Water-Supply and Ration Paper No. 158 Senes { * 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR

PRELIMINARY REPORT

ON THE

GEOLOGY AND UNDERGROUND WATERS OF 

THE ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA

BY

GASBIUS A. FISHER

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1906
CONTENTS.

Page.

Introduction..................................... 5

Topography. ......... 5

Belief............................................................ 5

Drainage . 5

Lakes. ............................ 6

Outline of geologic relations. .......................... 6

General statements. ........... 6

Permian (?) series. ......... 6

Bed-bed division. ................. 6

Limestone division. ........... 7

Cretaceous ('.') system. ................. 8

Quaternary system. ......... 8

Alluvium ................ 8

Unconsolidated deposits. ................. 9

Artesian water horizons. ....................... 9

Extent of artesian area. ...... 9

Wells and well prospects in Roswell artesian basin............. 10

General condition................... 10

Chaves County. ............ 10

Boswell district ............. 10

Hagerman district. ................... 13

Eddy County......................................................... 15

Artesia district.................. 15

McMillan district.................................................. 18

Pressure of artesian water. ................ 20

Composition of artesian water.............. 21

Origin of the artesian water ............... 23

Amount of artesian water. ............. 24

Waste of water. .................... 25

Shallow wells.............................................................. 25

Irrigation. ..................................... 26

Boswell system ............. 26

Northern canal. ............ 26

Hondo project......................................................... 27

Artesian irrigation.......................................................... 27

Climate................................................................... 28

Temperature........................................................... 28

Bainfall............................................................... 28

Agriculture................................................................ 29

3
ILLUSTRATIONS.

f^age. 

PLATE I. Map showing general location of the Roswell artesian area.............. 5

II. .A, Head of North Spring River; B, Head of South Spring River....._. 6

III. A,Wie\f of "Bottomless Lakes," east of Pecos River; B, Artesian well and

reservoir east of South Spring, New Mexico........................ 6

IV. Reconnaissance geologic map of the Roswell artesian basin............. 8

V. Geologic sections across the Roswell artesian basin.................... 8

VI. Map of the Roswell artesian basin................................... 10

VII. A, Rasmussen's well, east of South Springs, New Mexico; B, Widdeman's

well, near Dexter, N. Mex........................................ 14

VIII. A, Artesian town well, at Artesia, N. Mex.; B, Sherman's pumping plant,

near Roswell, N. Mex............................................ 16

I.. Map of southeastern New Mexico, showing the general artesian conditions

of the Roswell basin............................................ 24
U. 8. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 158 PL. I

104

wr i c U---E4L wi/4_-_,.

105C 104°

MAP SHOWING GENERAL LOCATION OF THE ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA.
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY AND UNDERGROUND WATERS OF 

THE ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO,

By CASSIUS A. FISHER.

INTRODUCTION.

The area to which this report relates is located in southeastern New Mexico. It comprises 

about 1,800 square miles lying along Pecos River and extending from a point 5 miles north 

of Roswell to below the mouth of Seven Rivers, as shown in PI. I. In addition to the discussion of the artesian waters, the report includes a brief description of the geology of the sedimentary rocks, their structure, and their relation to the underground waters. The area of 

flowing wells is indicated on the map, PI. VI, and records of representative wells are given, 

which are intended to illustrate the character and succession of the water-bearing beds) 

Information respecting surface waters available for domestic and irrigation purposes and 

a brief description of the climatic and agricultural features of the region are also given.

The investigation was conducted under the direction of Mr. N. H. Darton.

The writer was assisted in the field by Messrs. E. M. Mitchell and E. Patterson, and these 

gentlemen obtained a portion of the well data upon which this report is based. The systematic measurement of well pressures was carried on under the direction of Mr. W. M. Reed, 

district engineer of the Reclamation Service, who has done much to promote the work. The 

chemical analyses of the surface and artesian waters have been kindly furnished by Mr. 

E M. Skeats, of El Paso, Tex., and the paleontological collections have been examined by 

Dr. G. H. Girty. I am indebted to Messrs. Hagerman, Goodart, Phillips, Hortenstein, 

Spurlock, Hale, and others for information concerning artesian irrigation.

An excellent report on the soils of the Roswell basin by Messrs. T. H. Means and F. D. 

Gardner was used in the preparation of this report.

TOPOGRAPHY.

Relief. The topographic features of the Roswell basin present little variety. Across the 

east side of the district there are irregular bluffs rising 200 to 300 feet above Pecos River, 

while to the west the surface rises gradually toward the high limestone plateau bordering 

the Capitan, Sierra Blanca, and Sacramento mountains. The region has an average elevation of 3,600 feet above sea level. The highest portion is along the west side of the district, 

where the altitude is about 4,000 feet. In the southeast corner the altitude is about 3,200 

feet. Near the junction of the North and South forks of Seven Rivers there is a high bluff 

having a north-facing escarpment, which rises high above the valley of the South Fork, and 

on the north side of Eagle Draw is a small but prominent plateau.

Drainage. The principal drainage channel is Pecos River, which enters from the north 

and flows in a southerly direction across the district. The flow is not large, but it carries a 

small amount of water during the entire year. There are a number of tributaries from the 

west, the largest being the Hondo, Felix, Penasco, and Seven rivers. Hondo and Penrsci 

rivers, perennial streams throughout their upper courses, have their sources high on the
6 ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

slopes of the Capitan, Sierra Blanca, and Sacramento mountains. The Felix and Seven 

rivers rise in the limestone plateaus lower down, and drain a much smaller area. Hondo 

Kiver east of Koswell is joined on the north by North Spring and Berrendo rivers, and on 

the south side near its mouth by South Spring River. These streams are fed by springs, and 

they carry abundant water at all seasons. There are also several small intermittent streams, 

which enter Pecos River. Those from the west are Gardners Arroyo, Fourmile Creek, Eagle 

Draw, Cottonwood Creek, Walnut Draw, and Zuber Hollow; those from the east are Comanche Draw and Long Arroyo.

Lakes. At the heads of North and South Spring rivers and Middle and South Berrendo 

rivers are lakes of moderate size. These lakes are fed by a number of small springs, which 

derive their water mainly from the unconsolidated deposits underlying Hondo, Blackwater, 

and Eden valleys. Water rises to the surface in the lower courses of Felix River, Cottonwood Creek, Penasco River, Gardners Arroyo, and North and South Forks of Seven Rivers. 

In the vicinity of Lake Arthur, Hagerman, Greenfield, and Dexter, and north along the east 

side of the Northern canal there are lakes fed in part by springs and in part by seepage from 

the Northern canal.

On the east side of Pecos River, about 12 miles southeast of Roswell, are several deep lakes 

lying along the base of the gypsum bluffs, which are locally known as the "Bottomless Lakes." 

Dimmit Lake, the largest of these, is situated at the head of a short ravine about 2J miles 

from Pecos River. Near the mouth of this ravine, on the north side, is Dee Lake, and along 

the base of the bluffs for some distance to the north several smaller lakes occur. The location of these lakes is shown on the geologic map, PI. IV. They have probably been formed 

by flood water from the high slopes to the east, which, in flowing over the exposed gypsum 

ledges at the edge of the bluffs, has dissolved the gypsum and formed subterranean passages 

that now extend to some of the shallow artesian flows in Pecos Valley. A view of one of the 

" Bottomless Lakes " is shown in PL III, A. The water from some of these lakes is used for 

irrigation.

OUTLINE OF GEOLOGIC RELATIONS.

GENERAL STATEMENTS.

The rocks of the district comprise limestone, sandstone, clay, and gypsum which are 

believed to be of Permian age. Overlying these deposits throughout the Roswell basin 

are extensive sheets of sand, gravel, clay, and silt, probably of Quaternary age, which have 

been deposited in successive terraces between Pecos River and the high limestone slopes 

to the west. The so-called Permian series of this district consists of an upper red bed 

member of gypsum, red sand, limestone, and clay 600 to 800 feet thick, forming the high 

bluffs along the east side of Pecos River and underlying the recent deposits of Pecos Valley, 

and a lower member of massive limestone, clay, and gypsum of undetermined thickness, 

which constitutes high rugged slopes to the west. Overlying the red-bed division east of 

Pecos River is a reddish-brown sandstone about 100 feet thick, which may be of Cretaceous age. No subdivisions have been made of the probably Permian rocks in this region 

in the present reconnaissance.

PERMIAN (?) SERIES.

Red-bed division. These rocks consist o.' alternating beds of gypsum, red sand, and clay, 

with an occasional layer of dark-gray, compact limestone. The gypsum predominates 

and usually occurs in beds about 10 feet thick. It is often found, however, in thinner layers, interbedded with clay and limestone. The red beds are provisionally placed in the 

Permian, although no fossils have been found in them. They are not shown separately 

on the geologic map (PI. IV), but are represented with the underlying massive limestones. 

The upper part of the beds is well exposed in the bluffs along the east side of Pecos River, 

where a number of sections have been measured. These sections are as follows:
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 158 PL. II

A HEAD OF NORTH SPRING RIVER.

 481

B. HEAD OF SOUTH SPRING RIVER.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 158 PL. Ill

A. VIEW OF "BOTTOMLESS LAKES, EAST OF PECOS RIVER.

£. ARTESIAN WELL AND RESERVOIR EAST OF SOUTH SPRING, NEW MEXICO.
OUTLINE OF GEOLOGIC RELATIONS. <

Sections of gypsum Huffs along the east side of Pecos River, New Mexico.

East of Roswell: Feet.

Alternating layers of gypsum and red sand, with an occasional layer of limestone.......... 50

White gypsum................................................................................ 6

Red sand..................................................................................... 6

White, thin-bedded gypsum.................................................................. 10

Red sandstone containing thin layers of limestone........................................... 24

White gypsum................................................................................ 5

Red sand..................................................................................... 13

Gypsum...................................................................................... 10

Red sand..................................................................................... 3

Gypsum...................................................................................... 8

Red sand..................................................................................... 8

Gypsum...................................................................................... 4

Greenish-gray sandstone..................................................................... 25

Gypsum...................................................................................... G

Total..................................................................................... 178

At Dimmit Lake:

Gray, sandy limestone........................................................................ 20

Alternating layers of gypsum and red and green clay, with an occasional bed of porous limestone ....................................................................................... 100

Gypsum...................................................................................... 4

Red clay...................................................................................... 2J

Gypsum...................................................................................... 18

Alternating layers of gypsum and red clay................................................... 6

Gypsum...................................................................................... 11

Alternating layers of gypsum and red sandstone............................................. 6

Gypsum...................................................................................... 9

Red clay...................................................................................... 1

Gypsum...................................................................................... 10

Alternating layers of gypsum and red clay. ................................................. 15

Gypsum...................................................................................... 5

Red clay.................T.................................................................... 1|

Gypsum...................................................................................... 10

Red clay...................................................................................... 7

Alternating layers of gypsum and red clay................................................... 8

Gypsum...................................................................................... fi

Red clay, with thin layers of gypsum........................................................ 3

Gypsum...................................................................................... 6

Total ................................................................................... 249

Eight miles northeast of Artesia:

Gray, compact limestone..................................................................... 5

Gypsum and red, sandy clay in alternate succession......................................... f>5

Red, sandy clay.............................................................................. 10

White, massive gypsum...................................................................... 15

Red, sandy clay.............................................................................. 5

White gypsum................................................................................ 10

Gray limestone ............................................................................... 5

Gypsum ...................................................................................... 18

Red clay...................................................................................... 12

Gypsum...................................................................................... 5

Total................................................................................... 150

About 2 miles southeast of the mouth of South Fork of Seven Rivers:

Massive, gray limestone...................................................................... 35

Gypsum and red sandstone in alternate layers, with an occasional limestone ledge......... 50

Gypsum, thin-bedded porous limestone, and red sandstone arranged alternately, the gypsum predominating-........................................................................ 150

Gypsum, with thin layers of gray limestone.................................................. 50

Total................................................................................... 285

Limestone division. The massive limestone beds underlying the so-called Permian red 

beds of this region consist mainly of gray, compact limestone, with layers of soft sandstone, clay, and gypsum. In the upper part the limestone is more or less thin-bedded and
8 ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

porous, and contains many sandy layers. From these beds some of the strongest artesian 

flows in the Roswell basin are obtained. Limestone outcrops along the west side of the district, and farther to the west forms high rugged plateaus, extending toward the mountains. 

Fossils are not abundant in the formation, but in one locality northwest of Roswell a number were collected, which consisted mainly of Schizodus and Pleurophorus, preserved as 

casts. According to Doctor Girty the fauna and lithology of these specimens suggest the 

highest Carboniferous beds or the Permian of the Mississippi Valley in Texas.

To the east of the Roswell district the high plains are traversed by dikes of igneous rock. 

One of these dikes extends into the area in the northeast corner, but passes beneath the 

surface at a point about 5 miles east of Pecos River. Its location is shown on the geologic 

map (PI. IV). The dike is about 35 feet wide, and consists of a light-colored rock, which 

is much decomposed on the surface.

Extending across the southeast portion of the area, from below Lake McMillan to the 

high bluffs east of Artesia, is a narrow zone in which the sedimentary rocks are more or less 

metamorphosed, so that in the crevices considerable mineralization has taken place. Copper is the principal mineral, occurring mainly as the carbonate and oxide. Some prospecting has been done in the hills south and east of Artesia, but no paying ore has been discovered.

CRETACEOUS (?) SYSTEM.

The sandstone overlying the Permian (?) red beds along the east side of the district is 

possibly, as above stated, of Cretaceous age. A few fossil plants were found in these beds, 

but they were too fragmentary to be determined. The distribution of the formation was 

not ascertained. It consists of massive, reddish-brown sandstone in beds of varying thickness, with an occasional layer of light-gray sandstone. The material is coarse grained and 

cross-bedded throughout, and often weathers into rounded forms. The following is a section of the sandstone near Petty's windmill, about 15 miles northeast of Roswell:

Section of sandstone overlying Permian (?) red beds near Roswell, N. Hex.

Feet. 

Reddish-brown, cross-bedded sandstone........................................................... 40

Brown, massive sandstone......................................................................... 6

Lighter brown, massive sandstone, somewhat cross-bedded ....................................... 10

Gray, coarse-grained sandstone.................................................................... 1

Reddish-brown sandstone ........................................................................... 18

QUATERNARY SYSTEM.

The formations of the Quaternary period cover an extensive area in the Roswell basin, 

comprising approximately 1,200 square miles. They occupy the entire central portion of 

the basin, and extend far up the limestone slopes to the west. These deposits are mainly 

of two kinds the alluvium of the river valleys and the unconsolidated material of higher 

levels.

Alluvium. The alluvium is confined mainly to Pecos River Valley, although small areas 

occur along all the larger and many of the smaller streams. It is a light-colored, finegrained material, consisting mainly of sand, gravel, and clay, with a small amount of organic matter. In the lower portions of the valley the soil contains much "alkali," often 

sufficient to render it unfit for cultivation. There are many small lakes along the river 

bottom, and the lowlands are generally swampy. On the east side of Pecos River, from a 

point opposite Dexter to beyond Comanche Draw, there are several springs, which have 

built cones of spring deposits 6 to 10 feet high.

Hondo, Felix, and Penasco rivers have built small flood plains along their lower courses 

which are perceptibly higher than the surrounding region. The alluvium along these 

streams varies somewhat in character, but it is generally of a light-gray color, and consists 

of gravel, sand, silt, and clay, covered by a fertile soil. The fertility is due to the presence 

of fine silt brought down by the flood waters from the high mountain rgeions. According
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 156 PL.IV

LEGEN D

Massive limestone, 

e,clay; and

RECO:NTSrAISS^NCE GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE

ARTESIAN BASIN,SOUTHEASTERN JSEWIMEXICO

BY C-A.FISHEIi
and Walters 

well \Shaver 

Pecos

River

and Walters 

well Shaver 

well

well Hale 

well Richey 

Si'gman 

well

man lager 

Hedgecox 

well

Formwault 

well

Rasmussen 

well

Waskom 

well
EXTENT OF ARTESIAN AREA.

to Mr. T. H. Means the alluvium of Hondo Valley contains more plant food than that of 

the Nile in Egypt. The following analyses are taken from Mr. Means's report: a,

Chemical composition of Hondo and Nile sediment.

Constituent.

Hondo 

mud 

(Skeats) .

21.4

5.7

1.19

Nile mud 

(Mackenzie).

24.75

.09

3.31

.68

Constituent.

Hondo 

mud 

(Skeats).

1.96

.3

9.8

.32

Nile mud 

(Mackenzie).

.62

.20

.21

1 f^

8.00

.12

Unconsolidated deposits. These deposits consist mainly of sand, gravel, and clay. The 

sand is of light-gray color, medium to fine grained, the clay more or less sandy, and the 

gravel a moderately coarse variety. The gravel is often firmly cemented by calcium carbonate, and local deposits of gypsum and a calcareous material known as "caliche" occur 

throughout the formation. According to well records the thickness of the formation varies 

considerably in different parts of the basin. In several deep wells around Artesia coarse 

gravels were encountered 500 to 700 feet below the surface. At Eoswell and in the lower 

part of Hondo Valley unconsolidated sediments are 150 to 300 feet thick, and in Seven 

Rivers Valley they are probably thicker. In John Richey's well, 8 miles northeast of 

Artesia, a gravel bed, apparently the base of the unconsolidated sediments, was penetrated 

at a depth of 134 feet. At Sigman's well, near Lake Arthur, according to the driller's 

statement, the unconsolidated deposits are only a few feet thick, and about 3 miles northeast of Lake Arthur the red, sandy beds of the Permian (?) are exposed.

ARTESIAN WATER HORIZONS.

There are several artesian horizons in the formations underlying the Roswell basin. 

Flows of moderate volume are found in the sandstones of the upper member of the Permian (?) series and in the overlying unconsolidated deposits, but the strongest are from 

porous limestones interstratified with beds of sand, which constitute the upper part of t'ie 

massive limestone division.

EXTENT OF ARTESIAN AREA.

The Roswell artesian basin is about 60 miles long and has an average width of 11 miles. 

At the north end it is relatively narrow, but to the south it widens somewhat. It comprises 

about 650 square miles, the greater part of which lies along the west side of Pecos River. 

The area of flow is shown on PL VI.

In the vicinity of Roswell the head of artesian water, as determined both by practical 

tests and by the pressures of a number of flows in the town of Roswell, is sufficient to raise 

water to an altitude of 3,586 feet above sea level, the exact elevation of the water level in the 

head of North Spring River. In order to ascertain the western limit of the area of flow 

south of Roswell a line of levels was surveyed, under the direction of Mr. W. M. Reed, district engineer, from the head of North Spring River as far south as Eagle Draw. From there 

to Seven Rivers the western boundary of the artesian basin was ascertained mainly from 

evidence of wells in the adjoining lowlands. It is possible that the artesian head increases to 

the west and that flows might be obtained higher up the slopes than is indicated on the artesian 

water sheet, especially in the valleys of Felix River, Cottonwood Creek, and Penasco River, 

but there appears to be no definite evidence of this. The eastern limits of the artesian area

« Means, T. II. and Gardner, F. D., Soil survey in the Pecos Valley: Field operations of Bureau of 

Soils, 1899, U. 8. Dept. Agric., Kept. No. 64. 1900, p. 49.
10 ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

are indicated by moderately high bluffs, which follow the general course of Pecos River 

across the entire district.

About 15 miles northeast of Roswell on the south side of Salt Creek are a number of springs 

that furnish considerable water. It is possible that shallow flowing w^ells would be obtained 

in the lowlands of Salt Creek Valley below these.springs, but no investigation was made of 

this region. At Stockpens, about 13 miles northwest of Roswell and a short distance south 

of the mouth of Salt Creek, a deep test well was being sunk at the time this investigation was 

made. The boring had reached a depth of 900 feet without obtaining a flow, but it was the 

intention of the well owTiers to continue to a depth of 1,000 feet. The head of artesian water 

in the northern part of the Roswell basin, as calculated from the pressures of flows in the 

vicinity of Roswell, is not sufficient to bring water to the surface in wells at Stockpens.

There is a deep well at Portales, N. Mex., in which a flow was obtained at a depth of about 

400 feet. A record of this well is as follows:

Record of u-ell at Portales, N. Mex.

Feet. 

Soil............................................................................................. 0- 4

Gypsum......................................................................................... 4- 8

Red, sandy clay................................................................................. 8-20

White limestone................................................................................. 20-32

Red, sandy clay................................................................................. 32-48

White limestone.......................................................'.......................... 48-88

Red clav........................................................................................ 88-188

clay

WELLS AND WELL PROSPECTS IN ROSWELL ARTESIAN BASIN.

GENERAL CONDITIONS.

Flowing wells were first obtained in the Roswell basin about ten years ago and for a number of years thereafter development was confined chiefly to this immediate vicinity. During the last two years, however, strong flows have been obtained near Artesia, and at present 

this part of the basin is receiving the greatest development. Owing to the rapid progress in 

well sinking throughout the Roswell basin it is difficult to give a complete list of the flowing 

wells. Information of about 200 lias been obtained, but it is probable that the total number 

at present exceeds 250. About half of this number are found in Roswell and North Spring 

River Valley, the extreme north end of the basin.

In amount of flow the wells vary from a few gallons to 1,800 gallons a minute, differing 

principally with the locality. At Roswell the flow of an average well has been variously 

estimated at 500 to 700 gallons, while near Artesia the highest flow recorded exceeds 1,700 

gallons. The water is used chiefly for irrigation and domestic purposes. In a few cases, 

however, the presence of sulphur renders it unfit for household use. The Formwaltz well 

northeast of Hagerman is said to have medicinal properties, but no chemical analysis of 

the water was obtained.

As the conditions under which artesian water is obtained throughout the Roswell basin 

show considerable variation, the area in the following discussion is divided into four districts Roswell, Hagerman, Artesia, and McMillan. The Roswell and Hagerman districts 

are in Chaves County, and the Artesia and McMillan districts are in Eddy County.

CHAVES COUNTY.

Roswell district. This district comprises the northern portion of the area of flow included 

in Chaves County, and, as stated above, it is the district where greatest development lias 

taken place. In Roswell and in Hondo Valley the depths of the wells vary from 1-50 to 500 

feet, the average being 250 feet. To the southeast in the vicinity of Orchard Park flows are
U.5.GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 158 PL.VI

LEGEN D

te area of irrin-Tvhiclnyater Dlvrise an deep 

£e>t oCthe surface

MAP OF THE ROSVTEJLL ARTESXAN BASIN 

SOUTHEASTEKlSr TSTEAV ME3CIC O

BV C.A.FISHER

Topo^rapl^' compiled from rcdlroftd dataScale 

? p t » ? 8 JO^mloa

Flowing weTLs
WELLS AND WELL PKOSPECTS. 11

obtained at a much greater depth. The formations encountered in sinking a well at Roswell 

generally consist of unconsolidated deposits for the first 175 feet from the surface. Below 

this depth drills penetrate bed rock, composed of hard, light-colored limestone underlain by 

alternating layers of porous limestone and sandstone. The following are records of representative wells in and near Roswell:

Typical well record* in and near Roswell, N. Mex.

Record of the Ogle well at Roswell: 

Soil........... -.---..............

Feet. 

..................................................................................... 0- 5

Gravel....................................................................................... 5- 30

Blueish clay with layers of gravel........................................................... 30-150

Greenish-yellow clay with rust-colored bands.............................................. 150-162

Soft red sandstone (water bearing)......................................................... 162-170

Red clay..................................................................................... 170-174

Gray limestone.............................................................................. 174-177

Red clay.................................................................................... 177-178

Gray limestone.............................................................................. 178-182

Gray limestone, very hard.................................................................. 182-180

Soft gray limestone.......................................................".................. 186-204

Hard gray limestone........................................................................ 204-218

Light-gray, porous limestone (waterbearing).............................................. 218-226

Limestone and sandstone in alternate layers (water bearing).............................. 226-242

Record of the Waskom well, SW. J see. 32, T. 10 S., R. 25 E.: a.

Soil.......................................................................................... 0- 5

Sand and gravel............................................................................. 5-15

Yellow clay.................................................................................. 15-40

Clay and decomposed gypsum.............................................................. 40- 70

Sandstone, coarse yellow sand, and gravel in alternate succession.......................... 70-360

Limestone and sandstone in alternating layers, the limestones predominating............. 360-5CO

Record of the Rasmussen well, SW. \ sec. 21, T. 11 S., R. 25 E.:

Soil and fine sand...................:........................................................ 0-30

Gray sand................................................................................... 30-40

Gravel....................................................................................... 40-50

Rock and gravel in alternate layers......................................................... 50- GO

Red sand................................................................................... 60-65

Gray sand and hard rock in thin layers..................................................... 65-172

uicksand................................................................................... 172-21:

Red sandstone.............................................................................. 212-327

Red sand containing layers of rock......................................................... 327-400

Limestone................................................................................... 400-560

Partial list of artesian wells in Roswell district, New Mexico.

Name of owner and location.

Anderson: 

SE. i sec. 3, T. 11 S., R. 25 E ..........................................

Do................................................................

Do................................................................

"Bottomless Lake "well, SE. i NW. J sec. 10, T. 12 S., R. 26 E. ..........

Brink, Fritz, lot 14, block 23. west side Roswell- . ........................

Gaboon, E. A.: 

NW. JNW. isec. 34, T. 10 S., R. 24 E.. ...............................

Champion, D., NW. } NW. \ sec. 27, T. 10 S., R. 24 K ................:....

a In this well, located 4 miles east of Roswell, lied rock was reached 

6 Mainly estimated.

Depth.

Feet. 

00

60

58

420

232

235

938

229

330 

at 11 def

Diame- yield b

Galls, per

Inches. minute.

0 ..........

0 ..........

4 400

6 ..........

4t 40''

4 250

7| 300 

th of 300 feet.
12 ROSWELL AETES1AN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

Partial list of artesian wells in Roswell district, Neiv Mexico Continued.

Name of owner and location. Depth. Diameter. Yield."

Feet. Inches.

Chaves Co., block 11, Roswell............................................. 206

Church, J. P., lot 8, block 45, West Roswell............................... 270

Cottingham, J. A., lot 13, block 19, original Roswell...................... I 202 5

Davis, W. P., SE. i NE. J sec. 7, T. 11 S., R. 25 E......................... 450 5|

Denning, S. P., lot 8, block 51, west side Roswell......................... 240

Diamond ice factory, lot 1, block 7, Thurber's addition, Roswell......... 196

Dickson, J., northwest corner Washington and 2d sts., Roswell...... ... 270 5|

Dickson, J. M., lot 5, block 52, west side Roswell......................... 198 5f

Divers, F., lot 2, block 9, west side Roswell............................... 232

Dunn, G., T. 12 S., R. 26 E ......................... ............... .....j 264

Evans, J F., lot 8, block 28, original Roswell............................. 200 4

Elliott Bros., SW. J SW. ^ sec. 32, T. 12 S., R. 25 E....................... 859 6

Faulkner, R. L., lot 10, block 12, west side Roswell....................... 198 5

Ferguson, W. M.:

Lot 10, block 2, original Roswell...................................... 255

NE J NW. i sec. 15, T. 12 S., R. 25 E.................................. 882

Finley, M. N., SW. \ SW. i sec. 3, T. 11 S., R. 24 E....................... 354

Fitzgerald & Kingston, lot 1, block 17, original Roswell..................' 200 5|

Fitzgerald, lot 12, block 26, original Roswell............................. 190 5|

Frank, C. J., lot 9, block 10, original Roswell............................. 202 5|

Garrett, A. D., lot 1, block 20, west side Roswell......................... 260

Garst, J., lot 2, block 1, original Roswell.................................. 271 3

Garst, Julius, SE. J SW. i sec. 28, T. 10 S., R. 24 E....................... 279 6|

Gaslin, H., lot 10. block 48, west Roswell................................. 242 4J

Gaullier, lot 6, block 1, original Roswell................................... 265 5|

Goodart, J. H., NW. i NE. J sec. 7, T. 11 S., R. 25 E..................... 400 4;

Hagerman, 0., lot 3, block 24, South Roswell............................. 405 5

Hamilton, R. S., lot 12, block 14, original Roswell........................ 301

Hamilton, J., SW. i SW. J sec. 26, T. 10 S., R. 24 E....................... 313

Haynes, C. W.:

Lot 7, block 20, South Roswell........................................ 310

Roswell............................................................... 232 5|

Do................................................................ 204

Do................................................................ 232

Henning, J. H., lot 7, block 11, west side Roswell......................... 235 5

Hinkle, J., lot 7, block 51, west side Roswe'l.............................. 235 4J

Hobson, Lowe & Co., lot 9, block 3, original Roswell...................... 270 5|

Hortenstein, NW. ^ SW. i sec. 23, T. 12 S., R. 25 E........................ 840 5;

Jaffa, N., lot 10, block 3, Thurber's addition, Roswell...................J 200 3

Jaffa & Prager, lot 13. block 14, Roswell................................. J 380 4

Johnson, R. W., lot 7, block 24, west side Roswell........................I 250 5f

Lawndes, G., NW. J NW. i sec. 35, T. 11 S., R. 25 E...................... 287

Lea, J. C., lot 5, block 4, original Roswell................................. 230

{

ooo 

	333 

McCarty, S. S., N. J NW. i sec. 14, T. 10 S., R. 25 E............... ....... 844

McClenney, M. E., SE. i SE. i sec. 35, T. 10 S., R. 24 E................... 375

Marrow & Tannehill, lot 14, block 13, old Roswell........................ 260 5

Meeks, W., lot 6, block 28, original Roswell............................... 160 4

Miller, J., lot 4, block 30, original Roswell ................................ 230

New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell .................................. 232 6|

Parsons, R. M., lot 5, block 54, west side Roswell......................... i 245 5|

Patterson, J. F., lot 1, block 42, west side Roswell........................ 260 J 3

"Mainly estimated.

Galls, per 

minute.
WELLS AND WELL PROSPECTS. 13

Partial list of artesian wells in Roswell district, New Mexico Continued.

Name of owner and location. Depth.

Feet.

Peck, J. C,, NE. JSW. | sec. 27, T. 10 8., R. 24 E......................... 333

Pecos Valley and Northeastern Railroad, Roswell (pressure 12 pounds).. 248

Pettey & Miller, lot 6, block 14. original Roswell......................... J 225

Pierce, F., lot 3, block 10, west side Roswell.............................. 264

Rasmussen, E. P., SW. 1 fee. 21, T. 11 8., R. 25 E.. .'...................... 560

Ray, J. R., lot 6, block 21, west side Roswell.............................. 221

Read, G. W., lot 9, block 6, original Roswell.............................. 224

Redderson, G., lot 11, block 18, west side Roswell......................... 250

Ried, C. M., lot 3, block 12, west side Roswell............................. 175

Roach T., lot 10, block 21, west side Roswell ............................. 250

Roach, T. 8., lot 9, block 21, west side Roswell........................... 240

Rogers, A. C., sec. 25, T. 10 S., R. 24 E.................................... 142

Rose, I. B., lot 7, block 40, west side Roswell............................. 241

Ross, F., lot 2, block 3, orig'nal Roswell..................................! 245

Roswell Wood and Hide Co., lot 7, block 18, original Roswell............. 262

Roswell (town):

Block 23, west side.................................................... 163

Block 41, west side.................................................... 260

Block 47, west side.................................................... 270

Seay, E.:

Lot 8, block 38, west side Roswell..................................... 205

Lot 11, block 38, West Roswell........................................' 170

Sheridan, C., lot 7, block 7, original Roswell.............................. 250

Skipwith, J. H., lot 12, block 8, original Roswell.......................... 249

Slakey, H. B., lot 9, block 57, west side Roswell.......................... 218

Slaughter, C. C., sec. 34. T. 10 S., R. 24 E., Center......................... 275

Slaughter, G., Thurber's addition, Roswell............................... 225

Smith, L. R., SW. J NW. J sec. 27, T. 10 S., R. 24 E....................... 330

Smock, W. S., lot 4, block 50, west side Roswell.......................... 235

Spurlock, SW. i sec. 31, T. 11, S., R. 24 E.................................' 917

Stansell.C. N., NE. J SW. J sec. 11, T. 11 S., R. 24 E...................... 340

Stevens, L. A., lot 11, block 19, original Roswell.......................... 220

Sutherland, lot 5, block 27, original Roswell.............................. 300

Tipton, W.. lot 19, block 6, South Roswell................................ 300

Totsek, S., lot 6, block 42, west side Roswell.............................. 238

Veal, G. F., lot 10, blocks, original Roswell.............................. 361

Waldron, C. E., lot 11, block 22, west side Roswell........................ 240

Wallace, J. A., lot 5, block 39, west side Roswell.......................... j 155

Warren, J. R., lot 1, block 23, west side Roswell.......................... 150

Waskom, A. B., SW. J-sec. 32, T. 10 S., R. 25 E........................... 560

Wells, W. F., lot 1, block 1, Roswell...................................... 230

Whiteman, C., lot 1, block 6, Thurber's addition, Roswell................ 170

Wilkenson, \V. G., lot 6, block 57, west side Roswell...................... 234

Wilson, B., lot 8, block 44, west side Roswell............................. 235

Woodruff & Hedgecoxe, lot 13, block 15, original Roswell................. 205

Wyllys, G. L., lot 7, block 58, West Roswell.............................. 249

Yater, B. M., lot 7, block 26, original Roswell (pressure about 7 pounds) . 203

Diame-

 Galls, per 

Inches. t minute.

5f ! 400 

820 

750

5| 600

600

400

600

300

600

500

2

600

500

660

500

600

600

500

400

580

500

500

550

460

300

600

324

350

360

660

600

600

600

200

200

756

660

400

580

600

660

780

750

a Mainly estimated.

Hagerman district. In the immediate vicinity of Hagerman there are a few flowing wells, 

but about 8 miles north, near Dexter and in the lowlands east of Pecos River, there are 

several. They vary in depth from 300 to 1,000 feet, and the beds penetrated differ somewhat from those of the Roswell district. In the lowlands of Pecos Valley flows of moderate 

IRK 158 06 2
14 ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

yield are obtained in soft sandstones at depths of 300 to 500 feet, but on the higher slopes 

to the west the main flow occurs in porous limestones 800 to 1,000 feet below the surface. 

The Hedgecoxe well, about 1 mile southeast of Dexter, is 960 feet deep. The main flow 

occurs in a porous limestone underlying red sandstone 60 feet thick, which is overlain by 

unconsolidated material.

The following records of wells were furnished by the drillers:

Typical deep borings in Hagerman district, New Mexico.

Record of the Hedgecoxe well, near Dexter: Feet.

Soil and gravel........................................................................... 0- 19

Coarse sand............................................................................... 19- 71

Quicksand................................................................................ 71- 271

Limestone................................................................................ 271- 273

Red sandy clay........................................................................... 273- 323

Yellow clay............................................................................... 323- 343

Limestone................................................................................ 343- 345

Quicksand................................................................................ 345- 545

Limestone................................................................................ 545- 551

Blue clay................................................................................. 551- 601

Quicksand................................................................................ 601- 651

" Shell rock"............................................................................. 651- 653

Alternating layers of sand, silt, and clay................................................. 653- 800

Coarse gravel............................................................................. 800- 806

Red sandstone............................................................................ 806- 866

Porous limestone......................................................................... 866- 960

Record of Widdem_:~i well:

Stoil............................................................................^.......... 0- 20

Gravel.................................................................................... 20- 55

Quicksand................................................................................ 55- 105

Alternating beds of clay and gypsum.................................................... 105- 360

Sand...................................................................................... 360- 440

Red sand with layers of clay and one 25-foot layer of gypsum near the middle........... 440- 800

Limestone................................................................................ 800-lj 000

Record of Cummins well:

Soil and gravel........................................................................... 0- 40

Sand...................................................................................... 40- 44

Clay...................................................................................... 44- 60

Gravel.................................................................................... 60- 65

Rock, clay, and sand in alternate layers.................................................. 65- 105

Clay and sand............................................................................ 105- 165

Red sand................................................................................. 165- 550

Coarse red sand and clay in alternate layers............................................. 550- 820

Limestone................................................................................ 820- 840

Partial record of town well at Hagerman:a

Soil....................................................................................... 1- 12

Conglomerate............................................................................. 12- 22

Sand...................................................................................... 22- 32

Clay...................................................................................... 32- 60

Alternating beds of coarse sand and gravel.............................................. 60- 535

Gypsum and red sandy clay in alternate beds ........................................... 535- 610

Gypsurn.................................................................................. 610- 630

Red clay and sand........................................................................ 630- 675

Hard gypsum............................................................................. 675- 732

Hard, gray sandstone.................................................................... 732- 735

Gypsum.................................................................................. 735- 745

Red clay and sand........................................................................ 745- 750

Gypsum.................................................................................. 750- 760

a Boring in progress at time investigation was made.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

A. RASMUSSEN'S WELL, EAST OF SOUTH SPRING, 

NEW MEXICO.

NO. 158 PL. VII

B. WIDDEMAN'S WELL, NEAR DEXTER. N. MEX.
WELLR AND WELL PROSPECTS. 15

Partial record of II. II. Sigman's well near Lake Arthur:

Soil and conglomerate.........._._...__...._...___..__..........._..............._....... 0-

Hard gypsum (first now at base

Alternating strata of gypsum and red sand.............................................. ISOAlternating layers of red sand and day.................................................. 235-

Partial lixt <>j artesian irellx in Hagennan district.

Name of owner and location.

Carper, .1. K., NW. } NE. i sec. 28. T. 12 S., R. 20 E. ........................

Casiers, T. M., NE. 1 NW. { sec. 7. T. 13 S., II. 2ii E ........................

Clem, J. A., E. J sec. 11, T. 13 S.. K. 2(i E.. ..................................

Cummins, .1. Q.. SE. 1 sec. 33, T. 12 S., R. 25 E.. ............................ 

Elliot, I. II ................................................'..................

Goodell S W S 1 ^ec 15 T 13 S H '> > E

Greenfleld farm (center), sec. 32, T. 13 S., R. 2(i E. ..........................

Large, Frank: 

Sec. 4, T. 13 S., R. 26 E........................ ..........................

Sec. 4. T. 13 S.. R. 20 E. ........................ .........................

Sec. 4, T. 13 S., R. 2<i E. .................................................

Townsley, H. \V.: 

NW. i sec. 4, T. 13 S.. R. 20 E. ..........................................

NW. i sec. 4, T. 13 S., R. 2li E ...........................................

Walters, L., SE. } sec. 14, T. 13 S., R. 20 E. .................................

Widdeman, NW. 1 sec. 5, T. 13 S., R. 20 E. .................................

Wilson, P., NW. i sec. 18, T. 13 S., R. 27 E.......... ........................

Winchell, N. J., SE. 1 SW. J sec. 30, T. 13 S., R. 20 E. ......................

1 Mainly estimated. 

EDDY COUNTY.

Depth.

Feet.

330

400

525

800 

700

900

300

839

700

POO

1,000

375

400

440

505

1,000

020

DeS." -'

Gallons 

(per 

Inches, minute}. 

........ 20

S 377

Of ' 351

7f 517 

51 300

Of 250 

4i ..........

7| 25

C5

10 764

K5 490

7 s iQQ

75 "iQQ

C5

5| , 310

........ 20

Artfnia district. The Artesia district comprises the northern portion of the area of flow 

included in Eddy County. The formations encountered in boring a deep well near Artesia 

differ somewhat from those in other parts of the Roswell basin. According to well records 

they consist for the first 500 to 700 feet of unconsolidated beds of sand, gravel, and clay, 

which by their loose texture frequently offer considerable difficulty in well construction. 

Beneath these beds there are alternating layers of red and gray sandstone, clay, and gypsum lying on a scries of porous limestones, clays, and sandstones, in which the strongest 

artesian flows occur. A number of records of deep borings around Artesia, as reported by 

the well drillers, are here given:

« No satisfactory record, particularly of the lower part, could lie obtained of this boring, which was 

originally 1,000 feet deep. There is probably some defect in the casing of the well, for, according to 

the latest reports, the lower part of the pipe appears to be clogging up with sediment, and there is a 

perceptible decrease in the pressure of the flow. The best information which could be obtained concerning the formations penetrated in the upper part of this well is here given.
16 BO8WELL ABTESIAIST AREA, NEW MEXICO.

Typical deep borings in Artesia district, New Mexico.

Record of the .1. C. Hale well, 1J miles southeast of ArtesLi: Feet. 

Soil........................................................................................ 0-10

Red clay.................................................................................... 10-30

White, coarse sand......................................................................... 30-100

Fine sand................................................................................... 100-120

Bluish clay alternating with sandy layers.................................................. 120-375

Red clay with layers of gravel.............................................................. 375-540

White sand................................................................................. 540-550

Yellow sand................................................................................ 550-556

Red, sandy clay............................................................................ 556-581

Limestone.................................................................................. 581-585

Red, sandy clay alternating with layers of gravel.......................................... 585-745

Gravel...................................................................................... 745-751

Hard limestone............................................................................. 751-760

Limestone and red clay..................................................................... 760-794

Hard and soft light-colored limestone with layers of sandstone............................ 794-820

Soft, red sandstone......................................................................... 820-830

Hard, porous limestone and red clay in alternate succession, the limestone predominut ing. 830-850

Record of the J. S. Majors artesian well, 2 miles north of Artesia:

Loamy soil................................................................................. 0- 6

Bowlders.................................'................................................... 6-15

Concretionary conglomerate................................................................ 15- 40

Rock........................................................................................ 40-62

Soft sands.................................................................................. 62-68

Rocks and bowlders........................................................................ 68- 70

Gray sand.................................................................................. 70- 72

Soft clay.................................................................................... 72-160

Moderately hard rock...................................................................... 160-174

Red, sticky clay............................................................................ 174-210

Sticky clay and gravel...................................................................... 210-240

Coarse, white sand......................................................................... 240-275

Clay and gravel............................................................................. 275-290

Soft rock................................................................................... 290-295

Clay............................................................................. -........... 295-310

Red quicksand.............................................................................. 310-320

Red clay.................................................................................... 320-357

Soft rock................................................................................... 357-360

Soft clay (First flow yielding about 10 gallons per minute)................................ 360-420

Hard rock......................................^........................................... 420-428

Clay and gravel; some sand................................................................ 428-460

Clay and sand.............................................................................. 460-542

Soft, rock and clay.......................................................................... 542-560

Tough, red clay............-......................."......................................... 560-598

Hard rock.................................................................................. 598-600

Hard clay................................................................................... 600-617

Hard rock.................................................................................. 617-628

Red clay.................................................................................... 628-630

Soft rock.................................................."................................. 630-634

Hard rock. ................................................................................ 634-640

Sand and clay.............................................................................. 640-6(i5

Soft rock, clay, and sand................................................................... 665-700

Quicksand.................................................................................. 700-704

Harrl rock (limestone; second flow at base)................................................ 704-714

Alternating strata of soft rock and clay.................................................... 714-770

Soft and hard rock in alternate layers...................................................... 770-795

Very hard rock (limestone)................................................................. 795-798

Clay and soft rock.......................................................................... 798-812

Extremely hard rock (limestone)........................................................... 812-820

Rock, increasing in hardness............................................................... 820-823

Record of the Hodges & Venable artesian well, Artesia: a

Soil........................................................................................ 0-10

Bowlders and clay.. ....................................................................... 10- 19

Concrete rock.................................... .......................................... 19- 26

a In this well flows were obtained at the following depths: First flow, 450 feet; second flow, 648 feet, 

thira flow, 785 feet; fourth flow, 802 feet.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

A. ARTESIAN TOWN WELL, AT ARTESIA, N. M EX.

WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 158 PL. VIII

B SHERMAN'S PUMPING PLANT, NEAR ROSWELL, N, M EX.
WELLS ATSTD WELL PROSPECTS. 17

Record of the, Hodges & Venable artesian well, Artesia Continued. Feet. 

Loose gravel.............................................................................. 26 - 41

Concrete rock............................................................................. 41 4(1

Red clay.................................................................................. 46 73

Concretionary gravel..................................................................... 73 - 76

Loose gravel.............................................................................. 76 - 86

Hard limestone........................................................................... 8fi -113

Loose gravel containing water........................................................... 113 -120

Limestone................................................................................ 120 -130

Red clay.................................................................................. 130 -155

Red clay alternating with conglomerate.................................................. 155 -185

Alternating strata of concretionary conglomerate and red clay.......................... 185 -250

Red clay.................................................................................. 250 -350

Alternating layers of red. sandy clay and sandstone..................................... 350 -545

Limestone, with an occasional layer of red clay, very hard at base of series............. 545 -840

Record of the J. B. Barnes artesian well, 12 miles southwest of Artesia:

Soil....................................................................................... 0- 6

Bowlders and gravel...................................................................... 6 - 13

Yellow clay and gravel................................................................... 13 - 53

Red clay.................................................................................. 53 -153

Quicksand................................................................................ 153-157

Red sand and soft sandstone............................................................. 157 -177

Soft, yellowish sandstone................................................................. 177 -227

Hard limestone........................................................................... 227 -267

Red, sandy clay alternating with soft red sandstone, which gives place to porous limestone in the lower half of the series. (First flow)...................................... 267 -450

Soft, red sandstone....................................................................... 450 -500

Porous limestone......................................................................... 500 -525

Soft, red sandstone................................. ..................................... 525 -535

Record of the S. L. Roberts artesian well, at Artesia:

Soil....................................................................................... 0-7

Bowlders and gravel...................................................................... 7 - 42

Red, sandy clay containing some gravel.................................................. 42 -200

Quicksand................................................................................ 200 -260

Red clay................................................................................. 260 -300

Alternating layers of gray sand and red clay............................................. 300 -600

Limestone................................................................................ 600 -604

Gypsum.................................................................................. 604 -634

Red clay.................................................................................. 634 -675

Limestone................................................................................ 675 -679

Red clay.................................................................................. 679 -704

Limestone................................................................................ 704 -705i

Red, sandy clay.......................................................................... 705J-745J

Limestone................................................................................ 745J-840

Hard limestone........................................................................... 840 -852

Red, sandy clay.......................................................................... 852 -880

Limestone, porous........................................................................ 880 -976

Record of the E. N. Heath artesian well, 2 miles southwest of Artesia:

Soil and clay.............................................................................. 0 - 15

Gravel.................................................................................... 15 - 30

Yellow clay............................................................................... 30-80

Gravel and sand.......................................................................... 80 -280

Sand...................................................................................... 280 -310

Gravel and sand.......................................................................... 310 -340

Hard, red clay............................................................................ 340 -344

Gypsum.................................................................................. 344 -346

Conglomerate............................................................................. 346 -366

S.ind with thin streaks of gravel......................................................... 366 -441

Coarse-grained, porous rock.............................................................. 441 -461

Gray sand................................................................................ 4til -481

Red quicksand............................................................................ 481 -631

Rock...................................................................................... 631 -641

Red quicksand............................................................................ 641 -691

Hard, gray limestone..................................................................... 691 -715

Red sand rock with streaks of clay....................................................... 715 -725

Gray limestone, very hard................................................................ 725 -745
18 ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

Feet. 

0- (i

Gravel...................................................................................... 76- M

Gypsum.................................................................................... 81-90

Concretionary conglomerate................................................................ 90- 95

Hard gray sandstone....................................................................... 95-106

Red clay streaked with white clay......................................................... 106-120

Dark-gray sandstone....................................................................... 120-157

Yellow sand................................................................................ 157-100

Hard gray sandstone....................................................................... 200-218

Red sand................................................................................... 218-232

\ ery hard light-gray sandstone............................................................ 232-244

Red sand.................................................................................. 244-247

Hard red rock.............................................................................. 247-250

Red sand................................................................................... 250-268

Hard red rock.............................................................................. 268-274

Alternating strata of quicksand and soft red sandstone ..................................... 274-530

(In this series at 3S5 feet occurs the first flow; second flow at 475 feet.) 

Very hard limestone........................................................................ 530-540

Red sandstone, medium hardness......................................................... 540-580

The greatest development in well sinking in this district is around Artesia, where a number of strong artesian flows have been obtained at depths of 800 to 1,000 feet. A partial 

list of these wells, including their location, depth, and size, is given in the following table:

Partial-list of artesian wells in Artesia district.

Name of owner and location.

Artesia (town). NE. \ NE. } sec. 17, T. 17 S., R. 26 E. 6. ....................

Barnes, .T. B., NW. \ NW. ] sec. 23, T. 18 S., R. 25 E... ..................... 

Bruce, J. A., NE. \ NE. 1 sec. 14, T. 17 S., R. 26 E. .........................

C. A. P. Cattle Co., S\V. 1 NE. } sec. 23, T. 17 S., R. 20 E ...................

Clark, W. E. c. ..............................................................

Hale, J. C., N\V. ^ SE. \ sec. 15, T. 17 S., R. 20 E. ........................... 

Harris, N. T., SW. \ SW. i sec. 14. T. 16 S., R. 2(i E.f. ......................

Hodges & Venahle, SE. i NW. }- sec. 23, T. 18 S., R. 2."> E ...................

Majors, J. S., SW. i SW.J sec. 31, T. 17 S.. R. 26 E. .........................

Miller, L. C., SW. 1 SW. 1 sec. 8, T. 18 S., R. 26 E. .......................... 

Norfleet, A. L., S. i NW. 1 sec. 32. T. 17 S., R. 26 E ......................... 

Rawl & Rohertson. sec. 5, T. 17 S.. R. 26 E .................. .............

Richey, John, SW. } SW. \ sec. 11, T. 16 S., R. 26 E. 6 ......................

Roberts, S. L., SE. \ SW. 1 sec. 8, T. 17 S., R. 26 E. .........................

Smith, ,T. Mack, SW. i NW. \ sec. 29, T. 17 S.. R. 26 E ......................

Stanford, L. G., NE. i sec. 34, T. 18 S., R. 26 E .............................

Walterschied, W. M., E. i SW. \ sec. 8, T. 17 S., R. 26 E ....................

Depth.

Feet.

535

87-

830

580

570

820

850 

746

823

071

835

747

797

795

Diameter.

Inches. 

6

6 

5|

6

0

Cf

6

Yield.a

Galls, per 

minute.

1,548 

562

320

1 , 168

1,110

1,044

1,725

a Mainly estimated. 6 92J pounds pressure. Incomplete. d 72J pounds pressure.

McMillan district. This district includes the area in the vicinity of McMillan and the 

valleys of North and South forks of Seven Rivers. Near McMillan the Walters & Shavers 

and the Lakewood Townsite companies' wells have strong flows from the porous limestone 

at depths of about 800 feet. The records of these wells indicate that the unconsolidated
WELLS AND WELL PROSPECTS. 19

sediments are about 250 feet thick and that the limestone division occurs 500 to oTK) ,'Wt 

below the surface. The records of these wells were supplied by the drillers ns follows:

Typical deep borings in McMillan district, New Mexico.

Record of the Walters & Shavers artesian well at McMillan: Feet.

Soil......................................................................................... 0- 0

Coarse gravel............................................................................... 0- 13

White clay.................................................................................. 13-33

Coarse sand and gravel containing water.................................................. 33- 43

White chalky rock.......................................................................... 43- 70

Very hard gray sandstone with layers of gravel............................................ 70-170

Hard flinty rock............................................................................ 170-177

Red clay and coarse gravel in alternate succession......................................... 177-235

Light-colored sandy clay................................................................... 235-250

Red clay.................................................................................... 250-254

Alternating strata of gypsum and red clay................................................. 254-370

Hard gypsum............................................................................... 370-393

Series of gypsum alternating with red clay................................................. 393-440

Alternating layers of white gypsum and red sandstone.................................... 440-500

Red sand and hard sandstone in alternate layers 2 feet thick.............................. 500-f.50

Hard white limestone....................................................................... 050-800

Extra hard limestone....................................................................... 800-820

White limestone becoming softer. (Flow of about 300 gallons)............................ 820-845

Record of the Lakewood Townsite Company artesian well at McMillan:

Loam and gravel........................................................................... 0-49

Soft gypsum in strata 5 to 6 feet thick..................................................... 49- SO

White chalky rock.......................................................................... 80-120

Sandstone and gypsum in alternating layers............................................... 120-135

Pure white gypsum, moderately hard...................................................... 135-200

Very hard white gypsum................................................................... 200-450

Soft rock resembling shale.................................................................. 450-490

Alternating layers of hard and soft white rock containing : few thin layers of sandstone.

(First flow at 770 feet, second flow at 810 feet)........................................... 490-863

Very soft, white rock....................................................................... 803-877

Alternating layers of soft and hard limestone.............................................. 877-880

In Seven Rivers Valley wells are generally shallow, ranging in depth from 150 to 300 

feet, and the flows so far have been obtained from the unconsolidated rock. It is probable, 

however, that wells sunk to a sufficient depth in this region would obtain flows from the 

limestone division. A partial list of the wells in the McMillan district is given in the following table, and their location is shown on PI. VI:

Partial list, of artesian wells in McMillan. district.

Name of owner and location.

Brogden, J. C.:

Sec. 21, T. 20 S., R. 25 E .................................................

Boyd, G. M., SE. i sec. 26, T. 19 S., R. 25 E .................................

Cole, SE. isec. 7, T. 20 S., R. 25 E. .........................................

Hellyer, W. E ...............................................................

McDonald: 

NW. i sec. 8, T. 20 S., R. 25 E. ..........................................

NW. Jsec. 8, T. 20 S., R. 25 E. ..........................................

Walters & Shavers, NW. \ NW. i sec. 23, T. 19 S., R. 26 E. .................

Depth.

Feet.

150?

400

190

146

150

347

845

Diam- ,,. , , eter. ^ lel(1

Galls, per 

inches, minute.

r^B ri73

5J 253

5= ..........

6. 12

(i ..........

5.1 75

0 300
20 ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

PRESSURE OF ARTESIAN WATER.

In connection with the investigation of the geology and underground water relations of 

the Roswell basin a systematic measurement of well pressures has been carried on. At the 

time when this investigation was proposed there appeared to be no evidence that the flow 

was decreasing, but it was feared that the multiplicity of wells within such a limited area 

would eventually lower the water plane unless greater economy was practiced by the water 

users. In arranging for the testing and comparison of pressures a number of representative 

wells were selected at different points throughout the basin, four from Roswell, where many 

have been sunk in a relatively small area, and others from near Hagerman and Artesia. In 

making these selections care was exercised to obtain only those which were believed to be 

representatives of local districts and in perfect condition. In a few instances, however, 

defective pipes were discovered after the first monthly pressure had been recorded. Careful 

measurements were taken of these wells each month under uniform conditions so far as possible. The result of this investigation extending over a period of twelve months is shown 

in the following table:

Record of periodic pressure measurements in pounds per square inch, of artesian wells in the 

Boswell artesian basin, New Mexico, for year ending May 31, 1905. a

No.

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Name and location.

AETESIA DISTEICT.

Gilliland, *> SW. cor. SE. J sec. 19, T. 18 S.,

a |? 3 3

t-'

3

bo

V

1

ft

 < d5

^

&o

O

R.26E.................................. 83 82 80 79

Hale, <-NW. JSE. Jsec. 15, T.17S..R. 26 E. 88 87^7 84

Hodges & Venable, 6 middle of west lino

SE. J NW. i sec. 23, T. 18 S., R. 25 E.... 311 311

Norfleet, b NW. cor. of S. i NW. i sec. 32,

T. 17 S., R. 26 E .......................

Richey, b SW. i NE. i sec. 14, T. 16 S., R. 26

E. .......................................

HAGEEMAN DISTEICT.

Greenfleld farm,<J sec. 32(center), T. 13 S.,

R.26E..................................

Sigman, H. H., 6 NW. J sec. 20, T. 15 S., R.

58

26 E .........................................

Widdeman, A. J.,6 SW. i SW. Jsec. 5, T. 13

S.,R. 26 E........... ....................

EOSWELL DISTEICT.

Hagerman, J. J., b near center of west line

NW. 1 SE. J sec. 13, T. 11 S., R. 24 E . . . .

Hamilton, b lot 12, block 14 (original townsite), SW. 1 SW. i sec. 33, T. 10 S., R. 24

....

58

40

13 13

i

301 30

621 61

57 57

1

40

13

E ... 6§ 62 7S

11 McClenny, « SE. J SE. J sec. 35, T. 10 S., R.

40

131

7

24 E. ........ ......... .......... .... 16* 161 20 i 20

12

13

14

Parsons, b lot 4, block 54 (west side) , NE. J

SE. J sec. 32, T. 10 S., R. 24 E. ........

P. V. and N. E. roundhouse,/ NE. cor.

NW. i SW. i sec. 33, T. 10 S., R. 24 E. . .

777

12 10

Rasmussen, 6 SW. i NW. i sec. 21, T. 11 S.

25 E..... ......:......:................. 31

15 Yater, 6 lot 7, block 26 (original townsite),

NE. 1 SE. \ sec. 32, T. 10 S., R. 24 E .....

31

7

10

31

7 7

f

12

31

7

80

84

29

61

55

38

,0 t>» ti a ii 03

g 03 3 £ | _;

>

0

fc

79

82

27

58

3 >->

§ "o

h

74 74

80 81

,

£ i -C

 ft ^

72^

771

25 25l! 24

55 56 54*

951 92 , 94 92i

531

41

41

134 134

!

7 7§ _

53 i 53 54

33

41i

301 ....

391 39

131 134 14

i

7 7? 8

20 21

7 7

12

31

7

12

321

7

20

7

21o

71

22

8

^

69

771

21

a

In'c3

<£ o O

a H

1

69 -14

77J -101

21 -lOi

53 53 - 91

91 91 - 41

25 27 -14

39 39 - 1

134 131 + 1

8 8+14

211 21* + 4S

8

12 13 13 13

8 + 1

13+1

31

33 -

7

31 i 31J 311 + 1

7 10 ....

1

10 +'3

a No measurements were obtained for December.

6 Casings of Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 15 were in perfect condition, or apparently so; slight leakage at valve of Nos. 1, 3, and 8.

c Decrease in pressure may be due to escape of water into a higher artesian horizon, which is reached 

by a shallow well not far away.

d This is an old well and the casing may be defective.

t Low pressures in the months of June and July due to leakage in pipe.

/ Slight leakage in casing near surface and at valve caused a decrease of pressure in July and August 

measurements.
PRESSURE AND COMPOSITION OF ARTESIAN WATERS. 21

In most cases in the Roswell and Hagerman districts, where the wells were in perfect 

condition, the pressures of the flows appear to ho substantially accordant, but around 

Artesia there are several wells in which the flows have materially decreased in pressure 

during the last twelve months. Without a thorough knowledge of the conditions under 

which artesian water is obtained around Artesia the decrease in pressure of sonie of the 

strongest flows in that vicinity might at first appear alarming, but a comparison of this 

district with that of Roswell, where there is no decrease in pressure, introduces many 

important factors which have a direct bearing on the case.

At Roswell artesian water is obtained at a depth of about 250 feet, and the. materials 

passed through offer practically no difficulty; as a result, very perfect wells are constructed. 

Then, too, in this region wells have been built for the last decade, and the well driller 

is so familiar with the conditions that he can predict with a fair degree of accuracy the 

materials to be encountered in sinking a well. Farther south in the basin, in the vicinity 

of Artesia, a successful artesian well is not so easily obtained. Here the main flow is 

reached at much greater depths, which range from 700 to 900 feet, depending on the location. The increased depth is due to the presence of beds overlying the porous limestone 

series. They consist of red sand and gypsum of the supposed Permian series, and clay, 

fine sand, and gravel of the unconsolidated deposits. The sands predominate throughout 

and have often a loose texture familiarly known to the well driller as quicksand. This 

material is very difficult to drill through because of caving, and in one or two instances 

it was so troublesome that the owner was compelled to abandon the project. The pressure at the surface in an average well around Artesia is about 80 pounds to the square 

inch, which means over 400 pounds to the square inch at the bottom of a well 800 _"eet 

deep. Such forces are difficult to manage, particularly where exploitation in the region 

has not been sufficiently extensive to enable the well driller to thoroughly acquaint himself with the nature of the obstacles to be encountered, and make suitable provision for 

them. The region is also one that offers considerable inducement to the ambitious well 

driller. As a result, new machines are constantly coming into this field, and the operators, though skilled in the art of well drilling, are entirely unfamiliar with this locality. 

It can readily be seen that under these circumstances imperfect wells are likely to result. 

Some of the strongest flows in the basin are and have been unmanageable since their completion, while others owing to unfavorable conditions are not working satisfactorily.

COMPOSITION OF ARTESIAN WATERS.

^General statements. The artesian waters of the Roswell basin are all more or less mineralized, but in only a few cases are the mineral constituents present in sufficient amounts 

to materially affect the taste or to be deleterious to plant growth. An average sample 

of the waters of North and South Spring rivers contains 75 parts of soluble matter to 

100,000 parts of water. About two-thirds of the total solids consists of calcium carbonate 

and calcium sulphate, which are regarded as harmless to plants. The more soluble ingredients of the water, consisting of sodium chloride, magnesium sulphate, and potassium 

sulphate, occur in amounts too small to injure plant growth if the ground is properly
22 ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

drained. The following analyses of waters of North and South Spring rivers were made 

by Prof. E. M. Skeats, of El Paso, Tex.:

Analyses of water from springs in North Spring and South Spring rivers.

SAMPLES FKOM MARGINAL SPRINGS IN NOKTH SPRING KIVEK.

[Parts per million.]

No. 1.............

No. 2....... ......

No. 3.............

No. 4.............

Total 

solids.

820

710

700

635.0

010

(i99. 1

Silica 

(Si02 ).

15

20

'15

20

19

Water.

84.7

96.9

14. l"

52. 1

Calcium 

(Ca).

122.3

146. 6

126. 0

120.7

Magnesium 

(Mg).

46.8

48.8

43.5

45.6

Sodium

(Na).

57.5

8.5

37.5

22.5

30.3

31.2

Chlorine 

(CD.

93.6

56.4

78 9

67.9

49.6

69. 3

Sulphuric 

acid

(S04 ).

240.6

242.1

245.6

Carbonic 

acid 

(CO-i).

116.9

102.0

115.1

104 9

SAMPLES FKOM MARGINAL SPRINGS IN SOUTH SPRING RIVER.

[Parts per million.]

No. 1...............

No. 2................

No. 4.- ----.-....-.- -

No. 5................

No. ti................

Total 

solids.

700

730

690

790

1,140

1,070

853.3

Silica 

(SiOs).

26.9

30.8

99 3

16.0

50.0

41.5

31.2

Water.

49.4

50.0

53. 0

Ii3.4

94.0

85.5

65.9

Calcium

(Cai.

80.9

72.1

76.1

72.1

80.1

80.1

92.3

Sodium

(Na).

23.5

51.0

16.8

32.1

62.1

52.8

44.7

Chlorine

(Cl).

63.0

27.9

48.5

63.7

81.2

66.2

Carbonic 

acid 

(COa).

107 9

114 9

107.9

119 9

119.9

115.4

Calc.'um 

magnesium sulphate.

qc-i

occ 9

450

609

468 9

SAMPLES FROM BOTTOM SPRINGS IN SOUTH SPRING RIVER.

No. 1................

No. 2.... ...-.-..-.--

No. 3................

No. 5................

No. 7.... ............

No. 8................

No. 9. ......... ......

Total 

solids.

680

650

700

670

620. 8

700

690

700

690

678

Silica.

27.2

13.4

9.6

20.5

50.2

38.3

41.6

45.0

27.4

Water.

51.8

51.2

57.0

52.5

27.8

55.0

55.0

53.9

51.0

50.5

Ca.

Ill

106.2

106. 2

106.2

109.2

106.8

106.2

105.6

112.5

107.8

C03 .

74

70.8

70.8

70.8

72.8

71.2

70.8

70.4

75.0

71.8

Na.

18.9

17.1

19.9

18.7

17.3

16.9

18.0

17.5

17.5

18.0

Cl.

29.1

26.3

30.5

28.8

26.7

25.9

27.7

27.0

27.0

27.7

Calcium 

magnesium sulphate.

368.0

365

406

374

374

384

362

374

The composition of the artesian water at Roswell differs somewhat from that of North 

Spring River. The total solids are greater and also the amount of sodium chloride. The 

following analysis will show the composition of "the water from a number of representative 

wells at Roswell.
COMPOSITION AND ORIGIN OF ARTESIAN WATEKS. 23

Analyse* of water front artesian irells at Roswell. 

[Individual data. Harts per million.]

Silica.

48. 0 7(1. 1

69. 5 70. 1

86. 5 50. 1

91. 0 70. 1

35.5

4fi. 0

20.2

123.0

72.3

92.8

182.0

33. 0

71.1

76.1

76. 9

70.1

63. 1

73.8

68.0

70. 1

CO..

113.9

94.9

83.9

113.9

100. 4

113.9

115. 1 

94.9

100. 4

110.4 

102.0

94.9

Mg. Na.

........ 160. 9

........ 114. 5 

........ 44. 7

........ 92. 2

3. 9 96. 5

........ 89. 8

........ 86. 0 

........ 154.1

5. 67 111. 5

........ 106. 0 

........ 183. 0

........ 150. 0

01.

247.6

170. 0 

68.8

141.8

108.0

138.2

133. 2 

236.9

171. 5

163. 0

230.0

Calcium

magnesium 

sulphate.

483 r>

395. 0

315. 0

316. 0

466.0

378. 0 

641.0

487. 5

570. 5 

472.0

572. 0

The waters of the larger tributaries of Pecos River from the west, analyzed by Prof. 

E. M. Skeats, are reported to have the following composition:

Analyse* of water of the Hondo, Felix, North and South forks of Seven Rirers, and, Penasco

rivers.

Silica,

River and location. TJ!tul °\c -- solids. plus

Hondo (above PleaCa. Mg. Na.

water.

1,195 80.7

ch o).

Felix (head spring)... 407.2

South Seven (head

spring).

North Seven (head

spring). .

Penasco (by Gilberts)

18.8

231.9

CO.. S0<.

59.1 37.1 104. 3 622. 4

107.9 23.9 15.2 125.0 152.0

1,320.0 194.9 231.7 74.7 13.8 112.4 670.9

1,020.0 75.6

050. 0

104. 0 71. 8 38. 9

10. 0 136. 7 42.8 15.2

102.2

107.9

567. 7

324. 3

Tern01, pera59. 5

.:.' .

23.3 ' 64

21.3

19.8

06. 5

23.3 '.----.

Remarks.

Water fairly

clear.

Trace of hydrogen sulphide.

ORIGIN OF THE ARTESIAN WATER.

The water-bearing formations in the Roswell artesian area outcrop in successive zones 

on the higher slopes to the west. There they receive their water supply by direct, absorption 

from rainfall and by the sinking of streams (see PL IX). The Hondo, Felix, Penasco, and 

Seven rivers are the most important sources. These streams all rise high on the slopes of 

the Capitan, Sierra Blanca, and Sacramento mountains, where the rainfall is relatively 

large. As a result they carry an abundance of water in their upper courses, all of which 

sinks in the outcrop zone of the porous limestones and the overlying formations and passes 

underground to the east. After the water has entered these porous formations it is confined by impervious layers of limestone or clay, and under the lower lands to the east it is 

under considerable pressure.
24 EOS WELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

AMOUNT OF ARTESIAN WATER.

It is difficult to make even an approximate estimate of the total amount of artesian 

water available in the porous formations underlying the Roswcll artesian area. We do not 

know definitely how much water is absorbed by the permeable rocks in their western outcrop, and we are unable to calculate the amount which escapes through springs and by 

underflow along Pecos River.

The area drained by the larger western tributaries of Pecos River comprises in all 

about 4,000 square miles. It lies along the east slopes of the Capitan, Sierra Blanca, and 

Sacramento mountains. The location and extent of the combined watersheds of all streams 

supplying water to the underlying formations of the Roswell basin is shown in PI. IX. The 

annual precipitation for this general region is comparatively large, ranging from 10 to 20 

inches. The mean annual precipitation at Fort Stanton, N. Mex,, which lies in the area 

drained by Hondo River, is about 15 inches. The average for seventeen years prior to 

1891 was 19 inches, but from 1901 to 1903, inclusive, the annual rainfall was far below 

.the average. The following table shows the result of observations through a period of 

nearly five years, ending with 1904:

Monthly and annual precipitation, in inches, at Fort Stanton, N. Mex.

Year.

1901.................

1902.................

Jan.

0.10

Feb. Mar.

0. 05 0. as

1903................. 0.30 0.75

0.22

0.17

Apr.

0.90

May.

1 09

June. July. Aug.

1.03 1.98 2 IS

0. 04 1. 34 ...... 1. 85

0.00 1.88 0.24 2.28 1.87

0.20 0. 38 3.41 0.02 1.55

0.03 0.15 0.14 ...... 2. 87 2.92

Sept. Oct. Nov.

0. 00

2.00

1.43

1. 70

0 40

Dec.

0. 30

2. 85 0. 95

0. 48 1. 81 0. 16 0. 57

1.55 0.48

2.68

0. 00 0. 05

Annual.

9.94

9. 52

At Lower Penasco, situated on the headwaters of Penasco River, the mean annual precipitation is about 18 inches, as is shown by the following table:

Monthly and annual precipitation, in indies, at Lower Penasco, N. Mex.

Year.

1896. ................ 

1897. ................

1898.................

1899.................

1900.-....--.-....... 

1901................. 

1909

Jan.

0.80 

1.40

0. GO

T.

0.90

Feb.

0.40 

T.

0.25

0.20

0.30

Mar.

0.10

0.10

0.35

0.35

Apr.

T.

0.50

1. 65

0.30 

0.50 

T.

May.

T.

0.85

0.70

0

1.70 

1.15 

0.35

June.

2.05 

0.55

1.80

1.70

2.00 

1.05

July.

3. 56 

5. 60

7.40

5.89

4.85 

6. 08

Aug.

1.38 

3.15

4.00

1.35

1.95 

0.97

Sept.

1.57 

1.80

1. 15

2.90

5. 45 

3.90

Oct.

0. 01 

1.05

T.

1.15

1. 05

Nov.

T. 

0.10

0.30

1.50

T.

Dec.

0.40 

0.25

2.40

1.05

0. 00 

T.

Annual.

16. 27

20.35

10.09

20.05

From the above statements it is apparent that the total amount of water which falls during 

a year of average precipitation throughout the combined watershed of the Hondo, Felix, 

Penasco, and Seven rivers is necessarily large. Of course a portion of this water is lost by 

evaporation and run-off, but a considerable amount is absorbed by the water-bearing rocks 

and becomes available to the east as artesian water. It has not been practicable in the 

present investigation to compute the total outflow of all the artesian wells in the Roswell 

basin, but at a liberal estimate this amount would probably be only a small proportion of 

the quantity absorbed by the water-bearing rocks throughout their western outcrop area. 

This is clearly shown by the large number of wells which it has been possible to sink in the 

town of Roswell without materially diminishing the flows of some of the first wells dug. It 

is possible that the amount of artesian water available around Artesia is not so great as at
U.S.GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 158 PL.IX

LEGEND

Approximate area,

m which the priTtcipal -waterbearing

rocks outcrop

Waterslie d of drainage which, crosses 

the outcrop area of 

the water-bearing"beds

MAP OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

SHOWING THE GENERAL ARTESIAN CONDITIONS 

Bv C A. B-ISHKR

Artesian area

Contour interval 

250 feet

1905
WASTE OF WATEE. 25

Roswell, hut the only evidence of this is the decrease in pressure of some of the wells at 

Artesia. The combined watershed of the streams lying west of this part of the basin is 

larger than that of Hondo River, and according to the Weather Bureau records it has a somewhat greater annual rainfall. For these reasons we would expect the formations underlying 

the southern part of the basin to contain a large amount of water. While there is evidence 

of a general decrease in flow throughout the Artesia district, it is probable that this diminution is largely due to the dogging of the pipes with sediment, the escape of water along the 

outside of the tubing from lower to higher horizons, and various other causes which are 

known to affect the flow of artesian wells.

It is believed that there is no cause for fear that the water supply throughout the northern 

part of the Roswell basin will give out or become inadequate for all requirements under 

proper economy of practice. In the region of Artesia and McMillan not enough wells have 

been sunk to indicate the amount that the water-bearing beds may be expected to yield.

WASTE OF WATER.

There is pressing need for greater econony on the part of the users of well water throughout 

the Roswell basin. At Roswell a city ordinance regulates the management of all flowing 

wells, but throughout the remainder of the district no restraint whatever is placed upon the 

management of the wells, and, with very few exceptions, they are allowed to flow continuously. A small portion of this water is stored in artificial reservoirs, but by far the greater 

part runs off into pools, evaporates and seeps away on uncultivated lands, or runs directly 

into Pecos River. In one case noted a ditch leads from the well directly to the river, a distance of one-half mile, and it is not an unusual thing to find water flowing from the wells to 

low, marshy lands adjacent to the river, where by underflow it soon reaches the main channel. 

Formerly many of the wells were not even furnished with reservoirs, and the water was carried by laterals directly to the fields during the irrigating season, and at other times was 

allowed to flow off through wasteways.

Nearly all the wells that are being constructed at the present time in the southern part of 

the basin are to be furnished with reservoirs ranging in capacities from 6 to 24 acre-feet, 

which are filled as often as necessary during the irrigating season. Even these commendable 

provisions are quite ineffectual in the case of wells not provided with valves, as they conserve only a relatively small portion of the total flow. An effort is now being made by a few 

of the well owners in the vicinity of Artesia to provide each well with a suitable valve, so 

that, when the water is not in use and the reservoir is full, the flow can be shut down. There 

is a general prejudice among well owners against shutting off the flow, as they fear that it will 

decrease the efficiency of the well. It is true that in a few cases wells have been damaged 

in this way, but where they were properly constructed the per cent injured is very small.

SHALLOW WELLS.

More or less water is obtained throughout the Roswell basin at depths varying from 25 to 

200 feet. The water usually occurs in coarse gravel of the unconsolidated deposits. The 

supply appears to be inexhaustible, and in many cases the water is used for irrigation purposes. Outside the area of flow from Roswell to Hagerman there are a number of wells 75 

to 100 feet deep, which furnish 5,000 to 7,000 gallons of water a day. The water is generally 

pumped with windmills. In the vicinity of Roswell a few deep nonflowing wells are provided with gasoline engines. A gasoline pumping plant on Sherman's farm, at Roswell, is 

shown in PI. VIII, B.

Bordering the area of flows throughout the Roswell basin there is a zone of irrigable land 

3 to 5 miles wide, in which water would probably rise in deep wells to within 100 feet of the 

surface, so that it could he profitably pumped for irrigation. The approximate limits of 

this area are shown on PI. VI.
2h ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEWr MEXICO.

The following list gives the principal features of a number of shallow wells in the northern 

part of the Roswell basin:

List of shallow wells in the Roswell basin.

Name of owner and location. Depth.

Feet. 

Alhrecht, E, O.,NW. 1 sec. 32, T. 12 S.,R. 25 E ........................................ 88

Alteberv.J. R.,S. i NW.i sec. 28, T. 11 S.,R.23 E. ................................... 208

Bethel, H.,W.J N\V. i sec. 1,T. 17 S.,R. 25 E ........................................ 72

Brink, F.,E.| NW. i sec. 15, T. 11 S.,R. 23 E. ...................................... 12.5

Clark, J. H. : 

NW. 1 sec. 18, T. 17 S.,R. 26 E. ................................................... 38

Com, \V. AV. , SW. i SW. i sec. 35, T. 11 S. , R. 25 E ..................................... 42 

Costa , N. , SE. 1 SE. 1 sec. 8, T. 11 S. , R. 24 E .......................................... 27

Gishwiller, J. A., SW. i sec. 18, T. 11 S. , R. 24 E ........................................ 71

Hobbs, J. W ........................................................................ 58

Ilobbs & Hanney, SE. i sec. 2, T. 11 S. ,R. 23 E ....................................... 77

Hortenstein, SW. J sec. 23, T. 12 S. , R. 25 E ........................................... 102

Miller , F. , T. 11 S. , R. 23 E ............................................................ 85

Millheiser,P.:

SW. i NE. I sec. 7, T. 11 S. , R. 24 E .................................. ..............' 175

Paulson, P. O.,NW. 1 sec. 30, T. 13 S. , R. 20 K ......................................... ' 58

Peck, J. C. , SE. 1 sec. 27, T. 11 S. , R. 23 E .............................................. IbO

Saunders, J. P. , SW. I NW. i sec. 8, T. 13 S. , R. 25 E ................................... 155

Smith, E. L., T. 11 S. , R. 23 E ......................................................... 129

Stockard, J. W.:

White , G. A. , sec. 18, T. 14 S. , R. 26 E .................................................. 84

Williams, O. L. , NE. \ sec. 7, T. 12 S., R. 25 E .......................................... 103

Amount 

pumped 

per day.

Gallons.

7,000

8,000

5,000

6,000

2,000

5,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

6,000

6,000

IRRIGATION.

Irrigation has been practiced to some extent in the Roswell basin since the first settlements were made, but prior to 1889 only a few small farms were irrigated. The permanent water supply in the vicinity of Roswell was the first to be utilized. Here a number 

of small ditches were dug, and by extending these ditches from time to time the present 

Roswell irrigation system has been developed. The Northern canal system, which irrigates the territory south of Roswell, was built by a development company as a part of 

a large irrigating project, designed to irrigate Pecos Valley from Roswell to the TexasNew Mexico line.

Roswell system. A number of ditches have been constructed from the head springs of 

Middle and South Berrendo' and North and South Spring rivers, which furnish water for 

the land along their valleys. The surplus water of these ditches is directed into the Northern canal to be used for irrigation farther down Pecos Valley.

Northern canal. This canal extends from Hondo River at a point about 5 miles east of 

Roswell to near Lake Arthur, a distance of about 35 miles, and irrigates a large district 

of well-improved farming land in the vicinity of Hagerman. Besides receiving water from
IRRIGATION. 27

the Berrendo and North and South Spring rivers, the Northern canal is supplied with 

water to some extent by artesian wells. Though the water of the Northern canal is highly 

mineralized from the large amount of seepage water which it receives in the vicinity of 

Roswell, the harmful salts apparently are not present in sufficient quantities to affect plant 

growth. The following analysis made by Prof. E. M. Skeats shows the average condition 

of the Northern canal water:

Analysis of Northern canal water.

Parts per million. 

Sodium (Nn )................................................................................... 256.1

Sodium and potassium sulphates............................................................... 230.0

Magnesium (Mg)............................................................................... 50. 4

Calcium (Ca)................................................................................... 428.0

Chlorine (CD .................................................................................... 393.9

Carbonic acid (CO3 )............................................................................ 101.9

Sulphuric acid (SOt )............................................................................ 349. 7

Silica, alumina, and iron (SiOjFezOaAlzOa)..................................................... 20.0

Water of crystallization........................................................................ 190.0

Total solid................................................................................ 2.020.0

Hondo project. Preparations are now being made by the Government to store the flood 

waters of Hondo River for the purpose of irrigating lands along Hondo Valley above Roswell. The location of the proposed reservoir is in a high natural depression on the divide 

between Blackwater Arroyo and Hondo River. The surface rock in the vicinity is a massive blue limestone, weathering to light gray, underlain by alternate layers of gypsum 

and red and yellow clay. The bedding was originally uniform, but surface waters have 

dissolved the gypsum, causing a settling of the beds in the bottom of the reservoir and 

considerable local distortion around its rim. A number of borings were made with a diamond drill in the bottom of the reservoir, in order to determine the character of the underlying rocks. The following is a record of one of these borings:

Record of diamond-drill boring, Hondo reservoir site, Neiv Mexico.

Feet. 

Clay.......................................................................................... 0 -11.1

Broken limestone ............................................................................. 11.1-22

Clay.......................................................................................... 22 -25

Cavity........................................................................................ 25 -30

Broken rock cavities.......................................................................... 30 -64. 4

Gypsum...................................................................................... 64. 4-70. 2

Clay.......................................................................................... 70.2-71.9

Cavity........................................................................................ 71.9-73.4

Loose rock.................................................................................... 73. 4-7(i. 8

Gypsum...................................................................................... 76.8-79. 8

Clay.......................................................................................... 79. 8-80.2

Limestone.................................................................................... 80. 2-88. 4

Gypsum..................................................................................... 88. 4-91. 8

ARTESIAN IRRIGATION.

The use of artesian water for irrigation in the Roswell area began soon after the first 

flowing wells were obtained, and it has been gradually increasing ever since. Irrigation 

from the waters of Hondo and North and South Spring rivers has been practiced, as previously stated, for many years, and the use of artesian water was not resorted to until 

most of the surface waters of the region had been appropriated. There are now several 

farms in the vicinity of Roswell that depend entirely on artesian water for irrigation, and 

to the south nearly all the land included in the area of flow has been filed on with the 

intention of reclaiming it by artesian irrigation. Many of the farmers in the vicinity of 

Roswell who have practiced artesian irrigation for several years have obtained results 

which are highly satisfactory. This has caused considerable interest and enthusiasm among 

those living farther south in the less developed portions of the basin, and in this region
28 ROSWELL ARTESIAN AREA, NEW MEXICO.

many large wells are now being sunk, which will be used exclusively for irrigation. Many 

of these wells are being provided with storage reservoirs, so that a larger amount of water 

will be available during the growing season.

Among many landowners throughout the area there is a tendency to overestimate the 

amount of land that can be irrigated from an ordinary artesian well. According to conservative estimates made by irrigators who have had considerable experience in this locality 

a flowing well with a yield of 450 gallons per minute, provided with a suitable storage reservoir, will irrigate 30 acres of alfalfa or 70 acres of orchard. In order to accomplish this, however, the land must have the proper slope and the soil must be of uniform texture. Alfalfa 

requires more water than any of the staple crops. Under ordinary conditions 30 inches 

per year is sufficient, but if the land is irrigated during the winter a larger quantity is required. If this amount of water is properly applied, three or four crops may be cut, the 

harvesting period ranging from May to the latter part of August. An average yield of 

alfalfa is 1 ton to the acre for each cutting.

It is difficult to make definite statements regarding the irrigation of orchards in this 

locality. It is accomplished in many different ways, depending mainly on the age and 

condition of the trees. In many instances vegetables are raised between the rows of trees, 

and no additional water is required for the irrigation of the orchard. It is generally sufficient to water an orchard once a month during the summer and once, or possibly not at all, 

during the winter. About 15 to 20 inches of water a year is required.

CLIMATE.

Temperature. The climate of the Roswell basin does not differ materially in the prevailing aridity from that of the remainder of southern and eastern New Mexico. The temperature of the region is high, with a low relative humidity. The summers are usually long 

and hot and the winters mild and pleasant. The maximum temperature is 110° and the 

minimum seldom falls far below zero. The following tables compiled from the records of 

the United States Weather Bureau give the mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures of the Roswell district. The observations extend over a period of ten years, 

1895 to 1904, inclusive:

Mean monthly temperature at Roswell, N. Hex.

Jan.

71.6

Feb.

78.6

5.4

Mar.

£5.4

18.4

Apr.

90.1

26

May.

86.9

38.5

June.

101.4

49.9

July.

99.2

56.8

Aug.

99.4

55

Sept.

97.3

41

Oct.

87.5

28.5

Nov.

81.5

17

Dec.

74.2

Rainfall. The average annual precipitation at Roswell is 16.6 inches. The greater 

part of this amount falls during the months of June and July in frequent showers, which, 

although often violent, are generally local and of short duration. Only a small percentage 

of the annual precipitation falls as snow. The following record of the monthly and annual 

pecipitation at Roswell, extending over a period of ten years, shows considerable variation:
CLIMATE ATSTD AGRICULTURE.

Monthly and annual precipitation, in inches, at RosweU, N. Mex.

29

Year. Jan.

1895................. 0.40

1896................. 0.60

1897. ................ 1. 12

1898 0 °6

1901................. 0.21

1902................. 1.24

1904. ................ 0. 16

Feb.

0.48

0.14

0

0.15

1.15

0.00

0 96

0.14

Mar.

0.02

0.02

0.59

T.

0.00

0.83

0.00

Apr.

0.14

T.

1.35

0.23

0.97

T.

T.

0.07

May.

2.31

0.12

3. 76

1.03

0.27

1. (12

1.04

0.70

1.30

June.

1.28

1 97

1.42

1.62

0.22

1.03

4.37

1.80

July.

4.45

1.79

2.78

6.53

4.37

3.04

5.52

1.23

Aug. Sept.

2. 99 1. 09

0. 40 1. 89

2. 94 1. 25

2. 99 0. 69

1. 21 3. 64

0.60 1.99

1. 80 3. 08

0 9°

0. 8.5 5. 10

Oct.

2.11

5. 46

.44

T.

0.20

2.21

1.36

T.

2.67

Nov. Dec.

0. 85 0. 07

0 0.64

T. T.

0. 50 1. 37

3. 21 1. 54

6. 15 0. 26

0.52 ' 0.50

0. 15 | 0. 30

Annual.

16.19

13.12

15.65

17.84

16. 58

13.75

The heaviest rainfall ever recorded at Roswell was on October 31, 1901, when 5.65 inches 

fell in one night, causing considerable damage by flooding.

AGRICULTURE.

The general aridity of the climate renders farming without irrigation impracticable 

except in a few low-lying areas adjacent to Pecos River. In consequence agriculture is 

restricted to those portions of the valley where water can be obtained from some of the various canals or from artesian wells. The cultivated portions of the basin at present comprise about one-eighth of the total area included in this report, the remainder being utilized 

for pasturage of cattle an industry to which the higher lands are well adapted. The chief 

products are alfalfa, Kaffir corn, wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, Mexican beans, cantaloupes, 

celery, and a large variety of garden vegetables. Alfalfa and Kaffir corn are perhaps the 

largest crops and both are consumed in the region. Fruit raising is a growing industry and 

many large orchards are found in the irrigated district. Peaches, pears, plums, cherries, 

and other small fruits have a hardy growth and an abundant yield, but the apple crop is 

the most important. At South Spring there is a large apple orchard, comprising about 600 

acres, from which many thousand pounds of apples are shipped annually. Several large 

apple orchards have been planted during the last five years, and fruit raising seems destined 

to become one of the most important industries of the district. The seasons are ordinarily 

of sufficient length to insure the maturity of all cultivated crops. 

IRR 158 06 3
CLASSIFICATION OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL

SURVEY.

[Water-Supply Paper No. 158.]

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 may be had 

on application.

Most of the above publications may be obtained or consulted in the following 

ways:

1. A limited number are delivered to the Director of the Survey, from whom they 

may 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 may be had at prices slightly above cost.

4. Copies of all Government publications are furnished to the principal public 

libraries in the large cities throughout the United States, where they may 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; I, 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 eighty-first in Series B, the twentieth in Series I, and the fifty-first 

in Series O, the compete lists of which follow (PP=Professional Paper; B=Bulletin; 

WS=Water -Supply Paper):

SERIES B, DESCRIPTIVE GEOLOGY.

B 23. Observations on the junction between the Eastern sandstone and the Keweenaw series on

Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior, by R. D. Irving and T. C. Chamberlin. 1885. 124 pp.,

17 pis. (Out of stock.)

B 33. Notes on geology of northern California, by J. S. Diller. 1886. 23pp. (Out of stock.) 

B 39. The upper beaches and deltas of Glacial Lake Agassiz, by Warren Uphani. 1887. 84 pp., 1 pi.

(Out of stock.) 

B 40. Changes in river courses in Washington Territory due to glaciation, by Bailey Willis. 1887.

10 pp.,4 pis. (Out of stock.) 

B 45. The present condition of knowledge of the geology of Texas, by R. T. Hill. 1887. 94 pp. (Out

of stock.)

B 53. The geology of Nantucket, by N. S. Shaler. 1889. 55 pp., 10 pis. (Out of stock.) 

B 57. A geological reconnaissance in southwestern Kansas, by Robert Hay. 1890. 49 pp., 2 pis. (Out

of stock.) 

B 58. The glacial boundary in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, by G. F.

Wright, with introduction by T. C. Chamberlin. 1890. 112 pp., 8 pis. (Out of stock.)
II SERIE8 LIST.

B 67. The relations nf the traps of the Newark system in the New Jersey region, by N. H. Barton.

1890. 82pp. (Out of stock.) 

B 104. Glaciation of the Yellowstone Valley north of the Park, by W. H. Weed. 1893. 41 pp., 4 pis.

(Out of stock.) 

BIOS. A geological reconnaissance in central Washington, by I. C. Russell. 1893. 108 pp., 12 pis.

(Out of stock.) 

B 119. A geological reconnaissance in northwest Wyoming, by G. H. Eldridge. 1894. 72 pp., 4 pis.

(Out of stock.) 

B 137. The geology of the Port Riley Military Reseryation and vicinity, Kansas, by Robert Hay.

1S96. 35 pp., 8 pis. 

B 144. The moraines of the Missouri Coteau and their attendant deposits, by J. E. Todd. 1896. 71

pp., 21 pis. 

B 158. The moraines of southeastern South Dakota and their attendant deposits, by J. E. Todd.

1899. 171 pp., 27 pis. 

B 159. The geology of eastern Berkshire County, Massachusetts, by B. K. Emerson. 1899. 139 pp.,

9 pis. 

B 165. Contributions to the geology of Maine, by H. S. Williams and H. E. Gregory. 1900. 212 pp.,

14 pis. 

WS 70. Geology and water resources of the Patrick and Goshen Hole quadrangles in eastern

Wyoming and western Nebraska, by G. I. Adams. 1902. 50 pp., 11 pis. 

B 199. Geology and water resources of the Snake River Plains of Idaho, by I. C. Russell. 1902. 192

pp., 25 pis. 

PP 1. Preliminary report on the Ketchikan mining district, Alaska, with an introductory sketch of

the geology of southeastern Alaska, by A. H. Brooks. 1902. 120 pp., 2 pis. 

PP 2. Reconnaissance of the northwestern portion of Seward Peninsula. Alaska, by A. J. Collier.

1902. 70 pp., 11 pis. 

PP 3. Geology and petrography of Crater Lake National Park, by J. 8. Diller and H. B. Patton.

1902. 167 pp., 19 pis. 

PP 10. Reconnaissance from Port Hamlin to Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, by way of Ball, Kanuti, Alien,

and Kowak rivers, by W. C. Mendenhall. 1902. P8 pp., 10 pis.

PP 11. Clays of the United States east of the Mississippi River, by Heinrich Ries. 1903. 298 pp., 9 pis. 

PP 12. Geology of the Globe copper district, Arizona, by P. L. Ransome. 1903. 168 pp., 27 pis. 

PP 13. Drainage modifications in southeastern Ohio and adjacent parts of West Virginia and Kentucky, by W. G. Tight. 1903. Ill pp., 17 pis.

B 20S. Descriptive geology of Nevada south of the fortieth parallel and adjacent portions of California, by J. E. Spurr. 1903. 229 pp., 8 pis.

B 209. Geology of Ascutney Mountain, Vermont, by R. A. Daly. 1903. 122 pp., 7 pis. 

WS 78. Preliminary report on artesian basins in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon, by

I. C. Russell. 1903. 51 pp., 2 pis. 

PP 15. Mineral resources of the Mount Wrangell district, Alaska, by W. C. Mendenhall and P. C.

Schrader. 1903. 71pp., 10 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. 

B 217. Notes on the geology of southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon, by I. C. Russell. 1903.

83 pp., 18 pis. (Out out stock.) 

B 219. The ore deposits of Tonopah, Nevada (preliminary report), by J. E. Spurr. 1903. 31 pp., 1 pi.

(Out of stock.)

PP 20. A reconnaissance in northern Alaska in 1901. by P. C. Schrader. 1904. 139 pp., 16 pis. 

PP 21. The geology and ore deposits of the Bisbee quadrangle, Arizona, by P. L. Ransome. 1904.

168pp., 29 pis. 

WS 90. Geology and water resources of part of the lower James River Valley, South Dakota, by J. E.

Todd and C. M. Hall. 1904. 47 pp., 23 pis.

PP25. The copper deposits of the Encampment district, Wyoming, by A. C. Spencer. 1904. 107 pp., 2 pis. 

PP 26. Economic resources of northern Black Hills, by J. D. Irving, with chapters by S. F. Emmons

and T. A. Jaggar, jr. 1904. 222 pp., 20 pis.

PP 27. Geological reconnaissance across the Bitterroot Range and the Clearvvater Mountains in Montana and Idaho, by Waldemar Lindgren. 1904. 122 pp.. 15 pis.

PP 31. Preliminary report on the geology of the Arbuckle and Wichita mountains in Indian Territory and Oklahoma, by J. A. Taff, with an appendix on reported ore deposits in the Wichita

Mountains, by H. F. Bain. 1904. 97 pp., 8 pis. 

B 235. A geological reconnaissance across the Cascade Range near the forty-ninth parallel, by G. O.

Smith and F. C. Calkins. 1904. 103 pp., 4 pis.

B 236. The Porcupine placer district, Alaska, by C. W. W'right. 1904. 35 pp., 10 pis. 

B 237. Igneous rocks of the Highwood Mountains, Montana, by L. V. Pirsson. 1904. 208 pp., 7 pis. 

B 238. Economic geology of the lola quadrangle, Kansas, by G. I. Adams, Erasmus Haworth, and

W. R. Crane. 1904. 83 pp., 1 pi. 

PP 32. Geology and underground water resources of the central Great Plains, by N. H. Darton. 1905.

433 pp., 72 pis. (Out of stock.)
SERIES LIST. Ill

WS 110. Contributions to hydrology of eastern United States, 1904; M. G. Fuller, geologist in charge.

1905. -211 pp., 5 pis. 

B 242. Geology of the Hudson Valley between the Hoosie and the Kinderhook, by T. Nelson Dale.

1904. 63 pp., 3 pis. 

PP 34. The Belavan lobe of the Lake Michigan glacier of the Wisconsin stage of glaciation and

associated phenomena, by W. C. Alden. 1904. 106 pp., 15 pis. 

PP 35. Geology of the Perry Basin in southeastern Maine, by G. O. Smith and David White. 1905.

107 pp., 6 pis.

B 243. Cement materials and industry of the United States, by E. C. Eckel. 1905. 395 pp., 15 pis. 

B 246. Zinc and lead deposits of northwestern Illinois, by H. F. Bain. 1904. 56 pp., 5 pis. 

B 247. The Fairhaven gold placers of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, by F. H. Moftit. 1905. 85 pp., 14 pis. 

B 249. Limestones of southwestern Pennsylvania, by F. G. Clapp. 1905. 52pp., 7 pis. 

B 250. The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River coal

deposit, by G. C. Martin. 1905. 64 pp., 7 pis. 

B 241. The gold placers of the Fortymile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks regions, Alaska, by L. M.

Prindle. 1905. 89pp., 16 pis. 

WS 118. Geology and water resources of a portion of east central Washington, by F. C. Calkins. 1905.

96pp., 4 pis. 

B 252. Preliminary report on the geology and water resources of central Oregon, by I. C. Russell.

1905. 138 pp., 24 pis. 

PP 36. The lead, zinc, and fluorspar deposits of western Kentucky, by E. O. Ulrichand W. S. Tangier

Smith. 1905. 218 pp., 15 pis. 

PP 38. Economic geology of the Bingham mining district of Utah, by J. M. Boutwell, with a chapter

on areal geology, by Arthur Keith, and an introduction on general geology, by S. F. Emmons.

1905. 413 pp., 49 pis. 

PP 41. The geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, by \V. C. Mendenhall. 1905. 133 pp.,

20 pis. 

B 254. Report of progress in the geological resurvey of the Cripple Creek district, Colorado, by Waldemar Lindgren and F. L. Ransome. 1904. 36 pp.

B 255. The fluorspar deposits of southern Illinois, by H. Foster Bain. 1905. 75 pp., 6 pis. 

B 256. Mineral resources of the Elders Ridge quadrangle, Pennsylvania, by R. W. Stone. 190.5.

86pp., 12 pis. 

B 257. Geology and paleontology of the Judith River beds, by T. W. Stanton and J. B. Hatcher, with

a chapter on fossil plants, by F. H. Knowlton. 1905. 174 pp., 19 pis.

PP 42. Geology of the Tonoy»ah mining district, Nevada, by J. E. Spurr. 1905. 295 pp., 23 pis. 

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 Salt River Valley, Arizona, by W. T. Lee. 1905. 194 pp., 24 pis. 

PP 43. The copper deposits of the Clifton-Morenci district, Arizona, by Waldemar Lindgren. 1905.

375 pp., 25 pis.

B 265. Geology of the Boulder district, Colorado, by N. M. Fenneman. 1905. 101 pp., 5 pis. 

B 267. The copper deposits of Missouri, by H. F. Bain and E. O. Ulrich. 1905. 52 pp., 1 pi. 

PP 44. Underground water resources of Long Island, New York, by A. C. Veatch and others. 1905.

394pp., 34 pis.

WS 148. Geology and water resources of Oklahoma, by C. N. Gould. 1905. 178 pp., 22 pis. 

B 270. The configuration of the rock floor of Greater New York, by W. H. Hobbs. 1905. 96 pp., 5 pis. 

B 272. Taconic physiography, by T. N. Pale. 1905. 52 pp., 14 pis. (Out of stock.) 

PP 45. The geography and geology of Alaska, a summary of existing knowledge, by A. H. Brooks,

with a section on climate, by Cleveland Abbe, jr., and a topographic map and description

thereof, by R. U. Goode. 1906. 327 pp., 34 pis. 

B 273. The drumlins of southeastern Wisconsin (preliminary paper), by W. C. Alden. 1905. 46 pp.,

9 pis. 

PP 46. Geology and underground water resources of northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas, by

A. C. Veatch. 1906. 

PP 49. Geology and mineral resources of part of the Cumberland Gap coal field, Kentucky, by G. H.

Ashley and L. C. Glenn,in cooperation with the State Geological Department of Kentucky, 

C. J. Norwood, curator. 1906. 239 pp., 40 pis.

PP 50. The Montana lobe of the Keewatin ice sheet, by F. H. H. Calhoun. 1906. 

B 277. Mineral resources of Keiiai Peninsula, Alaska: Gold fields of the Turnagain Arm region, by

F. H. Moffit, and the coal fields of Kachemak Bay region, by R. W. Stone. 1906. 

WS 154. The geology and water resources of the eastern portion of the Panhandle of Texas, by C. N.

Gould. 1906. 64pp., 15 pis.

B 278. Geology and coal resources of the Cape Lisburne region, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. 

B 279. Mineral resources of the Kittanning and Rural Valley quadrangles, Pennsylvania, by Charles

Butts.

B 280. The Rampart gold placer region, Alaska, by L. M. Prindle and F. L. Hess. 

B 282. Oil fields of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf coastal plain, by N. M. Fenneman.
IV SERIES LIST.

WS 157. Underground \vaterin the valleys of Utah Lake and Jordan River, Utah, by G. B. Richardson. 

PP 51. Geology of the Bighorn Mountains, by N. H. Barton.

\VS 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.

SERIES O UNDERGROUND WATERS.

WS 4. 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. 50 pp.,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. WT ells of northern Indiana, by Frank Leverett. 1899. 82 pp., 2 pis. (Out of stock.) 

WS 2(i. Wells of southern Indiana (continuation of No. 21), by Frank Leverett. 1899. 64pp. (Out

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 resources of a portion of southeastern South Dakota, by J. E. Todd. 1900.

34 pp., 19 pis. 

WS 53. Geology and water resources of Nez Perces County, Idaho, Ft. I, by I. C. Russell. 1901. 86

pp., 10 pis. (Out of stock.) 

WS 54. Geology and water resources of Nez Perces County, Idalio, Pt. II, by I. C. Russell. 1901.

87-141 pp. (Out of stock.) 

\VS 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. 95 pp., 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. Slichter. 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 G. D. Harris, with discussions of their uses for

water supplies and for rice irrigation, by M. L. Fuller. 1904. 98 pp., 11 pis.

\VH 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. 

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 stock.) 

WS 111. Preliminary report on underground waters of Washington, by Henry Landes. 1904. 85 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.

285pp.. 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. 138 pp., 24 pis. 

WS 120. Bibliographic review and index of papers relating to underground waters published by the

United States Geological Survey, 1X79-1904, by M. L. Fuller. 1905. 128 pp. 

WS 122. Relation of the law to underground waters, by D. W. Johnson. 1905. 55 pp.
SERIES LIST. V

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 \V. T. Lee. 1905. 194 pp., 24 pis.

B 204. Record of deep-well drilling for 1904, by M. L. Fuller, E. 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. 1905. 

394pp., 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 groxmd waters of Rio Grande Valley, by C. S. Slichter. 1905. 83 pp., 

5 pis.

WS 142. Hydrology of San Bernardino Vallev, California, by W. C. Mendenhall. 1905. 121 pp., 13 pis.

WrS 145. Contributions to the hydrology of eastern Ignited States; M. L. Fuller, geologist in charge. 

1905. 220pp., G 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.

WS 153. The underflow in Arkansas Valley in western Kansas, by C. S. Slichter. 19C6.

WS 154. The geology and water resources of the eastern portion of the Panhandle of Texas, by C. N. 

Gould. 1906. 64 pp., 15 pis.

WS 155. Fluctuations of the water level in wells, writh special reference to Long Island, New York, 

by A. C. Veatch.

WS 157. Underground water in the valleys of Utah Lake and Jordan River, Utah, by G. B. Richardson.

WS 15s. Preliminary report on the geology and underground waters of the Roswell artesian area,

New Mexico, by C. A. Fisher. 1906. 29 pp., 9 pis. 

The following papers also relate to this subject: Underground waters of Arkansas Valley in eastern

Colorado, by G. K. Gilbert, in Seventeenth Annual, ft. 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 Ohip, 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 addressed to

THE DIRECTOR,

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 

APRIL, 1906. WASHINGTON, D. C.

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