

0-20

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

20

10 

8 

20 

20 

20

To 

Feet. 

1,278

100 

100 

80 

120 

60

Common.

Feet. 

640

50 

75 

Variable . . 

.....do....

60

Depth to 

main 

supply.

Feet. 

620

50-100 

50-100 

Variable. 

Do. 

60
352 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

WATER SUPPLIES OF PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT.

General statement. Presque Isle County has an extensive frontage 

on Lake Huron above Alpena County, and its county seat, Rogers, 

stands on the lake shore. The greater part of the county has limestone at slight depth. The southwest corner, a morainic tract in 

Moltke Township west of Rogers, and another in the northwest part 

of the county, are the only districts in the county where the drift 

deposits are so thick as to supply wells and leave the distance to rock 

uncertain. A chain of sink holes in the southwest corner is thought 

to indicate that limestone immediately underlies the drift there, and 

if so the entire county has a limestone platform beneath the drift, 

except at the outcrops of the narrow strips of shale that occur between 

the limestones. Low escarpments face northeast near Ocqueoc and 

south of Rogers, continuing southeastward into Alpena County. 

Grand Lake and Long Lake in the eastern part of the county lie at the 

base of such limestone cliffs.

Part of the southern side of the county drains into the north fork 

of Thunder Bay River and thence southward. The southwest part 

drains northwestward, through Rainy and Black rivers, to Cheboygan 

River. A narrow belt along the lake front drains more directly to 

Lake Huron through several small streams.

Wells. The best supplies of water in the limestone are found at 

levels nearly as low as the surface of Lake Huron. This is well shown 

at Onaway, where the largest supplies are from 250 feet, and also at 

numerous farm wells in the central and eastern parts of the county. 

In the villages the wells are usually of less depth, drawing on weak 

surface veins. No deep wells have been made in the region of heavy 

drift in the southwestern part of the county, where there are very few 

settlers. The belt of heavy drift in Moltke Township is thickly settled and has some deep wells, several being over 100 feet, and one, 

that of F. Sargenfrei, in sec. 23, being 260 feet. The Sargenfrei well 

is about 270 feet above the surface of Lake Huron, and is thought to 

have struck rock at bottom. The other wells are at about the same 

altitude and have not reached rock. At Rogers there is a gap in the 

limestone bluff filled in by drift to a level 50 to 80 feet below Lake 

Huron, and in this flowing wells may be obtained, as indicated below.

Flowing wells can probably be obtained only on low ground near 

the shore of Lake Huron. A flowing well has been obtained at a gristmill at Rogers by penetrating to a depth of about 100 feet. It struck 

water in gravel and has a head 15 feet above the surface and about 

30 feet above Lake Huron. The well is 6 inches in diameter and 

flows 2 barrels a minute."

a Reported by W. F. Cooper.
PRESQUE ISLE AND CHEBOYGAN COUNTIES. 353

Waterworks. The waterworks plant at Onaway in the western part 

of the county is supplied by two wells 190 and 235 feet deep, which 

enter rock near the surface and are largely through limestone. The 

water is pumped to a reservoir on a hill in the south part of town, 

standing nearly 100 feet above the railway station. The waterworks 

supply is in general use for domestic and manufacturing purposes, as 

well as for fire protection and sprinkling. The average daily consumption is about 60,000 gallons."

Miscellaneous village supplies. The principal data on supplies at 

villages and in the vicinity of country post-offices are presented in 

the following table:

Village supplies ofPresque Isle County.

Town.

Rocque.

Metz..........

Elevation.

Feet.

600

775

815

785

800

830

788

600

Source.

Wells......................

Open and driven wells, lake

Depth 

to rock.

Feet.

50

15

5

38

f 60 

\ 100

Depth of wells.

2

Feet.

30

8

12

30

15

o

Feet.

10

60

38

40

600

38

165

1

a

a

o

Feet.

8

35

20

20

200

38

22

n

ft

ft

Feet.

35

20

250

......

"2 

§

tn

Feet.

 25

 5

 8

 ii

+15

Springs.

Small.

Small.

Do.

Do.

WATER SUPPLIES OF CHEBOYGAN COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Cheboygan County fronts on Lake Huron immediately east of the 

Straits of Mackinac. It is comparatively low along the lake shore, 

and its northern half has only a few square miles higher than 200 feet 

above lake level. Except for a few islands this part was once covered 

by Lake Algonquin. It contains four inland lakes Douglas, Burt, 

Mullet, and Black each with an area of several square miles, and 

several smaller lakes. Its southern half is largely morainic and 

reaches altitudes of 1,000 to 1,200 feet on the south border.

Each of the streams running northward through the southern half 

of the county flows through valleys or plains 1 to 3 miles wide, above 

which the moraines rise to heights of 200 feet or more. The eastern 

half of the county is largely unsettled except in a strip running southeastward from Cheboygan past Black Lake to Onaway, and much of 

the southeast quarter is still covered by hard-wood forests. The 

western half is largely cleared and much of it is settled.

a Data by W. Barker, superintendent of waterworks. 

IBB 183 06 24
354 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Limestone, with altitudes ranging from 350 feet below to 250 feet 

or more above Lake Huron, immediately underlies the drift of Cheboygan County and extends nearly to the southern end of the county. 

It is, however, covered thickly with drift in the southern townships 

and also from Mullet and Burt lakes southward, and is seldom 

reached by shallow wells in the north. At Cheboygan, the bed of a 

pre-Glacial valley 350 feet below the level of Lake Huron is reached 

by borings, and it is probable that this valley underlies Mullet Lake 

and comes in from the south past Wolverine along or near Sturgeon 

River Valley, for a boring at Wolverine about 300 feet deep did not 

reach rock.

In the settlements made on the moraines in the southwestern part 

of the county and in a rolling tract north and east of Douglas and 

Burt lakes, wells are generally sunk to the level of neighboring valleys or plains or to depths ranging from 50 to 250 feet or more In 

the valleys of "the south, and in the bed of Lake Algonquin in the north 

part, wells are usually obtained at shallow depths unless flowing wells 

are desired. These are usually 100 feet or more in depth even when 

on ground but little above the inland lakes.

The conditions are favorable for obtaining flowing wells around the 

south end of Burt Lake, and along the western border of Mullets 

Lake, and to some distance southward along valleys that drain into 

these lakes. It is probable also that flowing wells could be obtained 

at moderate depths along Black River as far up as Black Lake, and 

perhaps along the part of the stream above the lake, as far as settlements have reached. But this valley has not as yet been tested sufficiently to determine the artesian prospects. There are also swampy 

tracts along the northern side of uplands southwest and west of Cheboygan, in which flows may be expected if borings are carried to 

moderate depths, for the wells 011 these uplands have a head somewhat above the swamps, beneath which the underground drainage is 

likely to pass on its way to Lake Huron. The principal development 

of flowing wells has been at Indian River and other points at the 

south end of Burt Lake, and along the west side of, Mullet Lake.

SPRINGS.

At the south edge of a narrow ridge that lies between Douglas and 

Burt lakes is a spring that is thought to be the largest in the Southern 

Peninsula of Michigan. It emerges from the ridge as a torrent about 

36 feet wide and 6 to 18 inches deep, which rushes down to Burt 

Lake with a fall of about 25 feet in a distance of perhaps one-half 

mile. The spring at its point of emergence is about 75 feet lower than 

Douglas Lake, and only one-half mile distant, and is thought to be fed 

by the waters of that lake. After leaving the field the writer learned 

that there is a whirlpool near an island in Douglas Lake which marks
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY. 355

the probable intake of the lake water. The temperature of the spring 

on October 29, 1904, was found to be 50° F., which is about 4° higher 

than the temperature of flowing wells in that region, and in harmony 

with shallow wells supplied with surface water, and whose temperature at that time of the year is about at its maximum. Possibly a 

more careful investigation would fully settle the question of the relation of this spring to Douglas Lake. Easily recognized objects or 

substances if thrown into the whirlpool in the lake might be detected 

in the spring and perhaps the rate of flow from the lake to the spring 

determined.

WATERWORKS.

CHEBOYGAN.

The waterworks plant is supplied from drilled wells 408 feet in 

depth which would flow if permitted, but is provided with an air lift 

in order to increase the yield. The temperature is 51.8° F., or about 

5° higher than from the shallow flowing wells of that region."

The wells penetrated about 360 feet of drift of which the upper part 

to a depth of 150 feet is largely clay, but the remainder is nearly all 

sand. The wells terminate in dolomitic limestone, of the Monroe 

group. The record of a deep boring at Cheboygan (2,750 feet), made 

to test prospects for oil and gas, appears in the report of the State 

geologist for 1901, pages 230-231.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

At Freedom, on the shore of Lake Huron, wells are driven to depths 

of 30 to 50 feet, or about to the level of Lake Huron.

At Mullet Lake and Indian River the main supplies are from 

flowing wells, which are discussed below.

At Rondo, Wolverine, and Trowbridge, in the valley of Sturgeon 

River, water is usually found at depths of 25 to 75 feet and on the 

low bottom lands at less than 25 feet. An oil boring at Wolveriife 

on ground 62 feet above the railway station, or 835 feet above tide, 

was abandoned at about 300 feet without reaching rock. It found a 

large amount of water, but the pressure was not sufficient for a flow.

FLOWING WELLS. &

MULLET LAKE.c

A flowing well some 2 or 3 miles back from Mullet Lake on the 

farm of George Long, sec. 1, T. 36 N., R. 2 W., suggests the possibility of a large extension of the flowing-well district to the west from 

the northern part of Mullet Lake, but this is at present the only well 

back from the immediate lake border. The Long well was visited

"Data from A. C. Lane. 6 By W. M. Gregory. cBy Frank Leverett.
356 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

by the writer in October, 1904, and found to have an altitude about 

60 feet above Mullet Lake, or 650 feet above tide, and to be bordered 

on the southwest by a range of hills 100 feet higher. Its depth is 97 

feet, its head 26 feet, and its flow 2 gallons a minute through a 1-inch 

pipe. The temperature October 26, 1904, was 46° F. The well 

passed through 30 feet of hard clay just before striking the waterbearing gravel at bottom of well.

HAAKWOOD.a

At Haakwood station on the Michigan Central Railroad about 7 

miles south of Indian River in the Sturgeon River Valley is a strong 

flowing well made by the Haak Lumber Company. The depth is 

205 feet, diameter 3.5 inches, and flow about 9 gallons a minute. 

The well penetrated surface sand for 100 feet, then clay for 100 feet, 

and obtained water from gravel at bottom. The water will run 

from the top of a pipe extending 18 to 20 feet above the surface of 

the ground, but how much higher it will rise it has not been ascertained. The water is distributed as follows: One main about 300 

feet long to barn; another about 1,200 feet long to the sawmill, and 

also 1,200 feet to some tenement houses. There are nine taps with 

nozzles that reduce the flow at each tap to a small stream that runs 

constantly.

The following analysis of this flowing-well water was made at 

Saginaw by H. and W. Heim, analytical chemists, September 11, 

1900:

Analysis of water of Haakwood wett.b

Parts per million. 

Total residue............................................................. 297. 5

Total mineral residue..................................................... 227. 5

Hardness................................................................ 185. 72

Permanent hardness...................................................... 42. 86

Silica (SiO2)..:.......................................................... 5. 50

IrOn and alumina (Fe2Os, A12OS)............................................ 37

Calcium (Ca)............................................................. 60. 01

Magnesium (Mg)......................................................... 10. 03

Sulphate radicle (SO4)..................................................... 12. 35

Carbonate radicle (CO3) .......................^........................... 86. 91

Chlorine (Cl)............................................................. Trace.

Nitrates and nitrites...................................................... NoneL

211.80

No other wells have been drilled at this point to sufficient depth 

to reach this water bed. The valley is bordered by high morainic

a Data by Haak Lumber Company.

& Expressed by analyst in hypothetical combinations; recomputed to ionic form at United States 

Geological Survey.
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY. 357

hills on either side, which probably serve as a catchment area, and 

flows should be obtained in it wherever the water beds are confined 

by clay, as in this well.

CHEBOYGAN.

In the city of Cheboygan good flows were formerly obtained at 

depths of 20 to 100 feet in a strip of land bordering Cheboygan River. 

Mr. Spiller, a retired well driller, says that a number of wells drilled 

by him twenty to twenty-five years ago gave strong flows at that 

time, although at present the water in them stands at nearly the 

same level as in the river. Messrs. Robert Patterson, Harris Embry, 

Withnow, and Brenton, all neighbors of Mr. Spiller, have wells at 

60, 30, 19, and 25 feet deep, respectively. These all formerly flowed, 

but now the water level is 15 to 20 feet below the surface. The 

cause of the decrease in head is thought to be due to dredgmg a 

10-foot channel in the river. Mr. Spiller observed that during the 

blasting for the removal of some of the large bowlders all the wells 

of his neighborhood ceased to flow. At the tannery of the Northern 

Extract Company several flowing wells were used for a few years, 

but at the present time a flowing well 6 inches in diameter and 629 

feet deep furnishes an abundant supply of a hard alkaline water. 

There are several other deep wells in Cheboygan. Three are owned 

by the Fletcher Paper Company and one by C. Moench Sons Company. The city waterworks are supplied by a flowing well 408 feet 

deep, which, according to Dr. A. C. Lane, has a temperature of 51.8° F.°

INDIAN RIVER AREA.

The artesian wells of Indian River are within an area of 2 square 

miles at the outlet of Burt Lake. The wells are on a low sand plain 

between higher tracts to the north and south of the village. The 

elevation of the well district varies from 600 to 640 feet above tide 

(see fig. 65, next page), while the catchment area to the south 

attains, within 8 or 10 miles, an altitude of more than 1,000 feet.

The wells of Indian River belong to a general belt which extends 

from Harbor Springs to Cheboygan, as outlined in the Harbor Springs 

discussion (pp. 366-370), and it is probable that flows may be 

obtained from Indian River all along the south and east shore of 

Burt Lake and the marsh that connects Crooked Lake with Burt Lake.

In the limits of the Indian River area 43 flowing wells have been 

made, and at the date of observation (August, 1904) 40 were in operation. In this village the first well was made in 1889 by George Patterson, and has been flowing with no apparent decrease in volume 

since drilling. The wells in the village are used entirely for domestic 

and laundry purposes, while at the summer resort of Columbus Beach

a Geol. Survey of Michigan, Ann. Eept. for 1901, pp. 230, 248, 249.
358 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

the purity and abundance of the water are attractions for summer 

homes. The summer population at Columbus Beach is supplied 

from 17 wells, the abundance and pressure of the water being such 

that some places have bathrooms on the second floor.

The wells are drilled by contract, the price varying from $60 to 

$125, according to the depth. The toughness of the clay beds and 

the presence of bowlders in a few of the wells renders drilling rather 

slow north of the river, and four days is the usual time for complet-
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY. 359

ing a well, though some of the wells with plenty of sand have been 

completed in two days. No rock has been reached and casing has 

not been found necessary except in wells where the sand was troublesome.

In this area it is fortunate that the overlying beds are so impervious, otherwise much of the pressure would be lost and trouble would 

be experienced in leakage about the pipe, as is occasionally found in 

wells at Onekama and West Branch. In this region the wells are 

greatly appreciated, as is shown by the presence of a number of carefully piped wells with check valves, as the wells of Mr. Martin, 

W. H. Morgan, and others. At the summer resort of Columbus Beach 

the wells are carefully shut off for the winter.

Flow. The total flow of wells in this district was determined 

by measuring wells flowing freely, and making estimates of those 

with check valves and of those piped to several houses. Such estimates have been starred in the tabulation of well data from this 

area. Mr. Morgan, a practical well driller, is the authority for the 

flow of a number of wells, which were measured at time of drilling. 

The total flow is 5,448 gallons a minute, which includes estimates 

on wells which are reduced or have check valves. This is an average of 136.2 gallons a minute for each well and is the highest average of any well area examined in this region. The well having the 

largest flow is that belonging to Mr. Mihan Green (No. 24 on table), 

which out of several tests has given 224 gallons a minute as the average. No trouble has been experienced with a decrease in the head 

and no records are at hand to indicate any failure to obtain a supply.

In drilling for water in this area only one bed has been found which 

yields a usable flow. This bed is irregular in depth in various parts 

of town and appears to dip slightly west to Burt Lake. It ranges in 

depth from 86 feet below the surface, as in the well of Mr. B. Field's 

(No. 21) in the eastern part of town, to 175 feet at the Columbus 

Beach Club house (No. 38).

The bed is about 10 feet thick and is of rather coarse gravel, with a 

slight admixture of sand, which flows out in a few days after the well 

is completed. The water bed may not be far above the rock, as at 

the Colonial Hotel, 4 miles northwest, rock is found at 140 feet, and 2 

miles to the south rock ledges are present in hills which are 100 feet 

higher than the village.

The wells south of the river have sand beds at the surface from 30 

to 50 feet thick, and the remainder is hard clay. The latter is varied 

in a few of the wells by having many sand and gravel layers which 

yield some water, but not enough for a flow. North of the river hardpan clay is on the surface and forms the larger part of the wells for 

about 40 feet, as at Mr. T. Dagwell's well (No. 17), which has a small
360 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

surface layer of sand and the remainder clay, the upper part of which 

contains bowlders.

The wells at Columbus Beach have the finest beds of sand midway 

of the depth and small beds of light-colored clay below. No failure 

to reach the water bed was reported, but there are wells which do not 

flow. The well at the public school (No. 41) did not flow, the water 

being about 10 feet below the surface. By cutting off the pipe and 

carrying the water down the hill some 10 feet a weak flow was made.

Well drillers will not try for a flow when the surface is over 30 feet 

above the water level of the river, and on the map (fig. 65) it will be 

seen that flowing wells are below the 640-foot contour. In all parts 

of the village south of the river flows may be found, but to the north 

the area is limited.

The wells have the strongest force near the river, and some of the 

homes are fitted up with flush closets and bathrooms, using the water 

in the same manner as a city supply. Mr.W. H. Morgan (No. 7) has 

sinks, closets, and bathroom; none of the water is wasted, as it is controlled by check valves. Mr. F. E. Martin (No. 2) has coupled both 

his wells to a small hand fire engine, which gives plenty of water, and 

a good pressure in case of fire. A small plant for village fire protection could be installed at small expense by use of a gas engine and 

small distributing pipes, or a portable hand engine fitted for quick 

connection with several wells scattered about the village. The Alcove 

Hotel has sinks for kitchen use, flush closets in second story, and 4 

stationary stands in a wash room, all supplied from one well. The 

water from this well rose 23 feet in a hose attached to it, and with the 

nozzle at the mouth of the well the water went vertically 12 feet into 

the air.

Several ornamental fountains are operated by wells. Medbury's 

well (No. 34) supplies several families and a fountain; in the latter 

water rises 15 feet through a quarter-inch aperture.

The Indian River area is in a valley or lowland plain at the outlet 

of Burt Lake. To the south, about 685 feet above tide, is a sand 

plain, which is several miles wide and ends some 3 miles south of Indian 

River in morainal hills, which show rock outcrops up to 720 feet above 

tide, the drift surface being about 100 feet higher there and of much 

greater altitude farther south. There beds of loose-textured drift 

material, dipping to the north and covered by the later deposits of 

lake sand and clay, form the probable catchment area of the wells.

Clay, with a few bowlders, is present north of the village, but the 

highest hills in that direction scarcely reach an elevation of 850 feet. 

On the eastern side of Burt Lake the sand-capped clay is 40 feet above 

ake level, as shown by the abundance of springs. The porous overw.ash to the north may contribute somewhat to the flows of Indian
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY. 361

River, but the larger supply is believed to come from the beds to the 

south.

Quality of water. Examination of water from several wells of Indian 

River shows that its hardness averages a little higher than that from 

Oden, Harbor Springs, or Conway. Complaints are frequent that the 

water is hard, requiring the use of softening compounds for laundry 

purposes, though it is excellent for drinking. Sulphates were absent 

from the waters examined, and chlorides were present in small 

amount. The hardness is easily remedied, and this is fortunate, for 

the chief use of-the water in this district is for domestic purposes. 

The presence of iron was not indicated by tests or deposits of the carbonate about any of the wells. The results of testing wells by the 

field method are shown in the following analyses:

Field analyses of water from wells at Indian River. 

[ Parts per million.]

1.

227

195

60

0

0

2.

178

192

15

0

0

1. Alcove Hotel (No. 5). 2. T. C. Herrick (No. 26.)

The temperature of the wells averages slightly above 48° F., which 

is 6° higher than the mean annual temperature of Indian River. The 

large flowage of water of this temperature into Indian River may 

acccount f or its open condition in winter, while Sturgeon River without such a supply, is frozen

The temperature of the water makes it especially useful in domestic 

needs, doing away with the use of ice. In the general store of Mr. 

F. E. Martin an excellent butter room has been constructed in the 

basement by using the flowing water, which gives a satisfactory temperature for keeping dairy and farm products for the market.

The average temperature of these wells is exactly what sanitary 

officials of the larger cities demand for the storage of butter and milk 

during the summer months. This not only makes a well of especial 

value, but is an attraction to the summer residents.

The growth of algae in the water is seldom sufficient to be an objection to its use. Indeed the wells generally are remarkably free from 

organic growths such as are due to water standing too long in tanks 

exposed to the sun's rays.
362 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEBN MICHIGAN.

Wells at Indian River, a

s

J? §

6 

fc

1

?,

4

5 

6

7 

8

9

10

11

12

13 

14

15

16

17

18 

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

an

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

394n

41

42

43

Owner.

Town property . . .

.....do............

F. E. Martins....

.....do............

Alcove Hotel d . . . 

Commercial Hotel

W.H.Morgan.... 

E. Walkins. ......

A. Clements.. ....

J. Berry... .......

B. Clements ......

D. Corwin........

Dr. J. W. Bell.... 

A. Bradley.......

Geo. Patterson...

J. J. Donnely. ....

T. Dagwell.......

H. B. Lauterman. 

Jos. Frye.........

J. Vermilya. ......

G. Fields .........

J. W. Peck.......

F. E. Martin......

Mahan Green.....

H. P. Gordon.....

T. C. Herrick.....

W. R. Kinnear...

Mrs. Hover..... ..

H. Burgess.......

H. Barcus........

J. C. Brown. .....

T. L. McFee......

T. H. Dunn.......

Dr. Medbury ....

Mrs. J. B. Brown.

J. McFee.........

W. F. Brums.....

Columbus Beach

Club House. 

.....do...........

Public school.....

Joe Miller... .

Crawley & Newman.

Elevation.

Feet. 

611

605

603

603

605 

611

612 

613

612

610

605

606

614 

611

600

610

609

612 

620

610

610

615

616

598

610

610

600

604

600

600

610

604

612

604

611

610

615

605

611

finq

630

608

A

ti< 

o 

ft

Feet. 

118

112

108

108

107 

115

124 

107

106

122

110

125

135 

108

102

120

137

142 

126

108

86

93

107

130

155

165

150

175

150

170

130

160

155

170

168

175

140

1 ^i\

175

113

116

Elevation ofbed. water 

Feet. 

493

493

495

495

498 

496

488 

506

506

488

495

481 

479

Kriq

498

490

472

470 

494

502

524

522

509

468

455

445

454

425

434

482

444

456

AAf\

430'

471

447

455

CAA

492

03 'h s-,-^

tit 

£

Feet. 

651

628

647

654

641 

631

637 

645

ftoe

650

619

640

624

647

Flow min- per 

ute.

Galls. 

100

100

d90

190

c200 

115

205 

clSO

cl90

150

c!60

155

150 

150

128

130

100 

125

]9Q

65

175

60

6224

90

130

130

125

100

100

108

c!90

clOS

clOO

clSO

100

100

110

128

Temperature.

F.

48

48

48 

48

48

484

48

48*

48J

49J 

49

49

49401

49

48

4Si

47*

47i

48

48

48

48

48

4S*

49

Quality.

Hard...

Medium.

Hard...

....do...

....do... 

....do...

....do...

Hard... 

....do...

Hard...

Soft.....

...do...

to 

o 

O

$100

125

70

50

65

60

55 

50

70

115 

60

85

80

85

80

125

35

70

Remarks.

tain and 2 drinking 

founts.

Only a little softening 

compound needed.

cased 100 feet; made 

in 1899. 

Throws much sand; 

pressure, 22 pounds.

sand clogged. 

Made in 1897.

feet.

sand.

Pressure, 22 pounds.

Stopped by sand.

Supplies 4 families.

Supplies 5 families and

fountains. 

Supplies 2 families.

club house.

Cased 96 feet.

Pressure, 20 pounds.

a So far as ascertained, the wells are 2 inches in diameter.

& In basement of F. E. Martin's store. The wells are connected and furnish water for 2 stores and a 

butter room and for 2 families over the store. One well is connected to a hand flre engine for flre 

protection.

c Wells controlled by faucets; flow estimated.

d By measurement at date of observation the water rises 23 feet, and when allowed to flow into the air 

rises 12 feet from the surface. It supplies the hotel and has sufficient pressure to operate the closets and 

wash basins on second floor.
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY. 363

MULLET AND BUKT LAKES.

Wells at Burt Lake.

t>:

g

fc

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Owner or location.

W. B. Thomas....

Mr. Parks . .......

.....do............

T. A. Parker.....

ing.

s

+3

fe

W

Feet.

599

601

603

601

605

608

599

599

601

601

626

605

599

^

ft

ft

Feet.

105

70

108

66

55

107

88

97

112

110

180

464

99

"S .

d^

 |fe

fe *

S

Feet.

494

531

495

535

450

501

C11

489

491

446

141

<B

h °

 s

^ .

Feet.

625

609

615

g

6

SH ft-g

Galls.

38

7

20

40

50

6

8

12

12

30

15

4

36

o5

3

S

8

EH

op.

48

46

48

48

46

51

Quality.

Soft.....

Soft.....

....do...

Hard...

Soft.....

o

$50

80

40

100

130

Remarks.

70 feet.

domestic use.

Do.

dry.

Do.

Wells at Mullet Lake.

-(

Owner or location.

bee. »

A. W.Starks. .............

Do....................

Topinabee.

rj .2'

^

W

Fee!.

C04

586

589

590

,d

ft

<B

ft

Feet.

119

55

28

121

100

eo

119

118

12*1

0 .

td Q)

1?£"5

S

.PVef.

485

531

557

468

489

530

487

a)

^ !

J°

*

^

JVef.

592

con

616

s

H

M£

o

^

Galis.

7 40

5

2

3

20

S

2 

a

^

O E1

48

471

47

48

Quality.

Soft......

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

Remarks.

a ted; well, 3-inch.

Domestic use.

Do.

H2S.

Do.

1893.

Made in 1903.

Do.

o Water shipped by H. H. Pike's Sons as "Sanitas Spring" water. 

Analysis of Sanitas Spring water, a

Parts per million. 

Chlorine................................................................ ........ 14.>5

Free ammonia............................................................ None.

Nitrogen in nitrates........................................................ 23

Total hardness............................................................ 20. 2

Permanent hardness....................................................... 17. 1

Organic and volatile matter (by loss)......................................... 18. 2

Color, none; odor, none; taste, perfect; reaction, neutral. I. \. S. Stanislaus, analyst.

Field analysis of Sanitas Spring water.

Parts per million.

Hardness................................................................. 153.2

Carbonates............................................................... ISO

Iron..................................................................... .5

Chlorides................................................................. 214

W. M. Gregory, analyst.

o See Wells of Lower Michigan: Water-Sup, and Irr. Paper No. 102, II. S. Geol. Survey, 1904, p. 500.
364 WELLS AND WATEE SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

WATER SUPPLIES OF EMMET COUNTY.

By FRANK LEVERETT. 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Emmet County fronts on Lake Michigan at the west end of the 

Straits of Mackinac and extends south to include Little Traverse Bay. 

The part south of this bay was described in connection with the discussion of Charlevoix and Antrim counties, it being in the region of 

drumlins and finger lakes. From Little Traverse Bay eastward is a 

lowland strip, which runs through to Lake Huron past Burt and Mullet lakes in Cheboygan County. North of this and north of Little 

Traverse Bay are very prominent uplands rising in places to an altitude of 400 to 500 feet above Lake Michigan. These high tracts are 

composed of loose-textured drift, into which the water table sinks to a 

great depth. A well dug by a farmer, C. Cobleman, on one of the highest points in the northeast part of T. 36 N., R. 5 W., found the water 

table 400 feet below the surface. The well is 404 feet and water is 

drawn from the bottom. It was at first drawn by horsepower, the 

horse being driven around a drum, on which the rope was wound, but 

is now fitted with a 12-foot windmill wheel. Its bottom is probably 

100 feet above Lake Michigan.

Near the west side of the highlands are blowing wells, also of great 

depth. One in sec. 29, T. 37 N., R. 6 W., on the farm of J. Bradley, 

was dug 300 feet and cemented all the way down. Then a boring 65 

feet deep was made in the bottom to reach water. The well under 

certain barometric conditions has a strong down draft and under other 

conditions a strong upward rush of air. A whistle has been attached 

to the well, and this, it is said, is blown with sufficient force at certain 

times to be heard a mile away. Notwithstanding the great depth to 

the water table this upland carried a heavy forest growth, and orchards 

planted on it are not affected by drought. A large part of the rainfall 

seems to be kept within reach of the roots.

The lowland leading east of Little Traverse Bay and also the north 

border of the bay furnish strong flowing wells, which have been studied 

by Mr. Gregory, and are discussed below. It is probable that flowing 

wells can be obtained at moderate depth at the north border of the 

highland tracts just mentioned and in recesses along the shore of Lake 

Michigan, but none have as yet been reported. In the map accompanying Mr. Gregory's report the prospective, as well as present, flowing-well districts are represented.

The portion of the county south of Little Traverse Bay and of the 

lowland running east of the bay has limestone up to a height of 100 to 

150 feet above the level of the bay and extends about to the middle 

part of the lowland, though at an altitude but little above the bay.
EMMET COUNTY. 365

North, of the lowland the rock surface, as indicated by the deep borings 

on the uplands and by the deep flowing wells in the lowlands, is at a 

comparatively low altitude, and it may be largely below the level of 

Lake Michigan. At the north end of the county, however, it outcrops 

at heights of 75 to 100 feet above lake level and is penetrated at slight 

depth by nearly all the wells in Mackinaw City.

MISCELLANEOUS VILLAGE SUPPLIES.

The villages of Alanson, Oden, Conway, Wequetonsing, and Harbor Springs are supplied with flowing wells and but few others are in 

use (see pp. 365-378).

Data on the supplies of other villages and of the regions around 

country post-offices are presented in the following table:

Village supplies in Emmet County."'

Town.

Cecil...............

Ely................

Littlefleld postoffice.

Pellston...........

Pleasant View. ....

Elevation.

Feet. 

850+ 

800 

680 

724

725

760

590 

690 

750+

Source.

Open and driven wells. .

Driven wells, stream . . .

Open wells and streams. 

Open wells and lake .... 

Open and driven wells. .

.....do..................

Depth of wells.

From 

Feet. 

6

15 

16 

35 

20 

6 

25 

25 

10

25 

16 

22

To 

Feet. 

12

105 

30 

60 

40 

30

200 

230

65 

24 

25

Common.

Feet. 

12 

35 

18 

16 

40 

30 

20

25 

50

25 

24 

25

Depth 

to 

water 

bed.

Feet. 

12

105 

16 

40 

40 

20

120 

50

24 

25

Head.

Feet.

-2

-3

-20

-12 

-5

Springs.

Small. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Large. 

Do. 

Do. 

Small. 

Do.

Do.

Large. 

Do.

FLOWING WELLS.

PETOSKEY AND BAY VIEW.&

A well near the mouth of Bear Creek in the west part of Petoskey, 

about 10 feet above Lake Michigan, was sunk to a depth of 489 \ feet 

and struck a strong flow of sulphur water at 295 feet beneath a thin 

bed of blue shale.

Anoth'er well at Bay View, near the east end of Little Traverse Bay, 

at an altitude about 5 feet above the bay, found under a very hard 

stratum of limestone, a flow estimated at 200 barrels an hour. In 

both wells limestone is near the surface, and the wells seem to belong 

in a different class from those across the bay at Harbor Springs (see 

pp. 366-370), being unlike them in quality as well as in geologic 

relations.

a Not including those with flowing wells. 6 Data by A. W. Grabau.
366 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN. 

HARBOR SPRINGS AND WEftTJETONSING AREAS.

General relations. This area is a narrow strip of land not more 

than one-half mile in width and 5 miles in length, along the north 

shore of Little Traverse Bay (fig. 66). It is at the west end of an 

almost continuous belt of flowing wells extending from Harbor 

Springs on the Lake Michigan shore to Cheboygan on the Lake Huron 

shore. In fact, the Harbor Springs area is separated only by a strip 

of sand dunes from the remainder of the belt. To the north of this 

narrow artesian belt is higher land with loose-textured drift which in 

places reaches an altitude of 400 feet or more above the flowing-well 

district, while to the south an even higher altitude is attained within 

a few miles. This entire artesian district embraces the flowing wells 

of Cheboygan, Mullet Lake, Topinabee, Indian River, Burt Lake? 

Alanson, Oden, and Conway, as well as those of Harbor Springs and 

Wequetonsing. It lies along what is known as the "inland lake 

route" between the resorts on Little Traverse Bay and the city of 

Cheboygan on Lake Huron.

Records from different sections show the drift to be loosely consolidated at the surface, and succeeded by alternate layers of clay and 

somewhat consolidated gravel and sand, porous enough to take in 

water. The amount of underground water that the drift absorbs must 

be great, as may be inferred by the relative scarcity of small creeks 

or lines of surface drainage. The scarcity is greater in the highlands north of this flowing-well district than south, and it is probable 

that the main catchment area is on the north.

Within the limits of the Harbor Springs and Wequetonsing area 

there were 72 flowing wells in August, 1904, of which 41 were at Harbor Springs and 31 at Wequetonsing. The first well was drilled in 

1887 by Charles Ross, being discovered accidentally while driving 

piles for a dock. When a pipe was driven through the clay into the 

underlying bed of gravel and sand the water rose 10 feet above the 

lake level and is still flowing. It is well No. 48 on accompanying 

table. Flowing wells of this class supply a large number of homes 

with abundant water, while the waterworks, owned by E. Shay & 

Co., derive their supply for public consumption from nine flowing 

wells, ranging in depth from 64 to 320 feet, and flowing 3,000,000 

gallons a day.

The shallow wells are made by driving a 2-inch pipe with a strong 

point and screen to the water bed. Such wells cost from $50 to $70, 

including pipe and labor. The deeper wells are drilled and some are 

cased to shut off water from the upper bed, and cost from 75 cents to 

$1.30 afoot.

Flows from the upper water bed require frequent sand pumping to 

maintain a good flow. At present only a few are checked. No decrease 

in head has resulted from this practice, although some of the citizens
CO

FIG. 66. Contour map of Harbor Springs flowing-we
368 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

have agitated the question of having all the wells controlled. Some 

of the numerous fountains at Wequetonsing might be cut down with 

no inconvenience.

Flow. The total flow of the Harbor Springs and Wequetonsing 

wells amounts to 430.9 gallons a minute, not including about 275 gallons a minute from the nine wells at the city waterworks. Aside from 

these the greatest flow is 33 gallons a minute from the well of Homer 

Clark (No. 55), which draws from the upper water bed. The well 

of Doctor Barr (No. 7) and Hughston (No. 6) have large flows, and 

are also from a shallow water bed. Mr. E. Shay, of Harbor Springs, 

has observed the wells since they were drilled, and states that the nine 

wells at the city waterworks have their flow increased as much as 10 

per cent after a rainy season. Some of the well drillers claim that the 

flow from wells is greater during the spring than in the late autumn, 

but none of these statements are as yet supported by precise data.

At the Wequetonsing resort three water beds are developed. The 

upper is the stronger; it varies in depth from 30 to 40 feet in the 

eastern to 50 feet in the central part of the resort; on the western edge 

only a few wells draw their supply from it. The second bed is quite 

uniform in depth, being 60 to 70 feet down in the eastern and central 

and reappearing in a few wells in the western section. The third bed 

is the only one between wells Nos. 19 and 22 which gives a sufficient 

flow for water supply, although well drillers have found water at 

other depths. The wells are restricted to the bay shore below the 

terrace that passes through the north edge of Wequetonsing. The 

various beds at Harbor Springs have been penetrated at the city 

waterworks wells (No. 39), of which five are from 66 to 88 feet, three 

are 100 feet, and one (a 6-inch well) 320 feet deep. The following 

record of the material penetrated in the waterworks wells was obtained 

from Mr. E. Shay:

Record of waterworks wells, Harbor Springs.

Sand. ...................................... . .................................

Hardpan ................................... .................................

Hard clay, no water. ....................... . .........................

Flow (fifth water bed).

Thickness.

Feet. 

10

22

30

4

12

10

5

7

15

60

Total.

Feet.

66

88

100

165

260

320

The records of wells nearer the snore than those of the city waterworks indicate that the beds dip toward the lake. At Harbor Point, 

at the light-house (No. 61), a depth of 291 feet, and at Harbor Springs
EMMET COUNTY. 369

Park (No. 70), ore of 300 feet, was reached without striking rock, 

the wells being entirely in sand. At the higher elevations in the 

town the water bed is penetrated at lesser depths than in the wells 

along the shore, as the wells, of M. Losinger (No. 57), B. Barbour 

(No. 49), and George Wheeler (No. 67).

Quality of water. The field analyses indicate that the sulphates 

are absent, while the carbonates are medium, the hardness about 

160 parts per million, and the chlorides from 50 to 100 parts per 

million. The following analyses are representative of the water 

from this region:

Field analyses of water from, wells at Harbor Springs. 

[Parts per million.]

Chlorides. ..........................................................................

1.

141-

95.9

165

2.

160.8

51

140

0

1. Atkinson <fe Abbott (No. 46). 2. P. Pflster (No. 56).

Well data. -The following table gives the data of the wells of the 

region:

Wetts at Harbor Springs and Wequetonsing.

g

"

W> <H

§ 

d 

fc

1

2 

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1?

1^

14

T5

16

17

18

19 

20

21

22

m

24

O£

Owner.

H. R. Pattengill...... 

T. West...............

.....do................

R. M. Bishop.........

Mr. Smith............

Mr. McClure..........

.....do................

Mr. Brubaker (hotel) . 

Mr. Pratt.............

A. C. Clifford.........

Elevation.

Feet.

588

587 

584

584

586

587

588

587

586

587

585

588

587

588

588

588

584

584

587 

589

589

589

587

590

586

Diameter.

In. 

1

1 

.5

1.5

1.25

2

1

1.5

1.25

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

3

1.5

1 

1

1.5

1

1

.75

5 

& 

o

Feet. 

151

154 

74

26

44

40

53

73

80

78

73

79

80

64

80

120

74

73

144 

191

157

172

178

122

131

Elevation ofbed. water 

Feet. 

437

433 

510

558

542

547

535

514

506

509

512

508

507

524

508

468

510

511

433 

'398

432

417

509

468

Flow min-per 

ute.

Galls. 

5.3

5.2

.7

7.5

15

30

30

4.5

12.5

7.9

4.6

6

5.7

4.8

2

7.9

6.8

3.3

3.3 

1.7

7.9

2.1

i.4

1.5

Temperature.

o p

46i

46 

46|

40i

45J

46J

46J

46

46i

46i

46

46*

45

46i

46J

46

47

46

46 

46

45

47

46

46

'to 

o 

O

$125

""56"

50

50

50

50

50

100

Remarks.

Domestic use. 

Do.

Fountain and domestic use.

Domestic use.

Domestic use.

use.

Hotel lavatory, flush closets, and kitchen. 

Small flow at 50 feet.

Do.

Small flows at 30 and 75 feet.

Do.

oThe following is the record of Doctor Barr's well: 

Sand.

Thickness (feet). 

.............. 11

Hard clay........................................................................................... 90

White sand and first water......................................................................... 10

Clay................................................................................................. 30

Gravel and flow..................................................................................... 10

IEE 183 06 25
870 WELLS AND WATEK SUPPLIES IN SOUTHEKN MICHIGAN.

Wells at Harbor Springs and Wequetonsing Continued.

so 

so

#

o 

o 

£

26

OQ

won

31

oo

33

34

QC

36

37

38

OQ

41

4?

43

44

45

46 

47

4.0

49

50

51

KO

53

K.A

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

69

70

71

7?

Owner.

mill). 

Village electric - light

Eight water works

.....do...............

Atkinson & Abbott. . .

ship Co. 

Rose Dock ^

B. Barber...........

M. Juilleret...........

H. Gilletje............

J. Pfister c............

Point.

S. Olds. ...............

g 

1

H

Feet. 

583

590

586

586

KQA

588

620

} 603

605

601

599

} 595

595

601

603

604

605

605

592

592 

589

589

609

619

619

608

612

619

619

619

619

590

590

591

588

601

595

601

683

Diameter.

In. 

1

1

1.5

1

1

.75

1.5

1

1.25

1.25

\ '

.75

1

2

1

1

.75

2 

2

1.75

1.25

1.25

1

.5

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

5

ft 

P

Feet.

144

CO

63

185

f 40 

t 72

63

141

100

f 66

330

164

112

112

102

48 

63

92

55

38

35

56

49

31

48

42

39

153

120

281

112

113

f 160

\ 80 

80

164

85

145

300

56

80

of Elevation bed. water 

Feet. 

451

446

534

523

530

403

579

| 533

451

542

460

499

1 548

457

439

492

493

493

490

546 

526

509

454

581

574

542

563

588

571

577

580

437

470

300

\ 428

/ 508

KQC

,194.

578

co7

295

min- Flow per 

ute.

GaJls. 

2.7

3

8.3

4.5

3.5

1.4

1.9

2.1

8.3

7.8

}.....

12

3.6

10

3.7

1.8

6

10 

10

10

14

6.2

1.3

1.2

.5

1.9

33.3

10

10.5

20

10

18

}.....

.4

Temperature.

°F.

46

46

46^

46

4fi 3

47

4746-

46

47

46i

46i

46i

46

471

46i

45.2

46

46

«ic;a

48

46

46

45.5

ifi 1

46

45f

+j

o O

$25

140

70

48

20

Remarks.

Domestic use.

Do.

Do.

by boiler compound. 

J Deeper well drained shallow

Head b07 feet; used for large

gardens. 

House use.

City supply; head 605 feet.

and several stores.

House use.

dock.

fountain on dock. 

Domestic use.

Do.

Water hard; flow has decreased somewhat.

pipe.

Water soft; well reduced to

1.5-inch.

cooking.

Do.

clay. 

West of Harbor Springs;

not shown on city plat. 

Do.

Two wells.

Well on bluff; no flow.

Drilled in 1903; water soft.

water soft.

a Small flows in gravel under clay at 40 and 60 feet.

&-Pioneer well, made in 1887. Water at 45 and 92 feet. Water bed discovered while driving piles for 

dock. Present well cased to lower water bed.

" Water excellent for laundry purposes. Water bed under hardpan. Weak flow at 36 feet.

d Ram is used for forcing water into upper floor of house. The ram cost $13, and the complete outfit 

and labor, including well, pipe, cooling room, bathroom, flush closet, and plumbing, $250. The ram 

will pump about 420 gallons in ten hours.

e Weak flow at 15 and 35 feet from small gravel beds between clay. Made in two days. 

, / Does not overflow, but flows into underground cistern.
EMMET COUNTY.

CROOKED LAKE AREA.

371

General relations. The Crooked Lake area is part of the flowingwell district east of Harbor Springs and around Crooked Lake. (See 

fig. 67.) The flowing wells of the region are located in the depression 

discussed under Harbor Springs (pp. 366-368), and range in altitude 

from 600 to 630 feet, which is their general elevation throughout the 

Harbor Springs-Cheboygan region. The wells in the Crooked Lake 

area are located below a sandy terrace underlain with clay, which 

stands between the lake and the high morainic hills, and is well develFIG. 67. Sketch map of flowing-well region between Conway and Indian River.

oped from Harbor Springs to Alanson (altitude 640 to 650 feet). 

The edge of this terrace is 500 feet north of the Grand Rapids and 

Indiana depot at Oden (see fig. 68); it is just west of the depot at 

Alanson, and one-half mile north of the depot at Conway. The 

higher hills of loose-textured drift reach an altitude of 940 feet above 

tide within three-fourths mile north of Oden. This higher tract is an 

eastward continuation of that north of Harbor Springs, and reaches 

in places an elevation of about 1,000 feet (Leverett). On the south 

side of Crooked Lake limestone appears near the surface in the low 

country, but there is a rapid rise southward into a district with drum-
372 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

linoidal hills. Elevations of 300 feet above Crooked Lake are reached 

within 2 miles to the south.

The wells are best developed and strongest on the north side of the 

lake, chiefly at Oden, a few at Conway, Alanson, and Ponshewaing, 

while on the south side of the lake they are difficult to obtain and only 

a few exist. The part of the flowing-well area extending from Conway to Alanson is some 4 miles in length and varies from threefourths to 1 mile in width. South of Crooked Lake its extent is not 

clearly defined, but it appears to be only a very narrow irregular strip 

not extending over a mile back from the edge of the lake. The wells 

about Crooked Lake number 100, 65 of which are at Oden, 14 at Conway, 8 at Alanson, and several on the south side of the lake.

The first effort to get a flowing well was made in 1884 at Oden in a 

search for suitable water for boiler use in the engines of the Grand 

Rapids and Indiana Railway. An excellent flow resulted, though the 

water was fouiid to be too hard for use in boilers. The rapid increase 

of summer residents ht«s made many demands for a water supply of

FIG- 68. Contour map of Oden and vicinity.

this character and the number of wells has increased rapidly. The 

wells are drilled by contract, averaging from $40 to $60 complete. 

The depth of the water bed is so well known to the drillers that the 

time and labor as well as the cost of the material can be estimated 

very accurately.

Flow. The total flow in this area is about 2,000 gallons a minute, 

of which the wells at Oden yield 1,362 gallons, at Conway 353, Alanson 

147, Ponshewaing 145, Burt Lake 279, and Mullet Lake 77 gallons 

a minute. The strongest flow is that of the Grand Rapids and Indiana 

Railway well (No. 17) at Oden, which yields 80 gallons a minute. 

The wells on the south side of the lake have the smallest flow, and all 

attempts to secure better wells there have been failures. The water 

at Oden is allowed to flow freely and poor drainage of this surplus 

water is the cause of many swampy spots. In this growing summer 

resort such a supply of water is one of the valuable features, and 

where so many wells are being drilled it would be well to consider the
EMMET COUNTY. 373

future conditions. There is some objection to using check valves, for 

when the water is checked the sand settles and fills the pipe, often 

completely choking the flow. The amount of sand that some of the 

wells bring to the surface renders the water unfit for domestic use and 

a settling tank on the roof or second floor of the dwelling has to be 

used. A large well screen with a small mesh would be a means of 

checking the sand. Small screens are used in a few wells, but have 

been discarded by owners because of a tendency to decrease the head. 

In Oden three or more water beds are present, the lowest bed being 

the one in which the strongest flows are found. The majority of the 

wells are not drilled but are driven, and but little accurate data are 

available concerning the character of the beds. The writer's information has been furnished by the Pope brothers, who have had considerable experience in well drilling in this region. The Oden beds dip 

gently to the shore of Crooked Lake, with an additional dip from west 

to east, the stronger flows being found at 130 to 140 feet in the rail600

o

-D

(D 500

4-50

Crooked,

G.R.and l.

NL

^

""First* ate

"bed

,i

&

100 200 300 400 feet -

FIG. 69. North-south section at Oden, showing water beds.

road well (No. 17), Mayor's well (No. 7), P. Smith's well (No. 2), and 

H. Rosenthal's (No. 28). In the western part of the village the stronger 

flows are from 100 to 110 feet, as in the wells of Mrs. Weil (No. 31), 

Doctor Shank (No. 42), and E. Mayer (No. 34). In the western part 

the beds are largely fine sand with smaller beds of marl and hardpan 

clay. The general relations in Oden are shown in fig. 69, which is a 

profile of water beds on a line drawn north and south from the Grand 

Rapids and Indiana Railway depot. The two beds which have been 

exploited for the majority of flows are under clay layers 5 to 6 feet in 

thickness. The water beds are usually fine sand with only a small 

amount of gravel. The depth of the upper bed averages from 75 to 

95 feet, while that of the strongest flow averages 120 to 140 feet. 

Below this water is not abundant. For this reason the pipe in the 

railroad well (No. 17) after being put down to 180 feet was drawn 

back to the 140-foot flow. In the western part of Oden the upper bed 

is used for flows, as it is stronger there than to the east, and it is in this
374 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN- SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

part of the village that sand in the water causes considerable trouble, 

requiring settling tanks to get rid of it.

Bed rock is not reached in any of the Oden wells, but is penetrated 

150 feet in the wells of the Dart & Dart Company on Oden Isle, in 

Crooked Lake, three-fourths of a mile southeast of the Grand Rapids 

and Indiana Railway station in Oden. This continuous belt of the 

Traverse limestone to the south, as shown in the outcrops of Baj 

View, may aid in preventing the escape of the water and thus keep 

the head up in the region around Crooked Lake.

The contour map of Oden (fig. 68) will serve as a local guide in 

selecting well sites. By locating the prospective well 0:1 the map and 

referring to the accompanying table of data for the records of the surrounding wells a fair estimate of the cost and character of the flow can 

be obtained. The 630-foot contour lines limit the field to the north. 

Below this contour from Oden west to Conway and east to Ponshewairig flows are to be obtained. On the large map of the region (fi.g. 

67) the area in which flows are possible is indicated between the 

dotted line and the lakes.

The water beds at Conway have not been explored by drillers as 

fully as those at Oden. There are two distinct water beds present 

and possibly more. The well of F. Stallman (No. 10), 88 feet deep, 

is from the upper bed, which ranges from 88 to 115 feet from the surface. The sand bed supplies the strong flows of C. Lyon (No. 12), 

W. Van Avery (No. 6), and the depot (No. 4). The well of E. E. 

Blackmar (No. 14) penetrated the following materials: Sand, 35 feet; 

clay, 47 feet; gravel, 12 feet; clay, 13 feet.

The wells on the south side of Crooked Lake are nearly all in rock, 

and very few flows have been obtained. Mr. Jewell's well on the 

beach west of Hastings Point is a small flow from the rock. The 

Cincinnati Club at Hastings Point has a well 140 feet into rock, which 

yields a small flow. On Hastings Heights at the hotel, which is 628 

feet above tide, several attempts for flows have been made. Limestone is reached at 18 feet below the surface and water at 252, but no 

flow, and the water is so scarce that the well has been abandoned. 

Several other attempts have been made along the beach to obtain 

flows, and, while some have been successful, at present they all require 

pumping to raise the water. There are two flows farther east on the 

south side of the lake which were not visited. One is at an old lumber camp. In the region to the southeast of Crooked Lake few deep 

wells have been made. Mr. George Benham drilled 150 feet, largely 

through bed rock, and found a small flow.

At Ponshewaing two water-bearing beds are present, the upper one 

being the stronger, as at Conway. The "Resort" well (No. 58) is 

from a bed of rather coarse gravel under 8 ieet of sand, 15 feet of 

marl, and 48 feet of clay. The drillers find water from 100 to 150
EMMET COUNTY. 375

feet. Near the surface the beds are sandy and below are thin beds of 

clay and gravel, no rock being found in the 200-foot well at the Ponshewaing Hotel (No. 60) nor in Mr. L. Schwab's well (No. 63), which 

is 225 feet deep.

The high'morainic region, a short distance north of the Crooked 

Lake flowing-well belt, contains unconsolidated drift material well 

suited as a catchment area for the flowing wells along its south border. 

Springs are very frequent along the edge of the higher land. The 

wells of Alanson, Pohshewaing, Oden, Conway, and Harbor Springs 

are all believed to be supplied from this catchment area.

Quality of water. The water in the district north of .the lake is 

reported soft, as it requires no special softening compound, and is in 

general use for laundry and domestic purposes. At the Hotel Rawdon, in Oden, a glycerine soap for use with this water has given best 

satisfaction. The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad have found 

the water unsuitable for boiler use, the deposit of scale being too 

great. Dr. A. B. Prescott, Ann Arbor, Mich., said of the water taken 

from the railroad well (No. 17):

This water contains a moderate amount of lime, a good part of which, is held in solution 

as a carbonate. Sulphates are present in very small proportions and chlorides are not 

present in any proportions that would affect uses. Iron salts are not present injnore than 

traces. The hardness by dark's seals is 11°, corresponding in effect to the presence of 11 

grains of carbonate of Rme in a United States gallon of water. In respect to the presence 

of organic matter the tests show a good degree of purity in this water.

The hardness in waters tested varies from 201 parts per million in 

E. Mayer's well (No. 34) to 186 parts in the Rawdon Hotel well (No. 

1). Carbonates average 156 parts per million. The rock well of the 

Cincinnati Club at Hastings Point has a hardness of 314, carbonates 

320, and some sulphates.

Fidd analyses of water from wells at Oden and Conway. 

[Parts per million.]

' 1.

201

160

1

None

2.

120.6

160

5

3.

186.9

166

5

 '4. 

314

320

150

33

1. E. Mayer (No. 34), Oden. 2. Rawdon Hotel (No. 1), Oden. 3. Depot (No. 17), Oden. 4. Cincinnati Club (No. 71), Conway.
376 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN" MICHIGAN.

Well data. The following tables give the data of the wells of the 

region:

Wells of Crooked Lake area. 

WELLS AT ODEN.

00

5D

sb<fl §

6 

£

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

9?

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

Owner.

P. W- Smith.....

Indiana Rwy. 

park. 

.....do............

J. Havlin.........

R. B. Allison.....

H. Pope..........

Indiana Rwy. 

depot, c 

V. Powell ........

P. Tile. ...........

W. L. Murphy . .

E. Stricher.......

G. Engle .........

G. Williamson....

Mrs. Weil ........

M, Market........

P. Soldern........

C.Daley. .........

Mr. Forrester ....

Elevation.

Feet. 

604

604

603

605

603

603

606

606

605

606

606

606

607

609

608

611

614

613

615

611

611

611

610

616

609

609

609

608

607

6a5

603

603

Diameter.

In.">,

">,

14

9

9

?

9

?

?

11-9

 >:

?

8

9

H

U

2

2

?

?,

?,

5 

& fl

Feet. 

140

138

114

102

130

100

93

96

96

96

106

127

114

113

140

130

140

114

113

140

01

78

140

90

110

78

90

118

71

78

77

70

Elevation ofbed. water 

Feet. 

464

490

473

513

509

510

500

480

485

471

484

473

499

502

503

488

con

53?

476

roA

.501

coy

5?3

533

Water rises 

to 

Feet. 

618

613

618

617

614

629

»

630

629

Flow min-per 

ute.

Gals 

32

60

10

30

65

60

63

40

65

50

65

32

80

50

29

32

30

50

8

35

60

40

10

15

12

15

Temperature.

°F. 

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

46

45i

46

46

46

46

46451

Quality.

Hard . . .

Soft ....

Soft ....

Soft ....

Soft ....

Soft ....

....do...

Soft ....

...do...

....do...

Cost.

$140

60

59

150

30

15

30

15

75

105

Depth of easing.

Feet.

Remarks.

1884, still flowing.

fount ain, fish 

pond.

dry use.

feet, gravel and 

sand 4 feet.

use.

quicksand. Hardpan at 95-100 feet 

and at 120 feet.

domestic use.

hours.

No fl o w , s a n d

clogged.

3 wells connected,110

to 115 feet deep. 

Settling tank used.

analysis of water.

Domestic use.

Do.

a Used in hotel for kitchen, laundry, drinking, and washing. A glycerine soap is found to be best for 

the wash room. A small water ram forces the water to the second floor. The first clay is at 80 feet, 

the second at 120 feet. The rest is sand.

6 Three wells, 127,133, and 130 feet, respectively. The two deeper ones are connected and feed a large 

fountain.

c Drilled for water supply for engines, but is not suitable. It is used for drinking on the Grand Rapids 

and Indiana Railway. At the time of drilling the water rose 18 feet above the surface. It was drilled 

180 feet, but the supply being poor the pipe was drawn back to 140 feet. See analysis (p. 375).

<* Flows were found at 60,80, and 140 feet; the lowest is the strongest. Said to be decreasing.

« Supplies 3 families and a fountain.

/ The water is carried to a large tank on the roof of the dwelling, where the finer sand settles; without 

this the water is not suitable for use. This form of settling tank hastobeused with several of the wells.
EMMET COUNTY. 377

WeUs of Crooked Lake area Continued. 

WELLS AT ODBN-Continued.

00

CD

If 

g

6 

fc

40

41

49,

43

44

45

4fi

47

48

49

.W

51

5?

53

54

55

56

57

Owner.

J. Stenbeck.......

Mr. Bell..........

W. Pope..........

Elevation.

Ft. 

604

604

604

604

603

602

610

611

616

616

624

695

628

631

615

618

618

Diameter.

In.

2

2

9,

9,

9

9,

2

9,

?.

O

a "a 

P

Ft. 

\ 60

55

101

75

85

70

65

55

96

99

73

86

as

110

85

76

82

Elevation ofbed. water 

Ft. 

j-544

549.

529

518

532

.545

55C

520

517

549

542

532

548

515

533

542

« 

o

»i

03 

£

Ft.

min- Flow per 

ute.

Gals 

15

12

10 - 8

5

10

5

6

10

10

2

11

11

7*

Temperature.

. -£* .

46

45i

451

45f

46

454

46

46

46

46

46*

46

Quality.

Soft....

Soft....

Soft ....

Hard...

Soft ....

Cost.

$75

25

35

60

Depth of casing.

Ft.

Remarks.

(2 wells, 175 and 60

\ feet.

no clay.

hard clay at bot- 

- torn.

clay 15 feet, hard 

clay 50 feet, small 

flow at 60 feet.

tervals.

WELLS AT PONSHEWAING.o

CO

hi)

G 

O

o 

X

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

Owner.

N.M. Kellamfc...

N.M. Kellamc....

N.M. Kellam.....

F. M Cappoc.....

Louis Schwab ....

go 

+3

oj

1

Ft.

600

610

615

619

610

612

600

 M 

§

P

Tn.

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

5

o> P

Ft

70

ISO

200

175

225

225

82

 g

G *

|'fe

.2 is

Fit.

530

430

415

444

385

387

518

.

CO^i

 u

£

Ft.

620

621

615

fl

s

_o

Gals.

50

25

20

15

10

8

17

2

3

e0

°F.

45

46*

46

46

45*

Quality.

Soft ....

Medium .

Medium.

....do...

Cost.

$20

100

100

100

125

125

A

0

o bio 5.2

p

FV.

70

140

140

140

200

200

Remarks.

Fountain.

Log f ound a 1 50 feet.

Domestic use.

WELLS ON SOUTH SIDE OF CROOKED LAKE.

66

67 

68

69 

70 

71

72 

73

Geo. Benham d ... 

Dart & Dart Co . . 

.....do............

John Hastings . . . 

Cincinnati Club . .

Hotel Hastings...

610 

600

603 

615 

628

728 

605

U 

U 

2

2 

o

If

11 

2

100 

150 

84

152 

63 

140

260 

40

9

9

3

1 

1

3

47 

48

Flows pipe quarter 

full. 

All clay. Said to 

reach rock. 

On Oden Isle; small 

flow. 

Said to stop in rock. 

30 feet to rock. 

See analysis (p. 375) ; 

14 feet to rock. 

Mostly in rock. 

Flow from top of 

rock.

'« The pipes in all the Ponshewaing well's, except No. 58, are without screens. 

* The following is the record of Keltam well, No. 58: Thickness (feet).

Sand 

Marl.................................................................................................. 15

Blue and yellowish clay.............................................................................. 48

Gravel and sand with water......................................................................... 1

c When well No. 59 is checked, well No. 60 flows one-third more.

<* Mr. Benham is reported to have another flowing well at an old lumber camp in the NW. J sec. 32 

T. 35 N., R. 4 W., which flows about 10 gallons a minute. This was not visited.
378 WELLS AND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

Wells of Crooked Lake area Continued.

WELLS AT CONWAY.

Owner.

W.Day. ............

N. McFarlane cotIndiana R w y . 

(depot) .

V.Powell. ..........

W. Rice.............

J. Cook.............

E. E. Blackmar. . . . .

Elevation.

Ft.

606

J60fi

605

603

604

604

604

601

605

604

603

Diameter.

In. 

9

9

11

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

9

li

11

-M 

o,

0)

ft

Ft. 

172

165

f!60

\161

116

100

103

120

100

100

110

100

107

Elevation ofbed. water 

Ft.

J446

490

503

501

484

585

504

505

Water rises

to 

Ft.

625

638

Flow min- per 

ute.

Gals. 

10

30

30

50

19

35

15

64

20

32

Temperature.

°F.

46

46

46

Quality.

Soft ....

Soft ....

Soft ....

...do....

Soft ....

Soft ....

Cost.

$o

*t-l .

o di) 

$.3 

&0> ft

Ft.

i

Remarks.

Drinking.

Do.

Made in 1885.

WELLS AT ALANSON.

E. R. White........

G. W. Rotten.......

Colby Hinckly Co. . .

II. McPhee..........

J. McPhee ..........

W. McDonald.......

H. Fairbanks .......

609

607

60S

610

608

605

603

,,

9

9

?

H

9

82

72

SO

m

90

65

70

535

528

488

518

540

533

634

10

8

IS

50

16

15

90

10

451

46

$60

100

100

65

75

Do.

Do.

Drilled in 1898.

Store.

Drinking.

WELLS NEAR BRUTUS (SEC. 34, T. 36 N., R. 4 W.).

Joseph Morris «... ..

Do..............

6^5

6?5

2

9

65

55

570

570

647

647

20 +

20+

Soft ....

....do...

Fish pond and stock.

Do.

a Two wells in a valley near the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway, about 30 feet below the bordering 

plain, flow a full 2-inch pipe. Reported by owner; not visited.
INDEX.

. A.

Advance, wells at........................... 346

Akron, wells at....................... 141,146-147

Akron Township (Tuseola County), wells

in............................. 139,140

Alanson, wells at......... 365,366,371-372,375,378

Alba, wells at............................... 345

Albee Township (Saginaw County), wells

in......................... 197,199-200

Aleona, water supply at.................... 309

Aleona County, flowing wells in............ 307

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in............................... 308

topography of........................ 306-307

village supplies in....................: 308-309

wells in............................... 307-309

record of............................ 308

water of, temperature of............ 16

Alden, wells at.............................. 335

Alger, wells at.............................. 281

Algonquin, Lake, location of............... 6

Algonquin Beach, location of............... 6

Allegan County, rainfall in................. 10

wells in, water of, temperature of...... 16

Alien Creek, water supply of................ 62

Alma, waterworks at...................... 204

wells at and near................. 203,204-212

wells in, location of, map showing...... 205

records of........................... 206

Alma Sanitarium, well at, record of........ 206

Alpena, rainfall at and near................ 11

waterworks at.......................... 351

wells at................................. 351

Alpena County, rainfall in........ ........ 10

topography of.......................... 350

village supplies and waterworks in..... 351

wells in................................. 351

water of, temperature of............ 16

Altona, wells at............................. 79

Amadore, wells at......................... 249

Amber, wells at and near................... 80,82

Amelith, well at............................ 118

Ann Arbor, springs at...................... 16

springs at, temperature of.............. 17-20

temperatures at, variations in, chart

showing........................ 19

waterworks at.......................... 22

wells at and near....................... 130

water in, temperature of......... 15,17-20

variation in, chart showing,.... 20

Antrim, wells at............................ 345

Antrim County, flowing wells in.......... 335-339

lakes in............................... 333-335

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of........................ 333-335

Antrim County, village supplies in......... 345

waterworks in........................ 336,344

wells in................................. 348

water of, temperature of........... 16,337

Appin, wells at............................. 260

Applegate, wells at......................... 249

Arbela Township (Tuseola County), wells

in..................... 137,139,143-144

wells in, record of....................... 144

Arcada Township (Gratiot County), wells 272 

in............................. 204-212

Arcadia, wells near......................... 296

record of................................ 296

water from, force of, plate showing..... 272

Arenac, wells at............................ 281

Arenac County, .flowing wells in.......... 269-274

maps of parts of...................... 270,272

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 269

village supplies in....................... 281

waterworks in.......................... 269

wells in....................... 269-274,279-280

water of, temperature of............ 16

Argentine, wells at......................... 171

Argyle, wells at............................. 249

Argyle Township (Sanilac County), wells in 257 

Arkona Beach, location of.................. 6

Artesian areas, map showing............... 6

Aahland, wells at........................... 75

Ashley, wells in and near............. 204,225-229

wells in and near, location of, map showing.............................. 227

water of, analysis of................ 226

Ashmore, wells at.......................... 260

Ash ton, wells at............................ 90

Ashton Township (Newaygo County), wells

in............................ 68,69,70

Atlanta, spring near........................ 349

wells at................................. 350

Atlas area, wells in......................... 172

Atlas-Hadley area, wells in............... 173-175

wells in, location of, map showing...... 174

Atlas Township (Genesee County), wells

in............................. 172-175

wells in, location of, map showing ..... 174

Atwood, wells at........................... 345

Auburn, well at............................. 116

well at, record of..........'.............. 116

Augres, wells at...................... 269,271,281

Au Sable, waterworks at................. 269,281

Au Pable River, source and drainage of .... 305,

307,310,311,347,349 

wells on................................. 306

Avondale, wells at.......................... 90

Ayr, water supply at................. -.....- 365

379
380 INDEX.

B. Page. 

Bachelor, wells at.......................... 80,82

Bad Axe, waterworks at................. 259-260

wells at........................... 258,260,264

Bagley, wells at............................. 348

Bailey, water supply of..................... 26

Baldwin, lakes near......................... 82

wells at.................................. 83

Bamfleld, water supply at.................. 309

Bangor Township (Bay County), wells in. 119,120 

Bannister, wells at and near.......... 214,224-225

wells in and near, location of, map showing............................ 224,227

Barker Creek, wells at.................... 312,313

Barry County, rainfall in................... 10

wells in, water in, temperature of....... 16

Barryton, wells at and near.......... 76-77,79,91

wells at and near, location of, map showing.............................. 76

Bass Lake district, wells in................. 80-81

wells in, location of, map showing...... 80

Bay City, waterworks at................. 120-121

Bay County, artesian map of............... 116

flowing wells in............... 115-118,269-271

map of part of.......................... 270

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of........................ 117-118

waterworks in........................ 120-121

wells in............................... 115-120

water of, character of.............. 120

temperature of................ 16.120

Bayport, wells at......................... 259,260

Bayport Township (Huron County), wells

Bay Shore, waterworks at.................. 345

wells at............................ '..... 346

Bay View, wells at.......................... 365

Beaches, Glacial lake, location of ........... 6

underground water on.................. 7

Bear Creek, drainage of..................... 293

wells on and near................. 293,295,343

Bear Lake (Manistee County), wells at..... 297

Bear Lake (Muskegon County), location of. 32 

water from............................. 26

Beaver Island, wells on...................... 346

Beaver Township (Bay County), wells in... 116,

118,119 

Beebe, wells at............................ 229-230

Bellaire, waterworks at..................... 344

wells at..................... 8,336-337,338,345

water of, analysis of................ 340

Belmont Beach, location of................. 6

Benson, water supply at.................... 303

Bentley, wells at......'...................... 119

Benzie County, flowing wells in........... 325-330

map of part of.......................... 327

rainfall in......'.....:.......... L........ 10

.section"In.'. ..'."...'....................'... 329

topography of........................ 324-325

village supplies in.............'......... 331

,waterworks in........................ 330-331

wells in............................... 325-331

: . Records of......................... 328,329

' water of, analyses of................ 328

temperature of................. 16

Benzonia, section near..................... 329

wells at....................... 324,327-330,331

Page. 

Berea sandstone, water in.................. 308

Berne, wells at............................. 260

Berrien County, rainfall in................. 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

Bethany Township (Gratiot County), wells

in.......................... 93,219-223

wells in, location of, map showing....... 221

Betsy River, drainage of.................... 324

wells on................................. 325

Beulah, wells at.................. 325,327-330,331

wells at, records of................... 328-329

water of, analyses of............... 328

Big Prairie, wells at........................ 75

Big Rapids, waterworks at....>............. 78-79

Big Rock, wells at.......................... 350

Bingham Township (Huron County), wells

in............................. 259,263

Birch Run Township (Saginaw County),

wells in........................ 197,200

Biteley, wells at............................ 75

Black Creek, wells on....................... 37-38

wells on, record of...................... 38

Black River, drainage of.............. 307,349,352

topography on........................ 246-247

water from............................. 247

wells on................................. 354

Black River (post-office), water supply at.. 309 

Blanchard, well near....................... 109

Bliss, wells at.............................. 365

Bloomfleld Township (Huron County),

wells in......................... 267

Boardman River, drainage of.............. 314

water from............................. 313

analysis of.......................... 313

Bog lime, water from....................... 7-8

Bolton, wells at............................ 351

Boone, wells at............................. 303

Bored.wells, description of.................. 13

use of................................... 124

Borland, wells at........................... 79

Bowman, Isaiah, on Ensley district........ 73-74

work of.-----.--...--.....---.......-.-. 2

Boyden, well near.......................... 108

well near, record of..................... 109

water of, analysis of................ 109

Boyne waterworks at...................... 345

wells at and near............... 8,341-342,346

water of, analysis of................ 342

Boyne Creek, wells on...................... 341

Boyne Falls, wells at and near............ 343,346

Branch, wells at............................ 80,82

Branch County, rainfall in.................. 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

Brant Township (Saginaw County), wells 

in ................................... 197,198-199

Breckenridge, wells at and near.......... 220-223

Brent Creek, wells near..................... 158

Brethren, wells at.......................... 295

Brice, wells at.......................*....... 231

Bridgeton, wells at......................... 75

Bridgeton Township (Newaygo County),

wells in...................... 68,69,70

Brookfleld Township (Huron County),

wells in......................... 262

wells in, record of....................... 262

Brown City, waterworks at................ 247
INDEX. 381

Brown City, wells at....................... 249

Brunswick, wells at........................ 75

Brutus, wells at.......................... 365,378

Bryant, wells at............................ 309

Bull Township (Sanilac County), wells in. 252-253 

Burns Township (Shiawassee County),

_wells in..................'.... 191-192

well* in, location of, map showing...... 191

Burt Xsfljfes;' ispring near..................... 355

welte aeayr..................... 354,357,363,366

Burton Township (Genessee County), wells

in......................... 161,166-168

wells in, -location of, map showing...... 162

Butterfleld, wells at........................ 305

Butterfleld Township (Missaukee County),

well in.......................... 304

Buttersville, wells at....................... 82

Byron, wells near........................... 191

Cabmoosa, water supply of ................ 62

Cadillac, elevations near.................... 5,301

waterworks at...--.-....-.........-.. 301,302

wells at................................. 303

water of, analyses of............... 303

Calhoun County, rainfall in................. 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

Canada Corners, water supply of........... 26, 45

Canboro, wells at........................... 260

Canfield, wells at........................... 83

Caro, wells at......................... 146,151-152

wells at, record of....................... 152

Carp Lake, wells at....................... 332,365

Carrs, wells at.............................. 82

Carsonville, waterworks at................. 248

wells at................................. 249

Caseville, wells at............................ 260

Caseville Township (Huron County), wells

in............................... 266

Cash, water supply at...................... 249

Casing, leaks in, causes and results of...... 127

Casnovia, waterworks at................... 25,26

Casnovia district, topography of......... 27,41-42

wells of................................. 42

Casnovia Township (Muskegon County),

wells of...................... 41-42,45

Cass City, wells at......................:... 151

Cass County, rainfall in..................... 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

Cass River, drainage of................... 246,256

wells on................... 134,141,143,145-146

Catchment areas, distribution of............ 5

Cathro, wells at............................. 351

Caving, loss of head due to.................. 128

Cecil, water supply at...................... 365

Cedar River, drainage of.................... 175

Cedar Run, wells at........................ 315

Center Harbor, wells at.................... 260

Center Township (Emmet County), wells in. 364 

Central Lake, waterworks at............... 344

wells at....................... 3§6,337-338,345

water of, analyses of................ 337

Chamberlin, T. C., water-supply data collected by.................."...... 1

Chandler Township (Huron County), wells

in............................. 266-267

Page. 

Chapman Lake, well on......'............... 282

Charlevoix, waterworks at..............".... 346

wells at................................. 346

Charlevoix County, flowing wells in... 335,339-344 

lakes in............................... 333-335

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of........................ 333-335

village supplies in...................... 34&

waterworks in........................ 34&I-3**-

wells in................................. 348

water in, temperature of............ 16

Charlton, wells at........................... 348

Chase, wells at.......................:..... 83

Cheboygan, waterworks at................. 335

wells at..................'......... 355,357,366

Cheboygan County, flowing wells in.. 354,355-363 

lakes in................................. 353

map of part of.......................... 358

rainfall in.............. '. .........."...... 10

springs in............................. 354-355

topography of.......................... 353

village supplies and waterworks in..... 355

wells in............................... 354-363

water in, analyses of......... -356,361,363

temperature of.. I......... 16,355,361

Cheboygan River, drainage of.*........... 347,352

Chesaning Township (Saginaw County),

wells in............'if:'.-. 1.'/:... 197,200

Chestonia, wells at.........:.. :::'7f. .'(711:... 345

Chicago Lake, location of.: ..': :': :! .vivlT!... 6 

Chief, wells at.................v:. 1:....... 295

Chippewa Lake, wells at.... I.. '. ...:..'.-. '.'.'.. 79

Chippewa River, drainage of...'.....'...'. 75,92,243

Chippewa Township (Isabella County),

wells in........................ 93,100

Chippewa station, wells at.................. 90

Churn drill, use of........................... 13

Chute Creek, wells on..................'. 1... 117

Clam lakes, water from................... 301,302

Clare, waterworks at....................... 112

well near, record of.............. '....... 105

Clare County, flowing wells in............... 113

map of part of.......................... 107

rainfall in.........:........... y -.-'..... 10

topography of............... :'.'i'I'i...... Ill

village supplies and waterwoffi^&Jl... 112 

wells in.. ....,......,...:. 93,106,108,111-113

water of, temperature of.'....'....... 16

Clarence, wells at ..........'...........I-..*... 112

Clarion, wells at............-'1............ 344,346

Clinton County, rainfall in..:....... ........ 10

wells in, watet of, temperature of..'.... 16

Clio district, wells in........................ 156

Clogging, instances of. ".'1.'.'.'............. 31,35-36

loss of head"dU'e;t&;!.::'-'::;..'....-....- 128-130

Coal, occurrence of.. /.':^?'"-!"- - - .J ..'.'!:. .'A - - 140 

Coal measures, water ffdin.I................ 7

Coe basin, wells in..^^;^ 93. 1 94795,£fr-100,244

wells in, location of j"n^p(sh6wing.. 7... 95

record of.,,-,..,,>,.,,,.., -..,.- ?-,.-,T:Jf.T--- 96

Coe Township (Isabella County), wells in.. 93,

. Af> ;,,^ , ,.;., 95-96,98-99

wells, in, .details .of..,-,. ^ <- - ^.... ^....... 94

. -wells of, records of- -.. .........- --.- 96

Cohoctah- area, wells in..............-..---- 180

wells in-, -location of, map-showing-...... 180
382 INDEX.

Coleman, wells at and near................. 102

Coif ax Township (Huron County), wells in. 264 

Columbia Township (Tuscola County), wells

in......................... 137,139,140

Columbus Beach, wells at.................. 357-360

Comins, water supply at.................... 310

Contours, map showing.................... 8

Conway, wells at and near.................. 366,

366,371-372,374-375,378

wells at and near, location of, map showing.............................. 371

water of, analysis of................ 375

Cooper, W. F., on Bay County........... 115-121

work of................................. 3,193

Copemish, wells at.......................... 286

Corunna, waterworks at.................... 193

wells at................................. 193

Corwith, wells at........................... 348

Crawford County, description of.......... 310-311

rainfall in............................... 10

wells in................................. 311

water of, temperature of............ 16

Crooked Lake, wells at..................... 112

Crooked Lake area, wells in.............. 371-378

Croswell, waterworks at.................... 247

water supply at......................... 249

Croton, wells at............................. 75

Crown, wells at............................. 260

Crump, well at....."......................... H9

Crystal Lake, wells on.................... 325,327

wells on, location of, map showing...... 327

Crystal Valley, water supply of............. 62

Crystal Valley district, wells of............. 53-54

wells in, location of, map showing...... 54

water of, analysis of................ 91

Culver Creek, wells on....................... 115

Custer, wells at............................. 82

Custer Township (Sanilac County), well in.. 256

D.

Davis, C. A., on Saginaw Bay drainage

basin......................... 121-246

work of.................................. 2

Davison, wells at and near................ 161-166

wells in, location of, map showing....... 163

Davison Township (Genessee County), wells

in............. 128,155,161-166,167-168

wells in, location of, map showing....... 162

Dayton Township (Tuscola County), wells

in............................... 143

Deckerville, wells at......................... 249

Deerfleld Township (Isabella County), wells

in............................... 108

wells in, record of....................... 109

water of, analysis of................ 109

Deerfleld Township (Livingston County),

wellsin....................... 180-181

Deford, wells at............................. 154

Denmark Township (Tuscola County),

wells in......................... 139

Denver Township (Isabella County), wells

in............................... 93

wells In, record of..................... 101-102

Depth, influence of, on temperature......... 3 4-15

Detroit, population of...................... 24

water supply of......................... 24

Detroit River, wells on...................... 7

Page, 

Deward, wells at............................ 311

Dewings, wells at........................... 90

Diamondlock, wells at...................... 75

Dighton, wells at........................... 90

Ditching, drainage by............. 202-203,228-229

loss of head due to...................... 131

Dolph, wells' at and neap.................... 304-

Dougias Lake, spring near ................ 354-355

wells near............................... 354

Dover, well at............................... 348

well near, record of...................... 106

Dover Township (Otsego County), wells in . 347 

Drainage, character of...................... »-10

See also Topography. 

Drainage, subsoil, loss of head due to........ 131

Drift, character of.......................... 8

distribution of.......................... 5

structure of............................. 8-9

water from, character of................ 7,

132,136-137,141-142,197

See also Topography. 

Drilling, use of.............................. 13

Driving, imperfect, loss of head due to...... 127

Drought, loss of head due to............... 130-131

Drumlins, distribution of................... 6

Dublin, wells at............................. 296

Dug wells, dangers of....................... 12

description of........................... 12

utilization of............................ 124

Durand, wells in............................ 192

Dwight Township (Huron County), wells

in............................... 268

E.

Eagle Bay, wells at......................... 260

East Jordan, waterworks at................ 346

wells at..........:.................. 8,339,346

water of, analysis of................ 340

East Jordan South Arm district, wells

in............................. 339-340

Eastport, wells at.......................... 345

East Tawas, waterworks at.......... 269,274,275

wells at............................... 269,281

'Eaton County, rainfall in................... 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

Echo, wells at............................... 345

Edenville Township (Midland County),

wells in......................... 102

Edgewood, wells at......................... 230

Edwards, wells at and near............... 115,282

Edwards district, wells in................... 115

Edwards Lake, well on...................... 282

Elba Township (Gratiot County), wells in.. 204,

224-229 

Elbridge, water supply of................... 62

Elbridge district, wells of................... -54-55

wellsin, location of, map showing....... 55

water of, analysis of................. 91

Elevations, height of........................ 4-5

Elk Rapids, waterworks at............... 344,345

Elkton, wells at........................... 260,265

Elkton beach, location of................... 6

Elk Township (Sanilac County), wells in.. 253-254 

Ellsworth, wells at.......................... 345

Elmers wells at.............................. 249

Elm^all, wells at........................... 230
INDEX. 383

Page. 

Elmira.wells at and near.................. 345,347

El well, springs near......................... 214

wells at and near...................... 214-215

Ely, Water supply at........................ 365

Emerald, wells at........................... 79

Emmet County, blowing wells in............ 364

flowing wells in................... 335.364-378

maps of parts of.................. 367,37k, 372

rainfall in.............................. 10,364

section of, figure showing............... 373

topographyof.................... 333-335,364

village supplies in....................... 365

waterworks in.......................... 368

wells in............................... 364-378

recordof.......................... 368,369

water of, analyses of.............. 369,375

temperature of.................. 16

Empire,wells at............................. 333

Ensley Township (Newaygo County), wells

in............................. 63,73-74

wells in, location of, map showing....... 73

 - " recordof............................ 73

Epsilon, water supply at.................... 365

Evart, waterworks at...................... 84

wells at and near...................... 84,85-87

water of, analysis of................. 91

Evart district, wells of...................... 85-87

wells of, location of, map showing... 85 

water of, analysis of................ 91

F. 

Fairgrove, wells at........................ 147-148

wells at, record of....................... 147

Fairgrove Township (Tuscola County),

wells in..................^.... 139,140

FairhavenTownship (HuronCounty), wolls

in............................. 259,266

Fairfield Township (Grand Traverse County) . wells in.................... 319

Fairview, waler supply of................... 310

Farwell, waterworks at..................... 112

Fenton, waterworks at..................... 171

wells at............................... 171-172

Fenton Township (Genessee County), wells

in............;................ 171-172

Fern, wells at............................... 82

Ferry, water at, analysis of................ 91

water supply of........................ 62

Terry district, wells of...................... 57-58

wells in, location of, map showing..... 57

 Fife Lake, wells near..................... 312,314

 Finkton, wells at........................... 345

Fisher, Davenport, on Muskegon well

water...........^............... 37

Fish ponds, use of well water for......... 125-126

Flanders, wells at........................... 351

Fletcher, wellsat........................... 312

Flint, wells in and near............... 131,158-160

wells in and near, record of..........._. 159

water of, analyses of............. 158-159

Flint River, drainage of..................'.. 183

wells on.............................. 158,160

Flint Township (Genesee County), wells

in............................. 158,160

Flower Creek, water of..................... 49

Flower Creek district, wells in.............. 40-49

Paga 

Flower Creek district, wells in, location of,

map showing................... 46

wells in, water of, analysis of .......... 91

Flushing, wells near........................ 158

Forest beaches (Upper and Lower), location of.......................... 6

Forest Hill, wells at........................ 218

Forest Home Township (Antrim County),

wells in....................... 337,338

Forests, distribution of..................... 5

Forest Township (Genesee County), wells in 156 

Forestville, water supply at................ 249

Fork Township (Mecosta County), wells in. 76-77 

Forman, wells at........................... 83

Fostoria, wells near........................ 151

Fountain, water supply of.................. 82

Fountain Point, wells at................... 323

Frankenlust Township (Bay County), wells

in.............------......--.. 119,120

Frankfort, waterworks at.................. 330

wells at........................... 325,330,331

Fraser Township (Bay County), wells in... 117,

118,119 

Frederick, wells at.......................... 311

Freedom, wellsat........................... 355

Freesoil, wells at and near.................. 80,82

Freiburger, wells at......................... 249

Fremont, waterworks at................... 66

wells at........................ 65-67,69,70,75

location of, map showing........... 65

water of, analysis of................ 91

Fremont district, wells in............... 63,65-70

wells in, location of, map showing...... 69

water of, analysis of................ 91

Fremont Lake, well at, arrangements at,

figure showing.................. 67

wells at... .r.......................... 67-68,70

water of, analysis of................ 91

Fremont Township (Saginaw-County), wells

in...................---.-..-.- 197,199

Fremont Township (Sanilac County), wells

in............................... 252

Fremont Township (Tuscola County), wells

in...............----....-.-.-. 1437144-

Frost, well at......................... 197,200-201

well at, water of, analysis of............ 201

Fruitland district, topography of........... 27,41

wells of................................. 41,42

Fruitport, well at, record of................ 39

well at, water of, analysis of............ 39

Fruit Township (Muskegon County), wells

in............................ 39-40,45

wells in, water of, analysis of........... 40

Fuller, M. L., analyses collected by......... 90-91

on Mason County....................... 80-82

on-Mecosta County..................... 75-79

on Newaygo County.................... 62-75

on Oceana County....................... 46-62

on Osceola County...................... 84-90

work of.......................-...--.--. . 3

G. "' ' ' 

Gagetown, wells at...........".........:. ..'^U9

Gaines, wells at..........'.....'....".....'.:... ''170

wells in and near, location of, mapi3how-i'

Gaines Township (Genesee County); wells

in......................».»^.v. j*9-170
384 INDEX.

Gaines Township (Genesee County), wells

in, location of, map showing.... 169

Gale, water supply of....................... 62

Garfield Township (Bay County), wells in. 119 

Garfleld Township (Grand Traverse County) , wells in..................... 314

Garmer, wells at............................ SO

Gaylord, wells at and near............... 347-348

Genesee County, flowing wells in..... 125,155-175

maps of parts of...... 157,160,162,163,169,174

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in............................... 171

topography of.......................... 155

waterworks in................ 156-158,164,171

wells in........................... 131,155-175

record of...:........................ 159

water of, analysis of.............. 158,159

temperature of.................. 16

Genesee Township (Genesee County), wells

in............................. 160-161

wells in, location of, map showing...... 160

Geneva Township (Midland County), wells

in."......................... 93,102,245

Geography, description of.................. 4-6

Geology, description of..................... 4-9

map showing........................... 8

Geologic history, outline of................. 4-6

George Lake, well on........................ 282

Geyser Spring, description of............... 89-90

Gibson Township (Bay County), wells in.. 119 

Gifford Township (Tuscola County), wells

in............................... 139

Gilbert, wells at............................ 303

Gilmore Township (Isabella County), wells

in....................... 92-93,106,108

Glacial epoch, history of.................... 4-6

Glacial lakes, description of................ 6

Glaciers, distribution and character of..... 4-6

Gladwin, waterworks at.................... 114

Gladwin County, flowing wells in..... 113-115,269

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 113

waterworks in.......................... 114

wells in............................... 113-115

water of, temperature of............ 16

Gladwin district, wells in................... 114

Goocha, J. B. F., on Otsego County wells.. 348 

Goodell, wells at............................ 75

Goodhart, water supply at................. 365

Goodrich, wells at........................ 172-173

Goose Lake, well on........................ 336

Gordon, C. H., work of..................... 248

Gotts, wells at.............................. 260

Gove Township (Huron County), wells in.. 268 

Grabau, A. W.,on Petoskey and Bay View. 365 

Grace, wells at.............................. 353

Grand Blanc, water supply of.............. 171

Grand Haven, rainfall at and near.......... 11

Grand Rapids, wells at and near........... 7

Grand -River, drainage of................... 183

Grand Traverse Bay, wells near............ 16

Grand Traverse County, flowing wells in. 315-326 

map of part of.......................... 316

sections of............................ 317,318

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in, analysis of........:....... 321-322

Page. 

Grand Traverse County, topography of.... 314

village supplies in....................... 315

wells in............................... 314-324

records of......................... 322,323

water of, analyses of.............. 318,321

temperature of.................. 16

Grant, wells at............................. 75

Grant Township (Clare County), wells

in.......................... 93,106,108

Grant Township (Huron County), wells in. 262 

wells in, record of....................... 262

Grant Township (Newaygo County), wells in 63,73 

Grasmere beach, location of................ 6

Grassrnere, wells at......................... 260

Gratiot County, flowing wells in...... 125,204-229

map of part of........ 205,215,216,221,224,227

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in............................. 214,219

topography of........................ 202-203

village supplies in.................... 229-231

waterworks in.................... 204,219,229

wells in............................ 93,203-231

records of..................... 206,213,220

water of, analysis of................ 226

temperature in................ 16,213

Grayling, wells at.......................... 311

Great Sable River, drainage by............ 80

Greenbush, springs near.................... 308

wells at................................. 309

Greendale Township (Midland County),

wells in......................... 243

wells in, location of, map showing...... 243

Greene Creek, well on....................... 34

Greenleaf, wells at.......................... 249

Greenwood district, wells of................ 58-59

wells in, location of, map showing...... 58

Greenwood Township, wells in........... 111-112

Gregory, W. M., on Beulah and Benzonia

wells.......................... 327-330

on Cheboygan County................ 355-363

on Frankfort area...................... 330

on Geneva and Warren townships,

Midland County.............. 245-246

on Isabella County.................... 92-111

on northwest border of Saginaw Bay. 269-271 

on Ogemaw County.................. 281-293

on Onekama wells.................... 297-301

work of............................ 3,231-232

Grindstone, wells at........................ 260

Ground-water table, depth of.............. 11-12

Grout Township (Gladwin County), wells in 114 

Grove, wells near........................... 63

Groveland Township (GeneseeCounty) ,wells

in, location of, map showing.... 174

Gustin, wells at............................ 309

Gypsum, influence of, on water............. 14

H. 

Haakwood, wells at...................... 356-35/1 water of, analysis of.................... 365

Hadley Township (Genesee County), wells

in............................. 173-175

wells in, location of, map showing...... 174

Hagensville, wells at....................... 353

Hale, wells at............................... 281

Hampton Township (Bay County), wells

in............................. 119-120
INDEX. 385

Harbor Beach, waterworks at........ 259,260,263

Harbor Springs, wells at and near.......... 365,

366-370,375

wells at and near, location of, map showing.............................. 367

record of.......................... 368,369

water of, analyses of............... 369

Harlan, wells at............................ 296

Harmon, wells at........................... 269

Harrietta, wells at......................... 303

Harrison, waterworks at................... 112

Harrisville, springs near.................... 308

well at, record of....................... 308

wells at................................. 309

Hart, waterworks at....................... 59,62

waterworks at, water of, analysis of... 91 

Hart district, wells in...................... 52-53

wells in, location of, map showing...... 51

Hartland area, spring in................. 181-182

wells in............................... 181-182

location of, map showing........... 182

water of, analysis of................ 182

Hartley Creek, wells on..................... 172

Hartwick, wells at.......................... 90

Hastings Heights, wells at................. 374

Hastings Point, wells at................. 374,375

Hawkins, wells at.......................... 75

Hawks, wells at........................... 353

Hayes, wells at........................... 260,348

Head, loss of....................... 22-23,140-141

loss of, causes of.................. 126-132,208

See also individual places. 

Headlands, distribution of................. 5

Helena, wells at............................ 260

Herbert, wells at........................... 306

Herring lakes, wells on..................... 325

Hersey, wells at............................ 90

Hersey River, springs on................... 88

Hesperia, wells in and near..... '. ........... 62-65

wells in, location of, map showing...... 63

water of, analysis of................ 91

Higgins JLake, location of................... 305

Hillman, waterworks at.................... 350

wells at................................. 350

Hillsdale County, rainfall in................ 10

wells in, water of, temperature of...... 16

Hobart, wells at............................ 303

Holly, wells at.............................. 130

Holton, water supply of.................... 26

Homer Township (Midland County), wells

in......................... 237,240-242

Homestead, wells at........................ 331

Honor, wells at....................... 325-326,331

Horton, R. E., work of..................... 3

Horton Bay, wells at....................... 346

Houghton Lake, location of................ 305

wells on................................. 306

Houseman, water supply of................. 162

Howell, waterworks at..................... . 3J76

wells at and near..................... 176-179

location of, map showing........... 177

records of........................... 178

water of, analysis of................ 179

Hubbard Lake, location and drainage of... 307

wells at............................... 308,351.

JKR 183 06 2(5

Huber, wells at............................. 75

Hudson, wells at........................... 348

Hume Township (Huron County), wells in. 268 

Hungerf ord, wells at....................... 75

Huron, wells at............................. 260

Huron, Lake, water of and from...... 257-258,259

Huron County, flowing wells in ............ 259,

261,264-265,268 

map of part of.......................... 258

rainfall in............................... 10

section across, figure showing.......... 259

topography in........................ 257-259

village supplies in...................... 260

waterworks in........................ 259-260

wells in,.............................. 257-268

records of................. 261,262,264,265

water of, temperature of....... 16,264,265

Huron Township (Huron County), wells in.. 268 

Hydraulic ram, use of...................... 126

I.

Ice ponds, use of well water for........... 125-126

Illinoian stage, drift of..................... 8

Ina, wells at................................ 90

Incrustation, chemical, description of and

remedies for.................. 128-130

Indian River, wells at and near............ 354,

355,357-362,366

wells at and near, location of, map showing............................ 358,371

water of, analyses of............... 361

Ingersoll district, wells of................ 240-242

wells of, contamination of.............. 240

Ingersoll Township (Midland County), wells

in......................... 237,240-242

wells in, location of, map showing...... 236

Ingham County, rainfall in................. 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

Interlocheri, wells at........................ 315

Intermediate Lake district, wells in...... 335-S38

Institutions, water supplies of............. 23-24

Intermediate Lake, wells on................ 8,16

Ionia County, rainfall in................... 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

losco County, flowing wells in. 269-270,271,274-279 

maps of pa.rts of...................... 270,275

rainfall in............................... 10

topography in.......................... 269

waterworks in.......................... 269

wells in................... 269-270,271,274-281

records of........................... 277

water of, analysis of................ 276

temperature of................. 16

Iron, presence of............................ 14

Iroquois, location of........................ 6

Ironton, wells at and near............ 340-341,346

Irrigation, use of well water for............ 125

Isabella basin, wells in. ............ 93-94,101-105

wells in, 1 ocation of, map showing...... 107

Isabella County, flowing wells in...... 92-109,269

maps of parts of....................... 95,107

rainfall in............................... 10

sections of, figures showing........ 92,101,106

topography of.......................... 92

waterworks in........................ 109-110
386' INDEX.

Page, 

Isabella County, wells in.................. 92-111

wells in, record of.......... 96,101-102,10C, 109

relations of, figure showing......... 106

water of, analysis of................ 109

temperature of.................. 16

Isabella Township (Isabella County), wells

in........................... 93-94,101

Ithaca, wells at............................. 229

Ivanhoe, wells at........................... 260

J.

Jackson, water supply of................... 24

Jackson County, rainfall in................. 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

Tasper Township (Midland County), wells

in................. 9b,96,97-98,243-24,5

Jennings, waterworks at................... 305

wells at................................. 305

Jewell, wells at............................. 75

Johannesburg, wells near................... 348

Johnston, wells at.......................... 260

Judge, wells at............................. 311

Juniata Township (Tuscola County),wells

in.. ............................ 139

Kalamazoo County, rainfall in............. 10

wells in, water of, temperature of....... 16

Kaleva, wells at and near............. 295,296-297

Kalkaska, waterworks at.................. 313

wells at and near..................... 312-313

Kalkaska County, description of......... 312-313

rainfall in............................... 10

wells in............................... 312-313

water of, analysis of................ 313

temperature of................. 16

Karlin, wells at............................. 315

Kawkawlin River, valley of, wells in....... 115,116

Kawkawlin Township (Ba\ County), wells

in......................... 116,118,119

Kearney Townslfrp (Antrim County), wells

in......................... 336-337,338

Kent County, rainfall in.................... 10

wells of................................. 7

water of, temperature of........... 16

Killmaster, wells at........................ 309

Kilmanagh, wells at........................ 260

Kinde, wells at............................. 260

Kingston, wells at........................ 149-150

Kirk, wells at............................... 74,75

Klondike, water supply of.................. 62

L.

Lafayette Township (Gratiot County),

wells in......................... 203

Laing, wells at........................... 249,257

Lake, wells at.............................. 75

Lake Ann, wells at......................... 331

Lake City, waterworks at.................. 305

weilsat.............................. .. 305

Lake County, rainfall in.................... 10

topography of.......................... 82-83

village supplies in...................... 83

wells in...........................:..... 82-83

water of, temperature of........... 16

Page.

Lakefield Township (Saginaw County),

wells in......................... 197

Lake Harbor, water supply of.............. 26

Lake Harbor district, topography of....... 27,37

wells of.............................. 37-38,42

Lakes, occurrence of........................ 5

water supply from...................... .24

Lakes, Glacial, description of............... 6,8

Laketon Township (Muskegon County),

wells in......................... 43,45

Lake Township (Huron County), wells in.. 267 

La Motte Township (Sanilac County), wells

in............................. 256-257

Lane, A. C., on Huron County.....:..... 257-268

on Saginaw water supply............ 201-202

work of......................... 13,14,133,193

Lansing, water supply of................... 24

Lapeer County, flowing wells in........... 125,143

rainfall in............................... 10

wells in................................. 143

water of, temperature of........... 16

LarMn Township (Midland County), wells

in.............................. 232-234

wells in, location cf, map showing...... 233

Latitude, influence of, on temperature of

underground water............. 15

Lattin, water supply of.................... 62

Lattin district, wells of..................... 56

Leaks, loss of head due to.................. 127

Leelanau County, flowing wells in......... tc.2

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 331

village supplies in..................... 332-333

~ wellsin............................... 332-333

water of, temperature of........... 16

Leeland Township (Leelanau County),

wells in......................... 332

Leetsville, wells at.......................... 313

Legislation, character and text of.......... 21-22

Leighton, M. O., analyses furnished by..... 179,

182,185,186,226,237,248,303,313,337,342 

Leland, wells at............................ 333

Lena wee County, rainfall in................ 10

wells in, water of, temperature of...... 16

Le Rocque, wells at........................ 353

Leroy, wells at............................. 90

Leverett, Frank, introduction by......... 1-25

on Alcona County..................... 306-309

on Alpena County.................... 350-351

on Antrim and Charlevoix counties.. 333-346 

on Benzie County..................... 324-331

onCheboygan County................ 353-363

on Clare County....................... 111-113

onCrawford County.................. 310-311

on Emmet County.................... 364-378

on Gladwin County................... 113-115

on Grand Traverse County........... 314-324

on Isabella County..................... 92

on Kalkaska County................. 312-313

on Lake County........................ 82-83

on Leelanau County.................. 331-333

on Manistee County.................. 293-301

on Mason County ...................... 80

on Midland County................... 231-232

on Missaukee County................. SOS-305

on Montmorency County............... 349
INDEX. 887

Page.

Leverett, Frank, on Muskegon County topography. ...................... 25

on Osceola County...................... 83-84

on Oscoda County.... ^..:.............. 310

on Otsego County.................... 347-349

on Presque Isle County............... 352-353

on Roscommon County............... 305-306

on Sanilac County....'................ 246-257

on Wexford County.................. 301-303

work of................................. 3

Levering, wells at.......................... 365

Lewis, S. J., work ol........................ 3,14

Lewiaton, waterworks at................... 350

wells at............................... 349,350

Lexington, springs at...................... 251

waterworks at........................ 247-248

water of, analysis of................ 248

wells at............................... 249-252

location of, map showing........... 250

Lilley, wells at.............................. 75

Limestone, water from..................... 7

Lincoln, wells at.......................... 308,309

Lincoln River, drainage of................. 80

Lincoln Township (Huron County), wells

in............................... 267

Lincoln Township; '(Newaygo County), wells

in............................... 74

Linden, wells at............................ 171

Linkville, wellsat.......................... 260

Littlefleld, wells at......................... 365

Little Muskegon River, drainage of........ 75

Livingston, wellsat........................ 348

Livingston County, flowing wells in.. 125,176-182 

maps of parts of.................. 177,180,182

rainfall in............................... 10

spring in.............................. 181-182

topography of........................ 175-176

waterworks in.......................... 176

wells in................................ 175-182

records of......................... 178,181

water of, analysis of.............. 179,182

temperature of................. 16

Long Rapids, wells at...................... 351

Lott, wells near............................ 307

Lucas, wells at............................. 305

Luce, wells near.......................... 197,199

Ludington, waterworks at.................. 81

wells at and near....................... 80,82

Lupton, wells at and near................ 282,289

Luther, wells at............................ 83

Luzerne, wells at........................... 310

M.

McBain, wells at and near................ 304,305

McClure district, wells in................. 114-115

McKinley, wells at.......................... 310

McLeans, wells at.......................... 75

McLouth, C. D., on Muskegon County...... 25-45

work of................................. 3

Mackinaw, water supply at................ 365

Macomb County, rainfall in................ 10

wells of, water of, temperature of...... 16

Magnetic Mineral Spring, character of...... 219

Maltby, wells near.......................... 289

Mancelona, waterworks at................. 344

wells at................................. 345

Manistee, waterworks at................. 294-295

wells at................................. 294

water of, analysis of........ '...... 294-295

Manistee County, flowing wells in........ 296-301

map of part of.......................... 297

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 294

village supplies in.................... 295-296

waterworks in........................ 294-295

wells in............................... 293-301

record of...................... 296,300,301

water of, analyses of ......... 294-295,300

temperature of.................. 16

Manistee River, drainage of................ 83,

293,301-302,303-304,311,312,334 

wells on............................... 293,313

Manton, waterworks at.................. 302,303

wells at................................. 303

Map, showing area discussed............... 2

showing artesian areas................. 6

showing contours ...................... 8

showing flowing-well temperatures..... 17

showing geology ....................... 8

Maple City, wells at......................'.. 333

Maple Forest Township (Crawford County),

wells in......................... 311

Maple Ridge, wells at....................... 281

Maple Ridge Park, wells in and near..... 183-184

wells in and near, location of, maps

showing........................ 184

Maple River, drainage of.................... 202

wells on................................. t 224

Maple River Tewnship (Emmet County),

wells in......................... 364

Marion, wells at*......................... 84,88,90

Marion Township (Saginaw County), wells

in............................. 197,198

Marlette, watei'works at................... 247

wells at................................. 249

Marlette moraine, location of............... 246

Marls, water from.......................... 7-8

Marshall sandstone, water from........... 7,

121,138,232,257,258,264,266 

See also Upper Marshall sandstone. 

Mason County, flowing wells in............. 80-81

map of part of.......................... 80

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 80

village supplies in....................... 82

waterworks in.......................... 81

wells in................................. 80-82

water of, temperature of........... 16

Maumee, Lake, location and history of..... 6

Mayfleld, wellsat........................... 315

Mayville, wells near...................... 144,150

Meade Township (Huron County), wells in. 267 

Mears, water supply of..................... 62

Mecosta, well at............................ 78,79

well at, water of, analysis of ........... 91

Mecosta County, flowing wells in........... 76-78

maps of parts of........................ 76,80

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 75-76

village supplies in....................... 79

waterworks in.......................... 78-79

wells in................................. 76-79
388 INDEX.

Paga 

Mecosta County, wells in, record of........ 78

water of, analyses of................ 90

temperature of.................. 16,78

Melita, wells at............................. 281

Melvin, wells at............................. 249

Merrill, wells at and near................... 197

Merritt Township (Bay County), wells in. 118,120 

Metz, wells at.............................. 353

Michigan, Lake, water supply near......... 12,26

Michigan formation, occurrence of.......... 261,

265,266,285 

water in................................ 271

Middleton, wells on......................... 230

Midland, waterworks at.................... 235

wells in and near...................... 235-239

location of, map showing........... 236

record of............................ 238

 water of, analysis of................ 237

Midland County, flowing wells in. 125,232-246,269 

map of part of................. 95,233,236,243

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of........................ 232,234

waterworks in.......................... 235

wells in.............. 93,96-98,102,131,232-246

record of............................ 238

water of, analysis of................ 237

character of..................... 132

temperature of.................. 16

Midland Township (Midland County), wells

in............................. 234-239

wells in, location of, map showing...... 236

record of............................ 238

water of, analysis of................ 237

Mikado, wells at............................ 309

Millbrook, wells at.......................... 78,79

Millersburg, water supply at............... 353

Millerton, wells at.......................... 80,82

Millington, wells near..................... 150-151

Minden, wells at and near................ 249,257

Mio, waterworks at......................... 310

wells at................................. 310

Missaukee County, flowing wells in......... 304

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 303

village supplies in....................... 305

waterworks in.......................... 305

wells in............................... 303-305

water of, temperature of............ 16

Mitchie Creek, wells on..................... 117

Moltke Township (Presque Isle County),

wells in......................... 352

Monitor Township (Bay County), wells

in......................... 115-116,119

Monroe Center, wells at.................... 315

Monroe County, rainfall in.................

wells of, water of, temperature of........ 16

Montague, waterworks at.................. 25,26

wells at.............................. 28-31,44

record of............................ 28

water of, analysis of................ 37

Montague Township (Muskegon County),

wells in......................... 43-45

Montcalm County, rainfall in............... 10

wells in, water of, temperature of ...... 16

Monttnorency County, description of..... 349-350

wells in..,.,,...,...,...,,,,,.,,.,.... 349-350

Page. 

Montrose, wells in and near................ 157

wells in and near, location of, map showing.............................. 157

Montrose Township (Genesee County)>

wells in....................... 157-158

Moores Junction, wells at................. 281

Moore Township (Sanilac County), wells

in............................. 256-257

Moorland district, topography of........... 27,40

wells of........................... 40-41,42,45

gas in............................... 40

Moorland Township (Muskegon County),

well of.......................... 40-41

Moraines, character and distribution of..... 4-6

See also Topography. 

Morley, wells at............................ 79

Mount Forest Township (Bay County),

wells in....................... 117,119

Mount Haley Township (Midland County),

wells in................... 237,240-242

Mount Pleasant, waterworks at.......... 109-110

wells at........................ 92,109-111,269

records of......................... 110, 111

Mullet Lake, weUs near... 354,355-356,363,366,372 

Mundy Township (Genesee County), wells

in............................. 169-170

wells in, location of, map showing...... 169

Municipalities, water supplies of........... 23-24

Muskegon, waterworks at.................. 25

wells at and near.................... 32-37,43

records of........................ 32,33,34

water of, analyses of................ 36,37

Muskegon County, flowing wells in......... 26-45

lakes of................................. 27

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 25

village supplies in...................... 26

waterworks in.......................... 25-26

wells in............... ..............'.... 25-45

records of............... 28,32,33,34,39,40

water of, analyses of............. 36,37,39

temperature of................. 16

Muskegon Lake district, topography oi. 27,31-32 

wells of.............................. 32-37, 42

head of............................. 34-36

water of............................ 36-37

Muskegon River, source, course, and drainage of............... 5,25,62,75,83,305

wells on................................. 304

Muskegon Township, Muskegon County,

wells in......................... 43

N.

Napoleon sandstone. See Upper Marshall

sandstone. 

Nellist, J. F., work of...................... 3

Newark, wells at........................... 230

Newaygo, waterworks at................... 72

waterworks at, location of, figure showing.. ............................ 70

wells in and near.................. 62,70-72,75

location of, map showing........... 70

water of, analysis of................ 91

jo County, flowing wells in.......... 62-74

maps olparts of.,.,,.,.,.,.,,. 63,65,69,70,73
INDEX. 389

Page. 

Newaygo County, rainfall in................ 10

topography of.......................... 62

village supplies in...................... 75

waterworks in.......................... 66,72

wells in................................. 62-75

' records of........................... 73

water of, analysis of................ 91

temperature of................. 16

Nessen City, wells at....................... 331

New Era, water supply of.................. 62

New Haven, wells at....................... 230

Nipissing, Lake, location of................ 6

Nipissing beach, location of................ 6

Nirvana, wells at........................... 83

No-che-mo Springs, location and description of.......................... 88-90

water of, analysis of.................... 89

North Burns, wells at...................... 260

North Muskegon, waterworks at........... 25,26

well at, record of....................... 33

Northport, wellsat......................... 333

North Shade Township (Qratiot County),

wells in......................... 231

North Star, wellsat........................ 230

Norton Township (MuskegonCounty),wells

in............................... 45

Norwood, wells at and near.............. 339,346

Nottawa basin, wells in............ 93,95,105-108

wells in, record of....................... 105

Nottawa Township (Isabella County), wells

in............................ 92-93,108

Oak Grove, wells near.................... 180-181

wells near, record of.................... 181

Oak Grove Sanitarium, well at............. 159

well at, record of....................... 159

water of, analysis of................ 159

Oakland County, flowing wells in.......... 125

rainfall in............................... 10

wells of, water of, temperature of...... 16

Obstructions, loss of head due to........... 128

Oceana County, flowing wells of............ 46-59

maps of parts of ..... 46,49,51,54,55,56,57,58

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 46

village supplies in...................... ' 62

waterworks in.......................... 59-61

wells in................................. 46-62

water of, analyses of............... 91

temperature of................. 16

Oden, section at, figure showing............ 373

wells at and near............. 365,366,371-377

location of, map showing........... 372

water of, analysis of................ 375

Ogemaw County, flowing wells in..... 269,281-293

maps of parts of ..................... 283,289

section of, figure showing............... 290

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in............................. 282-283

topography of.......................... 281

village supplies and waterworks in..... 282

wells in............................... 281-293

records of......................... 286,287

water of, temperature of....... 16,286,292

Page. 

Ola, wellsat................................ 230

Old Mission, wellsat....................... 315

Oliver Township (Huron County), wells

in............................. 264-265

Omena, wells at............................ 333

Omer, wellsat............................ 271,281

Onaway, waterworks at.................... 353

wells at................................. 353

Onekama, wells at................ 294,295,297-301

wells in, location of, map showing...... 297

records of......................... 300,301

water of, analyses of............... 300

Orient, wells at............................. 90

Orono, wells at............................. 90

Ortonville area, wells of.................... 128

wells in, location of, map showing...... 174

Osceola County, elevations in............... 5,83

flowing wells in......................... 85-88

map of part of.......................... 85

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in............................... 88-90

water of, analysis of................ 89

village supplies in...................... 90

waterworks in.......................... 84-85

wells in.............................. 83-88,90

water of, analyses of............... 90

temperature of................. 10

Osceola Spring, character of................ 90

Oscoda, waterworks at................... 269,281

Oscoda County, description of............. 310

rainfall in............................... 10

waterworks in.......................... 310

wells in................................. 310

water of, temperature of............ 16

Ossineke, water supplies at................. 351

Otia, wells at............................... 75

Otisville district, wells of................... 156

Otsego County, rainfall in.................. 10

springs in............................... 348

topography of.......................... 347

waterworks in.......................... 349

wells in............................... 347-348

water of, temperature of............ 16

Otsego Lake, wells on...................... 348

Ottawa County, rainfall in................. 10

wells of................................. 7

water of, temperature of........... 16

Otterburn, wellsat......................... 160

Overdevelopment, loss of head from ..... 126-127

Owendale, wells at......................... 260

Owosso, springs at....................... 185-186

waterworks at.......................... 186

wellsat........................... 130,183-185

location of, maps showing........ 184,186

records of......................... 186-190

water of, analysis of.............. 185

P.

Palms, wellsat............................. 249

Paris, wellsat.............................. 78,79

Paris Township (Huron County), wells in. 259,263 

Parisville, wells at.......................... 260

Park Lake, wells at........................ 90

Parks, wells at............................. 75

Pawlowskl, wells at........................ 260
390 INDEX.

Page 

Peachvllle, water supply of................. 62

Peck district, wells in.................... 253-254

Pellston, wells at........................... 365

Peninsula Township (Grand Taverse

County), wells in............... 314

Pent water, waterworks at............... 60-61,62

waterworks at, water of, analysis of.... 91

Pentwater River, drainage by.............. 46

Pentwater Township, wells of.............. 80-81

wells of, location of, map showing....... 80

water of, analysis of................ 91

Pere Marquette River, drainage by......... 46,80

Perrinton, wells at......................... 231

Petoskey, wells at.......................... 365

Phelps, Wells at............................. 346

Pierport, wells at........................... 295

Pigeon, wells at and near............. 258,260,265

Pigeon River, drainage of.................. 347

Pinckney, wells near........................ 179

Pinconning, wells at.................. 269,270-271

wells at, location of, map. showing...... 270

Pinconning Township (Bay County), wells

in................. 117,119,269,270-271

Pine Creek, wells on........................ 231

Pine Lake, wells on..................... 8,340,341

Pine River, drainage of................ 92,202,307

spring on............... ............... 109

water from............................. 204

wells on and near.. 212,215,221-223,229,230,308 

Pine River (post-office), wells at........... 281

Pine River Township (Gratiot County),

wells in....................... 215-216

wells in, location of, maps showing.... 215,216

Pine Run, wells on......................... 156

Pinnibog, wells at.......................... 260

Pioneer, wells at............................ 305

Platte, wells at............................. 331

Platte River, drainage of................... 324

wells on................................. 325

Pleasant View, wells at-.................... 365

Pogy, wells at.-.......--......--.....-..... 79

Pointe aux Barques, wells at............... 260

Points, well, clogging of.................. 128-130

description of........................... 128

use of................................... 13

Pompeii, wells at........................... 231

Ponshewaing, wells at............ 372,374-375, 377

wells at, record of....................... 377

Popple, wells at............................ 260

Population, estimates of................. 4,23-24

Portage Lake, character of................. 297

well on............................ 293-294,299

Port Austin, water supply at.............. 260

Port Austin Township (Huron County),

wells in......................... 268

Port Crescent, wells at..................... 260

Port Hope, water supply at................ 260

Port Huron, rainfall at and near........... 11

Port Sanilac, wells at and near....... 249,255-256

Portsmouth Township (Bay County), wells

in....^........................ 118,120

Posen, wells at............................. 353

Precipitation, records of.................... 10-11

Prescott, wellsat........................... 282

Presque Isle County, rainfall in............. 10

Page. 

Presque Isle County, topography of ........ 352

village supplies and waterworks in...... 353

wells in............................... 352-353

water of, temperature of........... 16

Provement, wells at........................ 332

Prudenville, wells at........................ 306

R. 

Rainfall, records of......................... 10-11

Rainy River, drainage of................... 352

Rams, hydraulic, use of.................... 126

Rapid City, wells at...................... 312,313

Rapson, wells at............................ 260

Rathbone, wells at.......................... 231

Ravenna, water supply of.................. 26,45

Reed City, springs near.................... 88,90

springs near, water of, analysis of....... 91

waterworks at ......................... 85

wells at........................... 84,87-88,90

water of, analysis of................ 91

Redman, wells at........................... 260

Redoak, wells at............................ 310

Reeman, wells at........................... 75

Reese, wells at............................ 148-149

wells at, records of................... 148,149

Remus, wells at............................ 79

Rescue, wells at............................ 260

Rice Lake, wells on......................... 73

Richfield Township (Genessee County),

wells in....................... 160-161

wells in, location of, map showing....... 160

Rifle River, wells on........................ 282

Riverdale, waterworks at.................. 213

wells in and near....................... 213

record of............................ 213

Rivers, course of........................... 5

supply of............................... 9

water supply from...................... 24

Riverside Township (Missaukee County),

wells in......................... 303

Rock, water from, character of .......... 132-133,

137-138,196-197 

Rodney, wells at........................... 79

Rogers, wells at.......................... 352,353

Rondo, wells at............................. 355

Roscommon, population of................. 306

waterworks at.......................... 306

wellsat................................. 311

Roscommon County, flowing wells in....... 306

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 305

waterworks in.......................... 306

wells in............................... 305-306

water of, temperature of........... 16

Rose City, wells at and near...... 269,281,288-293

Rose Lake, wells at...................... 84,88,90

Rothbury, water supply of................. 62

Rubicon Township (Huron County), wells

in............................... 267

Russell, T., on Michigan weather........... 11

Ruth, wellsat.............................. 260

S. 

Saganing, wells at.......................... 281

Saganing Creek, wells on................... 117

Sage Township (Gladwin County), wells in. 114
INDEX. 891

Saginaw, waterworks at.................... 201

wells at............................... 195,202

Saginaw, Lake, location of................. 6

Saginaw Bay, drainage basin of, counties in 121

drainage basin of, physiography of .. 121-124

water supplies of................. 121-246

quality of..................... 132-133

head of, loss of loss........... 126-131

wells of, types of...........'...... 124-125

utilization of................. 125-126

north shore of, map of................. 270

northwest border of, wells on........ 269-281

temperature of......................... 120

Water from........................... 120-121

wells at and near, head in.............. 23

Saginaw County, flowing wells in..... 125,196-201

rainfall in............................... 10

topography of.......................... 194

waterworks in.......................... 201

wells in............................... 194-202

water of, analysis of................ 201

character of.................... 195

temperature of................. 16

Saginaw lobe, description and location of .. 4-5 

Saginaw River, character of................ 202

source and drainage of.................. 194

St. Clair, Lake, wells on.................... 7

St. Clair County, rainfall in................ 10

wells of, water of, temperature of...... 16

St. Clair River, wells on.................... 7

St. Helen, wells at.......................... 306

St. James, wells at......................... 346

St. Joseph County, rainfall in.............. 10

wells in, water of, temperature of...... 16

St. Louis, waterworks at................... 219

wells at................... 127,130,203,219-220

record of............................ 220

Salt River, drainage of..................... 92

Salts, presence of........................... 14

Salt wells, occurrence of.................. 196,294

Sand, texture of, relation of water supply

and............................. 9

Sand and silt, clogging by, loss of head due to 128 

Sand Beach Township (Huron County),

wells in......................... 263

Sand plain, occurrence of................... 5

Sandstone, water from..................... 7

Sandy, wells at............................. 79

Sanilac Center, waterworks at............. 248

wells at............................... 249,256

Sanilac County, flowing wells in.......... 249-257

map of part of.......................... 250

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in............................. 251,252

topography of........................ 246-247

village supplies in.................... 248-249

waterworks in........................ 247-248

wells in............................... 247-257

water of, anafyses of............... 248

temperature of........ 16,250,251,252

Sanilac Township (Sanilac County), wells

in............................. 255-256

Sanitas spring water, analyses of.......... 363

Scottville, waterworks at.................. 81

well sat................................. 82

Sears, wells at....... J ........................ 90

Sebewaing, coal mines at, subdrainage by.. 140 

wells at................................. 260

Sebewaing Township (Huron County), wells 

in............................. 260-261

wells in, record of........,............... 261

Seville Township (Gratiot County), wells

in ................:,.......... 213-215

Sharon, wells at.....................:...... 313

Shaw, wells at.................::........... 75

Shelby, waterworks at..................... 60,62

waterworks at, water of, analysis of ... 91 

Shelby district, section across, figure showing.............................. 51

wells of................................. 49-51

location of, map showing........... 49

water of, analysis of................ 91

Sheridan Township (Clare County), wells

in............................... 113

Sheridan Township (Huron County), wells

in......................... 259,262-263

Sheridan Township (Mecosta County), wells

in .............................. 77-78

water of, analysis of ................... 91

Sheridan Township (Newaygo County),

wells in......................... 74

Shenman, wells at.......................... 303

Sherman Township (Huron County), wells

in............................... 263

Sherman Township (Newaygo County),

wells in......................... 74

Sherman Township (Osceola County), wells

in.............................. 83-84

Sherzer, W. H., work of.................... 3

Shiawassee County, flowing wells in........ 125,

183-186,191-192 

maps of parts of.................. 184,186,191

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in............................. 185-186

topography of.......................... 183

waterworks in........................ 186,193

wells of, records of................ 186-190

wells in............................... 183-193

water of, analysis of................ 185

temperature of................ 16,193

Shiawassee River, drainage of...,.......... 175,.

181,183,191-192,202 

wells on.........................:.-...-. 171

Sigel, wells at.......'........................ 260

Sigel Township (Huron County), wells in... 264 

Siloam, wells at............................ 281

Silt and sand, clogging by, loss of head due

to............................... 128

Silverwood, wells at...................... 154-155

Simmons, wells at.......................... 345

Slocum, water supply of...................^ 26

Snoover field, wells in.................... 256-257

Soils, buried, occurrence of..........-..---- 8

Solon, wells at.............................. 333

South Arm, wells at................... .... 8,340

 water of, analysis of......:............. 340

South Boardman, wells at.................. 313

South Branch, wells at..................... 282

South FranMort, wells at.................. 331

Sottth Pere Marquette River, drainage of.. 62
392 INDEX.

Page. 

Speaker Township (Sanilac County), wells

in............................... 253

Spencer, wells at............................ 313

Springfield Township (Kalkaska County),

wells in......................... 312

Spring Lake district, topography of........ 27,39

wells of.............................. 39-40,42

records of........................... 39,40

water of, analysis of................ 39

Springport, springs near................... 308

wells near............................... 309

Springvale, wells at........................ 346

Springwater Siding, springs near........... 343

wells at and near....................... 343

Spruce, wells at............................. 309

Standish, waterworks at................... 269

wells at........................... 269,271,281

Stanwood, wells at.......................... 79

Star, wells at................................ 348

Stimson, wells at............................ 79

Stittsville, wells at........................... 305

Strainer, clogging of, loss of head due to.. 128-130 

Stratford, wells at.......................... 305

Streams. See Rivers.

Sturgeon River, drainage of................ 347

Sullivan, water supply of................... 26

Sulphates, presence of...................... 14

Summit City, wells at...................... 315

Summit Townsh p (Mason County), wells of 80-81

wells in, location of, map showing...... 80

water of, analysis of................ 91

Buttons Bay, wells at...................... 333

Swan Creek area, wells in................. 197,198

Swartz Creek, wells in ...................... 168

Sylvania sandstone, water from............ 7

T. 

Tallman, wells at........................... 80,82

Tanks, use of............................... 196

Tanner, wells at............................ 295

Tawas, wells at................... 269,270,274-279

wells at, location of, map showing ..... 275

records of........................... 277

water of, analyses of................ 276

Temperatures of water, map showing...... 17

of water and air, records of............. 14-20

Temple, wells at............................ 112

Thompsonville, waterworks at............. 331

wells at............................... 325,331

Thumb Lake, wells at...................... 346

Thunder Bay River, drainage of.. 307,349,350,352

water from............................. 350

Tigris, water supply of..................... 62

Tigris district, wells of...................... 55-56

wells in, location of, map showing...... 56

Tittabawassee River, water from.......... 121

wells on........................... 113,115,232

Titus, wells at.............................. 79

Topinabee, wells at......................... 366

Topography, outline of..................... 4-6

See also individual counties. 

Torch Lake, wells near................... 313,345

Traverse City, wells at and near............ 16

312,315,319-324

wells at and near, records of.......... 322,323

water of, analyses of.............. 321-322

Page. 

Trowbridge, wells at....................... 355

Troy district, flowing wells in.............. 15

Tubular wells, description of............... 13

utilization of........................... 124

Turner, flowing well at, view of............. 272

wells at................................. 271

Tuscola, wells at......................... 146,154

Tuscoia County, drift waters in.. 136-137,141-142 

flowing wells in........... 125,139-142,143-145

rock waters in........................ 137-139

rainfall in............................... 10

springs in............................... 134

surface waters in..................... 135-136

topography of........ 133-135,142-143,145-146

village supplies in.................... 146-155

wells in........................... 134,136-155

records of............. 144,147,148,149,152

water of, analysis of................ 153

character of.................. 135-139

temperature of................. 16

Tustin, wells at............................. 90

Twining, wells at...................... 270/271-274

wells at, location of, map showing..... 272

Twin Lakes, wells on....................... 349

Typhoid fever, occurrence of............... 24'

U. 

Ubly, wells at.............................. 260

Udden, J. A., work of...................... 2,3

Unionville, wells at and near......... 141-142,146

Upper Marshall sandstone, map showing

elevation of .................... 258

salt in................:............... 138,232

water in...................... 258,261,263, 267

V.

Valentine Lake, wells at.................... 350

Valley Center, wells near................... 254

Van Buren County, rainfall in.............. 10

wells of, water of, temperature of...... 16

Vanderbilt, wells near .................... 347,348

Vassar, wells at and near......... 134,146,152-153

wells at and near, water of, analysis of. 153 

Vaughn, wells at........................... 309

Vaughan, V. C., work of.................... 3

Vernon, wells in and near................ 192-193

Vernon Township (Isabella County), wells

in.................. 93,102,105,106,108

well in, record of........................ 106

Verona Township (Shiawassee County),

wells in....................... 192-193

Verona Township (Huron County), wells

in............................. 259,264

wells in, record of..................... 264

Vienna, wells at.......................... 349-350

Volney, wells at............................ 74,75

W. 

Wadsworth, wells at....................... 260

Wagar, water supply of.................... 62

Walkerville, water supply of............... 62

Walloon Lake, wells on................... 343-344

Walton, wells at............................ 314

Warren, Lake, location of.................. 6

Warren Township (Isabelle County), wells

in............................... 93
INDEX. 393

Warren Township (Midland County), wells

In............................. 245-246

Washington Township (Gratiot County),

wells in......................... 227

Washtenaw County, rainfall in............. 10

wells of, water of, temperature of...... 16

Waste, loss of head due to........ 126-127,207-208

restriction of................ 13,21-22,127,208

Waste water, disposal of................... 196

Water, underground, occurrence of......... 7-8

occurrence of, map showing............ 6

quality of............................... 14

temperatures of........................ 14-20

map showing....................... 17

Water-bearing formations, distribution of.. 7-8 

Water motor, use of........................ 126

Watertown Township (Tuscola County),

wells of....................... 143,144

Waterworks, statistics of.................. 23-24

Wayland, wells at and near................ 7

Wayne County, rainfall in.................. 10

wells of................................. 7

water of, temperature in........... 16

Weare district, wells of..................... 56-37

wells in, location of, map showing...... 57

water of, analysis of................ 91

Weather Bureau, United States, records of. 10-11 

Weaver, wells at............................ 79

Weesh-Ko-Wong well, water of, analysis of. 318 

Wellington, wells at........................ 311

Well points. See Points, well.

Wells, description of........................ 12-13

Wells, head of, loss of, causes of.......... 126-132

types of.......................'........ 124-.125

water of, temperature of............... 16

temperature of, map showing...... 17'

water supply from...................... 24

See also individual counties. 

Wells, blowing, occurrence of .............. 364

character of............................ 9,22

defects in............................... 23

distribution of, explanation of....... 122-123

districts of.............................. 22

head of................................. 22-23

loss of............................ 126-132

occurrence of........................... 8

temperatures of, map showing......... 17

use of................................... 22

waste from.......................... 13,21-22

water supply from...................... 24

See also individual counties. 

Wells, salt, occurrence of................. 196,294

Wells Township (Tuscola County), wells in. 143,

144-145 

Wequetonsing, wells at............... 365,366-370

West Bay City, waterworks of............. 120

Page. 

West Branch waterworks at............... 282

wells at and near................. 281,282-288

location of, map showing........... 283

reeordsof......................... 286,287

Westwood, wells at......................... 313

Wexford, wells at.......................... 303

Wexf ord County, rainfall in................ 10

topography of.......................... 301

village supplies in...................... 303

waterworks In.......................... 302

wells in............................... 301-303

water of, analyses of............... 303

temperature of................. 1C

Wheeler, wells at and near....'............. 231

Whitecloud, wells at........................ 75

Whitehall, waterworks at.................. 25-26

wells at........................... 28-31,43-45

record of............................ 28

White Lake, water from.................... 25-2C

White Lake district, topography of........ 27

wells of.............................. 28-31,42

White River, source and course of..... 25,27,46,02

wells on................................. 03

White River Township (Muskegon County),

wells in......................... 43

Whiterock Township (Huron County),

wells in......................... 263

Whittemore, wells at....................... 281

Whittlesey, Lake, location of................ 6

Wickware, wells at.......................... 249

Williamsburg district, sections through.. 317,318 

wells in........................ 16,312,315-319

location of, map showing........... 316

water of, analyses of............... 318

Williams Township (Bay County), wells in.. 115-

116,118,119 

Wilmot, wells at............................ 154

Wilson, wells at............................ 348

Windmills, use of........................... 13

Winsor Township (Huron County), wells in. 259,

265-266 

wells in, record of....................... 265

Wisconsin stage, drift of................... 8

Wise Township (Isabella County), wells in.. 93,

102,105 

Wisner Township (Tuscola County), deer

licks in......................... 138

wells in................................. 139

Wolverine, wells at......................... 355

Woodville, wells at.......................... 75

Wooster, wells at........................... 74,75

Wurzel Saginaw Magnetic Mineral Spring,

character of.................. 200-201

water of, analysis of.................... 201

Y.

Yuma, wells at. 303
CLASSIFICATION OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL

SURVEY.

[Water-Supply Paper No. 183.]

The serial publications of the United States Geological Survey consist of (1) Annual 

Reports, (2) Monographs, (3) Professional Papers, (4) Bulletins, (5) Mineral 

Resources, (6) Water-Supply and Irrigation Papers, (7) Topographic Atlas of United 

States folios and separate sheets thereof, (8) Geologic Atlas of the United States 

folios thereof. The classes numbered 2, 7, and 8 are sold at cost of publication; the 

others are distributed free. A circular giving complete lists can be had on applicafton.

Most of the above publications can be obtained or consulted in the following ways:

1. A limited number are delivered to the Director of the Survey, from whom they 

can be obtained, free of charge (except classes 2, 7, and 8), on application.

2. A certain number are delivered to Senators and Representatives in Congress for 

distribution.

3. Other copies are deposited with the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, 

D. C., from whom they can be had at practically cost.

4. Copies of all Government publications are furnished to the principal public 

libraries in the large cities thruout the United States, where they can be consulted 

by those interested.

The Professional Papers, Bulletins, and Water-Supply Papers treat of a variety of 

subjects, and the total number issued is large. They have therefore been classified 

into the following series: A, Economic geology; B, Descriptive geology; C, Systematic geology and paleontology; D, Petrography and mineralogy; E, Chemistry and 

physics; F, Geography; G, Miscellaneous; H, Forestry; 1^ Irrigation; J, Water storage; K, Pumping water; L, Quality of water; M, General hydrographic investigations; N, Water power; O, Underground waters; P, Hydrographic progress reports. 

This paper is the sixty-third in Series O, the complete list of which follows (PP=Professional Paper; B=Bulletin; WS=Water-Supply Paper):

SERIES O, UNDERGROUND WATERS.

WS4. A reconnaissance in southeastern Washington, by I. C. Russell. 1897. 96 pp., 7 pis. (Out of

stock.) 

WS 6. Underground waters of southwestern Kansas, by Erasmus Haworth. 1897. 65 pp., 12 pis,

(Out of stock.)

WS 7. Seepage waters of northern Utah, by Samuel Fortier. 1897. 50pp., 3 pis. (Out of stock.) 

WS 12. Underground waters of southeastern Nebraska, by N. H. Darton. 1898. 56 pp., 21 pis. (Out

of stock.) '

WS 21. Wells of northern Indiana, by Frank Leverett. 1899. 82 pp., 2 pis. (Out of stock.) 

WS 26. Wells of southern Indiana (continuation of No. 21), by Frank Leverett. 1899. 64 pp. (Out

of stock.) 

WS 30. Water resources of the lower peninsula of Michigan, by A C. Lane. 1899. 97 pp., 7 pis. (Out

of stock.)

WS 31. Lower Michigan mineral waters, by A. C. Lane. 1899. 97 pp., 4 pis. (Out of stock.) 

WS 34. Geology and water "esources of a portion of southeastern South Dakot^, by J. E. Todd. 1900.

34pp., 19 pis. 

WS 53. Geology and water resources of Nez Perces County, Idaho, Pt. I, by I. C. Russell. 1901. 86

pp., 10 pis. (Out of stock.) 

WS 54. Geology and water resources of Nez Perces County, Idaho, Pt. II, by I. C. Russell. 1901.

87-141 pp. (Out of stock.)

I .
II SEEIES LIST.

WS 55. Geology and water resources of a portion of Yakima County, Wash., by G. O. Smith. 1901.

68 pp., 7 pis. (Out of stock.) 

WS 57. Preliminary list of deep borings in the United States, Pt. I, by N. H. Darton. 1902. 60 pp.

(Out of stock.) " 

WS 59. Development and application of water in southern California, Pt. I, by J. B. Lippincott. 1902.

95pp., 11 pis. (Out of stock.) 

WS 60. Development and application of water in southern California, Pt. II, by J. B. Lippincott.

1902. 96-140 pp. (Out of stock.) 

WS 61. Preliminary list of deep borings in the United States, Pt. II, by N. H. Darton. 1902. 67 pp.

(Out of stock.)

WS 67. The motions of underground waters, by C. S. Sliohter. 1902. 106 pp., 8 pis. (Out of stock.) 

B 199. Geology and water resources of the Snake River Plains of Idaho, by I. C. Russell. 1902. 192

pp., 25 pis.

WS 77. Water resources of Molokai, Hawaiian Islands, by Waldemar Lindgren. 1903. 62 pp., 4 pis. 

WS, 78. Preliminary report on artesian basin in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon, by I. C.

Russell. 1903. 53 pp., 2 pis. 

PP 17. Preliminary report on the geology and water resources of Nebraska west of the one hundred

and third meridian, by N. H. Darton. 1903. 69 pp., 43 pis. 

WS 90. Geology and water resources of a part of the lower James River Valley, South Dakota, by

J. E. Todd and C. M. Hall. 1904. 47 pp., 23 pis. 

WS 101. Underground waters of southern Louisiana, by Gn D. Harris, with discussions of their uses for

water supplies and for rice irrigation, by M. L. Fuller. 1904. 98 pp., 11 pis.

WS 102. Contributions to the hydrology of eastern United States, 1903, by M. L. Fuller. 1904. 522 pp. 

WS 104. Underground waters of Gila Valley, Arizona, by W. T. Lee. 1904. 71 pp., 5 pis. 

WS106. Water resources of the Philadelphia-district, by Florence Bascom. 1904. 75pp., 4 pis. 

WS 110. Contributions to the hydrology of eastern United States, 1904; M. L. Fuller, geologist in

charge. 1904. 211 pp., 5 pis. 

PP 32. Geology and underground water resources of the central Great Plains, by N. H. Darton. 1904.

433 pp., 72 pis. (Out of stoek.) 

WS 111. Preliminary report on underground waters of Washington, by Henry Landes. 1904. 86 pp.,

ipl. 

WS 112. Underflow tests in the drainage basin of Los Angeles River, by Homer Hamlin. 1904.

55 pp., 7 pis. 

WS 114. Underground waters of eastern United States; M. L. Fuller, geologist in charge. 1904.

285 pp., 18 pis. 

WS 118. Geology and water resources of east-central Washington, by F. C. Calkins. 1905. 96 pp.,

4 pis. 

B 252. Preliminary report on the geology and water resources of central Oregon, by I. C. Russell.

1905. 138pp., 24 pis. 

WS 120. Bibliographic review and index of. papers relating to underground waters, published by the

United States Geological Survey, 1879-1904, by M. L. Fuller. 1905. 128 pp. 

WS 122. Relation of the law to underground waters, by D. W. Johnson. 1905. 55 pp. 

WS 123. Geology and underground water conditions of the Jornada del Muerto, New Mexico, by C. R.

Keyes. 1905. 42 pp., 9 pis.

WS 136. Underground waters of the Salt River Valley, by W. T. Lee. 1905. 194 pp., 24 pis. 

B 264. Record of deep-well drilling for 1904, by M. L. Fuller, B. F. Lines, and A. C. Veatch. 1905.

106 pp. 

PP 44. Underground water resources of Long Island, New York, by A. C. Veatch and others. 1906.

394 pp., 34 pis. 

WS 137. Development of underground waters in the eastern coastal plain region of southern California,

by W. C. Mendenhall. 1905. 140 pp., 7 pis. 

WS 138. Development of underground waters in the central coastal plain region of southern California,

by W. C. Mendenhall. 1905. 162 pp., 5 pis. 

WS 139. Development of underground waters in the western coastal plain region of southern California,

by W. C. Mendenhall. 1905. 105 pp., 7 pis. 

WS 140. Field measurements of the rate of movement of underground waters, by C. S. Slichter. 1905.

122pp., 15 pis. 

WS 141. Observations on the ground waters of Rio Grande Valley7 by C. S. Slichter. 1905. 83 pp.,

5 pis.

WS 142. Hydrology of San Bernardino Valley, California, by W. C. Mendenhall. 1905. 124 pp., 13 pis. 

WS 145. Contributions, to the hydrology of eastern United States; M. L. Fuller, geologist in charge.

1905. 220 pp., 6 pis.

WS 148. Geology and water resources of Oklahoma, by C. N. Gould. 1905. 178 pp., 22 pis. 

WS 149. Preliminary list of deep borings in the United States, second edition, with additions, by

N. H. Darton. 1905. 175 pp. 

PP 46. Geology and underground water resources of northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas, by

A. C. Veatch. 1906. 422 pp., 51 pis.
SEEIES LIST. Ill

WS153. The underflow in Arkansas Valley in western Kansas, by C. S. Slichter. 1906. 90 pp., 3 pis. 

WS 154. The geology and water resources of the eastern portion of the Pan-handle of Texas, by C. N.

Gould. 1906. 64 pp., 15 pis. 

WS 155. Fluctuations of the water level in wells, with special reference to Long Island, -New York,

by A. C. Veatch. 1906. 83 pp., 9 pis. 

WS 157. Underground water in the valleys of Utah Lake and Jordan River, Utah, by G. B. Richardson.

1906. 81 pp., 9 pis. 

WS 158. Preliminary report on the geology and underground waters of the Roswell artesian area

New Mexico, by C. A. Fisher. 1906. 29 pp., 9 pis. 

PP 52. Geology and underground waters of the Arkansas Valley in -eastern Colorado, by N. H. Barton.

1906. 90 pp., 28 pis. 

WS 159. Summary of underground-water resources of Mississippi, by A. F. Crider and L. C. Johnson,

198& 86 pp., 6 pis. 

PP 53. Geologrand water resources of the Bighorn basin, Wyoming, by C. A. Fisher. 1906. 72 pp.,

16pLs.

WS 160. Underground-water papers, 1906, by M. L. Fuller. 1906. 104 pp., 1 pi. 

WS 163. Bibliographic review and index of underground-water literature published in the United

States in 1905, by M. L. Fuller, F. G. Clapp, and B. L. Johnson. 1906. 130 pp. 

WS 164. Underground waters of Tennessee and Kentucky west of Tennessee River and of an adjacent

area in Illinois, by L. C. Glenn. 1906. 173 pp., 7 pis. 

WS 181. Geology and water resources of Owens Valley, California, by Willis T. Lee. 1906. 28 pp.,

6 pis. 

WS 182. Flowing wells and municipal water supplies in the southern portion of the Southern Penin-

 sula of Michigan, by Frank Leverett and others. 1906. 292 pp., 5 pis. 

WS 183. Flowing wells and municipal water supplies in the middle and northern portions of the

Southern Peninsula of Michigan, by Frank Leverett and others. 1906. 393 pp., 5 pis. 

The following papers also relate to this subject: Underground waters of Arkansas Valley in eastern 

Colorado, by G. K. Gilbert, in Seventeenth Annual, Pt. II; Preliminary report on artesian waters of a 

portion of the Dakotas, by N. H. Darton, in Seventeenth Annual, Pt. II; Water resources of Illinois, 

by Frank Leverett, in Seventeenth Annual, Pt. II; Water resources of Indiana and Ohio, by Frank 

Leverett, in Eighteenth Annual, Pt. IV; New developments in well boring and irrigation in eastern 

South Dakota, by N. H. Darton, in Eighteenth Annual, Pt. IV; Rock waters of Ohio, by Edward 

Orton, in Nineteenth Annual, Pt. IV; Artesian-well prospects in the Atlantic coastal plain region, by 

N. H. Darton, Bulletin No. 138.

Correspondence should be addrest to

THE DIRECTOR,

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

NOVEMBER, 1906.

o
Geology and Ground 

Water Resources of

the Douglas Basin

Arizona

By D. R. COATES and R. L. CUSHMAN 

With a section on

' CHEMICAL QUALITY OF THE GROUND WATER

By J. L. HATCHKTT

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1354

Prepared in cooperation with 

Arizona State Land Department

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1955
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Douglas McKay, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office 

Washington 25, D. C. - Price $1.50 (paper cover)
CONTENTS

Abstract................................................................................. ..............^l

Introduction................................................................................i ^

Purpose and scope of the investigation............................................................................ 2

Acknowledgments................................................................................................................ 2

Location and extent of the area....................................................................................... 3

Climate................................................................................................................................ 4

History of development..................................................................................................... 5

Previous investigations.................................................................................................... 5

Methods of investigatioa................................................................................................... 6

Well-numbering system...................................................................................................... 6

Geology and its relation to ground water............................................................................ 8

Geomorphology.................................................................................................................... 8

History and water-bearing characteristics of rock units.............................................. 11

Schist.................................................................................................'..........'..'....'..'.".......... 11

Sedimentary rocks.......................................................................................................... 13

Granite.............................................................................................................................. 13

Volcanic rocks.................................... 14

Valley fill..................................................................,.....................................".'..'.......!... 15

Basalt.............................................................................................................................. 17

Gypsum............................................................................................................................ 18

Structural geology.............................................................................................................. 18

Ground-water resources.......................................................................................................... 20

Occurrence.......................................................................................................................... 20

Unconfined water............................................................................................................ 20

Water in valley fill...................................................................................................... 20

Water in hard rocks.................................................................................................... 22

Confined water................................................................................................................ 23

Springs.............................................................................................................................. 24

Origia................................................................................................................................... 25

Movement.............................................................................................................................. 27

Recharge.............................................................................................................................. 28

Precipitation in mountain areas.................................................................................... 28

Precipitation on valley floor........................................................................................ 29

Seepage from irrigation.................................................................................................. 29

Discharge............................................................................................................................ 29

Evapotranspi ration.......................................................................................................... 29

Flow out of basia........................................................................................................... 30

Pumping from wells........................................................................................................ 31

Springs.............................................................................................................................. 32

Summation of recharge and discharge.............................. ............................................... 33

Fluctuations of the water table........................................................................................ 33

Quality of water, by J. L. Hatchett...................................................................................... 37

Chemical character of the ground water.......................................................................... 37

Wells................................................................................................................................ 37

Springs.............................................................................................................................. 37

Dissolved-solids content of the ground water................................................................ 38

Source of dissolved solids............................................................................................ 38

Discharge of dissolved solids...................................................................................... 39

Comparison of recent analyses with those of earlier years.......................................... 39

Relation of quality of water to use.................................................................................. 39

Irrigatioa......................................................... .......... . » 39

Domestic.......................................................................................................................... 40

Literature cited............................................................................... . ............................... 41

Index.................................................................................................................................. 55

III
IV CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

lAll plates in pocket]

Plate 1. Map of Douglas basin showing geology and depth to water table in 

spring 1952.

2. Map of Douglas basin showing contours of the water table, spring 1952.

3. Map of Douglas basin showing decline of the water table, spring 1947 52.

4. Map of part of Douglas basin showing irrigation wells and irrigated areas.

5. Map of Douglas basin showing dissolved-solids content of the ground

water. _

Page

Figure 1. Map of Arizona showing location of Douglas basin.......................................... 3

2. Sketch showing well-numbering system in Arizona......................................... 7

3. Columnar section showing relation of rock types and geologic names.......... 12

4. Diagrammatic cross section of representative valley-fill conditions in

Douglas basin.................................................................................................... 16

5. Graphs showing fluctuation of water levels in observation wells and

pumpage in Douglas basin. .............................................................................. 35

TABLES

Page 

Table 1. Climatological data, Douglas basin.................................................................... 43

2. Records of representative wells and springs in Douglas basin...................... 44

3. Logs of representative wells in Douglas basin................................................ 48

4. Analyses of water from selected wells and springs in Douglas basin.......... 51
GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES OF THE 

DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

By D. R. COATES and R. L. CUSHMAN

ABSTRACT

The Douglas basin is part of a large northwest-trending intermontane valley, known as 

the Sulphur Spring Valley, which lies in southeastern Arizona, and extends into northeastern Sonora, Mexico. Maturely dissected mountains rise abruptly from long alluvial 

slopes and culminate in peaks 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the valley floor. Bedrock in the 

mountain areas confines drainage on the east and west, and an arc of low hi 11s to the 

north separates the basin from the Will cox basin of the Sulphur Spring Valley. Drainage of 

the 1,200 square miles in the Douglas basin is southward into Mexico through Whitewater 

Draw.

The mountains include igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks ranging in age 

from pre-Cambrian to Tertiary, including Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks that 

total about 10,000 feet in thickness. The older rocks have been metamorphosed, and all the 

bedrock has been affected by igneous intrusion, largely in Mesozoic time, and by structural movements, largely in Cenozoic time and extending into the Quaternary period. By 

the early part of Cenozoic time the major structural features were formed, and mountain 

ranges had been uplifted above the valley trough along northwest-trending fault zones. Since 

that time the physiographic features have resulted through erosion of the mountain blocks 

and the deposition, in places, of more than 2,800 feet of unconsolidated rock debris in the 

valley.

Ground-water supplies of the Douglas basin are developed largely in the saturated 

zone of the valley-fill sediments. The ground water in the valley fill occurs in thin lenses 

and strata of sand and gravel, which are interbedded with large thicknesses of silt and 

clay. Scattered gypsum beds and extensive caliche deposits appear at the surface and 

occur within the valley fill at various depths. Although the valley-fill sediments are as 

much as 2,800 feet thick, the uppermost 300 feet or so are the most permeable.

Ground water originates as precipitation in the mountain areas. The water collects in 

streams that lose much of their flow into the coarse sediments that fringe the mountains. 

Part of the water ultimately percolates into the zone of saturation. High evaporation 

rates, vegetative use, and the presence of caliche and clay at shallow depth in the interstream areas of the valley floor prevent important recharge of the ground-water reservoir 

from direct rainfall or seepage of water applied for irrigation. The total recharge into the 

ground-water reservoir of the Douglas basin was about 20,000 acre-feet in 1951.

Ground water is discharged from the basin by evapotranspiration, by effluent seepage 

into Whitewater Draw and underflow out of the basin, and by pumping. In 1951, the total 

amount of ground water discharged was about 50,000 acre-feet, of which more than 41,000 

acre-feet was pumped from wells. Ground water used in excess of recharge is withdrawn 

from storage, causing a decline in the water table. Maximum declines have occurred in 

the heavily pumped Elfrida area, where a decline of more than 11 feet occurred in the 5- 

year period 1947 51, inclusive. 

1
2 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN. ARIZONA

Most irrigation wells in the Douglas basin are less than 200 feet in depth and usually 

produce less than 400 gpm (gallons per minute). The average specific capacity of the 

wells is about 12 gpm per foot of drawdown. Although water in some parts of the basin is 

artesian, all irrigation wells must be pumped.

Ground water in the basin is generally of excellent to good quality for irrigation use. In 

small areas along the southern part of Whitewater Draw and east of Douglas the ground 

water is high in dissolved-solids content. Although most of the water is hard, it is generally satisfactory for domestic use. In many areas the fluoride content is more than 1.5 

ppm (parts per million).

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The need for*factual information concerning the ground-water 

resources of Arizona is becoming increasingly urgent. Groundwater studies in Arizona by the Geological Survey began about the 

turn of the century. A district office was established at Tucson 

in July 1939, under an arrangement of financial cooperation with 

the State of Arizona. This report is one of a series prepared under a cooperative agreement with the Arizona State Land Department. The report includes discussion of the geology, groundwater resources, and quality of ground water in the Douglas basin, 

Cochise County.

The report represents the combined work of many of the personnel of the Ground Water Branch of the Geological Survey, from 

the beginning of the investigation in January 1946 to the completion of field work in March 1952. Others who contributed substantially in collecting data on which this report is based, or in 

preparation of the report, include H. M. Babcock, M. B. Booher, 

S. C. Brown, O. B. Coulson, J. H. Feth, R. S. Jones, A. E. 

Robinson, and J. I. Webster.

The study was under the general supervision of O. E. Meinzer 

and A. N. Sayre, successive chiefs of the Ground Water Branch 

of the Geological Survey, and under the immediate supervision of 

S. F. Turner and L. C. Halpenny, successive district engineers. 

The quality-of-water phase of the work was under the general 

supervision of S. K. Love, chief of the Quality of Water Branch 

of the Geological Survey, and under the immediate supervision of 

J. D. Hem, district chemist.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

, Appreciation is expressed to all coworkers who helped in the 

collection of data and in the preparation of this report. Organi-
INTRODUCTION 3

zations that have been especially helpful in supplying needed information from their files include the Arizona Edison Co., the City 

of Douglas Water Works, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

the Phelps Dodge Corp., the Rural Electrification Administration, and the University of Arizona. Thanks are given also to the 

many well drillers who willingly supplied copies of their drilling 

logs. Many residents of the Douglas basin have provided invaluable assistance and information.

LOCATION AND EXTENT OF THE AREA

The Douglas basin is inCochise County in southeastern Arizona 

(fig. 1). The basin is part of the Sulphur Spring Valley, a large

114" 112" 110°

Figure 1. Map of Arizona showing location of Douglas basin.
4 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

northwest-trending intermontane trough which extends into northeastern Sonora, Mexico. For this report the Douglas basin is 

considered to be that portion of the drainage basin of Whitewater 

Draw north of the international boundary, although the basin extends south into Mexico. Highland areas that form the drainage 

divides of the basin are the Chiricahua, Pedregosa, and Perilla 

Mountains in the east; the Dragoon and Mule Mountains in the 

west; and in the north, a series of ridges and buttes, the most 

prominent of which are Six Mile Hill, Township Butte, the Pearce 

Hills, and Turkey Creek Ridge. The basin averages about 40 

miles in length and 30 miles in width and has an area of about 

1, 200 square miles.

CLIMATE

The Douglas basin has a semiarid climate similar to that of 

other parts of southern Arizona (Smith, 1945). The climate in 

the valley portion of the basin is characterized by low precipitation, high evaporation, and large daily fluctuations in temperature. The hot summer days are tempered by breezes and low 

humidity, and the nights are cool. Winter temperatures are mild, 

although the night temperatures occasionally go below freezing. 

These generalizations for the valley are in sharp contrast to the 

climate of the mountains, which constitute about one-third of the 

total area of the basin. Climatic conditions in the mountains are 

more rigorous, and snow is common at higher altitudes during 

the winter.

The United States Weather Bureau maintains temperature and 

rainfall stations at Douglas and Bisbee (table 1). Rainfall stations are also maintained at Leslie and Rucker Canyons. Climatic conditions in the vicinity of the Douglas station, altitude 

3,973 feet, are considered representative for most of the valley. 

The mean annual rainfall there is 12. 74 inches, of which about 8 

inches occurs in the summer months during brief, intense thunderstorms. April, May, and June are the driest months, and the 

average total precipitation in this period is about 1 inch. The 

mean annual temperature is 62.5°F. The wind blows mostly from 

the southwest at an average velocity of 7. 1 miles per hour. The 

growing season averages 212 days at Douglas; the last killing 

frost of the spring usually occurs in early April and the first 

killing frost of fall early in November. Douglas receives an average of 3,800 hours of sunshine a year. Conditions of low humidity in the region are indicated by evaporation measurements 

made at Willcox, 24 miles north of Pearce. The annual evaporation at Willcox averages 84. 59 inches, about seven times the annual precipitation there.
INTRODUCTION

The Bisbee station, altitude 5,350 feet, is considered to represent typical climatic conditions in the lower parts_of the mountain areas. At Bisbee the mean annual rainfall is 19. 15 inches 

and the mean annual temperature is 61. 3°F.

HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT

A full account of early development in the Douglas basin is given 

by Meinzer and Kelton (1913). The basin is included in the area 

acquired from Mexico by the Gadsden Purchase of 1853. It remained largely an Indian reservation until 1876 when the Chiricahua Apaches were moved to the San Carlos Reservation and the 

Sulphur Spring Valley was returned to the public domain.

Development of ranches began about 1872 when Fort Grant was 

moved to the northern part of the Sulphur Spring Valley, but extensive settlement of the Douglas basin did not begin until the 

building of the railroad from Bisbee to the copper smelters at the 

newly developed townsite of Douglas in 1902. The principal industries in the basin up to 1910 were mining and cattle raising. Farming started after 1910 when the first irrigation wells were drilled. 

The farming economy of the Douglas basin is dependent on the 

availability of ground water. Agricultural acreage has expanded 

rapidly in recent years, from about 3, 000 acres in 1940 to more 

than 14, 000 acres in 1951. About 75 percent of the 1951 acreage 

was devoted to cotton.

PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS

The earliest study of the Douglas basin that is referred to in 

this report is that of Ransome (1904), who described the geology 

of the Bisbee area. The most comprehensive study of the basin 

was made by Meinzer and Kelton (1913). Many of the conclusions 

reached as a result of this early work are applicable at present 

and, whenever possible, unnecessary duplication is avoided in 

this report. The U. S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics (1940) 

prepared a report on the water supply of the Douglas basin. Other 

works that have been used include those of Darton (1925), Wilson 

(1927), Gilluly, Cooper, and Williams (1955), and Cederstrom 

(1946), and the geologic map of the State of Arizona (Darton, 

1924). A Geological Survey report on the ground-water resources 

of the Gila River basin and adjacent areas1 contains a resume of 

the data presented here.

IHalpenny, L. C. , and others, 1952, Ground water in the Gila River basin and adjacent areas, Arizona a. summary: U. S. Geol. Survey Open-File Report.

345017 O - 55 - Z
6 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA 

METHODS OF INVESTIGATION

The section on geology of the Douglas basin includes data from 

previous investigations in addition to the results of reconnaissance 

geologic mapping by geologists of the Ground Water Branch in 

areas where mapping was incomplete. The geology was recorded 

on topographic maps and aerial photographs and was later transferred to the base map (pi. 1). Geologic mapping in the mountain 

areas was on a reconnaissance scale, as there was no need to 

map in detail the various rock units.

Records have been collected for 475 of the more than 500 wells 

of all types that exist in the Douglas basin. Records of representative wells are shown in table 2. Included in the well-record file 

of the district office at Tucson are more than 200 well logs, which 

indicate the type of rock material encountered at various depths. 

Table 3 is a compilation of characteristic well logs. To determine changes in the position of the water table, the Survey makes 

water-level measurements in 23 observation wells four times a 

year and in 21 observation wells once a year. All water-level 

measurements are made with a steel tape from fixed measuring 

points. The observation-well measurements, in addition to hundreds of others made during the last 5 years, give an accurate 

record of depth to water in the basin. These data were used in 

compiling a depth-to-water map (pi. 1), a water-table contour 

map (pi. 2), and a map showing the decline of the water table 

(pi. 3). Data for the water-table contour map were obtained by 

determining the altitude above sea level of the land surface at 

more than 200 wells by spirit leveling and correlating that information with water-level measurements. A pumpage inventory 

for the Douglas basin is compiled annually from records of power consumption by pumps and from measurements of well discharges. Chemical analyses were made of 129 samples of water 

collected from various wells, springs, and streams. Table 4 includes 40 of the analyses.

WELL-NUMBERING SYSTEM

In this report, wells are numbered in accordance with the General Land Office subdivision system, and the well numbers show 

the locations by township, range, and section. A graphic illustration of the well-numbering system is shown in figure 2. The 

capital letter indicates the position of the area with respect to the 

Gila and Salt River base line and meridian. The first numeral of 

the well number indicates the township, the second the range, 

and the third the section in which the well is located. The lowercase letters following the section number indicate the position of
INTRODUCTION

3J $

MERIDIAN SALT RIVER GILA ANP 

T 

1 

N.

GILA AND SALT RIVER BASE LINE

TR,E.

1 

S.

2

3

4

5

T. 

6 

S.

2

/

3

 [

/

/,

/ / 

/ /

4

) 

/

' /

/

5

R.5E. 

/

R.6E.

//

Well(D-4-5)|9caq 

R. 5 E.

6

7

18

 19

30

31

5

8

V/

20

29

32

4

9X

ks

21

28

33

3

^0

15

22

27

34

/2

11

14

23

26

35

1

12

13

24

25

36

Figure 2. Sketch showing well-numbering system in Arizona.

the well within the section. The first letter denotes the quarter 

section, the second the quarter-quarter section, and the third the 

quarter-quarter-quarter section (10-acre tract). All letters are 

assigned in a counterclockwise direction, beginning in the northeast quarter.
8 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

GEOLOGY AND ITS RELATION TO GROUND WATER

GEOMORPHOLOGY

The Douglas basin is part of the Mexican Highland section of 

the Basin and Range physiographic province (Fenneman, 1931). 

The section is an area characterized by isolated and dissected 

fault-block mountains separated by debris-filled desert valleys. 

The valley and mountain areas provide a convenient division for 

description of the Douglas basin. The central area consists of a 

relatively flat valley floor about 35 miles long and 15 miles wide 

whose axis trends northwest. This part of the basin is hereafter 

referred to as "the valley." The valley slopes are gentle and concave upward from the axis to the sharply defined mountain fronts. 

The valley trough slopes southward about 10 feet per mile from 

an altitude of about 4, 300 feet at the north end of the basin to 

3, 900 feet at the Mexican border. The Chiricahua, Swisshelm, 

Dragoon, Mule, Perilla, and Pedregosa Mountains are built of 

bedrock and project above the valley floor. These bedrock areas 

lie above altitudes of 4, 700 feet and comprise about 360 square 

miles or about 30 percent of the total area of the basin. The mountains are maturely dissected and have steep, well-drained forested 

slopes. The highest and most rugged are the Chiricahua Mountains, culminating in Chiricahua Peak whose altitude is 9,795 feet. 

In the other ranges the highest altitudes are 7, 185 feet in the 

Swisshelm Mountains, 7,150 feet in the Dragoon Mountains, 7,400 

feet in the Mule Mountains, 6, 385 feet in the Perilla Mountains, 

and 6, 510 feet in the Pedregosa Mountains.

Whitewater Draw, which derives its name from the white caliche 

deposits along the bank, drains the Douglas basin. The headwaters 

of Whitewater Draw areinRucker Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains. The uppermost channel is V-shaped, is geologically 

youthful, and has a steep profile. The slope downstream flattens 

appreciably into that of a mature stream in Rucker Canyon, after 

passing from volcanic rocks to sedimentary rocks. A continuous 

channel is maintained from the source, around the northern end 

of the Swisshelm Mountains, and to the cultivated lands northeast 

of Elfrida where the channel loses its identity. The channel again 

becomes well defined at a point about 2 miles southwest of Elfrida. 

From this point Whitewater Draw continues southward into Mexico where it is tributary to the Yaqui River, which flows into the 

Gulf of California. In the southern part of the Douglas basin the 

channel of Whitewater draw has been offset to the east because a 

greater load of sediments has entered the valley from the Mule 

Mountains to the west than has come from the Perilla Mountains 

to the east. Perennial flow in Whitewater Draw occurs in only two
GEOLOGY AND ITS RELATION TO GROUND WATER 9

places in the basin: in the upper 3 miles of Rucker Canyon; and 

in the 2-mile reach immediately north of the international border.

Tributary streams in the basin are ephemeral, and most of the 

stream channels disappear before reaching the central part of the 

valley floor. Many of the larger washes, such as Leslie Creek 

and Mud Springs Draw, do not have continuous channels from their 

sources to their confluence withWhitewater Draw. However, in 

the vicinity of Douglas and for a few miles north of Douglas, several streams issuing from the mountains have been able to establish a junction with Whitewater Draw. These channels have steep 

banks and are cut about 15 feet below the general level of the valley floor. Whitewater Draw is incised to a maximum depth of 

about 25 feet northwest of Douglas.

Maximum runoff occurs during the thunderstorm season in the 

summer, but generally each period of runoff after a storm is 

short. Other streamflow occurs in the spring with the melting of 

mountain snow. Streamflow from the mountains generally is dissipated in distributaries and as sheet runoff on alluvial fans and 

pediments, or infiltrates into the coarse sand and gravel near the 

mountain front.

Coalescing alluvial fans occur along some of the mountain 

fronts, and are most prominent on the east front of the Mule Mountains. Gently sloping bedrock surfaces, called rock pediments, 

are exposed along the west base of the Perilla Mountains (pi. 1) 

and probably occur, concealed by alluvium, along the Swisshelm 

Mountains. The terraces that are common and characteristic of 

many other southern Arizona basins are lacking in the Douglas 

basin. In general, the long alluvial slopes continue smoothly to 

the central valley floor, except for local development of small, 

indeterminate benches a few feet in height. The continuity of the 

slope is broken by buttes and outliers. These hills are particularly concentrated along the drainage divide that extends from the 

northern tip of the Swisshelm Mountains to the Pearce area. The 

outliers are erosional remnants of an older topography now partly 

buried by valley fill.

Many Indian artifacts have been found along Whitewater Draw. 

The oldest finds have been determined to be more than 10, 000 

years old (Sayles and Antevs, 1941, p. 55). If there had been a 

period of great erosion in post-Pleistocene time, it probably would 

have obliterated many of the Indian relics and would have cut terraces. In the Recent epoch, therefore, there is strong suggestion 

that it has been characterized by interrupted aggradation until the 

19th century when widespread gullying began.
10 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

During Quaternary time, erosion has been the dominant activity 

in the upland areas and deposition has been dominant in the valley. The upper slopes of the valley have been created in part by 

the erosive retreat of the mountain fronts. The intermittent 

streams in the basin are now eroding the land and the Douglas 

basin is expanding slowly northward at the expense of the aggrading, interior-draining Willcox basin.

The decade 1880-90 saw the beginning of important changes in 

the valley of the Douglas basin, as well as in many other parts of 

the Southwest. Gregory (1917, p. 130), Bryan (1925, p. 339), and 

Thornthwaite and others (1942, p. 102-104) fix the period of the 

1880's as the beginning of the gullying that is currently occurring 

in the Southwest. William Cowan, a pioneer rancher in the Sulphur Spring Valley, dates the beginning of channel cutting in 

Whitewater Draw after 1884 (Meinzer and Kelton, 1913, p. 28). 

Other oldtime residents of the valley also date the cutting before 

1900. Causal relationships for the recent cycle of arroyo cutting 

are imperfectly known and controversial. The two theories most 

widely advanced to explain the beginning of the recent gullying 

are overgrazing and climatic variations.

In 1884 there were 300, 000 cattle in the Territory of Arizona, 

and by 1893 this number had increased to 800, 000 (Thornber, 

1910, p. 338). The possibility exists that, with the increase in 

cattle in the 1880's, much of the range grass was destroyed and 

the range soil was disturbed by the animals' hoofs (Sauer, 1930, 

p. 387) thus reducing the resistance of the land to erosion (Thornthwaite and others, 1942, p. 123). It is known that the character 

of the vegetation in the valley of the Douglas basin has changed 

since it was first described in writing. Parry and Schott (1857, 

p. 17) reported patchy growth of coarse grass in the valley and 

hackberry and walnut trees in a side wash, but made no mention 

of the mesquite groves which had become extensive by the time of 

the investigation by Meinzer (Meinzer and Kelton, 1913, p. 89). 

These groves occupied about the same area in 1910 as now, except where they have been cleared for cultivation. Oldtime residents in the valley agree that mesquite did not get a foothold until 

about 1900. Changes in erosion and sedimentation may have resulted from such an upsetting of the delicate balance of nature by 

overgrazing and change in vegetal cover.

The effects of climatic variations upon the erosion cycle are 

difficult to evaluate. Fragmentary records from some U. S. 

Weather Bureau stations (Trask and others, 1950, p. 420) indicate that the rainfall was much greater during the first 4 years of 

the 1880-90 decade than it was during the whole period of record. 

Statistical analysis by Leopold (1951, p. 351) has shown for some
GEOLOGY AND ITS RELATION TO GROUND WATER 11

areas in the Southwest prior to 1900 "a relatively high frequency 

of large rains. " Thus, the increased precipitation in the early 

1880's with a higher frequency of storms of great intensity, falling on impoverished rangelands of poor cover and broken sod may 

have combined to trigger a new cycle of gullying.

It has been suggested that differential uplift of mountain areas 

offers at least a partial explanation for gullying (see Gregory, 

H. E., in Knechtel, 1938, p. 189). Earthquake and faulting activity is known to have occurred on May 3, 1887, throughout much 

of the Southwest. Earthquake tremors were felt in a large region 

from El Paso, Tex., west of Centerville, Calif., and from Globe, 

Ariz., south to Guaymas, Mexico. The Tombstone Epitaph newspaper on May 4 and 8, 1887, carried vivid accounts of earthquake 

activity throughout the Sulphur Spring Valley. It was reported 

that "hundreds of water veins opened in the earth with a sufficient 

quantity to supply 100,000 cattle. " In the Dragoon Mountains 

there was a severe shock and great noise, and "huge boulders 

were thrown down the mountain. " Artesian conditions were reported "to have been disrupted at Soldier's Hole. " In spite of 

these reports the writer believes that such activity has had no 

far-reaching effects in the Douglas basin.

HISTORY AND WATER-BEARING CHARACTERISTICS OF ROCK UNITS

The sequence of rock units in the Douglas basin is shown in the 

geologic column (fig. 3). The following paragraphs briefly discuss these units according to the groups by which they were 

mapped (pi. 1), the oldest being presented first. The geologic 

column shows more subdivisions than are considered in the following discussion. The units were combined for the present report into groups, the members of which have relatively uniform 

water-bearing characteristics.

SCHIST

During pre-Cambrian time thousands of feet of sediments, 

mostly silt and sand, were deposited in southern Arizona. After 

consolidation into rock, these strata were severely distorted by 

igneous intrusions, folding, and faulting, and were metamorphosed 

into schists. The pre-Cambrian schists are well exposed in several areas in the Dragoon Mountains and at Bisbee in the Mule 

Mountains. The schist in the Douglas basin has been correlated 

with the Final schist in other parts of Arizona (Ransome, 1904, 

P. 2).
12 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

GEOLOGIC

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CHARACTER OF FORMATION

Stream deposits. Recent

Largely alluvial deposits consisting of irregular beds of clay, 

sand, gravel, and caliche. Lake sediments and gypsum.

locally interbedded, chiefly of dark, dense clay; contains 

basalt locally, in sheets of extrusive rocks

Porphyritic lavas, acidic to intermediate, reddish; 

associated agglomerates and tuffs

Shales, nodular, red, with crossbedded buff, tawny, and 

red sandstone; a few beds of impure limestone near base

Granite, coarse-grained, intruded into early Tertiary(?),

Limestone, thick-bedded, hard, fossiliferous, gray

Limestone, thin-bedded, arenaceous, fossiliferous

Sandstones, buff, tawny, and red; and dark-red shales

with occasional thin bed of impure limestone near top

Limestone, compact, fossiliferous.

principally light-gray 

Granite porphyry, intruded into Carboniferous

 -0 

Limestone.thick-bedded, white and light-gray

Limestone, fossiliferous, dark-gray -1000' 

APPROXIMATE 

VERTICAL

Limestones, thin-bedded, impure, cherty

Quartzites; crossbedded, moderately thick -bedded, 

with basal conglomerate on erosion surface

Schist, mostly sericite 

Granite and some syenite, in Bisbee area

Section below Tertiary from Ransome (1904), Wilson (1927), Darton (1933), and Cederstrom (1946)

Figure 3. Columnar section showing relation of rock types and geologic names.
GEOLOGY AND ITS RELATION TO GROUND WATER 1 3

Schists in this region rarely yield much water and, owing to the 

limited area of outcrop in the Douglas basin, they are of little or 

no significance as a source of ground water.

At the close of pre-Cambrian time a long interval of erosion 

started. Highland areas were eroded to a surface of low relief, 

setting the stage for the advance of the first seas of the Paleozoic era.

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

In the Paleozoic era shallow seas, alternately advancing and 

retreating, left sediments of several kinds in the Douglas basin 

area. The early sediments were gravel and sand, and the later 

deposits were predominantly limestone, indicating progressively deeper and warmer conditions. After the deposition of more 

than 5, 000 feet of conglomerate, quartzite, sandstone, shale, and 

limestone, the area was uplifted and the seas retreated, ending 

the era. Erosion continued during the first two periods of the 

Mesozoic era (Triassic and Jurassic periods) and ended with 

subsidence and the advance of marine water in Cretaceous time.

In Cretaceous time about 4,500 feet of fragmental sedimentary 

rocks and lesser thicknesses of limestone were deposited. These 

deposits represent the last marine transgression into the area.

The Paleozoic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks yield water 

in quantity sufficient only for domestic and stock use. They do 

not supply any of the water used for irrigation. Along the slopes 

of the Mule and Perilla Mountains there are stock and domestic 

wells that penetrate the sedimentary rocks and have yields of 

several gallons of water a minute. In the mine workings at Bisbee, where the rocks are cavernous and have been broken by 

faults or joints, and where collection areas are large, some of 

the limestone formations yield millions of gallons of water daily. 

The Waddell-Duncanoil test (D-22-27)5b (see log, table 3) is the 

only well in the valley that has penetrated the entire thickness of 

valley fill. It encountered sedimentary rocks at a depth of 1, 605 

feet. The well yielded water under artesian pressure after passing through limestone of Mississippian age at a depth of 2, 270 

feet and flowed an estimated 100 gpm at a temperature of 129°F.

GRANITE

The nonvolcanic igneous rocks in the Douglas basin have all 

been shown as "granite" on the geologic map (pi. 1). Although

345017 O - 55 - 3
14 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES. DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

several different types of intrusive rocks crop out in the area, 

precision in individual classification was unnecessary for description of the ground-water resources. In the larger granitic areas 

the rocks are thought to be of Cretaceous age (Cederstrom, 1946, 

p. 601), but it is reported that intrusive igneous rocks were 

formed during various geologic intervals (Wilson, 1927, p. 22-23; 

Darton, 1933, sheet 21; Ransome, 1904, areal geologic map).

In areas where granitic and associated intrusive rocks have 

been greatly fractured and deeply weathered, sufficient water may 

be obtained to supply small amounts to domestic and stock wells. 

The communities of Courtlandand Gleesonwere formerly supplied 

with water from areas where deep weathering had created local 

basins of loose granitic sand. According to Meinzer and Kelton 

(1913, p. 114-115), at Courtland more than 15,000 gpd (gallons 

per day) was pumped from such a source and as much as 3, 200 

gallons per hour after the summer rains. The water yield of the 

intrusive rocks of the area is insufficient for irrigation or other 

large-scale uses.

VOLCANIC BOCKS

Volcanic rocks of Cretaceous(?) and Tertiary(?) age in the 

Douglas basin occupy an area second in extent only to the valley 

fill. Volcanic rocks compose most of the mountain area on the 

east side of the basin, most of the hills along the northern drainage divide, and part of the rocks in the Dragoon Mountains. The 

volcanic sequence in the Chiricahua Mountains aggregates several 

thousand feet in thickness. These rocks consist of a wide variety 

of explosively erupted (pyroclastic) and lava-flow materials, 

mostly of acidic composition. Thin strata of sandstone are present, locally interbedded with the volcanic rocks, suggesting that 

volcanic activity was occasionally interrupted long enough to permit fluviatile deposition. A conspicuous landmark in the Pedregosa Mountains is Castle Dome, a volcanic plug which rises 805 

feet above the surrounding land surface.

Water is present in small amounts where the lavas are well 

fractured, and in the pyroclastic materials where they are not 

cemented. Some springs in the mountain areas issue from volcanic rocks. In the concealed pediment areas on the east side of 

the basin, the only ground water that is known to be present occurs in small quantities in the volcanic rocks. Many test wells in 

this area did not yield water, and only a few we^lls ob'tain sufficient water even for domestic or stock use. If wells can be dug or 

drilled in areas where the rocks have been shattered or deeply 

weathered, the chances of obtaining a water supply are improved,
GEOLOGY AND ITS RELATION TO GROUND WATER 1 5

as ground water commonly occupies such zones. There is no indication that the volcanic rocks in the basin contain ground water 

in quantities sufficient for irrigation or other large-scale uses.

VALLEY FILL

The valley fill constitutes about 70 percent of the area of the 

Douglas basin. Although the basalt (malpais) and gypsum are contemporaneous with parts of the valley fill they were mapped separately because of their possible local effect on ground-water 

conditions.

Events that caused the Cenozoic cycle of deposition were the 

post-Cretaceous disturbances which raised the mountains relative to the central trough. The partial filling of the trough has 

resulted from the accumulation of mountain debris, locally more 

than 2,800 feet thick. It is believed that some of the deeper strata 

filling the trough are of Tertiary age. The upper fill materials 

are predominantly of Quaternary age and some of the beds adjacent to washes and arroyos have been deposited during the Recent 

epoch. These deposits may be equivalent to beds described by 

Gilbert (1875, p. 540 541) as the Gila conglomerate, a term that 

covers a wide range in age and lithologic character.

The valley fill consists mostly of a large variety of sediments 

derived by erosion from rocks in the adjacent mountain areas 

(fig. 4). The beds are generally unconsolidated to poorly consolidated clay, silt, sand, gravel, and occasional boulders. The materials were carried downslope by streams and sheet runoff, the 

larger fragments being deposited near the mountain source and 

the smaller fragments farther away as the carrying power of the 

transporting water diminished. Ideally, there is a grain-size gradation of the valley fill, from coarse at the mountain front to fine 

in the center of the basin. Conditions of transportation and deposition of the fragments vary, however, with the carrying capacity of the streams, and this in turn varies in each stream with the 

intensity of the storm causing the runoff. As a result, an area 

covered during one flood with gravel may, after another storm, 

receive a deposit of silt or clay. Furthermore, the stream channels constantly shift but tend to be occupied by coarser grained 

materials than are found in adjacent interstream areas. The end 

result of such widely fluctuating conditions is deposition of lensshaped and fingerlike strata which change markedly in texture 

and character both horizontally and vertically (fig. 4). Well logs 

throughout the valley reflect these conditions, and correlation of 

individual beds from well to well is usually impossible.
WEST

"Mountains

Cemented sand, gravel, and boulders 

near mountains; grades laterally into 

sand and gravel towards axis of 

valley. Water bearing

Figure 4. Diagrammatic cross section of representative valley-fill 
GEOLOGY AND ITS RELATION TO GROUND WATER 17

There is a preponderance of clay throughout the alluvial fill in 

the Douglas basin, and statistical analyses of logs of many wells 

in the central part of the valley indicate that clay and silt may 

make up about 80 percent of the fill. Fine-grained deposits are 

especially abundant in the southern half of the Douglas basin and 

extend to depths of at least 1, 000 feet. A lake of considerable size 

existed in the Willcox basin during the Pleistocene epoch. In the 

Douglas basin the gypsum and marl deposits east of Douglas, and 

the laminated clays now exposed in the banks of Whitewater Draw 

near Double Adobe (Sayles and Antevs, 1941, p. 34), indicate that 

standing water existed at least locally in that basin as well.

Caliche is present throughout most of the alluvium in the Douglas 

basin. Although it does not occur as a large, continuous blanket 

in the valley, it can be seen along most road cuts and stream channels, and it is mentioned in most of the driller's logs. The caliche 

tends to impede the downward movement of percolating water and 

thus to reduce recharge to the water-bearing beds.

Unconsolidated gravel and sand sediments in the valley fill of 

Tertiary and Quaternary age are the principal source of ground 

water in the Douglas basin and are the only beds that yield ground 

water in quantities sufficient for irrigation or other large-scale 

uses. The Recent alluvium along present stream channels is relatively thin and hence is capable of supplying only a small quantity 

of "water sufficient for domestic or stock use in or near the mountain washes.

BASALT

Basaltic lava flows of Quaternary age crop out in a few small 

areas along the eastern margin of the valley. Basaltic lavas are 

known to occur also at depth, interbedded with the valley fill in an 

area of a few square miles in the vicinity of the city of Douglas. 

Thus, there were at least two periods of basaltic extrusion. The 

log of well (D 24 27)15bad is typical of the wells that penetrate the 

basalt. Basalt interbedded with valley fill has been reported in 

driller's logs in the city of Douglas area most commonly between 

300 and 350 feet below the surface.

The areas of basalt are so small that they do not affect the general occurrence of ground water. On a restricted scale the basalt 

may influence ground-water conditions and cause, in part, minor 

ground-water anomalies such as are present in the Douglas area. 

Basalt is unimportant as an aquifer in Douglas basin but some of 

the interbedded sediments are water bearing, and in local areas 

the lava is sufficiently fractured to permit ground-water movement.
1 8 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

GYPSUM

Four small areas of gypsum have been mapped ^eparately (pi. 1) 

because of the local effect of the gypsum on quality of the ground 

water. The gypsum deposits east of Douglas are of lacustrine 

origin and are interbedded with lake marls and sandy clays. The 

largest deposit, in sec. 11, T. 24 S. , R. 28 E. , is spoon-shaped, 

with strata that are 25 feet thick in the center and taper to feather 

edges. The gypsum is white and earthy and is characterized by an 

almost complete lack of grit and crystals. The|se deposits have 

been worked intermittently for many years. Small mining operations were in progress in the spring of 1952.

Fossil snails collected from the beds east of Douglas indicate 

(Teng-Chien Yen, personal communication, 1950) that the gypsum 

was deposited in a lake that existed in Douglas bas^in during middle 

or late Pleistocene time.

The gypsum deposits in Turkey Creek Ridge are different from 

those east of Douglas; at Turkey Creek Ridge the gypsum occurs 

largely in crystalline and fibrous forms. The deposits are crudely 

bedded and contain many veinlets of fibrous gypsilm. The thickest 

measured section of gypsum was 6| feet. The gypsum is white to 

brownish red, very gritty and rocky, and nonfossiliferous.

Gypsum is encountered at depth in wells at several places in the 

Douglas basin, and the chemical composition of the ground water 

in the vicinity is generally affected by such occurrence. The 

gypsum deposits do not themselves yield ground ^ater in quantity 

but by solution they affect water in nearby aquifers. (See analysis 

(D-24-28)llbca, table 4. )

STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY

Structurally the Douglas basin is typical of the tectonic basins 

of the Basin and Range province. The alinemetjit of the northwesterly trending mountain and valley areas ha|s resulted from 

major movements along faults, which tilted the mountain blocks 

northeastward. A reflection of this structure is found in the Mule, 

Dragoon, Swisshelni, and Perilla Mountains, where the rock strata 

dip almost exclusively northeast.

The depth to which the rock floor of the valley has been downfaulted in relation to the mountain blocks can be inferred from 

previous studies and recent deep drilling. On the western side of 

the Douglas basin Ransome (1904, p. 9) records faults of 3,000- 

foot displacement. These faults were dated as pre-Cretaceous.
GEOLOGY AND ITS RELATION TO GROUND WATER 1 9

In the Bisbee district the mountain block has been tilted northeast 

about 15°. East of Bisbee parts of the sedimentary sequences of 

Paleozoic age were thrust at a later geologic time approximately 

2 miles ©ver strata of Cretaceous age. An oil test hole, (D 21 25) 

25ad, was reported to have been drilled through a total valley-fill 

thickness of 2,835 feet and to have encountered rocks of Cretaceous 

age at that depth. A well, (D 22-26)27bbd, was drilled to a total 

depth of 1,604 feet, all in valley fill. Another oil test hole, 

(D-22-27)5b, penetrated the full thickness of valley fill at a 

depth of 1, 605 feet and entered rocks of Pennsylvanian(?) age. 

These strata are structurally more than 2, 000 feet lower than 

matching beds in the adjacent mountains to the east. Thus, the 

rock floor of the Douglas basin has probably been downfaulted 

at least 2, 000 feet on the east and west sides of the structural 

trough; the trough is possibly asymmetrical and tilted westward; 

and the bedrock floor is locally more than 2, 800 feet below the 

surface of the valley.

A separate downfaulted block lies between the Swisshelm and 

Chiricahua Mountains. In that small basin well (D 21 28)3baa encountered bedrock beneath 1,020 feet of valley fill. Other wells 

on the flanks of that basin passed through the valley fill at depths 

ranging from 870 to 1, 100 feet. These relations are strongly 

suggestive of major faulting along the western slopes of the 

Chiricahua Mountains.

Displacement of Tertiary volcanic rocks by faulting, along both 

northwest and northeast lines, indicates that much of the major 

structural movement in the basin occurred in late Tertiary or 

early Quaternary time. Along the eastern border of the valley are 

a few basaltic dikes of Quaternary age having predominantly 

northeast strikes. It is probable that these dikes follow preexisting fault zones.

The northwest-trending arc of hills that extends from the 

Swisshelm Mountains to the vicinity of Pearce is partly related 

in origin to the northwest-trending fault pattern. These hills, 

which represent the remnants of the older landscape now largely 

buried by valley fill, are believed to represent a northwest extension of the structural block forming the Swisshelm Mountains.

The northwest-trending major faults have been emphasized in 

this report. There is also a pattern of minor fault structures 

striking northeast. Some faults have broken the continuity of the 

mountain blocks, creating a locally rugged topography and, in 

part, governing the location of some of the major canyons.
20 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES. DOUGLAS BASllN, ARIZONA

Folding of the sedimentary strata is less pronounced and is not 

as important as faulting in the structural history of the basin. The 

rocks of Paleozoic age in the Bisbee area were folded before or 

during the Mesozoic era. A later period of mountain building is 

indicated by the fact that Cretaceous rocks in the Bisbee area and 

in the Perilla and Swisshelm Mountains have been folded and 

faulted.

Bedrock structures are effective in controlling ground-water 

movement. The impervious mountain areas in the eastern and 

western parts of the Douglas basin prevent both leakage away from 

the basin and inflow from other basins. There is probably some 

ground-water movement southward among the hills that extend 

northwest from the Swisshelm Mountains, as discussed in the 

following section on ground-water resources.

GROUND-WATER RESOURCES

OCCURRENCE

The ground-water supplies that have been tapped in the Douglas 

basin are in the valley fill, in local areas of the hard-rock exposures, and in some of the hard rocks underlying the valley fill. 

These ground waters occur under unconfined (water table) conditions and under confined (artesian) conditions. The search for and 

the development of ground water in the basin indicates that the 

unconfined waters are easier to obtain and develop, especially in 

the large quantities that are needed for irrigation use.

UNCONFINED WATER

The valley fill is the source of supply for most of the water 

withdrawnfrom wells in the Douglas basin and contains the largest 

proven supply of unconfined water in the basin.

WATER IN VALLEY FILL

The main body of water as well as local areas of perched water 

are unconfined in the valley fill. The upper surface of the main 

body of unconfined water is the main water table. The depth to 

the main water table below land surface is the depth to water in 

all the irrigation wells and most of the domestic and stock wells 

in the fill. All of the valley-fill materials below the water table 

contain water, but the various materials comprising the valley 

fill have considerable differences in their water-storage, watertransmitting, and water-drainage capabilities.
GROUND- WATER RESOURCES 21

The water-bearing characteristics of the materials depend on 

the grain size, the degree of sorting or lack of sorting of component particles, and the degree of consolidation by compaction or 

by cementation. The more permeable zones in the valley fill are 

those that are coarse grained, fairly well sorted, and unconsolidated. Consolidation of the materials generally increases with 

depth with a consequent decrease in permeability. There are local 

exceptions to this, but in general, the valley-fill materials below 

depths of 300 to 400 feet have not yielded water to wells in sufficient quantities to justify the cost of the drilling below those 

depths.

Ground water occurs below the water table in all the various 

combinations of gravel, sand, silt, and clay described earlier in 

the report. The more permeable valley-fill materials are the 

unconsolidated or poorly consolidated deposits of sand and gravel. 

These more permeable deposits are interconnected, as shown by 

the presence of a single main water table, but the connections 

may not be direct and may be by way of less permeable materials. 

These permeable sand and gravel deposits release their stored 

water readily to wells and, therefore, are recognized as being 

"zones"from which water is developed. Such zones are commonly 

reported in drillers' logs as "water strata. " The "water strata" 

are discontinuous laterally because of the nature of the deposition 

of the valley fill, and therefore the water strata in nearby wells 

cannot be correlated with certainty either by altitude or depth 

below the surface.

In addition to storing water for ready release, these more permeable members, after they have been partially unwatered, collect 

water draining from the surrounding less permeable materials.

Form of the water table. The form of the main water table in the. 

Douglas basin resembles the form of the valley slopes, but has 

fewer irregularities and gentler gradients (fig. 4). The water 

table descends southward at a gradient of about 9 feet per mile 

from an altitude of about 4,200 feet in the vicinity of the buttes and 

ridges in the northern part of the basin to about 3, 870 feet at the 

international boundary. (See plate 2. ) The water table slopes 

downward from the east and west sides of the valley toward the 

axis at gradients ranging generally between 15 and 30 feet per 

mile. The gradient of the water table closely approximates the 

gradient of the valley floor along the axis of the valley, and there 

is but a relatively slight decrease southward in the depth to water 

(pi. 1). The upward slope of the water table from the axis toward 

the east or west sides of the valley is much less than the slope of 

the land surface, resulting in an increase in depth to water outward 

from the axis of the valley of about 30 feet per mile.

345017 O - 55 - 4
22 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

Depth to water. The depth to the main water table in the Douglas 

basin is least along the axis of the valley, ranging from several 

inches below the land surface near Whitewater Draw at the international boundary, to about 100 feet in the vicinity of the buttes and 

ridges in the northern part of the basin. (See plate 1. ) Data about 

depth to water near the mountains were difficult to collect there 

were few wells and many of them were sealed so that the water 

level could not be measured. In the central and southern parts of 

the basin, the denth to water near the mountain fronts is generally 

less on the east side than on the west side. On the east side of the 

valley the maximum depth to water is about 225 feet, generally 

about 2 miles vallfeyward from the hardrock-alluvium contact. 

Between this line and the mountain front the depth to water abruptly 

decreases, ranging from 50 to 100 feet below land surface. The 

cause of this sharp break is attributed to a pediment surface that 

is buried under a cover of valley fill. On the west side of the basin the depth to the water table becomes progressively greater 

toward the mountain front, reaching a depth of as much as 280 

feet. The greatest measured depth to water in the Douglas basin 

in 1951 was 474 feet in well (D-18 28)22cba; however, a depth to 

water of as much as 800 feet has been reported in well (D 21 28) 

3baa, which lies in the small valley between the Swisshelm and 

Chiricahua Mountains,.

Perched water. In local areas, small bodies of uncdnfined water are 

held in temporary storage above and separate frorp the main water 

table by relatively impervious zones of caliche, clay, or lava. 

Ground water occurring in this manner is called "perched water" 

and its upper surface is called a "perched water table. " Perched 

waters are not uniformly distributed throughout the valley, but 

occur in small isolated areas near the mountain fronts, principally 

along major washes immediately downstream from the hardrockalluvium contact. Wells deriving water from perdhed supplies are 

subject to rapid water-level fluctuations and, because of the limited 

storage capacity, are apt to go dry during periods of drought. 

Some of the larger areas of perched water are along Whitewater 

Draw between the Swisshelm and Chiricahua Mountains, and along 

Leslie Creek in T. 21 S. , R. 28 E.

WATER IN HARD ROCKS

Ground water in the hard-rock areas of the Douglas basin occurs 

principally in weathered zones where the fractures and crevices 

act as minute conduits or for storage of water. The storage capacity and water-yielding characteristics of the rocks depend on 

the degree to which the conduits have been closed by the deposition of lime or silica cement. In general, where the hard
GROUND-WATER RESOURCES 23

rock is water bearing and is in contact with the valley fill, the 

water table extends from the valley fill into the weathered hard 

rock without an appreciable interruption. Some of the water percolating downward through the hard rocks encounters relatively 

impermeable zones, and moves laterally until it reaches the 

mountain slope and discharges as a seep or spring. There are 

several springs and seeps in the mountain areas of the Douglas 

basin, and probably there are many areas where water discharges 

from the hard-rock areas into the valley fill below the land 

surface.

CONFINED WATER

Any ground water under sufficient pressure to cause it to rise 

in a tightly cased well to a level appreciably above the water table 

in that vicinity is termed confined or artesian water. Contrary to 

popular belief, artesian conditions can exist although the pressure 

is insufficient to raise the water to or above the land surface and 

cause the well to flow. In general, the following conditions are 

necessary for the occurrence of artesian water: A confining bed 

or layer of relatively lower permeability must overlie a bed or 

layer having a much higher permeability than the confining bed; 

the confining bed must extend, uninterrupted by fractures or other 

breaks, to the area in which water is recharged to the underlying 

permeable stratum; the lower surface of the confining bed must 

slope downward away from the recharge area; the permeable 

stratum must be saturated with water from its lowest point to the 

vicinity of the recharge area.

Water in valley fill. Unlike basins adjacent to the Douglas basin, 

deep drilling in the valley fill has not disclosed the presence of a 

competent confining bed in a large area or areas of the basin under 

which water can accumulate under pressure, and thus create an 

extensive artesian system. Although much of the valley-fill material in the Douglas basin is of low permeability, there are 

numerous permeable avenues throughout the fill that prevent an 

accumulation of water under considerable pressure. Water under 

pressure has been reported in deep wells in the basin, principally 

from T. 20 S. , southward to the international boundary; however, 

there is little or no correlation of pressure, so that local rather 

than general artesian conditions are indicated. Water was encountered under artesian pressure in sand and gravel beds between 472 and 1,012 feet below the land surface in well (D-21-25) 

Idd (table 3). At the time the well was drilled, in 1935, the artesian pressure was sufficient to cause the water to rise to the land
24 GEOLOGY AND GROUND- WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN. ARIZONA

surface and overflow the top of the casing, about 60 feet above the 

water table in that vicinity. Well (D-24 27)15baa penetrated permeable material at a depth of 833 feet, and the water rose in the 

well bore to within 40 feet of the land surface, or about 20 feet 

above the water table. Artesian conditions were encountered also 

at depths ranging from about 300 to about 500 feet in a group of 

wells drilled prior to 1910 in the SWi sec. 14, T. 24 S., R. 27 E. 

Pressure heads in these wells ranged from slightly above the land 

surface to about 5 feet below the land surface. Flows were reported to range from 25 to 500 gpm.

Although artesian conditions exist in parts of the Douglas basin, 

it is likely that in most of the basin artesian pressure is lacking 

or is insufficient to raise water above the land surface.

SPRINGS

Springs occur principally in the Mule and Dragoon Mountains 

and in the saddle between them, and on the western slopes of the 

Swisshelm, Pedregosa, and Chiricahua Mountains. There were 

perhaps 35 permanent springs in the Douglas basin in 1951, -as 

well as a number of wet-weather seeps and cienagas (swampy 

areas).

The geology of the springs in Douglas basin is not complex. 

Springs result from:

1. Obstruction of underflow by a rock barrier. The Leslie 

Creek spring, (D-21-28)2Ibc, and Antelope Spring, (D-20-24)21ca, 

are examples.

2. Incisement of stream channels below the water table. Springs 

can form where a stream channel has cut below the water table, a 

perched water table, or an aquifer confined between permeable 

beds. Springs of this general classification are Sycamore Spring, 

(D-19-29)14ad, spring (D-18-24)28cd, and spring (D-l9-29)1 Odd.

3. Faults. In places the rock materials in a faulted zone are 

sufficiently fractured to act as an avenue for the escape of ground 

water under artesian pressure. Two examples of fault springs 

are, respectively, spring (D-20-28)13bd and spring (D-22 24)29bc.

The spring waters are of normal temperature (66^ to 81°F) rather 

than thermal or hot. Yields range from less than 1 to 60 gpm.
GROUND-WATER RESOURCES 25

ORIGIN

The origin of ground water in the Douglas basin is precipitation 

in the mountain areas and on the valley floor.

Annual precipitation is about 15 inches in most of the Dragoon, 

Perilla, and Pedregosa Mountains; about 19 inches in the Mule and 

Swisshelm Mountains; and a maximum of more than 26 inches in 

the higher parts of the Chiricahua Mountains. Most of the water is 

absorbed by the soil in the mountains and is either lost to the 

atmosphere by evaporation or is transpired by vegetation. The 

remainder of the water is channelized into small gullies and rills, 

then into progressively larger streams, and finally passes out of 

hard-rock areas of the mountains. At the mountain front there is 

a sharp reduction in the gradient of the channels, and the runoff 

quickly loses velocity. In some places the streamflow progresses 

several miles out into the valley, but in other localities much of 

the flow is lost in alluvial fans and is spread or dissipated in 

distributary channels. Thus, much of the recharge to the groundwater reservoir of the valley fill occurs near the mountains, where 

water percolates rapidly through permeable materials and reaches 

a sufficient depth below the zone of capillarity and root growth to 

eliminate losses by evaporation and transpiration.

Most of the recharge into the ground-water reservoir occurs in 

washes in a narrow zone along the mountain fronts. Seepage from 

streams into the coarse materials underlying the washes unites 

with water infiltrated from precipitation upon the alluvial fans and 

ultimately reaches the water table. Studies show that of the total 

amount of precipitation falling within the drainage area of the hard 

rocks, only a small percentage leaves the mountains as runoff. 

The factors that bear on this percentage are complex, as shown in 

studies such as those of Peterson (1945), Schwalen (1942), and 

Sonderegger (1929). Important physical features of the drainage 

areas include: (1) Altitude, (2) surface gradients, (3) size of area, 

(4) character of soil and subsoil, (5) seasonal changes in infiltration capacity of the soil, (6) quantity and type of vegetation, and 

(7) type and structure of bedrock. Meteorological and other conditions that affect the quantity of runoff are: (1) Amount, intensity, 

and distribution of precipitation, (2) temperature, and (3)evapotranspiration. Runoff in the drainage basins of Parker and Workman 

Creeks in central Arizona (Rich, 1951, p. 11), and in the drainage 

basin of Salt River above Roosevelt Dam (Cooperrider and Sykes, 

1938, p. 45), was 13 and 14. 5 percent, respectively, of the 

precipitation.

Runoff figures are available for the Rucker Canyon drainage 

area (U. S. Geol. Survey, 1948, p. 475 476). This area is in the
26 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASllN, ARIZONA

Chiricahua Mountains, where the altitude ranges from about 5,400 

feet at the gaging station to about 9, 800 feet on the crest. The 

mean annual rainfall is about 22 inches in this area (Smith, 1945, 

p. 90). Rucker Canyon has a drainage area of 40 square miles. 

Using these data, about 47, 000 acre-feet of precipitation occurs 

annually, of which about 4, 500 acre-feet, or about 10 percent, 

leaves the area as runoff. On the basis of these data, runoff percentages of 10 to 15 percent were chosen for the different mountain 

areas for computations in this report.

Most rain that falls on the valley fill is used by vegetation or is 

held in the soil until it is evaporated. Rainfall-penetration studies 

in desertplains by Shreve (1934, p. 150 51), Lee (see Sonderegger, 

1929, p. 1310), and Turner 2 indicate that practically none of the 

rainfall on the valley floor reaches the water table. Factors that 

prevent recharge from direct precipitation in Douglas basin are 

rapid evaporation, vegetative use, and strata and lenses of impermeable clay and caliche near the land surface. Of the precipitation that falls upon the valley floor, only that part passing 

over the .coarse-grained materials along the washes is believed 

to be a source of recharge to the ground-water reservoir.'

Part of the water applied to the land for irrigation is returned 

to the ground-water reservoir by seepage. Although this seepage 

constitutes only recirculation of part of the ground water, it must 

be considered in evaluating the available ground-water supply. In 

some basins in southern Arizona, estimates of recharge from 

irrigation water run as high as 25 percent of the total amount of 

water applied to crops.4 Some of the tests upon which these 

estimates are based, however, were conducted in areas having 

conditions considerably more favorable for recharge than those in 

Douglas basin. It is believed that the same conditions that limit 

recharge from direct precipitation also limit recharge from 

irrigation in the Douglas basin.

The only avenue of known movement of ground water into the basin 

occurs in the vicinity of Turkey Creek, at the surface-water divide 

that separates the Douglas arid Willcox basins (pi. 2). In a strip 

about a mile or so wide infiltration of surface watfer into the alluvium of Turkey Creek eventually moves as ground water into 

Douglas basin. The hard-rock barriers that separate the Douglas 

basin from other basins on the east and on the west effectively 

prevent movement of ground water between basins.

Turner, S. F. , and others, 1943', Ground-water resources of the Santa Cruz basin, Arizona; 

U. S. Geol. Survey Open-File Report, p. 35. 

'Turner, 1943, op. cit. , p. 45, 54.

Turner, S. F. , and others, 1946, Ground-water resources and problems of Saffordbasin, 

Arizona: U. S. Geol. Survey Open-File Report, p. 7. 1
GROUND-WATER RESOURCES 27

MOVEMENT

The general movement of ground water in the Douglas basin is 

shown by the water-table contour map (pi. 2). The direction of 

movement is downslope and at right angles to the contours. The 

contours indicate that recharge occurs at the mountain fronts and 

that ground water moves toward the central part of the valley at a 

slight angle to the south. On reaching the axis of the valley the 

ground water moves southward, toward Mexico.

The rate of ground-water movement depends upon the gradient 

of the water table and upon the type of sediments the water moves 

through. In general the gradient of the water table is greatest 

near the mountains and becomes progressively less toward the 

valley (fig. 4). The close spacing of water-table contours may be 

indicative of abundant recharge, presence of extremely finegrained materials, or thin, though permeable aquifers with low 

rates of transmissibility (ability to transmit water). Studies of 

the rate of ground-water movement (Slichter, 1905a, b; Smith, 

1910, p. 126 154) indicate that the rate of flow is extremely 

variable and may range from a few inches to several feet per day. 

On the basis of these and other studies, the rate of ground-water 

movement in Douglas basin probably does not exceed a few feet 

per day and, in the central part of the valley where silt and clay 

materials comprise up to about 80 percent of the valley fill in 

many areas, the rate of movement is likely to be much slower.

The average slope of the water table is about 9 feet per mile in 

the central portion of the valley. Steeper gradients are present in 

the northern part of the basin and near the mountain areas (pi. 2). 

The direction of the water-table contours between Turkey Creek 

Ridge and Ash Creek Ridge indicates that ground water is reaching 

the main part of Douglas basin from recharge along Turkey Creek. 

The water-table contour map (pi. 2) also indicates that the northern 

limit of the ground-water reservoir cuts diagonally across the 

surface-water divide. Therefore, in this area some ground-water 

movement occurs both into and out of the Douglas basin. The closely 

spaced contours in the vicinity of the buttes and ridges are believed to be a reflection of local areas of low transmissibility, and 

the total amount of ground water moving between these bedrock 

areas is believed to be small.

The correlation of water-level data from the wells in the vicinity 

of the city of Douglas is difficult because .many of the deeper wells 

exhibit artesian pressure, and the distinction between those wells 

and wells that reflect water-table conditions is not always clear 

cut. At the time of the Meinzer and Kelton report (1913) watertable contours in this area-we re uniform and conformable with
28 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BA^IN, ARIZONA

those in the upper parts of the valley. However, by 1952 the 

water-table contours (pi. 2) in this vicinity were closely spaced, 

indicating a steepening of the water-table gradient, particularly 

on the west side of Whitewater Draw. This chanlge in gradient is 

attributed primarily to the heavy municipal and industrial pumpage 

in this small area.

RECHARGE

The sources of recharge to the ground-water reservoir of 

Douglas basin have been described in the section entitled "Origin. " 

The following paragraphs provide quantitative estimates that were 

made to evaluate the approximate amount of annual recharge from 

precipitation in mountain areas, precipitation on valley floor, and 

seepage from irrigation. Underground leakage is not considered 

as a separate topic, but is included in the section on "Precipitation 

in mountain areas. "

PRECIPITATION IN MOUNTAIN AREAS

An estimate of the average annual quantity of recharge from 

precipitation in the mountain areas was made on the basis of partial 

data on precipitation in the mountains, an estimate of the portion 

that reaches the mountain fronts as runoff, and an estimate of the 

proportion of runoff that infiltrates to the ground-water reservoir.

The total average precipitation was computed as about 375, 000 

acre-feet per year on a hard-rock area of 360 square miles. To 

approximate the runoff, estimates of 10 to 15 percent were applied 

to the individual mountain ranges according to the factors listed 

on page 25. The sum of the estimates indicated that about 40, 000 

acre-feet of runoff enters the valley from the mountain areas in 

an average year. This includes recharge occurring between the 

surface-water divide and the ground-water divide in the northern 

part of the basin.

Only part of the runoff infiltrates into the coarse-grained sediments at the mountain front and percolates to the ground-water 

zone. Studies by Smith (1910, p. 118-119), U. S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics (1940, p. 42) and Babcock and Gushing (1942, 

p. 56) indicate that only about half the total runoff recharges the 

ground-water zone. The recharge from this, source in Douglas 

basin was estimated as about 50 percent of the total runoff from 

the mountain areas, or about 20, 000 acre-feet per year.
GROUND- WATER RESOURCES 2 9 

PRECIPITATION ON VALLEY FLOOR

It is estimated that about 2, 000 acre-feet of water may reach 

the ground-water zone annually from precipitation on the valley 

floor. Nearly all the recharge from this source occurs along 

washes.

SEEPAGE FROM IRRIGATION

Tests in the Douglas basin by the Soil Conservation Service, 

U. S. Department of Agriculture (personal communication, 1951), 

indicated a complete lack of moisture penetration below a depth of 

5 feet, even after heavy irrigation. Therefore, the quantity of 

water recharged to the ground-^water reservoir from irrigation is 

believed to be negligible. The low recharge is a result of the 

tightness of the soil and the general fine-grained character of the 

alluvium, as indicated by the tests of the Soil Conservation Service.

DISCHARGE

Ground water is discharged from the valley fill of Douglas basin 

by evapotranspiration, flow out of the basin, and pumping from 

wells.

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

The amount of evaporation of ground water in Douglas basin is 

believed to be negligible. The only area where the water table is 

near enough to the surface to permit evaporation is a narrow 

fringe on either side of the lower 2 miles of Whitewater Draw.

In western United States many plants grow where the depth to 

ground water is shallow. By sending roots below the water table 

the plants obtain a perennial supply of water. Plants that depend 

upon ground water for growth are termed "phreatophytes" (Meinzer, 

1923, p. 55). The amount of ground water that may be utilized by 

vegetation is conditioned by the species of plant, the depth to which 

it can extend its roots, the density of plant growth, the length of 

jhe growing season, the depth to the water table, and the availability of surface water and soil moisture. The plants considered as 

potential phreatophytes in the basin are mesquite, salt bush, and 

some grasses. Of these plants mesquite is probably the only one 

capable of sending roots from 30 to more than 50 feet below the 

land surface. In order to determine the amount of ground water
30 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES. DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

available for such vegetation, the mesquite areas were mapped 

and separated into areas where the water table was less than 30 

feet below the land surface and areas where depth to water ranged 

from 30 to 50 feet. The characteristics of the individual trees and 

groves were noted, such as areal density and height, and frondage 

density.

In general, the mesquite in Douglas basin averages 4 to 5 feet 

in height, and less than 15 feet in diameter of crown area. In the 

zone where the depth to water is less than 30 feet below the land 

surface mesquite occupy an area of about 7 square miles and have 

an average areal density of about 40 percent. Where the water 

table is 30 to 50 feet below land surface the mesquite occupy an 

area of about 47 square miles and average about 30 percent areal 

density. Mesquite of 100-percent volume density in Safford Valley, 

where depth to water was about 10 feet, used a total of more than 

3 acre-feet of water per acre in 1943 44 (Gatewood and others, 

1950, p. 203). Owing to the greater depth to water in Douglas 

basin the use of ground water by mesquite of 100-percent density 

is assumed to be 1 acre-foot or less per acre per year. Another 

indication that ground-water use by mesquite in the Douglas basin 

is small is the noticeable uniformity in the size of mesquite under 

varying ground-water conditions. There is no apparent change or 

diminution in mesquite growth in areas where the depth to water 

exceeds 50 feet. It is probable, therefore, that much of the water 

used by mesquite in Douglas basin is derived from rainfall and 

from surface runoff. Total ground-water use by phreatophytes in 

Douglas basin was estimated to be between 8, 000 and 13, 000 acrefeet in 1951.

FLOW OUT OF BASK*

Discharge records for Whitewater Draw at the gaging station on 

U. S. Highway 80, west of the city of Douglas, are available for 

the years 1912-19, 1930-33, 1935-46, and 1948-51. The mean 

surface flow for all years of record is 8, 740 acre-feet per year. 

The mean surface flow for the period 1947 51, is 6, 100 acre-feet 

per year. Of this total flow, a study of the records indicates that 

less than 300 acre-feet per year constitutes seepage of ground 

water into the stream and remainder is flood-water runoff.

The main avenue of ground-water leakage from Douglas basin 

is southward into Mexico. It is believed that ground-water loss to 

adjacent basins is negligible because of the extensive hard-rock 

barriers. The determination of the quantity of ground water 

moving into Mexico annually can only be approximated from the 

data available. This computation is made difficult by complicating
GROUND-WATER RESOURCES 31

factors that include the heterogeneous character of the valley fill, 

the existence of buried lava flows near the border, and relatively 

heavy pumping by city of Douglas and Phelps Dodge Corp. wells 

in a small area. As a result, several unusual conditions exist 

locally: (1) the water level in shallow wells is shallower than in 

adjacent wells; (2) Whitewater Draw changes from an intermittent 

to a perennial stream at a point about 2 miles north of the international boundary; (3) the water surface in the draw corresponds 

in elevation to that in adjacent shallow wells, but is at a higher 

elevation than in nearby deep wells; and (4) the apparent direction 

of ground-water movement in the area west of Whitewater Draw 

and near the boundary is partially reversed with respect to the 

general pattern of ground-water movement in the basin.

The equation for underflow out of the basin is as follows: 

Underflow (in gallons per day) = transmissibility (in gallons per 

day per foot) x gradient (in feet per mile) x width of ground-water 

movement (in miles). Near the international boundary the following 

conditions are assumed: Coefficient of transmissibility of 40, 000 

gpd per foot; a gradient of 20 feet per mile; and a width of groundwater movement of 1^ miles. Thus, the underflow leaving Douglas 

basin would be about 3 to 4 acre-feet per day, or about 1,400 

acre-feet per year.

PUMPING FROM WELLS

Most of the ground water discharged from the Douglas basin is 

by pumping from irrigation wells. Locally, relatively large 

amounts of ground water are also pumped from the wells of the 

city of Douglas and the Phelps Dodge Corp. smelter. Minor 

ground-water withdrawals are made for stock and domestic use 

throughout the valley. *

Ground water has been pumped in the basin for irrigation since 

1910, but prior to 1939 pumpagefor irrigation probably did not 

exceed 5, 000 acre-feet annually. After 1945 pumpagefor irrigation 

began to increase sharply. During the 5 years 1947 51, inclusive, 

ground-water pumpage in the basin more than doubled, as shown 

in the following table. 5 In 1951, a total of 14,300 acres was irrigated

Year Ground Water 

(aero-feet)

1947__________________ 17,000

1948__________________ 22,000

1949__________________ 30,000

Ground Water 

(acre-feet)

1950__ 

1951__

35,000

38,000

Halpenny, L. C. and Cushman, R. L. , 1952, Pumpage and ground-water levels in Arizona in 

1951; U. S. Geol. Survey Open-File Report, p. 3.
32 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

with about 38, 000 acre-feet of ground water from about 270 wells 

(pi. 4). Irrigation wells in the basin range in diameter from 6 to 

20 inches and in depth from 50 to more than 600 feet. The average 

diameter is 12 inches and the average depth is 160 feet. The 

average discharge of irrigation wells in the Douglas basin, based 

on 95 well-discharge measurements made throughout the valley, 

was about 380 gpm in 1951. Some wells yield as little as 80 gpm, 

and the maximum measured discharge was 1, 500 gpm. The irrigation wells yield from 3 to 100 gpm per foot of drawdown, the 

average specific capacity in 65 representative wells being 12 gpm 

per foot of drawdown. Pumping lifts range from 50 feet near 

Whitewater Draw to more than 165 feet in wells 6 miles west of 

Douglas and in other wells east of McNeal. The nonpumping depth 

to water in irrigation wells ranges from 26 to 115 feet and averages 55 feet. Most of the pumps are powered with electricity but 

a few are powered by various petroleum-type units.

Figures supplied by the City of Douglas Water Department and 

by Phelps Dodge Corp. officials show a total withdrawal of 3, 000 

acre-feet in 1951 from the city and smelter wells. During the 

period 1947 51, the water requirements for the smelter remained 

nearly constant but pumpage for municipal use increased slightly.

Total ground water pumped from domestic and stock wells is 

about 500 acre-feet per year, calculated from an estimated average discharge of 2 gpm from about 300 wells that operate about 

half the time.

The total quantity of ground water withdrawn from wells in 

Douglas basin in 1951 was, therefore, about 41, 000 acre-feet.

 WRINGS

The discharge of springs in the basin ranges from a negligible 

amount to as much as 60 gpm. The flow of the average spring is 

from 1 to 2 gpm. It is estimated that the total amount of water 

discharged by springs is less than 200 acre-feet per year. However, most of the water discharged flows only a few feet before 

percolating below the land surface, so that evaporation and transpiration losses are small.

Oldtime residents of the Douglas basin agreed that springs are 

now fewer in number and yield less water than in former years. 

Many of the springs shown on the topographic maps were dry in 

1951. In some localities, windmills are used to withdraw water 

by pumping where springs had formerly existed. Examples are; 

Gadwell Spring, SE£ sec. 31, T. 21 S. , R. 24 E,; Mud Spring,
GROUND- WATER RESOURCES 3 3

NEi sec. 16, T. 22 S., R. 28 E.; and Outlaw Spring, center sec. 

24. T. 20 S., R. 24 E. T. M. Watson (personal communication, 

1952) reported that, in the early 1900,'s, Mud Spring discharged 

sufficient water to take care of all the cattle in a radius of many 

miles. It is now dry. It is generally concluded that the drought 

starting in 1941 is an important factor in the decline of spring 

discharge (Searles, 1951, p. 19-28).

SUMMATION OF RECHARGE AND DISCHARGE

In recent years there has been a general increase in irrigated 

acreage in the Douglas basin, and a corollary increase in the 

amount of ground water pumped. This pumping removes water 

from underground storage, a portion of which is replenished by 

annual recharge from precipitation and runoff. The fact that in 

recent years the amount of discharge has exceeded the amount of 

recharge is shown by the decline of water levels in wells. Any 

attempt to arrive at an estimate of the. amount of ground water 

withdrawn from storage is limited by the availability of certain 

basic quantitative data. Although all the component items of recharge and discharge discussed in the text are estimates or approximations, they are believed to be of the proper order of 

magnitude.

On their basis, the amount of annual recharge from all sources 

in the Douglas basin is estimated to be ,about 20,000 acre-feet per 

year. The total amount of discharge, occurring by evapotranspiration, effluent seepage, underground flow out of the basin, 

and pumping, is believed to have been about 30, 000 acre-feet in 

1947 and about 50,000 acre-feet in 1951. During the past few 

years the increase in pumping has resulted in a greater annual 

discharge, whereas the amount of recharge has remained relatively constant. The difference between the amount of discharge 

and the amount of recharge represents approximately the amount 

of ground water removed from storage.

FLUCTUATIONS OF THE WATER TABLE

Under natural conditions a balance exists between water that is 

recharged to a ground-water basin and water that is discharged 

from the basin. Abnormal climatic conditions may cause an adjustment of the level of the water table to meet a changed situation, 

but the trend in years under natural conditions is for the establishment of equilibrium between ground-water gains and losses. 

When the natural state is radically disturbed by manmade conditions, however, the water table may fluctuate widely in local 

areas in response to the changes. When the total discharge is
34 GEOLOGY AND GROUND- WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

more than the recharge, depletion of storage in the ground-water 

reservoir occurs and the water table declines. Persistent pumping 

of water from storage is termed "ground-water mining. " This 

practice has been followed in the Douglas basin at least since 

1945. In 1951 the total ground-water use was more than double 

the estimated rate of recharge.

For the period 1947 51, the average decline of the water table 

was 6 feet in the heavily irrigated areas (pi. 3). Throughout the 

basin the decline ranged from about a foot near the mountains to 

a maximum of more than 11 feet northeast of Elfrida. Noticeable 

declines in the water table are also present in the area south and 

east of McNeal. The maximum decline of the water table since 

1910 (Meinzer and Kelton, 1913, pi. 2) is 38 feet, east of Douglas. 

Declines in specific wells in the past decade are shown on the 

hydrographs (fig. 5).

From the water-table decline map (pi. 3) it was calculated that 

a total of 1, 120, 000 acre-feet of sediments had been dewatered in 

the period 1947 51. The coefficient of drainage of sediments in 

the Douglas basin may be about 8 percent, on the basis of data 

from other parts of Arizona6 and from Piper (1939, p. 121). 

Accordingly, a coefficient of 8 percent was assumedfor the area 

unwatered, although the average for the entire body of valley fill 

is likely to be much less. The total amount of ground water withdrawn from storage in the last 5 years was computed to be about 

90,000 acre-feet, or an average of 18,000 acre-feet per year. 

This computed quantity is in the order of magnitude of the annual 

overdraft as indicated by the ground-water inventory.

With increased pumpage in recent years, more water has 

been withdrawn from storage each year. According to the tabulation summarizing recharge and discharge, the average annual 

overdraft excess of discharge over recharge during the period 

1947-51 was more than 20,000 acre-feet, and was about 28, 000 

acre-feet in 1951. Less water has been available for use by 

phreatophytes each year, because of the declining water table. 

Another result of a declining water table is that less water will 

leave the basin as effluent seepage into Whitewater Draw and, 

eventually, as underflow.

The, decline of the water table in the Douglas basin is believed 

to be due almost entirely to pumping from wells. Although rainfall 

since 1941 has generally been below normal, the drought is believed not to have been sufficiently intense to cause a large reduction in recharge. Some of the recharge that was received during

Halpenny and others, 1952, op. cit., table 3.
GROUND- WATER RESOURCES 35

Well(D-l9-26) 26 obo, depth 154-feet

____1____I_____i_____i

__> 85

30

^^s

WelKD

\

**»» 

-20-26) (Iddd. d i

\/

epth 106 feet

XVAX /

^~\ . 1

A rl\

V\ \ y

\s

\

\

- .

"~ - * -^

^^-^^.

Well(D-20-26) 33add, depth 6*

^

feet

^-^

 ~-~^-

^

\s X

X

Well(D-2l-26)24 bob, depth 136 feet 

I I l I

Well(D-23-27)27cdd, depth 62 feet

. Well(D-24-27)3 ccc, depth 265 feet

Well(D-24-27) 5 b c c, depth 82 feet

_ o

< 10

Data not available 

I_____I

1945 1946 1947 1948 1951 1952

Figure 5. Graphs showing fluctuation of water levels in observation wells and pumpage in

Douglas basin.

the past 10 years probably has not yet reached the areas of heavy 

pumpage because of the slow rate of ground-water movement, so 

that the downward trend of water levels is mostly a result of
36 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

localized conditions. Water levels in wells at some distance from 

the heavily pumped areas have remained nearly static for the past 

few years.

Well interference. During the pumping of a well, ground water is 

withdrawn from the area immediately around the well. As pumping 

continues, more ground water is withdrawn from storage in the 

vicinity of the well, until the gradient of the water table from all 

directions is sufficiently steep to supply the pump without further 

local drawdown. The unwatered zone surrounding a pumping well 

is called a "cone of depression. " The water-level decline is 

greatest near the well and gradually tapers off in all directions. 

The cone expands as more ground water is withdrawn from the 

pumped area. When a cone of depression merges with another 

cone from a nearby pumping well, interference occurs and a 

ground-water divide is created. The size of the cones of depression and the amount of well interference is dependent upon 

several factors, including the rate and quantity of water withdrawn 

and the permeability of the water-bearing sediments (Theis, 1938, 

p. 889-902).

The effects of well interference and the spread of cones of depression in the Douglas basin are well demonstrated by waterlevel data. Fluctuations of water level in wells that are not 

pumped reflect the extent of well interference resulting from 

seasonal withdrawal of ground water for irrigation. Well (D 20 26) 

llddd, with fluctuations of 12 feet (fig. 5), illustrates seasonal 

changes in water levels caused by pumping in nearby wells. 

Abandoned wells in the center of some heavily irrigated areas 

also show seasonal and yearly changes in water levels. There is 

a lack of rapid spread of cones of depression, during short-time 

pumping of some wells and this may be partly attributable to the 

clay which predominates in much of the valley fill. In February 

1952, a pumping test was made on well (D 23 26)lada which has 

a static water level of 65 feet. During a 32-hour period the well 

was continuously pumped at an average rate of 145 gpm, and a 

drawdown of 44 feet resulted in the pumped well. The water level 

in an abandoned well 700 feet north, however, did not change 

noticeably during the test.
GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA 37

QUALITY OF WATER

By J. L. Hatchett 

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE GROUND WATER

WELLS

Analytical data for water from 112 wells were used in preparing 

this section on the quality of water in the Douglas basin. Most of 

the sampled wells are in the valley fill of the central part of the 

valley (pi. 5). Table 4 lists 32 analyses of water from selected 

wells.

Water from 98 of the wells sampled contains 100 to 500 ppm of 

dissolved solids. The dissolved solids consist mostly of calcium, 

sodium, and bicarbonate. Water from the remaining 14 well 

samples had a dissolved-solids content of more than 500 ppm. The 

water from the wells along Whitewater Draw in this group contained mainly sodium, chloride, and sulfate, whereas the water 

from wells east of Douglas contained mainly calcium and sulfate. 

A deep well drilled as an oil test on the east side of the Douglas 

basin (D 22 27)5b is reported to yield water from limestone of 

Mississippian age. The dissolved solids in this water consist 

mostly of sodium, bicarbonate, and sulfate. As water from limestone ordinarily contains much more calcium than is present in 

this water, it is possible that the water in the well may have been 

more closely related to other aquifers.

SPRINGS

Water samples from 15 springs in the Douglas basin were 

analyzed. These waters contained from 100 to 500 ppm of dissolved solids, mostly calcium and bicarbonate. The formations 

from which the springs issue include sandstone, shale, limestone, 

volcanic rocks, and granite. Table 4 lists the analyses of water 

from six of these springs.

The streamflow in Whitewater Draw near the international 

boundary was sampled in sec. 28, T. 23 S. , R. 27 E. , and in 

sec. 10, T. 24 S., R. 27 E. (table 4; pi. 5). At the times of 

sampling, the flow was entirely effluent ground-water seepage. 

Both of the water samples contained over 500 ppm of dissolved 

solids. The water sample from sec. 28 contained mostly sodium 

and sulfate. The water sample from sec. 10 contained considerably more sodium and chloride than other dissolved 

constituents.
38 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

DISSOLVED-SOLIDS CONTENT OF THE GROUND WATER

The dissolved-solids content of the ground water in the Douglas 

basin is shown graphically on plate 5. This map was prepared by 

drawing a circle at the location of each well and spring for which 

a chemical analysis was available'. The dissolved-solids content 

of the water is indicated by the amount of shading in the circle. If 

only the specific conductance of the water was determined for a 

particular well or spring, the approximate dissolved-solids content was calculated by multiplying the specific conductance (micromhos at 25° C) by 0. 6.

SOURCE OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS

The source of most of the dissolved solids contained in the 

ground water of the basin is the minerals of the rock material 

that comprise the valley fill. The longer the ground water is in 

contact with these minerals the greater is the opportunity to dissolve them. If time were the only factor, the dissolved-solids 

content would be expected to increase uniformly with depth and 

distance from the recharge areas. However, such uniform changes 

are rare because the rocks of the valley fill are erosional products 

of many formations and are not homogeneous. Therefore, the 

composition and solubility of the minerals that are available for 

solution are also factors that affect the amounts of dissolved 

solids in the ground water.

Flow from mountain springs and runoff are lesser sources of 

dissolved solids in ground water of the valley fill. Evapotranspiration returns almost pure water to the atmosphere and thereby 

concentrates the dissolved solids in the remaining water or in the 

soil. The process does not increase or reduce the total quantity 

of soluble material in the basin.

The locally high dissolved-solids content of the ground water in 

the valley fill possibly is related to the presence of beds of evaporites. These beds were formed by evaporation of impounded water 

in basins that existed temporarily during the deposition of the 

valley fill, examples of which are the gypsum beds described on 

page 18. It is conceivable that in some areas highly mineralized 

water entered the basin during the periods of volcanic activity. 

These waters or deposits resulting from them would affect the 

quality of ground waters in the basin.
QUALITY OF WATER 39

DISCHARGE OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS

It has been stated previously in this report that ground water 

leaves the Douglas basin by movement southward into Mexico. 

Although the quantity of ground water thus discharged is known to 

be relatively small, data available are insufficient to determine 

the amount of dissolved solids thus discharged.

COMPARISON OF RECENT ANALYSES WITH THOSE OF EARLIER YEARS

Few of the wells listed by Meinzer and Kelton (1913, p. 157-159) 

were sampled during the current investigation, as most of the old 

wells had been destroyed or could not be located. Comparison of 

data for the two periods is possible, however, at two places along 

the former El Paso & Southwestern Railroad. At Kelton junction 

the railroad well was sampled in 1910 and again, as well (D 19 25) 

25ac, in 1946. At,McNeal station the well that was sampled in 1910 

was about one mile from well (D-21-26)24bab, which was sampled 

in 1946. The analyses, as shown in the following tabulation, indicate practically no difference in the constituents that were determined in the water samples in 1910 and in 1946.

Well

Kelton Junction ___ _

(D-19-25)25ac _ __ _____

McNeal Station _____ __

(D-21-26)24bab _ _ _

Date 

of 

collection

10-29-10 

5- 1-46 

11-17-10 

3-27-46

Parts per million

Bicarbonate 

(HCOj)

180 

182 

221 

222

Sulfate 

(S04)

12

7 

12

Chloride 

(Cl)

7 

7 

10 

9

Well (D-23-27)19dad was sampled in 1946, 1951, and 1952. The 

analyses show a considerable increase in dissolved-solids content 

of the water during these years. The well is close to a heavily 

pumped irrigation well. The heavy pumping may have caused 

movement of ground water toward the pumped well from a local 

area of highly mineralized water.

RELATION OF QUALITY OF WATER TO USE

IRRIGATION

Water being used for irrigation in most of the Douglas basin is 

"excellent to good" in quality as evaluated according to standards 

suggested by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (~vVilcox, 1948, 

p. 26). Some of the water used for irrigation in the area along
40 GEOLOGY AND GROUND- WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

Whitewater Draw, from T. 22 S. to the international boundary is 

in the "good to permissible" division. Two wells in this area yield 

water that is classified as "permissible to doubtful, '' and one well 

yields water classified as "doubtful to unsuitable. "

Water having a boron content as much as 1 ppm is classified by 

Wilcox (1948, p. 27 28) as "permissible" to use in irrigating 

boron-sensitive crops, which include most fruit trees. This classification considers only the boron content but not other dissolved 

solids in the water. Only a few samples were analyzed for boron, 

all of which had less than 1 ppm boron.

DOMESTIC

Analyses made by the Geological Survey do not indicate the 

sanitary condition of the water analyzed. On the basis of the dissolved mineral content the water used in the basin for domestic 

purposes is generally of good quality. The ground water in the 

valley fill apparently increases in dissolved solids concentration 

as it moves southward toward the international boundary. Most of 

the water used for domestic purposes in the basin has less than 

1,000 ppm of dissolved solids. This is the maximum amount 

considered acceptable for use as a municipal water supply and for 

drinking water to be used on interstate carriers (U. S. Public 

Health Service, 1946, p. 13). Water from a few wells along 

Whitewater Draw, about 6 miles north of Douglas, has more than 

1, 000 ppm of dissolved solids. Waters containing somewhat more 

than the suggested limits of dissolved mineral constituents have 

been used by many persons for long periods without apparent ill 

effects, although such waters might have a noticeable taste to one 

unaccustomed to them. -

In most of the Douglas basin the ground water is fairly hard. 

The available analyses show that water from wells in most of the 

basin has a hardness of 100 ppm or more. The city of Douglas is 

supplied with water that is rather high in dissolved solids, but the 

water is unusually soft for the area, as it has less than 30 ppm of 

hardness as calcium carbonate. It would be expected that the water 

pumped from the city wells, which are west of Douglas near the 

international boundary, would be at least as hard as the water to 

the north. It is possible that the water has been softened by contact 

with cation-exchange minerals in the valleyfill as it moves southward. Use of hard water for household purposes results in excessive consumption of soap. Detergents make it easier to wash 

dishes and clothes in hard water, or the water can be softened before use by various types of softeners. If hard water is1 used in 

hot-water tanks and boilers, objectionable scale is formed.
LITERATURE CITED 41

According to the U. S. Public Health Service standards (1946, 

p. 12) a satisfactory drinking water should not contain more than 

1. 5 ppm of fluoride. Medical authorities agree that waters containing excessive amounts of fluoride can cause mottling of the 

tooth enamel of children who drink the water during the time their 

permanent teeth are forming. However, recent studies have shown 

that a small amount (about 1 ppm) of fluoride in drinking water 

may cause teeth to become more resistant to decay. Ground water 

containing more than 1. 5 ppm of fluoride is common in Douglas 

basin, as indicated by the available analyses. Therefore, it would 

be desirable to determine the fluoride content of drinking water to 

be used by families with young children.

Most of the nitrate present in ground waters of the Douglas basin 

probably is derived from sources other than contamination by 

human and animal wastes, although the presence of nitrate is 

sometimes an indication of such contamination. Waters containing 

more than about 45 ppm of nitrate are considered by some authorities (Maxcy, 1950) to be inadvisable for use in feeding infants, 

as the presence of a high nitrate concentration for such use has 

been associated with cases of methemoglobinemia, a "blue-baby 

disease. " Only one of the samples analyzed (table 4) indicated a 

nitrate concentration in excess of 45 ppm.

LITERATURE CITED

Babcock, H. M., and Cushing, E. M., 1942, Recharge to ground water from floods in a typical desert wash, Pinal County, Ariz.: Am. Geophys. Union Trans., pt. 1, p. 49 56.

Bryan, Kirk, 1925, Date of channel trenching (arroyo cutting) in the arid Southwest: 

Science, new ser., v. 62, p. 338-344.

Cederstrom, D. J., 1946, The structural geology of the Dragoon Mountains, Ariz.: Am. 

Jour. Sci., v. 244, p. 601-621.

Cooperrider, C. K., and Sykes, G. G., 1938, The relationship of stream flow to precipitation on the Salt River watershed above Roosevelt Dam: Ariz. Univ. Agr. Expt. Sta. 

Tech. Bull. 76, 69 p.

Darton, N. H., 1925, A resume of Arizona geology: Ariz. Bur. Mines Bull. 119, 298 p.

 1933, Guide book of the western United States, part F, The Southern Pacific 

lines New Orleans to Los Angeles: U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 845.

Darton, N. H., and others, 1924, Geologic map of the State of Arizona: scale 1:500,000, 

Ariz. Bur. Mines.

Fenneman, N. M., 1931, Physiography of western United States: New York, McGraw-Hill 

Book Co., Inc., 534 p.

Gatewood, J. S., and others, 1950, Use of water by bottom-land vegetation in lower Safford Valley, Ariz.: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1103.

Gilbert, G. K., 1875, Geology: U. S. Geog. and Geol. Surveys-W. 100th Mer. Rept., v. 3.

Gilluly, James, Cooper, J. R., and Williams, J. S., 1955, Late Paleozoic stratigraphy of 

central Cochise County, Ariz.: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 266.

Gregory, H. E., 1917, Geology of the Navajo Country a reconnaissance of parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 93.

Knechtel, M. M., 1938, Geology and ground-water resources of the valley of Gil a River 

and San Simon Creek, Graham County, Ariz.: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 

796-F, p. 181-222.

Leopold, L. B., 1951, Rainfall frequency; an aspect of climate variation: Am. Geophys. 

Union Trans., v. 32, p. 347-357.
42 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

Maxcy, K. F., 1950, Report on the relation of nitrate nitrogen concentration in well waters 

to the occurrence of the methemoglobinemia in infants: Appendix D of National Research Council, Div. Medical Sciences, Comm. Sanitary Eng. and Environment Report.

Meinzer, 0. E., 1923, Outline of ground-water hydrology with definitions: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 494.

Meinzer, 0. E., and Kelton, F. C., 1913, Geology and water resources of Sulphur Spring 

Valley, Ariz., with a section on agriculture by R. H. Forbes: U. S. Geol. Survey WaterSupply Paper 320.

Parry, C. C., and Schott, Arthur, 1857, Geological reports: Report on the United States 

and Mexican Boundary Survey, v. 1, pt. 2.

Peterson, H. V., 1945, Estimates of long-term seasonal precipitation and runoff, San 

Pedro River: Enclosure 7 in U. S. Corps. Engineers, Rept. on Survey, Flood Control, 

Gila River and tributaries above Salt River, Ariz., 59 p.

Piper, A. M., Gale, H. S., Thomas, H. E., and Robinson, T. W.,*1939, Geology and groundwater hydrology of the Mokelumne area, Calif.: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 

780.

Ransome, F. L., 1904, Description of the Bisbee quadrangle, Ariz.: U. S. Geol. Survey, 

Geol. Atlas, folio 112.

Rich, L. R., 1951, Consumptive use of water by forest and range vegetation: Am. Soc. 

Civil Eng. Proc., v. 77, no. 90, 14 p.

Sauer, Carl, 1930, Basin and Range forms in the Chiricahua area: Calif. Univ. Pub. in 

Geog., v. 3, no. 6, p. 339-414.

Sayles, E. B., and Antevs, Ernst, 1941, The Cochise culture: Medallion Papers, no. 29, 

81 p., Globe, Ariz., Gila Pueblo.

Schwalen, H. C., 1942, Rainfall and runoff in the upper Santa Cruz River drainage basin: 

Ariz. Univ. Agr. Expt. Sta. Tech. Bull. 95, p. 421-472.

Searles, R. D., and others, 1951, The drought in southwestern United States as of October 1951: U. S. Dept. of Interior, 65 p.

Shreve, Forrest, 1934, Rainfall runoff, and soil moisture under desert conditions: Assoc. 

Am. Geog. Annals, v. 24, no. 3, p. 150 151.

Slichter, C. S., 1905a, Field measurements of the rate of movement of underground waters: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 140.

 1905b, Observation on the ground waters of Rio Grande Valley: U. S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 141.

Smith, G. E. P., 1910, Ground-water supply and irrigation in the Rillito Valley, Ariz.: 

Ariz. Expt. Sta. Tech. Bull. 64, 244 p.

Smith, H. V., 1945, The climate of Arizona: Ariz. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 197, 112 p.

Sonderegger, A. L., and others, 1929, Water supply from rainfall on valley floors: Am. 

Soc. Civil Eng. Trans. Paper 1756, p. 1242-1311.

Theis, C. V., 1938, The significance and nature of the cone of depression in ground-water 

bodies: Econ. Geology, v. 33, no. 48, p. 889-902.

Thornber, J. J., 1910, Grazing ranges of Arizona: Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 65, p. 245-360.

Thornthwaite, C. W., Sharpe, C. F. S., and Dosch, E. F., 1942, Climate and accelerated 

erosion in the arid and semiarid Southwest with special reference to the Polacca Wash 

drainage basin, Ariz.: U. S. Dept. Agriculture Tech. Bull. 808, 134 p.

Trask, P. D., and others, 1950, Applied sedimentation, a symposium: New York, Wiley, 

707 p.

United States Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 1940, Water facilities area plan for 

Whitewater Draw watershed, Cochise County, Ariz.: U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. of Land 

Economics, Water Utilization Sec., 106 p.

United States Geological Survey, 1948, Summary of records of surface waters at stations 

on tributaries in lower Colorado River Basin, 1888-1938: U. S. Geol. Survey WaterSupply Paper 1049. \

United States Public Health Service, 1946, Public Health Service, drinking water standards: Reprint no. 2697, Public Health Reports, v. 61, no. 11.

Wilcox, L. V., 1948, The quality of water for irrigation use: U. S. Dept. Agriculture Tech. 

Bull. 962, 40 p.

Wilson, E. D., 1927, Geology and ore deposits of the Courtland-Gleeson region, Ariz.: 

Ariz. Bur. of Mines Bull. 123, 79 p.
Table 1. Climatological data, Douglas basin

[Data from Smith, 1945, p. 34, 36, 51, 53, 87, 8

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July 

Douglas altitude 3, 973 feet

Precipitation-- __ ___ in. _

Extreme minimum temperature _ ° F _

0.62 

61.4

29.2

45.3

82

-7

0.77 

65.8

33.0

49.4

89

12

0.45 

71.9

37.3

54.6

94

17

0.26 

79.0

42.7

60.8

97

26

0.22 

86.7

49.6

68.2

106

30

0.54 

95.8

59.2

77.5

110

42

3.19 

93.8

65.8

79.8

111

41

Bisbee .altitude 5, 350 feet

Precipitation _______________ in _ 

Mean maximum temperature * F_

Mean minimum temperature2 _ _ __ _° F _

Extreme minimum temperature _ ° F

1.15

57.8

34.6 

46.0

85

8

1.37 

60.9

36.7 

48.5

85

11

0.95 

66.4

40.7 

53.3

88

23

0.45 

73.6

46.0 

59.8

95

28

0.25 

81.2

53.7 

67.2

101

32

0.61 

90.2

62.2 

76.1

106

38

4.17 

88.6

64.1 

76.3

104

53

Means are for 50 years of record ending Dec. 31, 1940. 

2 Means are for 44 years of record ending Dec. 31, 1940.
Table 2. Records of representative wells and springs in D

Type of lift: C, cylinder; T, turbine; W, windmill; E, electric; G, ;;as; Dl, diesel. 

Use of water; I, irrigation; D, domestic; S, stock; Ind, industrial; M, municipal; N, not used.

R.emarks: H, see hydroyaph, fit. 4; O, observation well; Ca, see chemical analysis, table 4; L, see 

minute; De, discharge estimated; Dr, discharge reported; Tt, transmissibility test in gallons per day p

WELLS

Well no.

(D-18-26) 

llbab 

15bcb 

18bbb 

21ddd 

22cba 

(D-19-25)

(D2-!tf§6) 

laaa

26aba 

29bab-2 

30aab 

(D-20-26) 

6abb-l 

llddd 

12bba 

16daa 

33add-l 

(D-20-27) 

18daa-2 

(D-21-25) 

Iddb 

23aab 

25aaa

Owner

Mrs. Pressey. _ _ _____

D. M. Ingle __ _ _ _ _

Frank Jeans _ _ _____

George Berry_ _ _______

J. M. Peevey _ ___ _ __ _

W. P. Cheek ____ _ __

W. H. Seaver ___

D. C. Sherman ______________ 

F. O. Mackey _______________

Ralph Cowan ___ _____

Webb Schoolhouse _____

Depth 

of 

well 

(feet)

100 

110 

100 

89

650

154 

60

72 

106 

150 

133 

64

600 

1,012

Diameter 

of well 

(inches)

6 

6 

6

12

6

6 

16

12 

10 

10 

16 

16

14

12

6 

8

Water level

Depth to 

water below 

land surface 

datum 

(feet)

81.94 

89.30 

74.65 

73.85 

474. 00

124.03

131.55 

43.36 

*90

49.60 

49.10 

94.62 

48.28 

38.78

81.90

3.77 

88.35 

67.75

Date 

measured

8-24-51 

6-28-51 

5-28-46 

1-13-52 

9- 9-51

8-14-51

1-16-52 

1-13-52

1-17-52 

1-14-52 

12-31-51 

1-18-52 

1-14-52

1-29-52

3- 7-52 

1-14-52 

1- 1-52

Altitude 

of 

land surfa

at well 

(feet)

4,318 

4,292

4,268 

4,898

4,324

4,280 

4,196

4,298 

4,232 

4,150 

4,124

4.121

4, 117
(D-21-26) 

Ibdc

17ccc

21dda

23ab

24aab

26dcd 

28ddc 

29dda

(D-21-27) 

13cdd

28ccc

(D-21-28)

3baa

(D-22-25) 

24da

(D-22-26)

5dda

27bca

(D-22-27) 

5b

34cd

(D-23-26) 

laad

12bbb

(D-23-27) 

19dad

19dbc

24cbb

27cdd 

(D-23-28) 

15ac

30cc

(D-24-26) 

Ibbd

Iccb 

6acc

Mrs. Yard __

J. W. Franklin

L. C. Pinkard _ _ __

J. K. Shearman ______________ 

Howard E. Ames __ __________

J. E. Brophy ___ _ _

W. W. Harsha __ _____

D. C. McDaniels _____________

W. E. Mason. _ _

 McGintry _______ _______

Walter Holland ______________ 

J. C. Mulhern^. _____________

200

118

154

505

136

364 

250 

111

122

300

1,517

i!50

100

500

210

145

4,210

420

256

75

100

39

150

197

62 

175

230

321

110 

210

12

14

12

208

16 

12 

12

126

12

12

12

14

12

11

13

12 

10

12

Dug

126

Dug 66

16

6 6

27.17

60.90

95.94

121.43

112.75 

57.85

62.25

222. 79

^00

"70

67.68

42.39

26.40

61.79 0

66.60

29.97

179.30

54. 15 

115.52

193.18

111.65 

184. 63

12-19-51

12-27-51

1-25-52

1-14-52

12-27-51 

12-27-51

12-18-51

12-20-51

12-10-51

1-14-52

2- 5-46

2- 2-52

8-31-51

1-14-52

12-11-46

12-28-51

1- 9-52 

8-18-47

12-28-51

1- 9-52 

1- SI-52

4,079

4, 101

4,161

4, 196

4, 159 

4,089

4,487

4, 293

4,094

________

4,091

3,947

4,077

4,073 

4,217
Table 2. Records of representative wells and springs in Dougla

WELLS Continued

Well no.

(D-24-27) 

3ccc 

3cdd

4ccb

5b.c

8bcc

lOdbb

lOdca

13bbd

15baa

17aaa

(D-24-28) 

7abc

llbca

14cda

(D-24-29) 

18bcd

Owner

Cochise Co. Hospital _________

Leonard Burns _ _ __

L. L. Keith _____

George Hanigan_ ____ _

Southern Pacific RR. _ __

Phelps-Dodge Corp. _ _ _

R. M. Jahnston ______

Richard Mealins _ _ _

Geor-./e R.ogers_ _ _ _

George R.O'-,ers_ _ _ _

George Rogers

of 

well 

(feet)

265

27

300

82

460

350

24

250

950

65

335

190

160

meter 

of well 

(inches)

6

Dur

16

Dur

14

12

1

13

12

6

12

6

6

6

Water ]

Depth to 

water below 

land surface 

datum 

(feet)

69. 70 

2^.44

58.37

68.02

61.00

13.27

101.05

62.90

51.80

151.83

86.23

62. 10

154.61

evel

Date 

measured

1- 9-52 

2-28-52

1-14-52

1- 9-52

2-20-52

6-17-48

1-15-52

2-20-52

1- 9-52

2-20-52

3-13-52

2-11-52

2-11-52

of 

land surfa

at well 

(feet)

3,948 

3,931

4,000

4,009

3,923

3, 970

3,933

3,979

4,026

SPRINGS

Spring no.

(D-18-24) 

28cd

34cc- 1 

(D-19-29) 

lOdd

Mad

21dc

Owner

 Stearns

 Stearns _________ 

Sid Vail _

Mrs. Dana

-Ryers _ _

How 

(gP1")

i

2 

15

2

2

Geologic source

Volcanic rocks

Sandstone and tuff (?) 

Volcanic rocks

__ do

do

Temperature 

(T)

75 

61

69

Improved

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
(D-20-24) 

2 lea 

(D-20-28) 

31bd 

(D-21-28) 

21bc 

(D-22-24) 

29bc

J. Harmon _________

-Kimble ________ 

A. C. Stevenson

Surface water 

location no.

(D-23-27) 

28cab_ __________

(D-24-27) 

lOdb ____ _ ______

i

2 

60 

4i

____ do _________ 

Limestone and shale 

Alluvium

Schist, sandstone 

contact

76 

69 

73 

72

Yes 

Yes 

Yes

EFRUENT SEEPAGE ENTERING WHITEWATER DRA

Flow 

(gpm)

7 

25

Geologic source

Alluvium 

_ _do _

Water level reported.
48 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

Table 3. Logs of representative wells in Douglas basin

(D-20-26)16daa

Clay _______________

Clay _ _ _ _

Sand, water _______________ 

Clay

Clay _ _ ______

Sand and gravel ____ _ ____ 

Clay

Clay

(D-20-27)18daa

Sand, clay, and boulders __ 

Sand ________________ 

Clay __ _ _

Gravel _ ______

bearing quartz ___________

(D~21-25)ldd

Sand, slight showing of

Sandy clay _ __ _ _

Clay, very sandy _ _

Water, gravel, slight increase in water, hard 

clay ___________________ 

Hard clay. _ _ _

Clay and gravel mixed _____

raised within 5' of

Sand, gravel, and clay

Light -gray clay, very hard _

Hard sand ________________ 

Water, gravel and sand, 

water raised within 2*6" 

of surface _______________

Hard sand _ _

Thickness 

(feet)

31

1

12

6

12

3 

11

3

10

3 

20

2

6

13

86 

2 

434

18

8

99

6

14

10

56 

4

^4.

2

94

4

86

5

65

10

6 

12

96

12

16

42

3

17

66

2

25 

6

12

Depth 

(feet)

31

32

44 

50

62

65 

76

79

89

92 

112

114

120

133

86 

88 

522

540

548 

570

576

590

600

56 

60

94

96

190

194

280

285

350

360

366 

378

472

484

500

542

545

562

628

630

655 

661

673

(D-21-25)ldd Con.

Red sticky clay _ _ _

Dark-red clay with gravel 

embedded. _ _ _ _

Water gravel_ _ _

Very hard clay with streaks 

of hard sand about onein<~h thick ., ., ... , ... _ . Gypsum with fine sand

showing increase in water 

the well started to run

over at this depth.

(D-21-26)23abb

Top soil ________________ 

Caliche and clay _________ 

Clay ___________________ 

Sand, gravel, and water __

Gravel and water

Clay ________________ 

Sand_ _ _ _ __

Clay__ _ __ __

Sand _ __ _ _______

Clay_ _

Clay, tough and gravelly _

Clay_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Clay __ __

Gravel ______ ______ 

Clay. _____

Clay __________________

Gravel ______ _ _ _ _

Clay

Gravel _ .,. . , ....

Clay

Clay

(D-21-26)26dcd

Top soil, black __________ 

Rocks, gray clay, and

conglomerate __________

Clay, soft and sandy ______ 

Sand and gravel, dry_ ___

Conglomerate, light-red

and hard ______________ 

Water _ ___

Clay, red and soft, and

Water _ _____

Clay, gray, with hard and

soft streaks.

Conglomerate, light-red 

and soft _____________ 

Clay, gray and soft _______ 

Conglomerate, light -brown 

and hard _,. Water __ __

Thicknes 

(feet)

29

28

95

9

156

22

5 

10 

77 

2 

14

3

49 

2

39

3

96

30 

16

4

20

63

4 

9

3

11 

16

6

5

5

9

4

4

16 

50

16

6

17 

6

41

2

28

31 

3

35

2

Depth 

 (feet)

702

730

825

834

990

1,. 012

5 

15 

92 

94 

108

111

160 

162

201

204

300

330 

346

350

370

433

437 

446

449

460 

476

482

487

492

501

505

4

20 

70

86 

92

109 

115

156

158

186

217 

220

255

257
TABLE 3 49

Table 3. Logs of representative wells in Douglas basin Continued

(D~21-26)26dcd Con.

Clay, hard and in streaks,

Clay and conglomerate, gray

Water _ __ _ __

(D~21-26)28dcd

Clay, small amount of water

Clay __ __ _ _ ___ _

Clay __ _ ___ _____

Clay__ __ .__ __ _

Clay, sandy with water _____ 

Clay _ __ __

(D-21-27)28ccc

Gravel and clay (about 550 

gal. water in 24 hours) ____ 

Tight clay _ _ __ ____

to 225')__ ___________

(D-21-28)3baa 

Fill _________________

out at 1, 165 feet ______

Limestone ________________

(D-22-26)4dad

Soil, sandy _________ _ 

Clay, red _ _ _______ 

Clay and boulders _____ _ _

Sand and gravel with water _

Clay ___________________

C aliche __________________ 

Clay and rocks . ____ _ 

Caliche _ _ __ __ _ _

Clay, red, with rocks _ _ 

Sand and gravel with water _ 

Clay, red ___ _ __ __

Thickness 

(feet)

22

1

58

2

24

4

50

12

20

1

99

2

12 

50

18

216

6

29

12

19

1,020

180 

65

252

15 

22 

5 

4

19

2

4

18

4 

23

19 

10 

5 

16

66 

11

7

Depth 

(feet)

279

280

338

340

364

4

54

66

86

87

186

188

200 

250

18

234

240 

269

281

300

1,020

1,200 

1,265

1,517

15 

37 

42 

46

65

67

71

89

93 

116

135 

145 

150 

166

232 

243 

250

(D-22-27)5b

Red and gray pebbly sand _

Red, silty sand_ __ ____

Red and gray coarse sand _

Interbedded limestone and

Pink quartzite and

limestone __ _ _ _ ___

Limestone and shale ___ __ 

Red sandstone ________ _ 

Alternating beds sandstone

and dolomite

Red -brown and gray

Various colored dolomite _ _

Gray limestone __ _ __

Various colored quartzite _

Quartzite and sandstone

Arkosic quartzite ____ ____

Granite ____________ __ 

(D-22-27)34cd

Soil ___ ____

Red clay __ _ _ _

Gray clay _______________ 

Red clay __________ __ 

Conglomerate (clay, sand,

Hard pan (sandy clay)_ v

Clay _ _ _ __

Sand and gravel, water ____ 

Hard pan (sandy clay) ___ _ 

Red clay __________ ___

Clay, gravel and rock 

mixed __

Concrete light sandy clay _ 

Hard pan and rocks (sand

Several small water strata 

(clay and sand mixed) ___ 

Red clay ___________ _

(D-23-26)laa

Clay and sand with water. _

Gravel with water _

Clay strata and sand strata

Clay, red ________________ 

(D-24-26)lbbd

Top soil ________________ 

Gravel __ _ _ _ _

Thickness 

(feet)

110

280

110 

120

640 

345

660

60

430 

130

210

130

70

145

245

120

80

35 

75

215

5

25

35 

32

46

50

2

5

6

2 

3 

9 

li

86 

47

38 

12

60

30

20

40

36

6 

24

Depth 

(feet)

110

390

500 

620

1,260 

1.605

2,265

2,325

2,755 

2,885

3,095

3,225

3,295

3,440

3,685

3,805

3,885

3,920 

3,995

4,210

5

30

65

97

143

193

195

200

206

208 

211 

220 

221

237

323 

370

408 

420

60

90

110

150

186

6

30
50 GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES, DOUGLAS BASIN, ARIZONA

Table 3. Logs of representative wells in Douglas basin Continued

(D-24-26)lbbd

GraveL _ _ _ _ _ _

Gray clay _________________ 

Water gravel _ _ _

Chalk __ _

Red clay _________________ 

Water sand ________________ 

Red clay __________________

Red clay __________________ 

Conglomerate _____________ 

Water sand and gravel ______

Water gravel ______ ______

Red clay ________________ 

Gray clay _________________

(D-24-27)13bbd 

Soil.

Gravely clay ______________ 

Clay __ ___ _ __ __ .

Shale _ __ ____

Clay and gumbo_ __ _ _

Shell rock and water_

Clay _ _ __ _ _

Shale _ ___

Water sand and gravel _ _

Clay __ _ _ __ __ _

Shale. _ __ __ _

Water sand and gravel ______ 

Gravely gumbo ____________ 

Clay __ ___ __

Clay __ ____ ___

Water gravel and boulders ___ 

Gravely gumbo _ _

Thickness 

(feet)

4 

4 

21 

2 

7 

7 

31 

8 

1 

15 

4 

21 

3 

16 

1 

2 

4 

3 

3 

10 

14 

5 

6 

7 

12 

3 

9 

2 

3 

7 

4 

5 

2 

2 

2 

17 

4 

15 

1 

4

6 

6 

24 

6 

25 2 ' 

47 

5 

3 

18 

11 

7 

4 

16 

7 

3 

6 

6 

23 

12 

13

Depth 

(feet)

34 

38 

59 

61 

68 

75 

106 

114 

115 

130 

134 

155 

158 

174 

175 

111 

181 

184 

187 

197 

211 

216 

222 

229 

241 

244 

253 

255 

258 

265 

269 

274 

276 

278 

280 

297 

301 

316 

317 

321

6

12 

36 

42 

67 

69 

116 

121 

124 

142 

153 

160 

164 

180 

187 

190 

196 

202 

225 

237 

250

(D-24-27)15baa

Top soil

Sand soil surface water_

Gravel _ _ _ _ _ _

Fine sand _ _ _

Gypsum _ , ,,_. . __ . .._.,.,

Red, sticky clay __ _ ____

T.ight-hrown clay

Malpais and clay __________ 

Malpais surface water 

disappeared _ _ __ _

Conglomerate _ __ _ _

Malpais __________________ 

Sand _ __

Red clay _ _ ___ _ __

Brown clay__ _ _ _ _

Finer sand __ _ _ _

Light-brown clay _ _ _

Coarse sand and gravel _ __

Light- brown clay ___ ______ 

Sand _________ __ 

Hard clay __ ____________ 

Sand __ __ _ _ _

Hard sand __ _ ________ 

Coarse sand __._ .,... ,.,...

Sticky clay

Hard sand and gravel __ _

Sticky clay _______________ 

Fine sand __ _ _ _ _ _

Sticky clay _ _ ___ _

Hard sand _ _ _ _

Sticky clay __ ___ _ _

Hard sand __ _ _ _

Hard clay ______ __ __ 

Hard sand _________________

Sticky clay

Hard sand__

Very sticky clay ___________

Sand and gravel, water _____ 

Clay __ __ _ __

Sand __ _ ___ __

Hard clay _________________

(D-24-28)7abc

Top soil _

Caliche _ _ _ _____

Boulders and clay __________

Conglomerate ____

Gravel, water __ _ _ _

Conglomerate _____________ 

Gravel, water ____ _ __ ___ 

Conglomerate __ _______

Gravel, water_

Malpais (i. e. , basalt) _ __

Water __ ___ _ _ _ _

Clay, red ___ _ _ ___

Thickness 

(feet)

3 

30 

27 

8 

2 

144 

127 

5

18 

14 

17 

3 

32 

25 

2 

33 

55 

10 

4 

6 

35 

14 

12 

4 

8 

4 

5 

27 

4 

12 

4 

9 

5 

2 

6 

15 

16 

14 

20 

52

23 

32 

47 

15

2 

3 

29 

9 

106 

3 

28 

6 

29 

2 

105 

10 

3

Depth 

(feet)

3 

33 

60 

68 

70 

214 

341 

346

364

378 

395 

398 

430 

455 

457 

490 

545 

555 

559 

565 

600 

614 

626 

630 

638 

642 

647 

674 

678 

690 

694 

703 

708 

710 

716 

731 

747 

761 

781

8

00 

i-»O

833 

856 

888 

935 

950

2 

5 

34 

43 

149 

152 

180 

186 

215 

217 

322 

332 

335
Table 4. Analyses of water from selected wells and springs i

[Data in parts per million except specific conductance and per

Location

no.

Date

of

collection

Temperature

<°F.)

Specific conductance

(micromhos

at25°C.)

Silica

(SiOz)

Calcium

(Ca)

Magnesium

(Mg)

Sodium and

potassium

(Na + K)

Bicarbonate

(HCOs)

Sulfate

(S04)

C

WELLS

(D-18-26)

llbaa

15bbc

18bbb

(D-19-25)

25acc

(D-19-26)

laaa

30aab

(D-20-26)

6aba

12bba

(D-21-25)

23 ab

(D-21-26)

Ibdc

24bab

29dda

(D-21-27)

13cdd

(D-22-25)

24da

(D-22-26)

21ca

27bca

(D-22-27)

5b

(D-23-26)

3aab

12bbb

(D-23-27)

19dad

5-30-46

5-28-46

5-28-46

5- 1-46

5-28-46

2-12-52

6-14-46

2-27-46

2-12-52

5-29-46

3^27-46

6-15-46

8-15-47

2-12-52

2- 5-46

6-17-46

3- 7-51

5-31-46

5-31-46

2- 5-46

67

70

70

78

75

69

68

70

69

70

73

68

69

68

129

68

66

196

286

500

347

347

261

339

237

613

516

383

686

563

410

1,050

500

1,420

923

1,690

3,340

____

37

30

____

31

27

32

8.5

__

____

20

30

33

34

29

36

56

38

64

69

66

55

53

30

66

200

180

5.1

5.2

14

7.0

1.6

7.6

18

13

27

12

7.9

16

13

10

16

25

93

16

26

61

10

25

86

30

30

43

39

11

152

35

290

109

150

429

107

141

236

182

161

129

J158

136

202

250

222

*249

254

245

255

201

S413

237

187

261

7.6

18

23

__ 

12

42

39

11

37

50

7.8

123

40

322

106

537

484
Table 4. Analyses of water from selected wells and springs in Doug

Location

no.

Date

of

collection

Temperature

CF.)

Specific conductance

(micromhos

at25°C.)

Silica

(SiOz)

Calcium

(Ca)

Magne-

- sium

(Mg)

Sodium and

potassium

(Na + K) '

Bicarbonate

(HCOs)

Sulfate

(S04)

C

WELLS Continued

(D-23-27)-Con 

19dad 

19dad 

19dbc 

(D-23-28) 

15acc 

(D-24-26) 

icb 

(D-24-27) 

3cdd 

5bcc 

lOdbb 

lOdca 

(D-24-28) 

llbca 

14cda 

(D-24-29) 

18bcd

10-16-51 

5-28-52 

10-16-51

8-18-47 

2- 5-46

5-28-52 

2- 5-46 

9-12-51 

6-16-48

3-13-52 

2-11-52

3-13-52

80

80 

78

76 

68

67 

68

78

4, 630 

7,130 

2,500

634 

623

988 

623 

1,600 

3,600

2,950 

1,170

779

26

19

21 

31

28 

32

31

380

63 

62 

4.5

6.2 

68

556 

149

85

212

34 

17 

1.1

2.4 

57

154 

56

41

966

31 

51

209

326 

661

54 

20

27

270 

249 

208

368 

264

176 

254 

*172 

8291

207 

286

269

1, 140

35 

49

96 

34 

183 

774

1,810 

265

200

1

1

SPRINGS

(D-18-24)

34cc 

(D-19-29

lOdd

21dc

(D-20-24)

21ca

(D-21-28)

21bc

(D-22-24)

29bc

9-18-51

10- 4-51

10- 4-51

9-19-51

10- 3-51

9-20-51

75

61

69

76

73

72

585

176

373

618

577

223

18

31

51

45

33

20

96

22

53

71

96

30

14

4.0

6.6

15

11

5.7

14

8.5

21

47

16

7.8

326

70

235

332

293

108

46

26

2.3

42

36

20
EFFLUENT SEEPAGE ENTERING WHITEWATER DR

(D-23-27) 

28cab 

(D-24-27) 

lOdb

3-14-52 50 950 9.5 50 16 137 

2-12-52 47 2,090 5.1 76 46 299

194 239 

181 295 

1 

.Includes equivalent of 8 ppm COj. 

0. Ippm boron present. 

Includes equivalent of 12 ppm CQj. 

^Includes equivalent of 21 ppm CQs. 

*0.28 ppm Fe. 

Includes equivalent of 20 ppm CQj.
INDEX

Abstract.........................................

Acknowledgments.............................

Alluvial fans, occurrence...................

Alluvial fill. See Valley fill. 

Altitudes of mountains.......................

Analyses, chemical..................... 39,

Artesian water. See Confined water. 

Artifacts, age of..............................

Page,

1-2

2-3 

9

8, 26 

51-53

Basalt, age of................................

influence of; on ground-water

conditions...............................

Bedrock structures, control of groundwater movement.......................

Bibliography..................................

Bisbee, climatic data for..................

Caliche......................................

Chiricahua Mountains, altitude........

precipitation.............................

Cenozoic time, deposition..............

Clay, in valley fill.......................

Climate......................................

Climatic variations, explanation for 

gullying................................

Cone of depression, occurrence........

Confined water, conditions.............

Cretaceous rocks...........................

Cretaceous seas, deposition in.........

Deposition, Cenozoic time................

Cretaceous time..........................

Paleozoic time............................

pre-Cambrian time......................

Quaternary time..........................

Depth to water................................

Diastrophism, explanation for gullying. 

Discharge, evapotranspiration.............

ground water................................

irrigation wells............................

relation to recharge......................

springs.......................................

surface flow................................

Dissolved solids, discharge................

source.......................................

Domestic water, quality..................

Douglas, climatic data for................

Dragoon Mountains, altitude.............

precipitation..............................

Drainage divides of the area.............

Erosion, Mesozoic time.....

post-Pleistocene time....

pre-Cambrian time.......

Quaternary time............

Evaporation measurements. 

Evapotranspiration............

Extent of area.................

17

. 17

20

41-42 

43

8, 26

26

15

17

4, 43

10-11 

36

23-24

13-14

13

15 

13 

13 

11 

10 

22 

11

29-30 

29-33

31-32 

33

32-33 

30 

39 

38

40-41

43

8

25

13

9

13

10

4 

29-30

Faults.........

Folding.......

Fossil snails.

18-19 

20

Page 

Geomorphology................................. 8-11

Gila conglomerate.............................. 15

Granite, general description................ 13-14

water yield................................... 14

Ground water, discharge of................. 29-33

inventory..................................... 33

movement of, control of................. 20

direction of............................... 27

rate of..................................... 27

origin......................................... 25-26

principal source of........................ 17,20

recharge.................................25, 28-29

Ground-water mining........................ 34

Growing season................................ 4

Gullying..................

Gypsum, description., 

origin of...............

water yield of........

History of area..........

10-11 

18 

18 

18

Impermeable deposits...................... 21

Irrigation water, quality.................... 39-42

Irrigation wells.............................. 32

Location of area............................... 3-4

Mesozoic sediments, water yield. 

Mesozoic time, erosion.

13

13

Mesquite......................................... 30

Methods of investigation..................... 6

Mountain area, climate.

description....................................

estimate of runoff from precipitation.. 

Mule Mountains, altitude.

28 

8 

precipitation................................. 25

Overgrazing, explanation for gullying....

Paleozoic seas, deposition in...............

Parker Creek drainage basin, runoff......

Pediments.......................................

Pedregosa Mountains, altitude.............

precipitation................................

Perched water..................................

Perilla Mountains, altitude.

10

13 

25 

9 

8

25 

22 

20 

precipitation................................. 25

Phreatophytes.................................. 29-30

Permeable deposits, ground water in.... 21

11 

11 

13 

43 

25

28

29

5

2

Pinal schist.

Pre-Cambrian time, deposition.

erosion.

Precipitation, annual...4, 5, 25-26, 28, 29, 

distribution..................................

mountain areas, estimate of runoff 

from........................................

valley area, estimate of recharge 

from........................................

Previous investigations.......................

Purpose of investigation.....................

18| Quality of ground water..................... 37-41

55
56 INDEX

Page 

Quaternary age, basalt......................... 17

valley fill...................................... 15

Quaternary time, deposition.................. 10

erosion.......................................... 10

Recent epoch, aggradation.................... 9

Recharge, estimate........................... 28, 29

irrigation......................................26, 28

precipitation.................................... 26

relation to discharge.......................... 33

Rocks, water in.................................22-23

Rock units, history............................. 11-18

Rucker Canyon drainage area, runoff..... 25-26

Runoff, factors affecting quantity........... 25

recharge to ground water from............ 28

seasonal periods of........................... 9

Salt River drainage basin, runoff........... 25

Schist, exposed.................................. 11

water yield from.............................. 13

Scope of investigation.......................... 2

Sedimentary rocks, deposition............... 13

water yield of,*.~, ,......,..................... 13

Springs, chemical analyses of water from.. 52 

discharge.......................................32-33

geology of...................................... 24

occurrence..................................... 24

quality of water............................. 37, 52

records of...................................... 46-47

Structural geology.............................. 18-20

Surface flow, amount.......................... 30

Swisshelm Mountains,, altitude............... 8

precipitation................................... 25

Temperature, annual...................... 4, 5, 43

Terraces, occurrence.......................... 9

Tertiary age, valley fill...................... 15

volcanic rocks................................ 14

Unconfined water occurrence................ 20-23

Underflow, equation for computing........ 31

Page 

Valley area, climate........................ 4

description.................................. 8

estimate of recharge from precipitation................................. 28

Valley fill, composition.................. 15 17

deposition of................................ 15

extent........................................ 15

water in......................!7, 20-21, 23-24

Vegetation, changes in..................... 10

Volcanic rocks, age of...................... 14

description.................................. 14

water yield from...........................14-15

Water, confined.............................. 23-24

in hard rock areas......................... 22-23

in valley fill..................... 20-21, 23-24

unconfined.................................. 20-23

Water-bearing characteristics, of valley

fill......................................... 25

of rock units................................ 11-18

Water-level data, correlation............ 27-28

Water strata................................... 21

Water table, depth...........v.............20, 22

fluctuation................................. 33-36

form of...................................... 21

perched..................................... 22

Well interference............................ 36

Well logs...................................... 48-50

Well-numbering system.................... 6-7

Wells, chemical analyses of water from.. 51-52 

quality of water......................37, 51-52

records of................................... 44-46

Whitewater Draw, channel course........ 8

chemical analyses of water from....... 53

perennial flow.............................. 8-9

records of.................................... 47

tributary streams, channels............. 9

Willcox basin................................. 10,17

Wind velocity................................. 4

Workman Creek drainage basin, runoff.. 25

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