DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

WATBR•SUPPLY PAPER 259 

THE UNDERGROUND WATERS OF 

SOUTHWESTERN OHIO 

BY 

M. L. FULLER AND F. G. CLAPP 

WITH A DISCUSSION OF 

THE CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE WATERS 

BY 

R. B. DOLE 

WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1912 

CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Introduction_________________________________________________________ 13· 

Location and area ______________________________________ _:________ 13 

Object of investigation _____ -------------------------------------- 14 

Sources of information___________________________________________ 15 

Early studies ________________________________ ---------------- 15 

Bibliography_________________________________________________ 16 

Field and office work_________________________________________ 18 

Topography-------·-------------------------------------------------__ 18 

Relief___________________________________________________________ 19 

Uplands_,.---------------'------_______________________________ 19 

Valleys______________________________________________________ 19 

1\[oraines __________ -----·-.--·---·---------------·-------------- __ 20 

])rainage--------------------------------------------~----------- 20 

Climate __________ _: ______________________________________ --·---------- 21 

Geolggy ---------------------------------------------------- ___ ·----··- 21 

Stratigraphy_____________________________________________________ 21 

General succession of strata _________________________ ~-------- 21 

Unconsolidated deposits-------------------------------------- 23 

Alluvium and glacial valley filling________________________ 23 

Terrace gravels__________________________________________ 24 

Loess ----------------------------------r----------------- 25 

Morainal drift___________________________________________ 26 

Till-----------------------~-----------~----------------- 26 

Old gravels-----------------------------________________ 27 

Rock formations ________________ ------------·-________________ 28 

"Niagara" limestone------------------------------------- 28 

''Clinton" limestone _________ ·____________________________ 28 

Richmond and Maysville formations _____________ _:________ 29 

Eden and Utica shales___________________________________ 29 

Point Pleasant form[\tion__________________________________ 30 

"Bird's-eye" limestone---------------------------------- 30 

St. Peter sandstone-------------------------------------- 31 

Cambrian and Ordovician dolomite________________________ 31 

Structure ___________ -----__ ----____ ------------------_---·--____ -- 31 

Underground waters_________________________________________________ 32 

Relation to surface features______________________________________ 32 

Source------------------------------------------------~--------- 33 

Popular conceptions _________________________ - ____ ----_____ --- 33 

Local sources ___ z-------------------------------------------- 33 

General sources--------------------------------------------- 34 

3 
4 CONTENTS. 

Underground waters-Continued. Page. 

()ccurrence______________________________________________________ 36 

In rock______________________________________________________ 36 

In drift_____________________________________________________ 37 

In alluvium, etc_____________________________________________ 37 

llead---------------L-------------------------------------------- 37 

In rock------------------------------------------------------ 37 

In drift----------------------------------------------------- 38 

In alluvium, etC--------------------------------------------- 39 

Supply---------------------------------~------------------------ ·39 

Water-bearing formations _____________ •____________________________ 40 

Unconsolidated deposits______________________________________ 40 

Alluvium and glacial valley filling_________________________ 40 

Terrace gravels__________________________________________ 41 

Loess --------------------------------------------------- 42 ~forainal drift___________________________________________ 42 

Till ----------------------------------------------------- 43 

Old gravels______________________________________________ 43 

Itock formations_____________________________________________ 44 

"Niagara" limestone_____________________________________ 44 

"Clinton" limestone_____________________________________ 45 

Itichmond and Maysville formations_______________________ 45 

Eden and Utica shales___________________________________ 46 

Point Pleasant formation _______ ~------------------------- 47 

"Bird's-eye" limestone _____________ ~.._____________________ 48 

St. Peter sandstone_______________________________________ 48 

Cambrian and Ordovician dolomite________________________ • 49 

Summary of available water__________________________________ 49 

Public water supplies________________________________________________ 49 

Use of reports and maps_____________________________________________ 55 

Determination of surface deposits_________________________________ 55 

Determination of country rock____________________________________ 55 

Best source of supply--------------------------------------~------ 55 

Thickness of surface deposits_____________________________________ 55 

Depth to water in St. Peter sandstone_____________________________ 56 

Flowing wells____________________________________________________ 56 

Water-bearing capacity of formations______________________________ 56 

Distribution of surface deposits and rock formations_______________ 57 

Quality of water in particular deposits and formations______________ 57 

Underground waters by counties______________________________________ 57 

Adams County (western half)------------------------------------ 57 

Surface features______________________________________________ 57 

Water-bearing formations_____________________________________ 57 

Surface deposits_________________________________________ 57 

Alluvium --------------------------------------------- 57 

Loess________________________________________________ 58 

Till__________________________________________________ 58 

Itock formations_________________________________________ 58 

"Niagara" limestone ________________________ ,________ 58 

" Clinton" limestone_________________________________ 59 

Itichmond and Maysville formations_~---------________ 59 

Eden shale___________________________________________ 60 

Springs______________________________________________________ 60 
CO~TENTS. 

Underground waters by counties-Continued. 

Adams County (western half)-Continued. 

Notes by towns __________ ..; __________________________________ _ 

VVest Union _____________________________________________ _ 

VVater prospects _____________________________________________ _ 

Brown County --------------------------------------------------- Surface features ____________________________________________ _ 

VV ater-bearing formations _____________________________________ _ 

Surface deposits _________________________________________ _ 

Alluvium __________________________ ---___ - -----------

Terrace gravels _____________________________________ _ 

Loess ----------------------------------------------- Till ________________________________________________ _ 

Rock formations-----------------------------------------

"Niagara" limestone_· _______________________________ _ 

"Clinton" limestone _________________________________ _ 

Richmond and Maysville formations _________________ _ 

IDden shale-----------------------------,------------- Notes by towns ______________________________________________ _ 

Georgetown _______________________ .:_ ____________________ _ 

RipleY--------------------~----------------------------­

Sardinia _ ----------------------------------------------- VVater prospects _____________________________________________ _ 

Butler County __ ------------------------------------------------- Surface features ____________________________________________ _ 

VVater-bearing formations __ ~---------------------------------

Sur~~l~~~::~s~~s---~=====i================================= Terrace gravels __ ------------------------------------ Till ________________________________________________ _ 

Morainal deposits __ ----------------------------------

Rock formations __ ---------------------------------------

"Niagara " and "Clinton" limestones-------~---------

Richmond and Maysville formations __________________ _ 

Eklen shale----------------------------~------------- Notes by towns ______________________________________________ _ 

Coke Otto ______________________________________________ ~ 

Darrtown __________________ _: ___________________________ _ 

Hamilton __ ----------------------------------------------

Oxford __ -----------------------------------------------

Sevenmile __ ---------------------------------------------

Tallawanda Springs __ -----------'---------------------·---- VVater prospects ____________________________________________ _ 

Clark County ___________________________________________________ _ 

Surface features -------------------------------- _____________ _ VV a ter-bearing formations ____________________________________ _ 

Surface deposits: Alluvium ____________________________________________ _ 

Till--------------------------------------------------

Morainal deposits------------------------------------

Rock formations------· ----------------------------;_------- "Niagara" limestone ________________________________ _ 

" Clinton" limestone ---------------------------------

Richmond formation---------------------------------

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6 CONTENTS. 

Underground waters by counties-Continued. 

Clark County-Continued. Page. 

~otes by towns______________________________________________ 79 

~ew Carlisle ___________________ -------------------------- 79 

~orthampton _____ ~--------------------------------------- 79 

Springfield______________________________________ __ ____ ___ 79 

VVater prospectH---------------------------------------------- 82 

Clermont County------------------------------------------------- 82 

Surface features_____________________________________________ 82 

VVater-bearing formations--~--------------------------------- 83 

Surface deposits _______ ---------------------------------- 83 

Alluvium______________________________________________ 83 

Terrace gravels______________________________________ 83 

Loess________________________________________________ 83 

Till------------------------------------------·--.----- 84 

Rock formations ----------------------------------------- 84 

Richmond and Maysville formations___________________ 84 

Eden shale _____________________________ .:.____________ 84 

Utica shale__________________________________________ 8~ 

Point. Pleasant formation_____________________________ 85 

Lower formations____________________________________ 85 

~otes by towns----------------------------~----------------- 85 

Batavia ------------------------------------------------- 85 

Felicity ------------------------------------------------- 85 

Loveland ------------------------------------------------ 86 Marathon ___________________________________________ _:___ 86 

Milford ------------------------------------------------- 86 ~ew Richmond___________________________________________ 86 

VVater prospects______________________________________________ 87 

Clinton County--------------------------------------------------- 88 

Surface features_____________________________________________ 88 

VVat.er-bearing formations--------~---------------------------- 89 

Surface deposits__________________________________________ 89 

Alluvium -------------------------------------------- 89 

Loess ----------------------------------------------- 90 

Till ------------------------------------------------- 90 

Morainal deposits____________________________________ 90 

Rock formations __ .:_______________________________________ 91 

"~iagara" limestone_________________________________ 91 

"Clinton" limestone _____________________ .:____________ 91 

Richmond formation__________________________________ 92 

I>eeper rocks_________________________________________ 92 

Summary and recommendations___________________________ 92 

~otes by towns---------------------------------------------- 92 

Blanchester ______________________________________ -------- 92 

Clarksville ---------------------------------------------- 93 

Cuba____________________________________________________ 93 

McKay---------------------------------------------_____ 94 

Martinsville______________________________________________ 94 

~ew Burlington__________________________________________ 94 

_, VVilm!ngton---------------------------------------------- 95 

VVater prospects_____________________________________________ 96 

I>arke County (southern)------~--------------------------------- 96 

Surface features-----------------------------------------·---- 96 
CONTENTS. 

·Underground waters by counties-Continued. 

Darke County (southern)-Continued. 

Water-hearing formations ------------------------------------

Surface deposits---------------------------------~------- Alluvium ___________________________________________ _ 

Till-------------------------------------------------

Morainal deposits--------------·----------------------

Rock formations-------... ---------------------------------

Notes by towns ----------------------------------------------

ArcanuiD---------~-------------------------------------­

Gordon--------------------------------------------------

Water prospects----------------------------------------------

Greene CountY-------------------------------~-------------------

Surface features--------------------------------------------~ 

Water-bearing foriDations------------------------------------- Surface deposits ________________________________________ _ 

~~~~:~~:===--=====================================~=== Morainal and other gravels __________________________ _ 

Rock foriDations -----------------------------------------

"Niagara" limestone----------------------~----------

" Clinton" liiDestone -----------------------'------ ___ _ RichiDond formation _________________________________ _ 

Notes by towns _____________________________________________ _ 

Cedarville-----------------------------------------------

Clifton-------------------------------------------------,.. 

Goes--------~------------------------------------------- JaiDestowri ______________________________________________ _ 

Osborn--------------------------------------------------

Paintersville---------------------------------------------

Spring ValleY----------------------------.---------------- Wilberforce __________________________________ . ___________ _ 

J(enia---------------------------------------------------

Yellow Springs-------------------------------------------

Water prospects--------~------------------------------------

IIaiDilton CountY-------------------------------------------------

Surface features---------------------------------------------- Water-bearing foriDations ____ _: _______________________________ _ 

Surface deposits-----------------------------------------

Alluvium------------------------------------------·--

Terrace gravels--------------------------------.------

Loess-----------------------------------------------

Till-------------------------------------------------

Morainal deposits---------------------:---------------

Rock foriDations _____ :_ ______ '"---------------------------- · RichiDond and Maysville foriDatiens __________________ _ 

~en shale-------------------------------------------

Utica shale------------------------------------------

Point Pleasant foriDation--------------'---------------

" Birdseye" liiDestone --------------------------------

St. Peter sandstone-----------------------------------

CaiDbrian and Ordovician doloiDlte _________________ :_ __ 

CaiObrian sandstone----------------------------------

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8 CONTENTS. 

Underground waters by counties-Continued. 

Hamilton County-Continued. Page. 

Notes by towns-----------------'----------------~--~~--------- 115 

Arlington Heights-----------------~--~------------------- 115 

California ----_________________ --------___________ -----__ 116 

Carthage ---~-------------------------------------------- 117 

Cincinnati ----------------------------------------------- 117 

General conditions __________ -------------------------- 117 

VVell records_________________________________________ 118 

Rock floor __________ ·_________________________________ 120 

Deep wells-------------------------------------~----- 121 

Public supplies_______________________________________ 124 

College HilL_____________________________________________ 125 

Elmwood --------------------------~--------------------- 126 

Harrison -----------------------------------------------~ 126 

Ivorydale ---------------------------------------------~- 126 

Madisonville -------------------------------------------- 127 

Norwood ------------------------------------------------ 127 

. St. Bernard--------------------------------------------- 128 

Symmes Township_______________________________________ 129 

VVyoming________________________________________________ 129 

VVater prospects--------------------------------------------- 129 

Ilighland County_________________________________________________ 131 

Surface features----------------------------------------~---- 131 

VVater-bearing formations------------------------------------ 132 

Surface deposits_________________________________________ 132 

Alluvium--------------------------------------------- 132 Till _________________________________________________ ·132 

Morainal deposits and stratified drift_________________ 133 

lRock formations_________________________________________ 133 

Carboniferous sandstone, Ohio shale, and " Helderberg " 

limestone__________________________________________ 133 

"Niagara " limestone-------------------------------- 133 

"Clinton" limestone--------------------------------- 134 

Richmond formation--------------------------------- 134 

Notes by towns______________________________________________ 135 

Hillsboro _____ ___ __ __ ___ _ ____________ __ ____ __ _ __ _ __ __ ___ _ 135 

Leesburg________________________________________________ 135 

Lynchburg_______________________________________________ 135 

VVater prospects--------------------------------------------- 137 

Miami County (southern)--------------------~------------------- 138 

Surface features_____________________________________________ 138 

VVater-bearing formations_____________________________________ 138 

Surface deposits__________________________________________ 138 

Alluviu~ --------------------------- ______ ___________ 138 

Till__________________________________________________ 139 

Morainal deposits---------------~-------------------- 139 

Rock formations_____________________________________________ HO 

"Niagara" limestone_________________________________ 140 

"Clinton" limestone__________________________________ 140 

Richmond formation ________________________ ---------- 141 

Notes by towns-------------------~--------------------------- 14~. 

Tadmor ------------------------------------------- _________ 141 

Tippecanoe_______________________________________________ 142 
CONTEN'rS. 

Underground waters by counties-Continued. 

Miami County (southern)-Continued. 

Notes by towns-Continued. • West Milton _____________________________________________ _ 

'Vater prospects--------------------------~------------------- Montgomery County _____________________________________________ _ 

Surface features _________________________________ : __________ _ 

Water-bearing formations _____________________________________ _ 

Surface deposits _________________________________________ _ 

Alluvium --------------------------------- ___________ _ Terrace gravels ________________________ : ____________ _ 

Till _________________________________________________ _ 

Morainal deposits _________________ -------------------

Rock formations---------------~------------------------­

"Niagara" limestone--------------------------------

"Clinton" limestone ________________________________ _ 

Richmond and Maysville formations _________________ _ 

Notes by towns-----------------------------------~----------

Brookville ____________________________________________ .. __ 

Chauta~qua GroYe ---------------------------------------

Dayton---------------------------------------------------

Farmersville --------------------------------------------

Germantown---------------------------------------------

Miamisburg -------------------------------~-------------

Oakwood ------------------------------------------------

Trotwood ----------------------------------------------- lJnion __________________________________________________ _ 

West Carrollton __________________________________________ _ 

Wa tet prospects ____ --~ ____________________________________ , __ -

Preble County __________________________________________________ _ 

Surface features ____________________________________________ _ 

Water-bearing formations ____________________________________ _ 

Surface deposits-----------------------------------------

Alluvium--------------------------------------------

Terrace gravels---------------------------------~--- Till ________________________________________________ _ 

Morainal deposits and outwash plains ________________ _ 

Rock formations ________________________________________ _ 

"Niagara" limestone ________________________________ _ 

"Clinton" limestone ________________________________ _ 

Richrnond and Maysville formations __________________ _ Notes by towns _____________________________________________ _ 

Camden ________________________________________________ _ 

Cedar Springs _____________________________ , ____________ _ 

Eaton ---------------------------------------------------

Public supply---------------------------------------- Flowing wells _______________________________________ _ 

Drilled wells ________________________________________ _ 

Springs ----------------------~---------------------- Lewisburg _____________________________________________ _ 

New Paris ______________________________________________ _ 

West Alexandria ________________________________________ _ 

West Elkton _____________________________________________ _ 

West Manchester ________________________________________ _ 

Water prospects _____________________________________________ _ 

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10 CONTENTS. 

Underground waters by counties-Continued. Pa.ge. 

VVarren CountY-------------------------------------------------- 164 

.Surface features_____________________________________________ 164 

VVater-bearing. formations_____________________________________ 165 

Surface deposits ___________________________ --------~------ 165 

Alluvium -------------------------------------------- 165 

Loess ------------------------------------·----------- 166 

~n ------------------------------------------------- 166 ~orainal deposits____________________________________ 166 

Rock formations----------------------------------------- 167 

"Niagara " limestone_________________________________ 167 

~·Clinton" limestone--------------------------------- 167 

Richmond and Maysville formations___________________ 167 

Notes by towns-------------------------------------------~-- 168 Franklin--~--____________________________________________ 168 

Kings ~ills______________________________________________ 169 

Lebanon_________________________________________________ 168 

~ason--------------------------------~------------------ 169 

~orrow ------------------------------------------------- 170 

~urdock ------------------------------------------------ 170 

Springboro -----------------------------•---------------- 170 

VVaynesville --------------------------------------------- 170 

VVater prospects-----------~---------------------------------- 171 

Chemical character of the waters, by R. B. Dole_______________________ 172 

Introduction·----------------------------------------------------- 172 

Jlualytical results________________________________________________ 172 

VVaters in general________________________________________________ 173 

Mineral constituents _______________________________________ ,___ 173 

For domestic use_____________________________________________ 175 

Physical qualities________________________________________ 175 

Bacteriological qualities__________________________________ 176 

Chemical qualities----------------------------------_____ 176 

For boiler use_______________________________________________ 178 

Formation of scale--------------------------------------- 178 

Corrosion________________________________________________ 179 

Foaming_________________________________________________ 179 

Remedies for boiler troubles______________________________ , 180 

Boi~er compounds---------------------------··------------ 180 

Classification of boiler waters_____________________________ 181 

For miscellaneous industrial uses_____________________________ 184 

General requisites _______ :_________________________________ 184 

Free acids----------------------------------------------- 185 

Suspended matter---------------------------------------- 185 Color ____________________________________________ ,_______ 185 

Iron---------------------------------------------------·-- 186 

Calcium and magnesium__________________________________ 186 

Carbonates--------------------------------------·-------- 187 

Sulphates________________________________________________ 187 

Chlorides-----------------------------------------·------- 188 

Organic matter------------------------------------------ 188 

llydrogen sulphide--------------------------------------- 188 

Miscellaneous substances _________________________ .________ 188 

For medicinal use-------------------------------------------- 189 
CONTENTS. 11 

Chemical character of the waters, by R. B. Dole----:.Continued. 

Waters in general-Continued.· 1 Page. 

Purification of water ___________________ ,______________________ 190 

General requirements and methods of purification__________ 190 

Slow sand filtration _________ ::.____________________________ 192 

Mechanical filtration_____________________________________ 194 

Cold-water softening _____________________________ ----~--- 195 

Feed-water heating_______________________________________ 196 

Underground waters---------------------------------------------- 197 

Chemical analyses____________________________________________ 197 

Relation of quality to water-bearing stratum__________________ 208 

Waters of low mineral content________________________________ 209 

Waters of high mineral content_______________________________ 211 

Relation to other underground waters _________________ -------- 212 

Surface waters___________________________________________________ 212 

Relation between underground and surface waters__________________ 215 

Economic value of the waters_____________________________________ 216 

Index---------------- ______ ----------------------------------------__ 219 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

PLATE I. GeOlogic map of southwestern Ohio__________________________ 22 

II. Map of southwestern Ohio, showing Quaternary deposits______ 24 

III. Map of southwestern Ohio, showing thicknesses of water-bearing surface deposits--------------------------------------- 26 

IV. Map of southwestern Ohio, showing artesiap. conditions______ 30 

V. A, Large solution channels due to enlargement of vertical joints 

in "Niagara" limestone; B, Ramifying solution channels 

along bedding plane in Maysville formation_________________ 36 

VI. A, Large solution opening due to enlargement of bedding plane 

in- " Niagara " limestone; B, " Cement-rock " layer in terrace 

gravel-------------------------------~------------------- 44 

yii. A, "Niagara " limestone, showing. development of partings due 

to weathering; B, "Clinton" limestone, showing .cliff character of outcrop and spring formed by waters collected on an 

upper impervious layer ____________ ·----------~------------- 45 

VIII. A, Well protected by cement curb and platform; B, Richmond 

and Maysville formations, showing alternations of shale and 

limestone------------------------------------------------- 46 

IX. Springs, Neff Grounds, Yellow Springs, Greene County: A, 

Falling over tufa deposit; B, Chalybeate Spring emerging 

from the " Niagara " limestone above a shale parting________ 108 

FIGURE 1. Index map showing location and extent of area discussed in 

report--------------------------------------------------- 1a 

2. Cross section showing ground-water conditions in valleys______ 34 

3. Geologic cross section of southwestern Ohio ________ _:_________ 34 

4. Section illustrating the feeding of water beds through joints__ 35 

5. Section showing valley alluvium fed from bedding planes and 

solution passages----------------------------------------- 37 

6.. Section showing conditions of tJ_ow in inclined porous bed, becoming thinner------------------------------------------- • 38 

7. Section showing conditions of flow in inclined porous bed, becoming impervious_______________________________________ 38 

8. Diagram showing occurrence of water in terrace sands nnd 

gravels-------------------------------------------------- 41 

9. Rock water-bearing beds in Clark County _________________ _:__ 77 

10. Plan of infiltration galleries, public waterworks, Springfield__ 80 

11. Section of deposits at infiltration galleries, Springfield_______ 81 

12 
THE UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN 

OHIO. 

By MYRON L. FuLLER and FREDERICK G. CLAPP. 

INTRODUCTION. 

LOCATION AND AREA. 

The district covered by this report is an area in southwestern Ohio 

extending from Ohio River on the south to the southern portions of 

i 

I 

l --.,...-Toledo 

·-·-·· I 

I 

I 

------1 

84° 83° ez• 8t 0 

FIGURE 1.-Index map showing location and extent of area discussed in report. 

Darke and Miami counties on the north, and from the Indiana State 

line on the west to central Adams and Highland counties on the east 

13 
14 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

(fig. 1) . The area averages approximately 80 miles from north to 

south and 70 miles from east to west and contains about 5,600 square 

miles, or about one-seventh of the total area of the State. 

The district includes the following counties: Adams (western half), 

Brown, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Darke (southern part), 

Greene, Hamilton, Highland (western half) , Miami (southern part) , 

Montgomery, Preble, Warren. The principal cities are Cincinnati, 

Dayton, Hamilton, and Springfield. · 

OBJECT OF INVESTIGATION. 

The region under discussion receives abundant rainfall, the precipitation averaging over 40 inches a year. The streams, however, are 

rather far apart and springs are few and of small volume. Moreover, as the region is densely populated, the inhabitants averaging 

about 150 to the square mile in the area as a whole and 50 in the 

rural districts, and as it contains many paper mills, distilleries, 

powder mills, and other manufacturing establishments, the surface 

waters are in many localities badly polluted by sewage and industrial 

wastes and are entirely unfit for drinking. For these reasons carefully protected ground-water supplies are highly desirable for domestic uses, especially in cities and crowded villages, where the 

nearness of the houses and the proximity of barns, privies, and cesspools may make wells unsafe sources of supply. 

The value of pure water for public supplies can not be overestimated, the industrial loss resulting from a serious typhoid or other 

epidemic due to impure water often being of such magnitude as to 

seriously interfere with the prosperity of a town. People who a few, 

years ago regarded any clear and cool water as satisfactory are now 

demanding that its absolute sa-fety be established by proper examination and inspection, ~tnd although in some localities a doubtful 

water mayoccasionally be accepted, condemnation of the supply and 

of those responsible for its installation is certain to follow its continued use. 

Not only is the problem of procuring pure water for drinking and 

for other domestic uses recognized as urgent i~ the cities and villages, 

where it is not unusual to find practically every well more or less 

polluted, but it is of great importance in the country. Many farm 

wells are located in or near barnyards or hogpens and are contaminated by refuse blown into them by the winds, as well as by the 

bodies of snakes, mice, rabbits, and other animals that may fall 

into them in their search for water in dry seasons. Many wells that 

furnish drinking water are situated on low ground and receive the 

drainage from houses and yards, being thus sources of grave danger. 

To the farmer, therefore, information both as to the proper construction of wells and as to the best sources of water will be of great value. 
INTRODUCTION. 15 

One of the most important uses of water in many regions is for 

locomotive boilers. For the economical running of trains, especially 

freight trains, water must be provided every few miles. Where permanent streams are available and are not too muddy they generally 

furnish satisfactory supplies; but over many areas the streams a_re 

few, are far apart, and many of them go dry in times of drought. 

In such places wells must be the sources of supply. 

In southwestern Ohio. immense quantities of water are required in 

industrial processes. In the manufacture of paper, especially, a 

single mill may use several hund~ed thousand gallons of water daily, 

and as the water of the streams is generally too muddy and the quantity too uncertain for this purpose, wells are largely used. Many 

other industries, especially those located in cities where the rates 

charged for the public service practically prohibit its use, have urgent 

need of ground-water supplies. 

The people of the vicinity generally know when a well has succeeded 

in obtaining a satisfactory supply, but knowledge of the conditions 

that determine the success of the well or of the limits to which the 

favorable conditions extend is as a rule scanty, and many thousands 

of dollars have been wasted in southwestern Ohio and elsewhere in 

well drilling in places where a geologist would have pronounced the 

attempt hopeless. Information regarding the proper construction of 

wells is also urgently needed in order that the largest possible sup-' 

plies and the best and purest water which a well is capable of affording 

may be obtained.1 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION. 

EARLY STUDIES. 

Previous to the investigations for the present report no specific 

study of underground waters had been conducted in the region, 

although some attention had been paid to the water resources by the 

parties investigating the geology of a number of counties for the 

State Survey, under Edward Orton, and by Frank Leverett in his 

studies of the drift of the region. The results of the former have 

appeared in the county reports of the State Survey and in a paper 

on the rock waters published by the United States Geological Survey. 2 

The results of Leverett's work have appeared in several reports of 

the National Survey.3 

1 See Bowman, Isaiah, Well-drilling ethods: Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey 

No. 257, 1911. 

• Orton, Edward, The rock waters of hio: Nineteenth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, 

pt. 4, 1898, pp. 633-717 . 

. 3 L~veretf, Frank, The water resourc s of Indiana and Ohio : Eighteenth Ann. Rept. 

U. S. Geol. Survey, pt. 4, 1897, pp. 419--559. Also, Underground waters of eastern United 

States: Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No, 114, 1905, pp. 265-270. 
16 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

BffiLIOGRAPHY. 

The more important publications which relate in part to the underground waters of Ohio are listed in the following bibliography. 

Many of these reports are, however, out of print and inaccessible. 

FULLER, MYBON L., LINES, E. F., and VEATCH, A. C., Record of deep-well drilling 

for 1904: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 264, 1905, 106 pp. 

Lists a number of new wells In Montgomery County. 

FULLER, MYBON L., and SANFORD, SAMUEL, Record of deep-well drilling for 1905: 

Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. ~8, 1906, !!99 pp. 

Lists new wells In Brown, Darke, and Greene Counties. 

FLYNN, BENJAMIN H., and FLYNN, MARGARET S., The natural features and 

economic development of the Sandusky, Maumee, Muskingum, and Miami 

drainage areas in Ohio; Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 91, 

1904, 130 pp. 

Includes a discussion of many of the public water supplies of southwestern 

Ohio, including those from springs, wells, and collecting galleries. 

HussEY, JoHN, Report of the geology of Miami County: Rept. Geol, Survey 

Ohio, vol. 3, pt. 1, 1878, pp. 468-481. 

Notes the abundance of springs at the horizon of the " Clinion " limestone, 

some of which are large enough for power development. Describes the large 

spring at West Milton and discusses the conditions of the underground collection 

of water. The wells of the drift and the evidence which they afford of burled 

channels are also considered {pp. 469--470). , 

LEVERETT, FRANK, The water resources of Indiana and Ohio : Eighteenth Ann. 

Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, pt. 4, 1897, pp. 419-559. 

After considering the physical features, drainage, lakes, etc., of the region 

{pp. 426-474), discusses underground waters, Including wells of the drift, shallow and deep rock wells, subterranean drainage lines, springs, analyses of the 

waters, etc. {pp. 474-501), and gives extended descriptions of the water supplies of cities and villages {pp. 502-559). 

---Glacial formations and drainage features of the Erie and Ohio basins' 

Mon. U. S. Geol. Survey, vol. 41, 1902, S02 pp. 

No special discussion of the waters of the drift, but refers incidentally to 

wells and records, especially to the :flowing wells of Ohio {see index of monograph). 

LINDENMUTH, A. C., Report of the geology of Darke County: Rept. Geol. Survey 

Ohio, vol. 3, pt. 1, 1878, pp. 496-518. 

Describes the lime, magnesia, and sulphur springs of various beds {pp. 496, 

509, 517), and notes the abundance of good water In both drift and rocks (p. 

517). 

ORTON, EDwARD, Report on geology of Montgomery County: Geol. Survey Ohio, 

Rept. of Progress in 1869, pt. 3, pp. 143-171. 

Describes the association of springs with the " Clinton" limestone {pp. 162-

163). 

---The geology of Highland County: Geol. Survey Ohio, Rept. of Progress 

in 1870, pp. 255-294. 

Notes prevalence of springs at shale layers in "Niagara" limestone {p. 275). 
SOURCES OF INFORMATION. 17 

ORTON, EDWARD, The cliff limestone of Highland and. AdamE counties: Geol. 

Survey Ohio, Rept. of Progress in 1870, pp. 295-308. 

Describes springs at top of the shale layers in the "Niagara " limestone (pp. 

302, 304). 

---Geology of Hamilton County: Rept. Geol. Survey Ohio, vol 1, pt. 1, 1873, 

pp. 419-434. 

Gives sections and notes on wells near Cincinnati. 

---Geology of Clermont County: Rept. Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 1, pt. 1, 1873, 

pp. 435-449. 

Notes scarcity of springs and considers use of cisterns and wells in both rock 

and drift deposits (pp. 439-440, 446). 

---Geology of Clark County : Rept. Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 1, pt. 1, 1873, 

pp. 450-480. 

Describes springs of the "Niagara" limestone (pp. 465-466, 469). 

---Report on the geology of Greene County: Rept. Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 

2, pt. 1, 187 4, pp. 659-696. 

Discusses in detail the water-supply conditions of the county (pp. 690--696), 

including the " Clinton " and " Niagara " spring horizons, and horizons all'ording water to wells, the conditions leading to the contamination of ground 

waters, etc., and gives a full description of Yellow Springs and their surroundings. 

---Report on the geology of Warren County: Rept. Geol. Survey Ohio, xol. 

3, pt. 1, 1878, pp. 381-391. 

Discusses the wells and springs of the drift and the " Clinton " and " Niagara " 

limestones, and points out the need of cisterns in the blue llmeston.e (Richmond 

and Maysville) districts. A large spring used · for power development near 

Springboro is mentioned (pp. 388-389). 

---Report on the geology of Butler County : Rept. Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 3, 

pt. 1, 1878, pp. 392--403. 

Notes deficiency of ground water in the blue limestone (Richmond and Maysville) and in regions of thin drift. Cisterns are recommended (p. 403). 

-· --Report on the geology of Preble County: Rept. Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 

3, pt. 1, 1878, pp. 404-419. 

Notes prevalence of springs, sometimes marked by petroleum shows, at horizon of " Clinton " limestone (pp. 406-408). 

--~The Trenton limestone as a !10Urce of oil and gas in Ohio : Rept. Geol. 

Survey Ohio, vol. 6, 1888, pp. 101-310. 

Contains notes on wells drilled for oil and gas in the several counties of 

southwestern Ohio, numerous detailed records, and notes on waters encountered 

or on casing used. 

---The rock waters of Ohio: Nineteenth Ann. Rept. U. S. · Geol. Survey, 

pt. 4, 1898, pp. 633-717. 

Discusses the geology ( pp. 638-650) and considers the waters of various formations from Carboniferous to Ordovician, inclusive (pp. 651-696). Flowing 

rock wells and artesian wells of buried glacial channels are described (pp. 

697-717). 

PEALE, A. C., Lists and analyses of the mineral springs of the United States: 

Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 32, 1886, 235 pp. 

Gives list of mineral springs of Ohio, including those of the southwestern 

counties; contains analyses of artesian well water from Cincinnati ; of salt well 

at Ludlow Grove, Hamilton County, Yellow and Bellbrook Magnetic Springs in 

Greene County, and Cedar Spring, Preble- County, 

49130° -WSI' 259-12-2 
18 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

FIElD AND OFFICE WORK. 

The :9-eld work on which this report is based was begun August 1, 

1906, by M. L. Fuller, assisted by S. R Capps, with J. R. Evans 

serving as chemist until about September 1, from which date to the 

close of the work late in September the chemical work was performed 

by H. N. Parker. From September 1 to 20 F. G. Clapp, acting 

under M. L. Fuller, had charge of the party. The complete analyses 

in connection with the work were made by R. B. Dole, assisted by 

M. G. Roberts, and the discussion of the chemical character of the 

waters has also been prepared by R. B. Dole. 

The work included the geologic tracing and correlation of the rock 

formations, a study of the water-bearing capacity of each formation 

outcropping at the surfa~e or encountered by wells, the determination 

of the depth and yield of the waters, the study of the mineral springs, 

and the investigation of the public water supplies. Records of deep 

wells were procured, drillers were interviewed as to methods employed 

and general water conditions, and .statistics were gathered in regard 

to the shallow wells in rock or unconsolidated material. The chemical work included field examinations of waters from each of the 

several classes of drift and rock formations and determinations of 

the carbonates, sulphates, chlorides, and iron. Complete analyses of 

samples of about 35 waters were made at the 'Vashington laboratory, and analyses were obtained from owners of many wells. In 

the study of public supplies special attention was given to the sanitary quality of the water, with a view to determining sources of 

pollution and to making recommendations as to their removal. 

The text relating to Preble, Butler, and Hamilton counties was 

prepared by F. G. Clapp, and the general discussion and the text 

relating to the other 10 counties was prepared by M. L. Fuller. 

Frank Leverett supplied the details of the distribution of the drift 

for Plate II, and M. L. Fuller and E. 0. Ulrich most of the geology 

for Plate I. E. 0. Ulrich and J. M. Nickles also assisted very materially in the preparation of the geologic discussions. Many drillers 

and well owners have also heartily cooperated in the work. and to 

them grateful acknowledgment is hereby made. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

·RELIEF. 

Southwestern Ohio is in the main a plateau that stands between 

800 and 1,100 feet above sea level; but the continuity of its surface 

is broken (1) by the deep valleys of the Ohio, Miami, Little Miami, 

and minor rivers and their tributaries, with bottoms extending from 

100 feet or more below the crests of the adjoining uplands in the 
TOPOGRAPHY. 19 

northern part of the area to over 400 feet below it in the vicinity 

of the Ohio; and (2) by the irregular morainal and less numerous 

rock hills rising above it. Of the subordinate features of the valleys 

the bluffs, terraces, and alluvial plains are the most interesting. 

UPLANDS. 

Nearly the entire surface area of the district under discussion 

belongs to the broad plateau that extends throughout Ohio and covers 

the greater portions of most of the adjoining States. Although 

marked by numerous deep valleys, some of them so close to one 

another that they are separated only by narrow ridges, the intervening crests generally stand very near the level of the plateau of which 

they are the remnants. The plateau, however, is not absolutely fiat, 

but rises gradually from a general level of about 900 feet near the 

Ohio to about 1,100 feet in the northeastern and eastern portions of 

the area. 

Near the Ohio, and for 10 or in some place 15 miles or more north 

of its valley, the plateau is broken by numerous deep valleys and 

ravines, the more important of which are those of Miami and Little 

Miami rivers and Mill and Whiteoak creeks. Farther back the crests 

begin to widen and the flat r~mnants of the general surface are easily 

recognized. These gradually become broader to the north until fiat 

surfaces many miles in extent are found. 

VALLEYS. 

Under the head of valleys are included a1l the depressions below 

the plateau except a few sags, so shallow as to be hardly noticeable, 

which here and there indent the surface. All of the valleys have been 

cut by streams that flow across the plateau, although several, such as 

that along the western border of Hamilton County, that leading from 

Hamilton to St. Bernard and thence to the Little Miami near Madisonville, that extending from near Middletown to South Lebanon, 

that cutting across a bend of the Little Miami near Lebanon, that 

connecting Mad River with the Little Miami Valley south of Osborn, 

and that extending from the Miami near Tippecanoe to the Mad 

Rivet Valley near Osborn, are no longer occupied by streams, having 

been produced by waters flowing from the ice sheet which once 

occupied the region (Pl. II) or by the present streams when flowing 

in channels since abandoned. 

The larger valleys are those of the Ohio, Miami, and Little Miami 

or of former channels of these {)treams. Of these, the Miami Valley 

has the broadest bottom, its width being 1 to 3 miles or more; the 

Ohio Valley is in few places more than a mile in width in this region. 
20 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

In general the valleys become shallower to the north, where they 

have a depth of only 100 or 200 feet-below the adjoining upland, as 

compared to 400 feet or more near the Ohio. Near the Ohio the 

ravines formed by the small tributaries are a striking feature, cutting the surface into a complex series of sharp-crested ridges and 

V-shaped ravines, many of which, although very narrow, are hundreds of feet deep. 

Of the minor features of the valleys the terraces are of most 

interest. They occur mainly along the Ohio and lower courses of 

Miami and Little Miami rivers and Mill Creek and consist of flattopped remnants of deposits that once filled a portion of the valleys 

to about 600 feet above sea level. 

MORAINES. 

The moraines are highly irregular topographic features, ranging 

from low rounded knolls to high hills arid ridges characterized by 

sharp knolls and basins. In general they have no great height in 

southwestern Qhio, although a few rise 100 feet above the surrounding surface. Neither do they form high or continuous ridges 

in this region. 

DRAINAGE . 

. The drainage of southwestern Ohio is here described because the 

considerable development of the underground waters is a direct 

result of the inferiority of the surface waters for many uses. 

Ohio River, the main stream of the region, rises in the mountains 

of Pennsylvania and West Virginia in regions where the rocks 

are prevailingly sandstone and shale with but little limestone and 

where there is either no drift at all or only drift composed of nonlime-bearing material. As a result the Ohio water is low in lime 

and magnesia and gives but little trouble in boilers. Unfortunately, 

however, it is very muddy and is undesirable for many industrial 

uses. It is also badly polluted by sewage from Pittsburgh and many 

small cities and towns, which makes it very dangerous for domestic 

use. 

Of the tributaries of the Ohio, Miami and Little Miami rivers 

and Mill and Whiteoak creeks are the m~st important. Unlike the 

Ohio, all of them have their sources either in limestone regions or 

in areas covered by highly calcareous drift from which the waters 

dissolve large quantities of lime and magnesia. These waters are, 

therefore, unfit for boiler use without treatment, and because of their 

muddiness are likewise unsuitable for many industrial uses. Their 

muddiness and the shortness of supply in times of drought has led 

to the sinking of numerous wells to supply the ,paper and other mills 

along the Miami. · 
fiEOLOGY. 21 

CLIMATE. 

Southwestern Ohio has a warm, moist climate in summer and a 

moderately cold but humid climate in winter. The rainfall is very 

equally distributed through the four seasons, from which it follows 

that somewhat over three-fourths of the precipitation occurs when 

the surface is unfrozen and when the water can penetrate the ground 

and join the underground supply. The evaporation is moderatB, 

little ground water being lost in this way. In fact, the climatic 

conditions are favorable for the storage ofr large supplies in the 

ground, and the absence o£ these, except in the valleys, is ·due to the 

imperviousness and small porosity of the soils and rocks. 

Some of the statistics o£ climate and rainfall h:J-ving a bearing on 

underground waters are given in the following table: 1 

Climate and rainfall statistics at stations in southwestern Ohio. 

Cincinnati. 

--------------·-------1---------

9.9 9.8 . 10.4 10.9 9.9 11.5 

Precipitation (inches): Spring ............................................................... . Summer ............................................................. . Autumn ............................................................. . 7.9 8.0 8.5 Winter .............................................................. . 9. 7 8.9 10.0 Annual .............................................................. . 38.4 36.6 40.4 

---=:= Temperature (°F.): Maximum ........................................................... . 105 108 106 64 65 67 -17 -28' -18 ~!~~~fni::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 47 42 45 Mean annual. ....................................................... . 55 53 56 

------= 25 36 37 80 102 89 

Average days over oo• ............................................... . Average days under 32° ............................................. . 

Frost: 

Latest killing frost in spring .......................................... Apr. 24 May 5 May 30 

Earliest killing frost in autumn....................................... Sept. 30 Sept. 19 Sept. 3 

GEOLOGY. 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

GENERAL SUCCESSION OF STRATA. 

The rocks of southwestern Ohio, restricting the term "rocks" to 

the hard consolidated beds commonly so called, are predominatBly 

limestone, every formation exposed at the surface being chiefly of 

this character, except the Eden and Utica shales, and even in the 

Eden many thin layers of limestone are interspersed with the shale 

at intervals of a few feet. Beneath the surface the known rocks 

. with one exception-the St. Peter sandstone-are of similar charac1 Compiled from the climatologic report of A. J. Henry: Bull. U. S. Weather Bureau· 

No. Q, 1906, p. 714. 
22 UNf>:EMMUNn WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN O:EtiO. 

ter. This succession of hundreds of feet of limestone with almost 

no sandy water-bearing beds, makes the problem of water supply 

especially difficult. Fortunately, however, the surface is covered by 

a sheet of unconsolidated pebbly clay underlain locally by some sand· 

and gravel, and nearly all the larger valleys are deeply :filled with 

sand, gravel, or unconsolidated glacial material. The age, thickness, 

character, and water supply of the rocks are shown in the table given 

below. The distribution of the hard rocks is shown by the geologic 

map (Pl. I) and that of the unconsolidated material by the map of 

the Quaternary deposits (Pl. II). 

Geologic formations ~n southwestern Ohw and their water swpplies. 

t 

Water supply. 

Formation. Charn.cter and thick- ness. 

!XI Weathered outcrops. Deeper drilled wells. 

·. 

i Alluvium. 

Terrace gravels. Loess. 

i Wisconsin drift. 

illinoian drift. 

Cj Old gravels. 

J Mississippian sand- l'l stone. 

~ .. 

0 

f Ohio shale. 

A 

"Helderberg" lime- stone. 

Moderats amounts usu- Bedded or massive ally found in basr.l 

gray to buff lime- layers just above 

stone, varying from contn.ct with undergranular to com~t Considerable water lying "Clinton" 

"Niagara" llmestone.a and commonly c - yielded to shallow bmestone or above 

acterized by small wells. Earticular included 

openings lined with ayers of shale. Less 

~ minute crystals. amounts in joints or Thickness, 250 feet. soluti~s in ·r:: other ions. p 

!XI = 

Massive buff to tafink- Amounts generally ish horizon or Moderate amounts in cross-bedded lime- small, but some shalstone, comJ.losed low wells obtain sup- joints, bedding 

"Clinton" llmestone.a larl\rly of mmute plies. Usually acts as planes, and solution 

she I fragments. nnpervious bed and passages; springs nuFew joints or bed- gives rise to springs merous at top and 

ding partings along upper con- bottom. 

Thickness, 50 feet. tact. 

a Niagara as used by the Survey includes all of the limestone described in this report as "Niagara" and 

"Clinton," but in order to avoid confusion to the reader accustomed to the old nomenclature, and because 

of the lack of established names for the subdivisions here recognized, the use of the old names is con· tinned in this report. · 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

EJ }I ATh.LVium. an.il glacial ~ valieyfilling s 0' 

SilW.~. }i 

D 

Ricbnwna form.a.tion 

Maysv.ille £ol:lll.8.ti.o:n,:Eden . ana Utica s.bales,an.d.Po:in::t: 

Pleasant fox:=a.tian. .J 

WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 259 PLATE I 

s o 5 10 15 20 25 :Miles =r=~=======E======~======~====~C=====~· 1912 

Compiled by Myron L.Fuller 

GEOLOGIC ::MAP OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO from field observations, maps of' the 

Geological Survex of' Ohio, and 

memoranda byE.O.Uirich and 

A. F. Foerste 
GEotMY. 

Geologic formations in southwestern Ohio and their water supplies-Continued. 

~ 

Water supply. 

Formation. Character and thick- ness. "' p., Weathered outcrops. Dejjper drilled wells. 

"' 

Gray to blue lime- Amount of water very variable, the major- stone layers 2 to 10 ity of deep wells obRichmond and Maysinches thick, alter- taining very small nating with shales. Yields moderate sup- supplies or none at ville formations. Prevailinglycalcare- plies to shallow wells. all. Water in some ous throughout most wells brackish and in of thickness, which a few slightly sui- is 550 feet. phurous. 

Gray shales, weather- Furnishes small sup- Rarely water bearing. Eden and Utica shales. ing b r o w n is h . plies to shallow wells. No successful deep Thickness, 250 feet. wells known. 

Dark hard, compact 

ci shale; layers 2 to 10 Carries water locallfi, -~ Point Pleasant forma- inches or more thick, Outcrop is below level but success of dr · • -~ tion (contains true alternating with of Ohio flood plain. ing - is uncertain. 0 Trenton fossils). beds Qf impure gray Not utilized by shal- Some of the water Is -e limestones of similar low wells. 0 thickness. Forma- salty or sulphurous. 

tion, 150 feet thick. 

Massive compact gray- More or less water ~n-

"Birdseye" 1 i me- erally. present ut stone (so-called ish limestone, break- Does not outcrop in commonly salty. "Trenton" lime- ing with conchoidal southwestern Ohio. Not to be de/ii:nded stone of drillers). fracture. Thickness, on for supp ies of 600 feet. fresh water. 

Yields abundant supP o r o u s calcareous plies of "Blue Lick" 

St. Peter sandstone. sandstone. Thick· I Does not outcrop in ~'Y.f~h~~e 17';;ai:t ness, 400 feet. southwestern Ohio. 

above low water of 

Ohio. 

:~ I> 

0 Varicolored dolomitic -e 

... limestones and mar- Carries little or no wa- 0 bles with possibly Does not outcrop in ter at depths at -e 

§ shale in some places. southwestern Ohio. which it occurs in 

Thickness, 3,000 feet, southwestern Ohio. 

-~ more or less . 

.0 

§ 

0 . g Never penetrated in ·~ Probably prevailingly Does not outcrop in southwestern Ohio. .0 sandy (not pene- Waters likely to be 

§ trated). southwestern Ohio. strongly mineralized 

0 and unusable. 

UNCONSOLIDATED DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM AND GLACIAL VALLEY FILLING. 

Alluvium comprises stream deposits such as the gravel, sand, or 

clay fillings of the valleys. In southwestern Ohio it is present in 

greater or less amounts in all valleys, except a few sharp ravines near 
24 UND:EMMUND WAT:EllS OF SOUT.HWEST:ERN OHIO. 

the Ohio and other large streams, where the small tributaries may 

flow on the bare rock. Naturally, the alluvium is considerably developed along Ohic River, where it has a depth of 100 to 168 feet, 

as shown bY. the bridge, waterworks, and well borings at or near 

Cincinnati. Its width in places may be 2 miles or more. Similar 

deposits occur along the Miami, Little Miami, Mill Creek, and numerous other rivers and large creeks, some of them reaching a width 

of 1 to 1i miles, as on the Little Miami near Cincinnati. Few borings 

have been sunk through the alluvium in these valleys, but the depths 

in their lower portions are probably very similar to those in the Ohio. 

The thickness of the deposits doubtless decreases gradually upstream 

to· the north, although wells as much as 70 feet deep failed to reach 

rock in the valley of Miami River at Dayton. · 

Superficially the alluvium generally consists of a sandy silt, but 

sand or gravel is usually found not far from the surface and continues to the bottom, except for a few more clayey beds at intervals. 

According to the statements of drillers, sand predominates in most 

wells, the gravels usually being rather fine and in beds of no great 

thickness. Probably, however, the tendency is to underestimate the 

amount of gravel, as usually only the sand is brought to the surface 

from the well. In fact, most of the wells, being of the driven type, 

give little evidence of the materials penetrated. 

The pebbles in the gravel include many granitic fragments, presumably from the Canadian highlands, and have evidently been 

derived from the glacial drift of the region. Not all of the alluvium 

is of recent origin, however. In fact, except within 15 or 20 miles 

of the Ohio the greater portion is older than the last ice advance 

and is overlain in places by distinct morainal deposits of that stage. 

In general, however, the drift does not appear at the surface, apparently being covered by a relatively thin coating of glacial outwash or 

reeent alluvium. It is probable that many of the reported clay layers 

are really beds of till. The drift layers are not clearly recognized in 

wells and are doubtless generally of no great thickness. 

The surface elevation of the alluvium ranges from 450 or 500 feet 

near the Ohio to about 900 feet in the northern part of the area. 

TERRACE GRAVELS. 

Terrace gravels differ from alluvium in being_ the result of past 

rather than present stream action, :for they stand distinctly above the 

level of existing flood plains. In general, the terrace materials are 

somewhat coarser than the alluvium, gravels as a rule largely predominating. Sand and clayt)y sand layers are not uncommon, however, and serve to collect the waters, which not infrequently deposit 

enough iron along the upper contacts to bind the sand or gravel 

into a hard stony mass, known locally as "cement rock." One of 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

{ ~ ( 

I 

i 

i 

I 

LEGEND 

JJate=:-~ s·t tiJl ((:" ay~:, butl/Vith rnany peb- bles andson-te gravel layers, notdeeplyoxidized; no covering of" loess.) 

l\1oraines of latest ·invasion. L (Sand, gravel, and some till.) 

_f - -~- ] 

.s :Earliest till 

I 

I 

j --- ~ (Very clqye;1; num.er_ous g r a vel 

L

. laxers, iieeply oxldu:ec0over~ 

lla U?. by loess.) 

I 

38~0 L --- - -

_______ j ____ _ 

84°30' 

1 

Scal e 56o,ooo 

1912 

MAP Or--. SO-UTHWE S TERN OHIO? SHOWING QUATERNARYDEPOSITS 

By Fran k Leve rett, wit h modifications by Myron L. Fuller 
OlllOLMY. 

' these layers (Pl. VI, B, p. 44:) is very near the surface, but others 

occur at greater depths and have an important influence on groundwater supplies. Many of the pebbles are granitic, having been 

derived from drift materials brought down by the ice from the 

Canadian highlands. 

The terraces are found mainly along the valley of the Ohio and 

not more than 15 or 20 miles up the valleys of its tributaries. In the 

immediate vicinity of the Ohio they reach! a maximum elevation of 

600 feet and are covered with several feet of the fine yellowish clayey 

silt know:Q to geologists as loess. The best example of thi~ high 

terrace is in the broad gravel-filled depression, supposed to be an 

old channel of the Ohio, connecting the ,present valleys of Little 

Miami River and Mill Creek northeast of Cincinnati. Madisonville, 

Oakley, and Norwood are upon its crest, and St. Bernard and Bond 

Hill rest upon an extension which runs up Mill Creek valley east of 

Carthage, Hartwell, and Wyoming to Reading. Along the Ohio 

few terrace remnants are left, but in protected spots a few benches 

may be seen. North of Cincinnati the materials are mainly gravels, 

but some old till beds of considerable thickness may be included. In 

many places the gravel layers have been cemented by iron and break 

away in big conglomerate bowlders where the deposits are cut by 

streams. 

From the level of the higher terrace down to a few feet above the 

present flood plains of the streams are a number of intermediate 

gravel terraces. Of these the 550-foot terrace near the Cincinnati 

pumping station at California, the 550-foot terraces on both sides of 

the Ohio near Home City, the ·570 and 600 foot terraces at Terrace 

Park and Milford on the Little Miami, the 550 to 600 foot terraces 

at many points along the Miami south of Hamilton, as well as the 

less extensive benches along many of the smaller tributaries, should 

be mentioned. · 

Along the tributaries of the Ohio the alluvium gradually rises 

upstream, approaching ever nearer to the altitude of the benches, 

which are more nearly flat, until at 15 to. 20 miles from the Ohio it 

reaches the level of the highest loess-covered terrace and merges 

with it. Farther up the alluvium everywhere covers the terrace, 

reaching in the northern part of the area altitudes of over 900 feet, 

or 300 feet higher than its level near Cincinnati. 

LOESS. 

The loess, locally known as yellow loam, yellow clay, etc., is a 

fine, nearly structureless silt, with practically no coarse grains of 

any kind. It is yellowish buff in color, and although somewhat 

plastic when wet, is not a true clay.· It contains few if any pebbles, 
and in this region is rarely if ever distinctly banded. It occurs at 

all elevations from that of the 600-foot terrace described in the preceding section up to the highest crests near the Ohio at something 

over 900 feet. It is not .found in place below the 600-foot level, nor · does it occur north of the southern limits of the last or Wisconsin 

ice advance. (See Pl. II.) In southwestern Ohio the upland loess 

seems to be mainly if not altogether the result of wind deposition, 

but it is possible that the loess of the valley terraces is water deposited and may have been, in fact, the original source of the upland 

material. 

MORAINAL DRIFT. 

Morainal drift is the term applied to the ridges of gravel or 

pebbly clay formed at the margins of the ice sheets that invaded the 

region in the geologic epoch immediately preceding · the present. 

They are not true connected ridges, but are rather hills irregularly 

grouped together into more or less well-defined belts. (See Pl. II.) 

The older drift sheet thins out gradually to a mere fringe of pebbles, 

with no noticeable ridge at its edge ; but the later or Wisconsin 

drift is marked by a number of ridges both at its southern limit and 

at several points where it halted temporarily during its retreat. 

Being formed mainly at the ice margins where considerable water 

resulted from melting, morainal deposits are generally gravelly and 

lack the compactness characteristic of drift which has beerr overridden 

by the heavy ice sheet; in some places, however, they contain considerable amounts of subglacial till. The gravel is commonly stratified, but generally the layers are very irregular and slope at high 

angles, owing to their deposition by tumultuous waters. In general 

they rest on till surfaces, which form impervious bottom layers. 

The ridges are not commonly very high, 20 to 30 feet being a common 

maximum on the upland, though exceeded in some places; in the 

valleys, especially on the sides, the ridges are much more conspicuous. 

TILL. 

The ~ill is a heterogeneous mixture of clay and pebbles, with sporadic 

bowlders. In southwestern Ohio there are at least two tills representing differing glacial stages, the older being known as Illinoian 

and the younger as Wisconsin. The Illinoian, in its upper weathered 

portion, is yellowish or reddish, but below a depth of 10 or 15 feet it is 

an unoxidized grayish mass. In it clay predominates, making a firm, 

compact, impervious mass, in which pebbles are relatively few and of 

small size. The Wisconsin commonly contains less clay and more 

numerous and larger bowlders, consisting largely of limestone, shale, 

or other local rocks, though including many of granite from Canada. 

The mass is generally structureless, but in places an indistinct banding 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OT IS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

I 

i 

I 

39°1 

oo 'l 

i 

I 

LEGEND 

· , · , Surface deposits 0 - 15 thick 

(Wells duq ordriaed; pra.cticallyall eni.er roc!C;supplies rnairilyfl-omroclc) 

D 

SHrface deposits 15~25'Urick (Wells mainl.v;,dug:some obtain sup- plies from su,..;face deposit<;, some from rock) 

c 

Surfacea.eposi1s 25'-so'thick 

( 11'ells dug, drtven, ord?·illed; nuzny enter roclr., !Ju.t principal supplies are fi-o7rt su1Fa.ce deposits.) 

D 

Sur±ace (leposits 50'-75 truck 

(Well.s du_q, driven, or drilled; some enter roClo:-, bu.l:.supplies are abnost 

wholly from surra.ce deposits.) 

Sur£ace aeposits 75 '-100'thick 

( Wellsduq_ driven,ordrilled; f'ew enter rock.) 

D 

Su:r:face aeposits ~1.: 100 1 thick 

( Wellsdu_q, dT;"iven, or.drllled;ve?;yrew enter ronc)· uttle additwnalsuppl)' frorn.roclc. . 

Note: The indicated t hicl<nesses of the sur- face depo sits,which include t ill, alluvium, 

loess,and disintegrated rock, a re to be regarded as average minimum depths. In buried valleys the deposits are much thicker; and over buried' hilltops they are thinner than indicated. 

Where bedrock has not been reached a depth 

slightly in excess oft he deepest well is shown . 

1 

Scale soo,ooo 

WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 259 PLATE Ill 

.MAl? OF SOUTHWESTERN OillO,SHOWING TffiCKNESS OFWATER-BEARJNG SURFACE JJEPOSI'I'S 

.By MyronL :FuTier 

Surveyed in 1907 
may be noted, and more rareiy a thin band of stratified gravel is seen. 

The distribution of the till is shown by Plate II. It will be noted 

that with the exception of the valleys and the southern portions of 

Brown and Adams counties the whole of the region is covered with 

the till mantle. The map also brings out the limits of the late drift 

sheet and the extension beyond it of the earlier glacial drift. Near 

Ohio River and along the eastern margin of the outer dcift the deposits are very thin, but the thickness increases to the northwest until in 

the northern part of! the area the true drifts have a local united 

thickness of 100 to 150 feet or more. The variations in the thicknesses 

are shown on Plate III. 

The till mantles the entire uplands and in places extends beneath 

the valleys (Pl. II), although it is not usually seen because of the 

covering of later alluvium. In the Ohio Valley most of the till has 

been removed by erosion since its deposition and it is now only found 

on the uplands. 

The till represents accumulations of glacial materials dragged 

along and deposited beneath the ice sheets which covered the region 

in the geologic epoch immediately preceding the present. The' layers 

of gravel and sand ·represent the work of streams or other bodies of 

water occurring beneath the ice. The lower and older drift is made 

up mainly of materials derived from the weathered rock surface over 

which the ice moved, the_ major part being from local rocks and a 

smaller proportion from Canadian rocks. The later or upper drift 

has less material derived directly from the local rocks, the larger proportion coming from the earlier drift or loess over which the ice 

moved, but with a considerable admixture of rock fragments from 

Canada. 

OLD GBA VELS. 

On the uplands southeast of Mount Washington, a few miles east 

of the mouth of Little Miami River, a small area of sand and gravel, 

apparently underlying loess and old till, appears to be of very early 

origin, its accumulation probably having taken place either in the 

latter part of the Tertiary period or in the early part of the Pleistocene or "glacial" epoch. This is borne out by the finding of mastodon teeth in a well sunk at Mount Washington. The gravel in which 

the fossils were found lies only 15 feet below the surface and consists of large flat pebbles standing partly on end, as in many of the 

present streams of the region, indicating that the stream was a rapid 

one. The entire deposit is very thin, shale being entered at 20 feet. 

The gravels have an altitude of 700 to 750 feet and are limited to a 

square mile or two southeas~ of Mount Washington, known locally 

as the American Flats, and to a much smaller area at the northern 

edge of the town. , 
ROCK FORMATIONS. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE.' 

Oha.racter.-The "Niagara" limestone of southwestern Ohio is 

about 250 feet thick. In color it varies from very light gray· through 

darker and bluish gray to buff. In general it is rather massive, presenting relatively few bedding planes. In fact, in the large quarry 

north of Mad River west of Springfield the writer did not see a 

single parting in a quarry face 50 feet in height, and even on blasting 

the roek broke into irregular fragments without reference to any 

!:itructural planes. Elsewhere, however, the bedding is very marked, 

though in some places it is inconspicuous until brought out by 

weathering (Pl. VII, A, p. 45). The difference in the spacing of 

the parting planes in the lower . unweathered and in the upper 

weathered portions is very noticeable. The texture varies from compact to granular, the former prevailing in the grayish types, and 

the latter being more common-in the' more open and therefore more 

weathered buff varieties. Many small openings varying in width 

from a fraction of an inch upward occur and are generally lined with 

coatings of minute crystals. In a very few places these openings are 

so numerous as to give the rock a superficial resemblance to the 

calcareous tufa deposited by limestone springs. Fossils are present, 

but are not nearly so numerous as in many other formations. They 

indicate a marine origin for the limestone. 

The "Niagara " limestone outcrops around the borders of the 

region but dips gently away at the rate of 5 to 10 feet a mile both 

to the north and east. (See. Pl. I.) It is the highest rock in the 

area, being overlain only by the glacial drift. The elevation of its 

outcrop commonly ranges :from 900 to 1,000 feet. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE.' 

The " Clinton " limestone of southwestern Ohio, a relatively thin 

bed nowhere more than 50 feet thick, occurs at the base of the 

"Niagara" limestone and is shown on the geologic map (Pl. I) as a 

narrow band just south and :west of the outcrop of the "Niagara." 

It is predominantly of a buff color but is nearly always characterized 

by a pinkish tinge or by streaks of red which suggest the iron-bearing 

layers of other regions and assist greatly in its identification. It 

seems to be composed largely of minute fragments of marine fossils 

which were rolled about by the sea and finally deposited in horizontal 

1 Niagara as used by the Survey Includes all the limestones described, In this report as 

" Niagara " and " Clinton," but ln order to avoid confusion to the reader accustomed to 

the old nomenclature and because of the Jack ·of established names for the subdivisions 

here recogni~ed the use of the old nllUles is continued In this report. 
GEOLOGY. 29 

and cross-bedded layers. Bedding planes are more numerous than 

in the massive portions of the" Niagara," but the rock is denser and 

more insoh,tble and the bedding planes are less commonly developed 

as water passages, except near the base. Joints are very f~ in number. Altogether, the "Clinton" is a rather resistant rock and makes 

numerous abrupt scarps along the sides of many bluffs. (See Pl. VII, 

B, p. 45.) 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

Taken together the beds of the Richmond and Maysville formations 

are about 550 feet thick and consist mainly of thin layers, 1 to 10 

inches thick, of gray or bluish limestone, alternating with similar or 

somewhat greater thickness of soft bluish shales (Pl. VIII, B, p. 46). 

Both shales and limestones become yellow or brown by weathering. 

Outcrops near Cincinnati show a considerable thickness of rather 

fine shales at the top of the Maysville and at the base of the Richmond, but other parts of the formations are preP.ominantly of limestone. Geologically the Richmond and Maysville can be divided, but 

considered as water bearers they are essentially a unit and are therefore generally treated together in this r~port. The distinction between them is seldom recognized in wells! and they appear to carry 

water of the same general quality. The limestone layers abound in 

fossils that indicate the marine origin of te beds. 

The Richmond and Maysville formati ns are far more extensive 

areally than any other formation in sout western Ohio (see Pl. I), 

extending from the "Clinton" outcrop in Preble and Montgomery 

counties to Ohio River, and from central ~-reene, Clinton, and Highland counties to the Indiana line, thus 'COiistituting the surface rocks 

over the greater part of the region. They reach their highest elevation near their northern limit, where the~stand as much as 975 feet 

above sea level. From this elevation th descend to.less than 500 

feet along the line where they cross the hio, in southeastern Clermont County. At Cincinnati their top is about 550 feet above sea 

level or 430 feet above the river. I 

EDEN AND UTICA SHALES. 

The Eden shale consists of soft light and dark gray shales that 

weather yellow or brown on exposure. At the base of the Eden shale 

there are a few feet of drab shale representing the Utica shale. 

These two formations have a combined thickness of about 250 feet, 

nearly all of which belongs to the Eden shale. They are free from 

limestone, except for local layers in the Eden most of which are 1 to 4 

inches thick and are separated by several feet of shale. They con-· 

tain salt-water fossils, which indicate their marine origin. As the 
30 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Eden shale is among the lower formations, it outcrops only in the 

deep valley of the Ohio and in the lower portions of its tributaries 

(Pl. I). The upper part of the Eden surface near Cincinnati is about 

720 feet above sea level and its bottom is 4 70 feet above sea level or 50 

feet a.bove lower water of the Ohio. 

POINT PLEASANT FORMATION. 

The term "Point Pleasant " is applied to the series of thin beds of 

alternating limestones and shales carrying true Trenton fossils and 

occurring immediately below the Utica shale in the vicinity of Cincinnati and along Ohio River both to the east and the west. At Cincinnati the Point Pleasant has a thickness of about 150 feet, but only 

30 or 40 feet of this is above low-water mark, the top being considerably below the Ohio flood plain. The shales are dark-gray, hard, 

compact layers, 2 inches to a foot or more thick, and the limestones 

are impure grayish beds of about the same thickness. The heavier 

bedding and the more massive or compact character of the rock 

distinguish it from higher beds. It carries numerous marine fossils. 

" BIRDSEYE " LIMESTONE. 

The " Birdseye " limestone? the so-called " Trenton " limestone 

of well drillers, is generally a massive, compact, grayish limestone, 

breaking with curved fractures, but at some points, as in the oil 

regions, it appears to be dolomitic and more or less porous in its 

upper part. In southwestern Ohio its total thickness is about 600 

feet, but it does not outcrop, its upper part, or contact with the 

Point Pleasant formation, being about 100 feet below the level of 

Ohio River at Cincinnati. 

During the oil and gas boom of 25 to 30 years ago many wells 

were sunk to the "Birdseye." From the data thus obtained the 

depth to the formation throughout the area became known and it 

was possible to construct a map (Pl. IV) showing by contours the 

elevation of its surface above sea level. Comparison with the elevation of the surface of the ground (see Pl. IV) gives the depth to 

the " Birdseye " at any p3:rticular point. The surface of the " Birds1 Detailed investigations by E. 0. Ulrich and others, made since the field work for the 

present reporf was completed, 'show tltnt the geology ·beneath Cincinnati is far more complicated than has hitherto been, supposed and that the elevation of the " Birdseye " lime· 

stone is considerably greater in· the vicinity of the city, at least locally, than appears to 

be indicated by the structure contours of Plate IV. It is possible, if not probable, however, that the so-called "Trenton," upon which the structure contours are actually based, 

is not the top, but rather a· lower· and harder bed within. the " Birdseye." if this is so, 

it will account in large measure for the discrepancies between the contours of the map 

IDJ.<l the elevations of tbe " Blrds11ye,'' as given in the teli:t. 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

i 

1--

LEGEND 

Surfa

~ c e contours 

( Show£ngeleFation oFlandw£th 

reF'e1·ence to "'ean sea level. 

Contour i n terr,alJOO Feet.) 

R oc

~ k con.t m=s 

( SJwwing eleFation of' the "B inkeye" 

limestone with ref'erence to s ea level. Contour int erva l S O f'eet. The saltwater is t'Ound a'bout: 700 

Feet 'below t:he ·top o f"the"Birilseye'J 

A:rea..m :w--lri.Chflows of s alt w a t er c an.beobta:in.ed. Maxi- Tm nnh ea.d600 :feetahovetide 

Cities and towns having 

priblic w a:terworks 

in.l906 

1 Sc ale soo,ooo 

WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 259 PLATE IV 

\ 

"' 0 

s o s 10 1s 20 25 Miles ~~~==~~~~~==== ~~====~ 1912 

MAP OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO, SHOV\TINGARTESIAN CONDITIONS 

By MyronL.Fuller 
GEOLOGY, 81 

eye" serves as a convenient reference horizon for other formations, 

notably for the water-bearing bed in the St. Peter sandstone below. 

ST. PETER SANDSTONE. 

The St. Peter sandston~ in southwestern Ohio appears to be a 

shaly and calcareous, but more or less open, sandstone about 400 feet 

thick. It lies about 850 feet below the surface at Cincinnati, from 

which elevation it descends northward and eastward to a still greater 

depth before rising again. Its nearest outcrop is in southeastern 

Wisconsin, about 350 miles from Cincinnati. Eastward and southward it seems to thin out and disappear. Its porosity probably is 

due largely to the removal of the lime that originally filled the spaces 

between the sand grains. 

CAMBRIAN AND ORDOVICIAN DOLOMITE. 

The Cambrian and Ordovician dolomite lies, according to well 

records, about 1,225 feet below the surface at Cincinnati, its nearest 

outcrop being in the Appalachian region 200 miles southeast. It 

appears to be a buff, brownish, pink, or reddish dolomitic limestone 

or marble, possibly with a sporadic bed or two of shale. It was penetrated to a. depth of about 1,000 feet by the well at the Moerlein 

brewery, but its bottom has never been reached. Observations in 

Tennessee lead to the belief that it is at least 3,000 feet thick. 

STRUCTURE. 

The part of southwestern Ohio herein discussed lies on the crest 

and flanks of what is known to geologists as the Cincinnati anticline. 

It is a broad rock arch or dome, the center of which is near Cincinnati. From it the rocks dip gently away to the east, north, and 

west, but rise to a still higher. point in central Kentucky to the south. 

Nothing in the surface relief indicates the presence of this anticline, 

and it is recognized only by geologic studies. On Plate IV contour 

lines, or lines drawn through points of equal elevation, on the" Birdseye " limestone, as determined by well borings, are shown. .ParaJlel 

to these contour lines the rock is horizontal, whereas at right angles 

it dips away at a rate indicated by the distance to the next contour, 

which is just 50 feet lower than the first. The rate varies frOIIl·'a 

little more than 10 feet to the mile near Miamisburg to about a feet 

to the mile in western Hamilton County and. near Dayton. · The contours also bring out the fact that tQ.e dome is not entirely, regular 

but is marked by a crease of steeper dips along a line from DaytQn 

to Hamilwn. 
82 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO, 

UNDERGROUND WATERS. 

RELATION TO SURFACE FEATURES. 

So intimate is the relation of underground water to surface features 

that in many places the former may be said to be largely controlled 

by the latter. Thus, the amount of water absorbed depends to a large 

extent on the slope of the catchment surface; the direction and rate 

of movement of underground waters, especially of the shallower 

waters, depend largely on the direction and slope of the surface; the 

shape of the water table conforms in general to the surface configuration; the leakage from water-bearing beds as a rule depends on the 

cutting of the beds by depressions of the surface; and the depth, head, 

volume, and many other factors are materially affected or controlled 

by the character of the land surface. The study of surface features 

is therefore of great importance in all underground water investigation. 

In southwestern Ohio, where the plateau constitutes the greater 

part of the surface, it is naturally an important source of ground 

water, the occurrence of which is intimately related to the nature of 

the surface formation, whether this be drift or rock, to the width of 

the plateau remnants where cut by valleys and ravines, and to the 

nearness of the bluffs at its edges. 

On the sharp and narrow crests between the ravines the rainfall 

is quickly shed to each side, very little soaking into the ground; and 

even the small amount absorbed drains rapidly from the narrow 

ridges, leaving them little or no groun<l water above the level o£ the 

valley bottoms. 

For similar reasons the amount of ground water decreases toward 

the edges of the valleys. A few miles back from these borders, especially in the flatter portions, ground water usually lies very near the 

surface, often rising in wet seasons within 5 feet of the top ; but as 

the valley is approached the water level becomes much lower, until 

near the edge no water whatever may be found within reach of ordinary wells, both soils and rocks being completely drained. 

Though the above generalizations are true throughout the area, 

whatever the nature of the deposits, the shortage of water is much 

more marked in certain types of materials. Where the surface materials are loose and porous sands and gravels the loss of the water 

is much more rapid than where they are pebbly clays and other 

relatively impervious materials. Likewise the loss is greatest in 

porous rocks and in those which, like the limestones, have numerous 

bedding planes and small solution passages that permit the ready 

escape of the water, and is least in impervious shales. 

Although on account of their small area the valleys are not the 

most common source of ground water in southwestern Ohio, they are 
UNDERGROUND WATERS. 33 

in many ways the most important, as they furnish supplies not only 

for three-fourths of the waterworks in the region, but for most of 

the manufacturing plants as well. The· abundance of water is due 

to several causes. As the valleys are much lower than the surrounding hills they form natural lines of drainage, toward which the water 

in the ro~ks, as well as that upon the surface, moves. The water 

falling on the hillsides likewise finds its way to the valleys and is 

added to the supply. The main reason for the importance of the 

valleys as a source of water, however, arises from the gravel and 

sand with which the larger ones are filled to considerable depths; 

these materials, which have porosities of 25 to 40 per cent, huld 

immense quantities of water, which is readily given up to wells. 

SOURCE. 

POPULAR CONCEPTIONS. 

In view of the number of different popular conceptions as to the 

source of the underground waters in southwestern Ohio a few words 

on the subject may not be out of place. In this, as in other regions 

in Ohio and in the upper Mississippi Valley, it is a common belief 

that the waters are derived through sub1;erranean passages from the 

Great Lakes. The level of Lake Michigan is 581 feet, which is only 

75 feet above Cincinnati, and with the exception of a few of the 

valleys is several hundred feet below the general level of this part 

of Ohio. The elevation alone, therefore, precludes such a source for 

the waters. 

Along the Ohio another view, namely, that the ground water is 

derived from the river, is widely held by the people, who have long 

noted that in many places only the wells at or near river level procure water. Careful studies of the ground waters, however, have 

shown that they move in a manner similar to surface waters; that is, 

from the hills toward the valleys, and join the streams or underground flows in the latter just as surely as the tributary joins the 

master surface stream. When the river rises it backs up both the 

surface streams and the ground waters, which explains· the fluctuations in ground-water level. Only when sudden :6oods lift the river 

faster than the ground water can come in do movements away from 

the river take place. Even then the water does not penetrate far 

inland. 

LOCAL SOURCES. 

The independence of the ground waters, even when near the river, 

is indicated by their composition, which is almost always quite different from that of the surface waters, the ground waters usually carry491300 -WSP 259-12--3 
34 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

ing very much larger quantities of mineral matter than the river 

water~ Wells only 20 feet from the bank, if lightly pumped, will 

ordinarily draw from the ground water rather than the river, and 

wells sunk considerably below the river bed are even less likely to 

draw from the stream. If the wells are heavily pumped, however, 

river water may be drawn in. The nature of the ground-water movements and the reason why wells adjacent to rivers seldom get river 

waters is shown by figure 2. 

Most of the ground water in valleys percolates from the surrounding hills, working its way downward through joints or fissures and 

({'Ia\ water t~~e- ___ _ 

~...?!.--- --:--

FIGURE 2.-Cross-section showing ground-watet• conditions in valleys. A, lightly pumped 

well not getting any of its water from the river; B, heavily pumped well securing more 

or less river water. 

outward along bedding planes or other partings. That coming from 

below is relatively small in amount. 0n the hilltops the water is 

mainly derived directly from the rainfall and represents the portion 

not yet absorbed by the deeper rocks. 

GENERAL SOURCES. 

The water of the deeper rocks in southwestern Ohio is derived 

mainly in one or the other of two ways: ( 1) By absorption at their 

outcrops, and (2) by penetration downward through joints. 

FIGURE 3.-Geologic cross-section of southwestern Ohio. a, Cambrian and Ordovician 

dolomite ; b, St. Peter sandstone; c, " Birdseye" limestone (so-called "Trenton" of 

well drillers) ; d, Point Pleasant formation (Trenton fossils) ; e, Eden shale (including 

at base a small thickness of Utica shale) ; t, l'viaysville formation; g, Richmond formation; h, " Clinton" limestone; i, "Niagara" limestone; j, till. Dotted line indicates 

sea level. 

From the geologic cross section (fig. 3) it is seen that the conditions of outcrop vary considerably. The" Niagara" limestone, which 

is the best water-bearing formation in the area, has a broad fiat outcrop presenting abundant opportunity for the absorption of water 

from the overlying coating of drift materials, which serves as an 

admirable feeder. The" Clinton," because of its hardness, not un~om-
UNDERGROUND WATERS. 35 

monly forms steep slopes or scarps (Pl. VII, B, p. 45) at its outcrop, 

making the absorption of water from the outcrop very difficult, 

especially as the drift " feeder " is in many places thin or absent. 

The limestones and shales of the Richmond and Maysville formations 

have very favorable catchment conditions, the outcrop being both 

level and covered for the most part by a drift "feeder," but unfortunately these formations contain enough shale to greatly hinder the 

circulation of water. Moreover, the lower part of the Maysville 

formation outcrops mainly on the steep bluffs of the Ohio and of its 

larger tributaries and thus has little chance to absorb water. The 

Eden shale likewise outcrops mainly in steep cliffs, which fact, taken 

in connection with the prevailing shaly character, effectually keeps 

out the water, making the formation the poorest water bearer in the 

district. Only the upper part of the Point Pleasant formation outcrops in the region, but, owing to the solubility of the limstone layers, 

it absorbs considerable water locally. These rocks outcrop farther 

south in Kentucky, but it is doubtful whether any of the water which 

FIGURE 4.-Sect!on illustrating the feeding of water beds through joints (water-bearing 

joints indicated by the heavier lines). A, B, Water horizon between limestone and 

compact, jointed rock fed by joints at A and B; C, water horizon between shale and 

compact jointed rocks with local circulation only ; D, water horizon fed from sandstone 

bed; E, sandstone bed fed by joints; 1, flowing well from bedding plane between limestone and compact jointed rocks; 2, dry hole (no circulation a long bedding plane) ; 

3, flowing well from bedding plane fed from sandstone. 

they contain in southwestern Ohio comes from this source. The 

"Birdseye" limestone does not outcrop in Ohio, but does outcrop 

over an extensive area in central Kentucky. Being locally rather 

soluble it is possible that some of the water may penetrate from the 

outcrop- The St. Peter sandstone does not appear at the surface 

anywhere to the south or east, apparently thinning out in these directions. To the north it comes to the surface in southern Wisconsin, 

about 350 miles from Cincinnati, where it has an elevation of about 

800 or 900 feet. In view of the large volume of water which it contains, and o:f the thick covering of overlying beds, it seems likely that 

much of its supply is derived :from the distant outcrop. 

Besides the water which enters at the outcrop, much undoubtedly 

penetrates to the underlying beds through joints, as is shown diagrammatically in figure 4, in which A and B represent joints feeding 

a limestone furnishing water to well 1; C, a joint feeding a local 

bedding plane; D, a bedding plane connecting with sandstone :fed 

by joint E and furnishing water to well 3. 
36 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

It is probable that the water which so abounds at the top o£ the 

" Clmton" limestone reaches it in part through joints in the "Niagara" beds, as at A and B in the figure. Some water may reach the 

top o£ the Eden shale through joints in the Richmond and Maysville 

formations, but because o£ the insoluble character o£ the rocks the 

'Circulation is very slight, as at C in the figure. It is also barely 

possible that some o£ the water o£ the St. Peter may reach it through 

joints, but the amount so derived is proba-bly very small. 

OCCURRENCE. 

Waters in rock.-The underground waters derived in the several 

ways outlined above occur in the rocks under many conditions. In 

absolute amount that in the pores or spaces between the particles 

which make up the rock is probably greatest, but unfortunately in 

many of the finer-grained rocks the water in the pores, though abundant, is so firmly held that little or none of it is yielded to wells. 

In southwestern Ohio the St. Peter sandstone is the only formation 

that yields large amounts of water from the pores of the rock itself, 

the other formations giving it up only when it occurs along joints, 

bedding planes, solution passages, or similar openings. 

Joints are smooth fracture planes cutting the rock in different 

directions. In limestone the joint openings are at first hardly appreciable, but as the waters work their way downward they gradually 

dissolve mineral matter from the walls, widening the joints until the 

water moves freely. Such a joint in the" Niagara" limestone is shown 

in Plate V, A. So universal is circulation of this type that a joint 

is rarely found which does not possess solution features or ironstained walls that give evidence of the passage o£ water. 

Bedding planes are even more important as water bearers than 

are the joints, for the water seeps along them at many points. The 

bedding planes, like the joints, are at first not generally actual openings; they simply represent lines along which the water percolates 

by reason of imperfect adhesion between layers of different texture 

or different materials. Under the action of the watersJ however, 

they rapidly widen and afford passage for large amounts of water: 

The openings differ, however, from those of the joints. Instead of 

forming an open crack the waters dissolve a complicated system o£ 

meandering passages, such as those shown in Plate V, B, which represents a bedding plane in the Maysville formation. 

As the joints and bedding planes become wider the water tends 

to concentrate along certain lines, forming solution passages, many 

of which are of considerable size. Plate V, A, shows a spring_ issuing. 

from such a passage, which was uncovered and traced for a long 

distance during the process of quarrying. Plate VI, A (p. 44), shows 

another solution opening in the same quarry. · 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WAT ER-SUPPLY PAPER 259 PLATE V 

A. LARGE SOLUTION CHANNELS IN NIAGARA LIM ESTON E. 

Due to enlargement of vertical joints. Spring issues from bedding plane on left. 

B. RAMIFYING SOLUTION CHANNELS ALONG BEDDI NG PLANE IN MAYSVILLE FORMATION. 

Showing circulation of rock waters. About one-fourth nat.ural size. 
UNDERGROUND WATERS. 37 

W ater·s in drift.-The drift includes the local irregular gravelly 

heaps and ridges and the pebbly clay or fill which overlie the rocks 

of most of the area (Pl. II). The clay itnot the ordinary compact, 

impervious, water-laid clay, but carries · places more or less sand 

and pebbles, which are either iiTegulady distributed through the 

mass, conve~ting it into a heterogeneous I mixture, or form more or 

less well-defined sandy or gravelly layers. Nearly everywhere it 

contains considerable water, even in itJ more clayey portions, in 

much of which the water gathers into litt e tubular channels, as well 

as saturating the more porous sanely or gravelly portions. The 

drift not only directly supplies importantlamounts of water, but also 

serves as a feeder to the underlying roc~ s, which will absorb more 

water from it than if they were exposed cl rectly to the rain. 

The more gravelly drift in the ridges qontains little water, except 

in the very lowest parts, because of the ealse with which it drains out 

from the open porous material. I 

Waters in alluvium, etc.-All the largclr stream valleys and many 

of the smaller ones contain considerable Jepths of clays, alternating 

with more open sands and gravels that hold great quantities of 

water and afford excellent supplies to mJny towns and to numerous 

. ' -~ 

FIGURE 

C?\!?:~ 5.-Section showing valley a lluvium ~"~ f ed from be'~ dding planes and solution passages. A, Bedding plane, feeding alluvium with ter ddrived from joint 1 ; B, join t 

feeding alluvium with water from joint 2 ; C, solutllon passage feeding alluvium. 

manufacturing establishments. Nearly all of this water enters from 

the higher lands bordering the valleys Jnd joins the underflow by 

seepages from bedding planes and by flows from joint planes and 

solution passages (see fig. 5). Analogoub conditions probably exist 

at hundreds of points along nearly ever~ stream in the region. 

HEAD. 

Many of the wells on low ground, both those in rock and those in 

the alluvial fillings of the valleys, yield flowing water, and nearly 

everywhere the water is under artesian pressure, rising very materially when encountered. The pressure, though depending on certain general principles, differs considerably with the different materials in which the water is contained and with the different degrees 

of confinement to which it is subjected. 

Waters in rock.-Water contained in rocks may be either unconfined, in the upper weathered portion of the rock masses, or it may lie 

deep and be confined under pressure in pores, joints, bedding planes, 

or solution passages. 
38 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

In deep confined waters the head is dependent on the factors that 

control the entrance of the water. Entering at the outcrop of sloping 

rocks, such as those of southwestern Ohio (fig. 3, p. 34) the water 

passes gradually downward under the action of gravity, is prevented 

:from escape by overlying more or less impervious beds, and fills all 

the openings and pores which it can reach. As the beds are filled 

the water in their lower part is subjected to the pressure of the overlying water, and, when reached by a well, will rise in proportion to 

the height of the water level in the higher portion of the bed, giving, 

if the surface is low enough, an artesian flow. 

B A C D F 

F IGURE 6.- Section showing conditions of flow in inclined porous bed, becoming thinner. 

A, Porous bed between Impervious beds B and C, thinning out at E, thus furnishing 

conditions for flow at D, but not ut F. Applied to the St. Peter sandstone, A would 

represent Its Wisconsin outcrop, D the flowing wells at Cincinnati, and E Its t ermination somewhere to the south or east. 

The underground conditions controlling such flows differ considerably, some of the simplest being shown by figures 6 and 7, in which 

the water is represented as occurring in porous beds. In reality none 

of the beds in southwestern Ohio except the St. Peter sandstone is 

porous in the ordinary sense of the word, and the water really occurs 

in joints, solution passages, and bedding planes, in which the head 

depends on the source of the water and th.e conditions of retention. 

·where the opening drains freely into some valley or other depression 

the water may flow through the subterranean passages as does the 

~'IGURE 7.-Section showing conditions of flow In Inclined porous bed, becoming Impervious. A, Porous bed between impervious beds B and C, grading into nonporous bed at 

E, the confinement giving rise to a flow at D but not at F. 

water of a surface stream over its bed, but where no ready escape 

offers the water accumulates, as in the porous beds previously described, subjecting the lower part to considerable pressure,_ whose degree varies with the level of the surface of the confined water. 

Waters in drift.-In general the drift surface has a considerable 

slope from north to south, its elevation declining from 1,100 feet near 

its northern limit to about 800 feet at its southern border. As already 

explained it is characterized by numerous passages or porous layers, 

many of which appear to slope in the same direction as the surface. 

It therefore occasionally happens that the pressure transmitted in 

such passages from some higher point farther north is sufficient to 

lift the water to the surface even on the flat plains, and flowing wells 
UNDERGROUND WATERS. -39 

result, as near Brookville in Montgomery County. The conditions 

are still more favorable in valleys or other depressions in the drift, 

in which flows are even more numerous. 

lV aters in alluvium, etc.-The head of the waters in the valleys is 

due to at least two different causes, one of which is the pressure transmitted from higher points farther upstream, and the other the pressure derived from the passages and lamination planes where the valley 

bottom is in drift or from joints, bedding planes, and solution passages wher~ it is in rock. In order to obtain a flow from upstream 

pressure the water must have free entrance upstream, and must be 

prevented from rising downstream by some clayey or other more or 

less impervious layer. A similar cover must be present to give a 

flow when the alluvium is fed from the rocks. Unfortunately such 

a cover is lacking in many localities or is too imperfect to confine the 

water, which escapes upward and joins the streams. It is because 

of this fact that flows are not more common in valleys. 

SUPPLY. 

By available water is meant that portion of the ground water 

which can be economically obtained by man. It does not include the 

amount held in the microscopic pores of the compact rocks and 

never yielded to wells in appreciable quantities, even though it may 

be present in amounts greater than the free water. 

Of the different materials in the region the drift and alluvium 

hold the largest percentages of available water. In the drift the 

amount probably varies from about 5 per cent in the clayey portions 

to 30 per cent or more in the more sandy or gravelly portions, the 

average probably being fully 15 per cent of the volume of the drift; 

that is, a saturated layer 100 feet thick contains the equivalent of 

a 15-foot layer of water. In alluvium sandy materials generally predominate, the average porosity being probably at least 20 or 25 per 

cent. 

In the solid rocks the percentage of water is generally less. Of 

the limestones the "Niagara" and "Clinton" carry the most water, 

but even in these it is doubtful if the free water in a. bed 100 feet 

thick would make a layer more than a foot deep. In the shaly limestones the amount is still less, there probably being not more than 

one-eighth or one-fourth as much as in the "Niagara," and in the 

shales the amount of free water is so small as to be practically negligible. In the deeper limestones, such as the " Birdseye," the aggregate amount is considerable, but probably would not aggregate more 

than a few inches to each hundred feet, and in the still deeper 

Cambro and Ordovician dolomite the amount is very small indeed . 

. The St. Peter sandstone is an exception among the rocks of the 
40 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

region, for it probably carries at least 10 to 15 per cent of water, 

containing in its thickness of approximately 400 feet the equivalent 

of a 40 to 60 foot layer of water. 

Exclusive of the water Of the St. Peter sandstone, which is too 

high in sulphur for ordinary use, and the water of the· " Birdseye" 

limestone, which is very generally salty, by far the greater part of 

the water occurs either in the drift and alluvium or in the" Niagara" 

and "Clinton" limestones, both of which are at or near the surface 

in this area are easily reached in shallow wells. Rock wells that 

go below the level of the " Clinton " limestone ha.ve rather small 

chances of success, although a few obtain satisfactory supplies; the 

majority either fail entirely or get supplies too small for ordinary 

uses. Deep wells give no promise, for though in most places they 

can obtain water, it will generally be either salty or highly charged 

with sulphur. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

Practically all rocks contain more or less water, and differ only 

in the degree of their saturation. Those containing water in only 

small amounts may play an important part as confining beds and 

must be considered in any discussion of the water. The several 

formations recognized in southwestern Ohio and their water-bearing 

capacities are considered below. 

UNCONSOLIDATED DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM AND GLACIAL VALLEY FILLING. 

Most of the water of the alluvium and of the interbedded glacial 

deposits works its way downward from the surrounding highlands 

by seepage from bedding planes, along solution passages or through 

joints in the rocks in which the valley is cut. Occasionally, as during 

floods, when the water in the stream rises faster than that in the 

ground, the flow may be reversed and river water may penetrate the 

alluvium on each side or may even force its way downward. As a 

rule, however, as is shown by the greater hardness of the water in 

the alluvium as compared with the river water, the alluvium contains 

chiefly the more mineralized .waters from the rock hills. It also derives water directly from the rain that falls on its surface. 

Ordinarily the alluvium is sufficiently permeable to permit wat~r 

to percolate through its entire body, which, in fact, is always saturated below the water level of the stream. In severe droughts the 

water level in the smaller and more . steeply sloping valleys sinks 

below the level of the stream bed, and the channels, except perhaps 

for a pool here and there, become dry. In most valleys, however, the 

water level is not far below the surface and there is considerable ,. 
WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 41 

underflow. All the water occurs in the pores or openings between 

the grains, the amount so held usually varying from 25 to 35 per cent 

of the bulk, according to the nature of the material. ' 

Although the alluvium is generally saturated with water below the 

level of the stream, all of this is not available for wells. Clayey 

materials, although perhaps containing 40 per cent of their bulk of 

water, hold it so firmly that little or none is given up to wells, and 

even sands do not yield all that they hold. In general, however, the 

sands and gravels yield their water freely, and in order to procure 

an abundant supply a well need only find a bed of material thick 

enough to permit the insertion of a sufficient length of strainer that 

is coarse enough to prevent the grains from passing through the 

screen. In most valleys such beds can be easily found, especially in 

the center, but in some the requisite sands or gravels are absent near 

the margins and the wells 

are failures. 

TERRACE GRAVELS. 

The water in the terrace 

gravels, like that in the alluvium, is derived :from 

the rocks forming the valley walls, from rainfall on 

the terrace surfaces, and 

occasionally :from backwater of the flooded 

FIGURE 8.-Diagram showing occurrence of water in 

terrace sands and gravels. a, Well obtaining 

water from local water-bearing ba,ln nt f; 

b, well missing local basin and stopping short of 

StreamS, seepage from the general water level ; C, well missing local basin, 

ll ll b · l but obtaining water from general supply; d, 

va ey wa s elng t 1e well t•eaching loca l basin g, but penetrating< Its 

principal source of the impervious undel'lying layer and permitting the 

water in both the gravels water to escape. 

and the alluvium. vVaters derived directly from the rainfall are 

collected by the layers of cemented rock and do not immediately join 

the ground-water body; hence they are less important as a source 

of supply in the terrace gTavels than in the alluvium. 

As already indicated, the terrace materials are generally open and 

porous, permitting the water, especially in the smaller terraces, to 

drain rapidly away, leaving only small supplies above the general 

ground-water level of the valley. In the broader terraces, such as 

those north of Cincinnati, the water may be held back by the friction 

of the sand and gravel and may stand considerably higher than it 

does near the stream. 'Vhere cemented layers (Pl. VI, B) have been 

:found local water pockets commonly occur in depressions in the upper 

surface (fig. 8), a fact also true to a less extent of the clay layers. 
42 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Because of the ease with which the water drains from the gravels 

wells must generally be sunk to the level of the stream in the adjacent 

valleys before they reach suppljes (fig. 8, o). A few wells draw supplies from pockets in the surface of the cement or ironstone layers 

(fig. 8, a), but many fail to strike such pockets (fig. 8, b), and others 

penetrate too far and lose all supplies (fig. 8, d). Clay or till layers 

collect the water in a similar way and some of them afford supplies 

to wells. 

LOESS. 

The principal source of the water of the loess is rainfall, and the 

water of the loess of the flat upland crests is derived solely from this 

source. On the hillsides and benches, however, especially where the 

loess rests directly on the rock, some water doubtless percolates 

laterally into it from the rocks against which it rests. 

The water occupies the pores of the silt itself, there being no joints 

or other openings. Owing to the fineness of the silt the water ordinarily does not readily drain away, but is held in the material, especially where it rests on ~k or other relatively impervious substance. 

Where the loess is thin and is underlain by porous beds it generally 

contains no water. Where it is thick it commonly yields moderate 

supplies o:f water to shallow wells, especially where it rests on an impervious substratum of rock or clay, but, except near the Ohio, it is 

generally only a :few :feet thick and wells go through it into the 

underlying materials. It is not a satisfactory source of water in 

southwestern Ohio, but in a few places it furnishes enough for stock. 

MORAINAL DBIFT. 

The moraines are commonly the highest deposits in the region 

and hence are :fed almost entirely by rainfall. Where they are 

banked against the valley sides, however, considerable water may 

enter them from the rock or drift in which the valley is cut. 

The moraines are commonly open and porous and the water drains 

out :from them very readily, little usually remaining above the impervious till sheet or rock on which they rest. Where till is present, 

however, in the body of the moraine, the water may be held in local 

layers or pockets considerably above the base and in a few places 

may be confined under ar!esian pressure. 

Because of the free drainage few shallow wells obtain water from 

the moraines, although some find a little on top of or within the clay 

or till layers or at the contact of the main till sheet below. Commonly, however, the wells have to penetrate the underlying till to a 

considerable depth before getting adequate supplies. 
WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 43 

TILL, 

As the till for the most part occupies the highest levels, it derive!'! 

most of its water directly from rainfall, few rocks being in a position 

to yield water to it, but some of the till that lies in old buried valley;, 

doubtless derives water from the rocks. The contact of the 

"Niagara" and underlying "Clinton" limestone is everywhere a 

strong spring horizon and considerable water must pass into the 

drift where it covers the contact. 

The clayey portion of th¢ till, like practically all other fine material, undoubtedly contains considerable water in its pores. In 

fact, the larger part of its 1water is so held. It in'Cludes, ,however, 

many gravel or sand layer , due either to water action contemporaneous with the ice or to the subsequent removal of the fine silt 

which filled the spaces between the pebbles of gravelly till layers. 

The openings so formed ar~ practically everywhere saturated with 

water, as are the small mo~'e or less tubular openings found in the 

clay itself. Both the gra el layers and the tubular passages in 

general have a distinct slo e, and where the point of emergence is 

at some distance or the pa$sage of the water is obstructed in any 

way considerable artesian p:¢ssure may be developed. 

The water movement thrJugh the till is very slow, owing to the 

friction, and drainage takes place only with difficulty. As a result 

the water level stands very high, in many places within a few feet 

of the surface, especially w ere this is unbroken by near-by valleys. 

Even on narrow ridges mudh water is retained by the more clayey 

The waters in the more layey portions of the till are given up 

types of till. ~ 

with difficulty, although en ugh will usually seep into a dug well 

to supply household demand~. For stock, however, it is often necessary to go to considerable depth. To supply a driven or drilled well, 

a gravelly or sandy layer J a defi.nite bed. of sand or gravel must 

be tapped. Where the dri t is deep such a layer can usually be 

found, especially over a bur ed valley, and iJ?. some places, as in the 

vicinity of Brookfield, flow'ng wells may be obtained. In general 

it may be said that there ar few districts where the till is 30 feet or 

more thick where water ca~· not be obtained in amounts ample for 

domestic and farm purpose . The great di*culty in such deposits 

is that it is frequently too ea y to get water, e$pecially in wet seasons. 

Many diggers stop at 10 or 12 feet and then see their wells fail in 

the first dry season, when a1 25 to 40 foot well would have carried 

them through any ordinary ~eriod o£ drought. 

i 

OLD GRAVELS. 

The waters of these old sands and gravels are nearly all derived 

from the overlying loess and till, which in turn are fed mainly by 
44 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

rainfall. Possibly a small amount may come from the roc~s where 

the materials lie against the higher crests. 

The water occurs in the pores of the sands and gravels and is 

not under pressure, for the beds, though overlain by relatively impervious till, are too flat for the development of artesian head. 

The materials are everywhere reached by shallow wells, which 

generally obtain sufficient supplies for domestic uses within 15 feet 

of the surface. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE.' 

At a few localities, as at Limestone City, southwest of Springfield, the "Niagara" limestone lies very near the surface and may 

absorb considerable water directly from the rainfall. Throughout 

the greater part of the area, however, the " Niagara '' is overlain by 

thick deposits of drift. On the uplands this drift is mainly till, but 

in the valleys much. of it is stratified. The till is the main source 

of supply, being saturated with water (p. 43), which it constantly 

feeds to the underlying limestone. Little water probably enters the 

rock from the valley drift, as the movement is normally toward 

and not away from the valley. 

The limestone, because of its general granular and open character, 

is commonly very soluble and permits the ready formation of water 

passages, especially in the weathered portion near the surface, where 

it is in some places almost honeycomlred with openings (Pl. VI, A). 

Considerable water passes along the joints, which locally become enlarged into open passages (Pl. V, A, p. 36), and much flows along the 

bedding planes. The water generally works its way downward to 

the base of the formation, where it collects along the contact with 

the underlying more insoluble " Clinton " limestone, and passes laterally toward the outcrop of the beds in the valleys or elsewhere. 

A similar concentration also occurs along a number of the shale 

layers in the limestone. 

Usually, if there is a considerable thickness of the limestone and 

the boring is not too near an outcropping edge from which the water 

can readily drain, a well will procure water if carried to one of the 

shale layers or to the base of the limestone, where, as pointed out 

above, the water has a tendency to collect. In many places, however, 

it will not be necessary to go to this depth, wells generally procuring supplies from the upper weathered portion wherever there is 

any considerable coating of till to serve as a feeder. Some of the 

deep wells also obtain water from isolated joints, bedding planes, 

• See footnote, p. 22. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER·SUPPLY PAPER 259 PLATE VI 

A. LARGE SOLUTION OPENING IN NIAGARA LIME STON E. 

Du e to enlargement of bedding plane. Openings of this type afford important 

supplies to wel ls. 

JJ. CEMENT-ROCK LAYER IN TE RR AC E GRAVEL. 

Such layers may collect water and afford supplies to wells. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER - SUPPLY PAPER 259 PLAT E VII 

A. NIAGARA LIMESTONE. 

Showing development of partings capable of carrying water in upper portion due 

to weathering, while lowe r, unweathered portion remains dense and massive. 

B. CLINTON LIMESTON E. 

Showing cl iff character of outcrop and spring formed by waters collecting on an upper impervious layer. 
WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 45 

and solution passages at levels intermediate between the top and bottom layers, but such openings are comparatively few in number and 

are often missed. In general, the " Niagara " limestone is a fairly 

reliable water bearer where it forms the bedrock and is overlain 

by till. 

"CLINTON" LIMESTONE.1 

The water of the " Clinton " limestone is derived mainly from 

the " Niagara " limestone, which overlies it in most localities fl;nd 

which conducts the water downward to it through joints and solution passages ( p. 44). In some places near the outcropping edges of 

the formation the " Niagara " is absent and the saturated till rests 

directly upon the surface of the " Clinton," acting as an efficient 

feeder. The uncovered outcrops occur mainly in vertical bluffs, into 

which no rain can penetrate, but some doubtless directly enters the 

limestone where it is only thinly covered by soil, as it may be locally 

for some distance immediately back from the bluffs (Pl. VII, B). 

The " Clinton " limestone usually contains some water in solution 

passages or in enlarged joint or bedding planes, especially in its 

basal portion. The value of the " Clinton " as a water bed depends 

chiefly on its action in collecting water from the overlying "Niagara" ' 

and conducting it alongthe contact to the nearest outcrop, where it 

emerges as springs (Pl. VII, B). So numerous are the springs 

at this contact that in many places they serve to show the position 

of the beds, it being not uncommon to see a line of seeps encircling 

a hillside at the "Clinton" horizon, even where the rock itself is 

covered with a ·considerable thickness of drift. In fact, the " Niagara " and " Clinton " contact is the chief spring horizon in the region. 

The " Clinton" limestone, through the springs to which it gives 

rise, furnishes abundant supplies to many farms and even to some 

towns, and where it li~s within the reach of surface weathering it 

may yield supplies to numerous shallow wells. Wells also encounter 

water passages within the rock itself, and especially at its base, 

obtaining from it a considerable supply. 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

Over most IH their extent in southwestern Ohio the Richmond and 

Maysville formations are covered with thick deposits of drift, consisting of till in the uplands and stratified gravel in the valleys. 

The till, which is generally saturated in its lower portion, is their 

principal water feeder, little entering them from the valley deposits, 

toward rather than away from which the ground water is moving. 

Considerable water also enters these formations from the loess in 

1 See footnote. p. 22. 
46 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

-the areas beyond the till boundary (Pl. II), and small amounts are 

derived. directly from the rainfall on the bare exposures on some of 

the hillsides. Where the beds are overlain by the " Clinton " limestone the water. generally enters at their outcropping edges, seeping 

down from the overlying till. l-ittle, if any, water probably enters 

through the "Clinton," except possibly where the limestone is cut 

by joints. 

The water occurs in the Richmond and Maysville formations in 

several ways. Some doubtless percolates along the partings between 

the numerous laminre of shale, some occurs in joints, and some appears 

along the bedding planes, marking the contact of limestone and shale 

layers. The water passing along this contact follows the top of 

the insoluble shale and gradually dissolves ramifying passages in 

the under surface of the overlying limestone. (See Pl. V, B, p. 36.) 

The size of the passages is generally limited by the thickness of the 

limestone beds, which is commonly from 1 to 10 inches (Pl. VIII, B), 

and also by the extent of the soluble layers, many of which are lenses 

inclosed above and below by shale or by layers grading laterally into 

shale. For these reasons water passages are neither numerous nor. 

large. 

As the Richmond and Maysville formations consist of alternate 

layers of shale and limestone, and as the shale readily crumbles on 

exposure and the limestone is dissolved by percolating waters, the 

beds disintegrate rapidly under the action of the weather, forming 

loose, porous masses which, under certain conditions, yield to open 

wells supplies sufficient for ordinary domestic and farm uses, especially on the broad flat crests, where the disintegrated. rock is covered 

by 10 or 15 feet of loess and till. On the hillsides many wells fail 

to get satisfactory supplies because of the ease with which the water 

drains from the loose rock. Many wells sunk where the rock is very 

near the surface or on top of the sharp-crested ridges are likewise 

unsuccessful. 

Most of the deeper wells, which penetrate below the weathered 

portion of the rock, obtain very small supplies and many fail entirely. 

The water of some is brackish from salt which it has dissolved during 

its slow circulation through the rock. A few wells obtain moderate 

supplies. The difference in the yield from well to "ell is due to 

differences in the size and distribution of the solution openings. A 

few wells encounter such openings and get supplies, but most of 

the wells fail to find them. 

EDEN AND UTICA SHALES. 

The disintegrated portion of the Eden shale derives most of its 

water directly or indirectly from rainfalls, the indirect supply passing through talus which has slipped down from overlying rocks to 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 259 PLATE Vlll 

A. WELL PROTECTED BY CEMENT CURB AND PLATFORM. 

B. RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

Showing alternations of shale and limestone. T he close spacing of the sha le prevents the formation 

of large solution passages, 
WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 47 

cover the outcrop of the shale. Where the shale lies beneath other 

rocks the water may reach it through joints connecting with the surface or with higher water-bearing beds, or it may penetrate along 

bedding partings or other openings. Besides the water in the disintegrated ~nd weathered outcrops, the Eden and Utica doubtless 

carry small amounts in shaly partings or joints. Water also penetrates along the more soluble limestone layers but usually does not 

reach very far from the outcrop. 

Except in their disintegrated superficial portion practically no sup-

. plies can be obtained from the Eden and Utica shales, the small 

amounts they contain being so held that practically none is given up 

to wells. Few if any drilled wells in these rocks yield supplies in 

southwestern Ohio. 

POINT PLEASANT FORMATION. 

The Point Pleasant formation outcrops in southwestern Ohio only 

along the banks of Ohio River, where it is generally covered with 

clayey or sandy silts, and it is entirely submerged at times of high 

water. In general (seep. 33), the movement of ground water, like 

the movement of surface waters, is toward and not away from the 

streams, and during normal stages of the river little or no water is 

absorbed by the rocks from the st:r;eam. During sudden floods, however, the river rises more rapidly than the ground water and then the 

river water doubtless backs up into the openings in the rock. · 

The Point Pleasant formation, or its equivalent, although outcropping in southwestern. Ohio only along the river, comes to the 

surface farther south in Kentucky, where it doubtless absorbs considerable quantities of water, a .part of which may even reach the 

Ohio. Small amountS also probably reach it through joints in the 

overlying rocks. 

The water occurs mainly in meandering passages dissolved out of 

the limestone layers along their contact with impervious shaly beds. 

These passages commonly form a network, although some larger 

isolated passages occur. As the Kentucky outcrop is considerably 

higher than. that in the Ohio Valley, the water may be under preSsure sufficient to lift it considerably above the level at which it is 

encountered. Small amounts of water may also occur in joints. 

Owing to the facts that the Point Pleasant is the country rock only 

in the Ohio Valley, and that even there it is overlain by flood-plain 

deposits carrying much larger quantities of water, it is seldom looked 

to as a source of water supply in southwestern Ohio, except where, as 

at Cincinnati, the demands are such as to necessitate the utilization 

of every possible source. Moreover, although it contains considerable 

quantities in the aggregate, the distribution of water in it is not only 

irregular and uncertain but is likely to be brackish, especially at 
48 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

a distance from the river. For these reasons and because of its considerable depth beneath the uplands this formation is not a promising 

source of supply. 

" BIRDSEYE " LIMESTONE. 

The "Birdseye" limestone outcrops in north-central Kentucky in 

the valley of Kentucky River and other streams 60 to 90 miles south 

of Cincinnati. Though exposed only in the valley bottoms, it probably absorbs considerable water, which penetrates downward to the 

north along the more soluble layers of the limestone. More or le.c;s 

water also probably reaches the rock through joints coi:mecting with 

the surface or overlying water beds. 

The water seems to occur mainly along open passages dissolved in 

the more soluble portions of the limestone or along joint or bedding 

planes. As there are few shale partings to limit the size of the openings, many of them are several inches or more in diameter; they are 

often recognized in drilling by the "dropping of the drill." Some 

of these passages have been encountered in central Ohio as much as 

1,000 feet below the surface, and fragments showing solution action 

have been brought up, indicating a rather free circulation at some 

time in the past. 

Most wells penetrating the " Birdseye " limestone to the bottom 

find water that is under considerable pressure and that rises somewhat 

when reached. Unfortunately, however, it is not only exceedingly 

hard but is generally more or less salty and is unfit for drinking or 

for boiler or industrial uses. 

ST. PETEB SANDSTONE. 

It is believed that a large part of the abundant supply carried 

by the St. Peter sandstone has been derived from its Wisconsin 

outcrop, inasmuch as the head and volume is far greater than would 

be expected if the water were fed through the overlying" Birdseye" 

limestone. 

The water occurs in the pores of the rock, occupying spaces that 

were either never filled by the lime cement or that were formed by 

the subsequent solution of the lime. These must be rather large, as 

sufficient head is transmitted from the outcrop, 350 miles away and 

approximately 850 feet in elevation, to lift the water to about 600 

feet at Cincinnati, a very moderate loss considering the distance. 

The rock is not everywhere saturated, however, and wells must penetrate it for some 300 1

feet to obtain the best supplies. 

Abundant water is generally obtained from the St. Peter sandstone 

when encountered by wells, and flows are obtained when the altitude 

is not over 600 feet above sea level. The many flowing wells at 

CinciJ:ma.ti obtain their water from this formation. The main supply 
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES. 49 

is found about 300 feet below the top of the bed, or 1,200 to 1,300 feet 

below the surface at Cincinnati, and the flows are not materially 

increased by going deeper. (See Pl. IV, p. 30.) 

CAMBRIAN AND ORDOVICIAN DOLOMITE. 

The Cambrian and Ordovician dolomite in Ohio is dense and not 

very soluble and probably permits little if any water to penetrate it 

from its outcrop. Where opportunities occur, however, water doubt~ 

less penetrates it from the overlying saturated St. Peter sandstone 

or from other sandstones which may be below it. Wat~r; if it 

occurs, will probably be found in solution passages representing 

enlarged joints or bedding planes. Although the Moerlein well 

penetrated it for 1,000 feet the dolomite gave no material addition 

to the supplies obtained from the St. Peter sandstone, and there is 

no reason to think that it will yield any usable supplies in southwestern Ohio. 

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE WATER. 

Southwestern Ohio is particularly unfortunate as regards rock 

waters, good water-bearing formations being absent. The "Niagara " 

and "Clinton," as has been seen, yield moderate supplies to relatively 

shallow wells; the Richmond and Maysville supplies are uncertain; 

practically no water at all is obtained from the Eden shale, and 

only small amounts from the Point Pleasant formation; the " Birdseye" limestone and St. Peter sandstone yield saline or sulphur 

water, and the underlying beds within reach of the drill appear to 

carry no water whatever. 

In the drift, however, especially in the northern half of the area, 

the region has a source of supply that is ample for all domestic and 

farm uses, and except along the Ohio, the alluvial gravels of the 

valleys afford abundant water for public supplies and for manufacturing purposes. 

PUBLIC W A.TER SUPPLIES. 

The public water supplies in southwestern Ohio are derived from 

streams, artificial ponds, springs, and wells. Stream water in its 

raw or unfiltered state is used only where; as at Cincinnati, the demand is too great to be supplied from any other source. Artificial 

ponds are seldom used, as sources of supply in the Ohio Valley, as 

in most places more and better water can be obtained from wells. 

Springs furnish supplies for several towns and would doubtless be 

more generally utilized if they were more widely distributed, but 

they have origin mainly in a single geologic formation-the "Clin491300 -WSP 259-12---4; 
50 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

ton " limestone. Wells are by far the most important sources in the 

diStrict, 90 per cent of the towns being so supplied. Most of them 

are in valleys and draw their supplies from the alluvium, but some 

are on the till uplands. The distribution of the public water supplies 

when the field work was done is indicated on Plate IV (p. 30). 

The following table summarizes the principal public water supplies 

of southwestern Ohio in 1906, giving the ownership, source, number, 

diameter, depth, and head of wells, the system of distribution, services 

or taps, fire hydrants, daily consumption, domestic and fire pressure, 

and other data. Further particulars concerning many of the supplies 

are given in connection with the town notes, to which references are 

given in the table. Analyses of a considerable number of the waters 

will be found in the tables of analyses on pages 198 to 207. 
Town. 

Statistics of municipal water supplies in southwestern Ohio in 1906. 

Population, 1910. Ownership. Source. Geologic source. 

Wells. 

---------------------1------l----------------l----------------l-------------ll-------------------- BROWN COUNTY. 

~r;r:;~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: BUTLER COUNTY. 

Hamilton ............. __ --------------· Middletown •. ··---------.... ··---- ..... 

Oxford •. __ .. -·-· .. ··--·--· ....•..•.•..• 

Inche8. Feet. Feet. 

1,580 Public .••.....•.. ·······--·- Surface ..•••.. ·-----········ •.. ----- .•.. __ ........ ; .........•..... -- ......•.•........ -- ---·· 1,840 ....• do •••••.....•........... Wells ..•...............•••.• Point Pleasant........ 4 4-6 108 

35,279 Public ..•.•..•••••.•••.•.... Wells .••••....•............. Alluvium ••..........• 13,152 ..•.• do •••••••......•............. do ••..•...•.•.•....•..•...... do ...••........... 

2,017 .••.. do •••••....••••.•.•.•.•...... do ....••.....•..•.•.•••...... do •••.•....••••••• 

23 

1 

7 

3 

6-B 

G25 

12 

76-135 20 

36 16 

~ ···-·-··ia 

1 -········· ····-·---· ---·----·· South Excello •.. _____ .......•..•.•..........•... ___ Private ••••...•••••••••••.•.....• do ...•.• --------· .•..•.. __ ... do •.•••........•.. 7 6 35 

CLARK COUNTY. 

Springfield.---.-·---- ____ . __ ------·- ... 

CLERMONT COUNTY. 

Batavia ............ -·- •. -.. ---.--.- .. --- Loveland ••......................... --. Milford ••••.•. __ .. --· ..... -·-····---··- NewRichmond .•.............••....•.. 

CLINTON COUNTY. 

Blanchester .. ___ .. ___ .. --- __ . ___ .··---_ 

NewVlenna ..............•....•...•... Wllmington ...................•.•..... 

DARKE COUNTY. 

Arcanum •••.•....................•.••. 

GREENE COUNTY. 

46,921 Public ••••.•..•..•...•...... Wells and 1llter galleries ..... Alluvium .••....•••.•. 1 b30 22 20 

~:~t ~~~~: :::::::::::::::::::: ~~::: ::::::::::::::::::: · A:nU.:.=tum:::: :::::::::: · ··-·-·T ···· ··· i2. ·---···50· · -- ·· ····7 

1,321 Public ••.•..•....•.•...•.•....... do .....•........•...• _ ........ do................ 3 6-B 64-72 24 

1,733 ..... do •••••...•..•.•........ Ohio River ...•••...•....... ·····-···-·-·-··-·--···--·-··-·-··-··-·-···- •.•.....•. --··----·-

1,813 Private ••••...••.•••..•••... Surface .•••••...........•... ·-·-·······-·-···-·-·----···-·-··-··--·-···--·--···--·-·--·--·-- 793 Public •.•••...•..•.•••...•.. Wells •.......•........ _______ Niagara............... 4 -·--·-.;·~· 60 . :1:0 

4,491 Private ••••...•....•............. do ••.•.................. Gravel under till...... 6 u-o 65-172 :1:0 

1,361 Public .••......•............ Wells .••••....•...•......... Niagara .............. . 6 8 

Osborn ••••...•.......... ·....•.•.....•• 866 Public ...................... Wells .•........•..•.....•... Alluvium............. 4 8 •••••••••• -·---····- Wilberforce ••................•••.•..••. --···--·-··- Private ••.•................. Springs ..................... Till .................•....•..•....•.••..... -----··--· ......... . Xenia................................... 8,706 ..•.• do •.•.......•........... Wellsandspriugs •.......... Gravelundertill...... 14 6-10 30-40 10 

HAHILTON COUNTY. 

Arlington Heights •.•.•.......••..•••.. BondHill .•...............•.•..........• 

~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Glendale •••••..•.. ---- •••..•.. ------·-- Harrison •..................•........... Hartwell ...•.....•.. ·----- ............ . Hyde Park .•.•.•.............•..•..... 

798 

1,081 

3,618 

3,423 

1,741 

1,368 

1,823 

1,691 

t~:~urg=c.:::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Public ..•................... Wells .•..................... AllQvium............. 4 6 135 -·-----··- From Carthage •......•...... -----·---··-·-·-·-·-·---··-···-····--·-·······-·-···-· ...........•........ ·······----····----· Public ••.................... Wells ..•............•....... Alluvium............. . 2 8 .......•.. ··-----·-- Private ....•..................... do •...............•.......... do................ 4 3 100+ --·--·-·-· 

:v~:~urg=tc:.::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

a Feet. 
Town. 

Statistics of municipal water supplies in southwestern Ohio in 1906-Continued. 

Population, 1910. Ownership. Source. Geologic source. 

Number. 

Wells. 

Diameter. 

---------------------l------l----------------l----------------1-------------l-------------------- HAMILTON COUNTY-continued. Inches. Feet. Feet. 

Idlewild .......................................... . Kennedy Heights...................... 598 

Lockland.............................. 3,439 

From Norwood .••••.......................................................................................•.••........... From Cincinnati. •............................................................................................•........... From Wyoming •••••••................................................................................................... Madisonville. • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 193 Public ...................... Wells....................... Glacial gravel......... 3 6-8 150 21 

Norwood... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 185 ..... do ........................... do ....•...................... do................ 2 10 260 ......... . Pleasant Ridge........................ 1, 769 From Cincinnati. ...............................................................•........•.•.•...•.•...................... Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 985 Public.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wells....................... Glacial gravel... . . . . • . 3 8 150 50 

~y~=~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: f;Wa ..... do •••.•••...............•.... do ••.•........•..•.•.... Alluvium............. 2 14 270 40 ..... do ....•.........••........... do .••••...•....•.•........... do................ 4 8 164-197 45 

IDGHLAND COUNTY. 

Hillsboro •••..•........................ Leesburg ............•.................. Lynchburg ..•••....................... 

MLI.YI COUNTY. 

4,296 Public •••••••••.•.•••••..••• Wells .............••..•..... Alluvium .........••.. 828 ..... do ••••••...•••••.•.•......... do .••••..•.•....•••..... Niagara(?) .......... . 923 ..... do. • • • •• . . • . • . . • • . . • . . . . Springs. . • • . • • . . . . • • • . • • . . . . Glacial drift at top of 

rock. 

11 ..••••.•••...•.•....••....•... 

4 

~ErJllt~:n:::·.::::::::::::::::::::::: 2,038 Public ••••••••........•••... Wells ..•.......•.•.•.•..•..• Alluvium............. 3 6 55-65 12. 

1,207 ..... do •.•••.•.........•..... Springs ••••........•....•..• Top Clinton limestone ......................•...........•...... 

MONTGOME~Y COUNTY. 

~~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: n~:~~~ -~-~~~g:::::::::::::::::::::: -~~l)i'.;:::::::::::::::::::::: IilK~~~~:::::::::: Miamisburg............................ 4,271 ..... do ..•.•.....................• do .••.•...................... do ............... . National Military Home .•......................... Government •••.................• do .••••................. Gravel under till •..... 

4 

77 

5 

16 

6-8 

8 

6 

80 30-60 

60 45-58 

±0 

10 

35 

¥~~:t:: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~ ·p,:i~atii::::::::::::::::::::: ·w--ellii:::: ::::::::::::::::::: · A:liuviiim: :::::::::::: · ·· ·· ·· ·2 · · · · · · · ·· 5· · ······54· · ·· ··· · · · · West Carrollton........................ 1,285 ..... do ••••••.....•...•..........• do .•••....................... do.......................... 6-8 65 10 

PREBLE COUNTY. 

Eaton •................................ New Paris ...•......................... West Alexandria ...................... . West Manchester ..•..•................ 

WARREN COUNTY. 

Franklin .............................. . Lebanon .............................. . Waynesville ...•....................... 

3,187 Public ••.....•.•............ Wells •.....•.•.............. Alluvium .........•.•. 2 870 Private •••••.•••............ Well ........................ Moraine .............. . 1 

1,030 Public ••.•...•••.•........•. Wells ....................... Alluvium ............ . 445 ..... do •••••..•..••..•............ do .••••................. Till .................. . 4 

3 

4 

4 

4 

2,659 Public •••.•..•.............. Wells ....................... Alluvium ............ . 2, 698 ..... do •.••....................... do...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glacial drift .......... . 705 ..... do .••....•................... do ...................... Alluvium ............ . 

6 50-100 ±0 

17 12 

8 134 16 

9 64-67 

6-8 63 10 

6 96-104 ±0 40 
Town. 

BROWN COUNTY. 

Distribution or storage. Taps. Fire hy- drants. 

Average 

daily 

consump- tion. 

Pressure. 

Domestic. Fire. 

Remarks. 

GaUons. POI.IRids. Poonds. Georgetown •..................................•...........••...•.•..••....................................................... Not installed in July, 1906. 

Ripley......................................... Reservoir............ • 240 90 100,000 140 140 

BUTLER COUNTY. 

Hamilton. . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 300 

Middletown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Direct. . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . • 1, 500 

Oxford ••••......•............................•....•• do . . . • . . . . • . • . . . . • 350 

South Excello ••................................ Reservoir .....•••..•.• None. 

CLARK COUNTY. 

Springfield..................................... Standpipe . . • • . • . • • . . . 6, 000 

CLERMONT COUNTY. 

Loveland...................................... Elevated tank......... 300 

¥llford..... . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Standpipe............. 160 

CLINTON COuNTY. 

~;mYr.=:.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -~~eft~~-:::::::::::: 

DARKE COUNTY. 

Ammmm...................................... Direct ....•........•.. 

GREENE COUNTY. 

125 

180 

225 

265 2,fOO,OOO 

250 1,500,000 

53 135,000 

7 ------------

522 3,500,000 

30 

40 ·····ss;ooo· 

35 10,000 

81 30,000 

35 25,000 

96 96 More wells and larger pumrs are planned. 60 120 One 35-foot open well, others driven. 

45 45 ~:etri:~ situated a mile from town and 1(5 

.............. 80 Used for fire only. 

65 65 Eighty per cent from wells. 

•........ 85. ................. In process of installation, 1906. 

85 

60 100 

50 110 Raised by air lift. 

58 75 

Osborn. • . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Standpipe . . . . . . . • . • . . 160 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 · 125 

Wilberforce •.....•.......... .- .................. Tank ...•••......................•................•......................... Used in college buildings only. Xenia ••........................................ Standpipe............ 1,200 200 500,000 55 55 

HAMILTON COUNTY. 

9::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -~~f~~:::::::::::: ·---~~- ······-~- ···-~:~· Madisonville •••....•.....................•...•. Direct .... c........... 350 85 125,000 

&§~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ lSig~~~~~~~~~~~~ --~~:- .... ··3· ----~~=-

65 

45 

40 

50 

100 

85 

80 

110 

90 

95 

100 

85 

100 

85 

80 

110 

Well enters rock at 135 feet. Water at 128 feet. 

Includes Arlington, Hartwell, and Lockland. 

'"d 

~ 

~ a 

~ 1',3 

!;!J 

~ 

rJl 

c::l 

~ 

~ l;li 

.rn 
Statistics of municipal water supplies in southwestern Ohio in 1906-Continued. 

Town. Distribution or storage. Taps. 

mGHLAND COUNTY. 

Hillsboro ••••••........•. ·............•.••••••.• Standpipe •..•.•••.••• Lynchburg ••••••.............................. Elevated tank ....... . 700 

150 

:MLUII COUNTY. 

~e.~:W:U:::·:.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~=t6iii8iiJ<:::::::: 500 

200 

KONTGOliERY COUNTY. 

• 

Average Fire hy- daily 

dra.nts. consump- tion. 

Gallons. 

72 300,000 

24 20,000 

55 115,000 

30 135,000 

Pressure. 

Domestic. Fire. 

Pounds. Pounds. 

50 50 

50 140 

40 80 

75 75 

Brookville •••.•............ :................... Air-pressure tanks . . • . 100 40 40,000 .................•...... Dayton ••••.••....•......................•••••• Direct ••••••.••....••• 17,700 1,500 6,200,000 60 125 

l~:t:~~~~-;·;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ·te;~~;~~~~~~~ .... ~. :::::::~: ::::S~S: ......... ~. ::::::::~r: PREBLE COUNTY. 

Eaton.......................................... Sta.ndpipe . • • • • • • • • • • • 570 76 120,000 58 150 

NewPinis •••••.••...•......•.•........•.. · ..... Direct................ 20 .•.•...... ·····'······ ....•.......•........... West Alexandria •....•......................... Standpipe . .-........... 170 14 50,000 ....•................... West Manchester. • • • • • • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CompreSsed air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . 25-500 100 

WARDEN COUNTY. 

Franklin . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . • . . . . . Direct ............... . 

~~ii::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -~~~!~~::::::::::::: 

480 

670 

100 

65 

78 

200,000 

125,000 

40,000 

65 

70 

70 

100 

120 

70 

Remarks. 

Direct pressure durinfm fires. Water possibly from base of Clinton I estone. 

New system. 
REPORTS AND MAPS. 

USE OF REPORTS AND MAPS. 

Determination of surface deiosits.-Over the greater part of 

southwestern Ohio the unconsolidated surface deposits are more 

valuable as water-bearing beds than are the underlying rock formations and it is therefore important that their nature at any given 

point should be readily ascertainable. Their character at the larger 

cities and towns may be determined at a glance from Plate II, which 

shows the distribution of the glacial or surface deposits of the region . 

.At smaller towns not shown on the map the nature of the surftlce 

materials can be determined from the table showing undergroundwater conditions given for each county (see county descriptions). 

Places away from a town or village may be approximately located 

on the map (Pl. II), and the surface formation readily determined. 

Determination of country roek.-Like the unconsolidated or surface deposits, the country rock or bedrock immediately un,derlying 

any of the larger cities and towns can be determined directly from 

the· geologic map (Pl. I), which shows the distribution of the rock 

formations beneath the surface deposits. Likewise, the rock formations beneath the smaller villages may be determined from the tables 

in the county description or from the map. 

Best source of supply.-.Although it is a common belief that good 

supplies can always be obtained by going" deep enough," this is not. 

necessarily true. . In some localities the deep supplies are the best; in 

others the shallower waters are preferable; and in still others no great 

difference exists between the two. To ascertain which is the best 

supply at a given town or village, the table of underground-water 

conditions in the county descriptions should be consulted. These 

will show the relative amounts of the supplies of the surface deposits 

and of the surface rocks and indicate the best of the rock sources and 

its probable supply. If the point at which the supply is desired is 

not in a town or village it should be located on the map of glacial 

or surface deposits (Pl. II) and on the geologic map (Pl. I), as 

already explained. The nature of the surface deposits and underlying rock being thus determined, the relative water-bearing capacities can be found by consulting the general table of rock formations (pp. 22-23) and the descriptions of surface deposits and rocks 

(pp. 23-30). 

Thickness of surface deposits.-Many factors affecting the success 

of wells hinge on the thickness of the surface deposits. Some formations, like the till, which when thick are strong water bearers, are of 

little value when thin; hence the thickness of the deposit becomes a 

matter of great importance. .Again, the cost of drilling and the 

length of casing required is materially affected by the relative 

amounts of surface and rock formations to be penetrated. 
56 tJNfill::MMtJN'D WATERS QF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

To determine the thickness of the surface deposits or the depth to 

rock, at a given city or village, reference sh<?uld be made to the tables 

of underground-water conditions (see county descriptions), which 

give the exact depth where this has been disclosed by wells and the 

estimated depth where the actual depth is unknown. The thickness 

of the surface deposits outside the cities and villages may be found 

by locating the point on the map showing the thickness of the surface 

deposits (Pl. III). 

Depth to water in the St. Peter sandstone.-For some uses, such, 

for instance, as cooling, volume of water is principally desired and 

quality is of minor importance. To obtain a supply for this use wells 

may be sunk to the St. Peter sandstone, whose water, though of little 

value if quality alone is considered, is cold and abundant. Too few 

wells have been sunk to the formation to permit accurate determination of its depth in this region. Fortunately, however, during the 

oil and gas boom 25 to 30 years ago many wells were sunk to the 

" Birdseye " limestone, and it has been possible, by means of contours 

on the artesian-water map (Pl. IV, p. 30}, to fix the elevation with 

reference to sea level of that limestone throughout the area. To 

determine the depth to the" Birdseye" at any given point the elevation of the rock contour should be subtracted from the elevation 

ind~cated by the surface contour, the position of the rock contour 

above or below sea level as indicated by the plus or minus sign being 

considered. To find the depth to the water-bearrng bed in the St. 

Peter add 700 feet (the approximate distance of the principal w~ter 

bed of the St. Peter below the top of the " Birdseye") to the figure 

already obtained; the result will be the approximate total depth to 

the main supply in the St. Peter. . 

Flowing wells.-A. few wells in the higher formations flow, but 

there is no general artesian bed in southwestern Ohio above the St. 

Peter sandstone which carries water that is under considerable head . 

. Although this sandstone lies far below sea level, even at Cincinnati, 

its water will rise to 590 feet above the sea if penetrated by wells and 

will flow wherever the surface elevation is less than 590 feet, except 

where, as at Cincinnati, its head has been reduced by the drilling of 

numerous deep wells. To determine whether or not a flow may be 

expected it is, in general, simply necessary to find whether the well 

mouth is above or below the 590-foot level. This may be determined 

from the artesian-water map (Pl. IV, p. 30}, on which the area below 

this level is indicated. 

Water-beaTing capacity of fO'l'ffl;ations.-The character of each of 

the rock formations and their water supplies are concisely described 

in the generalized section of rock formations on pages 22-23 and are 

described in, detail on pages 28-31. 
ADAMS COUNTY (WESTERN HALF). 57 

Distribution of surface deposits and rock formations.-The general 

distribution of the rock formations is shown on the geologic map 

(Pl. I), and the distribution of the surface deposits is shown on Plate 

II. Further details of the distribution will be found in the county 

descriptions. 

Quality of water in particular· deposits and formations-The quality of the underground waters in southwestern Ohio is set forth in 

Table 2 (p. 208), in which the analyses are classified according to 

their occurrence in the several surface deposits and rock formations. 

UNDERGROUND WATER BY COUNTIES. 

ADAMS COUNTY (WESTERN HALF). 

By M. L. FULLER. 

In the field investigation for this report the work in Adams County 

was confined mainly to the western half, or to that part lying west 

of a north-south line drawn through a point about 2 miles east of 

West Union, and the following descriptions are limited to this area. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Adams County, like other counties similarly situated, is marked 

along Ohio River and its tributaries by a rather rough.topography, 

crests standing 400 to 500 feet above the river, alternating with valleys or ravines of equal depth. Farther back from the river the 

streams have not cut so deeply, and the uplands are gently rolling or 

even flat. Even where the stream cutting is deepest the crests 

between the streams, although narrow, are generally flat. Along 

the Ohio the thin mantle of yellowish silt or loess somewhat softens 

the surface relief, and in the northwestern part of the county the 

drift, though very thin, helps to make the surface still flatter. The 

elevation of the uplands ranges between 950 and 1,000 feet. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS, 

The water-bearing formations include the alluvium, the loess, and 

the pebbly clay or till, among the unconsolidated deposits, and the 

" Niagara " and " Clinton" limestones, the Richmond and Maysville 

formations, and the Eden shale among the harder rocks. 

SURF ACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The most extensive alluvial deposits, those along the Ohio Valley, 

include not only the recently deposited materials of the present 

stream but also much gravelly outwash brought down by the glaciers 
58 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

which formerly occupied the region to the north. Although of diverse origin, the materials differ little in character and are not readily 

separated even on the ground. The alluvial deposits consist of silts, 

sands, and gravels) the latter two predominating in general, but including clays of considerable thickness at some localities. The general arrangement seems to be as follows: (1) A surface layer of 

loamy sand or sandy clay over the flood plain, (2) 10 feet or more of 

clay with some very fine sand, and (3) alternating layers of sand, 

gravel, or clay to a depth of 50 to 100 feet or more. 

Along the smaller streams the alluvium is thinner and even more 

varied in composition, ranging from fine silts in the flat, shallow valleys on the upland plateaus to coarse gravel in the ravines. 

The water supplies of the silty alluvium are small and uncertain, 

and in many of the flat upland valleys this material is therefore not 

available as a source of water. The gravels of the ravines will almost 

always yield water where they are 10 feet or more in thickness, pro-· 

vided the valleys do not slope so steeply that little water is retained. 

In the more extensive deposits, such as those along the Ohio, although certain layers, like the clay beds, may be destitute of available water, there are nearly always beds of gravel or sand within 

moderate depths which will yield abundant supplies. 

LOESS. 

The loess is a yellowish, more or less clayey silt, forming a mantle 

over the rocks of the uplands near the Ohio River. It is usually very 

thin, though locally reaching several feet in thickness. · In Adams 

County it may furnish small supplies of water to dug wells, but is 

generally too thin to be of importance except as a feeder to collect 

and supply waters to the underlying rocks. 

TILL. 

The yellowish or bluish, more or less pebbly, clay known as till is 

found only near the northwest corner of Adams County, and even 

here it has a thickness at the most of only a few feet. In the counties to the north it is an important water bearer, but in Adams 

County it is of value· only as a feeder to the underlying rock. In 

conjunction with the disintegrated underlying rock it affords in some 

localities a source of supply to shallow dug wells. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

" NIAGARA" LIMESTONE. 

The " Niagara " limestone may be roughly divided into a limestone bed a few feet thick at the base, an overlying shaly bed about 

100 feet thick, and an upper limestone about 90 fe~t thick. It forms 
ADAMS COUNTY (WESTERN HALF). 59 

the upland levels between all the streams in the western part of 

Adams County, but is not found in the valleys, the streams having 

cut through it and the underlying " Clinton " into the Richmond 

formation. 

Wells obtain more or less water throughout the thick upper limestone layer, but the principal source is at the bottom of this layer, 

along the contact with the underlying shale bed of the same formation. This contac:t, as elsewhere, is marked by a conspicuous line of 

springs. In places some water is afforded by the thin limestone at 

the base, but this bed is of less importance as a· water bearer than 

either the shale contact above or the "Clinton "-Ricl:i:mond contact 

below. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE. 

The " Clinton " limestone in Adams County is a semicrystalline 

pinkish or reddish limestone locally changing to an impure iron ore, 

especially along the Highland County boundary. It appears to have 

a thickness _of 40 to 50 feet and is an upland formation, outcropping 

along the valleys just below the" Niagara" and at some of the lower 

spots on the general uplands. 

The " Clinton " carries considerable water throughout its extent 

and is the source of many springs which emerge principally £rom the 

basal layers along the contact with the upper shaly beds of the underlying Richmond formation. Where not covered by the " Niagara," 

it commonly affords supplies to shallow .wells, but where the " Niagara" is present most wells stop at the top of the 100-foot shale bed 

in that formation. 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

Although 300 feet or more of the Richmond and Maysville formations is exposed in the county, most of the thickness is in the steep 

bluffs of the Ohio and its tributaries, only relatively small areas of 

the upland surface in the western and southwestern parts of the 

county being underlain by these formations. The top of the ·Richmond is marked by a 25-foot bed of blue and reddish shale, below 

which layers of limestone and shale alternate down to the river level. 

A zone in which shale commonly predominates occurs at the contact 

of the Richmond and the underlying Maysville, but in general the 

two formations show little difference in character and are best 

grouped together with respect to water supply. The line of separation would fall midway up the bluffs of the valley walls. 

On the flat uplands in the western and southwestern parts of the 

county and to a certain extent on the more gentle valley slopes of 

some of the streams in the northern district shallow open wells obtain fair supplies of water from the Richmond. On the steeper slopes 

it may be necessary for wells to >go down 40 or 50 foot to procure 
60 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

adequate supplies. In the valleys the overlying alluvium affords 

better supplies than the rock. Drilled wells, although they may find 

some water, lack storage capacity and many fail to yield adequate 

supplies. 

EDEN SHALE. 

The Eden shale consists of bluish to grayish shales, with local 

thin layers of limestone. It underlies the Maysville formation and 

outcrops in the lower part of the Ohio bluffs at the extreme southwest corner of the county. ·The formation is about 250 feet thick, 

but only a small part of this thickness is exposed in ~<\dams County. 

It contains practically no available water, and there is great difficulty in obtaining from it the supplies necessary for domestic use, 

even in dug wells. This absence of water is due in part to the 

compactness of the shale and the general absence of porous or soluble 

layers and in part to the poor catchment conditions, its outcrop on 

steep hillsides allowing the water to drain from it readily without 

absorption. · 

SPRINGS. 

The Adams County ·Mineral Sprirrgs, also known as the Arcadia 

Springs, are in eastern Adams County and, although occurring outside the immediate area investigated, merit consideration because 

of their interest and importance. The springs issue in masonry basins 

at the base of high hills bO!.'dering a small valley, the water coming 

from a blue slaty shale which is believed to represent the Ohio 

shale (Devonian). The volume of each of the two principal springs 

is small but is constant throughout the year, supplying enough for 

all the guests at the resort. The temperature on September 13, 1906, 

was about 58° F. The water, as shown by the analysis (pp. 198-199), 

is high in sulphates and contains free sulphuric acid. Rusty-looking 

growths or deposits can be seen about the springs, which, with the 

hotel, are owned by S. R. Grimes. 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

WEST UNION,l 

The town of West Union is situated on a high plateau underlain 

by " Niagara " limestone. Most of its open wells enter the rock at 

4 to 6 feet and penetrate it from 22 to 35 feet to procure their supplies. At 40 to 45 feet they enter the thick shale bed forming the 

lower part of the " Niagara," but obtain no water from it. They 

appear not to reach the " Clinton." 

Wells sunk in the Richmond and Maysville formations in the valleys rarely obtain much water. A strong spring, yielding about 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
BROWN COUNTY. 61 

10 gallons a minute, occurs on the pike one-fourth mile north of the 

courthouse, the water issuing from a vertical joint in the limestone. 

An analysis will be found in the table, pages 198-199. · 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The following table indicates the general underground-water conditions and water prospects at each of the more important localities 

in the western part of Adams County: 

Urulergrownd-water 001'1-ditians m Adams Oownty. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. Thick- Water ness. supply. 

Rock nearest Water-bearing surface. rocks. Water supply. 

Fett. · Bentonville. • • . • . . Loess and 

soU. - 20 .•.••••.•••• "Niagara" .... "Clinton" •••. Usuallyplenty. 

Qherry Fork...... TUI.. •.... Eokmal:lsville •.•..... do •••••.. Emerald •..•.•.•.•..• do •••••.. Fairview ••.•...•....• do •••.•.. 

20 •.••••••••••••••• do •••••......... do •..•..... 20 •••••••••••••••.• do •••••......... do •••.•.... 10 ------••••••.••.• do .••••........• do .••.•.... 8 Plenty .... Richmond Richmond 

and Mays.. and Mays- ville. ville. 

Harshasvilie ••....•.• do....... 14 •••••••.•... "Clinton" .... "Clinton" .... Manchester .•••.••• Alluvium. 130+ Plenty ••.. Richmond Richmond 

and Mays- and Mays- ville. ville. 

Beaman •.......•.. Tlll........ 20 ............ "Niagara" .... "Clinton" .... . Stephens. • . . . . . . . . Alluvium. Deep.. . . . . . • . • . . . . Eden.... . . . . . . l'oint Pleas- ant. Tranquility. . • • . • . TUI. ••.... 20 ••••••••.••. Richmond Richmond 

~- Mays- ~- MaysWest Union....... Residual 4 Moderate •. "Niagara" .... "Clinton'' .... soil. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Small. 

Usually plonty. Small. 

usually plenty. Small. 

Do. 

usually plenty. 

Wheat ................• do ............................• do .•...........• do......... Do. 

Winchester ••••.... Till....... 20 ................• do •............• do......... Do. 

Wrightsville .••... Alluvium. 64+ Plenty .... Richmond Eden ••.•...... Small. 

~-MaysBROWN COUNTY. 

By M. L. FuLLER. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Near the Ohio and its larger tributaries much of the surface of 

Brown County is decidedly rough, owing to the deep valleys and 

ravines cut by the streams. In the northern part, however, it is 

essentially a plateau 950 to 975 feet above sea level, but even there 

it is cut by a few deep valleys. Plateau remnants in the shape of 

flat-crested ridges appear between the streams in the southern half 

of the county, their average elevation being between 900 and 950 feet. 

The plateau surface in the north is rendered still more flat by a 

smooth sheet of till. 
62 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

The water-bearing formations of Brown County include among the 

surface deposits alluvium, terrace gravels, loess, and till, and among 

the rock formation the " Niagara," " Clinton," Richmond, and Maysville formations, and the Eden shale. 

SUB.FACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The principal deposits of alluvium in Brown County are along 

Ohio River, where they are commonly 100 to 150 feet thick and onehalf mile to a mile or more wide. Smaller, but still fairly extensive 

deposits occur in the larger tributaries of the Ohio, and small accumulations are found in the ravines entering the streams mentioned. 

The alluvial deposits of the Ohio consist of loamy sand or sandy 

clay at the surface, in many places grading downward into clay 

deposits more than 10 feet thick. Below the clay porous gravels or 

sands are commonly found in beds of considerable thickness, many 

of them alternating with clayey beds. The alluvium in the larger 

tributary valleys is similar, in a general way, to that in th.e Ohio 

Valley, but much of that deposited by the rapidly flowing streams in 

the ravines is very coarse and gravelly. Locally, thin tills may be 

included in the alluvium. 

An abundant supply of water can usually be obtained from the 

gravel beds underlying the clays in the Ohio Valley and from the 

sandy and gravelly beds in the valleys of the tributaries and in 

certain of the ravines. 

TERRACE GRAVELS. 

Terraces of gravel, marking a stage of the Ohio when it flowed at 

a level higher than at present, occur at numerous points along the 

valley. Owing to their situation water entering them is quickly 

drained away to the river or into the underlying formations, and 

wells penetrating them must commonly go down nearly or quite to 

the river level to obtain supplies. 

LOESS. 

Along the crests of the bluffs facing the Ohio and for some distance inland the surface is covered by a few feet of the yellowish to 

white, somewhat clayey silt known as loess. Although capable of 

holding water this deposit is usually so thin that it is not a good 

source of supply. Wells pass through it into the underlying till or 

rock within a few feet of the surface. 
BROWN COUNTY. 63 

TILL. 

The yellowish or bluish pebbly clay or till covers the entire county 

except the southeast corner. The thickness varies from 10 to 20 

feet in the northern part of the county to the vanishing point along 

the southern edge of the drift, which appears to extend a little north 

of east from Ohio River near Higginsport through Cedar Point, 

Red Oak, and Decatur. 

Owing to the thinness of the drift it is much less important as a 

water-bearing formation in Brown County than in the counties to 

the north and west. It helps, however, to collect and hold the 

water and gradually feeds it to the underlying rocks. Together 

with the loess and the disintegrated rock due to surface weathering, 

it locally affords to shallow wells supplies that are very fair but that 

are much less likely to be permanent than where the drift is deeper. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE. 

The "Niagara" limestone, which is so important as a waterbearing bed to the east, barely touches the eastern boundary of Brown 

County, in which it furnishes little or no water. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE. 

The " Clinton " limestone outcrops in the extreme eastern part of 

the county near the Adams County line, being found just west of 

the "Niagara" limestone outcrop. As elsewhere in southwestern 

Ohio a large number of springs emerge near its base and it supplies 

a few shallow wells, but its area in the county is so small that it is 

of little importance as a water-bearing bed. 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

The Richmond and Maysville formations constitute the upland 

surface over almost the entire area of B,rown County and form the 

upper part of the bluffs bordering the streams. In its upper few feet 

the Richmond is shaly, but not far below the top it exhibits the 

usual alternation of thin layers of limestone and shale. The Richmond 'is considerably thinner here than at many other points. The 

Maysville, into which it grades downward, is very similar in composition. Shale predominates near the contact. 

The Richmond and Maysville formations contain considerable 

water, although, owing to the large amount of shale present, their 

water-bearing passages are neither large nor extensive. Shallow 

wells, especially where loess or drift coverings serve as feeders, yield 
64 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

fair supplies, but few drilled wells procure water exoopt in small 

quantities. 

EDEN SHALE. 

The Eden shale consists of bluish to grayish shales, weathering 

yellow or brownish and containing some thin limestones, but few or 

no sandy layers. The total thickness of the formation is about 250 

feet, nearly all of which is exposed in Brown County. The bed outcrops almost entirely in the bluffs bordering the Ohio and its tributaries, none of it being found on the upland flats. 

Owing to the absence of porous sandy layers and of persistent 

limestone beds there is little opportunity for the circulation of water, 

so that the formation almost never yields supplies of any consequence, 

-except to shallow wells at the surface, where it has been broken up 

and loosened by the action of the weather. No drilled wells are 

known to procure water in this formation. 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

GEORGETOWN.' 

The location of Georgetown on the upland plateau, .the thinness 

of the drift, and the absence of alluvium or of any good water-bearing rock formations have made it impracticable to obtain a public 

supply from wells. A dam has, however, be(m constructed to impound surface waters on a small basin, and in the summer of 1906 

a pumping plant was about to be erected. 

RIPLEY.' 

Ripley, in 1906, drew its public supply from four wells, two penetrating 100 feet of gravel and two striking the limestones of the Point 

Pleasant formation 68 feet below low water of the Ohio and penetrating them for 40 feet. Additional data will be found in the table, 

page 51. 

SARDINIA,l 

Sardinia, situated on the plateau, has some exception1.lly strong 

shallow wells, the public well opposite Stephan Bros.' store, although 

only 11 feet deep, has been known to water 1,000 head of stock in a 

day without lowering the supply. An analysis of the· water, which 

is derived from gravel, is given on pages 198-199. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The water prospects and general underground-water conditions in 

the several towns and villages of Brown County are indicated in the 

following table : 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
~BOWN COUNTY, 65 

Underground water conditions in Brown County. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. Thick- Water ness. llllPPiy. 

Rock neilrest Water·bearlng Water supply. surface. rocks. 

Feet. 

Aberdeen ••............. Alluvium ................... Eden ••..•.... Point Pleas- ant. 10 Plenty .. Richmond Richmond 

and Mays- and Mays- ville. ville. 

Arnheim ................ Till ...... . 

Bardwell .•................ do...... 25+ ..• do .••....... do ••••••....... do ••••••.. Bernard ................... do...... 15+ ... do •••....•.. do ••••••....... do ••••••.. Biebn ...................... do...... 35 ............... do •.•••........ do •••••... Bondes Ferry........... Alluvium ................... Eden •••••.... Point Pleas- ant. Browntown ............. Till....... 45+ Plenty .. Richmond Richmond 

and Mays- and Mays- ville. ville. 

Carlisle ....•.•............. do...... 15 ..............• do •••••........ do •.•••... Center Point ............ Alluvium. 25 •.•.•......•..• do •••••... Richmond, 

Centerville .............. Till ...... . 12 

Maysville, 

and Eden.·· 

Fair •........• do ••••.... Richmond 

and :Mays- ville. 

Chasetown ................• do...... 12 ... do .......... do ..•.......... do ....... . Crosstown ................. do...... 15 ............... do •............. do ..•..... Decatur •.•............. Till or 9 Moder ....... do ............. do ....... . Desoto •................. Till....... 20 •.•..•.•....••• do ..••.•....... do ....... . Eastwood .................. do...... 35 -·'······· ..... do ............. do .•...... Ellsberry •.............. Residual ....................... do ....•.......• do .•...... soil or loess. 

Fayetteville. • . . . . . . . . . . Till ..•.... 

~::~:~ii::.::::::::::: : ::~~:::: :: 

Flncastle.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. do ••••.. 

20 

15 

20 

40 

Smail ........ do ............. do •..••... ............... do ............. do ....... . ............... do .••.......... do ....•... .......... "Clinton" ..... "Clinton," 

Richmond, 

and Mays- ville. 

Small. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Moderate . 

Fivemile ....•.............• do...... 20 •.•••••••• Richmond Richmond Small. 

and Mays- and Mays- ville. ville. 

&:~~~::::::::::::: :::~~:::::: M -~~~:~:: :::::~~:::::::: :::::~~:::::::: Hammersville ..••......... do...... 15 ..............• do ••••••....... do ....... . Hestoria •............... Alluvium ................... Eden •••••.... Point PleasHiett ................... Residual .................. Richmond 

soil and and May.s- loess. ville. 

Higginsport............. Alluvium. 90+ Plenty .. Eden ........ . 

Kirbysville. . . . . . . . . . . . . Till ...... . 20 

Levanna ................ Alluvium. 18 

Richmond 

and Mays- ville. 

Plenty .. Eden ........ . 

ant. 

Richmond 

and Mays- ville. 

Point Pleas- ant. Richmond 

and Mays- ville. 

Point Pleas- ant. LocustRidge ........... Tlli.. .... . 18 Fair •.•.. Richmond Richmond 

and Mays- and Mays- ville. ville. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Macon •..•................. do ..... . Maple •..................... do ..... . 14 

20 Plenty .. "Niagara" .... "Cilnton" .••• Usually plenty. Richmond Richmond Do. 

and Mays- and Mays- ville. ville. 

Milltown •.................. do...... 30 ..............• do ..••••....... do ....... . Mount Orab ...•••......... do...... 50 Plenty ....... do ...••........ do ..•.•... Neel. .•................. Residual ....................... do ....•........ do ....... . soil or loess. 

New Harmony .......... Till....... 30+ Plenty ......• do .•........... do .•..•... 

~:n~~~:::::::::::::: :::~~:::::: t~ ::~::: :::::~~:::::::: :::::~~:::::::: Red Oak •••.•.•••••..... Residual ....................... do •...•...... · .. do ....... . soil or loess. 

Ripley •................. Alluvium ................... Eden •..••.... 

Russellville ............. Tlll •..•... 20 Plenty .. Richmond 

and Mays- ville. 

Point Pleas- ant. Richmond 

and Mays- ville. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
66 UNDERGROUND' WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Underground water conditions in Brown County-Continued. 

Surface deposits. - Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. T~~- :;;f;. Rock nearest surface. Wa~~~:~g Water supply. 

Feet. 

St.Martins ............. Till....... 30+ Moder- Richmond Richmond ate. ·and Mays- and Mays- ville. ville. 

~=-e·.:::::::::::::: :::~~:::::: rs -~l~~t-~:: :::::~~:::::::: :::::~~:::::::: Sticka.way .............. Residual ....................... do ............. do ....... . soil or loess. 

Stringtown .•.••••...... Till....... 15 ..............• do ............. do ••••••.. Sunshine .................. do...... 12 ..•........•..• do ............. do ....... . Surryville .................. do...... 30 ............... do ............. do ....... . Taylorsville •............ Residual ....................... do ............. do ....... . soil or loess. 

Union Plains ........... Till .•..... 25 ............... do ............. do ....... . Vera Cruz •................• do ..... . 20 ..•..•••.•.•..• do ••........... do ....... . 16 Fair .......... do ............. do ....... . 25+ ............... do ............. do ....... . Wallsburg ................. do ..... . Whiteoak ................. do ..... . 

BUTLER COUNTY. 

By F. G. CLAPP. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Usually plenty. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

The upland surface of Butler County forms a plateau which has 

a maximum altitude of 850 to a little over 900 feet above sea level. 

Across the uplands the broad, flat surface and even sky line are 

very noticeable, but in the lowlands the plateau character of the 

county is not apparent, because the surface has been eroded and cut 

into by the streams. The larger valleys are broad and deep and 

generally extend several hundred· feet below the surface of the 

uplands. · 

The principal stream, Miami River, flows southwestward across 

the county from the northeast corner, near Middletown, to Venice, 

at an elevation of 500 to 600 feet, about 300 feet below the level of 

the surrounding hills. Its valley ranges in width from 1 to 3 miles 

and consists of a broad flood plain and bordering terraces. Several 

broad valleys at elevations of 550 to 650 feet, carved by Miami River 

and its tributaries, are not now occupied by any large stream. The 

largest of these abandoned vall~ys extends southeastward from Hamilton and is traversed by the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. 

Louis Railway and the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway. In 

places there are enlargements of the main valley, which consist of 

local basin-like valleys 2 to4miles in diameter. The tributary valleys 

are of all sizes; in width they range from a few hundred feet to over 

a mile, and in depth they descend from a few feet below the plateau 

surface on the uplands to the level of Miami River. The slopes 

along the main valleys are generally steep and in places form pre-
BUTLER COUNTY. 67 

cipitous bluffs, but back on the uplands they are moderate and grade 

into the gentle undulating surface. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

SURFACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

As would be expected from the unusual width of the main valleys, 

deposits of alluvium are extensive in Butler County. Along the side 

valleys they range in width fr6m only a few hundred feet to a mile 

or more, but along the main Miami Valley they are 1 'to 2 miles 

broad. On Indian Creek, Fourmile Creek, and Sevenmile Creek 

they range from a quarter of a mile to a mile in width. In most of 

the valleys the depth of the alluvial deposits is not known, for in 

their centers few wells are sunk to bedrock. Wells at Hamilton and 

Coke Otto are 50 to 100 :feet deep and do not reach rock, the average 

depth o£ the alluvium in the center o£ the valley being probably 

nearly 200 feet. In the broad abandoned valley southeast of Hamilton the depth may be 50 or 100 feet more on account of the greater 

elevation o£ the deposits. 

The deposits classed as alluvium consist o£ silt, sand, gravel, and 

a :few layers of clay and hardpan (a thin deposit o£ pebbly clay or 

till). The alluvial deposits are generally finer and more silty in the• 

upper few feet than in the deeper beds, because they consist of the 

finer silty materials deposited by overflows of recent streams flowing • 

at a gentle grade. 

In the alluvial deposits water lies a few feet below the surface, the 

exact depth depending on the proximity to and elevation above the 

streams, the configuration of the surface, and other conditions. The 

finer portions of the alluvium contain little water because of their 

generally impervious nature. In the greater part of it, however, 

water is abundant in sand and gravel at all depths from 30 feet 

downward, the coarse gravels containing the largest amounts. In 

a few localities, which can not be detected by inspection of the surface, the silty or clayey deposits continue to greater depths, making 

successful wells impossible. 

TERRACE GRAVELS. 

Accompanying the deposits o£ alluvium along the sides of the 

Miami Valley and extending up Indian, Fourmile, Sevenmile, and 

other large creeks are broad, low tflrraces, consisting of sand and 

gravel, which stand at elevations o£ 10 to 50 feet. above the flood plain. 

In certain localities along these main valleys, b,ut especially along 

the Miami, flat gravel terraces a :few hundred· or a few thousand 
68 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

feet in extent stand 50 to 100 feet higher than the broader terraces. 

The gravels in some of these terraces are cemented and form a hard 

conglomerate, which in a few places along the sides of the valley 

breaks off in large bowlders. The water on the terraces is essentially 

the same as that on the flood plain, but it is not found so near the 

surface, for the terrace materials are more or less porous, and as they 

lie at higher elevations their water table is lower. 

TILL. 

The material known to geologists as till consists of a pebbly clay 

which for a few feet below the surface is yellowish but lower down 

is bluish gray, the change being due to the fact that near the surface 

it has been oxidized by the atmosphere. Till is found most abundantly on the uplands and occurs in the lowlands only beneath moresuperficial deposits of alluvium and terrace gravels. In the uplands 

of the southern part and in some in the northern part of Butler 

County the till is only a few feet thick. In general, however, it thickens toward the north. In considerable areas north of Hamilton it 

forms broad, rather flat plains from a few hundred feet to half a 

mile or more in extent which are similar in surface configuration to 

the gravel terraces but differ in not having their upper surfaces at 

a definite level and in being less even. Along Fourmile Creek good 

sections of these terraces show till ranging from 10 to 50 feet in thickness, and in many places on the uplands the till is believed to be 

equally thick. On account of the abundance of morainal deposits in 

the northern part of Butler County the till is obscured and its thickness can not be determined, but it is believed to fill many abandoned 

valleys and in such places it may have a thickness of over 100 feet. 

The greater part of the till is very clayey and impervious, and for 

that reason contains relatively small amoun~ of water. It includes, 

however, local gravelly portions which hold some water, and even 

the clayey portions are saturated at a few feet below the surface. 

Dug wells in it obtain moderate supplies of water in a wet season, 

but after a long dry spell they are likely to give out, making it necessary, where practicable, to resort to deep rock wells. In dug wells 

in till the water generally stands 5 to 15 feet below the surface of the 

ground. Generally it is under only a slight head and rises very little 

when encountered. No flowing wells are known in the till in this 

county. 

MORAINAL DF..POSITS. 

Morainal deposits are not so extensive in Butler County as they 

are in counties farther north. However, moraines composed of low 

knolls and ridges standing only a few feet above the surrounding 

surface cross the county in a general northeast-southwest direction. 
BUTLER COUNTY. 69 

One belt, not conspicuous on the surface, runs northeastward from 

a point near Shandon, passing just west of Hamilton. A second belt, 

broader and less definite and of somewhat greater thickness, extends 

northeastward from the vicinity of Oxford toward Preble County. 

Between these moraine belts lie many irregularly distributed deposits 

of gravel, sand, and pebbly clay which can not be definitely classified 

but which come under this type of deposit. Most of these morainal 

deposits are not shown on the maps, as they are not conspicuous on 

the surface. Of the broader and more prominent morainal deposits 

that are shown, one, touching the northeastern edge of the county, 

consists of conspicuous, well-defined undulating ridges and knolls 

of gravel. A less noticeable moraine, which forms the outer limit 

of the latest or Wisconsin ice advance, touches the southern border of 

the county at several places. 

Owing to their general thinness, the morainal deposits in Butler 

County are not particularly important for water supplies, yielding 

only small amounts, which are found in dug wells and which vary in 

amount according to the season. The only morainal water of importance is found in the large moraine that touches the northeastern 

edge of the county, in which the supply is plentiful. In most places 

on this moraine, however, it is necessary to go to a considerable depth 

to get water. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

" NIAGARA " AND " CLINTON " LIMESTONES. 

Both the " Niagara " and " Clinton " limestones occur near the 

southern edge of Preble County, but neither of them is known positively to extend into Butler County. They may be present east and 

west of Somerville, but if so they occur in small patches and have 

no effect on the underground water supply. 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

The whole thickness of the Richmond and Maysville formations is 

exposed in Butler County, although the complete section is not exposed at any one point. These formations constitwte the surface of 

the hard rocks throughout the county except for a few feet of the 

Eden shale, which is exposed along the Miami Valley near Venice 

and Shandon and extends northward a short distance toward Hamilton. It is possible also that a few small patches on the uplands in 

the· extreme northern part of the county may consist of the" Clinton" 

and perhaps the "Niagara" limestone, but this can not be affirmed 

with certainty. 

In general the Richmond and Maysville forl!_lations dip northwest. 

They consist of gray to blue limestone layers a few inches thick, alter-
70 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

nating with prevailingly calcareous clay shales. The best sections 

can be seen in several quarries west of Miami River, between Hamilton and Coke Otto, where unfossiliferous blue shale alternates with 

crystalline and somewhat fossiliferous blue-gray limestone. The 

limestone beds are from half an inch to 6 inches thick, and the shale 

beds 1 inch to 6 inches thick. 

Owing to the thinness of the limestone beds, to the scarcity of 

solution passages, to the absence of porous layers, and to the predominating shaly nature of the beds, the Richmond and Maysville 

formations are not strong water bearers. Where they are covered by 

a few feet of drift, as over the greater part of the uplands, the water 

held in the drift commonly penetrates downward into the upper part 

of the Richmond and yields moderate supplies to dug wells. Drilled 

· wells in these formations are not very successful, as they are so small 

in diameter that they do not admit enough water. 

EDEN SHALE. 

The Eden shale consists of gray or bluish-gray shales which weather 

brownish and have a maximum thickness of about 250 feet. Only a 

few feet of the upper portion is exposed in Butler County, outcroping along the lower Miami Valley, near the Hamilton County line, 

southwest of Hamilton, and possibly also for a short distance below 

the old gravel-filled valley southeast of Hamilton. No water is found 

in the Eden shale. 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

COKE OTTO.l 

At Coke Otto the Hamilton Otto Coke Co. has three 6-inch driven 

wells about 65 feet deep in alluvium. The material was reported to 

be gravel. Water was obtained at a depth of about i9 feet and rises 

within about 12 feet of the surface. The maximum yield by pumping is reported as 500 gallons a minute. The water is used for 

cooling gas. The wells can be pumped continuously. The normal 

level of water, 12 feet below the surface, can be lowered by ordinary 

pumping to 20 feet from the surface. By hard pumping it will 

descend to 25 feet but can not be lowered farther. The water level 

in the well is higher when the river is higher. The water ~s reported 

to be suitable for drinking. (See analysis, pp. 198-199.) Other wells 

at Coke Otto which do not belong to this company are driven to a 

depth of 18 to 25 feet. The head of the water depends on the depth 

to which the well is sunk below the level of the ground water, which 

is 12 to 15 feet below the surface. · 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
BUTLER COUNTY. 71 

DARRTOWN. 1 

About 1i miles southwest of Darrtown, on the flood plain of Fourmile Creek, the J. W. Nichols gas well was sunk several years ago to 

a depth of 2,051 feet. No reliable record of the formations passed 

through can be obtained, but it is known that gas was encountered at 

608 feet and is now used for lighting a_ farmhouse near by. Salt 

water was obtained at about 1,100 feet. Very briny water was found 

somewhat below 1,200 feet and at other lower depths. The water in 

the well now stands about 100 feet below the surface, and gas comes 

up through it. This well was drilled in the hope of obtaining enough 

gas to supply the village of Darrtown, but it has never been used 

for this purpose. 

HAMILTON.• 

Hamilton is one of the largest cities in the region covered by this 

report. It is situated on both sides of Miami River and lies mostly 

upon the flood plain and gravel terraces but extends as much as 100 

feet up the hills. The city is the center of a number of important -~ 

manufacturing and other industries, and for that reason needs a 

large water supply. It has a good system of public waterworks, built 

in 1883, which supplies the greater portion of the inhabitants and 

industries. On the outskirts, however, many driven wells are sunk a 

few feet in gravel, obtaining ground-water supplies only 5 to 10 feet 

below the surface. It is recommended that where driven wells are 

used they should be sunk to somewhat greater depths, as the water 

near the surface is likely to be rather poor. 

The waterworks consist of a pumping station obtaining water from 

23 driven wells ranging from 75 to 135 feet in depth, situated on the 

flood plain at the north end of the city. The surface formation at 

·that place is reported to consist of 175 feet of clean gravel, below 

which is 5 feet of blue clay resting on bedrock. The wells pass 

through some irregular pockets of sand, which contain little water. 

Owing to the fact that the wells are of various depths practically all 

the water available in the area in which they are sunk can be obtained. 

The water is pumped to a 6,000,000-gallon reservoir on Wilsons Hill 

2 miles southwest of the pumping station, and 230 feet above lowwater level in Miami River. The pumps have a capacity of 4,000,000 

gallons. The water, though very hard, is believed to be of excellent 

quality as regards organic purity, but the amount is not sufficient 

and larger pumps, more wells, and a larger reservoir are contemplated. 

The Champion Coated Paper Co., whose mills are situated on the 

west side of the river at Hamilton, has 24 driven wells 6 inches in 

•conditions in 1906. 
72 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

diameter and 80 to 120 feet deep, in gravel, from which water is 

obtained by pumps having a reported capacity of about 6,000,000 

gallons. Ten of the weHs are spaced 30 feet apart in two parallel 

rows 20 feet apart, and 10 more are similarly situated in two rows at 

right angles to the first 10. The other four wells were driven later. 

The water from these wells is mixed with river water and is used for 

cooling acid in the manufacture of paper. This plant is situated 

about half a mile southwest of the city waterworks, and the pumping 

is said to have affected the supply of the city wells. 

The Champion Coated Paper Co. also has another well, which 

was drilled for gas to a depth of 3,120 feet. It found little gas, hut 

large amounts of salt water. As shown by the analysis (pp. 198-199), 

the proportion of total solids (salt and other minerals) far exceeds 

that found in any other well which has been analyzed in the region 

covered by this report. The complete record of this well is reported 

by the company, as follows: 

Record of Chamf}ion Coated Paper Co.'s deep well, at Hamilton. 

Feet. 

t~~~i~.~~~~~~~:(~~t:t~~:~~~~·:·:·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::: :::::::: 

"Birdseye" limestone................................................................... 539 

Much salt water ................................................................................ . St. Peter sandstone (salt water at 2,900 feet)............................................. 2,065 

Feet. 510 

1,015 

1,045 

1,055 

1,075 

3,120 

The drilling of the well lasted from June 4, 1904, to January 31, 

1905. There was considerable trouble in casing and reaming, owing 

to the fact that the drill stuck several times. At 3,120 feet the well 

was abandoned and the casing taken out because the tools became fast 

and an attempt to drill around them proved unsuccessful. The casing 

ranges from 4 to 8 inches in diameter. The very strong brine was 

obtained 2,900 feet below the surface. A sample of water, which had 

been kept by the company in sealed hogsheads, was furnished to the 

Survey and analyzed by R. B. Dole and M. G. Roberts. 

The Black-Clawson Co., the Niles Tool Works Co., the Miami 

Woolen Mills, the Hamilton Machine Tool Co., the Sterling Paper 

Co., the Becket Paper Co., and the Cincinnati Northern Traction 

Co. have driven wells ranging in depth from 40 to 200 feet, all 

obtaining water in alluvium. The water is hard but otherwise seems 

to be excellent. Some of these Hamilton wells are reported to have 

been pumped so continuously that they have drawn water away 

from other wells in the vicinity. 
BUTLER COUNTY. 73 

OXFORD.' 

The water for the public supply of Oxford is drawn from one dug 

well and three driven wells, situated on the flood plain of the creek, 

about a mile north of the town and 175 feet below the main street. 

The system has been in operation since 1896. In all, seven wells 

have been sunk at the pumping station. Well No. 1 was sunk to 109 

feet; at 29 feet gravel was struck, then a blue shelly material was 

penetrated, and at 109 feet" blue rook" was reached; all below 29 feet 

was abandoned. This is the deepest well in the group. The water 

reaches within 13 feet of the surface when it is being pumped. The 

other wells were sunk 60, 49, 22, 24, 23, and 22 feet. 

In 1887 a well was sunk by the Oxford Gas & Oil Co. on the low 

flat opposite the railroad station. The following record 2 is based 

on samples of drillings preserved at the time: 

Record of gas wen, Owford. 

Thick- Depth. ness. 

Feet. Feet. 40 40 

190 230 

Drift: Sand and gravel. ................................................................ . Richmond and Maysville formations: 

Limestone .......................................................................... . Limestone and shale ................................................................ . 18 248 Limestone .......................................................................... . 17 265 

Limestone and shale ................................................................ . 115 380 Eden shale and part of Point Pleasant formation: Blue shale ........................... . Point Pleasant formation: 407 787 

Soft dark limestone and shale ....................................................... . 3 790 Hard dark limestone ............................................................... . 40 830 

450 1,285 45 1,330 

"Birdseye" limestone: 

White to gray crystalline magnesian limestone, with a little shale ................... . Coarse dark-bluish or greenish limestone .........................•................... St. Peter sandstone: White to bluish calcareous sandstone or arenaceous limestone 

(salty water) ••••.................................................................. 40 1,370 

This well starts 465 feet above low water in Ohio River. 

SEVENMILE.1 

The village of Sevenmile, situated on a low terrace near the flood 

plain of Seventnile Creek, is supplied by private dug and driven 

wells ranging from 40 to 60 feet in depth. The water is obtained 

from gra.vel underneath hardpan. It is of very good quality except 

in a few shallow dug wells, but its level is not within 25 feet of 

the surface. The dug wells are reported to stop on top of hardpan 

and to obtain softer water than the driven wells which penetrate 

hardpan. They are, however, likely to dry up during the summer, 

whereas the driven wells never give out. A 48-foot well in Sevenmile passed through 40 feet of gravel, 8 feet of stony hardpan, and 

then into gravel. Just south of the village a test hole was once sunk 

to a depth of 1,485 feet in a search for oil. No details are available. 

1 Conditions in 1906. 

• Abbreviated from record of J. F. James, Jour. Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 10, 1888. 

pp. 73-77. Based on assumption that samples were taken at ehange of rock. · · 
7 4 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

TALLEW ANDA SPRINGS,l 

A short distance north of College Corner, on the edge of Preble 

County, are situated the Tallewanda Springs, owned by the Joseph 

R. Peebles Sons Co., of Cincinnati. Two springs are in use, both being situated near the base of the ravine along a small run. No rock 

is exposed at this place and none is known by the owners, but the 

springs may issue from the " Clinton" limestone underlying the surface till. An analysis of the water is given on pages 198-199. 

The immediate surroundings of the springs are slightly wooded and 

there are cultivated fields some distance back from the run. The 

buildings are not so situated as to affect the quality of the water. 

The temperature of the water, as reported by the owners, is 48° F. 

It issues from the springs with measured volumes of 5 gallons and 

5£ gallons a minute. A little more water is reported in winter than 

in the summer, but the spring is not seriously affected by dry weather. 

The water issues in small gullies 40 feet above the run and is piped 

downhill to spring houses near the base of the slope, where it is 

bottled. It is shipped to Cincinnati and some of it is carbonated. 

The "still water'' retails at 10 cents a gallon. It is claimed to be 

of great medicinal value. There is a bottling house on the grounds 

in which the water stands 5 feet in depth in a cement-lined tank. In 

addition to the two springs described, there is a third spring which 

forms a fountain. The Tallewanda Springs are named after the 

Tallewanda tribe of Indians who are said to have once encamped 

at them. 

WATER :PROSPECTS. 

The prospects for obtaining water in the principal villages and 

towns in Butler County are summarized in the following table, which 

shows the nature of the surface materials and rocks and the character 

of the water supplies at each locality: 

Underground water conditions in Butler Oounty. 

Surface deposits. Rock formation. 

Town. 

Material. Average Water Rock nearest 

t:~~~- supply. surface. 

Water-bearing Water 

rocks. supply. 

Feet. 

Coke Otto ........ Alluvium......... Deep .. Plenty .. Richmond and Richmond and Small. 

Maysville. Maysville. 

~!~~~~~;~:::: -~~~;~~~::::::::: .~i~:: :J~:·:·::: :::J~::::::::::: :::J~:::::::::: E~: Hamilton ............. do ............ 200 ....... do ......... do ................ do.......... Do. 

Itn1~1li:.~~~:::::: ::: ::~~::: ::::::::: -~~~:: :::~~::::: ::: ::~~:::: ::::::: :: :::~~:::: :::::: g~: Oxford ........... Till ............... 10 ..... Small ........ do ••.............. do.......... Do. 

~e~~~ffiiie·.::::::: . ~d~~~::: :::::: ·50::::: . ~~~!.:: ::: ::~~:::: ::::::: :::: :~~:::: :::::: g~: Shandon (New ..... do ............ Deep ..... do ..... Eden ............ None ........... . London). Somerville .••......... do ................ do ...... do ..... Richmond and Richmond and Do. 

Maysville. Maysville. Symmes Corners ...... do ............... do ...... do .......... do ................ do.......... Do. 

Venice(RossP.O.) .... do ............ do ...... do ..... Eden ............. None ........... . 

1 Conditions In 1906. 
CLARK COUNTY. 75 

CLABX COUNTY. 

By M. L. FULLER. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

The surface of Clark County is, in the main, a flat or gently rolling 

plateau, broken by the valleys of Mad and Little Miami rivers and 

their tributaries, which have been cut from 40 to 150 feet or more 

below the upland level. The valleys vary in width from a few hundred yards to about 2 miles, and the upland areas between the main 

streams are generally from 2 to 5 miles wide. Besides the irregularities due to stream cutting, there are many irregular hills representing morainal deposits left by the glaciers on their retreat from the 

region. Most of these hills are of no great height, but a few rise 

nearly orquite 100 feet above the surrounding territory. Though not 

forming connected ridges they fall into severll:l general belts running 

from northeast to southwest, one lying along the eastern limits of the 

county, one east of and nearly parallel to Little Miami River, one west 

of the same stream, and one along the southeast side of Mad River. 

WATER-BEARJ;NG FORMATIONS. 

SlJ'ltFAOE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

Alluvium is strictly a stream-laid deposit. Its upper part, in 

most places, is the work of the present streams, but its lower part 

may have been deposit.ed by older streams which flowed before 

or between the several glacial advances in the region. The larger 

part of the alluvium is naturally found in the present surface valleys, 

but gravels deposited by old streams are present in many buried 

valleys beneath the pebbly clay. Probably the most notable of 

these buried valleys is the old channel of Mad River, near Sugar 

Grove, west of Springfield. North of this point the river flows on 

a filling probably over 100 feet in thiokness, but to the south, at 

Limestone City, it flows not far above bedrock in a rock-walled 

valley only a few hundred feet wide. As the rock channel should 

normally be deeper, not shallower, at the downstream point, the .conditions indicate that the river is out of its old channel. Railroad 

tests near Sugar Grove disclosed a deep rock channel beneath the 

surface deposits, cutting across the neck at this point and evidently 

marking an old channel of the river.1 Another old channel, possibly 

marking a former course of the Miami, enters Clark County from 

the northwest near New Carlisle and joins the present Mad River 

Valley a few miles to the south. Other smaller buried channels have 

1 Orton, Edward, Geol. Surve,Ohlo, vol. 1, 1873, pp. 46Q-461. 
'76 UNDERGROUND WATElBS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

~en exposed in quarry excavations near Springfield, and it is probable that buried valleys abound throughout the county, although, 

owing to the fewness and shallowness of the wells, they oan not be 

satisfactorily traced. 

The valley deposits are not all alluvium, however, for between 

the deposition of the lower and upper portions ice advanced over 

the region, leaving sheets of pebbly cl11.y over the old alluvium to be 

covered by later alluvium. 

The alluvium or valley deposits, although embracing much fine 

silt, include large amounts of sand and gravel, which are usually 

saturated with water. Wells generally obtain water at or slightly 

above the level of the rivers flowing in the valleys, but as this water is 

generally so near the surface as to be liable to pollution, it is best to 

sink wells 20 or 30 feet below stream level. Few wells located near 

the center of the valleys fail to get adequate supplies, but the deposits near the borders are likely to be fine!' and to yield less water. 

The water is not usually under much pressure and rarely if ever flows 

at the surface. 

TILL. 

The pebbly clay or till which makes up the greater part of the 

surface deposits represents materials laid down beneath the ice 

sheets which once passed over the region and forms a mantle completely hiding the underlying rock. Although the surface of the 

till is generally flat and featureless, its thickness varies greatly 

owing to the irregularities of the rock surface on which it rests. 

In character it is mostly a sandy or pebbly clay containing sporadic 

bowlders, but it generally includes either definit.e beds of sand or 

gravel or zones that are predominantly gravelly. Near the surface 

it is usually yellow or brown from weathering, but at depths of more 

than 8 or 10 feet it is generally gray or bluish. The general thickness of the deposits is indicated on Plate III (p. 26) and local details 

are given in the town descriptions. 

Although prevailingly clayey, the pebbly clay contains more or 

less gravelly laye:rs or even beds of sand or gravel, in which water 

is usually present in abundance, standing in wet years within a few 

feet of the surface. In the flatter areas wells 25 or 30 feet in depth 

usually get sufficient supplies for ordinary use, and wells of 40 feet 

seldom if ever go dry. Near the borders of the deeper valleys, however, the supplies often drain away and wells have to be sunk considerably deeper. The water is sometimes under pressure, rising 

considerably when encountered, and flowing water may be obtained' 

by wells here and there in the deeper ravines and along the base of 

the valley bluffs. 

• 
CLARK COUNTY. 77 

MOJ.IAINAL DEPOSITS, 

Although the morainal ridges consist largely of sand and gravel 

deposited by waters that emerged from the ice margin during the 

glacial retreat, they contain a greater or less admixture of the unstratified pebbly clay or till. Generally, however, they are so open 

and porous that the water, instead of being retained, is drained away 

either to emerge as springs at their borders or to sink into the under· 

lying pebbly clay. For this reason wells in the moraine areas must 

usually be carried to considerable depths, generally into the till, in 

order to procure adequate supplies, the morainal deposits themselves 

containing little or no available water. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

The rock formations known to underlie Clark County are the Richmond, "Clinton," and "Niagara." Later rocks may overlie the 

"Niagara" in the northeast corner, but because of the great thickness of the drift and the ab_sence of borings their presence has not 

been established. 

"Niagara,., 

limestone 

"Clinton" 

limestone 

Richmond 

formation 

Shale : Small springs, subordinate water horizon 

Limestone 10' 

Shale : Sma11 springs, subordinate water horizon 

Limestone 10'· 

Line of large springs, first importsnt water hoiizon 

Shale 25' 

" 

I I I Limestone 25' 

I I J J 

~===~"""'~==~==" Line of large springs, seeond important water horizon. 

FIGURE 9.-Rock water-bearing beds of Clark County. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE. 

The "Niagara" limestone, which is probably at least 100 feet in 

thickness, varies considerably in character in its different portions. 

Near the base of the formation, along the contact with the " Clinton " 

limestone, is about 25 feet of shaly limestone or calcareous shale, 

overlain in succession by about 8 feet of massive limestone, a thin 

parting of shale, about 15 feet of bedded limestone, known as the 

Springfield limestone, and about 40 feet of massive or irregularly 

bedded limestone unfit for building purposes. The " Niagara " limestone fonp_s the surface of the entire county, outside the limits of 

the Richmond and" Clinton" formations, with the possible exception 
78 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

of a small area of more recent rock in the northeast corner. Of 

the subdivisions of the limestone the uppermost, or 40-foot bed, is the 

most important, underlying by far the greater part of the county. 

The lower shaly portion of the formation carries little or no 

water, but the limeEtone layers abound in solution passages and joints 

(Pls. V, A; VI, A), in many of which water occurs in abund~nce. 

The shales are of importance chiefly because they limit the downward penetration of the water, which collects it in the lower part of 

the overlying limestone beds, where it is available to wells or emerges 

as springs. In fact, the top of the lower shale layer is an important 

water horizon, giving rise to numerous springs, especially on the 

south side of the valley of Mad River, toward which the rocks dip. 

On the north side, where the dip is away from the valley, the springs 

are fewer in number and smaller in size.1 It is to this horizon that 

the best rock wells throughout the country are sunk. Eight or ten 

feet above the lower shale and also about 20 feet above it occur thin 

shale partings, which to some extent act as barriers to the underground waters, but, although some wells get supplies from the beds 

above these layers, the amount is usually small and uncertain. To 

insure permanency the wells should be carried to the lower shale. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE. 

In Clark County the " Clinton " limestone is an irregularly bedded 

semicrystalline yellowish, pinkish, or reddish limestone about 25 

feet thick. Its outcrop enters the county from the west a few miles 

north of New Carlisle and follows the east side of the valley of 

Honey Creek ,(West Fork), bending southeastward and reaching the 

Mad River valley south of Donnelsville and following it eastward 

to Snyderville. Here the outcrop crosses the river and runs southward east of Enon to the valley of Mud Run, the south side of 

which it follows to the county line east of the southwest corner. 

The " Clinton " limestone is somewhat sandy and porous in its 

lower portion and in places carries a considerable quantity of water, 

which is retained by the underlying shales and emerges as strong 

springs all along the line of outcrop. Much of the upper part of the 

" Clinton " is in itself dense and impervious and also gives rise to 

springs at many points. The formation may be expected to yield 

satisfactory supplies to wells for a distance of several miles back 

from its outcrop and will probably afford small or moderate supplies 

over nearly the entire county. 

RICHMOND FORMATION. 

The Richmond formation, which consists bf thin alternating beds 

of limestone and shales, underlies the alluvial deposits of the Mad 

River valley up to the vicinity of Snyderville, those of Mud Run 

1 Orton, Edward, Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 1, 1873, p. 466. 
. I 

CLARKI COUNTY. 79 

south of Enon, and those of the West Fork of Honey Creek north of 

New Carlisle; but in few places does it outcrop above the valley 

deposits. 

This formation doubtless contains considerable water, but as it is 

overlain either by the " Clinton " and " Niagara " limestones, both 

of which are better water bearers, or by the saturated alluvial deposits of the valleys, there is little occasion to sink wells into it, and 

it need not be further considered as a source of supply. Its upper 

portion is shaly and serves as an impervious layer to prevent the 

downward passage of the waters of the " Clinton." 

NOTES BY TOWNS.· 

NEW CARLISLE.l 

A deep well bored at New Carlisle in 1887, in search of oil and gas, 

struck the white " Birdseye " limestone at 1,.060 feet, or about 150 

feet below sea level. No oil or gas was found and the amount and 

character of the water were not reported. 

NORTHAMPT()N.l 

A deep boring, known as the Mower well, sunk in 1887 near Northampton, penetrated 93 feet of drift and 1,287 of rock, or 1,380 feet 

in all. The " Birdseye" limestone was found at 1,293 feet. No oil 

or gas was found and no record of the water conditions is available. 

Most of the water appears to have been found in the upper part of 

the rock, as the casing was set at 20.0 feet. 2 

SPRINGFIELD.! 

Several deep wells have been drilled at Springfield in search of oil 

and gas. One of these, sunk by J. W. Churchill for a local company 

in 1885, affords a good record of the underlying water-bearing beds. 

Record of deep well at Springfield sunk by J. W. Churchill, 1885.a 

"Niagara" limestone (58 feet): Blue limestone ................................ , .................................... . 

~!: ~~~::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

"Clinton" limestone (42 feet): White limestone ........................................ . Richmond-and Maysville formations (710 feet): Red slate .•......................................................................... 

~~~ ~d~~~~~J::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: rf:lts~~M~~ lf~e::t.:Ji:::: ·. ·::::.·. ·::. ·:::. ·.·. ·. ·:::. -.-. ·. ·:. ·. ·. ·_ ·_ ·. ·:. ·. ·. ·. ·. ·. ·. ·.::::: ·.::::::: 

Eden and Utica shales (230 feet): Dark shale ........................................... . Point Pleasant formation (100 feet): 

~la~~a:h!l~~ ~~~:-~::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

"Birdseye" limestone (top 190 feet below sea level). 

• Orton, Edward, Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 6, 1888, p. 280. 

1 Conditions in 1906. 

~~~~- Depth. 

Feet. 15 

3 

40 

42 

12 

226 

37 

305 

130 

230 

76 

24 

Feet. 

58 

100 

810 1,040 

1,140 

2 Adapted from Orton, Edward, The Trenton limestone as a source of oil and gas In 

Ohio : Report. Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 6, 1888, p. 278. The geologic formations are chiefly the interpretations of the authors of this report. 
80 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

; ' 

--~ 

N 

Pump-house well 

F IGURE 10.- Plan of Infiltra tion galleries, public waterworks, Springfield. 
• 

CLARK COUNTY. 81 

About a year later, in 1886, a well drilled by the Champion Machine Co. to a depth o£ 2,400 :feet or more developed the :following 

strata : 

Fonnntions in Chamrpion Machine Co.'s well, Springfield. 

Feet. 

"Birdseye" limestone _____ ______________ ____ _______ 1, 200~1, 900 

St. Peter sandstone _______ ______ ___ ___ __ _______ ____ 1, 900-2, 000 

Cambro-Ordovicia n dolomite (light colored) __ ____ ___ 2, 000-2, 400 

Most o£ the :fresh water appears to have been :found in the first 

250 :feet, as the first casing was ca.rried to this depth . . Many saltwater supplies were encountered between 1,800 and 2,000 :feet, probably mainly :from the lower " Birdseye" and the St. Peter. 

A public supply was first installed in Springfield in 1881, the 

water being obtained :from a filter gallery, but on the speedy :failure 

o£ this source, a reservoir 350 :feet long, 200 :feet wide, and 18 :feet 

deep, with a capacity o£ 8,000,000 gallons, was 

built just above the junction of Beaver and 

Buck creeks, and a dam was built 300 :feet below the junction o£ the creek to back up the 

ground water beneath the reservoir. In 1894 

the combined supply o£ the origin:tl filter 

gallery and the reservoir, which was :fed by 

seepage, having proved insufficient, an additional gallery 200 :feet long, 32 inches wide, and 

48 inches high was constructed, with laterals 20 

:feet below the surface in a gravel bed under 

and between the two creeks at their junction 

(figs. 10 and 11). This leads to a covered 

pump well 30 feet in diameter and 21 :feet 

~~~~ Hardpan 

FIGURE 11.- Section of depc::;.its at infiltration galleries, public wa t er- works, Springfield. 

deep. Connection with the old gallery is also maintained (1906) 

and provision made :for using creek water in case of severe fires. 

Statistical data regarding the waterworks will be found in the table 

on page 51 and an analysis o£ the water on pages 198-199. 

Several strong springs issue near the east end o£ the city park and 

are utilized :for filling the large and picturesque artificial lagoons at 

this point. The water emerges from the base o£ the limestone cliff, in 

one place at a rate of 80 gallons and in another of 100 gallons a 

minute. No seasonal fluctuations have been observed. The water 

has a summer temperature o£ 52° and is rather hard. It is :free :from 

local pollution. Some difficulty has been experienced through the 

growth o£ algro in the water, but this is now prevented by the use 

o£ copper sulphate, or blue vitriol, at intervals o£ about once a month. 

An analysis o£ this water is given on pages 198-199. 

49130° -WSP 259-12--6 
82 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The following summary shows the character, thickness, and available water of the surface -deposits and the underlying rocks in Clark 

County: 

Town. 

Underground water conditions in Clark County. 

Surface deposits. 

Material. Thick- Water Rocks near- ness. supply. est surface. 

Rook formations. 

Water-bearing rocks. Water supply. 

Beatty.......... Moraine on till •. Catawba ........ Till, moraine ... . 

Feet. 

12 

50+ 

Plenty •. "Niagara" .. .......... "Helderberg." "Niagara"........ Moderate. 

None as good as the till. 

Clifton. . . . . . . . . . . .... do ..•....... 1-30 

Cold Springs .... Till............. 10 Donnelsville. . . . . .... do .... :. . • . . 12 

Eagle City ...•.. Alluvium....... Deep. 

Moder- "Niagara" ... ate. 

Small ••...... do ..••.• Plenty •...... do ..•... ... do ••....... do ..••.. 

11Clinton" ... ..... . 

"Niagara" ........ . "Clinton" ......... . None as good as the alluvium. 

Enon .....•.......... do •......... Deep .... do •••. Richmond ••..... do ........... . Forgy........... T!ll, moraine .•..........•.......... ;( ... do .. ·,;.. ~ic?-mon~,- ••..... Hennessey ...•.. Till............. 15 Small... Niagara •. Niagara ...••... Hustead .....•....... do.......... 15 ... do ..•...... do ..•....•... do ..••........ La.gonda ............. do_......... 80+ Plenty .... : .. do .•••..•.... do ..•••.•..... Lawrenceville ........ do.......... 100 Moder· ..... do ..•.•.•.... do ..•......... ate. Limestone City ...... do.......... 0-5 Small. •...... do ........... do ........... . Midway ......... Alluvium .••.•.. Deep. Plenty •. Richmond •. None as good as the alluvium. 

New Carlisle ......•. ,do ....•..... Deep. . .. do ...•..... do ....•.•.... do .........•.. Nortbhampton .. Till............. 90 Moder- "Niagara" .. "Niagara" ....... . ate. Pitchin ......... Moraine, till.... 60+ ... do •••...... do ..•........ do ..•......•.. 

~::~~~:::::: ·Tm,~itiViiiiD::: ·--~~- ·Pl~ty:: :::::~~:::::::::::a~:::::::::::: Snyderville ..... Till............. 10 .......... "Clinton" .. Richmond •....... South Charleston Till, moraine.... +50 Plenty .. "Niagara" .. "Niagara" ....... . Springfield ...... Till,alluvium... 20+ M~~-er· ..... do ...... "~~E;';!~_,a n d 

Spring Grove Till,moraine .... Park. 

Vienna Cross- ..... do ..•....•.. roads. 

Villa ................. do ..•....... 

35+ Plenty ....... do ..•••. "Niagara" ....... . 

60+ ... do ..•...... do ....•.•.•.. do ..•......... 

50 ... do •........ do •..•....... do •••........• 

CLERMONT COUNTY. 

By M. L. FULLED. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Do. 

Do. 

Plenty. 

Small. 

Moderate. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Small. 

ModeratE>. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Clermont County, like the other counties of southwestern Ohio, 

lies on a table-land or plateau, the remarkably level surface of which 

stands about 500 feet above the Ohio, or about 900 feet above sea 

level. It is bordered on the south by the deep valley of the Ohio, 

but its interior is less cut by stream valleys than that of Hamilton 

County, to the west. Its deepest cut is that made by East Fork of 

Little Miami, which is the main drainage line of the county. Few 

tributaries of any consequence flow directly to the Ohio, although 

many short streams, occupying deep ravines, enter it. The bluffs 

facing the Little Miami and the East Fork are less steep than those 

of the Ohio and are only about 200 feet high. A few terra~ border 

the larger streams. 
CLERMONT COUNTY. 83 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

The water-bearing beds of the surface deposits include alluvium, 

terrace gravels, loess, and WI; those of the, harder rocks include 

the Richmond, Maysville, Eden, and Point Pleasant formations. 

SURFACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The most extensive alluvial deposits are those bordering the Ohio 

and occupying the valley of the East Fork of the Little Miami. As 

indicated above, most of the tributaries entering the Ohio are very 

small and the streams flow on bare rocks at many places. On some 

of the larger tributaries, however, small deposits of alluvium occur. 

The alluvium of the Ohio is generally a silty loam near the surface, merging downward into more or less clayey beds or tills, which 

in turn are underlain by sands and gravels. In the Little Miami 

Valley less silt is found, gravel and sand being more abundant. 

Abundant water can be obtained from the sand and gravel beds 

below the clays of the Ohio flood plain, and similar supplies are 

yielded by the alluvium of the East Fork of the Little Miami. Water 

is also generally contained in the gravelly alluvium of the smaller 

valleys, provided the slope of the stream and of its deposits is not 

too great. In general the alluvium furnishes the most abundant and 

best supplies. 

TERRACE GRAVELS. 

Small patches of terrace gravels occur at points along the Ohio and 

the Little Miami, as, for instance, at Milford. The terraces are 

generally composed in the main of gravel and sand, but locally 

certain layers have been cemented by iron oxide into the hard sandstone or conglomerate, known to the inhabitants as cement rock. 

(See Pl. VI, B, p. 44.) 

Owing to the gravelly nature of the terraces, water generally 

rapidly drains away or sinks into the underlying deposits, but in 

some places its downward passage is arrested by the cemented layers, 

which hold it in depressions and irregularities in their surface. · (See 

fig. 8, p. 41.) It is not uncommon for wells to obtain water from 

the top of such beds, but if !they do not find it. they must generally 

continue to the level of the a'dj acent streams. 

LOESS. 

The entire surface of Cl¢rmont County, outside of the alluvial 

areas, is covered by a thin d~posit of fine, more or less yellowish silt, 

. which merges locally into whitish clayey deposit. The whitish clay, 
84 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOU'.J'HWE)STERN OHIO. 

however, commonly grades downward into yellowish or bluish clay 

of the same composition. The loess is most abundant near the Ohio, 

where its thickness may reach 5 or 10 :feet. North of the East Fork 

of the Little Miami, however, it is much thinner, ranging from a few 

inches to a few feet. In a few places near the edge of the bluffs, 

where it is thickest, it affords supplies to very shallow wells, but farther back from the river it is too thin and serves principally as a 

feeder to the underlying till. 

TILL. 

The till of Clermont County belongs entirely to the older drift and 

has weathered yellowish to a depth of 10 feet or more, below which 

it is compact blue clay. It contains many pebbles and a few bowlders. In some localities peaty deposits or deposits of bog-irQn ore 

have been found between the blue and yellow till. Springs occur at 

this level at many points. 

ROCX FORMATIONS. 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

The Richmond and Maysville formations consist of alternating 

layers of limestone and shale, rarely over 10 inches thick, but aggregating over 700 feet in all, of which about 600 feet is exposed in 

Clermont County. The two limestones together form the surface 

throughout the uplands of the county, the Richmond outcropping 

mainly in the northern half of the county and the Maysville in the 

southern half. 

The Richmond and Maysville formations have no porous layers or 

thick seams of soluble limestone, and although affording moderate 

supplies of water to open wells, yield but little to wells of the drilled 

type. 

EDEN SHALE. 

The Eden shale is gray and blue in color, weathering yellowish or 

olive green. It has a thickness of about 250 feet, extending from a 

little below the flood plain to a point midway up the bluffs of the 

Ohio. Its outcrop extends up the Little Miami almost to the northern 

edge of the county and up the East Fork nearly to the western edge. 

The Eden shale, owing to its outcrop on steep bluffs where the 

conditions of catchment are unfavorable and also to its clayey and 

impervious character, is almost destitute of ground water except in 

its weathered upper portion. In general, wells can not expect to 

obtain supplies from it. Fortunately, however, because of the location of its outcrop on slopes where inhabitants are few, wells in 

this formation are seldom needed. 
I 

! 

I 

CLEltMONT COUNTY. 85 

I UTICA SHALE. 

A few feet of Utica sha~e occurs at the base. of the Eden, but 

as a water bearer this formaFon is to all intents and purposes similar 

to the Eden and can not be!looked to as a source of supply. 

POINT PLEASANT FORMATION. 

The Point Pleasant formation extends from low water up to a 

level just below the flood plain of the Ohio, its total thickness being 

about 50 feet. It consists o~ alternating layers of gray-bluish limestone and hard, dark-gray, eompact sandy shale. Some of th~ limestone layers are of considerable thickness and are quarried for building stone. 

Owing to its position ben:eath the flood plain of the Ohio and to 

the fact that b~tter supplie$ can usually be obtained from the alluvium, few wells penetrate the Point Pleasant. Those that do, coi1lmonly find water in small nmounts, which is likely to be brackish 

or to carry considerable sulphur. 

LOIWER FORMATIONS. 

Below the Point Pleasant:beds exposed at the surface, and entirely 

below the level of the river, there is 600 feet of massive grayish 

" Birdseye " limestone and !'1:00 feet of porous St. Peter sandstone. 

Water is usually found in both of these formations, but is generally 

salty in the " Birdseye" and highly charged with both salt and 

sulphur in the St. Peter. 

Nott'ES BY TOWNS. 

BATAVIA.• 

The public supply of Batavia was intaJled in 1900, water being 

obtained from East Bran¢h of Little Miami River at a point 

above the village. The wat~r is first treated with alum in sedimentation tanks, from which it is carried by gravity through filter tanks 

provided with metal screm~s to a receiving or " clear-water " well, 

whence it is pumped to a cbment-lined reservoir and distributed by 

gravity. The water (see a~alysis, p. 214) is reasonably safe aftertreatment and is to be preferred to that of the shallow wells, many 

of which are badly polluted. 2 

FELICITY.• 

During the oil boom in 1887 a deep boring, said to have reached 

a depth of 1,200 to 1,400 feet, was sunk at Felicity. Salt-sulphur 

• Conditions in 1906. 

• For further details see Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 91, 1904, pp. 

63-65. 
86 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

water was obtained near the bottom, but no other supply of consequence was found. 

LOVELAND.1 

In 1906 a new public suppiy was being installed at Loveland by 

the Loveland Citizens' Electric Co., the water being obtained from a 

well 50 feet in depth sunk in the gravelly alluvium of Little Miami 

River a little above the town. The water (see pp. 200-201) is of good 

quality. It is decidedly safer than the water of the shallow wells 

in the crowded parts of town and should be entirely safe if care is 

taken to guard against local pollution. (See also p. 51.) 

JlARATliON.' 

The spring ofT. D. Hartman, at Marathon, which has some local 

reputation as a medicinal spring, issues with a volume of 5 or 6 gallons a minute from the drift in a small gully just below the upland 

level. The water is chalybeate and deposits some iron oxide along 

tqe small stream in which it flows. The statement that the waters 

are magnetic is not borne out by careful tests, and, in fact, the existence of magnetic water, although frequently asserted, has never been 

proved at any locality in this country or any other. 

JULFO:B.D.1 

The public supply of Milford is obtained from three wells driven 

in 1903 in the alluvium of Little Miami River just above the town. 

The wells are so situated that pollution is very improbable, and the 

public supply is to be preferred to that from private wells in the 

town. An analysis is given in the tables, pages 200-201, and further 

particulars of the supply will be found on page 51. 

NEW :B.ICHXOND,' 

The wells of New Richmond, which is situated on a low· terrace 

bordering the Ohio, range from 30 to 83 feet in depth, with an aver- . 

age of 40 feet. The wells are mainly driven, the best being sunk to 

the level of the river, where they generally obtain a good supply of 

hard water. No rock is encountered. The water-bearing sands are 

overlain by clayey deposits and the supplies will probably remain 

safe as long as privies or cesspools are not sunk to the sand underneath. 

At the base of the bluff is a well, sunk about 1887 for oil and gas, 

the depth attained being reported as about 1,400 feet. A strong flow 

of salt water was encountered near the bottom, probably from the 

St .. Peter sandstone, and a slight flow continued after a lapse of 19 

years. (See analysis, pp. 200-201.) 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
CLERMONT COUNTY. 87 

The public supply of New Richmond is taken from Ohio River, 

the water being pumped to a settling reservoir on the bluffs for 

treatment, after which it is distributed by gravity to the town. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

For the assistance of drillers or others seeking underground-water 

supplies the following table showing underground-water conditions 

is presented : 

Underground-water conditions in Clermont County. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. Thick- Water Rock nearest sur- ness. supply. face. 

Feet. 

Water-bearing rocks. 

Afton ••........ Till............. 15 ...•...... Richmond and Richmond and 

Amelia .•............ do .......... . Baldwin .••.... Alluvium, till... 

Bantam .•...... Till ............ . 

Maysville. Maysville. 10 Plenty ....... do .................. do ............. . 30 .......... Eden ............. Point Pleasant .... . 10 Fair ..... Riehmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Batavia ........ Alluvium, till ... Deep. . ......... Eden ............. Point Pleasant .... . Baywood ........... do .................................. do ........ : ......... do ............. . Belfast ......... Till............. 30+ Fair .•... Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Bethel. ............. do........... 20 Plenty ....... do .......... : ....... do ............. . Blairsville ..••.. Alluvium....... . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . Point Pleasant .... Point Pleasant .... . Blowville ...... Till, alluvium... 20 Eden(?) ............... do ............. . Boston ......... Till............. 15 Fair ..... Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Branch Hill.... Alluvium....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eden............. Point Pleasant ..... Cedron ......... Till............. 15 .•........ Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Plenty .......................................... . ... do..... Point Pleasant.... Point Pleasant .... . Charleston. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Chilo .......... Alluvium....... 70+ ............... do .................. do ............. . .......... Richmond and Richmond and 

Clermont ville ....... do........... Deep . Clover... . . . . . . Till............. 20 

Maysville. Maysville. Craver ..•........... do........... 15 ..............• do ..•............... do .••........... Edenton....... Alluvium....... 25+ Moderate ..... do ..•............... do ..•........... Elenor ......... Till............. 10 Fair .......... do •................. do ...........•.. Elston ......... Alluvium .•....................... Eden ....•........ Point Pleasant .... . Epworth H'g'ts Till ..•............................ Eden(?) ............... do ............. . Felicity ............. do........... 10 Plenty .. Richmond and Richmond and 

Funston .••........• do •••........ Glen Este ........... do ..•........ Glenrose ............ do ..•........ Goshen .•........... do .......... . Guinea .•............ do .......... . Hamlet .••.......... do .......... . Hennings Hill ....... do .......... . Hillstation... . . Till, alluvium .. . 

15 

15 

10 

20 

20 

10 

20 

20 

Maysville. Maysville . ..............• do •................. do ..•........... ............... do ..•............... do .••....•...... Fair .........• do ..•............... do .•••.......... 

-~~~~~~:: :::J~::::::::::::: :::::~~:::::::::::::: 

-~~~~t-~:: :::::~~::::::::::::: :::::~~:::::::::::::: ..............• do............. Richmond, Mays- ville, Eden. 

Hulington ••••. Till............. 10 ••••••••••••••• do .••.......... Richmond and 

Maysville. Laurel.. ............ do........... 15 ..............• do •••............... do ............. . Lerado .............. do........... 15 Moderate ..... do .••............... do •.•........... 

t~~~ec<iiiliir:: :::::~~::::::::::: ~ ~;~_t_~:: :::::~~::::::::::::: :::J~:::::::::::::: Loveland ...... Alluvium •.............. Plenty .. Eden ............. Point Pleasant .... . Manila ......... Till............. 20 .....•.•.. Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. 

~:r;t~~~:::::: :::J~::::::::::: i& -~1-e~~~:: :::J~::::::::::::: :::J~::·::::::::::: Merwin ...•......... do.......... 10 Plenty ....... do .•.•.•........... do ............ . Miamiville .•... Alluvium .•....................... Eden .•........... Point Pleasant ..•.. Milford .••.......... do.......... Deep. Plenty ....... do ....•............ do ............ . Modest ......... Till............. 20 .••••••••• Richmondand Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. 

~~~~~elor'k::: :::::~~:::::::::: ~+ ~;;;_~~~:: :::::~~:::::::::::: :::::~~::::::::::::: Moscow •....... Alluvium .•..... 90+ Plenty.. Point Pleasant.... Point Pleasant ••.•. 

Water 

supply. 

Small. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
88 UNDERGROUND· WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Underground-toater conditions in Clermont County-Continued. 

Surface deposits. Rook formations. 

Town. 

Matmial. Thick- Water Rock nearest sur- ness. supply. face. 

Water-bearing 

rocks. 

Feet. 

MountCarmel..' Till............. 15 .......... Riohmondand Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. 

~g::n~li~~::: :::: :~g:::: :::::: ~~ ~~~~~: :: :::: :~g:::: :::::::: :::: :~g:::: ::::::::: 

Mount Pisgah ....... do.......... 25 Moderate ..... do ................. do ..••.•....... 

~~Y~e~~~~~~~: :::: :~g:::: :::::: ~g ·Pl~~ty :: :::: :~g::::: ::::::: :::: :~g:::: ::::::::: 

Neville ......... A"luvium ......................... Point Pleasant .... Point Pleasant .... . New Palestine ...... do ................................. do ................. do ............ . New Richmond ..... do.......... 75+ Plenty ....... do ................. do ............ . Newtonsville ... Till............. 8 ... do .... Richmondand Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Nice ................ do.......... 15 ............... do .....•........... do ............ . Nichols ...•.... Nichols......... 10 ............... do ................. do ............ . Nlnemile ....... Alluvium ........•................ Eden(?) .......... Point Pleasant .... . Ninevah ..•.... Till............. 15 .......... Richmondand Richmond and 

Obannon ............ do ......... . Maysville. Maysville. 20 ...........•... do .....•........... do ...•...•...•. Olive Branch ....... do ........ .. 9 Moderate ..... do ....•............ do .......•.•..• Owensville .......... do ......... . 15 ............... do .......•......... do ........•.... 30+ Plenty.. Eden............. Point Pleasant ..... 15 .......... Richmondand Richmond and 

Perintown ..... Alluvium ...... . Pinhook. . . . . . . Till ............ . Maysville. Maysville. , Pleasant HilL ....... do.......... 15 ............... do ....•............ do ........•.... Point IsabeL. ....... do.......... 20 ............... do ...•.....•....... do ...•........• Point Pleasant. Alluvium .••............ Fair •.•. Point Pleasant .... Point Pleasant ..•.• 

~~;~r._~~~~:.:: :::::~~:::::::::: :::::::::::::::::: ~~i~:i>iea88lli:::: :::::~g::::::::::::: Salem .......... TilL............ 10 Plenty .. Richmondand Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Saltair .............. do.......... 10 ............... do .....•..........• do .....•...•..• Simpklnson ......... do.......... 12 Moderate ..... do ................. do ............ . South Milford .. Alluvium ......................... Eden ............. Point Pleasant .... . Spann ......... Till............. 15 Richmondand Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Stone Lick ..... Alluvium ......................... Eden ............. Point Pleasimt .... . Summerside ... Till............. 15 .......... Richmondand Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Tobasco ............. do.......... 15 Moderate ..... do ................. do ........... .. Utopia ......... Alluvium....... 100+ Plenty .. Eden ............. Point Pleasant .... . WestWoodville ..... do.......... 10 Moderate Richmondand Richmond and 

Wiggonsville ........ do ......... . Williamsburg ....... do ......... . Willowville ......... do ......... . Withamsville. ·I· .... do ......... . 

8 

20 

15 

9 

Maysville. Maysville. Fair ......... do ................. do ......•...... 

-~1~~~~:: :::::~~:::::::::::: :::::ag::::::::::::: Plenty ....... do .•.•••.......•..• do •..••........ 

CLINTON COUNTY. 

By M. L. FULLER. 

Water 

supply. 

Small. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

The underground-water investigation for the present report covered 

all o£ Clinton County except a strip about 5 miles in width along its 

eastern border and included all the cities and villages except New 

Vienna, Memphis, Lees Creek, Sabina, and Reesville. · 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Clinton County, although somewhat rougher than many o£ the 

other couiJ.ties o£ southwest Ohio, consists in the main o£ flat upland 

plateaus standing at elevations o£ 950 to over 1,100 feet. In the 

southwest corner of the county, southwest o£ a line extending £rom 

the vicinity· of Clarksville through Cuba and Martinsville to the 
CLINTON COUNTY. 89 

county boundary 3 or 4 miles northeast of Lynchburg, there is a 

relatively low and very flat surface commonly ranging from about 

950 to 1,025 feet in altitude and but little cut by valleys, except near 

Clarksville. Along the line mentioned, however, a scarp or bluff 

rises 50 to 100 feet above this low surface, or to heights of about 

1,000 feet above sea level. Back from the bluff the land again 

stretches northeastward as a broad flat. This flat, however, owing 

to its higher elevation, has been much cut by the streams into deep, 

sharp valleys, of which those of Todds Fork and Cowans Creek are 

the most striking, their channels being from 100 to nearly 200 feet 

below the adjacent uplands. The scarp described above lies near the 

outer limit reached by the latest or Wisconsin ice sheet, but the 

morainal deposits are not at all conspicuous and may be neglected. 

Another low but better-defined belt of morainal knolls crosses the 

county in a northwest-southeast direction midway between Wilmington and the northeast corner. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

SURFACE DEPOS;tTS, 

ALLUVIUM. 

No large rivers cross Clinton County, and the valleys, being mainly 

narrow, do not contain extensive deposits of alluvium, such as characterize those of the Miami and similar streams. Of the alluvial deposits, those of Todds Fork are the most important, having a breadth 

of half a mile and extending along the stream. for 10 miles or more. 

Narrower deposits occur along Cowans and Little creeks, East 

Fork of Little Miami River, and other streams, but over a large part" 

of the county, especially on the lower plateau to the southwest, very 

little alluvium is present. Near Clarksville, on Todds Fork, the 

alluvium probably has a depth of 50 feet or more, but at some other 

places on this and other creeks the streams flow on or near bedrock. 

Probably many old alluvial deposits occupy buried channels beneath 

the till, as indicated by deep wells scattered among shallow ones, but 

at present they can not be satisfactorily located and traced. 

Where the alluvium is more than a few feet thick it usually holds 

abundant water in its sand and gravel layers, which are nearly always 

to be found in the centers of the valleys. Wells reaching to or below 

stream level usually get ample supplies. In many places toward the 

edges of the valleys rock is encountered before this level is reached, 

or the deposits are found to be finer and less porous, and under either 

of these conditions the procuring of water supplies is doubtful. Most 

of the alluvium of Clinton County, or at least its superficial portion, 

is .later than the drift and contains few if any interbedded till sheets. 

The water rarely rises in the wells. 
I 

90 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

LOESS. 

South of a line extending southeastward from a point near Clarksville through Cuba and Martinsville a coating of yellow clayey loam 

known as loess, varying from a few inches to a few feet in thickness, 

forms the surface. Farther south this material is thicker and in a 

few places is a factor in the water supply. In Clinton County, however, it is of no importance in this connection. 

TILL. 

The line from Clarksville through Cuba and Martinsville, just 

mentioned, also separates the pebbly clay or till into two parts, one 

thinner and older to the south and the other thicker and in part 

newer to the north. The thin sheet coincides in area with the lower 

plateau plain and ranges in average thickness from less than 10 feet 

along the southern border of the county to 30 feet or more along 

the Clarksville-Cuba line. Depths to rock of more than 70 feet are 

reported in some wells, but these wells appear to have been sunk in 

old buried chanels. 

Northeast of the Clarksville-Cuba line the till abruptly thickens, 

forming the bluff described (p. 89). Near the edge the rock'is usually 

100 feet or more below the surface, but it appears here and there in 

valleys, as at Ogden, Todds Fork, and west and north of Wilmington, 

and in the eastern part of the county is not generally far below the 

general surface of the upland. Both till sheets are very clayey in 

Clinton County and do not contain so many sand and gravel layers 

as in the counties to the northwest. 

Owing to the thinness of the deposit of the older till in the southeastern portion of the county water is not abundant in it and in a 

large number of wells can not be obtained short of rock, especially 

at Blanchester and vicinity, Where the till is 20 feet or more thick 

wells generally get fair supplies, but in many places, owing to the 

absence of gravelly layers, drilled and driven wells are unsuccessful. 

Many open and tubular wells sunk on the uplands or bluffs near the 

deep valleys and ravines which are so numerous in the western portion of the county are likewise unsuccessful, owing to the readiness 

with which the water drains away. On the whole the till is a decidedly less satisfactory source of supply in Clinton County than in 

the counties to the north and west. 

MORAINAL DEPOSITS. 

Morainal deposits are not very extensively developed in Clinton 

County, being limited to two belts that are of no great thickness. 

As in adjoining counties, they are in general· prevailingly gravelly 
CLINTON COUNTY. 91 

and readily permit the water· to drain outward or to sink into underlying deposits. For this reason they are of no importance as a 

source of water. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

NIAGARA LIMESTONE. 

Owing to the thickness of the drift over the region of its contact 

with the next lower formation the margin of the " Niagara " can be 

only approximately located. It probably enters the county nearly 

north of Wilmington and extends a little east of south to the county 

line between New Vienna and Lynchburg, passing east to Wilmington. The boundary is not regular, the formation extending farther 

westward in the highlands between the streams than in the valleys. 

Its lower layer, as seen resting on the " Clinton " limestone on Todds 

Fork, is a blue shale a foot or two thick, overlain by 12 to 15 feet 

of compact limestone suitable for local building purposes. Above 

this is a loose, porous limestone with many cavities. This 8eries 

underlies the greater part of the county to the east, except at Snow 

Hill, some miles south of New Antioch, where higher and even more 

porous and friable beds are found. The total thickness of the 

" Niagara " in this county is probably not over 75 or 100 feet. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE. 

The " Clinton " limestone is a gray or pinkish granular limestone, 

massive or irregularly bedded, and 25 to 30 feet or more in thickness. 

Its outcrop lies just west of that of the " Niagara," and, being lower 

down, is much more irregular, following the complicated windings of 

the drainage system. It is exposed on Todds Fork at intervals from 

a point northwest of Ogden to a point north of Wilmington, here and 

there on Cowans Creek and its branches as far east as New Antioch, 

and at points a short distance northeast of Martinsville and south of 

· Fa.rmersville (Pl. I). Although its outcrops are numQrous it does not 

form lines of conspicuous bluffs along the stream, as it does in certain of the counties both to the north and south. 

The " Clinton " limestone, except in the valley bottoms, is generally covered with a considerable thickness of drift, and in such 

situations is not commonly used as a source of supply, although it 

probably carries considerable water. Some of the deeper wells of the 

higher uplands in the vicinity of New Antioch, Martinsville, and. 

Farmersville, however, possibly draw from it. Its outcrop is so 

deeply covered in Clinton County that it does not usually give rise 

to springs, as it does in counties to the north. 
92 UNlliJJ:RG:ROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

RICHMOND FORMATION. 

Much of the Richmond :formation exposed in Clinton County is 

shaly, and varies :from yellowish green to blue in color. It lies at 

an average depth of 10 to 30 :feet beneath the lower plateau plain 

southwest of the Clarksville-Cuba-Martinsville Bluff, and is seen in 

the valleys of Todds Fork, Lytle and Cowans creeks, Little East 

Fork, and at places near the western edge of the county. Locally 

the stream bluffs, some of which are nearly 100 feet high, consist 

mainly of the rocks of this formation. 

The Richmond :formation is not a good water bearer. Many wells, 

even of the dug type, obtain only small supplies :from it, and drilled 

wells are rarely successful. Where the drift is very thin, however, 

it is the only available source, and trial wells must be sunk until one 

yielding sufficient water is found. 

DEEPER ROCKS. 

Two wells, sunk to depths of about 1,500 :feet at Lynchburg, :failed 

to obtain water in any amount, indicating the futility of sinking 

to the deeper beds :for water. 

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 

In many ways the ground-water supplies of Clinton County are 

unsatisfactory. The drift carries less sand and gravel than at many 

other points, the alluvial deposits are restricted to narrow valleys, 

and the rocks, especially those of the Richmond :formation, carry but 

little water. Under such conditions open wells afford the best supply. 

Drilled wells, because of their small size, not only :fail to tap many of 

the small seeps, but afford no opportunity :for storage. Wherever 

possible alluvium should be utilized. Next to this the drift will, in 

general, afford the best supplies, but in the area of the " Niagara " 

limestone waters can generally be obtained from the rock. No deep 

beds, affording water suitable :for domestic, public, or industrial supplies, exist, and deep drilling should be avoided. 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

BLANCHESTER.l 

The problem of water supply in Blanchester is acute, owing to the 

thinness of the drift deposits, from which at other points water is 

usually obtained in relative abundance. Not only is the drift thin, 

but the underlying ;Richmond formation, which is in many places 

within 10 or 15 feet of the surface, is one of the poorest water bearers 

of southwestern Ohio. Fortunately, however, the region is relatively 

flat and the underground drainage slow, so that more or less water is 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
CUNTON COUNTY. 93 

held back in the thin till and in the upper part of the rock. Drilled 

wells rarely obtain large supplies, but dug wells carried to depths of · 

40 feet or more, on account of theirlarge storage capacity, usually · 

yield enough for ordinary domestic use. To insure safety from pollution, however, the shallow water in the drift and upper part of the 

rock should not be utilized; the well should be walled up and 

cemented from the surface to a level 3 to 5 feet below the top of the 

rock. Cisterns· can be made to yield enough for ordinary demands, 

but to do this they Should be not less than 10 feet in diameter and 15 

feet deep and should have absolutely tight walls. The ordinary 6 

by 10 foot cistern often fails when it is most needed because of its 

small storage capacity. Many cisterns develop cracks that permit 

leakage. This should be guarded against by frequent inspection. 

An attempt was made at Blanchester in 1896 to procure water from 

three dug wells, 50 feet in depth and 6 feet in diameter, but, as was 

to be expected from the nature of the geologic formations, the supply was entirely inadequiJ,te for public purposes, and it was necessary to construct an artificial impounding reservoir in a shallow 

draw. The entire supply is derived from surface water collected in 

a settled and farming region and is not only offensive in odor and 

taste but unsafe to the health. Fortunately, however, no attempt 

is made to use it for domestic purposes .. 

CLARXSVILLE.1 

Clarksville is located on the south 'Side of the valley of Todds Fork, 

a part of the town being on the lower slope8. Owing to the fact that 

the stream is flowing in a comparatively recently developed valley, 

with only a thin coating of alluvium over the underlying till or 

rock surfaces, water is more difficult to obtain here than at most 

points in the larger stream valleys. Instead of finding extensive 

alluvial gravels, many of the wells penetrate blue clay or till or enter 

the scantily water-bearing Richmond formation within a short distance of the surface. 

The town is badly in need of a public supply to afford adequate 

fire protection and to replace the unsatisfactory wells. An inspection 

of the vicinity leads to the belief that a system of driven wells across 

the valley just above the town would yield the necessary water. 

CUBA.' 

Cuba is situated on a sloping hillside of unconsolidated material. 

Many of the houses are located on the east-west pike running parallel 

with the slope, but others are on the hillside above. All the drainage 

from the privies and sinks enters the soil and moves downward 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
94 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

toward the valley, more or less seriously contaminating the wells 

along the main street. The water of the public well at the crossroads 

in the center of the town is believed to be badly polluted. Tightly 

cemented cisterns of sufficient size to provide a supply for the whole 

year are suggested as a safe substitute for the questionable wells. 

X'KAY,1 

McKay shows somewhat exceptional underground-water conditions. The drift, although apparently more than 100 feet in depth, 

consists almost entirely of blue clay, the usual gravelly beds being 

entirely absent. Very few first-class wells are obtained either from 

the drift or from the underlying rock, although some fair dug wells 

from 12 to 25 feet in depth are found. The following is a record of 

a 175-foot well: 

Record of well at MoKay. 

Thlck· Depth. ness. 

P.8/J::~~ 1i~~tln::U:LiiD.e8iOD.ii::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: F•ftg Richmond formation: 

Redshale........................................................................... 7 

Blue shale. • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . liO 

XABTINSVILLE.l 

Fut. 

110 

118 

125 

175 

The conditions in the vicinity of Martinsville are variable and uncertain. Near the railroad at the lower side the creamery and other 

wells get considerable water, but on the plateau on which the town 

is situated several wells have been unsuccessful, though some were 

carried to a depth of 115 feet. In general, although many shallow 

dug wells procure small supplies, water is notably short on the slopes 

and crest of the ridge. More water, however, is to be had on the flats 

just south of the town, few farms there having trouble with their 

supplies, which they obtain from gravelly beds in the till. In some 

places where water is scarce several wells have been connected and 

pumped by a windmill with good results. In the Martinsville region 

little is to be hoped from drilled wells in the rock, nearly all rock 

wells being either failures or only partial successes. 

NEW BURLINGTOlf,l 

On the bank of West Fork of Mill Creek, about half a mile southeast of New Burlington, a very peculiar well yields two different 

types of water from different depths. The well is dug 36 feet and 

drilled 12 feet. The rocks consist of limestone,. with perhaps 30 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
CLINTON COUNTY. 95 

per cent of shale, and lie at the Richmond-Maysville horizon. Water 

stands 8 feet below the surface. There are two pumps in the well; 

the pipe of one extends 16 feet below the surface and that of the 

other 35 feet below, or within 8 inches of the bottom of the dug part 

of the well. The shorter pipe obtains fresh water and the longer one 

very strong salt water.. The fresh-water bed is 8 feet below the surface; the salt-water bed 21 feet below it. The salt water is reported 

to have been used for medicinal purposes at various times. The 

analyses of these two types of water are given on pages 200-201. 

WILMINGTON.1 

Wilmington is situated on a broad drift plain formed mainly of 

blue clay or till. Most of the people not using the public supply 

depend on shallow dug wells, although a few use dug wells as much 

as 60 feet deep, or drilled wells, some of which are reported to be 172 

feet deep. The shallower wells get water in the blue clay and the 

deeper ones from a gravel bed in or beneath the clay. It is said that 

no rock is encountered in the town, although it comes to the surface 

a short distance to the north. 

A deep well drilled in 1887 for oil and gas afforded the following 

partial record : 

Record of deep well at Wilmington, Ohio.a 

------------------------------------.---------

Thick- Depth. ness. 

------------------]------

Feet. Feet. Drift ................................................................................... . 84 84 

"Niagara" limestone: Shale ............... ___ ........................................ __ _ ''Clinton'' limestone: 4 88 

Red rock fossil iron ore ............................................................ .. 3 91 Limestone ......................................................................... . 15 106 Richmond formation: 

Brown shales ...................................................................... . 5 111 Shale .............................................................................. . 850 961 Eden shale and Point Pleasant formation: Shale interbedded with limestones .......... . "Bird's-eye" limestone. a 2.10 a 1,211 

a Orton, Edward, Geol. Surve.y, Ohio, vol. 6, 1888, p. 296. The geologic formations are the interpretations of the autnors of this report. The thickness of the Eden shale and Point Pleasant formation is not given in the published record, and to complete the record the approximate thickness in the well at New Vienna 

is inserted. 

Wilmington is to be regarded as fortunate in procuring a supply 

from wells in a region where neither the drift nor the rocks commonly carry water in any considerable amounts. The supply is 

'obtained from five deep wells owned by the Wilmington Water & 

Light Co., sunk to a gravel below the till in the eastern part of the 

town. The water appears to be safe and is to be preferred to that 

from private wells. So far, the supply seems to be sufficient for the 

needs of the town. 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
96 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The following table summarizes the more important facts concerning underground-water conditions at the principal villages and 

towns covered by the field work in Clinton County : 

Underground-water <XI1lditions m OUnton Oounty. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Towns. 

Material.· Thick- Water ness. supply. 

Rock nearest 

surface. Watel"-bear.lng rooks. 

Blanchester. • . • Till .••.•.•••.. Feet. 

10 

Burton ville .••..•... do........ 75 

Clare ...............• do........ 100+ 

Clarksville..... Alluviummo- Deep . rain e. 

Small... Richmond...... Richmond and 

Maysville. Plenty •. "Clinton"(?) •.. "Clinton"(?) ... Small... Richmond . . . . . . Richmond and 

Maysville. ..• do ••.......• do ••••••......... do •...••.... 

Clinton ....••.. Till........... 75+ .•.•...•.. "Niagara" ..... . Cuba.......... Till, moraine.. 140+ Plenty.. Richmond ..... . "Clinton" ..... . Richmond and 

Maysville. Deserted Camp Till. . . . . . . . . . . 75 

Fanners sta- Moraine.. . . • . . 35 tion. 

Gurneyville.... Till........... 100 

Kingman ...•.•.•••• do •.••••.• Lees Creek. . . . . . ...• do •.••••.• Little Center •......• do •..••... Lumberton ......... do .....•.. McKay ....•.......• do ....... . Martinsville .... Till, moraine .. Melvin. . • . . . . . . Till .••........ Midland ......•..... do •..•.... 

Morrisville .•.......• do •....... 

New Antioch ....... do ....... . New Burling· Alluvium .... . ton. 

New Vienna ... Till ..•........ Oakland ............ do ....... . 

58+ 

30 

100 

100+ 

100+ 

40 

10 

14 

100+ 

75 

65+ 

40 

110+ 

'Ogden ......... Alluvium..... 20 

~~\vi1iiiillt::: . ~d.O":::::::: ~g Reesville ............ do.. .. . . . . 20 Sabina .............. do........ 64 

Sligo ................ do........ 100 

Westboro ........... do .....•.. Wfimington ......... do .•...... Vandervorts ..... do ....... . Comer. 

12 

75+ 

75+ 

"Niagara" ..... . "Niagara"(?} .. "Clinton" •..... "Clinton"(?) •.. 

. • . • . • . . . . Richmond • . . . • . Richmond and · Maysville. 

Small ... · .•..• do ............... do ........ .. ..............• do ............... do ......... . .•............. do ............... do ......... . 

:::::::::::::::~~:::::::::::::::~:::::::::: Moderate ..... do ..•.••......... do ......... . . ............. "Niagara" ...... "Clinton" ..... . Moderate Richmond .•... , Richmond and 

Maysville. 

"Clinton"(?) ... ~=~~~·~!a 

Maysville. "Niagara"............ "Clinton" ........ .. Richmond...... Richmond and 

Maysville. Moderate "Niagara"...... "Clinton" ..... . .. .do..... Richmond . . . . .. Richmond and 

Maysville. .•• do .......... do ............... do ......... . ............... do ............... do .••.••.... .. .. ...•.. "Niagara" .•.•.. "Clinton" ..... . ............... do ............... do ......... . ............... do ............... do .••.••....• Small... Richmond...... Richmond and 

Maysville. Moderate ..... do ............... do ......... . "Niagara" ........ "Clinton" ...... . Richmond...... Richmond and 

Maysville. 

3>ARKE COUNTY (SOUTHERN). 

By FREDERICK G. CLAPP. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Water supply. 

Small. 

Plenty? 

Small. 

Do. 

~=yplenty~ 

Usually plenty. Plenty? 

Sma!. 

Do . Do . Do. 

Do. 

,Do. 

Do. 

Usually plenty. Small. 

Moderate. 

Usually plenty. Small. 

Usually plenty. Small. 

Do . Do . Usually plenty. 

Do .. Do. 

Small. 

Do. 

Usually plenty. Small. 

The part of Darke County included in this report ranges in elevation from 1,000 feet along Millers Fork and on the bra,nch of White 

Creek to over 1,220 feet on some of the hills in the western part· of 

the oounty. The area may be said to oonsist in general of three 

types of surfa..oo-(1) broad, gently undulating pla,ins, which form 
DARKE COUNTY. 97 

by far the greater portion of the whole; in this type of surface hills 

over 20 feet high are rare; (2) a belt of north-south morainal hills, 

rising 100 feet or more above the surface of the clay plains and 

valleys on which they rest and crossing the western edge of the area; 

this region is very undulating; ( 3) the valleys of a few small creeks, 

from a few feet to 100 feet or more below the surrounding country 

and from a :few :feet to one-:fourth mile broad. 

Except in a :few localities, rock is not exposed at the surface, but 

is buried under a :few :feet to nearly 300 :feet of sand, gravel, and till. 

The underlying rock surface is known :from well records to be very 

irregular and to bear no relation to the :form o:f the present surface. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

By M. L. FULLER. 

SURF ACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The material classed as alluvium includes that deposited by streams 

in present or :former valleys. It ranges :from coarse gravel to fine 

clay and silt. The silt commonly forms the surface of the present 

flood plains o:f the creeks and the other deposits lie underneath. 

Alluvial deposits not only include those of the present-day streams, 

but they underlie large areas o:f till plains, where they help to fill 

valleys that are now deeply buried but that. existed as true valleys 

before the glacial epoch. These buried alluvial deposits, which are 

generally reported by well drillers as sand or gravel, commonly 

constitute the water-bearing gravels in the regions covered by till. 

Many of them were probably laid down as outwash deposits during 

the closing part of the earlier of the two glacial stages. 

With the exception o:f the dug wells in till the great majority of 

wells in southern Darke County obtain their supplies in the alluvial 

sand and gravel deposits buried underneath till. The waters are 

hard but otherwise good. The till acts as a surface covering and 

prevents pollution by surface water. 

TILL. 

The material which :forms the surface over most o:f southern Darke 

County and which makes up a large bulk of the deposits lying above 

bedrock is a hard, pebbly clay known as till. This material forms the 

greater part of the broad fiats covering a large area in this county 

and is also abundant in the valleys and the areas of morainal deposits. 

From well records and :from general geologic conditions it is believed 

49130°-WSP 259-12-7 
98 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

to occur, where deep, in at least two different layers, each representing a glacial stage. 

Many cliffs along the creeks and elsewhere show the character of 

the till. It is uniformly very hard a,nd tough and generally pebbly. 

Its normal color is blue-gray, but in its upper few feet it is everywhere weathered to a buff. Water is not abundant in the till on 

account of its clayey and generally impervious nature, but perhaps a 

dozen wells in southern Darke County obtain small amounts from 

somewhat sandy lenses. The water in the till itself is of rather poor 

quality and is frequently contaminated by surface drainage. All 

good wells go through the till into underlying gravels or rock. 

MORAINAL DEPOSITS. 

The morainal deposits of Darke County are mostly confined to the 

portion w.est of New Madison. They are very hilly, are much cut up 

by ravines, and in places have what is known as the kettle-hole type 

of surface-that is, they contain small depressions without any outlets. The moraines are composed largely of sand and gravel, but contain also some ir:t;egularly intermixed pebbly clay or till. In places 

large numbers of bowlders, some of them several feet in diameter, 

cover the surface. These are sometimes struck in wells and are mistaken for bedrock. 

Water is generally present in morainal deposits, but the heterogeneous mixture of sand, gravel, clay, and till, and the extremely 

undulating surface of the deposits make the depth to it uncertain. 

One well is said to have gone more than 200 feet before striking bedrock and to have found little water. This, however, represents an 

extreme case, for plenty of good water will generally be found within 

100 feet of the surface. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

Rock outcrops in only one or two places in Darke County. Elsewhere it is buried beneath great depths of drift and is reached by 

only a moderate number of wells. So far as known the rock consists of the " Niagara" limestone from 100 to several hundred feet 

thick, underlain by the " Clinton " limestone and the Richmond and 

Maysville formations. The "Niagara" limestone is very hard, but 

contains numerous small solution passages through which water 

circulates. These may be tapped by the drill and good wells obtained. 

Some wells fail through reaching the bottom of the limestone without striking any of these water-bearing passages, but most of those to 

the " Niagara" are successful. Many of them penetrate the rock only 

a few feet. The water is of excellent quality and not so liable to 

pollution as that in the drift. 
DARKE COUNTY. 99 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

ARCANUK,t 

The waterworks of Arcanum consist of six wells 38 to 80 feet in 

depth and 8 inches in diameter, drilled on the plain at the southeast corner of the village. The plant was installed in 1906. The 

wells entered rock at 36 feet, and most of the water was encountered 

within 2 feet of the top of the rock. The water rises within 10 feet 

of the surface. 

About a dozen ·wells have been drilled for gas at Arcanum, and 

some of these have met with success. No records were kept, but their 

maximum depth is believed to be about 1,200 feet. Gas was obtained 

in the" Birdseye," and the successful wells have been productive for 

15 years. Little or no salt water is reported to have been found. 

GORDON. 1 

At Gordon several small flowing wells situated along a small valley 

constitute an interesting feature. The wells consist of 1!-inch pipe 

driven about 13 feet to rock. The water overflows at about a gallon 

a minute in a constant stream 2 feet above the surface. The head is 

derived from the slight rise of the surface deposits a few hundred 

feet to the east. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The following table shows the general underground-water conditions at each of the more important localities in southern Darke 

County: 

Underground-water conditions in southern Darke County. 

Town. 

Surface deposits. 

M te · 1 Thick- Water a ria· ness. . supply. 

Rock formations. 

Rocks near- Water-bearing f . est surface. rocks. ·1 Water supply. 

--------1-------

Feet. : Arcanum ................ Till ..... 2i-36 Moderate. "Niagara" "Niagar'!" I Usually plenty. and "Clmton." 

Gordon .................... do..... 92 ... do .......... do ............ do......... Do. 

Ithaca ...................... do..... 8-30 ... do .......... do ............ do ......... l Do. 

New Madison ............. do .... ·1 28--50 .. .<lo .......... do ....... _ .... do......... Do. 

Savona ....... : ............. do ..... , 115 ... do .......... do ............ do......... Do. 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
100 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

GREENE COUNTY. 

By M. L. FULLER. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

The surface features of Greene County differ considerably in different parts. East of a north-south line drawn approximately 

through the center the surface is prevailingly high and, although cut 

by many valleys, is marked by rather wide stretches of relatively flat 

uplands between the streams. West of the line are the broad, deep 

valleys of Little Miami River and Beaver Creek and the sharper but 

still deeper valleys of their tributaries. In the northwest corner is a 

considerable area belonging to the valley of Mad River. From 100 

to 200 feet above the streams are flat plateau remnants similar to 

though much smaller than those east of the Little Miami. The elevation of the valleys is usually from 800 to 850 feet, and that of the 

uplands ranges from 950 feet in the western part of the county to 

1,100 feet in the east. The larger valleys, such as those of Little 

Miami River and Beaver Creek, are broad and open, but many of their 

tributaries head in deep, cliff-walled ravines, marked by picturesque 

waterfalls. Good examples of such ravines may be seen at Yellow 

Springs and Clifton. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

In Greene County alluvium, pebbly clay or till, and morainal materials constitute the chief surface deposits and "Niagara," '' Clinton," and " Richmond" the chief rock formations. 

SURFACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The principal area of alluvial deposits is in the Mad River valley, 

at the extreme northwest corner of the county. This valley is 2 

miles or more in width and contains many square miles of alluvium. 

In character the deposits are prevailingly gravelly, but interbedded 

with the gravels or overlying them in places, especially near the 

sides of the valley, is more or less till. In some places knolls of till 

project through the grave1 surface. The valleys of Beaver Creek 

and of Little Miami River are locally of considerable width and contain important deposits of alluvium. The alluvium on Beaver Creek 

is connected with and partakes of· the character of the deposits in the 

Mad River valley, both being la~gely the work of earlier streams or 

of earlier stages of the same stream. The alluvium of the Little 

Miami is to a somewhat greater extent the work of the present 

stream. The valleys of the smaller streams are not generally very 
GREENE COUNTY. 101 

wide nor their deposits extensive. As in adjacent counties, considerable alluvium doubtless exists in buried channels beneath the till. 

Abundant water can be procured from the alluvium at almost all 

points, but the depth to it varies considerably, according to the elevation of the surface. On the lower bottoms near the streams water is 

often found at the level of the stream at depths of 10 to 15 feet; but 

farther back, where the surface rises to low terraces, the depths to 

water are somewhat greater. The wells on some of the low swells 

and knolls, although surrounded by alluvium, are themselves in till. 

A few wells starting in alluvium encounter till a short distance below 

the surface, but the water in these is scanty, and most wells must go 

considerably deeper for their supplies. 

TILL, 

The till, which is a yellowish pebbly clay at the surface, grades 

downward into blue clay at depths of 10 to 15 feet. It forms a 

mantle ·over the whole surface except in the alluvium-filled valleys, 

burying the rocks to depths of a foot to 50 feet or more. The varia-

. tion in depth to rock is due mainly to the inequalities of the rock 

itself, the till surface being rather flat. The till is thinnest along 

the sides of the valleys, near which in many places the rock outcrops. 

Back from the valleys the drift gradually thickens, reaching 25 to 50 

feet on the general uplands and being thicker over buried valleys. 

At Wilberforce it measures over 75 feet and at Bowersville 50 to 75 

feet. There appear to be some sand anq gravel layers in the till, but 

they are less numerous than in the counties to the northwest. 

As would be expected from the scarcity of gravel and sand layers, 

the water supplies of the till are not so abundant as in areas where 

such layers are common. There is usually, however, enough water, 

even in the more clayey areas, for ordinary domestic and farm purposes, providing the till has a thickness of 20 feet or more. Where it 

is thinner than this the supplies are likely to be scant. This is.especially true in Cedarville and Miami townships. 

MOBAIN AL AND OTHEB GBA VELS. 

Two north-south belts of morainal deposits occur in Greene 

County, one along the eastern boundary and another just east of 

Xenia. The drift knolls constituting these belts are not very high 

and contain more pebbly clay and less gravel than are commonly 

found in moraines. Besides the morainal drift numerous more or 

less sheetlike deposits of sand and gravel occur, representing the outwash from the glacial ice during its retreat from the region and being 

in fact a glacial alluvium located on the uplands instead of the 
102 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

valleys. It is possible that in part at least the deposition took place 

in temporary glaciallakelets.1 

The morainal belts, being composed either entirely of till or of a 

thin gravel spread over the su.rface, do not differ greatly from the 

pebbly-clay uplands as to their water supplies. The gravels and 

sands, because of their elevated position and the readiness with which 

they are drained, are not important sources of water, it being usually 

necessary for wells to penetrate to the underlying till. 

ROCX FORMATIONS. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE. 

The " Niagara " limestone, the highest and youngest of the rock 

formations of Greene County, forms the surface beneath the drift 

over the entire eastern half. Its western boundary enters the county 

from the north just east of Osborn, passes with some irregularities 

southward to the vicinity of Byron, and then swings around to the 

east and up the valleys of Little Miami River and Clark and Massie 

creeks, whence it passes southeastward just east of Xenia, leaving the 

county in the center of Cresars Creek Township. An outlier also 

appears on the highlands of southwestern Beaver Creek Township. 

In fact, the " Niagara " in Greene County is distinctly an upland 

formation. 

In character is varies considerably in the different beds. At the 

base, separating it from the underlying " Clinton," is about a foot of 

blue clay. Over this comes a layer of bedded limestone, suitable for 

quarrying and as much as 10 feet in thickness. This is overlain in 

succession by 30 feet of shale and 85 feet or more of blue and drab 

massive to bedded limestone, making a total thickness of about 125 

feet. 2 In Cedarville and Miami townships it is very near the surface, the rocks outcropping as cliffs along many of the ravines and 

being barely covered at numerous other points, as at Yellow Springs, 

Clifton, and Cedarville. Elsewhere the drift is in many places of 

considerable thickness. 

The " Niagara " of Greene County carries considerable quantities 

of water and gives rise to a great number of springs. These emerge 

at two levels. The upper is at a thin shale parting 60 or 70 feet above 

the base of the formation and in general is less important as a spring 

horizon than the top of the shale bed 30 feet lower down, but the 

Chalybeate Spring of the Neff Grounds at Yellow Springs (Pl. IX, 

B), the most noted spring of the county and one which flows over 100 

gallons a minute, occurs at this level. The springs at the top of the 

30-foot shale bed are both numerous and copious, especially along the 

Little Miami below Clifton and on Massie Creek below Cedarville. 

• Orton, Edward, Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 2, 1874, p. 681. 

• Idem, p. 668. 
GREENE COUNTY. 103 

The lower springs, the Arctic and Magnetic of the Neff Ground~ 

(p. 107), belong to this horizon. A few springs occur at the blue-clay 

parting between the " Niagara " and " Clinton " limestones. 

Wells sunk into the " Niagara " limestone usually get fair supplies 

if carried to the 30-foot shale bed, along the top of which the water 

collects. Some shallow wells get water from the upper shale parting, but the supplies are small and not p~rmanent. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE, 

The " Clinton 1' limestone is semicrystalline, is largely pinkish or 

reddish in color, and has a thickness varying from 25 feet near Spring 

Valley to 50 feet near Yellow Springs. It is irregularly bedded and 

is prevailingly sandy near its base. Its outcrop extends along the 

western border of the " Niagara " and occurs as outliers at short 

intervals along the western border of the county south of the Mad 

River valley. The outcrops in the vicinity of Mad River are extensive, and others occur at many points near Xenia, on Oldtown River, 

on Massie Creek, at the head of Ludlow Creek, etc. The " Clinton " 

is marked at several points by sink holes into which a few streams 

disappear, as near the junction of the Xenia-Fairfield and DaytonYellow Springs pikes, to reappear elsewhere as larg~ springs. 

The " Clinton " limestone carries much water in the form of underground streams occupying channels dissolved in the sandy and more 

soluble basal layers at the contact with the impervious shales of the 

underlying Richmond. Among the more important springs at this 

level are those at the head of Ludlow Creek and at Goes station. 

Most wells sunk to the same horizon would doubtless procure considerable water, but the supplies are no greater than those in the overlying "Niagara," and it is therefore seldom worth while to sink to 

the deeper bed for the supply. 

RICHMOND FORMATION. 

The Richmond formation underlies the drift and alluvium in the 

lower portions of the county, or in the area west of the outcrop of the 

"Clinton." Its upper part consists of a 25-foot bed of fine shale, 

bluish or reddish in color, lying just below the " Clinton " at Goes 

and elsewhere. Below this lie the usual alternations of thin layers 

of bluish limestone and shale, the total exposed thickness of these 

layers in the county being about 250 feet. Although it doubtless contains some water, the Richmond formation is far less important as a 

water bearer than the overlying limestones, and except where these 

beds and the water-bearing alluvium and drift are all absent, it will 

rarely be advisable to drill for water in the formation. Its chief 

importance is as an impervious bed concentrating the water in the 

overlying "Clinton." 
104 UNDERGROu~q-n WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

NOTES BY TOWNSl 

CEDARVILLE.' 

The first deep well iri the vicinity of edarville was sunk near 

the site of th~ Hager paper mill 25 years ago in search of oil and 

gas, reaching a depth of about 1,500 feet. A heavy stream of fresh 

water was encountered at about 250 feet. The well failed to obtain 

oil or gas and was later plugged at about 300 feet, and a deep-well 

pump, afterwards replaced by an air-lift system, was installed for 

raising -the water for use in the manufacture .of paper at the works 

of the Hager Straw Board & Paper Co. From 150 to 200 gallons 

a minute was obtained, the water standing under this draft at 75 

feet below the surface. 

In 1903 two additional 8-inch wells were sunk to a depth of 400 

feet. Water was encountered at the same depth as in the original 

well, apparently coming from the same seam, as the pumping of 

one immediately affected the level of the others, and 'no additional 

supply was obtained. The wells are used only in dry seasons, the 

creek furnishing the supply at other times. The well water (see 

analysis, pp. 200-201) is distinctly harder than that of the creek .. The 

drill is reported to have dropped some distance when the water 

seam was encountered, apparently indicating an open channel in the 

limestone. 

The town of . Cedarville is located on " Niagara " limestone, the 

rock in many places being almost at the surface. It is :full of fissures, 

some of which conduct matter from privies, barns, etc., directly to 

the wells, badly contaminating some of them and increasing the 

danger of typhoid fever. 

The cost of drilling deep wells and of properly casing them prohibits their construction by private parties, and it is highly desirable 

that some sort of a public supply be installed at the earliest possible 

date. The best water supplies would be those from alluvium (see 

p. 41), but, unfortunately, the creek at Cedarville flows on or near 

bedrock, and no deep deposits of alluvium occur. The next best supplies would be afforded by the gravelly or sandy layers in the pebbly 

clay or till (p. 43), but these also are very poorly developed at Cedarville, being represented by only the few feet of soil overlying the 

bedrock. A drilled well would probably find water similar to that 

in the paper-mill well at a depth of 250 to 300 feet, but if it does not 

it will be useless to go deeper, as the underlying rocks are not water 

bearing, and some form of surface supply must be installed instead. 

If a deep well is sunk, the casing should on no account be stopped at 

the rock surface, but should be carried to not less than 150 to 200 

feet, to shut off all possibility of pollution through the crevices 

mentioned. 

' Conditions in 1906. 
GREENE COUNTY. 105 

OLIFTON,l 

V\t1utt has been said of the conditions at Cedarville applies with 

equal force at Clifton, which is similarly situated on a limestone outcrop. Few towns have suffered more from cholera and typhoid than 

this, some epidemics, like the cholera epidemic of 1849, sweeping the 

town with disastrous effect. Most of this could have been avoided 

if pure water had been available. 

The most promising source of water for a public supply is the thick 

clayey and gravelly deposit on which the higher part of the town is 

located. A well located 300 feet or more from any house and carried to the rock would probably obtain safe water, although several 

wells might be required to yield the necessary amount. 

GOES,l 

The " Clinton " limestone, which comes to the surface at Goes, gives 

rise to an unusually large number of fine springs on the hillsides 

above the village. · Other good springs occur along the river; in fact: 

the springs are so abundant that they form the chief water supply 

in this vicinity. One was long used by the railroad; others supply 

the boilers, houses, and works of the Miami Powder Works; and 

many others supply private families. 

JAMESTOWN. 

A well, reported to be 1,'7'76 feet deep and known as the " 1 '776 

well," was sunk in Jamestown some years ago in search of oil and 

gas. None was found, but a strong sulphosaline water, termed the 

"1'776 water," was obtained and later put on the market •for medicinal purposes. A partial analysis is given on pages 200-201. 

OSBORN,l 

A deep well sunk at Osborn during the oil boom 25 years ago 

reached the " Birdseye " limestone at 990 feet, or 170 feet below sea 

level. A record is giveh below : 

Record of deep well at Osborn, Ohio.a 

Feet. Feet. 

Drift... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21l7 21l7 

Blue shale (Richmond and Maysville).................................................. 500 707 

Darker shale (Eden shale) .... _ ......... :............................................... 213 921l 

Gray rock (Point Pleasant formation) ................................................. ,. 70 990 

Hard crystalline limestone ("Birdseye"). 

• Orton, Edward; Geol. Survey _Ohio, vol. 6, 1888, p. 290. Correlations by M. L. Fuller. 

Gas was obtained at '750 to 850 feet, but no water seams of importance are recorded. 

The public waterworks, which were installed in 1895, are operated 

in connection with the electric-light system. The water is obtai~ed 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
106 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

from alluvium at the north end of town at a depth of about 50 feet, 

an overlying layer of clay preventing the access of polluting.matter 

to the water-bearing gravel. Other particulars will be found in the 

table on page 51. 

PAINTERSVILLE.• 

The wells near Paintersville are of interest as affording flowing 

water. The supply comes from a dark sand or gravel, locally known 

as "black" sand, occurring beneath a bed of clay at depths of 35 to 

140 feet. In about half a dozen wells the water flows freely at the 

surface, but apparently will not rise much above it. 

SPRING VALLEY.1 

A well sunk at Spring Valley during the oil boom is said to have 

reached a depth of 1,460 feet and to have obtained a large amount of 

saline water. The " Birdseye " was reached at about 850 feet, or 100 

feet below sea level. Neither oil nor gas was obtai:ped. The principal 

seam of fresh water was found at 165 feet. The water has in late 

years been placed on the market by the Spring Valley Medicinal 

Water Co. 

WILBERFORCE.• 

Wilberforce is the site of a number of institutions of learning. The 

scattered residences depend on wells for their water, but the college 

buildings are supplied by a good-sized spring in an adjoining ravine. 

The spring is inclosed by cement walls and protected by a spring 

house, the water being pumped to the buildings on the plateau above 

by a gasoline engine. 

XENIA.1 

A number of deep wells have been drilled at or near Xenia. The 

record of one of them, drilled in 1887 by the Xenia Gas Co., is given 

below: 

Record of deep well at Xenia, Ohio.a 

Drift: 

Clay ............................................................................... . Gravel. ............................................................................ . Sand .............................................................................. . Quicksand ............................................... -.- ....... -... -........... - Cemented sand ......................... _ .... _._ ........ _ ......... _ ... _ ...... _ ..... . Richmond formation: Light-colored shale, etc ................ _ .......... _ .. _ .......... . Maysville, Eden, and Point Pleasant formations: 

Dark shale ........... __ ._ .......... _ .. _._ .... _._ ................ _._ .... _ ........... . Black shale .•......... _ ................. _ .... _ ............................. _._ ..... . Shell rock ... _ ................................ _._ ...... _ ........ _ ................... . Black shale ... _ ... _ ...... _ ........ _._ ........ ____ ....................... _._ ........ . "Birdseye" limestone (penetrated). __ .... _._ ...... _ ................ -._ .......... -.. -.. . 

Feet. 6 

20 

~~ . 

Feet. 6 

26 

61 

86 8 94 210 ........ 

325 ...... .. 32 ...... .. 2 ...... .. 114 1.040 160 1,200 

4 Ort.on, Edward, Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 6, 1888, p. 290. The identifications of geologic formations are by the author. ' , • The thickness of the formations above the " Birdseye," as published In the record, 

add up only to 777 feet, indicating the presence of unrecorded strata having a thickness 

of 263 feet, the position of which is not known. 

• Conditions In 1906. 
GREENE COUNTY. 107 

The record gives the depth to the top of the" Birdseye" as 1,040 

feet, which would place it about 170 feet below sea level at this point. 

The first public supply in Xenia, owned and operated by the Xenia 

Water Co., was installed in 1887, the water being obtained by impounding the run-off of several springs 1! miles north of the city. 

Some surface water also entered the reservoir. Later a large well 

was sunk through the surface coating of till into the underlying 

gravel. From this the water was conducted to a receiving well at 

the reservoir, and both reservoir and well water pumped to the 

standpipe. The springs supply about 300,000 gallons and the well 

100,000 gallons daily. 

Since 1896 six 6-inch wells, six 8-inch wells, and two 10-inch wells, 

located southwest of the city and penetrating a bed of gravel below 

the till to depths of 28 to 40 feet, have been added to the system. 

About 25,000 gallons daily is obtained from these wells in wet 

seasons. A test well sunk in the rock to 315 feet found the seams to 

be filled with clay, and the small amount of water obtained tasted 

rank and oily. Two 150-foot wells at the old station likewise proved 

to be failures. An analysis of the public supply is given in the table 

on pages 200-201. 

YELLOW SPRINGS.1 

. ' 

Yellow Springs has long been noted for its mineral waters. Even 

in the time of the "mound builders" it was much frequented, as is 

attested by the mound near the Chalybeate Spring, in the Neff 

Grounds, and by the deep pits sunk in the limestone. The old trail 

between the Indian villages of the Miami.s, at Oldtown and at Mad 

River, below Springfield, passed the spring and glen. Early in the 

last century the spring was selected as a site for the socialistic experiment of Robert Owen, and a building was begun, but the locality 

was soon abandoned in favor of another at New Harmony, Ind. 

For many years after the Civil War Yellow Springs was a popular 

resort, and a hotel accommodating 500 people was built here in 1870. 

In later years more northern resorts drew away most of the visitors, 

and in 1901 the hotel was demolished. At present the springs are 

developed as a recreation park (the Neff Grounds), which caters to 

those caring for the natural scenery and water rather than for more 

artificial attractions. 

The natural attractions include a wooded park, bordered by high 

limestone bluffs of "Niagara" limestone, the Chalybeate, Arctic, and 

Magnetic Springs, and a picturesque lake of 5 or 6 acres fed by 

springs. The Chalybeate (see Pl. IX, B) is the principal spring of 

the park. It issues from the "Niagara" limestone with a volume 

of about 100 gallons a minute and flows over a broad expanse of 

moss-covered tufa, plunging over the edge into the valley below 

1 Conditions In 1906. 
108 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

(Pl. IX, A). The tufa mass, which is some hundreds of feet across 

and 20 feet or more thick, is not the least interesting feature of the 

park. It represents the accumulation of mineral matter brought out 

in solution by the spring in the course of centuries and deposited over 

the ground and the surface of grass, leaves, and twigs, a process 

which may still be seen in actual operation. The tufa varies considerably in composition, some parts carrying much more iron than 

others. Analyses of both the iron-bearing tufa and of the purer 

type are given below; an analysis of the water will be found on 

pages 200-201. 

Analyses of tufa at Yellow Springs, Ohio.a 

Ferrugi- Calcare- nous. ous. 

Carbonate of calcium .............................................................. . 

~~~~~~~;~~~~~-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::\ 

92.97 97.60 

2. 42 1. 21 3.80 ......... . • 80 .60 

a Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 2, 1874, pp. 678, 692. 

Besides the deposit at the Chalybeate Spring, other accumulations 

of tufa, or "red bank," as it is called locally, are found at other 

points in the park, especially on the east side of the lake a few hundred yards above the main spring. 

The Arctic Spring is situated at the base of the bluff on the east 

side of the lake and has a flow of about 5 gallons a minute. The 

Magnetic Spring is in a ravine entering from the east about a quarter of a mile below the Chalybeate Spring, and has a flow of about 

15 gallons a minute. The water of the Arctic Spring is hard, but 

that of the Magnetic Spring appears to be relatively soft. Neither 

carries any iron or any notable amount of gas. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The table below gives summaries of the underground-water conditions at the principal villages and towns of Greene County: 

Underground water conditions in Greene County. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. Thick- Water Rrek nearest Wllter-bearing Wf!ter supply. ness. supply. surface. rocks. 

Feet. 

Alpha .......... Alluvium .••.. 35+ Plenty .• Richmond .•.•.. Richmond and Sniall. 

Mavsville . Bellbrook .•.... ..... do ..•...... 30+ ... do •.•.• ..... do ........... ..... do ........... Do, 

Bowersville .... Till, moraine .. 60 "ifa!l::::: "Niagara" ...... "Clinton" ... _ .. lTsually plenty. Byron .......... Till. .......... 30 Richmond •..... Richmond and Small. 

Maysville. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 259 PLATE IX 

A. 

B. 

SPRINGS ON NEFF GROUNDS, YELLOW SPR INGS, GREENE COUNTY. 

A, Spring falling over tufa depositj B, Chalybeate Spring emerging from "Niagara" limestone above a shale parting. 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 109 

Undergrouna· water conditions m Greene Oo?tnty-Continued. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. Thick- Water Rock nearest Water-bearing water supply. ness. supply. surface; rocks. 

Feet. 

Cedarville...... Till.......... . 5 

Clifton......... Till, alluvium. 5-~ 

Fair ..... "Niagara" ...... "Clinton" •••... Moder- ..... do ................ do .......... . 

Fairfield ....... 

Ferrv ......... . Gladstone .... .. Goes .......... . 

Alluvium un- der till. 

Till .......... . Till, moraine .. Till, alluvium. 

Grape Grove... Till, moraine .. Hawkers....... Till ......... .. 

Hopkinsville ........ do ....... . 

Hufieysville .... Alluvium ... .. 

40+ 

25 

75 

25 

70 

35 

60 

ate. 

Fair ..... Richmond ...... Richmond and 

Maysville. ............... do ................ do ......... .. "Niagara" ...... ''Clinton" ..... . Plenty.. "Clinton", Rich- "Cllnton,"Rich- mond. mond, Mays- ville. 

"Niagara" ...... "Clinton" ..... . Richmond ...... Richmond and 

"Clinton" or ''Niagara.'' 

Maysville. "Clinton" ...... . 

30+ Plenty .. Richmond . .. .. . Richmond and 

Maysville. Jamestown ..... Till........... 40 Moder- ''Niagara" ...... "Clinton" ...... . ate. New Jasper ......... do ........................ , ...... do ................ do ......... .. Oldtown....... Alluvium, till. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Richmond...... Richmond and · Maysville. 

Osborn ......... Apuvium..... 30+ Plenty ... ,, ... do .... ,; ....... ,, ... do ... ;;------ Palnterville.... Till........... 140+ ... do..... Nmgara .. .. .. Clinton ...... Roxanna....... Terrace gravel. 50+ Moder- Richmond . . • . . . Richmond and ate. Maysville. Sprlnf! Valley .. Trebems ....... Wilberforce •... 

Alluvium, etc. Alluvium ..... Sandy tIll, 

moraine. 

30+ Variable ..... do ................ do ......... .. 30+ Plenty ....... do ................ do .......... . 80 ... do ..... "Clinton"(?) .... "Clinton" .... .. 

Usually plenty. Do. 

Small. 

Do . Usually plenty. Moderate. 

Usually plenty. Small. 

Usually plenty. 

Small. 

Usually plenty. 

Do. 

Small. 

Do. 

Usually plenty. Small. 

Do. 

Do. 

Usually plenty. 

Xenia .......... Till, moraine .. 50 Fair ..... Richmond ...... Richmond and Small. 

Yellow Springs. Till ........... 5-15 Maysville. Moder- "Niagara' ...... "Clinton" ...... Usually plenty. ate . Zimmerman.... Alluvium, till. 90+ .. . do..... Richmond...... Richmond and Small. 

Maysville. 

HAMILTON COUNTY. 

By M. L. FULLER. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Hamilton County is essentially a plateau, consisting of rather flat 

uplands lying about 500 feet above the Ohio or a little more than 900 

feet above sea level. The surface, however, is not continuous but is 

broken by many valleys, among which are Miami, Little Miami, Mill 

Creek, Whitewater, and the streamless valleys connecting the Mill 

Creek and Little Miami valleys north of Cincinnati and the Whitewater and Miami valleys near the Butler County line, in the southwestern part of the county. 

Many interesting features are presented by the valleys of Hamilton County. The main bottoms, where they join the Ohio, have an 

elevation of about 475 feet, agreeing approximately with that of the 

Ohio flats, but the tributary valleys, 10 or 15 miles back from the 

Ohio, generally stand at least 100 feet higher. The width of the 

valleys bears little or no relation to the size of the streams now occu-
110 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF .SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

pying them. For instance, the valley of the Little Miami is decidedly wider than that of the Ohio, and the valley from the Little 

Miami to Mill Creek, which contains no stream, is fully as wide as 

that of. the Little Miami. Mill Creek valley near its mouth is only 

about half a mile in width, but above St. Bernard, where it is joined 

by a valley connecting with the Little Miami, it is a mile or two 

wide. Again, the Miami in Hamilton County flows in a narrow valley, in many places less than half a ~ile wide, although a broad 

channel 2 miles or more in width but unoccupied by any continuous 

stream leads westward from it just south of the Butler County line, 

connecting with the Whitewater Valley at the western edge of the 

county and extending southward to the Ohio near the Indiana State 

line. 

These anomalous features are the result of drainage changes which 

have taken place in late geologic time. Originally the Ohio, instead 

of flowing past Cincinnati, turned northward just east of that city, 

flowing up the valley now occupied by the Little Miami to Newton, 

thence past Madison, Norwood, etc., by way of the old valley to Mill 

Creek. Here, turning north, it flowed past Elmwood, Wyoming, 

Lockwood, etc., to the Miami south of Hamilton, where it appears 

to have turned westward and southwestward, entering the present 

Whitewater Valley near the county line and flowing southward to 

join its present channel just west of the Indiana line. At this time, 

there being no east~west channel past Cincinnati, the Licking probably flowed northward across the site of Cincinnati and through the 

valley now occupied by Mill Creek, joining the main Ohio at St. 

Bernard. As the streams continued· to flow in the channels indicated their beds were gradually built up by sand, gravel, etc., brought 

down from higher points on the stream, until a level of 600 to 640 

feet above the sea was reached. The streams flowing at this level 

found divides across which they could cut 'and seek shorter <lOurses 

than those in which they were then flowing, and, on the uplift of the 

land, the present channels were begun and have since been gradually 

deepened. These old valleys are of great importance with reference 

to underground water. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

The water-bearing beds in the surface materials include alluvium, 

terrace gravels, loess, till, and morainal deposits. The rock formations outcropping at the surface are the Richmond, Maysville, Eden, 

Utica, and Point Pleasant. Beneath these, but not outcropping, 

are the "Birdseye" limestone, St. Peter sandstone, Cambro-Ordovician dolomite, and Cambrian sandstone. · 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 111 

SlJB.FAOE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The alluvium occurs mainly in the larger valleys, where it varies 

greatly in extent, character, and depth. 

In the Ohio Valley the alluvium, or those beds which constitute 

the flood plains of the river, occurs mainly as narrow strips ranging from a quarter to half a mile in width. To a depth of 6 or 8 

feet the material is usually a sandy loam. Beneath this occurs commonly 30 feet or more of alternating beds of clay and silty sands 

and gravels, below which lies a thick bed of cla.y, including some 

ocher layers and sporadic tree stumps and peaty material. Beneath 

this again, just above low-water level, is a considerable bed of clean 

gravel. From ·low-water level to bedrock, gra:vel and sands commonly predominate. 

The alluvial deposits of the other valleys, especially those not now 

occupied by large streams, differ notably from those of the Ohio. 

In many places beneath about 10 feet of silty soil and a few feet 

of sand there lies a bed of blue clay that carries some pebbles and is 

over 35 feet thick. Some <ff this blue clay is clearly of glacial 

origin, representing an old till. Beneath the till gravelly deposits 

having a thickness of about 35 feet are again encountered, and 

beneath these is a 25-foot bed of blue clay, with sand and pebbles, 

possibly representing another till. At the base in Mill Creek valley 

there is 43 feet of sand and waterworn gravel with a little blue clay. 

In the smaller valleys and ravines entering the Ohio the alluvial 

deposits consist generally of coarse gravels, but the streams commonly flow near bedrock and the deposits are of no great thickness. 

In addition to the alluvium of the present and abandoned river 

channels, already described, indications of old stream deposits exist 

at an elevation of about 740 feet at the north end of the village of 

Mount Washington and on the American Flats southeast of that 

town. These consist Qf sands and gravels containing at one locality 

the remains of a mastodon and other mammals. They apparently 

represent the channel of some small stream flowing near the crest 

of the uplands before the present valleys were developed. 

Ample supplies of water can be obtained from the alluvium in 

all the larger valleys, both of the present streams and of the 

abandoned Ohio channels. In general, a little water is found above 

the clay layers, but, as these are generally well above low-water level 

and are quickly drained whenever the river is low, the supplies are 

variable. It is only when the gravels beneath the clays are reached 

that permanent supplies are procured. At some places in the Miami 

and Little Miami valleys t~ clays are absent and the first water is 

found in the gravels approximately at the stream level. Similar 

conditions exist in the abandoned valleys of the Ohio, except that 
112 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

in places it is necessary, in order to obtain large supplies, to sink 

to the level of the main Ohio Valley, which is considerably below 

the level of the small surface streams occupying the old channels. 

Supplies can be obtained from the coarse gravel deposits of the small 

tributaries wherever the stream grade is not too steep or the rock 

too near the surface. 

TERRACE GRAVELS. 

Standing above the Ohio flood plain, which has an altitude of 

about 475 feet, are a number of gravel terraces rising to various elevations from 540 to 550 feet. Examples of such terraces are found 

at California, at Home City, and at Cincinnati. Similar terraces 

are present along Little Miami River at elevations from 560 to 620 

feet~ The terraces at Terrace Park and Milford are especially good 

examples. Along Mill Creek terraces rise to an altitude of over 600 

feet, or more than 80 feet above the stream. These are especially 

conspicuous in the vicinity of Carthage, Hartwell, and Arlington 

Heights. Similar, though less extensive, terraces exist along the 

Miami. The deposits are of alluvial origin and were laid down by 

the Ohio when it was flowing northward at its higher level to the 

Miami and thence southwestward through the Whitewater Valley. 

These higher terraces are distinctly older than the lower ones along 

the Ohio, which were built by the stream at certain stages since it has 

been flowing in its present valley. Higher up the Little Miami, Mill 

Creek, and the Miami the streams have cut less deeply and are flowing nearer the terrace level. In most places near the northern edge 

of the county the streams are flowing on top of the deposits which 

farther down the valleys constitute the terraces. The higher terraces, 

where exposed, seem to be composed mainly of gravel and sand down 

to stream level, but borings are too few to indicate the character of 

the deposits below that level. One of the characteristic features of the 

terrace gravels is the occurrence in them of layers, locally called 

cement rock, which have been cemented into a hard crust by the 

deposition of iron oxide by percolating waters. The lower terraces, 

however, consist of the same succession of sands, clays, buried soils, 

trees, etc., that is found in the flood plains, the average section in 

the vicinity of Cincinnati being as follows : 1 

Generalized section of terrace deposifs near Cincinnati. 

Feet. 

Soil------------~-------------------------------------- 2-5 

Gravel and sand, with seams of loam____________________ 40--60 

Brick clay, with sand and loam________________________ 20-:ro 

Buried soil, trees, leaves, etc _______________________ ._____ 5--10 

Clravel and claY----------------------.----------------- 5--10 

72-115 

1 Orton, Edward, Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 1, 1873, p. 432. 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 113 

Here and there small amounts of water accumulat~ in irregularities 

of the surface of the cemented layers in the gravelly portions of the 

high terraces, and some water is found in clay layers in the low 

terraces along the Ohio. To procure satisfactory supplies, however, 

wells must be carried to the general water level, 1 which is commonly 

about at the .elevation of the adjacent streams. As in the alluvial 

deposits, the terrace waters from the clays are high in phosphate of 

iron. The waters from the underlying gravels are likewise in all 

respects similar to those described under the alluvium. 

LOESS. 

Capping the .flat uplands and certain of the high terraces is a thin 

mantle of a yellowish, somewhat clayey silt, known as loess. - The 

deposits are best developed near the river, where they may have a 

thickness of 5 to 10 feet or more. From the river bluffs the thickness 

declines somewhat rapidly to the north, the deposits being of little 

importance except within a few miles of the Ohio. The loess, because 

of its thickness, is of no consequence as 11: water-bearing formation, but 

it assists materially in absorbing. and holding rain water and in 

feeding it to the underlying till or weathered rock. 

TILL, 

Except on the steep bluffs facing the streams, Hamilton. County is 

covered by a thin mantle of pebbly clay or till, ranging in thickness 

from 5 to 25 feet and in color from yellowish in the upper 5 or 10 

feet to blue in the lower part. Much of the till is somewhat gravelly 

and some o:f it may even include beds of water-deposited sand or 

gravel. 

The till affords supplies to shallow wells at many places on the 

upland plateaus, especially where it is 15 feet or more in thickness. 

Where it is thinner it is chiefly of importance in collecting the rain 

water and feeding it to the underlying rocks. Where gravelly layers are found on the flat uplands good supplies are procured, but 

near the edge of the bluffs, where the water may escape readily, they 

are more difficult to obtain. 

MORAINAL DEPO!!ITS, 

Morainal deposits are very sparingly developed in Hamilton 

County, being confined to a very small area near the point where 

Mill Creek enters the county. They consist largely of gravels and 

sands, but include some clay or till. They form knolls and small 

hills from 10 to 20 feet or more in height and constitute a part of 

!,1:9130° -WSP 259--12----8 
114 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

the general belt which enters the county from the northeast near 

Sharonville and turns northwestward at Mill Creek, skirting the 

northern boundary on one side or the other as far as the Indiana 

line. Owing to the predominance of porous gravels water is rarely 

retained in the morainal deposits and wells in general must penetrate the underlying formations to procure adequate supplies. 

Where till predominates in the moraines the water supply is the 

same as in the sheet of pebbly till. · 

BOOK FOBKATIONS, 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

The Richmond and Maysville formations compose the upland surface throughout Hamilton County and occupy the upper parts of 

the bluffs down to about 300 feet above the Ohio. The surface of 

the rocks is generally much weathered and more or less disintegrated 

to a depth of several feet. The beds exposed appear to be between 

400 and 500 feet in total thickness and to consist mainly of alternating layers of limestone and shale 1 to 10 inches thick; in some places, 

however, as near the junction between the two formations, shale beds 

predominate. 

Owing to the presence of the loess and till considerable quantities 

of rain water are collected and fed to the disintegrated upper portion of the Richmond and Maysville formation. Open wells penetrating to this weathered surface usually get sufficient water for 

ordinary domestic and farm purposes, but drilled wells rarely procure adequate supplies. 

EDEN SHALE. 

The Eden consists of gray or bluish shales weathering olive or 

brownish and having a thickness of about 250 feet. Except for a 

few thin seams of limestone, it contains no porous or soluble layers 

in which water can circulate. The formation occupies the lower 250 

feet of the bluff~, extending up the larger valleys to points beyond 

the county line. Its base is a little below the level of the Ohio flood 

plain. 

The Eden shale affords no water whatever to drilled wells and in 

few places yields enough to supply even ordinary dug wells. 

UTICA SHALE. 

The Utica shale consists of a few fe~t of shale immediatelv underlying the Eden, which it closely resembles in character.· It is likewise not water bearing. 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 115 

POINT PLEASANT FORMATION • 

• The Point Pleasant :formation consists o£ hard, compact, dark 

shale in layers up to 10 inches or more in thickness, alternating with 

similar layers o£ gray limestone. The total thickness is about 150 

:feet, o£ which not more than 50 :feet is above river level. The :for-

.mation shows below the flood-plain level o£ the Ohio at numerous 

points throughout the county. 

Although this :formation carries considerable water locally, the 

procuring o£ supplies is very uncertain and the water when :found 

is likely to be salty or sulphurous. 

" BIRDSEYE " LIMES~ONE. 

The " Birdseye" is a massive compact grayish limestone the top o£ 

which is about 100 :feet below the level o£ the Ohio. Wells penetrating it obtain more or less water, which, however, is commonly 

salty. F~esh water is npt to be expected. 

ST. PETER SANDSTONE. 

The St. Peter sandstone is a porous sandstone approximately 400 

:feet thick, the top o£ which lies about 700 :feet below river level. 

Wells penetrating the :formation get abundant supplies o£ sulphosaline water, which will rise about 175 :feet above the low water o£ the 

Ohio, but which, un:fcirtunately, is unfit :for anything but cooling 

purposes. 

CAMBRIAN AND ORDOVICIAN DOLOMITE. 

The Cambrir..n and Ordovician dolomite is a varicolored dolomitic 

limestone or marble, 3,000 :feet or more in thickness, lying below the 

St. Peter. It has been penetrated at Cincinnati to a depth o£ nearly 

1,000 :feet without yielding any material supply o£ water. 

CAMBRIAN SANDSTONE. 

The Cambrian sandstone, which is a prominent water-bearing 

:formation in other parts o£ the country, may possibly occur beneath 

Hamilton County, but its depth, which is at least 4,000 :feet below 

river level, is so great as to make drilling unprofitable, especially as 

the water it carries is almost sure to be sulphurous and unfit :for use. 

NOTES BY TOWNS.1 

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.• 

Within a short distance :from the surface, wells at Arlington 

Heights enter blue clay, which is said to be at least 100 :feet thick. 

Driving is very difficult and drilling or jetting is sometimes done. 

A layer o£ old wood, tree bark, etc., is reported at about 100 :feet. 

1 The notes on Carthage, College Hill, Elmwood, Harrison, New Burlington, and St. 

Bernard are by Frederick G. Clapp. 

; Conditi<ms in 1906. 
116 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

CALIFORNIA.1 

Eight test borings, extending in a northeast-southwest directioll 

from the New Richmond pike at California to a point in the river 

near the Kentucky shore~· were sunk in 1896 and 1897 by the board of 

trustees, commissioners of waterworks of Cincinnati. They brought 

out the interesting fact that the rock bottom of the Ohio is only about 

50 feet below low-water mark. Sections of borings on the river bank 

and in the river bottom are· given below: 2 

Section of boring on terrace at Oalifornia. 

[Elevation 59 feet above low water.] # Ft. in. 

Yellow clay-------------------------------------------- 28 

Clay and fine sand_____________________________________ 3 1 

Gravel and sand ______________________________________ _; 8 8 

Coarse sand------------------------------------------- 25 8 

Sand and gravel------------~-------------------------- 1 4 

Coarse sand___________________________________________ 8 3 

Small gravel, sand, and large bowlders__________________ 1 6 

Coarse sand and graveL________________________________ 12 6 

Coarse gravel__________________________________________ 10 8 

Bedrock----------------------------------------------- ~ 2 

Section of boring in river bed at Oalifornia. 

[Elevation of river bed 9 feet 2 Inches below low water.] 

105 10 

Ft. in. Coarse sand____________________________________________ 4 

Fine graveL _______________________ ---------------------- 4 8 

]dediurn sand------------------------------------------- 8 9 

Fine gravel-------------------------------------------,- 14 

Bedrock------------------------------------------------ 10 

32 3 

A 90~foot well, 4 inches in diameter, located on the river bank, 

fluctuates with the river .. Where the rise is only 3 to 5 feet the well 

responds in a few hours, but with a rise of 50 feet the lag may be 

three or four days. During a small rise the well water stands 2 feet 

lower than the river, but during a hirge rise it is as much as 18 feet 

lower. The slowness of the response indicates the lack of free connection betw-een the waters of the river and those of the alluvium, 

although the latter, as shown by the record, is nearly pure sand and 

gravel at this point. In the absence of analyses it can not be determined whether the rise in the well is due to the ponding of the 

ground water or to the penetration of waters' from the river into the 

alluvium. 

1 Conditions In Hl06. 

• Second Ann. Rept. Board Trustees Com. Waterworks ot Cins:lln~att, Jail, l, 1899; fol· 

lowing p. 70. 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 117 

CART:S:AGE.' 

The waterworks of Carthage are situated on the valley bottom at 

the western edge of the village, close to the Miami & Erie Canal, 

below the base of the surrounding hills. The supply is obtained 

from four 6-inch driven wells, two 135 and two 137 feet deep: The 

water is found in gravel and is pumped by direct pressure into an 

80,000-gallon cistern on the level of the pumping station and thence 

· into the water mains. The pumps are run day and night. This 

water system was constructed in the yea.r 1890, being the first plant in 

southern Ohio "built and operated by an incorporated village. The 

same syHtem supplies the towns of Elmwood and Winton Place and 

several factories. 

In and near the village of Carthage there are a number of drilled 

wells. One of them, belonging to the Chatfield Manufacturing Co., 

on the corner of Fifth and Lebanon streets, is about 200 feet deep. 

The principal water supply was obtained at 60 feet in gravel, and 

bedrock was struck at 100 feet. The ordinary water level is 40 feet 

below the surface. The temperature is 55° to 60°, and 50 to 60 gallons of water a minute can be obtained. 

On the slope of the hills directly east of Carthage is situated the 

Longview Hospital, which has an excellent supply of water from 

three drilled wells, 14:3, 14:6, and 150 :feet deep. The wells are 8 

and 10 inches in diameter and are sunk entirely in gravel, no rock 

being penetrated. They lie in line with the abandoned gravel-filled 

valley extending southeastward :from the Miami to the Ohio. The 

principal water vein was struck at about 50 feet from the surface. 

The water is used for all domestic purposes and for boilers to supply 

1,350 inmates. The pumps are run nine hours a day, pumping about 

250,000 gallons of water from the station near the base of the slope 

to a reservoir on the hill. A mechanical filter is used. The water is 

good. For 25 years previous to the installation of the present supply 

a dug well 4:0 feet deep was used, but the water finally gave out. 

Another well was drilled to a depth of several hundred :feet, but no 

data regarding it could be obtained. 

CINCINNATI,l 

General eonditiom.-Most of the business part of Cincinnati is 

situated on a gravel terrace standing 500 to 54:0 :feet above sea level 

or 70 to 110 feet above low-water level o:f the Ohio, but the portions near the Ohio and bordering Mill Creek are 20 to 4:0 feet lower 

and are sometimes partly covered by water during floods. In the 

outskirts of the city and its suburbs the hills rise to heights of over 

900 feet, or 300 feet above the terrace. 

' Conditions in 1906. 
118 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

As a consequence of the peculiar situation of the city, great variability in the underground-water conditions has always prevailed. 

Originally water was obtained by shallow wells, but as the houses 

became more crowded the water became polluted, making it necessary to go deeper for supplies. For a time moderately deep wells 

were entirely successful, but as manufacturing establishments multiplied the demand became too heavy for the supply or the water became polluted, so that many of these wells also had to be abandoned, 

although some are still used. Next, recourse was had to deep drilled 

wells, many of which were carried to 1,000 feet and some to more 

than 2,000 feet, but without finding any further fresh water of consequence, although plenty of the sulphosaline water was obtained. 

At present a few of the dug wells remain on the outskirts o{the city 

and a number of the deep drilled wells are still in use, but most of 

the well water is obtained from the driven wells sunk in the alluvial 

or terrace deposits or for a few feet into the underlying rocks. The 

greater part of the business firms and practically all the citizens 

use the public supply~ ' 

Well reeords.-An unusually large number of wells have been sunk 

in Cincinnati owing to the large number of breweries and distilleries, 

the poor quality of the public supply, and other minor causes. As a 

result the possibilities of getting water in this way have been pretty 

well demonstrated. The probable amount of the water in both 

the unconsolidated deposits and the rock formations has already 

been discussed and numerous supplementary data are given in the 

tables (pp. 122-123, 130, 202-203). It only remains .to present a few 

additional facts as to the nature of the materials and the position of 

the bedrock surface. The character of the deposits is best shown by 

. the following log, which represents the best available record in the 

vicinity. The correlation of geologic formations is added by· the 

writer. Record of wezz of Cincinnati Gas Co., Front Street.a 

Artificial filllng .•....................................................................... Soil .................................................................................... . Alluvium: 

Blueclay ........................................................................... . Sand and gravel. .................................................•................. Point Pleasant formation: · Shale ....•.......................................................................... Blue limestone ............................................................•......... Blue and gray limestone ........................................................... . Sandstone ......................................................................... . "Birdseye" limestone: 

Limestone ......•................................................................... White limestone .•.................................................................. St. Peter sandstone: 

Sandstone ....••.................................................................... 

~':tds.:.'d:t::!:.~~ ... :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

White sandstone ................................................................... . Coarse sandstone and limestone .................................................... . Sandstone •••.••................................................................ ~ .. . Cambrian and Ordovician dolomite: Very hard red and white marble .................. . 

Thickness. 

--

Feet. 5 

5 

20 

90 

3 

40 

50 

5 

380 

240 

65 

15 

62 

85 

15 

140 

25 

Depth. 

--

Feet. 5 

10 

30 

120 

123 

163 

213 

218 

598 

838 

903 

918 

980 

1,065 

1,080 

1,220 

1,245 

• Bell, T. J., History of the water supply of the world, Cincinnati, 1882, pp. 1-7. 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 119 

O:f the shallower wells that of Timothy Kirby at Cumminsville is 

of interest as showing the succession of materials in the Mill Creek 

valley. 

Record of Kirby well, Cummin81Jille.a 

Tn~~- Depth. 

~:d~~-~~~~-~1-~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

~~~~1~=- ~~~ -~~~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Coarse sand ............................................................................ . Sand with coaly fragments ............ ~ ................................................ . Blue clay with gravel (base level with low water of Ohio) .............................. . Blue clay, sandJ and coaly fragments ................................................... . Sand, gravel, bme clay, and coaly fragments ........................................... . 

• Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 1, p. 433. 

Feet. 12 

4 

34 

19 

3 

11 

9 

16 

43 

Feet. 12 

16 

50 

69 

72 

&'I 

92 

1U'! 

151 

The well of John Kaufman on Vine Street illustrates the character 

of the terrace materials in that part of Cincinnati. The distance to 

rock is among the greatest recorded at Cincinnati. 

Record of Kaufman well, Vine Street. 

Blue clay .............................................................................. . 

~~~:f.!~-~~~~~~---::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Quicksand and graveL ................................................................. . Limestone ............................................................................. . 

Feet. 25 

75 

55 

35 

25 

Feet. 

25 

100 

155 

190 

215 

The borings made by the board of trustees bring out the character of the deposits in the narrow part of the Ohio Valley opposite 

Dayton, Ky.: 

Record of boring in river between 'Porrence Road, Cincinnati, and Dayton, Ky. 

[Starts 5 feet above low-water mark.) 

Thick- Depth. ness. 

Ft. in. Ft. in. 

Coarse gravel and bowlders ........................................................ . Sand ............................................................................... . 11 8 11 8 

2 13 8 

Coarse gravel and bowlders •....•........................ _ ........................ . Fine sand .......................................................................... . 12 4 26 

13 2 39 2 

Limestone ......................................................................... . 4 11 44 1 

Record of boring at foot of Lumber Street, Cincinnati, opposite Dayton, Ky. 

[Starts 54 feet 10 inches above low-water mark.) 

Sand and bowlders ..•.............................................................. Blueclay .......................................................................... . 

~~~~-~~-~~~-~~~:::.-.-.·.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

~~~; ~"l8c>a:PsiOD.ii::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 3 

3 4 29 2 

4 10 

7 3 6 

Depth. 

Ft. in. 3 

6 4 35 6 40 4 

40 11 

44 5 
120 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

The borings represented by the next three records show the character of the materials along a section extending from East Cincinnati 

to California, across the valley of the Little Miami. The first is 

located about half a mile south of Columbia, the second on the west 

bank of the Little Miami, a:nd the third on the terrace near California 

on which the filter beds are located. 

Record of boring near junction of Turke11 Bottom Road and Richmond Pike. 

[Starts 59 feet 7 inches above low-water mark.] 

Thick- Depth~ ness. 

Ft. in. Ft. in. 

Loam •••.....•........................•............................................. 10 10 

~E~~l::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 12 22 

13 1 35 1 23 1 58 2 

Brown sand .......•................................................................ 27 4 85 6 

&:~~~-----~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 7 2 92 8 6 11 99 7 Rock ••••.•......................................................................... 10 100 5 

Record of boring on west banl~> of Little Miami three-fourths of a mile above 

the mouth. 

[Starts 40 feet 6 inches above low-water mark.] 

Thickness. 

---· 

Ft. in. 

~vei:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 24 10 9 7 

Coarse sand ••......................................................... ~ ............ . 5 8 

Finesand .......................................................................... . 30 

GraveL ............................................................................ . 5 6 

~~~~ ~~~ ~1~~ ~~:::. ~:::::: ~:::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 1 2 7 

Re(Jord of boring on site of filter beds, California, Ohio. 

[Starts 98 feet 10 inches above low-water mark.] 

E:~i~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

~~U~!~_:_::_::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Black sand •••.•••.................................................................. 

~~~a~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

10 

3 

33 

49 

15 

9 

2 

10 4 

2 

Depth. 

---

Ft. in. 24 10 34 5 

40 1 

70 1 

75 7 76 9 77 4 

Depth. 

Ft. in. 

10 

13 

46 

95 

110 

119 

121 

131 4 131 6 

Rock floor.-A study of the well records brings out a number of 

interesting facts regarding the configuration of the rock surface beneath Cincinnati and the old channel. Near the bluff which borders 

the city on the northeast the rock is relatively high, generally being 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 121 

within 40 or 50 feet of the surface, or nearly 50 feet above low water 

in the Ohio. A quarter of a mile from the foot of the hills, however, 

the rock is between 50 and 75 feet from the surface, or only 20 feet 

above low-water mark, and a little farther out it drops abruptly to 

about 150 feet, or 50 feet or more below low water. These depths occur 

along a line extending from a point west of the suspension bridge 

northward and northwestward to the corner of John and Liberty 

f.treets, beyond which the depth to rock is not known. Rock is penetrated by wells between the Chesapeake & Ohio and suspension 

bridges, at the Gibson House, Emery Hotel, Palace Hotel, and near 

the corners of Elm and Canal streets, Dayton Street and Central 

Avenue, and Liberty and John streets. To the east, as shown by 

wells in the vicinity of Ludlow Street, rock is well above river level, 

eoming within 30 or 40 feet of the surface. Similar depths are shown 

by wells near the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton depot and near the 

eorner of Front and Harriet streets. These depths indicate a deep 

channel running at right angles to the Ohio and connecting with an 

old channel of Licking River near the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 

bridge, representing without doubt the course of the Licking when 

it flowed northward to join the old Ohio-then flowing in the vicinity 

of Norwood back of Cincinnati (p. 19) and north of St. Bernard. 

The depth to rock in the Mill Creek valley south of the Liberty 

Street viaduct is not so great as it is in the old Licking channel, 

though greater tl}an under the land immediately to the east and somewhat more than in the present Ohio channel above the mouth of the 

Licking, where the rock appears to be at no great distance below the 

bottom. 

Deep wells.-A large number of wells have been drilled in Cincinnati and vicinity, particulars of a considerable number of which 

are given in the following table. Many of them were sunk years ago, 

and most of the data have long been lost; others were put down by 

drillers who have since died or moved to other localities; and still 

others were sunk by drillers who kept no memoranda. The information presented affords, however, an indication of the thickness of the 

surface deposits, the depth to the rock floor, and the character and 

volume of water supplies. 
Data on wells at Cincinnati. 

owtier. Location. Drlller. Dlame- Depth. ter. 

Depth 

to 

rock. 

TernHead. perature. Yield. Beds penetrated. 

Incher. 

American Oak Leather Co .... -···············-···--··--·--· -Koehne........... 8 

Bank & Safe Co •......•••.•.• Front Street opposite Rose Ed. Boluss ............ --······ Street. 

Banner Brewery Co.......... Canal and Walnut streets . . . John Pepper .••...•..•........ 

Banner lee Co.~ .............. -·-··--···-·-················· Broadway Electric Plant ..... Broadway, above Court 

A. D. Cook............ 10 

Bradford Well Co •.•.. ··------ Street. 

Christian Moerlein Brewing :aJOO Elm Street •••..•....... Co. 

Christian M oerlein 

Brewing Co. 8 

Cincinnati Gas Co •••••....... Front Street, between Rose 

Street and Gas Alley. 

Ed. Boluss •••..•........ _ ..... 

Do ...••............•..... West Front Street ..••••.... ······-·-·······-······· 4! 

Do •.•.•.................. Eastern Avenue..................................... 6 _Cincinnati, Hamilton & Day- Sixth Avenue •.............. John Pepper ••........ --······ ton depot. Cincln:n8ti Ice Co ..............................•.•............................•.•... Clifton Springs Distilling Co •. L~J" w!ro~ue, Twenty- J. J. Groves •.........•. 

Coast & Coast................ Spring Grove A venue....... William Hendrlgsman. Consumers' Ice Co .............................•.....•.••... E. Hendrigsman ..... . • Crystal SJII'buts Ice Co • • • • • . . Cumminsvllle............... - Hendrigsman •.... Tom E. & N.-Davis ••••••.•.• CincinnatifiHamilton&Day- Ed. Boluss ••.......... ton Ra way and Gest 

t!treet. 

6 

8 

4 

8 

6 

Diamond D. Co ••••••.•.•.••• Gest Street and Mill Creek. • . ...• do..... . . . . • • • • • . . . . ..•.•.. _Frank Douglas •••.•.....•••.• 

;Eggerr Sanger Planing Mill •••• Emery Hotel •.•..........••.. 

Monroe Street (Straker H. Pegg •••.....•.•••.....•.... Swamps). 

Foot of Harriet Street. . . . . . Ed. Boluss. . . . . • • • • • . . . ..... _ . Vine Street, between Fourth ....• do................. 3 

and Fifth streets. Foss-Bchneider Brewing Co... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. D. Cook............ 6 Freiberg & Workum ...•.. _ .... Sycamore and Main streets. Ed. Boluss .•••••.•••.......... 

Ga1f Distilling Co............. Sixth Street and Mill Creek • John Pepper ...•••............ Ga.mbrino Stock Co........... Sycamore Street............. Ed. Boluss .•.................• A. Gander Packing Co........ . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Cook.. . . • • . • • . . . . 8 

Gerkie Brewery CO........... Plum and Canal streets..... John Pepper •................. Gibson House ...•.•.•.•......... ·······' ..................•................ _ ..............• 

Do ....•.....•••.•........ Walnut Street, between Ed. Bolu.'!S ...............•...• Fourth and Fifth streets. Globe Rollin~~ Mill............ Front and Smith streets . . . . J. E. Yingling ..•............•. Globe Soap Works •••••....... Water and Walnut streets •. -Cook .•...............•.•• 

Feet. 

180 

90 

800 

80 

1,200 

90 

1,125 

1,360 

1,475 

250 

~00 

1,960 

85 

405 

120 

60 

68 

250 

150_ 

148 

60 ··------ .....•.. Abandoned •••........ "Birdseye," top St. 

Peter. 

80 -53 ........ ········-··············· Alluvium. .......................... Abandoned •••........ St. Peter. 

- 81 . . . . . . . . 21 Inch stream......... Alluvium. 

125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . . . . . • • • . • . • . • St. Peter. 

82 60 138 •..............•...• .......... 104 61 iiOO •••••••••••••••••••• 35 .•.............• Nowater;allttlegas .. Do. 

Do. 

"Birdseye." 

so + g -·-··aa· ·iSS:::::::::::::::::::: st. ~'tn-. 

85 - 60 . • . . . . . . . . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . Alluvium. 35 "Birdseye." 120 ··:.:·25· --···oo· ·35::::::::::::::::::::: Alluvium. 

60 .•.......•.•.... Plenty................ Do. 

68 ......••..•••.•...... do ....•......•.••.• 132 . . . • . • • • . • • • • . . . Good water at intervals of about 15 feet. 35 •••••••••••••••• No water ...........••. 148 . . . • . • • • • • • • • • . . Hard water; iron. 

Do. 

Point Pleasant, "Birdseye.'' 

Point Pleasant. 

Alluvium. 

85 No rock. ~55 ..•.•••........•...•.•.•••.••••• 240 48 . • . . . • . • • . • . • • • • Little gas •••••....•... Do. 

Point Pleasant, 

"Birdseye." 

1,265 

60 

80 

160 

370 

564 

110 

60 

80 

160 

146 

168 

:::::::: :::::::: ·iliiie:Wa.im-::::::::::: 

-33 ............................... . 

St. Peter. 

Alluvium. 

Do. 

Do. 

Point Pleasant, 

"Birdseye." Do. 

110 110 Point Pleasant. 7o 70 :::::::: :::::::: ·Liiiia··w:aiei; .. iitian:· Alluvium. 

doned. 
Hall Safe & Lock Co.. . . . . . . . . Pearl and Plum streets • . . . . Ed. Boluss ...•................ J. Hanck ........•............ Corner Dayton Street and ..... do ........................ . CAvenue. 

James Heakin Spice Co •...... Front Street, between Wal· ....• do ....•.................... nut and Vine streets. Holders Tannery ............ . Colerain Pike. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

--Hulsman ............... . John Street, near Liberty... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

~gil~ }g~~":~: :::::::::::: Court Street ................. Bradford Well Co .••.......... Sycamore and Yeatman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 streets. Jung Brewery Co ........................................... Ed. Hendrigsman..... 8 Katiffman Brewing Co........ Vine Street. between Lib- Ed. Boluss ................... . erty and Green streets. Jobn Kaufman ............... Vine Street................. .............. .. ........ 4 Keck's Fertilizing Works ..... Cumminwille .............................................. . Herman Lackman............ Sixth Street • . . .. . .•• .. . . . . . Jobn Pepper •................. Liberty Street viaduct ...........................•.................................... 

Lo ·e H ·t 1 {J. D. Cook............ 8 1{ 

ngvl w ospr a ·· ········· .............................. Bradford Well Co..... 10 

Mayflower House ............. Gest Street and Mill Creek .. Joe Sands ................... .. Meter Furniture Factory..... Front Street, between Rose Ed. Boluss ................... . and John streets. Mill Creek Distillery ......... . West of Mill Creek.......... ...... .................. 4t 

Moerlein Brewing Co ........ . North Elm Street................................... 4 Mosler Safe & Lock Co •...... Elm Street, between Pearl Ed. Boluss .................. .. and Second streets. National Lead Co............. Seventh and Freeman ..... do ....................... .. streets. Ohio & Kentucky Kid .............................. Bradford Well Co ........... .. Leather Co. 

Ohio Butterine Co ........... Walnut and Second streets .. Palace Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sixth and VIne streets •..... Pugh Printing Co............. Lawrence Street, between 

Fourth and Fifth streets. 

Ed. Boluss .................. .. 

~d~·B;~~~::::::::: :::::::: 

Rabes Distillery .. .. .. .. .. .. . Cmnminsville............... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4t 

J. C. Roth Packing Co ...................................... A. D. Cook............ 8 Russell Morgan Printing Co... Lock Street and Eggleston Ed. Boluss .................. .. Avenue. 

Schaller Brewery Co.......... McMicken Street ................. do ....................... .. Jacob Schlachter ............................................ --Cook............. 6 J. Schlachter & Son, Packers.. 2833 Colerain Avenue....... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Schmats Brewery Co ......... McMicken Street. ........... Jobn Pepper ................ .. 

Schmidlapp & Senior Clifton ............................ .. Springs Distilling Co. 

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

Hutchinson Comtruction Co. 

--Rose............. 8 

10 

J. & F. Schroth Packing Co .............................. .. 

~f~~c~'ii:~bl~~~;,i-; niew: · . ~~~~~~~~ -~~~-t::::: :: :::::: --Isenbr............ 6 Ed. Boluss .................. .. Bradford Well Co. . . . . 6 

ingCo. . Do ....................... Canal. ............................................. . 4 

110 110 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Plenty.... .. .. .. .. .. .. Do. 170 150 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Point Pleasant. 

90 90 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Lots of it.. .. .. .. .. .. . . Alluvium. 

215 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Point Pleasant. 161 161 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Alluvium. 500 70 ................ No water .............. "Birdseye." 80 80 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Alluvium. 

165 

140 

215 

165 -100 .............................. .. 

.......... ........ 60 ...................... .. 60 ....................................... . 142 ...................................... .. 

Do. 

Do. 

Point Pleasant. 

St. Peter. 

Alluvium. 

Point Pleasant. 

1,380 60 

145 

143 

146 

150 

60 

}......... - 45 } 50 500.................... Alluvium. 

Norock. -50 

90 60 ................ Plenty .............. .. 90 ..................... do ............... .. Do. 

Do. 

1,440 

2,408' 

110 

+ 90 ........ 267 .................... St. Peter. .......... ........ 62 400.................... Do. 110 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Plenty...... .. .. .. .. .. Alluvium. 

60 

265 

68 

140 

200 

60 ................ Small quantity ...... .. 

60 

68 

140 

40 

- 25 ........ 25 .................... . 

Lotsofit.. .......... .. Too little ............ .. No water ............ .. 

1,400 + 70 ........ 100 .................. .. 85 85 -65 .............................. .. 300 25 ................ No water ............ .. 

600 ............................... do ................ . so 80 ±60 56 ...................... .. 90 .......... - 74 56 ...................... .. 400-500 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. No water ............. . 

160 40 0 ....................... ._ ..... .. 

Do. 

Point Pleasant, 

"Birdseye." 

Alluvium. 

Do. 

Point Pleasant. 

St. Peter. 

Alluvium. 

Point Pleasant, 

''Birdseye.'' 

Do. 

Alluvium. 

Do. 

Point Pleasant, 

"Birdseye.'' 

Point Pleasant. 

1, 750 100 + 0 ................................ St. Peter. 150 0 .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Alluvium. 140 60 ........ ........ ........................ Do. 170 ltiO -70 to ................................ Point Pleasant. 

-90 180 180 Alluvium. 
124 UNl>ERGROUNfi WATERS Oll' SOUTB:WESTEBN OB:IO. 

Public supplies.1-The publio supply of Cincinnati has for many 

years been obtained from Ohio River, the water being used without treatment. The water is nearly always muddy and is at all times 

more or less polluted by sewage from cities farther up the stream, 

giving rise to nu,merous cases of typhoid fever and other filth diseases. 

Of late years, owing to accidents to the illachinery and other causes, 

the supply has often been entirely inadequate, the upper part of the 

town being practically without water for days at a time. The urgent 

need of new supplies was finally recognized and steps taken to investigate the available sources. 

The great advantages of well water over river water in palatability and in safety were apparent. The possible sources of supply 

suggested were rock wells and alluvium wells or infiltr.ation galleries. 

It was quickly concluded, however, that none of these sources was 

practicable. Cincinnati is, in fact, very poorly located for obtaining 

Hlpplies from underground sources. As it is underlain by timestones and shales extending to a depth of 900 feet or more and carrying water only in smallest amounts-insufficient even for private 

wells-a public supply from these formations is out of the question. 

Below the limestone lies the St. Peter sandstone, which, as has been 

shown by the success of many of the deep brewery wells, yields larger 

supplies. The head of the water, however, has already been lowered 

and the supply decreased by the relatively few private wells drawing 

upon it, making it clear that the supply would be insufficient for the 

city's needs, even if the water were suitable. This, however, is not 

the case, the water being exceedingly hard and highly charged with 

salt, iron, and sulphur, which gives it a,very strong and objectionable 

taste. Moreover, some of the constituents would actively attack boilers and pipes and greatly shorten their lives. As there is no known 

method of treating such waters economically, their use is out of the 

question. 

The alluvium, although present over considerable areas along Ohio 

and Little Miami rivers and yielding enough water for many industrial establishments, does not afford at any point sufficient supply to 

warrant the belief that enough for the city's use could be obtained 

from a single or even from several localities. To obtain the desired 

amount, in fact, it would be necessary to construct a considerable 

number of scattered and entirely separate p~mping plants, the cost 

of operating which would be prohibitive. Besides, the waters of the 

ordinary alluvium are very hard, containing several times the amount 

of incrusting constituents carried by the river water. This is brought 

out in the following summary: 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 125 

Comparative composition of water from alluvium and river water. 

[Parts per million.] 

I Incrustants. I 

Source. Chlorine. Total 

Sui- Carbo- solids. 

phates. nates. 

--------- Alluvium (average of 50 samples) ...... oooooo-·oo···· 0000 000000 18 95 331 350 

River (daily analyses 1898)000000000 OOoooo 00 00 00 oooooo• oooooooo· 10 I 33 45 120 

A source of supply that has been successful at other localities is a 

series of infiltration we~ls or galleries sunk in sand bars in the river 

or along the river banks. Where the demands are relatively small 

this method works admirably, but it is open to several objections for 

a large city like Cincinnati. One of the strongest of these is the liability of the uncovering of the wells or galleries by changes in the 

bottom of the stream or in its banks in times of flood, leading either 

to the destruction of the entire plant or, at least, to the removal of 

'filtering materials and an influx of raw water. Moreover, between 

floods, silts are likely to collect over the infiltrating surfaces, resulting in a clogging of the pores. Again, though this method would 

yield more water than would wells in ordinary alluvium, it is almost 

certain that several plants would have to be maintained in order to 

procure the necessary amounts. The supplies under this system can 

not be so readily increased under new demands as can those directly 

from the river. Forced pumping would be dangerous for the reason 

that the water would be drawn through with insufficient filtration. 

On the whole it seems certain that the obtaining of supplies for 

the city of Cincinnati from underground sources is out of the question, or, at least, would be more costly than filtered river water, which 

it was finally decided·to introduce. If the plant is efficiently managed the filtered water should be safe for domestic use and it has 

the advantage of being much softer and more suitable for boilers 

than waters from underground sources. 

COLLEGE B:ILL,l 

The village of College Hill lies on the uplands, where the glacial 

drift averages about 15 feet in depth. The water supply is purchased from the city of Cincinnati, but there are a few dug wells in 

the village that range from 18 to 35 feet deep and one drilled well 

that extends to a depth of 201 feet. The wells are reported to yield 

a fair amount of water, but that from the dug wells is not recommended for drinking. The water of the public supply at College 

Hill is reportedto be of much better quality than the samewaterin 

l Condition~ in 19()(1, 
126 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Cincinnati, for the reason that it is pumped from the Mount Auburn 

Reservoir to the standpipe at College Hill, and in both of these places 

it has a chance to settle. 

ELKWOOD.1 

At the western edge of Elmwood the works of the Laidlaw-DunnGordon Co. are supplied by eight drilled wells 8 inches in diameter, 

which seem to give satisfaction. The record of one of them is as 

follows: 

Record of deep well of Laidlaw-Dunn-Oordon Oo·., Elmwood. 

Earth .............................................................................. . 

~:~ s~~~~~l::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~':~~:~::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Water-bearing sand ................................................................ . Very rough bowlders. 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 4 0 6 0 

6 57 6 3 0 41 0 

Depth. 

Ft. in. 

4 0 10 0 10 6 68 0 71 0 112 0 

The water in three wells stands 4 feet from the surface; and 280 

gallons a minute can be obtained from a single well for an hour at 

a time, one well being pumped by an air lift, the rest by steam head. 

XARRISON.1 

The town of Harrison is supplied with water by the Harrison 

Water & Light Co., which owns four driven wells on the flood plain 

of Whitewater River, situated 200 feet from the river, a short distance west of Harrison, in Indiana. From the wells the water is 

pumped to a standpipe 110 feet in height. The wells are about 40 

feet in depth and are entirely in river gravel. 

IVORYDALE.' 

At Ivorydale, about one-fourth mile west of the waterworks at St. 

Bernard, on the flood plain of Mill Creek, are the works of the 

Procter & Gamble Co., which are supplied by eight wells sunk in 

gravel and four wells drilled into rock. The rock wells are 1,200 

to 1,600 feet in depth, and obtain very salty but very cold water, 

which is used for condensing. The gravel wells are only 117 to 150 

feet deep and struck rock at 117 to 120 feet. They are 8 to 10 inches 

in diameter. It is reported that 3,000,000 gallons a day are pumped 

from the eight wells by an air compressor. The water is used for 

drinking, for condensing, and, after being treated, for boilers. When 

not pumped it stands 20 to 25 feet below the surface. 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 127 

The following record of a well at the Procter & Gamble works is 

of interest as showing the large preponderance of " clay " in the 

deposits of Mill Creek at this point, the proportion being much 

greater than at Connorville, a short distance farther down the valley. 

It is quite possible that a considerable part of the clay is in reality 

a clayey till. The well is located 74 feet above low water of the 

Ohio. 

Record of well of Procter & Gamble, Ivorydale.a 

Thick- Depth. ness. 

Ft. in. Ft. in. 

Loam .............................................................................. . 5 8 5 8 

Gravel. ................. _._ ........................................................ . 5 0 10 8 49 4 60 0 5 0 65 0 11 6 76 6 

Clay .•....••........................................................................ Sand and gravel ................................................................... . Yellow sand •....... _ .............................................................. . 20 6 97 0 1 0 98 0 Clay ........ , ...................................................................... . Gravel and sand ........................................ _ .......................... . 

a ;Tames, J. F., Proc. Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 11, 1888, pp. 102-103. 

Two other wells were drilled at this place, but in them the gravel 

was cut out by clay and the wafer vein was not struck. 

MADISONVILLE.• 

The public supply of Madisonville is obtained from three 140-

foot wells sunk in the deep gravel and sand deposits filling the old 

Ohio River channel (p. 20). Plenty of water is obtained, a large 

proportion of the inhabitants of the town availing themselves of the 

public supply. Very few private wells are to be found. Further 

tern will be found in the table on page 52. 

NORWOOD.1 

Norwood, like Madisonville, is located on the gravels occupying 

the old channel of the Ohio and has very few private wells, most of 

the people depending on the public supply. A number of the manufacturing establishments, however, have wells, some of which are of 

considerable depth and yield large supplies. 

The deepest well in town is said to be that of the United States 

Playing Card Co., which has a diameter of 10 inches and a depth 

of 400 feet, all but 148 feet of which is reported to be in rock. This 

well will yield with an air lift 425 gallons a minute without lowering 

the supply. 

l Conditions In 1906. 
128 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Another well sunk in 1906 struck rock at 220 feet. The record of 

this well, by 20-foot intervals, is as follows: 

Record of deep well, Norwood, Ohio. 

Feet. 

Soil and coarse sand_______________________________________ 20 

Blue clay__________________________________________________ 40 

Gravel and rock___________________________________________ 60 

Fine gravel________________________________________________ 80 

Blue clay __________________________________________________ 100 

Blue <;lay and graveL _____________________________________ 120 

Sand------------------------------------------------------ 140 Coarse sand with pebbles ___________________________________ 160 

Water sand ________________________________________________ 180 

Gravel ---------------------------------------------------- 200 Blue clay or shale _________________________________________ 220 

ltock ______________________________________________________ 240 

The record is of interest in showing a considerable amount of blue 

clay, a part of which is probably till. A generalized section of the 

deposits at Norwood is given by a local driller as follows: 

Generalized section of wells at Norwood, Ohio. 

Feet. 

100 

15 

15 

35 

60 

Feet. 

100 

115 

130 

165 

225 

Norwood has a public supply derived from two deep wells sunk 

in materials similar to those of the section given in the preceding 

paragraph. The water is of good quality and is abundant, supplying 

both Norwood and the village of Idlewild. Particulars of the system will be found in the table on page 52. 

ST. BERNARD.l 

The public supply of St. Bernard is drawn from two 15-inch 

drilled wells, sunk on the inner edge of the flood plain of Mill Creek 

at the base of the surrounding hills. The water is raised by an air 

lift and is pumped by direct_ pressure to a 270,000-gallon standpipe 

125 feet above the main street. Five wells were originally drilled, 

to depths of 105 to 270 feet, but the casing of three of them gave 
HAMILTON COUNTY. 129 

out and they were abandoned. One of the wells still in use obtains 

90 gallons of water a minute with a steam-head pump. The second 

well is pumped by an air lift, by which a maximum yield of 550 

gallons a minute can be obtained. The water stands 41 feet from the 

surface and is lowered 7 feet when pumped for three to five hours. 

Although the water is obtained in gravel at a depth of 132 to 135 

feet, one of the wells is 270 feet deep, having struck rock at 135 feet. 

The waterworks wells are reported to have robbed all the shallow 

wells within a mile. Some of the shallow wells went to depths of 

30 to 60 feet. The water in dug wells here is not so hard as that in 

the wells of the public supply. 

SYHHES TOWNS:RIP,t 

Chappendocia Springs, located in Symmes Township, in a ravine 

on the west side of Little Miami River, about 2 miles below Loveland, emerge from a yellow clay resulting from the weathering of the 

miderlying limestone and shale. The water, which is chalybeate in 

character, was formerly extensively distributed in Cincinnati but is 

not at present sold, although it may be put on the market a.gain in the 

near future. 

WYOHING,t 

The waterworks of Wyoming, situated on the west side of the 

Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway, near the north end of 

town, comprise four 8-inch driven wells in the valley gravels. One 

well is 104 feet deep and the other three 197 feet deep. The latter 

pass through 8 feet of gravel and strike bedrock at the bottom. The 

water in all of them occurs in gravel and rises within 45 feet of the 

surface. An air compressor is used and 450 gallons of water a 

minute can be obtained. At least 1,000,000 gallons of water is 

reported to have been pumped in 24 hours. By pumping 1,400 

gallons a minute from three of the wells for 24 hours, the water in 

the other well is lowered 5 feet. These waterworks supply not only 

Wyoming, but also the villages of Hartwell, Lockland, and Arlington. The water is pumped into a reservoir 234 feet above the pump~ 

ing station, the capacity being 4,000,000 gallons. The system was 

installed in 1892. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

A summary of the underground water conditions in Hamilton 

County is presented in the following table : 

1 Conditions In 1906. 

49130°-WSP 259-12-9 
130 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTl!WESTERN Ol!IO. 

Underground-water conditions in Hamilton County. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. Thick- Water ness. supply. 

Rock•nearest 

surface. Water-bearing rocks. 

Feet. 

Addyson......... Terrace gravel. .. .. • .. • Plenty... Eden, P o I n t Point Pleasant.: .. Pleasant. 

Andersons Ferry ...... do......... 100:1: ... do ........... do .................. do ............ . Asbucy.. .. . . .. . . TAl........... 15 .. • .. • .. • • • Richmond a n d Richmond a n d 

Maysville. Maysville. Avondale ............ do ................................. do .................. do ............ . Bevis ................ do......... 15 ................ do .................. do ............ . Blue Ash .............. do......... 15 Moderate ..... do .................. do ............ . Bond Hill........ Gravel, glacial. Deep. .. . .. .. .. .. Point Pleasant.... Point Pleasant.. .. Brecon........... Till........... 60+ Fair...... Richmond an d Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Bridgetown ........... do......... 15 ................ do .................. do ........... .. California....... Alluvium ••.....•..•.•.•...•..•. : Point Pleasant.... Point Pleasant ... . Camp Dennison ....... do......... 100+ Plenty... Eden ................... do ............ . Carlhage ......... Alluvium, gla- 250:1: ... do ...... Point Pleasant ......... do ............ . cial gravel. Cedar Point...... Till .......... . 15 Moderate Richmond a n d Richmond a n d 

Maysville. Maysville. 

~:!lai&' :::::~~::::::::::::: :::::~~::::::::::::: Cherry Grove ......... do......... 10 Cheviot ................ do......... 15 

Cincinnati. .•...• ~ Alluvium, till, 5-150 ..... do .... Eden, Point Point Pleasant terrace grav- el. 

Pleasant. (see also notes). 

Cleves............ Alluvium..... .. .. .... Plenty... Point Pleasant.... Point Pleasant .. .. Cluft .................. do ........ , . .. .. .. • .. .... .. .. . Eden ................... do ............ . College Hill...... Till........... 15 Small.... Richmond an d Richmond an d 

Maysville. Maysville. Creedville ............. do......... 15 ... do ........... do .................. do ........... .. Crescentville.. ... Drift.......... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Eden............. Point Pleasant .. .. Delhi ............ Terracesands. 100+ Plenty ... Eden, Point' ..... do ........... .. Pleasant. • Dent ............. Till ......... .. 15 .. • .. .. .. .. Richmond a n d Richmond a n d 

Maysville. Maysville. Dunlop .............. do......... 15 ................ do ................ ,.do ........... .. Elghtlhlle........ All u vI u m, . . • . • . .. • .. .. .. .. .. Eden.............. Point Pleasant .. .. talus. 

Elizabethtown ... Alluvium..... 50 Moderate Point Pleasant ......... do ........... .. 

~~~:L:::::: :::::~~::::::::: D~. -~~~!.::: :::::~~::::::::::::: :::::~~::::::::::::: Forestville....... Till........... 15 Moderate Richmond a n d Richmond a n d 

Fruit Hill .... , ........ do ........ . Glendale .............. do ....... .. Groesbeck ............ do ....... .. 

Harrison ......... Alluvium, gla- cial gravel. Hariwell......... Alluvium ... .. Hazelwood....... Till ......... .. 

Maysville. Maysville. 20 ... do ........... do .................. do ........... .. 200+ Plenty... Eden.............. Point Pleasant .. .. 15 .. • .. .. • .. • Richmond a n d Richmond a n d 

Maysville. Maysville. 100+ Plenty... Eden, P o i n t Point Pleasant.. .. Pleasant. . 200:1: ... do...... Eden ................... do ............ . 20+ ... do..... Richmond an d Richmond an d 

Maysville. Maysville. Home City....... Terrace sands. 140+ ... do...... Eden, P o i n t Point Pleasant .... Pleasant. 

Hyde Park....... Till ......... .. 15 Small.... Richmond a n d Richmond a n d 

Maysville. Maysville. Ivorydale........ Alluvium..... 100 Plenty... Point Pleasant.... Point Pleasant .... Kennedy......... Till . .. .. .. .. .. 20 .. . .. . .. .. . Richmond a n d Richmond a n d 

Maysville. Maysville. 

~~~:.::::::: *Htu~i~~::::: D~~- .~ ~:~::: ~~~Di<iild"a·ti·ci· ~y~~~~-ciMaderia ......... . Madisonville ... .. Miami .......... . Miamiville .•..... Monfort ........ .. 

Alluvium ..... Glacial gravel. Alluvium .... Terrace gravel. Tlll. ......... . 

Maysville. Maysville. 20 Moderate Eden(?) .......... Point Pleasant ... . 150 Plenty ... Point Pleasant ......... do ........... .. 

D~+ ·P,Biiii::: -~-~~~o:::::::::::: :::::~~:::::::::::: 15 .. .. .. .. .. . Richmond a n d RlchJ;Uond a n d 

Maysville. Maysvllle. Montgomery .......... do........ 15 Fair ........... do .... ., ........... do ........... . MountAiry ........... do........ 15 ................ do ................. do ........... . Mount Healthy ....... do........ 18 Moderate ..... do ................. do ........... . MountSt.Joseph ..... do ........................... Eden ............. Point Pleasant ... . Mount Summit ....... do........ 15 .. .... .. .. . Richmond a n d Richmond a n d · Maysvllle. Maysville. Mount Washing- T i H, o I d 20 Plenty ... Eden .................. do ........... . ton. gravels. New Haven ...... Alluvium ................ do ..... Point Pleaslllit .... Point Pleasant.. .. Newtown ............. do........ Deep .... do .......... do ................. do ........... . North Bend ...... Terrace gravel. 100:1: ... do .......... do ................. do .......... .. Norwood ......... Glacial gravels Deep .... do ...... , ... do ................ ,do, •• ,., ..... , 

Water 

supply. 

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ffiGHLAND COUNTY. 131 

Underground-water conditions in HamUton Oountu-Continued. 

Surface deposits. Rook formations. 

Town. 

Mafmlal. Thick- Warer n~ss. supply. 

Rock nearest surface. Warer-bearing I Warer 

rooks. supply. 

-----------r---------l-----l-------l------------l------~----1~ 

Feet. 

Oakley... . . . . . . . . G Iacial gravels Deep. Plenty ••. Plainville ........ Alluvium..... 35+ •.. do •..•. Point Pleasant.... Point Pleasant .••. Eden ....•............. do ....••...... Pleasant Ridge... Till. • • . . . • • • . . 12 Moderare Richmond a n d Richmond a n d 

Maysville. Maysville. Pleasant Run ••.•..... d<?········ .•...•..•.•..••••.. Eden(?) .......... Point Pleasant ..•. Preston .......... AlluVIum •••...•..........•...... Pomti>leasant(?) ..... do, ....•...... PriceHill ••...... Till........... 10 .••.••••.•. Richmond and Richmond ali d · Maysville. Maysville. Reading......... Alluvium. . . . . . . . . • . • . • . . . . . • . . . . Eden............. Point Pleasant .... Remington ..•.... Terracegravel. 50+ Plenty •.....•• do ••.••........•.•• do ••••••....•. Rivtmde ••...•....... do........ lOO:i: .•• do ...•. Eden, Point Pleas- ....• do •..•••...... ant. Rossmoyne .•••.. Till.. ................. Small ••.. Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. St. Bernard...... Glacial gravels 120 Plenty... Point Pleasant.... Point Pleasant .... Sater ............• Terracegravel. ..•................ Eden ...............•.. do •..••.•..... Sedamsville ...... Alluvium, ter- lOO:i: Plenty •.. Eden, Point Pleas- ....• do •••••••..••. race gravel. ant. Sekitan .•••...... Terracegravel. lOO:i: ..• do ••..•..... do ••••••........... do •••••••..•.. Sharonville....... Till, moraine.. . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . Eden ...••............. do ...•....... Silverton ......... Till............ 20 •••.••.•••. Richmond and Richmond and 

SIx t eenmile ..... do ...•••.. Stand. 

Maysville. Maysville. 30+ Fair •••........ do .••••••...•..•... do ••••.••....•. 

Snyder ....•...... Alluvium •.....••.•.•••.•.••••••. Eden(?) .....••... Point Pleasant ..•. Springdale. . . . . . . Till, moraine. . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . Eden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . •... do .•••••...... Sweetwine •...... Alluvium, ta- ...••.•...•.....•.. Point Pleasant ........• do ••••••...... Ius. 

Symmes .•.•..... Alluvium..... 25 Plenty •.. Eden .••••.•.•......•.• do ........... . Taylors Creek ......... do ................................ do ................. do .......... .. Terrace Park..... Terrace gravel. 75+ Modemte ..... do ................. do ......... : .. Tmnsit ........... Till........... 15 ........... Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Trautman........ Terrace gravel. lOO:i: Plenty... Eden, Point Pleas- Point Pleasant .... ant. Westwood ....... Till........... 15 Small. ... Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Whitewater ...... Alluvium ..... Deep. Moderate Point Pleasant .... Point Pleasant .. .. Woodlawn ....... Till........... 200:i: Plenty ... Eden .................. do .......... .. Wyoming ........ Alluvium..... 200 ... do ......... do ................. do .......... .. 

lriGHLAND COUNTY. 

By M. L. FuLLER. 

Small. 

Do. 

Do. 

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Do. 

In Highland County the investigations for the present report were 

confined mainly to the central and western parts, relatively little attention being paid to the eastern .third, which was rP.served for future 

study. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Highland County is characterized by greater diversity of surface 

than the counties to the north and may be divided into a number of 

districts according to the nature of its physical features. AlQilg the 

western border, where the land is !owest, the surface is a :Hat and to a 

large extent a marshy drift plain at an elevation of 930 to 1,030 feet, 

underlain by blue limestone (Richmond). The central part of the 

county, which is about 100 feet higher, consists of :Hat-crested, 

plateau-like ridges alternating with wide, deep valleys, as in the 
132 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

vicinity of Hillsboro. In the northern part of the county the land 

is still higher and in general is covered by a smooth mantle of drift, 

with a few sharp valleys cut in the drift and limestone. At the 

south boundary the drift is thinner and the land lower and cut by 

many streams, the average elevation being under 1,000 feet. The 

highest land in the county is along the eastern boundary, where hills 

rise to an elevation of over 1,300 feet, or several hundred feet above 

the adjacent lowlands. The county is crossed in a northwest-southeast direction by two low morainal ridges, one in the· northeastern 

part and the other southwest of Hillsboro. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

SURFACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The streams of Highland County are in general of small size, flow 

in relatively small channels, and are bordered by narrow deposits of 

alluvium. In the valleys occupied by the gently flowing streams of 

the flatter portions of the county much of the alluvium is rather fine, 

sands and silts predominating, but in those of the more swiftly 

flowing streams, in the more hilly regions the alluvium, if present at 

all, is commonly in the form of coarse gravel. In some places the 

streams flow locally on bare rock, no alluvium whatever being present. 

The alluvium will usually afford satisfactory supplies to wells, 

especially in the broader and flatter valleys. In the smaller ravines 

the gravels are not usually so situated as to be readily available as 

sources of supply. 

TILL. 

The pebbly clay or till covers the entire county except the extreme 

southeast corner, but it is. very thin toward its outer edge in the southeast and in many places is difficult to detect. Farther west a11d north 

it thickens considerably. In the northwestern half of the county 

the older drift just described is covered by a younger sheet, which 

adds materially to the total thickness. The lowest till is usually a 

blue pebbly clay 20 feet or less in thickness, but in some places yellow, white, or black clays rest on the rock. On top of the blue clay in 

some localities, especially on the plateaus, is a layer of soil or of more 

or less peaty deposits, these being in turn covered by 20 or 30 feet of 

gravelly drift. 

The water supplies of the till are not large but are generally 

abundant enough to supply ordinary wells wherever the till has 

a thickness of 20 feet or inore. Wells encountering the soil zone 

usually find plenty of water, but it has an objectionable taste and is 

little used for drinking. 
HIGHLAND COUNTY. 188 

MORAINAL DEPOSITS AND STRATIFIED DRIFT. 

Under morainal deposits and stratified drift are included deposits 

overlying the ordinary till, or pebbly blue clay. In some of the 

true morainal deposits till forms a considerable part of the materials, but in others the deposits are prevailingly gravelly, with 

here and there a layer cemented to sandstone or conglomerate by 

iron or lime. In some places this gravelly material is as much as 

90 feet thick. The morainal material reaches its greatest thickness 

in the belt southwest of Hillsboro and in the northeast corner of the 

county. 

The stratified drift that lies in valleys may carry considerable 

water, and even on the uplands moderate amounts may be found in 

the thicker deposits if the land is fairly flat. Where the peaty bed 

occurs in the till very strong mineral water unfit for use is often 

obtained. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

CARBONIFEROUS SANDSTONE, OHIO SHALE, AND " HELDEBBEBG " LIMESTONE. 

The Carboniferous (Mississippian) sandstone, 100 feet thick, is 

the uppermost formation in the county. Just below it lies the Ohio 

shale (Devonian), 250 feet thick, succeeded by the " IJelderberg " 

limestone (Silurian), 100 feet thick. These formations occupy 

small areas among the high hills near the eastern border of the 

county but are outside of the scope of the present investigation, 

which considers only the " Niagara" and lower rocks. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE. 

The "Niagara" formation in Highland County has a total thickness of 275 feet and consists, from the base upward, of a few feet 

of bedded limestone, 60 to 100 feet of shales, 4:5. feet of yellowish 

magnesian limestone, 45 feet of blue limestone, 20 to 90 feet of 

massive magnesian limestone, mainly capping the hilltops, and 30 

feet of white to yellow sandstone, known as the Hillsboro sandstone, 

occurring on the higher hills near this town and at points to the 

east. The " Niagara" limestone as a whole forms the surface over 

all but the eastern fourth of the county, with the exception of a few 

of the higher hills north of Hillsboro and the creek beds along the 

southern boundary, underlying the higher plateaus east of the lower 

drift-covered plateau of the Richmond formation. 

As in the adjacent counties, the "Niagara" is the best of the 

water-bearing rock formations, affording large numbers of springs 

from the top of the shaly layers and nearly everywhere yielding 

fairly good supplies to wells sunk to the same beds. Considerable 
134 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

water also occurs in the thick limestone beds independently of the 

shales, but the supplies are smaller and less certain than those on 

top of the shale beds. The sandstone forming the top of the formation also doubtless contains water where it is of considerable extent, 

especially if it is lJ.nder cover <;>f younger formations. In the part 

of the county investigated, however, it is found only on one or two 

of the higher isolated crests, where its water is readily drained 

away into the adjacent valleys. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE. 

The" Clinton" limestone in Highland County is a semicrystalline 

pinkish limestone, grading in places into a red limestone or even an 

impure iron ore, as at Rocky Fork, south of Hillsboro. Its lower 

part is in many places sandy and in the southern part of the county 

locally includes a conglomerate. In thickness it ranges from 25 to 

l)O feet, with an average of about 35 feet. Its outcrop occurs along 

the western border of the " Niagara " area, as described above, along 

the sides of the deeper valleys in the southern part of the county, and 

for several miles along Rocky Fork south of Hillsboro. 

The" Clinton," as everywhere elsein this part of Ohio, is characterized by numerous springs emerging mainly from its base along 

the contact with the shaly layers of the underlying Richmond formation and here and there from points higher in the formation. It 

usually affords a fairly satisfactory source of supply for wells, except when it occurs at the surface without the drift covering. Where 

it is overlain by the " Niagara," water is usually found in the higher 

formation, and it is as a rule not necessary for the wells to penetrate 

to the " Clinton." 

RICHMOND FORMATION. 

The upper 10 or 20 feet of the Richmond formation is in places a 

red shale, as at Belfast, on Bruf:>h Creek, but is probably more commonly a blue shale. Below this comes .a thick series of thin alternating layers of limestone and shale, of which only the upper 50 or 

100 feet is exposed in Highland County. The formation occurs beneath the low drift-covered plateau in the western fourth of the 

county and in the deeper valleys along the southern edge. 

The Richmond is not a strong water-bearing formation, but it 

usually yields enough water to open wells for ordinary domestic 

and farm requireiPents, especially where it is overlain by 10 feet 

or more of drift. Many drilled wells, however, have difficulty in obtaining sufficient water from it. It is of importance in furnishing 

an impervious layer to retain the waters of the overlying" Clinton." 
HIGHLAND COUNTY'. 135 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

H~LLSBORO.l 

Hillsboro, like nearly every other town of importance in southwestern Ohio, sank a deep well in search of oil or gas during 

the boom in 1887. The well was carried to a depth of 1,750 feet, 

striking the " Birdseye " at 1,200 feet, or 100 feet below sea level, 

and obtaining salt water, presumably from the St. Peter sandstone, 

at 1,750 feet. 

A number of springs emerge from the " Niagara " limestone on 

the uplands near Hillsboro. One of these, which may be taken as a 

type, is that of J. L. West, 3! miles north of town. It has a constant 

flow, independent of seasons, of about 5 gallons a minute, emerging 

from a bedding plane of the limestone and forming a small pond. 

A spring house serves also as a dairy. An analysis of the water will 

be found in the table on pages 204-205. 

Hillsboro has a public water supply obtained from eleven wells 

located near or in. the bed of Clear Creek north of town. No pollution seems possible at present, and the water is to be regarded as 

safer than that from shallower private wells. Other particulars 

regarding the supply will be found on page 52. 

LEESBURG,l 

Leesburg is located on a drift-cov.ered Niagara plateau most of the 

wells entering the rock at about 15 feet. All water is from the limestone. The materials encountered are somewhat as follows: 

Section in wells at Leesburg, Ohio. 

~~~t Depth. 

Feet. Feet. 

Drift.................................................................................... 15 15 

"Niagara" limestone: 

Limestone.......................................................................... 85 100 

Shale............................................................................... 100 200 

A public system was in process of installation at Leesburg in 1906, 

the supply being obtained from four drilled wells 100 to 200 feet in 

depth, with sections similar to that given above. The estimated 

capacity is 100,000 gallons a day. For other particulars the table on 

page 52 should be consulted. 

LYNCHBURG,l 

Two deep wells have recently been sunk at th.e Freiberg & Workum 

distillery, Lynchburg, to depths of about 1,550 feet in search of water, 

l Conditions in 1906. 
136 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

but the amounts obtained were so small that an hour's pumping with 

an air-lift system exhausted the wells. The St. Peter sandstone was 

entered but was not penetrated far .enough to secure the sulphosaline water which is generally encountered at about 300 feet from 

the top. Shooting the well did not materially increase its yield. 

The following is a record compiled by the writer from samples furnished by the company. 

List of samples from well of Freiberg & Workum, Lynchburg, Ohio. 

Depth of sample Richmond and Maysville formations: in feet. 

Light-gray calcareous shale-------------------------- 115 

Gray argillaceous limestone___________________________ 180 

Light-gray shale and argillaceous limestone___________ 270 

Gray argillaceous limestone-------------------------- 420 

Dark-gray limestone and gray shale ___________________ . 520 

Eden shale: Gray shale and dark-gray limestone__________ 650 

Point Pleasant formation: 

Light-gray limestone, highly ferruginous, cemented_____ 850 

Nearly black calcareous shale and limestone with some 

white limestone ----------------------------------- 920 

Gray and white limestone and black argillaceous shale__ 960 

" Birdseye " limestone : 

Light-gray to white limestone and light-gray shale______ 980 

Fine-grained compact grayish limestone resembling lithographic stone ______________________________________ 1,100 

Same, with slight pink or buff tinge _________________ 1, 210 

Dark compact brownish-gray limestone and gray calcareous shale--------~----------------------------- 1,420 

St. Peter sandstone : 

Dark argillaceous and light-gray sandy shale ___________ 1, 460 

Very fine quartzose and biotitic sandstone with a little 

calcareous cement __________________________________ 1,500 

Very fine white to bluff dolomite, ferruginous stains ____ 1, 520 

Buff to gray dolomite and fine gray biotitic sandstone __ 1, 525 

Gray dolomite--------------------------------------- 1, 534 

A number of good-sized springs, some of which are utilized by the 

distillery and others by the town, emerge • on the east side of East 

Fork a mile or more north of town. The distillery springs are four 

in number and emerge from quicksand, although it seems probable 

that the water comes mainly from the " Clinton " limestone near its 

contact with the underlying Richmond formation. The water is 

piped by gravity to a receiving well at the distillery, from which it 

is pumped to the works as needed. About 50,000 gallons daily is 

used from the springs, the remainder being taken from the creek. 

The water carries some iron and is very hard and seems to be becoming harder. (See pp. 204-205 for analysis.) 

The first public supply, derived from a large dug well near town, 

was installed in 1896~ but soon failed. Connection was then made 

with. the infiltration gallery of the distillery, a trench 120 feet long, 
. HIGHLAND COUNTY, 137 

15 feet wide, and 15 feet deep, located near town and subject to pollution from surface drainage. A few years late it became necessary 

for the distillery to use the entire supply, and he town had to seek 

a new source, which was finally found in a spri g north of town, not 

far from the distillery spring described above. The spring was dug 

out, cleaned, and inclosed, and the water was piped by gravity to a 

receiving cistern in town, from which it is pumped to the standpipe. 

Other data regarding the supply will be found in the table on page 52. 

WATER PROSPECTS, 

For the purpose of assisting the driller or well owner in determin• 

ing the underground water conditions in western Highland County 

the following table has been prepared : 

Underground-water conditions i·n HighZandt Oounty. 

Surface deposits. 'Rock formations. 

Town. 

Mate- Thick- Water Rock nearest Water-bearing rial. ness. supply. surface. rocks. 

• 

Feet. 

Allensburg ....... Till... 40+ Plenty ... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysville • Bell ................. do .. . Berrysville .......... do ... Bridges_ ............ do .•. Buford .............. do ... 

10 

10 

10 

25 

.............. "Niagara" .......... ''Cliriton'' ........ . ................ do ................. do ........... . ................ do ................. do .......... .. ........... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

·Maysville. 

g~Wne~::::::: :J~::: i& ::::::::::: ~r.;:;:::::::: ~?=~"iiiid' Maysville. Dodsonville ......... do... 2 Fair ........... do ................. do .......... .. Fairfax ............. do... 7 Moderate. "Niagm'a"... .... . "Clinton" ....... . Fairview ............ do... 10 ........... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysville. Fallsvllle ............ do... 10 ........... "Niagara" ........ "Clinton" ...... .. Folsom ............. do... 20 Moderate ...... do~ ................ do ........... . Gath ................ do... 20 ........... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysville. Highland ........... do ... 100 ........... "Niagara" ........ "Ciin:ton" ...... .. Hillsboro ............ do... 10 ............... ,do ................. do ........... . Hollowtown ........ do... 10 ........... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysville. Lee<lburg ............ do... 10 Plenty ... "Niagara" .......................... .. Littleton ............ do... 10 ........... Richmond ........ Richmond and. 

Maysville . . ............ "Niagara" ........... 11Ciinton" ...... ...... . Moderate. Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysville. ................ do ................ ;do .......... .. ... : ............ do ................. do .......... .. 

Ludwick ............ do... 10 

Lynchburg ...... , ... do .• 10-45 

Mowrystown ........ do... 20 

Needful ............. do... 20 

Nevin ............... do... 10 Small ......... do ................. do .......... .. New Lexington ..... do... 100 Newmarket ......... do... 8 ............ "Niagara" .......... "Clinton'' ...... _ .. . Fair ........... do ................. do ......... .. Plenty ... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysville. ................ do ................. do ........... . 

Pricetown .......... do... 10 

Pulse ............... do... 20 

Russell .............. do... 10 ........... "Clinton"(?) ..... "Clinton," Richmond, and 

"M_aysvwe. Samantha ........... do... 20 ........... ''Niagara"........ Clinton ....... . Strasburg ........... do ...................... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysville. Sugartree Ridge ..... do... 8 Moderate. "Niagara"........ "Clinton" ........ Taylorsville ......... do... 10 ........... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysv1lle. · Willettvllle ......... do... 8 Plenty ... "Niagara" ........ "Clinton" ........ Winkle ............. do... 10 ........... Richmond ........ Richmond and 

Maysville. 

Water supply. 

Small. 

Usually plenty. Do. 

Do. 

Small . 

Usually plenty. Small. 

Do. 

Usually plenty. Small. 

Usually plenty. Do. 

Small. 

Usuafy plenty. 

Do. 

Small. 

Do. 

US11ally plenty. Small. 

Do • Do. 

Do . Usually plenty. Do. 

Small. 

Do . Usually plenty. , 

Do. 

Small. 

Usually plenty. Small. 

Usually plenty. Small. 
138 UNDERG:{tOUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

MIAMI COUNTY (SOUTHERN). 

By M. L. FuLLER. 

Only the southern third of Miami County (the part lying south of 

an east-west ljne drawn midway between Troy and Tippecanoe) falls 

within the area covered by the present report, and it is to this portion only that the following descriptions relate. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Southern Miami County is essentially a flat or gently sloping 

plateau, standing from 800 to 1,000 feet above sea level, or about 400 

to 700 feet above the Ohio. It is cut in the eastern part by the valley 

of Honey Creek, in the center by the broad valley of the Miami, and 

in the western part by the sharp but narrow valleys of Stillwater 

River and its tributaries. The valley bottoms are usually 100 feet 

or more below the adjacent uplands, or 200 to 250 feet lower than 

the high, flat divides between the streams. Irregular morainal hills 

are strongly developed in_ the southeastern portion, especially along 

Honey Creek, but are not present ~er most of the remaining territory. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

The unconsolidated surface materials include the sandy and gravelly alluvium of the valleys, the pebbly clay of the flat upland surfaces, and the irregular morainal hills of sand, gravel, or pebbly clay 

of the Honey Creek region. The rock fo~mations immediately underlying the surface deposits in southern Miami County are the 

" Niagara," " Clinton," and Richmond . 

• SURFACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The alluvial deposits are best developed in the valley of the 

Miami, in which they have a width varying from half a mile at the 

southern boundary of the rounty to 2-! miles a little north of Tippecanoe. The thickness of the deposits is unknown, wells 65 feet in 

depth failing to reach rock even near the edge of the valley, but it 

is probably at least 100 :feet. Along Stillwater River the alluvial 

deposits are generally less than half a mile in width and are probably less than 50 feet in depth. In southern Miami County both 

rivers flow in relatively new channels, their older and wider valleys 

being buried by glacial drift. The old channel of the Miami is 

probably toward Mad River near Osborn, along the valley of the 

present Honey Creek, beneath whose irregular morainal hills thick 

deposits of old alluvium probably exist. A broad channel of the 
:MIAMI COUNTY. 139 

Stillwater mtty extend through Kessler and Nashville and along 

Brush Creek, although wells in this vicinity generally strike rock 

near the surface. The location o:f the main channel and alluvial deposits o:f the preglacial Stillwater, i:f this river then existed, has 

not been determined. :Many smaller buried valleys and alluvial 

deposits doubtless occur but have not been traced owing to the lack 

o:f sufficient well borings. 

The alluvial deposits include gravel, sand, and silt, with perhaps 

in some places one or more beds o:f till. In the central portions of 

the valleys the sands and gravels usually predominate and are saturated with water, but toward the sides the deposits are in places 

finer and contain less water. Wells can almost everywhere obtain 

water by sinking to river level, but to insure abundant and safe supplies should he carried at least 20 :feet deeper. In :few wells is the 

water under much pressure, and artesian flows are not to be expected. 

TILL. 

Till is the surface material of the uplands and forms a mantle covering the rock, except at a few points near the rivers, where natural 

outcrops and cliffs occur. In thickness it varies :from 75 :feet at places 

in the uplands to the vanishing point along the edges of the valleys. 

On the uplands it is in general thinnest in the east, where in many 

places it measures less than 25 feet, and thickest in' the west, where 

it reaches a thickness of 50 to 75 :feet at several points. (See Pl. III.) 

The variations in thickness are due in part to inequalities o:f the underlying rock surface and in part to more extensive accumulations 

toward the west. The till is prevailingly a clay mixed with pebbles 

and a :few bowlders, but in places it is more or less gravelly and may 

even contain definite beds o:f sand or gravel. To a depth of 5 or 10 

feet it is commonly weathered to a yellowish brown, but at greater 

depths it is usually gray or bluish. The pebbly qay itself contains 

relatively small amounts o:f water but will usually yield enough for 

domestic use to dug wells. Much more water is :found in the interbedded gravel or sand lay~rs, which ordinarily furnish supplies ample 

for all :farm purposes and in some places even sufficient for public 

supplies. Unfortunately such beds are absent i~ many places where 

the till is thin, and there wells have to enter the rock to get water, 

especially near the valleys, where the water readily drains from the 

deposits. Where the till is 30 feet or more in thickness, however, 

adequate supplies will usually be obtain.fld :from it. In some wells the 

pressure is sufficient to lift the water nearly or quite to the surface. 

MORAINAL DEPOSITS. 

The morainal hills along Honey Creek consist of great numbers of 

small but steep and very irregular mounds, composed of gravel and 
140 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

sand and some till, interspersed with deep undrained kettle-like depressions. They commonly dse 60 or 70 feet above the valleys. 

The morainal deposits of southern Miami County are composed 

mainly of porous sands and .gravels which permit the water to drain 

away to the nearest valley or to sink downward into the underlying 

~eposit, which, in the Honey Creek region, is probably alluvium. 

Wells are generally sunk into this underlying formation at least to 

the level of the surrounding valleys before procuring satisfactory 

supplies, and there is rarely any difficulty in obtaining adequate 

amounts if this is done. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE. 

The " Niagara " limestone is seen in several quarries along Ludlow 

Creek and, although in few places naturally exposed, appears to underlie the section south of the creek to the eounty boundary. Little, 

if any, " Niagara " is present between Stillwater River and Brush 

Creek, but considerable areas of the formation probably occur on the 

higher uplands between these streams and the Miami and also east 

of the Miami. The entire thickness of the " Niagara " is not represented in southern Miami County, there being in few places, if anywhere, more than 50 feet of the formation remaining. Hussy 1 says 

that the lower part is shaly but gives no localities in the area where 

such shales exist, and none were seen or reported in the present field 

work. The rock in the main is a grayish or bluish granular to compact limestone, in places occurring in beds suitable for quarrying. 

The " Niagara " generally contains considerable water, especially 

where covered with thick drift, but in southern Miami County it has 

no great amount of drift over it and is itself very thin, the lower 

and nonwater-bearing portion being in many pl~ces the only part 

represented. At Brandt, south of Honey Creek, it is reported 

as yielding plenty of water to shallow wells, but at Phoneton, near 

the Miami, and in the area west of Stillwater River, only fair to 

moderate amounts are reported. On the whole, the "Niagara" in 

the area under consideration will yield only a fair supply to wells, 

many of them having to penetrate to the" Clinton" or even to the 

Richmond to procure the necessary amounts. However, the formation, especially, the lower portion, gives rise to many springs, some 

of which are sources of water for stock or for domestic use. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE. 

The " Clinton " is an irregularly bedded limestone, probably about 

35 feet in thickness and somewhat sandy in its lower part. It is 

readily distinguished by its pinkish color, by its granular or sandy 

1 Hussy, John, Geology of Miami County: Geol. Survey Ohio, vol. 3, 1874, pp. 468-481. 
MIAMI OOUNTY. 141 

character, and by the cliffs. to which it gives rise along the valleys. 

The steep bluffs which border practically the entire valleys of the 

Stillwater and Miami in the portion of the county under consideration, are capped by this resistant formation, over which the small 

tributaries plunge to the valleys below. (See Pl. VII, B.) On the 

uplands between the valleys the " Clinton " is usually covered by drift 

or by the" Niagara" limestone, and is in few places exposed. What 

is probably the "Clinton" limestone, however, outcrops at several 

points on the lower slopes of the upland south of Brown (Rex post 

office), on Honey Creek. 

The " Clinton " is the most important water-bearing formation in 

the county, being notable throughout the region for the great number 

of large springs issuing from it. These appear to come from the 

middle or upper part of the limestone, although a few emerge from 

its contact with the underlying shale of the Richmond formation, 

just below the cliffs along the rivers. One of the largest of these 

springs formerly furnished power for a mill but is now utilized as 

the public supply of Milton. Along the borders of the valleys only 

the lower part (which is below the level of the springs) is present, 

and even this is drained of its water by the deep valleys. Farther 

back from the streams the " Clinton " will probably afford good supplies to wells. RICHMOND.·FORMATION. 

The Richmond formation, consisting of thin alternating layers of 

blue shale and limestone, underlies the alluvium in the valleys of 

Miami and Stillwater rivers and Honey Creek and is to be seen 

below the cliffs formed by the " Clinton " limestone in the bluffs 

bordering the two rivers. In these localities the upper 20 or 25 feet 

is generally a blue shale, below which the characteristic shaly limestone occurs to the base of the exposures. About 75. feet of the beds 

occur above the river level at Milton and about 40 feet near Tippecanoe. 

The Richmond is not an important water-bearing formation, owing 

to its large content of shale, which hinders the circulation of the 

water. It carries, nevertheless, moderate amounts and yields supplies to a number of wells at Fidelity, Ludlow, West Milton, Pigeye, 

and other places where, because of its thinness or of its drainage by 

deep valleys, the" Clinton" is unavailable as a source of supply. A 

few springs emerge at the top of its upper shaly member just below 

the " Clinton " cliffs. 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

TADXOR,t 

On the Kreitzer property, at the point where the National Road 

descends the bluff between Phoneton and Tadmor, a small spring 

1 Conditions 1n 1906. 
142 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

near the base of the "Clinton" limestone .is utilized for operating a 

ram which lifts the water to the buildings on the bluff above. It is 

of interest as demonstrating the possibilities of obtaining :fine supplies of spring water at the houses along the edge of the bluffs, a 

situation in which it is difficult to ob.tain water from wells. 

TIPPEOANOE.1 

A deep well sunk at Tippecanoe about 25 years ago in a search 

for oil and gas. The " Birdseye " limestone was struck at 1,025 

feet, or about 180 feet below sea level, but no other data concerning 

the materials penetrated or the water encountered are available. 

The city is situated on the " Clinton'" limestone, and previous to 

1897 obtained its water from private wells. Owing to the numerous 

. fissures which permitted pollution to enter the wells, many became 

badly contaminated and the introduction of a public supply became 

imperative .. This is obtained from wells averaging about 60 feet in 

depth, located on the flats of the Miami; although there are a few 

houses in the vicinity, there is little danger of pollution owing to the 

considerable depth (50 feet) to which the1 wells are carried below the 

water level. Since the installation of the public supply_ the private 

wells have been examined by the health officers at intervals and those 

found contaminated have been closed and: the owners ordered to connect with the public supply. Other inforJ!nation regarding the waterworks and supply will be found on page ~2~ 

WEST MILTON,1 : 

: 

West Milton, like Tippecanoe, is situ~ted on the outcrop of the 

" Clinton " limestone, the :fissures of which allow more or less impurities from the surface to penetrate to the wells. The unsatisfactory character of the well wa.ter, the cost of drilling, and the 

need of better fire protection led, a few years ago, to the installation of the present wateJ; system, which obtains its supply from 

Haskett Spring, issuing from the upper part of the " Clinton" limestone about a mile west of town. The water is conducted by a 

cemented pipe to a receiving well in the village, from which it is 

pumped to the standpipe. The supply appears to be safe and in 

every way superior to the water from the wells formerly used. 

Further particulars are given on page 52 and an analysis on pages 

204-205. 

Of ~e numerous springs in the vicinity of West Milton, Haskett 

Spring, which furnishes the public supply, is the most important. 

It emerges, as noted above, from the " Clinton " limestone. Its surplus water above that taken for the city supply formed, in August, 

1906, a stream 8 feet wide and 4 inches deep, flowing with a velocity 

• CQilditions in 1906. 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 143 

of 1 foot a second. By adding the equivalent volume to the 135,000 

gallons consumed by the city, a total yield of about 1,750,000 gallons 

daily is obtained.. The stream from the spring formerly furnished 

power to a mill in the town. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The following summary of the underground water conditions will 

help to determine the p~ospects of obtaining supplies at the towns 

and villages in this county: 

Underground water conditions in southern Miami County. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. 

Brandt •••••••••••• Till, mo- raine. 

Fidelity •••••••••••..... do ..••• Ginghamsburg ••.••..... do ...•. 

Grayson •••.•...••. A:O~=: 

Kessler. • • • . • . . . • . • Till ......•• Laura ..••...••.•....... do .•••. Ludlow ......•.......... do •.•.. Phoneton.......... T i II , mo- raine. 

Pigeye . . • • • . . • • . • . Till ..••.••. Potsdam .......•.•...... do ..•.. Rex •.•.........••. Till, gravel. Tippecanoe. • • . . • . . TilL ..... . West Milton ••••••••••.• do ••••• 

Thickness. 

Feet. 

Water 

supply. 

Rock nearest sur- face. Water-bearing rocks. 

Water 

supply. 

12 Plenty.... "Niagara"........ "Niagara"..... Plenty. 

~ Small..... "Clinton"........ Richmond...... Small. 

100+ Fair._ .... Richmond ••••••••••... do.......... Do. 

75+ Moderate •••...• do ••••••••••••.•••• do.......... Do; 

25 Small .••.. "Clinton" ••••••••••... do.......... Do. 

50 Moderate .• "Niagara" •••••••• "Clinton" ••.•.. Moderate. 

65 Small ..... ""Clinton" ••••••.• Richmond ••••.. Small. ~ Moderate.. "Niagara"........ "Clinton"...... Moderate. 

3 Small ..... "Clinton" ••.•.••. Richmond ••••.. Small. 

35 Fair_ . . . . . "Niagara". • . • • • • • "Clinton". • . . . . Moderate. 

5-50 Moderate •• "Clinton" •••••••. Richmond ••••.. Small. . o-10 Small ••......•. do .•••••••••••....• do.......... Do. 

3 Fair •••••...... do •••••••••.••••.•• do.......... Do. 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 

By M. L. FULLER. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

To speak broadly, the surface of Montgomery County is a plateau, 

the plateau characteristics being especially pronounced in the northwest, where very extensive, nearly fiat surfaces, broken only by shallow valleys, are found at elevations of 950 to 1,050 feet. In the 

southern half of the county and in the portion bordering Miami 

River in the eastern part the plateau character is less distinct, the 

upland level. being broken by the deep valley of the Miami and by 

the shallower valleys and ravines of its tributaries, between which 

only relatively narrow-crested ridges remain. Some of these, however, show fiat surfaces, having an elevation of 870 to 950 feet, marking the old plateau level that originally extended over the region. 

The valleys of many of the larger rivers are broad, that of the Miami 

being from 2 to 3 miles wide in places, although elsewhere, as a few 

miles northeast of Dayton a,nd near Miamisburg, it is only a quar-
144 I UNDERG~OUN~ . w ATE~S OF SOUTHWESTERN. OHI~ .• ' . 

ter to half a mile Wide. Tnbutary valleys vary m width from 

a few feet to three-fourths of a mile or more, but some of them expand 

locally to 2 miles or so, for example, Twin Creek in the vicinity 

of Germantown. The valley sides rise from 100 to 200 feet above the 

. bottoms in the southern part of the county, but in the main have 

moderate slopes and show few if any rock outcrops. Near the northern edge many of the valleys, although only about half as deep, are 

broader and are bordered by vertical cliffs, which are very character-· 

istic features of Miami and Stillwater rivers in this region. The 

valleys slope considerably, descending from 775 feet in the north to 

675 feet in the south. 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

SURFACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The alluvial deposits, as would be expected from the great width 

of. the valleys, are very extensive in Montgomery County, ranging 

in width from about half a mile near Miamisburg to nearly 4 miles 

at the junction of Mad and Miami rivers near Dayton. The Stillwater River deposits average three-fourths of a mile in width, those 

of Mad River between 2! and 3 miles, and those of the smaller tributaries from a few feet to a quarter of a mile. The depth of the 

deposits is not known, few if any wells located near the center of the 

valleys having reached their bottom, though many wells from 50 to 

60 feet in depth have been sunk. At Dayton wells have gone 75 feet 

or more without having found the bottom, and at West Carrollton a 

well175 feet deep in the alluvium is reported.· It is not improbable 

that the average depth in the larger valleys is more than 100 feet. 

Where the streams are flowing in new channels, as is the Miami in the 

rock-walled valley at the north edge of the county, the depth of the 

alluvium is probably very much less, possibly not more than 30 feet. 

The alluvium consists of silt, sand, and gravel, with some included 

beds of blue pebbly clay or till. The upper 30 or 40 feet of it seems 

on the average to be somewhat finer and more silty than the deeper 

beds, in many of which sand or gravel predominates. Till is especially likely to be encountered in the broader valleys, as in the 

Mad River and Miami bottoms in the vicinity of their junction near 

Dayton. In this locality many partly buried knolls of till project 

above the alluvium. 

Nearly all wells in the alluvial deposits find water at or slightly 

above the level of the streams. The deposits from the surface down 

to 30 or 40 feet are in many places more or less silty, but good waterbearing sands or gravels are generally present at depths of 40 to 60 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 145 

feet and afford very large supplies of water. Here and there, however, the silty deposits continue to greater depths, and some wells, 

especially those near the sides of valleys, may have to go down 60 

to 90 :feet to get adequate supplies. As much as 400 gallons a minute 

is obtained by some wells in the gravels. 

Like all waters in southwestern Ohio, those of the alluvium are / 

hard. They are, however; perfectly pure and suitable for public 

supplies. The water is clear and free :from sediment and is well 

adapted :for paper manufacture, in which it is used at a large number 

of mills in the Miami Valley. 

TERRACE GRAVELS, 

Bordering the alluvial deposits at the valley sides at a number 

of points, especially along Mad and Miami rivers, are low terraces 

standing from 10 to 25 feet above the flood plains of the streams. 

They consist very largely of fine to medium gravel, from which 

the water drains quickly to the adjacent streams or sinks into the 

underlying formations. For this reason most wells must be carried 

at least to the level of the nearest stream before they can obtain 

adequate supplies. 

TILL. 

The till is a yellowish clay carrying some pebbles and a few bowlders and fragments of wood. Beneath its yellowish upper portion, 

which is generally 5 to 10 :feet in thickness, the till grades downward 

into gray or blue clay. In the rougher southern portion of the 

county it is commonly thin, being in many places less than 25 feet 

thick. It is also thin in the eastern half of the county, especially 

along the edges of the Stillwater and Miami valleys, in which much 

bare rock shows at the surface. Within short distances back from 

the bluffs, however, its thickness increases :from 15 to 40 feet.. The 

greatest thickness is in the western half of the county, where the 

drift is in few places less than 25 feet in depth and in many is 50 

feet or more. It is possible that in certain buried channels, as in 

the vicinity of Brookville, the drift may be considerably more than 

100 feet thick. Gravelly or sandy zones or definite beds of sand or 

gravel are not uncommon, especially inlocalities where the till is of 

considerable thickness. 

The "clayey portion of the till contains considerable water, but 

yields it rather slowly. Dug wells, however, generally1 succeed in 

obtaining moderate supplies. Where gravelly beds are present water 

is much more abundant, and many driven and drilled wells obtain 

large quantities. The water is under pressure in many wells. It 

rises when encountered, but usually does not reach the surface. In 

49130°-WSP 259-12-10 
146 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

a few places, however, as in the vicinity of Brookville, the water is 

under sufficient head to produce flowing wells. 

MORAINAL DEPOSITS. 

Montgomery County is charact.erized by rather extensive morainal 

deposits, which in places, especially along the east side of Miami 

River and the south side of Mad River, reach a thickness of 50 to 

100 feet. Generally, however, they are limited to low knolls and disconnected ridges standing not more than 20 to 30 feet above the surrounding surface. The morainal deposits fall into several fairly 

well defined belts. One extends along the east side of the Mad 

and Miami valleys from the Greene County line southwestward to 

the south line of Miami County and along it to the southwest corner. 

Another less-pronounced belt extends from the Miami in the vicinity 

of West Carrollton westward through Farmersville to the county 

line. A third extends from the Miami in the northeastern portion 

of the county southwestward to the county line, passing just south 

of Brookville and north of Pyrmont. The 'deposits do not fall into 

definite belts, but are scattered irregularly over the general upland 

surface. The morainal deposits, where thickest, consist to a large 

extent of gravels and sands, but contain a few beds of pebbly clay or 

till. In some of the minor deposits till predominates. 

Where the morainal deposits consist entirely of sand or gravel they 

yield very little water to wells, owin,g to .the ease with which they 

drain into depressions or into the underlying materials. In such 

places wells, in order to obtain satisfactory supplies, must penetrate 

tO the level of the ground water in the adjacent lowlands. In some 

places, where layers of till or clay occur in the moraines, the water 

is prev-ented from draining away, small .amounts being held in irregularities in the clay or till surfaces. Wells reaching such surfaces may obtain supplies sufficient for ordinary domestic or farm 

purposes. (See fig. 8, p. 41.) Springs not uncommonly occur where 

the impervious layers come to the surface. In the lower and predominantly clayey knolls the supplies. are similar to those of the till, 

but the wells, being mostly on elevations, have to go somewhat deeper 

for supplies than on the flats. 

ROOK FORXATIONS, 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE. 

The " Niagara " limestone is found beneath the till in the northern 

and northwestern portions of the county and also on the flat crests 

of the high isolated hills representing plateau remnants in the southeastern portion. Except in the north and northwest, however, the 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 147 

"Niagara" is generally o~ no great thickness, the few feet which remains being preserved because of the resistance to erosion and weathering of the underlying " Clinton " limestone. The thickness does 

not seem to exceed 50 feet and in many places is only 5 to 10 feet. 

At the base of the formation is a few inches of sh&le, over which 

lies 5 to 10 feet of limestone suitable for bt~ilding purposes, known as 

the Dayton limeetone. Above the Dayton are other layers of more 

irregularly bedded limestone to a thickness of 30 or 35 feet. Some 

shale probably oecurs in places between this and the underlying 

Dayton. The " Niagara " limestone is usually a gray or bluish 

granular rock containing a few small cavities, but in some places it 

is buff and brownish. ' 

The" Niagara" limestone, where overlajn by the till, contains considerable water, which it readily yields to dug wells. Owing to the 

drift covering, springs are not so common at the base of the formation in Montgomery County as they are elsewhere. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE. 

The " Clinton " limestone underlies all the area in which the 

" Niagara " is found and extends considerably beyond the outcrop 

of that fonnation. Large areas occur between Mad and Miami and 

between Miami and Stillwater rivers, as well as west of Stillwater 

River to the county line, except perhaps beneath the valley of Wolf 

Creek. "Clinton'' limestone also occurs beneath the "Niagara" on 

the high plateau remnants southeast of Dayton to the southeast corner of the county. It varies in thickness frolll 30 feet in the northern portion of the county to 10 feet in the southeastern·portion. The 

lower part is a calcareous sand, and the upper part is a semicrystalline, in places almost marble-like limestone. Its color varies from 

nearly white, through gray to pink, yellow, and red. The pink or 

red. color, although not predominating, can almost always be seen 

where any considerable body of the rock is exposed, and it assists 

in identifying the fonnation. The bedding is very irregular. 

The " Clinton " limestone contains much water and generally 

yields satisfactory supplies .to wells, especially dug wells. It is probably this limestone that yields the water of the public supply at 

Brookville, which, before th~ wells were pumped, flowed at the surface. The lower part of the " Clinton " and also to some extent the 

upper crystalline part give rise to numerous springs, some of them 

of large volume. The streams fonned by these springs may be seen 

flowing over the bare limestone surfaces and plunging over vertical 

cliffs at a number of places along the Stillwater (Pl. VII, B, p. 45). 
148 · UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

BICHMOND AND HAYSVILLE FOBMATIONS. 

The Richmond and Maysville formations underlie all the lowlands 

of Montgomery County and in the southern part of the county 

extend up the: hillsides to the base of the " Clinton " at an altitude 

of nearly 900 ~eet. Owing to their northward dip, however, they 

reach an altitude of only about 800 feet near the northern border. 

They probably underlie most of the uplands up to a point about 2 

miles south of Brookville. The upper 6 to 20 feet is a reddish or 

yellowish shale, but below this shale thin layers of limestone and 

shale, generally from 2 to 10 inches in thickness, alternate down to 

the valley level. Probably somewhat over 200 feet of these beds is 

exposed in the county. 

Owing to the thinness of the limestone beds and the scarcity of 

solution passages, as well as the absence of porous layers, the Richmond and Maysville are not strong water-bearing fonnations. 

Where covered, however, by 10 to 20 feet of drift, which serves to 

hold and feed the water to the upper part of the series, fair supplies 

are obtained by many dug wells. Few drilled wells in these fonnations are successful. 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

BROOKVILLE.• 

The public supply at Brookville has been installed only a few years 

and is not yet so generally used as it should be in view of its much 

greater safety compared with the average private well, especially the 

shallow-dug well. It is derived from four 80-foot wells sunk through 

a considerable thickness of clay and other material, shutting off polluting matter, into the underlying limestone. The water would flow 

at the surface if not pumped. Other particulars of the supply will 

be found on page 52. 

OHAlJTAUQUA GRQVE.1 

The Chautauqua Grove summer resort and camp-meeting grounds 

are supplied from six driven ~ells, sunk about 25 feet in the river 

alluvium. The water is used for drinking and other domestic purposes, supplying without difficulty the campers and visitors, who at 

times number nearly 5,000. It is pumped by a gasoline engine for 

flushing and other purposes. 

DAYTON.• 

Dayton is situated mainly upon the broad flats at the junct~on of 

Miami and Mad rivers, but the outskirts of the city rest on terraces 

somewhat above the flood plain, even extending up the slopes of the 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 149 

surrounding rock hills. The public water supply has been in use for 

many years and supplies by far the greater portion of the population, few private wells being used, except those at the large industrial 

establishments and those on the outskirts. 

Most of the wells now in use are in the lower part of the city and 

consist of 4 to 8 inch pipes driven 40 to 70 feet to gravel beds in the 

soft alluvial deposits. Abundant supplies are nearly everywhere obtained, although where the sands are unusually fine or silty only 

moderate amounts may be found. On the hills shallow dug wells 

obtain fair supplies from the drift or upper part of the rock, but 

deep drilled wells are almost invariably failures, the Richmond 

formation, which they penetrate, being almost destitute of water. 

One well on the hill above the town was carried to 800 feet without 

success. Additional data regarding the wells will be found on 

page 52 and analyses of the waters on pages 204-205. 

Several wells were put down in search for oil and gas in 1886 and 

1887. One of these, located at the corner of Brown and Cemetery 

streets, afforded the following record : 

Record of deep well at Dayton.a 

~~g~-;,iid. -;.ii<i i.i~ys-;;iie r.><inaiiSn;.; ·:Biuiilimesioiie::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Maysville formation and Eden shale: Blue slate, dark at bottom ...•..................•• Point Pleasant formation: 

Sand(?) .•.....•..................................................................•. Limestoneinterstratified with shale ...........•..................................... "Birdseye" limestone: 

White limestone ...•...............•......................................... '...... . Blue limestone .......•.............................................................. Brown limestone ................................................................... . Limestone and shale .•.•..•....•.................................................... St. Peter sandstone(?): Whitesand ........................................................................ . White siliceous, calcareous,and magnesian rock. _ ... __ ..... _ ........ -- ............ . Cambrian and Ordovician dolomite: White magnesian limestone .............•......... 

Thickness. 

Feet. 40 

420 

415 

25 

80 

30 

10 

280 

120 

10 

250 

760 

a Orton, Edward, Geol. Survey, Ohio, vol. 6,1888, p. 286. Correlations by M. L. Fuller. 

Depth. 

Feet. 

40 

460 

875 

900 

980 

1, 010 

1,020 

1, 300 

1,420 

1,430 

1,680 

2,440 

Some water was found in the upper parts of the boring, the casing 

of which was carried to 425 feet. Salt water was struck in the 

"Birdseye" at 1,360 feet and in the St. Peter at 1,450 feet. The 

water rose within 200 feet of the surface from the lower bed. The 

top of the " Birdseye" is about 115 feet below sea level. Some gas 

was obtained. 

Another well sunk at the corner of First and Finlay streets reported 247 :feet of unconsolidated deposits, mainly gravel. The first 

public supply at Dayton was installed in the city in 1869, the water 

being obtained from Mad River, but this supply was replaced in 

1887 by a system of wells driven 30 to 60 feet in the alluvium 
150 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

bordering Mad River, just above the city. In 1906 seventy-seven 

8-inch wells were in use, and seventeen had been abandoned. The 

wells extend along the river bank for 4,000 feet, the pumping station 

being near the middle. In 1906 a new supplementary system was 

about to be installed to serve the higher parts of the town and the 

residences on the surrounding hills. It was planned to obtain water 

from wells near the old plant and to raise it to the required level, 

200 feet above the station, by high-pressure pumps. No sewage enters 

Mad River above the wells, but it receives some water from strawboard works. Unless, however, the entire ground water of the 

vicinity is lowered 30 to 60 feet below the surface and the river 

water drawn down to the level-of the bottom of the wells, a condition not likely to result, thereis little danger of pollution from the 

source mentioned. If, however, large quantities of sewage or other 

waste entered the valley from the sides it would be liable to work its 

way toward the river and contaminate the wells. If such contamination ever occurs the remedy will be to sink wells to 100 feet or 

more instead of 30 to 60 feet, as no pollution is likely to reach the 

greater depth. Further particulars of the public supplies will be 

found on page 52. 

The National Military Home, a few miles west of Dayton: has an 

independent water supply from sixteen 6-inch steam-blown wells 

(see p. 52), penetrating a gravel lying at the base of the drift at 

depths of 45 to 58 feet. The wells are 11 miles east of the home, and 

from them the ·water is pumped to a reservoir. Other particulars 

will be found on page 52. 

FARMERSVILLE.1 

·Farmersville has 8 or 10 drilled wells, the supplies being obtained 

from sand and gravel beneath a bed of blue clay or till that underlies 

the surface morainal deposits. The wells are said to range from 78 

to 168 feet in depth. A field analysis of the water will be found on 

pages 206-207. 

GERMANTOWN.' 

Germantown is without a public water 'system, notwithstanding the 

fact that it is so situated that a supply could probably be procured 

from wells at a relatively sinall cost, the broad alluvial flats of Twin 

Creek, upon which the town is situated, carrying abundant water 

within a short distance of the surface. The wells should preferably 

be of the driven type and should be carried to a depth of not less than 

60 feet in order to be safe from pollution. The supply would probably be of good quality and would be a great improvement over that 

afforded by the common shallow surface-water wells. The gain in 

convenience and in security against fire would also be factors of great 

importance. 

1 Conditions 1n 1906. 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 151 

MIAMISBURG.1 

The ground-water conditions are somewhat variable at Miamisburg. Near the center of the valley most of the wells get abundant 

supplies from the alluvium, but near the base of the hills water is 

often difficult to obtain, owing to the more silty character of the deposits and to the slight depth to rock. On one lot six unsuccessful 

attempts to procure water were made, although in the neighborhood 

all wells obtained water. West of the railroad most of the wells are 

driven, but east of it drilling must be resorted to. 

Two wells, one 1,300 feet and the other 800 feet in depth, were 

drilled during the oil boom, in 1887. Considerable volumes of gas 

were encountered, but not enough for permanent commercial purposes. In the deeper well a sulphurous brine wa~ encountered in 

large quantity at the bottom, presumably in the St. Peter sandstone, 

rising within 300 feet of the surface. The record of the 800-foot well 

is as follows : 

Record of deep well at Miamisburg.a 

~fc~~~:~r~~~;;iile romiaiions:· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Blueslate •...........................................................•.............. Lighter slate .............................•......................................... Eden shale: Dark shale, becoming blook ...................................... · .... . Point Pleasant formation: Limestone and shale ....................................... .. 

Feet. 

181 

260 

40 

220 

99 

Feet. 

181 

441 

481 

701 

800 

a Orton, Edward, Geol. Survey, Ohio, vol. 6, 1888, p. 289. Correlations of formations are by the author 

of this report. · 

The town -of Miamisburg has recently installed a public waterworks, the water being obtained from wells sunk in the alluvium 

near the base of the .hills at the southeast edge of town. There 

are no buildings in the vicinity and no chance of pollution at the 

present time. The supply is claimed to be ample for the needs of 

the town, although the water at the pojnt where the wells are located 

seems to be less abundant than in the wells in the center of the valley. 

If at any time the wells should fail and it should be necessary to seek 

a new locality, a spot located above rather than below the town and 

near the center of the valley rather than toward the side should be 

selected. Other particulars regarding the wells ~ill be found on 

page 52. 

OAKWOOD.' 

Oakwood has a public supply derived from two flowing wells. It, 

is extensively utilized, but a few private wells are still used. Other 

particulars will be found on page 52. 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
152 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

TROTWOOD,t 

Trotwood is one o:f the smallest villages in the county having a 

public water supply, the installation :following a destructive fire in 

1899. It. is owned by a pri..-at,e stock company and obtains its supply 

:from two 6-inch wells sunk to a bed o:f gravel below the till. The 

water :from the wells, together with compressed air, is pumped by a 

gasoline engine into a horizontal steel tank, in which it is held under 

a pressure o:f 40 to 80 pounds. The water is used :for extinguishing 

fires, sprinkling, and washing, but is not popular :for drinking, owing 

to the length of time it stands in the tank. It appears, however, to 

be perfectly safe. Further statistics are given on page 52 and a 

partial analysis on pages 206-207. 

UNION,t 

Union is located on the outcrop o:f the "Clinton" limestone, only 

a thin covering o:f drift overlying the rock surface. Open wells, 

which generally go through the limestone into the underlying shale, 

commonly find moderate supplies, the limestone affording the water, 

which is stored in the lower part o:f the well in the impervious shales. 

Drilled wells are' much less successful, as they draw mainly :from the 

·relatively dry shale. Wells o:f both kinds are liable to contamination 

by the entrance o:f polluting matter through fissures in the limestone. The record o:f one o:f the deeper wells is given below. A 

partial analysis of the water will be :found on pages 206-207. 

Record of Eby well at Union. 

Tn~- Depth. 

Feet. Feet. 

"Clinton" limestone: Limestone... . . .............................. ~........ . . . . . . . . . . 15 15 

Richmond formation: 

Blue clay. . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 22 

Gray rock...................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 32 

Blue clay and rock ......................................... ,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 67 "Drift rock" (cavernous rock?) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 12 79 

BlUE\ clay ..................... ,.. ........ '· . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 85 Gray rock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 93 

WEST CARROLLTON,t 

The public waterworks at vVest Carrollton was installed by the 

village in 1897, the water being obtained from wells driven 60 to 80 

:feet in the sand beneath the lowlands along the Miami & Erie Canal 

and pumped by the G. H. Friend Paper & Tablet Co. into the mains. 

The well water is :free :from pollution and suitable :for all domestic 

purposes. Additional particulars regarding the supply will be :found 

on page 52; an analysis o:f the water is given on pages 206-207. 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 153 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

Underground water conditions in the villages and towns of :Montgomery County are summarized in the following table: 

Underground-water conditions in Montgomery County. 

-surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. 

Air Hill ........ Till .......... . Alexandersville Alluvium .... . 

Amity......... Till .•......... 

Arlington ........... do ....... . Bachman ...•....... do ....... . Beavertown ••....... do ....... . 

Thick- Water Rock nearest ness. supply. .surface. 

Feet. 50 ......... .. 30+ Plenty ... 

60 .......... . 

"Clinton"(?). 

Richmond 

and Mays- ville. 

"Clinton" .... 

Wa~~;~ing Water supply. 

"Clinton"(?) ..... Usua!lyplenty. Richmond and Small. 

Maysville. 

"Clinton " Rich- Moderate. mon~1 and 

Maysviue. 40 Plenty ... "Niagara" ••.. "Clinton" •....... Usually plenty. 50 ... do •......... do ............. do............ Do. 13 ..• do ..... Richmond Richmond and Small. 

and Mays- Maysville. ville. · Bridgeport..... Alluvium..... Deep . Brookville. . . . . Till. . . . . . . . . . . 70 .. . do ..•....... do .•........... do............ Do. ... do ...•. "Niagara" .... "Clinton" ....... Usua!Jyplenty. Centerville •......... do........ 12 ..• do ...•. "Clinton" •... "Clinton/' Rich- Moderate. mona and 

Chambersburg •..... do ....... . 

Clayton ........•.•.. do ••...... Crown Point •....... do •....... . Dayton ..••.... Alluvium ..•.. Dean ..•........ Till .......... . Dodson ............. do ....... . Drexel. •......•..... do ....... . 

Ebenezer ............ do ....... . 

Ellerton... •• . . . Till, moraine .. Englewood.. . . . Till .•......... 

Fairmount •......... do ....... . Farmersville... Till, moraine .. 

Fort McKinley. Till.. ........ . F o u r m i I e ..... do •....... House. 

40 ••• do •...• Richmond 

and Mays- ville. 

Maysvil{e. Richmond and Small. 

Maysville. 

30 ..• do ..... "Niagara" .... "Clinton" ........ Usually plenty. 40 •••.••.••.. Richmond Richmond and Small . and Mays- Maysville. ville. 70+ Plenty ........ do •........•.•. do............ Do. 35 •.•...•••••.•..• do ............. do............ Do. 

60 Plenty ... "Niagara" .... "Clinton" •....... Usuallyplenty 60 ........... "Clinton" ••.. "Clinton/' Rich- Do. · mona, and 

50 ••••••••••• ·Richmond 

and Mays- ville. 

Maysville. 

Richmond and Small. 

Maysville. 

40 ................ do ............. do ........... . 10 Small .... "Clinton" .... Richmond,'' Clinton." ana Mays- ville. , 12 Plenty ..................................... .. 140+ ... do ..... Richmond Richmond and 

and Mays- Maysville. ville. 100+ ... do .......... do ............. do .......... .. 12 ... do ..... "Clinton" .... "Clinton," Richmond1 and 

Maysville. 

Do. 

:Moderate. 

Small. 

Do. 

Moderate. 

Germantown... Alluvium ................ do ... .. Richmond 

and MaysRichmond and 

Maysville. 

Small. 

ville. 

Gettersberg .... Till........... 35 Happy Corners ...... do........ 35 

Moderate ..... do ............. do............ Do. 

"Clinton" .... "Clinton" ........ Usually plenty. Harshman ..... Alluvium ..... Deep. ·Plenty::: Richmond Richmond and Small. 

and Mays- Maysville. 

Hayes Store . .. Till ......... .. Kingsville ........... do ...... .. 

Kinsey .............. do ....... . Kreitzer Corner ..... do ...... .. 

Lambertine ......... do ........ 

tl~~\-o~k:::: :::::~~:::::::: Miamisburg .... Alluvium .... . Mummaville ........ do ....... . National Mill- Till ......... . tary Home. 

New Lebanon ....... do ........ 

ville. 

11 ... do ..... "Clinton" ... . 35 Moderate ..... do ....... . "Clinton" ........ Usually plenty. "Clinton/' Rich- Moderate. mona, and 

Maysville. 

20 Plenty ........ do ........ 100+ ... do ..... Richmond 

"Clinton" ........ Usually plenty. Richmond and Small. 

and Mays- ville. Maysville. 

40 ................ do ............. do ........... . 20 ................ do ............. do .......... .. 25 ................ do ............. do ........... . 60+ Plenty ........ do ............. do .......... .. 50+ Variable ...... do ............. do ........... . 60+ Plenty ........ do ............. do ........... . 

60 ... do .......... do ............. do .......... .. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
154 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Underground->water conditions in Montgomery Oownty-Contin.ued. 

Surface deposits. Rook formations. 

Town. 

Material. 

Phillipburg •••• Till ••••.•.•.. Prmont ..•.....•.•• do ••••...• S . Richmond ••.•..• do ••...•.• 

Sixmile . • • • . . . • . •..• do ....... . Spanker •.••......... do ....... . Sulphur Grove ...... do ....... . Swanktown ......... do •..•.... Tadmor ..... ,.. Alluvium ••••. 

Taylorsburg Till ..•....••.• (on Dry 

'rhlck- Water Rock nearest ness. supply. surface. 

Feet. 

Water-bearing rocks. Water supply. 

30 Fair ...•.. "Niagara" .•.. "Clinton" .•...... Usuallyplenty. · 60 Plenty •.•....• do ••••.•...•... do.. . . . . . . . . . • Do. 60 ••• do •..•• Richmond Richmond and Small. 

and Mays- Maysville. ville. 

20 ••• do ••..•.•.•• do ••••.•.....•• do... . • . . . • • • • Do. 16 .•• do .•••....•• do .•••.•.•....• do............ Do. 

20 ••• do ...•• "Niagara" .... "Clinton" •....... Usuallyplenty. 60 ••• do ••.•...... do ••• · .•.......• do............ Do. 

80+ Fair ••.... Richmond Richmond and Small. 

and Mays- Maysville. ville. 40 Plenty •...•.•• do •.••.•...•.•• do •••••.•• ' •.. Do. 

Run). 

Taylorsbur11 Alluvium ••••. Deep ...• do •.•••••••• do ••••••...•.•• do ••••••••••.• Con Miami Ri~r). 

Do. 

Trotwood.. . . . . Till. • • . . • • • • • • 50 ..• do ••.••....• do ••••.•.•••.•• do............ Do. 

Union ..••.•....••..• do........ 3 Small.... "Clinton".... "Clinton/' Rich- Moderate. mona~ and 

Vandalia •.........•• do .•.•..•. Verona ..•.........•• do ••...... Vorhees .........•••• do .•...... Wengerlawn •...•.•• do .•.....• West Carroll- Alluvium •••.. ton. 

Woodbourn .... Till .......... . 

Maysville. ·30 Moderate "Niagara" .... "Clinton" ........ Usually plenty. 40 Plenty ......•. do •••......•.•• do............ Do. 40 .••••.•..••.•••• do ••••........• do... • . . • . . . . . Do. 60 ..•••••••••••••• do .••........•• do... • • . . .. ... . • Do. 

80+ Plenty ... Richmond Richmond and Small. 

and Mays- Maysville. ville. 

25 Small ......... do ............. do. .......... . Do. 

PREBLE COUNTY. 

By FREDERICK G. CLAPP. 

The following description applies to all of Preble County except 

the quarter lying north and northeast of Eaton, which could not be 

examined during the short time spent in the field. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

The surface of Preble County is rather diversified in its features, 

depending on the distribution of the glacial drift. Most of the 

northern portion consists of a plateau-like surface, having a maximum elevation of about 1,250 feet along the western border and descending to about 1,050 feet on the eastern border. In the southern 

part of the county the surface is more diversified, the hills being 

somewhat dissected by stre·ams, whereas the uplands in the northern 

part of the county are broad and flat and contain few streams. The 

creeks descend from shallow depressions on the uplands into deep 

and narrow valleys, with flood plains ranging from a few hundred 

feet to a quarter of a mile in width. The larger streams-Banta, 

Twin, Sevenmile, and Fourmile creeks-descend to elevations of 

700 to 800 feet on the southern and eastern borders 9f the county. 

The valley flats consist of alluvium. The county is crossed in a 

. general northwest-southeast direction by three broad morainal ridges. 
PREBLE COUNTY. 155 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

SU'BFACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

As ths streams of Preble County are not large, their deposits are 

not very extensive. Twin, Banta, Sevenmile, and Fourmile creeks 

have flood plains reaching, in places, a width of a quarter of a mile 

or more. They are generally flat and low and lie between steep 

bordering hillsides. The surface portion of the all~vium is mostly 

fine, with sands and silts predominating, but well sections show. that 

in many places coarse gr-avels lie below the surface. · 

Except where it is very thin, the alluvium generally yields satisfactory water supplies to driven wells, especially in the deeper and 

broader valleys. At Eaton such wells are sunk to a considerable 

depth in alluvium and furnish the public supply. 

TERRACE GRAVELS. 

Narrow deposits of coarse gravel border some of the principal 

streams, where they rise to heights of 50 to 100 feet above the bottom 

of the valley and form flat terraces. Water on th~ terraces is 

generally scanty, the supply draining out on the sides to the valleys. 

TILL. 

The greater portion of Preble County, as of other counties in the 

vicinity, is covered by pebbly clay or till of varying thickness, which 

is rather uneven in its distribution, in some places overlying gravels 

and in others underlying them. Generally, however, a considerable 

thickne.ss of till overlies the bedrock of the region, and beds of till, 

. generally called hardpan by the drillers, are penetrated in sinking 

deep wells. Along many creeks can be seen deep sections of till, in 

some places only a few feet in thickness and in others 100 feet or 

more thick. Where characteristic the till is hard and compact and 

contains many pebbles and in places large bowlders. The upper 

5 to 10 feet may be yellowed by oxidation, but the underlying portion 

is generally blue-gray. Over most of the county there are at least 

two beds of till, the one resting on bedrock being the more clayey, 

solid, and tough, and the one forming the surface or lying near it 

being generally looser, with a larger proportion of bowlders and sand. 

The water supplies of the till are, as a rule, not large. Wells 

sunk in it may obtain plenty of water during the greater part of the 

year, but the supply is liable to become exha-qsted in summer. The 

old-fashioned dug or open wells are most successful in the till, as 

dnven wells are generally not of large enough diameter to form a 

sufficient reservoir for the water which seeps in from the surrounding till. The open wells, however, are not so sde from pollution 

as those of other types. 
156 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

lrt:ORA.INAL DEPOSITS AND OUTWASK'"PLAINS. 

Under morainal deposits and outwash plains are included the deposits which in general overlie the thicker or deeper of the two till 

sheets. They include, first, broad undulating morainal deposits of 

sand and gravel, which are easily recognizable by their surface features, and, second, broader and flatter deposits of sand and gravel, 

which in places stretch for many miles with a surface apparently 

as level as a floor, and whiyh are made up of fairly horizontal beds 

of sands •and gravel overlain only by superficial till a few feet 

in thickness. The thickness of these plains deposits is in places very 

great. They are believed to·be best developed on the uplands within 

a few miles of Eaton. 

The true moraines of Preble County consist of three principal 

belts. The outermost, a mile or two wide, enters the county near its 

southeast corner, runs westward to Camden, crosses Sevenmile Creek, 

takes a north-northwesterly sweep, and strikes the northwest corner 

of the county north of New Paris. The second moraine is not so 

conspicuous and, except at its east end, is broader and flatter. It 

enters from Montgomery County south of West .Alexandria, sweeps 

northward, .passing between West .Alexandria and Eaton, and at the 

northwest corner of the county merges with the outer moraine. The 

third line of moraines, which is still less conspicuous, crosses the 

northeast corner of the county northeast of Lewisburg. 

In the morainal deposits of the typical hilly type, such as those 

in the outer belt, it is necessary to drill to a considerable depth to 

reach water. On the inner moraines, however, and on the broad flat 

areas surrounding them, water has less chance to drain away and is 

encountered at several depths below the surface, the different water 

beds being known accordingly as the" first," "second," and "third." 

In the vicinity of Eaton and elsewhere flowing artesian wells have 

'been obtained by short pipes driven into these deposits, and near 

West .Alexandria deep-driven wells obtain flows from them. 

ROOK FORKATIONS. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE. 

Probably more than half of the bedrock in Preble County consists 

of " Niagara " limestone. The " Niagara " constitutes the entire area 

north, northwest, and west of Eaton, extending southward almost 

uninterruptedly beyond Sugar Valley, whence a strip of it, with an 

apparent width of more than a mile, stretches southward between 

Sevenmile and Fourmile Creeks nearly to the edge of Butler County, 

southeast of Morning Sun. .Another arm of the " Niagara" limestone stretches southeastward from Eaton nearly to Winchester. In 

the southeast corner of ·the county there are only a few scattered 
PREBLE COUNTY. 157 

patches of it. The " Niagara. " covers most of the northeast quarter 

of the county but is not present along the valley south of Lewisburg. 

In the northwest corner of the county, on the uplands, the "Niagara " limestone may be over 100 feet in thiclmess, but where it outcrops in the southern part of the county it has in places a thiclmess 

of only a few feet, the rest of it having been eroded. 

The '' Niagara" is quarried for building stone in a number of 

places, one of which is near a shallow creek about 2 miles northeast 

of Eaton. The most important quarries, however, are at New Paris, 

in the northwest corner of the county, where the workings are 30 or 

40 feet deep and the rock makes excellent building stone. 

The " Niagara " limestone probably contains more water than any 

other of the rock formations lying near the surface in Preble County. 

It is generally a bedded or massive gray to buff limestone. Some 

water is found in it by shallow wells, but the greatest amounts are 

generally obtained by deep wells which penetrate nearly to the top 

of the underlying " Clinton " limestone. The " Niagara " limestone 

contains a great many irregular solution passages, through which 

water is flowing, and when these passages are tapped by the drill they 

yield a large amount of water. (See Pl. V, A.) 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE. 

The "Clinton" limestone underlies the entire area in which the 

" Niagara " is found and extends somewhat beyond the· outcrop of 

that formation. Owing to the thick drift covering in Preble County, 

little of the " Clinton " is believed to be exposed, but it can be seen 

in a few places along the uplands west of Sevenmile Creek and probably at other points. Owing to the scarcity of exposures and to the 

fact that in well records it is generally reported with the " Niagara " 

simply as" limestone," its thickness is not lmown with certainty, but 

it is believed to measure not over 50 feet. Where characteristic, it 

consists of massive buff to pinkish, horizontally or cross bedded limestone, composed largely of minute shell fragments. 

Altliough the " Clinton " limestone can not be differentiated from 

the " Niagara " where penetrated by wells, the fact that many wells 

firid water near the base of the material repo~d as limestone seems 

to indicate that the" Clinton" yields moderate amounts. Generally, 

however, it acts as an impervious bed; along its upper portion numerous springs issue from the " Niagara " limestone. 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATION. 

The lowlands in southern Preble County, as far north as Fairhaven on Fourmile Creek, nearly to Eaton on Sevenmile Creek, and 

as far as Lewisburg on Twin Creek, consist of the Richmon~ and · 
158 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Maysville fonnations, which form the bottoms of the valleys and extend for considerable distances up the hillsides. In the southern part 

of the county these formations form many entire hills, except perhaps 

for a thin capping of " Clinton " and " Niagara" limestones. 

Owing to the fact that the county is so thickly covered by drift, 

little can be said of the lithologic character of the Richmond and 

Maysville formatiorls. Doubtless it is similar to that of these formations as seen in Butler and other counties, where they consist of 1 to 

10-inch layers of interstratified shale and limestone. 

Owing to the thinness of the limestone beds and the consequent 

scarcity of solution passages, the Richmond and Maysville formations 

contain only a moderate amount of water. They yield very little to 

shallow wells, and practically none to most drilled wells. Where 

water is found it is generally inferior in quality to that in the 

" Niagara " and " Clinton " limestones and in some wells is sulphurous 

or brackish. 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

CAXDEN.1 

Three gas wells have heen sunk by the town of Camden. One of 

them is 85 feet deep ; the depths of the others are unknown. One 

well still yields gas, under 35 pounds pressure, which is used for 

running an engine and which was at pne time piped all over the 

town. 

One of the gas borings penetrated 180 feet of drift before reaching bedrock, showing that a deep buried valley extends northward 

from the Miami Valley nnd was formerly occupied by a stream of 

considerable size. 

CEDAR SPRINGS.• 

About a lnile south of New Paris is the Cedar Springs Hotel, a 

popular summer resort on the New Paris and Westville branch of the 

Dayton & Western Electric Railroad. The Cedar Springs, several 

in number, are situated in the valley near this hotel. They are dug 

6 or 8 feet in the bottom of the valley near a small run. The water 

occurs in gravel underneath hardpan, and one of the springs extends 

into the "second-gravel" bed. The hardpan and gravel layers rise 

into the morainal hills in the opposite direction from the hotel, and 

for that reason there is no danger of pollution; moreover, excellent 

sanitary precautions are taken in the curbing of the springs. The 

·springs, which are known individually as the N avahoe, Iron, Glycerine, and Cathartic springs, have been analyzed (see pp. 20()-207), and 

the composition of the water seems to depend on whether it occurs in 

the" first" or" second" gravel. Around several of the springs there 

is a slight iron stain, due to the iron in the water. The volume of flow 

• Conditions In 1906. 
PREBLE COUNTY. 159 

can not be conveniently measured, but is estimated at 5 to 10 gallons 

a minute. The surroundings of the springs are thickly wooded. In 

addition to being used at the summer hotel, the water is bottled for 

shipment to a distance as "Navahoe water," though all of it does 

not come from Navahoe Spring. These springs have a history 

dating back to the days of the aborigines, and great medicinal value 

is claimed for them. 

EATON,t 

Public supply.-Eaton has a fair public supply, derived from· 

drilled wells 6 inches in diameter, sunk. on the flood plain of Sevenmile Creek west of the village within 50 rods of the pumping station. 

The system was installed in 1891. In all, ten wells have been sunk to 

depths of 60 to 100 feet,,but only two are used. These are pumped 

with an air lift. A sample record is as follows: 

Record of driven well of the Eaton Waterworks. 

T~~- Depth. 

Feet. Feet. 

SoiL.................................................................................... 4 4 

Hardpan................................................................................ 55 59 

Coarse blue graveL............................. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. 20 79 

This is believed to be an average record. Under the blue gravel is 

another bed of "hardpan," and bedrock is entered at depths of 

57i to 99 feet. Several of these wells found very little water on account of the fine-grained nature of the sediments penetrated. The 

wells which are in use will sometimes overflow after standing several 

days without pumping. By pumping the two wells 18 hours a day 

an average of 120,000 gallons of water is obtained. The water is 

delivered by an air lift from the wells to a cistern at the pumping 

station and then pumped to a standpipe whose top is 150 feet above 

the station or 135 feet above Main Street. During the summer the 

supply is insufficient and it is necessary to stop lawn sprinkling, etc. 

For this reason it has been suggested that the mains be extended to 

some springs situated a short distance up the creek. The composition 

of the water is given on pages 206-207. 

In 1894 a 10-inch pipe-line was run 1,500 feet west from the pumping station to a spring at the foot of a bluff across the creek. 'While 

the surface was wooded plenty of water was obtained, but since much 

of the forest has been cut away the spring has failed and has been 

abandoned. Water was also drawn from two cisterns and 24 rods of 

tile at the base of the bluff, being obtained mostly from a bed of 

water-bearing gravel 4 feet thick which outcrops 14 feet below the 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
160 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

t:op of the bluff. Only about one-tenth the original supply is now 

obtained. 

Flowing wells.-ln the northeast corner of Eaton a number o:f 

wells bored with an auger in sand and gravel to depths of 25 to 35 

feet flow as "fountains." The wells were sunk about 1820 1 and recently the flow in all of them has diminished greatly owing to the 

sinking of new wells. The water has a temperature of 52° ~md contains iron, but it otherwise of good quality and is satisfactory to the 

residents in that part of town. The water, which will rise several 

feet above the surface, comes from gently inclined gravel beds in the 

morainal deposits which rise gradually toward the northwest. 

Drilled wells.-A number of drilled wells have been sunk at Eaton. 

Two of them, 186 and 326 feet deep and 8 inches in diameter, are 

situated at the plant of the Eastern Electric Light & Power & Ice 

Manufacturing Co. They obtained very little water, probably because they were mostly in the Richmond and Maysville formations. 

Rock was struck at 24 feet. 

Several wells in the village seem to furnish water of excellent 

quality. One of these is a dug well at the courthouse. 

Several attempts have been made to find oil and gas in the vicinity 

of Eaton About 1885 a deep well, sunk on the William Acherman 

lot, penetrated the "Birdseye" limestone and a bed of sandstone and 

obtained salt water. It is reported to have been abo~t 1,600 feet 

deep and was cased for about 300 feet; the record, however, has been 

lost: Another test well, about 1,200 feet deep, was put down at the 

electric-light plant, then owned by Josiah N. Robinson. Persons 

who were interested in the borings report that the "Birdseye" limestone dipped markedly from the Acherman well toward the well at 

the electric-light plant. . · 

Springs.-ln the vicinity of Eaton there are a number of springs 

of considerable importance. One of them, situated at the picnic 

grounds about a mile southeast of the village, issues from the foot 

of a slope about 5 feet above a run in a shallow ravine with a flow 

estimated at about 3 gallons a minute. It is supposed to come from 

the " Niagara " limestone. 

Four miles northeast of Eaton, on the Lewisburg Pike, an enormous spring issues from drift deposits in a slight depression. The 

water bubbles up from sand with an estimated volume of at least 50 

gallons a minute. This is the largest spring known in the county. 

1 History of Preble County, Ohio, H. Z. Williams & . Bro., 188:!., p. 134 • 

• 
PREBLE COUNTY. 161 

LEWISBURG,l 

Lewisburg is situated on a gentle till slope, rising from Swamp 

Creek. The base of the " Niagara " limestone outcrops along the 

bluffs bordering the creek, but on the plain the rock is covered by 10 

to 20 feet of till. Most of the wells are the old-fashioned dug wells, 

but some of them are drilled. 

Most of the drilled wells yield water of good quality. Probably 

the deepest well in Lewisburg is that at the Handle ( ~) factory. 

It is 101 feet deep and strikes limestone 15 feet from the surface. The 

water tastes very strongly of sulphur. It can not be exhausted with a 

steam pump. About a mile north of Lewisburg a well was drilled 

185 feet, nearly all in solid rock. In the surrounding country there 

are a number of drilled wells that are not so deep. 

A gas well drilled on the eastern border of the village to a depth 

of about 1,300 feet is reported to have struck the " Birdseye " limestone at 950 to 1,050 feet and to have found an abundance of salt 

water. A fine supply of water was struck about 300 feet from the 

surface and was used in drilling. A little gas was obtained from the 

shale and is still used, but none was found in the "Birdseye." 

NEW PARIS,l 

At New Paris rock outcrops at the surface, but its extremely 

irregular character is shown by the fact that about a mile north of 

the village a well is reported to have been sunk to a depth of 285 feet 

before striking rock. No water was found. Other deep wells in the 

drift show that there are deep gravel-filled valleys in this neighborhood which represent the former courses of the streams. It is prob: 

able that East Fork of Whitewater Creek once followed a course very 

different from its present one. 

C. ,V. Bloom, of New Paris, draws a small public supply from a 

dug well 17 feet deep in gravel below "hardpan." The well can 

be pumped at the rate of 125 gallons a minute and the water is of 

excellent quality. Analysis is given on pages 206-207. 

The largest limestone quarries in the northwestern part of the 

county are at New Paris, the most important one now in operation' 

being that of Reinheimer Bros., near the south end of town. The 

" Niagara " limestone at this place is overlain by till ranging from 

a few inches to 4 feet in thickness. The limestone here is a finegrained bluish-gray rock containing numerous layers of "flint rock" 

up to a foot in thickness and some flint nodules. The joints in the 

limestone are, in general, tightly closed. Two systems exist, one 

running east and west and the other north and south. The cracks 

are nearly vertical. Throughout the limestone many small solution 

1 Conditions in 1906. 

49130° -WSP 259-12----11 
162 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

passages follow the joint cracks, forming channels for several 

springs of excellent quality, which issue from the rock. One flow;;; 

from a solution cavity about a foot in diameter with an estimated 

volume of 2 or 3 gallons a minute. The most interesting spring is 

at the south end of the quarry, where (Pl. V, A, p. 36) a conspicuous 

solution channel a few inches in diameter follows the rock vein 

along the joint crack for several rods. During the quarrying 

operations within the last few years the spring has been traced 

downward into the hill for a distance of about 500 feet. The 

volume of flow is now about 7 gallons a minute but is diminishing as the quarrying operations progress. The water is of excellent 

quality and is used by the workmen for drinking. The measured 

temperature is 52°. Analyses of springs in this quarry are given on 

pages 206-207. These springs and solution channels furnish a clue to 

the probable mode of occurrence of well water in limestone at great 

depths below the surface and show that wells sunk in the ''Niagara" 

limestone may be expected to find moderate or even large amounts 

of water of good quality by striking one of these solution channels. 

If, on the other hand, as sometimes happens, they do not chance to 

strike a vein of water, the well will be unsuccessful. 

WEST ALEXANDRIA.1 

West Alexandria has a public supply owned by the village. The 

system consists of four drilled wells 134 feet in depth. A record 

of the strata passed through is as follows: 

Section of deep wells of West Alexandria waterworlrs. 

Thick- Depth. ness. 

Feet. Feet. 16 16 

13 29 31 60 12 72 49 121 

7 128 

Clay (till containing numerous large bowlders) ......................................... . 

l1i~~:~~:~~~;~;~;r~HHHH/HH/HHHHHHH~ Gravel (containing water) •.............................................................. 6 134 

The water used comes from the gravel bed at the bottom. The 

well of which the record is given above was the last to be installed 

in the system and was drilled in January, 1905. Originally the town 

had wells 65 and 95 feet deep, but enough water was not obtained 

from them, and drilling was carried into the "third gravel." The 

water in the "second gravel," which was originally used, rose nearly 

to the surface. The actual yield is not known, but nearly 1,000 gallons a minute has been obtained w:ithout lowering the water over 4 

1 Conditions in 190?. 
PREBLE COUNTY. 163 

feet from the surface. The amount pumped ordinarily is reported as 

about 35 gallons a minute. The wells are arranged in the form of a 

square 400 feet on a side. From them the water is pumped to a 

standpipe 119 feet above the pumping station and 100 feet above the 

ground. The system is reported very satisfactory. 

Several flowing wells have been obtained in West Alexandria. 

The best three were sunk for S. S. Black near the south end of the 

village. Two of them were 112 and 121 feet deep, but only one of 

these is now in use, the second well being drilled when the first one 

was accidentally ruined. This well is the finest flowing well in the 

county, and Mr. Black uses it to supply a fountain which stands in 

his front yard and a fishpond covering half an acre. The water is 

also used for all domestic purposes. It will rise unconfined 14 feet 

above the surface. The temperature is 52°. Mr. Black's third well 

is 112 feet deep and supplies a canning factory. The water will rise 

12 feet from the surface and is piped to the second story of the factory. The water in these wells comes from some of the deeper 

gravels of morainal deposits and probably owes its head to a long 

descent along beds dipping from the north or northwest. 

WES1' ELX1'0N:1 

True flowing wells are not known in the vicinity of West Elkton, 

but at the west encl. of the vil~ge Elijah Mendenhall has a dug well 

16 feet in depth, from which'1the water flows in a constant stream 

through a pipe connected with the well 4 feet .below the surface. 

This water is very high in iron. (See analysis, pp. 206-207.) The 

morainal hill on the side of which this well is situate-d rises about 

40 feet higher within 400 feet north of the well, and the head is believed to be due to the presence of an inclined gravel bed. 

WEST XANCHES1'ER.1 

·west Manchester is situated on a very flat till plain several miles 

broad. Part of the residents use the public supply, but some still 

use dug wells 20 to 40 feet in depth. Many of these are in poor locations and the sanitary quality oftheir water is doubtful. The public 

supply is excellent and shou~d be more widely used. 

Data regarding the public supply are given on page 52. The 

waterworks, which were installed in 1903--4, are situated on the 

plain at the southeast corner of the village and consist oif a small 

pumping station and three drilled wells. The water is pumped from 

the wells each morning into two large tanks, 36 by 8 feet. The tanks 

are filled about half full, compressing the air above, and the water is 

distributed by the consequent pressure, which ranges from 25 to 55 

pounds. 

1 Conditions in 1906. 
164 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Before the waterworks were installed a test . well was sunk to a 

depth of 150 feet. It is reported to have struck rock at 70 to 80 feet, 

but some of the inhabitants doubt whether rock was really struck. 

As no water was found below 65 feet the well was aband0ned below 

that depth. 

The water in the wells stands about 10 feet below the surface without pumping and can not be pumped down below 23 feet. 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The underground-water conditions in the several cities and villages 

in Preble County are summarized in the following table : 

Underground, wrtter con.d4tions m. Preble County. 

Surface deposits. Rock formations. 

Town. 

Material. Thick- Water ness. supply. 

Rock nearest surface. Wat:~~~ Water supply. 

Feet. 

Camden ........ Alluvium ..... Deep. Plenty ... Richmond and Richmond and 

. " M;aysvt¥:'· " M;aysvil,l:'· Campbellstown Morame....... .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . Nmgara .. .. .. Nmgara .... .. Eaton.. .. .. . .. . Moraine and 40 to Plenty. .. .. ... do.... . .. . . .. .. ... do ......... .. till. deep. Eldorado....... Moraine....... 80-100 

Euphemia ..... Till........... 0-20 

Fairhaven...... Alluvium..... 15 

. .. do ........... do ................ do .......... . 

M a~e r- ..... do ........... "~~~~.'~d 

... do ...... Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. 

Gettysburg ..... Moraine and ................... "Niagara" ...... "Niagara" .... .. till. 

Greenbush ..... Till........... 6 Moder- Richmond and Richmond and ate. Maysville. Maysville. Ingomar ....... Moraine ............................... do ................ do ......... .. Lewisburg ..... Till ........... 10-20 Moder- "Niagara" ...... "Niagara" and 

ate. ~ "Clinton." 

Morning Sun ........ do ......... Shal- ... do ...... Richmond and Richmond and 

low. Maysville. Maysville. Oklahoma ........... do......... +30 Plenty ... "N~a"....... "Niagara" ..... . New Hope ..... M~urne and ........................ o ................ do .......... . 

New Lexington Till. • • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. New Paris ..... Moraine....... 25 Plenty ... "Niagara" ...... "Niagara" .... .. Sugar Valley ........ do ................................. do ................ do ......... .. West Alexan- ..... do ......... Deep Plenty ... Richmond and Richmond and 

dria. Maysville. Maysville. WestElkton ... Till and Mo- 10 Moder- "Cliriton"(?) ... "Cliriton"(?) .... mine. ate. 

;:~~~'cltn:· ~~F~::::::: ·::mif ·Pleni:Y::: _:·.~~~·::::::: .:·.~~~·::::::: ter. 

West Sonora ... Till and Mo- +40 ... do ........... do ................ do .......... . mine. 

Small. 

Plenty. Do.· 

Do. 

Do. 

Small. 

Plenty. 

Small. 

Do. 

Plenty. 

Small. 

Plenty. Do. 

Small. 

Plenty. Do. 

Small. 

Plenty. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Winchester Till .......... . 10 Mod e r- Richmond and Richmond and Small. 

(Gratis post office). ate. Maysville. Maysville. 

WARREN COUNTY. 

By M. L. FULLER. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

Warren County is essentially a pla.teau, standing for the most part 

800 to 900 feet above sea level but rising at some points to 1,000 
WARREN COUNTY. 165 

feet or over. The plateau is divided into eastern and western parts 

by the deep valley of the Little Miami, the bottom of which is 200 

feet or more below the upland surface. The plateau is also cut at 

the extreme northwest corner by the valleys of the Miami and the 

numerous tributaries to the two rivers, as well as by certain other 

valleys not now occupied by streams of any size. The uplands are 

much less cut by ravines than those in counties near-er the Ohio, the 

plateau surface being flat or gently rolling throughout the greater 

part of its extent. Among the valleys formed by streams other than 

those now occupying them may be mentioned that extending from 

the Miami near Middletown southeastward to the Little Miami at 

Deerfield and that leaving the Little Miami pear Freeport and passing southwestward past Lebanon and thence southward to the main 

valley at Deerfield. These appear to have been drainage channels 

carrying glacial waters set free by the melting of the ice sheet when 

it occupied the region a short distance to the north (Pl. II, p. 24). 

Other surface features of importance are the morainal hills, the 

most pronounced belt of which crosses the county from the northeast 

to the southwest corner, passing Lebanon. Another belt starts near 

Little Miami River at Waynesville and extends southeastward into 

Clinton County. These hills are best developed in the valleys, where 

they have an elevation of 50 to 100 feet above the surrounding bottoms. On the uplands they are far less conspicuous, few of them 

being over 20 feet in height. · 

WATER-BEARING FORMATIONS. 

The water-bearing beds of Warren County include, among the 

surface deposits, alluvium, tj_ll, and moraines, and among the rock 

formations the " Niagara," " Clinton," Richmond, and Maysville 

formations. 

SURFACE DEPOSITS. 

ALLUVIUM. 

The alluvial deposits in Warren County are extensive, occurring 

in the valleys of bOth the present streams and the old glacial 

streams. Of the recent deposits those of Miami and Little Miami 

Rivers are the most extensive, the alluvial plain of the former having a width of 2 miles or more in places and that of the latter a width 

of one-half to three-fourths of a mile. Considerable alluvium is 

also found in the valleys of Todds Fork and some of the minor 

8treams. The deposits of glacial alluvium of the two valleys mentioned in the preceding section also reach a considerable width, especially in the valley connecting the Miami and Little Miami. 
166 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

The alluvium of the Little Miami is prevailingly sandy or gravelly 

even near the surface, doubtless owing to considerable velocity of the 

waters during the excavation 'of the narrow gorge. In the valley 

of the Miami the alluvium includes more silt, especially in its upper 

portion, many wells having to be sunk 40 ;feet or more to procure supplies.· Some till appears either to be included with or to underlie 

the older deposits of Miami River and also those in the two glacial 

valleys mentioned. 

The sandy and gravelly alluvium of the Little Miami and of some 

of the other streams is in places very extensive and affords abundant 

water to wells from 40 to 60 feet in depth. On the Miami, also, 

water is obtained in abundance, although some silt is present and 

wells are not so uniformly successful, at least at shallow depths, as 

on the Little Miami. The same is true to a still greater extent in 

the old valley connecting the two streams and in the Lebanon cut-off 

of the Little Miami. 

LOESS. 

South of a line stretching from the northeastern to the southwestern corner of the county the surface drift is much older tha.n in the 

deposits to ·the north, belonging to an earlier glacial stage. ?'his 

older drift is covered throughout by a thin sheet, ranging from a few 

inches to several feet in thickness, of a bluish or brownish loamy silt 

known as loess. Owing to its thinness it is of no importance as a 

water-bearing formation in Warren County, but it assists in collecting the rainfall and in feeding water to the underlying till and rock. 

TlLL. 

The pebbly clay or, till varies in color from yellowish or brownish 

near the surface to blue or gray at depths of 5 or 10 feet or more. 

It contains mlmy small pebbles and a few bowlders. Its thickness is 

usually under 25 feet and in some places under 10 feet, but it seems to 

be considerably thicker at points near the eastern border of the 

county, possibly reaching 100 feet or more in the vicinity of Todds 

Fork. Here and there, even on the plateau, the rock is almost at the 

surface, some wells encountering it at less than 10 feet. 

The thin till is of little importance as a water-bearing formation, 

but that from 15 to 25 feet thick absorbs considerable quantities, 

which it supplies to shallow dug wells. The till is also important in 

absorbing and retaining water falling upon the surface and feeding 

it to the underlying rocks. 

MORAINAL DEPOSITS. 

The morainal deposits, which lie in a belt stretching from the 

northeast to the southwest corner of the county, reach their greatest 

development in the valleys, in some of which they have a thickness 
WARREN COUNTY. 167 

of 100 feet. Where conspicuously developed the moraines seem to be 

composed largely'tlf sand and gravel, from which the water rapidly 

drains away to the near-by valleys or sinks to the underlying formations. For this reason wells almost never obtain supplies in the 

gravelly moraines, at least not until a. depth equivalent to that of 

the general water level in the vicinity is reached. However, where 

the till is mixed with the gravel the downward passage of the water 

may be obstructed and accumulations take place in irregularities of 

its surface. Some wells sunk at such points procure water, but the 

supplies are generally uncertain. 

ROCK FORMATIONS. 

" NIAGARA " LIMESTONE. 

Very little "Niagara" limestone is found in Warren County, the 

total thickness exposed being not over 50 feet and the area only a 

few square miles even where it is most extensively developed in the 

region northeast of· Springboro, not far from the north line of the 

county. The lower part of the formation is a bedded limestone suitable for building (Dayton limestone) but only a few feet thick. 

Above this comes a bed of shale, which is in turn overlain by limestone making up the remainder of the 50 feet. 

The " Niagara., limestone is found in so small an area that it is 

unimportant as a water-bearing £ormation in Warren County, 

although it contains considerable water and yields moderate supplies 

to the open wells that penetrate it. 

" CLINTON " LIMESTONE, 

In Warren County the " Clinton" limestone is only 15 or 20 feet 

thick and consists o£ a lower calcareous sand and an upper pinkish 

semicrystalline limestone. It underlies the "Niagara" in the hilltops northeast o£ Springboro and caps small hills a few miles north 

o£ Todds Fork on the eastern line o£ the county. Southeast o£ Freeport about three-fourths of an acre o£ "Clinton" overlies the drift, 

appearing to have been moved £rom its original position. 

The " Clinton " outcrops, except that northeast o£ Springboro, are 

too small to contain much water and are so deeply covered by drift 

as to be unavailable. It is probable that northeast o£ Springboro, 

however, the formation carries considerable water which it yields to 

wells penetrating it. Some springs occur near its base, but, owing to 

the scanty outcrops o£ the £ormation, these are of little importance. 

RICHMOND AND MAYSVILLE FORMATIONS. 

The Richmond a~d Maysville formations consist o£ a shaly layer 

several feet in thickness at the top and alterations of thin limestone 

and shale in the remaining portion. About 400 feet of the formations is exposed in the county, and this seems to be nearly their en-
168 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

tire thickness, f<'r the underlying Eden shale appears beneath them 

not far from the south line of the county. The two formations underlie the entire county, except for the small patches of "Niagara" 

and " Clinton " clescribed above. 

Where either the alluvium or the "Clinton" limestone is available 

it constitutes th0 principal source of supply, but elsewhere in the 

county shallow wells are obliged to rely mainly on the Richmond and 

Maysville formations. Owing to the covering of drift, which serves 

as a feeder to these formations, moderate amounts of water are concentrated in their upper weathered portion -and furnish fair supplies 

to open wells. Few drilled wells get water from the Richmond and 

Maysville formations in vVarren County. 

NOTES BY TOWNS. 

FRANKLIN.t 

In the central and northern parts of Franklin an abundance of 

water can usually be obtained from gravel beds in the alluvium at 

depths of 20 to 175 feet, the largest supplies generally being found 

at 60 and 80 feet. At the south end of the town the alluvium valley 

filling is apparently much thinner, wells soon reaching a till or clay 

in which there is little water, or entering dry rock. Most wells in 

this part of town have been failures. 

The wells from which Franklin originally obtained its supply were 

located in the vicinity of the Franklin Mills, near the side of the 

valley, but later the mill wells withdrew so much water that the 

supply became insufficient and new wells were sunk by the town 

near the river on the opposite side from the town. These wells are 

a little more than 60 feet in depth, are so situated as to be free from 

all danger of pollution, and appear to yield enough for all ordinary 

demands. Further particulars are given on page 52. 

KINGS MILLS,t 

Kings Mills consists of the works of the Peters Cartridge Co. and 

the K. P. Co., located in the valley of the Little Miami, and of a 

small but neat and well-kept town on the plateau above. The residents of the older part of the village mainly use dug wells 20 to 40 

feet in depth, sunk through blue clay or till to the top of the rock. 

In the newer part of town drilled wells have been substituted because 

they can be sunk more quickly and cheaply and are much safer. 

They are said to go down to the rock, which they reach at depths 

similar to those in the old part of town. One well was drilled to 

160 feet, and several to depths of 50 or 60 feet, but generally without 

material increase of supply. In some the water found in the upper 

part was lost through "gravel" (crevices?) farth~r down. An 

analysis of the water from the well at the Homestead Hotel is given 

t Conditions in 1906. 
WARREN COUNTY. 169 

on pages 206-207. In the valley several large springs occur, one of 

them yielding, it is estimated, nearly 35,000 gallons daily. 

The town has a public supply for extinguishing fires, the water 

being taken from the river. 

LEBANON,1 

Two wells were sunk at Lebanon during the oil and gas boom in 

1887. The first, which reached a depth of 1,300 feet, obtained large 

quantities of salt water near the bottom, but no oil nor gas in paying 

quantities. Chalybeate water was encountered in the drift gravels. 

The second well, sunk in the valley of Turtle Creek, gave the following record : 

Record of deep well at Lebanon. 

Feet. Feet. Drift: Mainly gravel and sand ........ ______ ....... ·- ____________________ ..... __________ 256 256 

Maysville formation: Blue limestone and shale .... ________________________ ............. . 244 500 

Eden shale and Point Pleasant formation: Dark shale and limestone.................... 162 662 

"Birdseye" limestone: Hard white limestone............................................ 38 700 

A public supply was installed by Lebanon in 1896, the water being 

obtained from a number of wells driven from 96 to 104 feet through 

alernations of clay, sand, and gravel on low ground near a small 

tributary of Turtle Creek. The water flows feebly at the surface, 

and is siphoned to a receiving well, from which it is pumped to the 

standpipe. Other information concerning the supply will be found 

on page 52. It appears to be safe and suitable for all domestic uses. 

A partial analysis will be ound on pages 206-207. 

IIA.SON.1 

Two deep wells, the s cond completed late in 1906, have been 

drilled for oil and gas at ~ason. The first, sunk a quarter of a mile 

north of town, had appro:ximately the following record: 

Record of deep well at Mason. 

Drift: 

Clay, till, and quicksand ................................................ : .......... . 

Ric?~~~~,ak'aY8vm.i; and ·:Eii.iD. ·formB.iiOru.: · .A1ierii8tiiii i8yei:S.oi i>iiiiSb.' umestoiie and· 

shale ................................................................................. . Point Pleasant formation: Dark shales and limestone .................................. . ''Birdseye" limestone: 

Limestone ......................................................................... . Bluemud •.......................................................................... 

Fut. 

100 

10 

555 

155 

511 

2 

Feet. 

100 

110 

666 

720 

770 

772 

The record of the second well was substantially the same as that 

of the first. Some strong pockets of gas were encountered, but they 

1 Conditions In 1906. 
170 . UNDERGROUND. WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

soon blew off. A little salt water was obtained in both wells. In the 

new well, a mile southwest of town, flowing water was obtained from 

a sandy bed in the till at about 85 feet. . An analysis of this water 

appears on pages 206-207. 

xo:a:aow,1 

Although a town of considerable size, Morrow has no public water 

supply, doubtless because of the accessibility of Little Miami River 

in case of fire. Most. of the people formerly depended on dug wells, 

but many of these were filled a few years ago by material washed 

in during a flood and have been replaced by wells driven in the 

fillings of the old wells. Many entirely new driven wells have also 

been sunk and a few drilled wells put down. Owing to the situation of the town at the base of a bluff and the movement of the 

ground water toward the river there is considerable danger that 

the shallower wells may become polluted, especially along the edge 

of the valley. It is believed that wells sunk near the center of the 

valley at a point above the town would afford a safer and more satisfactory supply than the .present shallow wells. 

J111RDOO:S:.t 

A deep well was sunk many years ago for oil and gas in a :ravine 

not far from Murdock. A strong brine, utilized at one time in the 

manufacture of salt, was obtained, but neither oil nor gas nor any 

large amount of fresh water was found. 

SPBXHGBOBO,t 

The spring emerging from the drift near Springboro is of interest 

as being, according to reports, one of the largest in this part of Ohio. 

It was formerly used as a source of water power for a flouring mill 

and woolen factory. 

WAY!I'ESVILLE,t 

The public supply of Waynesville was installed in 1900-1901, the 

water being obtained from driven wells sunk at the upper edge of 

the Little Miami flat south of the village. The wells are about 40 

feet in depth and penetrated a succession of clays, sands, and gravels, 

stopping in a gravel resting on top of the underlying rock. The 

wells are so situated as to be free from pollution and are to be preferred to the private wells, especially the shallow open wells in the 

limestone and shale. Additional data regarding the supply will be 

found on page 52. 

1 Conditions In 1906. 
WARREN COUNTY. 171 

WATER PROSPECTS. 

The underground-water conditions in the towns and villages of 

Warren County are indicated in the table below : 

Underground water conditions in Warren County. 

Surface deposits. 

Town. 

Thick· Water Material. ness. supply. 

Feet. 

Rock nearest surfaoe. 

Rock formations. 

Water-bearing rocks. 

Blackhawk ...... Till........... 15 Moderate. Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. Blue Ball ............. do........ 15 .. do ........... do ................ do .......... .. Butlerville ............ do........ 15 ... do ........... do ................ do .......... .. Camargo .............. do........ 15 ... do ............ do ................ do .......... .. 

g:u~~~~!~~~: -~~~J~~~::::: """65+ -~ ~~::~::: :::::~~::::::::::: :::::~~:::::::::::: Corwin ................ do........ 30+ ... do ........... do ................ do .......... . Cozzadale.. .. .. .. TilL .. .. .. .. .. 15 Moderate. 

Dodds ................ do........ 15 ... do ........... do ................ do .......... . Edwardsville .......... do........ 25 ... do ............ do ................ do .......... .. 

~~~e~~c-i~~:::::: 1:lfY~i~'fu;;,;· :::::::: _ ~~~~::'~:::: :: ::~~::: :::::::: :::::~~:::: :::::::: talus. 

Franklin ......... Alluvium ..... 40-120+ Fair ........... do ................ do .......... .. Harveysburg ..... Till,moraine.. 25 Moderate ....... do ................ do .......... . Hopkinsville ..... TilL.......... 18 Very small ...... do ............... do ........ . Kings Mills ........... do........ 20 Plenty ......... do ............... do ......... . Lebanon ......... Till, alluvium. 50+ Moderate ...... do ................ do ........ : .. 

t:~~~~~~~~:~~::: ~i~e~~~:~~~::: ~g :::~~:: :::: : ::::~~:::: ::::::: ::: ::~~:::: :::::::-

Lytle ................. do........ 10 Small ..... "Clinton"(?) .. :. "Clinton"(?) .... . 

Maineville ....... Alluvium ............. Moderate .. Richmond and Richmond and 

Maysville. Maysville. 

~~~gis"to:wn::::: ~ill·.~~~~i-~~:: 1g :::~g: ::::: :::::~g::: :::::::: : ::::~g::: ::::::::: ~~~~~-o~~::.:::: ·A:1ii~~il;n::::~ ----~~-- -~~~~::~::: :::::~g: :::::::::: ::: ::~~::: ::::::::: 

Mount Holly .......... do ................... do ........... do ................ do .......... .. Murdoch ......... TilL.... ..... 25 Moderate ...... do ................ do .......... .. 

g~~~~ia::::::::: -~~~J~~~::::: ""25+ -~~~~::~::: :::::~g::::::::::: :::::~g:::::::::::: Pekin ............ Till........... 15 Fair ............ do ................ do .......... .. 

~~-;r~r;:~~::: :::::~~:::::::: ----~~-- ii~~;laie·: :::::~~::::::::::: :::::~~:::::::::::: 

~~~~:.:::.:::: :::::~g:::::::: ~~ -i~:::::: :::::~g::::::::::: :::::~~:::::::::::: Rossburg ............. do........ 15 ... do ........... do ................ do .......... .. Socialville ........ Moraine, till... 20 Moderate ...... do ................ do .......... .. 

~~!~~~:~~: -~I!~Z~~::::: .... ff i~~~~:::: :::JL::::::::: :::JL:::::::::: 

Stand. 

Union ............ Till,alluvium. Deep. Plenty ........ do ........ ::.:::::~~:::::::::::: 

~:fi::,e::~~le_._·_: :: *Itf~i-u~::::: .... 2o" : ::~~::: ::: :: :::~~:: ::::: ......... do .......... .. Zoar ................... do........ 30 Moderate ...... do ................ do .......... .. 

Water 

supply. 

Small. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Usually 

plenty. 

Small. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

By R. B. DoLE. 

INTRODUCTION. 

The purpose of the following discussion is to suggest standards 

that may assist intelligent study of the analytical data and may 

show the broad general relations with respect to quality between the 

wells and other sources of supply in southwestern Ohio and in other 

regions. The methods of testing the waters are briefly outlined, the 

chief uses of water reviewed, and the qualities peculiar to waters of 

each class discussed. In conclusion a brief summary of the general 

characteristics of the waters of the area is presented.. Discussion of 

individual waters is not attempted, the interest in these being too 

local to merit space here. 

ANALYTICAL RESULTS. 

Many analyses quoted in the succeeding pages were made by industrial chemists, chiefly to determine the value of the waters as sources 

of railroad supply. Such estimates are usually made in accordance 

with accepted procedures for industrial work and the results are sufficiently accurate for most purposes. These analyses, originally stated 

in hypothetical combinations in grains per gallon, have been recomputed to ionic form in parts per million in order that they may be 

compared with other analyses. 

The analyses by Dole and Roberts were made in a special !laboratory of the United States Geological Survey in accordance with 

the methods outlined in Water-Supply Paper 236, pages 9 to 26, 

inclusive. The probable accuracy of the methods and their sources 

of error are discussed in the same publication. The samples of water 

:for these tests were collected in 1-gallon glass-stoppered bottles supplied to the field force from the laboratories, and the waters were 

examined as soon as practicable after collection. · 

Field assays of water by Parker and Evans, reported in the table 

of analyses, were made in accordance with the methods outlined in 

172 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 173 

Water-Supply Paper 151, and though only a few estimates were made 

for each water they furnish some additional information concerning 

the quality. 

The results of the analyses in this paper are stated in parts per 

million, and though the amounts of water used for ·examination were 

measured by volume the mineral content is generally so low t},lat the 

figures may be considered to represent parts per million by weight. 

Simplicity of computation, avoidance of fractions, and certainty of 

the basic unit make this decimal system especially satisfactory for 

practical purposes. Expression of the results of water analyses in 

parts per million has been generally adopted by sanitary and research 

chemists and by many technical chemists, and the e...~clusive employment of this unit industrially is delayed only by more or less objectionable precedent. 

For the convenience of those who may desire to transform the 

results to other forms of expression it may be stated that multiplying 

the number of parts per million by 0.0'58 gives the equivalent in grains 

per United States gallon of 231 cubic inches; multiplying it by 0.07 

gives the equivalent in grains per imper:ial gallon; and multiplying it 

by 0.00833 gives the equivalent in pounds per thousand gallons. 

The analytical methods commonly employed in examining water 

permit the estimation of the elements and radicles present, the determination of the total amount of mineral matter in solution, and 

the more or les.'3 approximate separation of the incrusting from the 

nonincrusting constituents. Further than this, however, ordinary 

chemical tests give little knowledge regarding the chemical composition of mineral waters, and consequently the exact amounts of the 

different salts in solution are largely conjectural. Though such salts 

as sodium chloride, potassium carbonate, and magnesium sulphate 

are probably present, they are not determined as such, and their 

exact amounts can not be computed from the analytical data. The 

ionic form of stating the analyses-that is, stating the radicles present-has been adopted in this report because it gives fact and not 

opinion. The form is entirely practical and presents the actual results for the consideration and criticism of persons other than those 

making the tests. 

WATERS IN GENERAL. 

MINERAL CONSTITUENTS OF WATER. 

All natural waters contain dissolved or suspended in them more 

or less of all materials with which they have come into contact. Such 

materials are taken up in amounts determined principally by their 

chemical composition and physical structure, by the temperature, 

pressure, and duration of contact, and by the condition of substances 
17 4 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

that have previously been incorporated in the water. To designate 

such suspended and dissolved matter as "impurities" is hardly correct, because they are introduced normally-in strict accordance with 

natural conditions and not necessarily by human agency. It has 

become customary, however, to call such substances impurities when 

they are detrimental or injurious in some proposed use of a water 

supply. For purposes of examination the substances that may be 

present are classified as suspended matter, such as particles of clay 

or leaves; dissolved matter, either of mineral or organic origin; 

microscopic animals or plants; and bacteria. The presence or absence of very small animals and plants likely to affect the quality of 

waters is determined by microscopic examination, and the chance of 

contracting disease by drinking the water is ascertained by bacteriological processes. The amount and the nature of the mineral 

ingredients are usually determined by estimating total suspended 

matter, total dissolved matter, total hardness, total alkalinity, silica, 

iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, carbonates, 

bicarbonates, sulphates, nitrates, chlorides, free carbonic ~cid, and 

free hydrogen sulphide. These estimates measure the materials 

most commonly present and most likely to affect the value of the 

waters. Articles describing the methods employed in making these 

estimates have already been cited (p. 172). 

In judging the value of a water from the data afforded by analysis 

it is necessary to consider the supply both in relation to the use to 

which it is to be put and in its relation to other available supplies. 

Besides being used for drinking and for general domestic . purposes, 

water is essential in steam making, paper making, starch manufacture, and many other industrial processes. The medicinal properties 

of the dissolved minerals are supposed to give many waters special 

significance. For each of these applicatio;ns the amounts of certain 

ingredients in the water determine its value and assist in its classification. For example, considerable iron in a water may be harmful 

in one industrial process and harmless in another. The value of a 

water for another process may be directly measurable by the amount 

of suspended matter, the amount of dissolved matter not being significant. Furthermore, many waters that are considered of great 

medicinal value are unfit for boiler use. 

To catalogue waters as good or bad, hard or soft, pure or impure, 

is indefinite and may be misleading. Absolutely pure water (H20) 

does not exist in natUI~f:l, and, as stated before, a water should not be 

called impure when it .contains only substances derived by natural 

means from natural sources. The arithmetical values of terms ordinarily employed to describe the quality of water, like those of many 

other words, are variable and largely dependent on local usage. In 

New England, :for instance, water to be considered soft must have 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 175 

much less than 100 parts per million of total hardness, and water 

containing 30 or 40 parts of sulphates would not be used. In southwestern Ohio, however, it would be difficult to find a well waterwith 

total hardness less than 100 parts per million, yet many well waters 

in that region are called soft, and many waters containing 30 to 40 

parts of sulphates are used in boilers without occasioning much comment. This example illustrates the uncertain significance of general 

descriptive words in cla<;sifying waters and emphasizes the advisability of knowing the intended use of a water and the composition of 

other available supplies before pronouncing judgment on its quality. 

WATER FOR DOMESTIC USE. 

PHYSICAL QUALITIES. 

Suspended mineral matter clogs pipes, valves, and faucets, and 

growths of microscopic plants suspended in water commonly cause 

stains in clothes and bad odors. The red or reddish~brown masses 

of suspended matter sometimes occurring in well waters of this region are usually growths of Orenothrix, which is described by 

Whipple 1 as a small filamentous plant having a gelatinous sheath 

colored by a deposit of ferric oxide. It grows especially in ground 

waters containing considerable iron, forming tufts or layers in water 

pipes and well casings and sometimes clogging them. Detached particles escaping through faucets give the water an unsightly appearance and cause rusty stains on clothes washed in it. So far as is 

known, Orenothrix in drinking water does not cause disease. 

True color in water is usually due to dissolved vegetable matter 

and causes serious objection a~ong consumers only when it exceeds 

20 or 30 parts per million. 

In general the well waters of this area are satisfactory in respect 

to suspended mineral matter and color. In some places finely divided 

material from quicksands enters driven wells, but such trouble is 

not nearly so serious as in some other parts of the country. A few of 

the waters, especially those containing iron, develop a turbidity of 

10 to 30 parts per million on exposure to the air, owing to the precipitation of dissolved matter, which gives rise to an apparent 

though not a real color. Most of the color recorded in analyses of 

these well waters is due to this cause, and true colors are so low as to 

be insignificant. Odors may be due to several causes. An odor like 

that of rotten eggs, encountered in many waters in the oil belt, is 

due to free hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Growths of microscopic 

organisms in tanks and water mains often have unpleasant odors 

that make the water objectionable. Perfectly acceptable drinking 

supplies are free from color, odor, taste, and turbidity. 

1 Whipple, G. C., The microscopy of drinking water, New York, 1899, p. 144. 
176 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITIES. 

Before a water is used for domestic purposes it should be reasonably certain that it is free from disease-bearing organisms, and since 

present bacteriological technique does not permit positive statement 

regarding the presence or absence of such organisms, it is advisable 

to guard supplies against all chances of infection. The disease germs 

most commonly carried by water are those of typhoid fever. The 

bacilli enter the supply from some spot infected by the discharges of 

a person sick with this disease, and, though comparatively short 

lived in water, they persist in fecal deposits and retain their power of 

infection for remarkable lengths of time. Consequently, wells should 

be so located that their waters are guarded against the entrance of 

filth of any kind, either over the top or by infiltration. Pumps and 

piping should also be protected. Water from a carefully cased well 

more than 20 or 30 feet deep is acceptable if the well is located according to reasonable judgment in regard to privies, cesspools, and 

other sources of pollution. Many open dug wells and many pits constructed as reservoirs around the tops of casings are exposed to fecal 

contamination from above or through cracks in poorly built side 

walls. Care should be taken that the casings of deep wells do not 

become leaky near the surface of the ground so as to allow pollution 

to enter. As a matter of ordinary precaution the ground should be 

kept clean and water should not be allowed to become foul or stagnant near any well, no matter how deep. If shallow dug wells are 

necessary, they should be constructed with water-tight casings extending as far as practicable into the well and also a short distance 

above ground. The floor, or curbir,tg, should be water-tight and 

pumps should be used in preference to buckets for raising the water. 

Every possible precaution should be taken to prevent feet scrapings and similar dirt from getting into the water by way of the top 

of the well. Underground water is not only less likely to become contaminated if protected from surface washings, air, and light, but it 

keeps better and is less likely to develop microscopic plants that give 

it an unpleasant taste. 

CHEMICAL QUALITIES. 

· Amounts of dissolved substances permissible in a domestic supply 

depend much on their nature. No more than traces of barium, 

copper, zinc, or lead should be present, because these substances are 

poisonous. The occurrence of these elements in measurable amounts 

in ordinary well waters is so rare that tests for them are not usually 

made. Any constituent present in sufficient amount to be clearly 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 177 

perceptible to the taste is objectionable. Water containing two parts 

per million of iron is unpalatable to many people, and even this small 

amount can cause trouble by discoloring washbowls and tubs and by 

producing rusty stains on <tlothes. Tea or coffee • can not be made 

satisfactorily with water containing much iron, because a black, inky 

compound is formed. Four or five parts of hydrogen sulphide make 

a water unpleasant to the taste, and this dissolved gas is objectionable 

also because it corrodes well strainers and other metal fittings. The 

amounts of silica and aluminum ordinarily present in well waters 

have no special significance in relation to domestic supply. The 

alkalies, sodium and potassium, are high in most Ohio waters in 

which chlorides are high. · 

Approximately 250 parts of chlorides make a water taste " salty " 

and less than that amount causes corrosion. In regions where the 

chloride content runs as low as 5 or 10 parts in normal waters unaffected by animal pollution the amount of chlorides is frequently 

taken as a measure of contamination. But such practice in southwestern Ohio is out of the question because ( 1) the normal chloride 

content in most of the well waters is so high that the small changes 

possibly caused by animal pollution are insignificant and (2) because wells near together and free from contamination may differ 200 

or 300 per cent in their content of chlorides, owing to difference in 

the composition of the materials from which they draw their respective supplies. Therefore the establishment of isochlors, or lines 

of equal chlorine, in this area would be of no value whatever to the 

sanitarian. 

Calcium and magnesium are the chief causes of what is known as 

the hardness of water. This undesirable quality is indicated by increased soap consumption and by deposition on kettles of scale composed almost entirely of calcium, magnesium, carbonates, and sui-

. phates. Calcium and magnesium unite with soap, forming insoluble 

curdy compounds with no cleansing value and preventing the formation of a lather until all of these two basic rad!cles has been precipitated. Hardness is measured by the soap-consuming capacity of a 

water expressed as an equivalent of calcium caroonate (CaC08 ), 

and it can be computed from the amounts of calcium and magnesium 

in a water or can be determined by actual testing with standard soap 

solution. The use of soda ash· (sodium carbonate) to" break" hard 

waters or to precipitate the calcium and magnesium is common and 

effects a saving in the amount of soap. Some large cities in other 

States have found it advisable to soften their public water supplies 

instead of leaving that task to the individual consumer. 

49130" -WSP 259-12--12 
178 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

WATP FOB BQ~LJ!l& l]SE. 

FORMATION OF SO.ALE. 

The most conmion trouble caused in '!>oilers by the mineral constituents of natural waters is form~tion of scale or deposition of 

Illineral matter within the boiler shell. When water is heated under 

pressure and concentrated by evaporation, ~ in a steam boiler, certain substances go out of solution and solidify on the flues and 

crown sheets or within the tubes. These deposits increase fuel consumption, because they -are poor conductors of heat, and they also 

increase the cost of boiler repairs and attendance, because they have 

to be removed. If the amount of scale is great or if it is allowed 

to accumulate, the boiler capacity is decreased and disastrous explosions are likely to occur. In two years the inspectors for one insurance company 1 found more than 86,000 boilers, or- nearly one-fifth 

of all those examined, to be defective on account of sediment, incrustation, and scale. 

The scale or incrustation consists of the substances that are insoluble in the feed water or become so within the boiler under conditions 

of ordinary operation. It includes practically all the suspended 

matter or mud; the silica, probably precipitated as the oxide (Si02 ); 

the iron and aluminum, appearing in the scale as oxides or hydrated 

oxides; the calcium, precipitated in the form of carbonate and sulphate; and the magnesium, found in the deposits principally as the 

oxide but partly as the carbonate. The scale constituted by these 

substances is therefore a mixture of compounds, wliich varies in 

amount, density, hardness, and composition with different conditions 

of water supply, steam pressure, type of boiler, and other circumstances. Calcium and magnesium are the principal basic substances 

in.the scale, over 90 per cent of which usually is calcium, magnesium, 

carbonates, and sulphates. If much organic matter is present part 

of it is precipitated with the mineral scale, as the organic matter is 

decomposed by heat or by reaction with other substances. If magnesium and sulphates are comparatively low or if suspended matter 

is comparatively high the scale is soft and bulky and may be in the 

form of sludge that can be blown or washed from the boiler. On 

the other hand, a clear water relatively high in..magnesium and sulphates may produce a hard, compact scale that is nearly as dense 

as porcelain, . cltngs to the tubes, and offers great resistance to the 

transmission of heat. Therefore the value of a water for boiler use 

depends not only on the. quantity of scale produced by it, but also 

on the physical structure of the scale. 

1 The Locomotive (Hartford), new ser., vol. 21, 1900, p. 29; vol. 22, 1,.901, p. 21. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 179 

CORROSION. 

Corrosion or " pitting" is caused chiefly by the solvent action of 

acids on the iron of the boiler. Free acids capable of dissolving iron 

occur in some natural waters, especially in the drainage from coal 

mines, which usually contains free sulphuric acid, and also in some 

factory wastes draining into streams. Many ground waters contain 

free hydrogen sulphide, a gas that readily attacks boilers; dissolved 

oxygen and free carbon dioxide also are cor:rosive. Organic matter is 

probably a source of acids, for it is well known that waters high in 

organic matter and low in calcium and magnesium are corrosive, 

though the exact nature and action of the organic bodies are not understood. Acids freed in the boiler by the deposition of basic radicles as 

hydrates are the most important cause of corrosive action. Iron, 

aluminum, and magnesium are precipitated as hydrates that are 

later partly or completely converted into oxides. According to the 

chemical composition of the water the acid radicles that were in 

equilibrium with these bases may pass into equilibrium with other 

bases, displacing equivalent proportions of weaker acids, or they may 

decompose carbonates that have been precipitated as scale, or they 

may combine with the iron of the boiler shell, thus causing corrosion; 

or they may do all these. If these acids exceed the amount required 

to decompose the carbonate and bicarbonate radicles present the iron 

of the boiler is attacked and the results are pits or tuberculations of 

the interior surface, leaks, particularly around rivets, and consequent 

deterioration of the boiler. 

FOAMING. 

Foaming is the formation of masses of bubbles on the surface of 

the water in the boiler and in the steam space above the water, 

and it is intimately connected with priming, which is the passage 

from the boiler of water mixed with steam. Foaming results when 

anything prevents the free escape of steam from the water. It 

may be due to particles of suspended matter, but the principal cause 

is usually an excess of dissolved substances that increases the surface 

tension of the liquid and thereby reduces the readiness with which 

the steam bubbles break. Therefore the tendency of a water to foam 

varies inversely with the concentration it will undergo before developing an excessive surface tension. As the sodium and potassium 

salts remain dissolved in the boiler water while the greater portion of 

the other substances is precipitated, the foaming tendency is commonly measured by the degree of concentration of the alkaline salts 

in solution, because this figure, considered in connection with the type 

of boiler, determines the length of time that a boiler may run with-· 

out •danger of foaming. 
180 UNnEBGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

REMEDIES FOR BOILER TROUBLES. 

The best remedy for troubles caused by substances in feed waters is 

treatment of supplies before they enter boilers. (See p. 195.) When 

such treatment ~n not be given there are various ways of reducing 

potential injury. Low:pressure, large-flue boilers are used with hard 

waters in many stationary plants in the central States and it is 

said that the scale formed in them is softer and more flocculent and 

can therefo~e be n;tore readily removed than that in high-pressure 

boilers. J3lowing off is about the only practical means of preventing 

foaming, because this trouble is due principally to concentration of 

soluble salts in the residual . water of I the bOilers. Accumulated 

sludge, or soft scale, can be removed oy blowing, particularly in 

locomotive practice. In condensing systems much of the trouble due 

to mineral matter in the feed wat.er is obviated because the quantity 

of raw water supplied is proportionately small. The problem is not 

completely solved in such systems, because the incrusting or ·coiTosive action is transferred from the boiler to the condenser, which 

requires more or less cleaning and repairing in proportion to the 

undesirable qualities of the water supply. 

BOILER COMPOUNDS. 

Boiler compounds are widely used in regions where hard waters 

abound, but treatment within the boiler should be given only when it 

is impossible to purify the supply before it .enters the boiler. If previous purification is not practicable many feed waters can be improved by judicious addition of chemicals. Many substances, ranging from flour, oatmeal, and sliced potatoes to barium and chromium salts, have been recommended for such use, but only two or 

thry1e have proved to be truly economical. Cary 1 has classified these 

substances according to their action within the boiler. Thos.e that 

attack chemically the scaling and corroding constituents precipitate 

the incrusting matter and neutralize the acids. Soda ash, the commercial form of sodium carbonate, containing about 95 per cent 

Na2 C08 , is the most valuable substance of this character, because it is 

cheap and its use is attended with the least objectionable results. 

Tannin and tannin compounds aryl also used for the same purpose. 

Palmer 2 mentions the use of limewater to prevent corrosion and to 

obviate foaming, and it is probable that waters high in organic matter and very low in incrustants would be improved by such treatment. When soda ash is used it neutralizes free acids and prevents 

• Cary, A. A., The u.se of boiler compounds : Am. Machinist, vol. 22, pt. 2, 1899, p. 1153. 

• Palmer, Chase, Quality of the underground waters in the Blue Grass region of Kentucky; Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 233, 1909, p. ,187. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 181 

the precipitation of calcium sulphate by causing the precipitation of 

calcium carbonate. At the same time the sodium cont.ent of the feed 

is increased in proportion to the amount of soda ash added. The 

proper amount to be used depends on the chemical composition of 

each water and the style of. the boiler. Cary's second class of boiler 

compounds comprises those that act mechanically on the precipitated crystals of scale-making matter soon after they are formed, surrounding th.em and robbing them of their cement-like action. Glu- · 

tinous, starchy, and oily substances belong to this class, but they are 

not now used to any considerable extent, because they thicken and 

foul the water more than they prevent the formation of hard scale. 

The third class comprises compounds that act mechanically, like those 

of the second class, and also partly dissolve deposited scale, thus 

loosening it and aiding in its ready removal. K.erosene is the most 

effective of such materials. 

Many boiler compounds possessing or supposed to possess one or 

more of the functions just described are on the market, and are widely 

sold. Some are effective and some are positively injurious. Most 

of them depend for their chief action on soda ash, petroleum, or a 

vegetable extract, but all are costly compared with lime and soda 

ash. It can readily be understood that boiler compounds can not in 

any manner reduce the total" amount of scale, but may increase it. 

Their only legitimate functions are to prevent deposition of hard 

scale and to remove accumulations of scale that have become attached to the boiler. Every engineer should bear in. mind that a 

steam boiler is an expensiv.e piece of apparatus and that fuel and 

boiler repairs also are expensive. Therefore he should hesitate to 

add substances to his feed water without competent advice regarding their effect. It is far more economical to have the water supply 

analyzed and to treat it effectively by well-known chemicals in proper 

proportion, either within or without the boiler, than to experiment 

with compounds of unknown composition. 

CLASSIFICATION OF BOILER WATERS. 

Stabler 1 in his excellent mathematical discussion of the quality 

of waters with reference to industrial uses gives several formulas by 

which waters may be classified. His methods of calculating the 

amount and the character of scale likely to result from use of a 

water are given in slightly altered form: 

A=Sm+Cm+1.3Fe+1.9Al+1.66Mg+2.95Ca. 

1 Eng. News, vol. 60, 1908, p. 355; also Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 

274, 1911, p. 165. 
182 UNDERGROUND WATERS O:ll' SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

A, Sm, Om, Fe, Al,,Mg, and Ca represent, respectively, the amounts 

in parts per million of scale, suspended matter, colloidal matter 

(silica plus oxides of iron and aluminum), iron, aluminum, magnesium, and calcium in the water. In this formula Ca should not exceed 

.668C03+.328HC03+.417S04 , in which C03 , HC03 , and 804 represent, respectively, the amounts in parts per million of the carbonate, 

bicarbonate, and sulphate radicles in the water. It is uncertain in 

some waters whether iron and aluminum are in solution or in colloidal 

state, but in applying these formulas to Ohio ground waters little 

error is introduced by assuming that Cm equals silica only. If it is 

desired to compute the scale-forming ingredients of waters whose 

analyses in this report give no values for silica, iron, or aluminum, 

Cm may be taken as 20 and Fe and AI as zero without introducing 

great error. In clear waters Sm would of course be zero; consequently for most Ohio ground w~ters the amount of scale may be 

estimated practically from the figures representing silica, calcium, 

and magnesium. 

In the following Stabler formula B represents the amount of hard 

8cale in parts per million; Si02 , Mg, Cl, So4 , N a, and K represent 

the respective amounts in parts per million of silica, magnesium, 

chlorides, sulphates, sodium, and potassium. If the alkalies are not 

separated, the figure representing sodium and postassium together 

and computed as sodium may be used with the N a coefficient in place 

of the last two terms of these formulas. 

B=Si02+ 1.66Mg+L92Cl +1.4280 4 -2.95N a-1. 7 4K. 

The ratio between the amount of hard scale and the total amount 

of scale is an index of the probable hardness of the scale; if the 

computed quantity of hard scale constitutes one-half or more of the 

total scale the scale may be considered hard; if the hard scale is less 

than one-fourth of the total the scale would be soft; and if B divided 

by A is between one-fourth and one-half, the scale may be classified 

as medium. For other formulas and comments on those quoted the 

original article should be consulted. 

The committee on water service of the American Railway Engineers and Maintenance of Way Association have offered a classification of waters in their raw state that may be employed for approximate purposes, but, as the report states, " it is difficult to define by 

analysis sharply the line between good and bad water for steammaking purposes." The following table gives this classification with 

the amounts transformed to parts per million. In many Ohio waters 

the total incrusting and corrosive constituents are equivalent approximately to total solids. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 183 

Appromimate classijicatwn of waters for boiler use according to proportion of 

incrusting, toamfng, and corroding constituents. 

Incrusting and corrodlng constltu- entsa (parts per million). Foaming constituents b {parts per million). 

More Not more Classiflca- More Not more Classiflcathan- than- tion. than- than- tlon. 

··-----· 90 Good. ·--------··· 150 Good. 90 200 Fair. 150 250 Fair. 200 430 Poor. 250 400 Bad. 430 680 Bad. 400 ----------·- Very bad. 680 -------- Very bad. 

I 

a Proc. Am. Ry. Eng. and Maintenance of Way Assoc., vol. 5, 1904, p. 595. • Idem, vol. 9, 1908, p. 134. 

These limits must be interpreted liberally in practice, because they 

are modified by the comparative hardness of the incrustation and the 

comparative extent of corrosion effected by waters of the same mineral content but of different chemical composition. Very hard 

waters may be improved by treatment in softening plants. How 

bad a water may be used without treatment depends on the cost of 

artificially softening the water and the amount saved by the use of 

the softened water. A report 1 of the committee on water service 

just quoted describes the principles on which such calculations should 

be based. In_ general, it is economical in locomotive service to treat 

waters containing 250 to 850 parts per million of incrustants and 

those containing less than the lower amount if the scale contains much 

sulphates. 2 As the incrusting solids may commonly be reduced to 

80 or 90 parts per million, the economy of treating boiler waters deserves consideration in a region where most of the supplies contain 

300 to 500 parts per million of incrusting and corrosive matter. Tha 

amount of mineral matter that makes a water unfit for boiler use 

depends on the combined effect in boilers of the softening reagents 

used with such waters and of the constituents not removed by softening. Sodium salts added to remove incrustants or to prevent corrosion increase the foaming tendency, and this increase may be great 

enough to render a water useless for steaming. It is not of much 

benefit to soften a water containing more than 850 parts per million 

of nonincrusting material and much incrusting sulphates. 2 Though 

waters containing as high as 1,700 parts per million of foaming constituents have been used, it is usually more economical to incur considerable expense in replacing such supplies by better ones. 

These numerical standards are only roughly approximate, and they 

should be interpreted liberally in practice. The value of natural 

waters for boiler use depends primarily on their corroding and foami Proc. Am. Ry. Eng. and Maintenance of Way Assoc., voL Iii, 1907, p. 601. 

• Idem, vol. 6, 1905, p. 610. 
184 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

ing tendencies and on the amount and character of scale likely to be 

deposited by them, but this value should always be considered in connection with local standards, for no matter how low a water may be 

in undesirable constituents it can not be classed as good if it is poorer 

in quality than the average water of the region in which it occurs. 

On the other hand, if the best available supply is poor the economy 

of purifying it, even at large expense, is obvious. 

WATER FOR MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIAL USES. 

GENERAL REQUISITES. 

The manufacture of many articles is affected by the ingredients of 

natural waters. The quality of water for boiler service has already 

been discussed; with reference to factories it need only be added that 

increase of boiler efficiency often 'justifies purification of poor water 

when increased value· of the manufactured product alone may not be 

considered to do so. This observation applies particularly to paper, 

pulp, and strawboard mills, laundries, and other establishments 

where large quantities of water are evaporated to furnish steam for 

drying, and to ice factories and similar plants where distilled water is 

produced. But besides its use for steam making water plays a specific 

part in many manufacturing processes. In paper mills, strawboard 

mills, bleacheries, dye works, pickle factories, creameries, slaughterhouses, packing houses, nitroglycerin factories, distilleries, breweries, 

woolen mills, starch works, sugar works, canneries, glue factories, soap 

factories, and chemical works water becomes a part of the product or 

is essential in its manufacture. As the principal function of water 

in most of these establishments is that of a cleansing agent or a 

.vehicle for other substances, a supply free from color, odor, suspended 

matter, microscopic organisms, and especially bacteria of fecal origin, 

and fairly low in dissolved substances, especially iron, is generally satisfactory; but there are some exceptions. Water hygienically acceptable is necessary where it comes into contact with or forms part of 

food materials, as in the making of beverages and dairy or meat 

products. As all these ideal c~nditions are found in but few natural 

supplies, the manufacturer-is confronted with the problems of ascer-, 

taining what degree of freedom from these substances is necessary to 

prevent injury to his machinery or to his output and whether the 

cost of obtaining such purity is counterbalanced by decreased cost of 

production and increased value of product. 

The effects in some industries of the substances most commonly 

found in water are here outlined, the object being to offer approximate 

standards to aid in classification. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 185 

FREE ACIDS. 

Free mineral acids, such as the sulphuric acid in drainage from 

coal mines, or the hydrochloric acid in the effi.uents of some industrial 

establishments, are especially injurious and nearly always necessitate 

purification of the water. In paper mills, cotton mills, bleacheries, 

and dye works acids decompose chemicals and streak the fabrics besides rotting them. They also corrode metal work, rapidly destroying 

screens, strainers, and pipes. Such effects are likely to follow the use 

of water that contains a measurable amount of free mineral acid. 

SUSPENDED MATTER. 

Suspended matter in surface waters may be of vegetable, mineral, 

or animal origin, as it consists of particles of sewage, bits of leaves, 

sawdust, sticks, sand, and clay. The silt so common in rivers of the 

West is largely derived from sand and clay. Few well waters contain 

suspended animal or vegetable matter, but many carry finely divided 

sand and clay and many become turbid by precipitation of dissolved 

ingredients. Suspended matter is objectionable in all processes in 

which water is used for washing or comes into contact with food 

materials, because it is likely to stain or spot the product. Suspended 

matter due to precipitated iron is especially injurious even in small 

amount on that account. Suspended vegetable or animal matter 

liable to decomposition or to par1;ial solution is much more objectionable, even in small amounts (10 to 20 parts per million), than are 

equal quantities of mineral matter. For these reasons water should 

be freed from suspended matter before being used for laundering, 

bleaching, wool scouring, paper making, dyeing, starch making, sugar 

'making, brewing, distilling, and similar processes. In making the 

coarser grades of paper, such as strawboard, a small amount of 

suspended matter is not especially injurious, but for the finer white 

and colored varieties clear water is essential. 

COLOR. 

Color in water is due principally to solution of vegetable matter, 

and materials bleached, washed, or dyed light shades in colored 

water are likely to become tinged. Highly colored waters can be 

used in making wrapping or dark-tinted papers but not the white 

grades, and paper manufacturers are put to great expense for water 

purification on that account. The lower waters are in color, therefore, the more desirable they are for use in bleacheries, dye works, 

paper mills, and other factories where brown tints are undesirable. 
186 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. , 

IRON. 

Iron is the most undesirable dissolved constituent, comparatively 

small quantities of it necessitating purification. Many ground waters 

contain 1 to 20 parts per million of iron, which may be precipitated 

by exposure to the air and by release of hydrostatic pressure, causing 

the waters to become turbid; many such waters develop growths of 

Crenothrix (see p. 175) that may interfere with industrial operations. 

In all cleansing processes, especially if soap or alkali is used, precipitated iron is likely to cause rusty or dull spots. In contact with materials containing tannin compounds iron forms greenish or black 

substances that discolor the product. Therefore many waters containing amounts even as small as 1 or 2 parts per million of iron 

have to be purified before they can be used industrially. In water 

for dye works iron is especially objectionable and commonly prevents the use of the water without purification.1 Iron in the water 

supply of paper mills may be precipitated on the pulp, giving a 

brown color, or during sizing or tinting, giving spotty effects. Water 

containing much iron can not be used in bleaching fabrics, because 

salts that spot the goods are formed. The dark-colored compounds 

that iron forms with tannin discolor hides in tanning a:rid barley in 

malting, and also give beer bad color, odor, and taste.2 

CALCIU:i\f AND MAGNESIUM. 

Calcium and magnesium are similar in their industrial effects. In 

amount they bear a more or less definite relation to each other, most 

waters carrying 10 to 50 per cent as much magnesium as calcium. 

Both are precipitated on whatever is boiled in water containing them, 

forming a deposit that may interfere with later operations. As they 

decompose equivalent amounts of many chemicals employed in technical operations they are a cause of waste. Moreover, the alkalineearth compounds thus formed on fabrics interfere with later treatment. For instance, some of the chemicals used to disintegrate the 

fibers in making pulp are consumed by the calcium and magnesium in 

the water supply, though the loss from this source is not nearly so great 

as that occurring later when the resin soap used in sizing the paper 

is decomposed by the calcium and magnesium. The insoluble soaps 

thus created do not fix themselves on the fibers, but form clots and 

streaks. Similar decomposition of valuable cleansing materials and 

subsequent deposition of insoluble compounds take place in laundering, wool scouring, and similar processes. In the manufacture of 

soap calcium and magnesium form with the fatty acids curdy precipitates that are insoluble in water and therefore have no cleansing 

1 Sadtler, S. P., A handbook of Industrial organic chemistry, Philadelphia, 1900, p. 483. 2 De In Coux, M. A. J., L'eau dans l'lndustrle, Paris, 1900, pp. 187 and 232. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 187 

value. Many dyeing operations are interfered with by calcium and 

magnesium, which neutralize chemicals and change the reaction of 

the baths besides forming insoluble compounds with many dyes. 

Highly calcareous waters can not be used for boiling the grain in 

distilleries because proper action is hindered by the deposition of 

alkaline-earth salts on the particles of grain, nor for diluting spirits 

because they cause, turbidity.1 Very soft water, on the other hand, 

is said to be undesirable in paper mills for loading papers with any 

form of calcium sulphate, because such waters dissolve part of the 

loading materials! Probably waters high in chlorides would also be 

bad for this purpose, because chlorides increase the solubility of calcium sulphate. 

CARBONATES. 

The effects of carbonates and bicarbonates in waters used in industrial p:FOcesses are not differentiated in this paragraph. It is not uncommon to estimate the combined carbonic acid and to state it as the 

carbonate (C03 ) without distinguishing between the carbonate (C03 ) 

and bicarbonate (HC03 ), though in many natural waters the carbo-

'nate radicle is absent and the combined carbonic acid is present in 

the form of bicarbonates. If hard waters proportionately high in 

carbonates and low in sulphates are boiled the bicarbonate radicle is 

decomposed, free carbonic acid is given off, and the greater part of 

the calcium and magnesium is precipitated. For this reason waters 

of that character are generally more desirable for industrial operations than waters high in sulphates and low in carbonates, as boiling 

does not greatly reduce the amount of the hardening constituents 

under the latter conditions. In beer making waters high in corbonates are said to produce dark-colored beers with a pronounced malt 

flavor because the carbonates increase the solubility of the nitrog~ 

enous bodies, whereas water high in suphates yield pale beers with 

a definite hop flavor because the sulphates reduce the solubility of the 

malt and the coloring matters.3 

SULPHATES. 

The influence of sulphates in beer making has been noted. Hard 

waters with sulphates predominating are desirable in tanning heavy 

hides because they swell the skins, exposing more surface for the 

action of the tan liquors. 4 Sulphates interfere with cryst:tllization 

in sugar making by increasing the amount of sugar retained in the 

mother liquor. 

'De Ia Coux, M. A. J., op. cit., p. 251. 

• Cross, C. F., and Bevan, E. J., A textbook of paper making, New York, 1900, p. 294. 3 Brewing water, its defects and remedies, American Burtonizing Co., New York, 1909, 

p. 19. Also De Ia Coux, op. cit., p. 169. 

• Parker, H. N., and others, The Potomac River basin: Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. 

Survey No. 192, 1907, p. 194. 

• 
• 

188 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

CHLORIDES. 

High chlorides in the waters of southwestern Ohio are usually 

accompanied by high alkalies. Appreciable amounts of chlorides are 

injurious in many industrial processes, and this is particularly unfortunate, as no practicable way of removing or reducing this radicle 

except by distillation has been discovered. Beverages and food products, of course, can not be treated with waters very high in chlorides 

without becoming salty. In tanning, chlorides cause the hides to 

become thin and flabby. 1 Animal charcoal used in clarifying sugar 

is robbed of its bleaching power by absorption of salt, and the 

quality of sugars is affected by chloride-bearing waters, because 

saline salts are incorporated in the crystals.2 In the preparation. of 

alcoholic beverages chlorides in large amount prevent the growth of 

the yeast and interfere with the germination of the grain. 

ORGANIC MATTER. 

Organic matter of fecal origin is of course dangerous in any water 

that comes into contact with food products, and water so polluted 

should be pu.rified before being used. Care in this respect is particularly necessary in creameries, slaughterhouses, canneries, pickle 

factories, distilleries, breweries, and sugar factories. Organic matter 

not necessarily capable of producing disease is undesirable in industrial supplies because it induces decomposition in. other organic 

materials, like cloth, yarn, sugar, starch, meat, or paper, rotting and 

discoloring them, and because it causes slime spots on fabrics by 

supporting algre growths. 

HYDROGEN SULPHIDE. 

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a gas with an odor like that of rotten 

eggs. It occurs dissolved in some underground waters. ·It is corrosive even in small quantities, and it also injures materials by 

discoloring and rotting them. It occurs in many waters otherwise 

unfit for industrial use by reason of their large content of dissolved 

salts. 

MISCELLANEOUS SUBSTANCES. 

Silica and aluminum are usually not present in sufficient quantity 

to have any appreciable effect in industrial processes except when 

water is evaporated. Large quantities of sodium and potassium, by 

adding to the amount of dissolved matter, are objectionable in some 

manufacturing operations. Phosphates, nitrates, and some other 

1 Parker, H. N., Joe. cit. 

2 De Ia Coux, M.A. J., op. cit., p. 152. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF WATERS. 189 

substances not noted in this outline interfere with industrial chemical 

reactions, but they are present in few natural waters in sufficient 

quantity to have noticeable effect. 

WATER FOR MEDICINAL USE. 

The relation between the constituents of natural waters and their 

physiologic action has been discussed at length 1 in the works of 

Cohen,• Crook,2 and others. To note a few features that are often 

forgotten or disregarded in considering the application of mineral 

waters may, however, not be out of place. 

The term "mineral" may reasonably be applied to all natura] 

waters, as all contain dissolved mineral matter, but in general practice it is restricted to those that are exploited on account of their 

13Upposedly specific physiologic action. The term " medicinal " is 

sometimes used to distinguish highly mineralized waters from those 

that are low in mineral constit_uents and are especially acceptable as 

table waters by reason of their physical characteristics. The most 

logical classification of waters for discussing their chemical constituents in relation to therapeutics is that of Peale 3 as modified by Haywood 4 for the ionic form of stating analyses of water, though 

Haywood's system is somewhat misleading in a few minor details. 

It is a strictly chemical classification, by which waters are grouped 

according to their reaction and their predominating basic and acidic 

radicles, so that the name conveys a statement of the principal active 

substances. 

The therapeutic application of ~ater, or its use for the correction 

of diseased conditions of the human body, has always been recognized 

in scientific writings, and the continued and increasing patronage of 

mineral-spring resorts and the undoubted improvement of many 

patients treated there clearly indicate that some natural waters have 

curative properties. Yet the frequent claims of miraculous recovery 

by the use of mineral waters, together with the extravagant statements regarding the waters, can but rouse skepticism as investigation 

reveals how meagerly such claims are supported by evidence. Statement of analyses in hypothetical combination adds to the confusion, 

because the identity and the number of the compounds calculated 

depend on the judgment of the analyst and not on his laboratory 

data. Therefore comparison of the analyses of different waters is 

rendered difficult and misleading. Lithium, for instance, is said to 

• Cohen, S. S., System of physiologic therapeutics, vol. 9, Philadelphia, 1902. 

• Crook, J. K., The mineral waters of the United States and their therapeutic uses, 1899. 

• Peale, A. C., The natural mineral waters of the United States: Fourteenth Ann. Rept. 

U. S. Geol. Survey, 1894, pt. 2, p. 53; also, The classification of American miheral 

waters : Trans. Am. Climatological Assoc., May 31, 1907 ; also, introductory chapter on 

the classification of mineral waters in Cohen's System of physiologic therapeutics, vol. 

9, 1902, p. 299. 

• Haywood, J. K., and Smith, B. H., Mineral waters· of the United States: U. S. Dept. 

Agr., Bur. Chemistry, Bull. 91, 1905, p. 9. 
190 • UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

be a particularly valuable ingredient; yet many analysts report lithium carbonate, sulphate, or chloride in waters, in spite of the fact that 

·possible physiologic action is due to the lithium ion and not to 

lithium carbonate in distinction from lithium chloride or lithium sulphate; or, in other words, that the action takes place only when the 

salt is dissociated. If different lithium compounds are reported, it is 

impossible to measure the effect of the lithium, unless it is recognized 

that 5.3 parts per million of lithium carbonate, 6.1 parts of lithium 

.chloride, 7.9 of lithium sulphate, and 9.7 of lithium bicarbonate contain each exactly 1 part of lithium. The curative properties of some 

waters are attributed to minQr ingredients that are present in comparatively insignificant quantities, and many waters containing much 

less than 1 part per million of lithium are widely advertised as lithia 

waters. Though it is true that many drugs are as efficient when 

given in very small but frequent doses as when given in one large 

dose, the therapeutic value of 1 part per million of lithium may well 

be questioned, for 200 tumblerfuls of the water contain only one 

ordinary minimum dose of lithium. The physiologic effect of these 

minor ingredients is usually overshadowed by that of other subfrtances present in much larger quantities. Many strong brines, for 

example, contain considerable amounts of lithium, but, as Hessler 

states,1 the effect of 10 parts of lithium in the presence of 1,000 or 

more parts of chlorides would probably be insignificant as compared 

with the effect of the saline constituents. Many mineral springs are 

found to possess radioactivity, and this characteristic has been advanced as explaining their curative qualities. So far as the writer is 

informed, however, no acceptable proof of this theory has been 

offered. On the other hand, the beneficial effect on the human 

body of water itself, both hot and cold, used internally or externally, is thoroughly recognized in therapeutics, and the curative 

qualities of waters not containing appreciable amounts b£ physiologically active substances may be attributed as reasonably to the 

action of water itself, combined with a normal regimen of diet, 

exercise, and other hygienic restrictions, as to some mysterious 

quality or substance yet undiscovered. 

PURIFICATION OF WATER. 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND METHODS OF PURIFICATION. 

Purification of water is removal or reduction in amount of substances that render waters in their raw state unsuitable for use. It 

is practiced on a large scale with one or more of three objects in 

view : First, to render the supply safe and unobjectionable for drinking'; second, to reduce the amount of the mineral ingredients injurious to boilers; third, to remove substances injurious to machinery 

t Hessler, Robert, The mineral waters of Indiana, wlth indications for their therapeutic 

application : Trans. Indiana State Med. Soc., 1902. 
PURIFICATION OF WATER. 191 

Ol' to industrial products. The largest purification plants in this 

country hp,ve · been constructed almost solely for the purpose of 

producing potable waters, and some waters need no further treatment before being suitable for steaming and for general industrial 

purposes. But many other waters are hard, and increased appreciation of the value of good water has resulted in demand for the removal of the hardening constituents also. An excellent example of 

the result of such insistence is the recently installed plant at New 

Orleans, where hard, colored, turbid, sewage-polluted river water 

is brought up to practically all industrial and domestic standards 

.of purity. 

Removal of bacteria, especially those causing disease, ~~:nd removal 

of turbidity, odor, taste1 and iron are the principal requirements in 

purification of a municipal supply, elimination of bacteria and suspended matter being the most important. The common methods 

of effecting such purification are slow filtration through sand and 

rapid filtration after coagulation, both methods usually being cmnbined with sedimentation. The first process is known as slow sand 

filtration and the second as mechanical filtration., The efficiency of 

such filters is measured primarily by the ratio between the number 

of bacteria in the applied water and the number in the effluent. 

This figure, stated in percentage of removal, should be as high as 

98, and it often reaches 99.8 per cent under normal conditions with 

a carefully operated filter of either kind. 

Removal of scale-forming and neutralization of corrosive constituents are the chief aims in preparing water for steam making. 

F~r this two general methods are employed, namely, cold chemical 

precipitation followed by sedimentation, and heating with or without chemicals, usually followed by rapid filtration. The first process 

is carried on in cold-water softening plants and the second in feedwater heaters. 

The requirements of the water supplies for industries are so 

varied that classification of purification methods is difficult. Water 

properly prepared for domestic and boiler use is suitable for most 

industrial establishments, and it is more economical for small manufacturers in large cities to buy such water from water companies than 

to maintain private supplies and purification apparatus. It is 

usually cheaper, however, for large factories to be supplied from 

separate sources, not only because of saving in actual cost of water 

but also because of the opP.ortunity thus afforded of procuring water 

specially adapted to the needs of the factory. The common methods 

of industrial-water purification are those already mentioned or combinations of them modified to meet particular needs. In a few 

industrial processes, notably the manufacture of ice by the can 

system, water practically free from all dissolved and suspended substances is necessary and distilled water must be manufactured. 
192 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Distillation is expensive, though the employment of multiple-effect 

evaporators has greatly reduced the cost of operation. 

Besides the four common systems of purification many minor processes are used: sometimes alone, but more :frequently as adjuncts to 

filters or softeners. Surface waters may be screened through 

wooden or iron grids or through revolving wire screens to remove 

sticks and leaves before other treatment. Coarse suspended matter 

can be removed by rapid filtration through ground quartz or similar 

material, in units of convenient size, provided with arrangements 

for washing the filtering medium similar to those used in mechanical 

filters. Very turbid river waters may be first allowed to stand in 

large sedimentation basins to reduce the cost of operating the filters 

by preli1ninary removal of part of the SUSjlended solids. Supplies 

undesirable only because of their iron content are aerated by being 

sprayed into the air or by being allowed to trickle over rocks or by 

other methods that cause evaporation of carbonic acid and absorption 

of oxygen, thus precipitating and oxidizing the iron solution so that 

it can be readily removed by rapid filtration. Similar aeration is 

often employed to evaporate and oxidize dissolved gases that-cause 

objectionable tastes and odors. 

Disinfection by ozone, copper sulphate, calcium hypochlorite, and 

many other substances kills organisms that may cause disease or 

may impart bad odors and tastes. Purification of this character 

must be done with substances that destroy the objectionable organisms without making the water poisonous to animals. Such treatment is especially adapted for sewage-polluted waters,1 and it is now 

widely practiced either as an adjunct to filtration of municipal supplies or as an emergency precaution where otherwise untreated supplies are believed to be contaminated. Natural purification of water 

is accomplished largely through the biological processes mentioned by 

Hazen,2 in which the organic matter· is oxidized by serving as food 

for bacteria and objectionable organisms are destroyed by producing 

conditions unfavorable to their existence. Action of this kind takes 

place in reservoirs and lakes, and it is also relied upon in many 

processes for the artificial purification of sewage.3 

SLOW SAND FILTRATION. 

Slow sand filtration consists in causing the water to pass downward through a layer of sand of such thickness and fineness that 

the requisite removal of suspended substances is accomplished. The 

slow sand filter is also called the " continuous " and the " English " 

filter. On the bottom of a water-tight basin, commonly constructed 

1 Phelps, E. B., The disinfection of sewage and sewage-ll.lter emuents: Water-Supply 

Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 229, 1909. 

• Hazen, Allen, Clean water and how to get It, New York, 1909, p. 83. 

• Winslow, C.-E. A., and Phelps, E. B., Investigations on the purlll.catlon of Boston 

:sewage, with a history of the sewage-disposal problem : Water-Supply Paper u .. fl, Qeol, 

.Sw·ve_y No. ;1.851 J.!:l.P6. 
PURIFICATION OF WATER. 193 

of concrete, perforated tiles or pipes laid in the form of a grid are 

covered with a foot of gravel graded in size from bottom to top, 

and a layer of fine sand 3 to 4 feet in depth is put over the gravel, 

which serves only to support the sand. When water is applied on 

the surface it. passes through the sand and the gravel, and flows 

away through the underdrain. The. suspended materials· including 

bacteria are removed by the sand, the action of which is rendered 

more efficient by the rapid formation of a mat of finely divided 

sediment on the surface. When this film has become so thick that 

filtration is unduly retarded the water is allowed to subside belo"': 

the surface and about half an inch of sand is removed, after which 

filtration is resumed. The sand thus taken off is washed to free it 

from the collected impurities and is replaced on the beds after they 

have been reduced by successive scrapings to a thickness of about 

20 inches. As cleaning necessitates temporary withdrawal of filters 

from service, they are divided into units of convenient size, usually 

half an acre each, so that the operation of the system may not be 

interrupted. Filters may be roofed and sodded; this facilitates cleaning by preventing the formation of ice, permits work on the filter 

beds in all kinds of weather, and inhibits algre growths. 

The foregoing are the essential features of a slow sand filter, but 

several adjuncts render this system more efficient. A clear-water 

basin for the filtered supply, covered to prevent deterioration of the 

water, is provided in order that the varying rate of consumption may 

not affect the rate of filtration. Clarification of turbid water is 

rendered more economical by allowing it to stand for one to three 

days, during which a large portion of the suspended matter is deposited, thus lengthening the time between sand scrapings. Another 

form of pretreatment is passage through roughing or preliminary 

filters consisting of beds of slag, sponge, or stone, through which the 

water flows at fifteen to twenty times the rate in sand filters, a very 

large proportion of the suspended matter being thus removed. Objectionable odors and tastes may be obviated by aeration before or 

after filtration. Killing the bacteria before filtration by the use of 

ozone, chlorine, or other germicides is also practiced. 

Slow sand filtration removes practically all the suspended matter 

and the bacteria. Color is only slightly reduced,· and the hardness 

is not. changed. The process is especially adapted to waters low in 

color, suspended matter, and animal pollution. Very small particles 

of clay are not removed by these filters, and for waters carrying 

such particles only for short periods the addition of a coagulant 

before filtration has been proposed.1 It can readily be seen that the 

efficiency of this kind of filter depends largely on the character of 

1 Report of Hering, Fuller, and Hazen on the methods of purifying tUQ watel' supply 

of the District of Columbia : Sen. Rept. 2380, 56th Cong., 2c;l ses~, 

49130°f,.-,WSP 259-12--13 
194 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

the sand, as the ability to prevent the passage of suspended matter 

is governed by the size of the spaces ootween the sand particles. The 

rate of filtration depends on the average size of the sand particles, 

the thickness of the sand bed, the head of water, and the turbidity. 

Under ordinary conditions of operation in the United States the rate 

in slow sand filters of water already subjected to sedimentation is 

2,000,000 to 4,000,000 gallons per acre per day . 

. MECHANICAL FILTRATION. 

The distinctive features of the mechanical process are the coagulant 

and the high rate of filtration. The term " mechanical " is applied 

because of the contrivances for washing the filtering medium; the 

filter is also known as the American filter. While the raw water is 

entering the sedimentation basin, which· is smaller than that used 

with slow sand filters, it is treated with a definite proportion of some 

coagulant, which forms by its decomposition a gelatinous precipitate 

that unites and incloses the suspended material, including the bacteria, and that absorbs the organic coloring matter. This combined 

action destroys color and makes suspended particles larger and therefore more readily removable. When aluminum sulphate, the coagulant most commonly used, is decomposed, aluminum hydrate is precipitated and the sulphate radicle remains in solution, replacing an 

equivalent amount of the carbonate, bicarbonate, or hydroxyl radicle. 

The natural alkalinity of many waters is sufficient to effect this reaction. One part per million of ordinary aluminum sulphate requires 

somewhat more than 0.6 part of alkalinity expressed as CaC03 to 

insure complete decomposition.1 • If the alkalinity is not sufficient 

part of the aluminum sulphate remains in solution and good coagulation does not take place. Therefore lime or soda ash is added 

if the alkalinity is too low. The proper amount of aluminum 

sulphate to oo used is determined by the amounts of color, organic 

matter, and suspended matter and by the fineness of the suspended 

matter, and it is best ascertained by direct experimentation with the 

water to be purified. Ferrous sulphate instead of aluminum sulphate 

is sometimes used as a coagulant; lime must always be added with 

it in order to bring abqut proper coagulation. 

The water, after having been mixed with the coagulant, is allowed 

to stand three or four hours in the sedimentation basin, where a 

large proportion of the suspended particles is .deposited. It is then 

passed rapidly through beds of sand or ground stone to remove the 

rest of the suspended matter. Many filters now in use are built of 

wood or iron in cylindrical form 10 to 20 feet in diameter,>and some 

are so designed that filtration can be hastened by pressure. The sand, 

30 to 50 inches deep, rests on a metallic floor containing perforations 

large enough to allow ready issue of the water, but small enough to 

1 Hazen, Allen, Report of the filtration commlsstQn Qf tbe ~lty of Pittsburgh, 1899, p. 57, 
PURIFICATION OF WATER. 195 

prevent passage of sand grains. When the filter has become clogged 

the flow of water is reversed, filtered water being forced upward 

through the sand to wash it and to remove the impurities, which pass 

over the top of the filter with the wasted water. A revolving rake 

with long prongs projecting downward into the sand mixes it during 

washing and prevents it from becoming graded into spots of coarse 

or fine particles. In recently constructed rectangular filters 300 to 

1,300 square feet in area compressed air forced through the sand at 

intervals is used instead of a revolving rake for agitating the sand 

during washing. The rate of filtration is from 80,000,000 to 180,-

000,000 gallons per acre per day. The time between washings is 6 

to 12 hours, depending principally on the turbidity of the water 

applied to the filter, and 4 to 8 per cent of the filte,red water is consumed in washing. 

Mechanical filtration removes practically all suspended matter, 

reduces the color to an amount that is unobjectionable, and under 

some conditions removes part of the dissolved iron. The permanent 

hardness of the water is increased in proportion to the amount of 

sulphates added as aluminum sulphate, and if only enough lime to 

decompose the coagulant is added the total hardness is incr~ased. If 

larger amounts of lime are added, however, the total hardness is reduced. If soda ash is used in place of lime the foaming constituents of the water are slightly increased. As this method of filtration 

is used almost entirely for river waters with fluctuating contents of 

suspended and dissolved matter, proper operation requires constant 

and intelligent attention. 

COLD-WATER SOFTENING. 

The principal objects of water softening are to remove the substances that cause incrustations in boilers, particularly calcium and 

magnesium, and to neutralize those that cause corrosion. Chemicals 

of known strength properly dissolved in water are added to the raw 

supply in such proportion as to precipitate all the dissolved constituents that can be economically removed by such treatment. The water 

is then allowed to stand long enough to permit the precipitate to 

settle, after which the clear effiuent is drawn off or the partly 

cleared effiuent may be filtered very rapidly through thin beds of 

coke, sponge, excelsior, wool, or similar material in order to remove 

particles that have not subsided in the tanks. The water softeners 

on the market differ only in the precipitant, in the filtering. medium 

if one is used, and in the mechanism regulating the incorporation of 

the chemicals with the water. Among the substances proposed as 

precipitants are sodium carbonate, silicate, hydrate, fluoride, and 

phosphate, barium carbonate, oxide, and hydrate, and calcium oxide, 

but of these substances lime and soda ash are almost exclusively used 

on account of their excellent action and comparative cheapness. 
196 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

When soda ash (Na2C03 ) and lime ·dissolved in water to form a 

solution of calcium hydrate [Ca(OH) 2] are added to a water in 

proper proportion free acids are neutralized, free carbon dioxide is 

removed, the bicarbonate radicle is decomposed, and iron, aluminum, 

and magnesium hydrates and calcium carbonate are precipitated. 

The four basic substances are removed to the extent of the solubility 

of these compounds in water; the calcium added as lime also is precipitated, but the sodium from the soda ash remains in solution in 

the softened water. The precipitate in settling takes down with it 

a large proportion of the suspended matter. Such treatment with 

lime and soda ash removes the incrusting constituents. Sodium, 

potassium, sulphates, and chlorides are left in solution, and the 

alkalies are increased in proportion to the quantity of soda ash 

added; that is, the foaming constituents are increased, and this fixes 

the maximum. amount of incrustants that can be treated. The maximum amount of incrustants in a treated water is determined by the 

solubility of the precipitated substances and by the completeness o:£ 

the reaction between the added chemicals and the dissolved matter. 

The sulphate radicle can be removed by using barium compounds, 

which precipitate barium sulphate, but the poisonous effect of even 

small amounts of barium is a great objection to its use. The 

chlorides are not changed in amount by water softening. The 

chemicals should be,very thoroughly mixed with the raw water and 

sufficient time should be allowed for complete reaction, which proceeds rather slowly, for otherwise precipitation will occur later in 

pipe lines or in boilers. 

FEED-WATER HEATING. 

Water heaters are designed primarily to utilize waste heat in stationary boiler plants by raising the temperature of the feed water 

and thereby lessening the work of the boilers themselves, but they 

effect also some purification, and many heaters have been specially 

constructed with that end in view. ri'he heat is derived from exhaust 

steam or from flue gases; the heaters utilizing steam either are openthat is, operated at atmospheric pressure-or are closed and operated 

at or near boiler pressure. In accordance with these three conditions, 

all of which result in distinct purifying effects, feed-water heaters 

are classified as " open " or " closed " or " economizers," the last 

named being those using flue gases. Open heaters are best adapted 

for removing large quantities of scale-forming material. In most 

forms the steam enters at the bottom and the water at the top, and 

intimate contact between the two is obtained by spraying the water 

or by allowing it to trickle over or to splash against plates. In this 

manner the water is quickly heated nearly to boiling temperature. 

Dissolved gases are expelled, the bicarbonate radicle is decomposed, 

and iron, aluminum, part of the magnesium, and calcium equivalent 

to the carbonates after decolllposition Qf the bicarbonates are precipi .. 
PURI:FlCATION OF WATER. 197 

tated as hydrates, oxides, or carbonates under varying conditions of 

temperature, pressure, and time. The precipitate agglomerates the 

particles of suspended matter and makes them more readily removable by sedimentation and filtration. The slowness with which the 

reactions take place and the presence of acidic radicles other than carbonates to hold the bases in solution prevent complete removal of 

calcium and magnesium. The addition of soda ash in proper proportion, however, effects fairly complete precipitation of the alkaline 

earths, and apparatus for constant introduction of this chemical in 

solution may be provided. After the precipitate has been formed 

the water passes through filters of burlap, excelsior, straw, hay, wool, 

coke, or similar materials arranged in units that can be readily 

cleaned. Open heaters operated without a chemical precipitant remove substances that are soft and bulky and leave in the water the 

constituents that form hard scale; scale from water treated in such 

heaters is therefore not so great in amount but is harder than that 

formed by the raw water. 

In closed heaters the water is passed through metal tubes surrounded by steam or around steam pipes, and manholes or other 

openings are provided for cleaning the scale from the tubes. As 

the water is heated under pressure some precipitation takes place,· 

but closed heaters are not nearly so efficient in this respect as open 

heaters, because they do not permit the escape of the gases liberated 

from the water. 

Economizers consist essentially of water tubes set in the flues leading from the furnaces. Facilities are provided for cleaning scale 

from the inside and soot from the outside of the tubes. As economizers are heated by flue gases, the water in the tubes can be heated 

under boiler pressure to a much. higher temperature than in open 

or closed heaters, and boiler conditions described in the section on 

water for boiler use are approximated. The precipitation of incrustants varies greatly with the normally fluctuating temperature 

of the flue gases. 

UNDERGROUND WATERS. 

CHEMIOAL ANALYSES. 

The results of analyses of underground waters in southwestern 

Ohio are presented in Table 1, which was prepared by M. L. Fuller. 

The tests by M. L. Fuller, H. N. Parker, and J. R. Evans are field 

assays made in accordance with the methods described in WaterSupply Paper United States Geological Survey No. 151, and the 

figures are therefore more or less approximate. The analyses by 

R. B. Dole and M. G. Roberts were performed in the water-testing 

laboratory at Washington. The other analyses originally stated 

in hypothetical combinations in grains per gallon have been recomputed into ionic form in parts per million in order to facilitate 

comparison of the data. 
198 UNDEBGBOUND WATEBS Oll' SOUTHWESTEBN OHIO. 

Location. Source. Owner, etc. 

ADAli:S COUNTY. 

TABLE 1.-ChemicaZ compositwn of 

Depth. Water-bearing formation. 

Feet. 

Date of 

collection.a 

[Parts per million 

Analyst. 

Blue Creek ••••••. Well •••• G. B. Lewis....... 35 Alluvium •••.• Sept. 22 H. N. Parker ..... . Manchester •••....... do..... Hotel Brit......... 67 •.•.• do......... . . . . . . . . . . R. B. Dole and 

M. G. Roberts. 

Mineral Spring Spring •• S. R. Grimes .••••••...... Ohio shale(?) ..........•...•.....•.••....... No.2. 

Vineyard Hill •••• Well •••• Martha McHenry.. 64 Terrace gravel Sept 22 H. N. Parker •••••• West Union •••••••.. do..... Samuel Charles.... 14 "Niagara" ....... do ••••••...• do ••••......... Do •••••••••••• Spring ••...................•.•......•.... do •••..••...•........ R. B.,Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

Winchester ••••••• Well ••.. Methodist Church. 25:!: Moraine ••••••• Sept. 25 H. N. Parker •••••• 

BBOWN COUNTY. 

Browntown....... Well.... D. 0. Dunn. •••••• 22 Tlll ........... Sept. 22 H. N. Parker ••••• Chasetown •••••••••.. do..... Burns Bros ..... .. 55 Richmondand Sept. 7 ••••• do ••••••••••..• 

Fayetteville •••••••.• do .•••• Higginsport ••••••••.. do ••••• Mount Orab •••••••.• do ••••• New Hope •••••••••.• do ••••. 

Russellville .......... do .•••• 

Livery stable •••••• Schoolhouse .•••••• Harvey Day •••••• John Young ••••••• 

Public well. ••••••• 

Maysville. 

100 ..... do .............. do .......... do ••••••••••••• 90 Alluvium ••••• Sept. 22 ..... do •••••••••••.• 36· TilL .......... Sept. 7 ..... do ••••••••. ~ ... 20 Richmond and Sept. 22 ..... do ........... .. 

38 .. -~'1:.~~~:... Sept. - R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

Sardinia ............. do .......... do ..••.••••.•.• 11 Till ........... Sept. 22 H. N. Parker •••••• Union Plains •••••••• do ••••• J.P. Reed •••••••• 32 ••••• do......... Sept .. 7 ..... do ••••••••••••• 

BUTLER COUNTY. 

cOke Otto •••..••. Well •••• College Corner ....... do ••••• Do ............ Spring •• Darrtown .•••••••. Well •••• Hamilton ............ do ••••• Do ............... do ••••• 

Do ............... do ••••• 

Do ••••.••••.•. 3wells •• Do .•••.•.••••. Well •••• Millville ••••••••••••. do •••• 

Do ............... do ••••• 

Jno. W. Caldwell.. 20 Alluvium ••••• Sept. 22 H. N. Parker ..... . Dr. C. A. Clarke... 38 ..... do •••••••••••. do .......... do ••••. ~ ...... . Tallewanda Spgs ....................................................... .. Ed Phillips....... 25 Till ........... Sept. 22 H. N. Parker ..... . Becket Paper Co.. 65-100 Alluvium..... Dec. 31 .......... : ....... .. Champion Coated 3, 120 St. Peter...... Sept. - R. B. Dole and 

Paper Co. M. G. Roberts. 

Hamilton Otto •• •• . • . • Alluvium..... .... .. . .. . Hamilton Otto 

Coke Co. Coke Co. · Niles Tool Works. 65 ..... do ••••.•••• Sept. 22 H. N. Parker •••••• Black-Clawson Co. 59 ..... do......... Sept. 11 ..... do ........... .. Charles Falken· 24 ..... do ............ do .......... do •••••••••••.• stein. 

John Lody........ 25 Rlchmondand •.• do .......... do ••••••••••••• Maysville. 42 Alluvium ........ do .......... do •••••••••.••• 12 ..... do ............ do .......... do ............ . Do ............... do..... Peter SW!!lJ.B •••••• Do ............... do..... William Titus .•••• Monroe .............. do ••••. J. F. Constiner •••• 85 Richmond and Aug. 12 M. L. Fuller ...... . Maysville. New London ........ do ..... Morgan Howells... 14 Till(?) ......... Sept. 22 H. N. Parker ..... . Oxford ........... Spring •• W. A. Gawne ............. Richmond and ... do ......... do ........... . Maysville. Do ............ Wells ••• City supply............................... 1903 J. w. Ellms ••••.•• Do ............... do .......... do..................................... 1904 ..... do ............ . Do ............... do ••••• Town of Oxford... ~ Alluvium .•••. Sept. 22 H. N. Parker ..... . Sevenmile •.•• .... Well.... A. Houser......... 48 ..... do ............ do .......... do ........... .. Symmes Corner ...... do..... J. C. Hoovenden.. 17 Richmond and ... do .......... do ............ . 

Trenton ............. do ••••••••••••••••••••••••• Maysville. 18 Alluvium ..... Aug. 30 J. R. Evans ••••••• 

CLARK COUNTY. 

Donnelsville...... Well.... ••••••••••• ••••••••• 41 

Eagle City ........... do ..... Grist mill......... 22 · Lawrenceville ........ do......................... 20 

North Hampton ..... do..... .. . .. .. .. .. ... ....... 36 

Pitchin .............. do .•••. W. B. Kitchen.... 22 

Springfteld ........... do..... City supply....... 22 

Do............ Spring.. Snyder Park ............ .. Do ............ Well .... (2 miles southeast 20 

of city). 

"N~" .... Allj!'. 17 J. R. Evans. 

~N~~-~~::::: .~s;: .. : .. ~:~0:~~-e::::::: ..... do ......... Aug. 17 J. R. Evans ..... .. ..... do ......... Sept. 7 H. N. Parker •••.•. Alluvium..... Aug. 20 R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

"Niagara.,.... Sept. 7 H. N. Parker ..... . Gravelly tilL .... do .......... do ............ . 

a Dates are 1906 unless otherwise specified. b Free acid as H,so., 20 parts. 
Ctt~MICAL ANALVS:mS. 

waters of southwestern Ohio. 

unless otherwise stated.) 

Silica Iron (SiO,). (Fe). 

Calcium 

(Ca). 

Magn Potas- Carbon- Bicar- pShaulte- Nitrate 

siume- Sodium sium ra~rcle ~di~re radicle radicle Chlorine 

(Mg). (Na). (K). (COa). (HCOa). (SO,). (NOa). (Cl). 

14 

19 

19 

6 

22 

4.4 

:·I : ·····~· ~t ~: ". 

g 1:::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: . 3 95 48 18 12 .0 

0 ····-·-- -------- ------·· -------· ........ 

0 

.5 ---------------- ---·---- ........ ______ ., 

2.5 -------- -------- -------- -··--·-- ---··--- 0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

50 

0 

13 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

.2 

-------- ________ ! ________ ----------------

]:::::::: :::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 135 24 53 6. 7 .0 

64 22 7 .0 

-···--·- -···---· ·-------1-----·-· ·····--- 87 33 . 9 .0 15,900 1,900 34,700 I 916 .o 

89 59 31 .0 

79 20 2.4 .0 ... ..... ..... ... 68 24 7.5 .0 

15 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

Tr. 

0 

Tr. 

0 

0 

::::::::::::::::::::::::1:::::::::::::::: 

-·------ ·------T ....... ···----- ···-----

::::::::::::::::::::::::c::::::::::::: 88 32 7.2 .0 

:::::::::::::::: ::::::::!:::::::: :::::::.:! 

c Specific gravity, 1.110. 

121 40 293 11 

0 170 

365 35 265 Tr . 420 49 

463 108 

365 146 348 157 

359 Tr. 308 41 259 255 256 70 

300 102 

458 201 324 91 

276 Tr. 362 Tr. 196 -----··· 306 121 350 39 10 740 

540 63 

362 140 314 68 275 47 

314 95 

274 Tr. 354 56 486 (d) 

466 362 362 Tr. 

313 24 300 35 324 43 282 56 336 186 

456 256 

396 221 336 77 392 116 414 136 427 50 310 63 

398 125 316 44 

16 

54 

100 

--------

2.5 ........ 

8.0 

20 

3.1 

12 

10 

24 

38 

55 

55 

105 

238 

14 

100 

90 

72 

191 

80 

10 

10 

11 

129 

12 100,440 

16 

24 

20 

10 

20 

24 

14 

528 

161 

10 

3.6 

2.1 

10 

24 

29 

20 

10 

20 

110 

5 

20 

2.4 

55 

14 

d More than 850 parts. 

199 

Total. 

solids. 

309 

b 250 

537 

667 

378 c 138,900 

540 

382 
200 UNDEltGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Location. I , Source. Owner, etc. 

CLERMONT 

COUNTY. 

Amelia .......... ·I Well ..................... ·· · 

~:~:1~--::::::: >: :~~::::: ¥~~r~~N~: :::::: 

Edenton ......... ·I· .. do..... Public well.. ..... . Felicity ..•........... do..... Town well •....... 

Loveland ......... , ... do ..••..................... Milford .............. do..... Public well ....... . 

Moscow .............. do ..... Town well ....... . Neville .............. do .......... do ............ . New Richmond ...... do ..... (Test well for gas ana oil). 

Do ............... do ........................ . Newtonville ......... do ........................ . 

Tobasco ............. do ........................ . 

West Woodville ..... do .... . 

CLINTON COUNTY. 

Public well ...... . Curry's livery sta- ble. Williamsburg .... ·1· .. do .... . 

Blanchester ...... Well .... R. F. Botts ...... . 

&a;;~~~~e::::::: :j:: :~~::::: · T"<iWri ·w-;,ic::::: Midland ............. do ..... Dan Hopewell ..... . New Burlington .. l ••• do ..... W. S. Huston .... . 

Do ........... 11 ... dob ..•. Charles Hartman • rolling mill. 

Do ........... ... dob .••• ..... do ........... . Oakland ............ do ..... Town well ....... . Ogden ............... do ..... David Jenks ..... . 

Wilmington ........ do ..... Public supply .... . 

DARKE COUNTY. 

New Madison ..... Well ...................... .. Do .............. do ....................... .. Do .............. do ....................... .. Do .............. do ........................ . Do .............. do ........................ . Pitsburg ............. do ..... J. B. Young ...... . 

Wo~~~~~~~: :::::: ::~~::::: :::::::::::::::::::: Do .............. do ........................ . 

GREENE COUNTY.I 

Feet. 20 

TABLE l.-Chemical composition of 

Date of 

collection. Analyst. 

Richmond and Sept. 7 H. N. Parker ..... . 

42 ·--~~~~~~: ...... do .......... do ............ . 26 Till .............. do .......... do ............ . 20 Alluvium ........ do .......... do ............ . 30 Richmond and ... do .......... do ............ . Maysville. 23 Alluvium ••.•. Aug. 30 J. R. Evans ....... 70 ..... do ......... Aug. 22 R. B. Dole and 

70 

65 

1,400 

M. G. Roberts . . . . . . do ......... Sept. 22 H. N. Parker .... .. ..... do ............ do .......... do ............ . St. Peter ...... Sept. 7 ..... do ............ . 

68 Alluvium ..... Sept. 22 ..... do ........... .. 28 Richmondand Sept. 7 ..... do ............ . Maysville. 15 ..... do ........ Aug. 24 R. B. Dole and M. 

G. Roberts. 20 ..... do ........ Sept. 7 H. N. Parker ... .. 26 Till .............. do .......... do ........... . 

50 Richmond and Sept. 7 H. N. Parker ..... . Maysville. 20 Till .............. do .......... do ........... . 22 ..... do ........... do .......... do ........... . 14 ....• do ........... do .......... do ........... . 36 ....• do........ Sept. 11 R. B. Dole and M. 

G. Roberts. 36 Richmond and Sept. 20 ....• do ........... . Maysville. 36 ..... do........ Sept. 11 ..... do ........... . 

~b ~~liili<ifi<i.ID<i -~~g;: .. : .. ~:~/.a_r~e~.'::::: Maysville. 172 Till ........... Aug. 28 R. B. Dole and M. 

G. Roberts. 

35 .............. .. 25 

18 

16 

15 

60 

14 

22 

20 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1898 

1898 

Aug. 17 1893 

1902 

190'.! 

C. B. Dudley .... .. .. ... do ........... . ..... do ........... . ..... do .......... .. ..... do ........... . J. R. Evans ...... . C. B. Dudley ..... . ..... do .......... .. .. ... do ........... . 

Bellbrook ....... . Spring .. Bellbrook magnet-........ ............. .. . (Old) ................... . lc spring. 

Cedarville ....... . Well .... Hager S trRw- 1,500 "Niagara" ................................ .. Board & Paper Co. 14 ..... do ........ Sept. 7 H. N. Parker •.••.. 65 ..... do ........... do .......... do ........... . Clifton ............... do ........................ . Jamestown .......... do ..... Methodist parsonage. 

Do .............. do ..... "1776 Mineral 1,776 St. Peter .................................. .. Spring." Xenia ............... do ....................... .. Do........... Spring •. City supply ...... . ~ ·T"uL::::::::: A~~25 

Do ........... Well.... .................... 40 .............. .. Do .............. do......................... 138 .............. .. 

Yellow Springs ...... do ..... Neff Grounds Park ........ "Niagara" .. .. 

1901 

1901 

1901 

Do........... Well .... Public well ...... .. 70 ..... do ........ Aug. -

HAMILTON COUNTY 

C. B. Dudley ...... R. B. Dole and M. 

G. Roberts. 

C. B. Dudley .... .. .. ... do ........... . R. B. Dole and M. 

G. Roberts. 

H. N. Parker ...... 

Blue Ash........ Well.... Farm welL. ... 80 Richmond and Aug. 30 J. R. Evans ....... Maysville. 

a More than 850 parts. b Both samples from same well; see page 95. 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 

teaters of southwestern Ohio-Continued. 

Silica Iron 

(SiO,). (Fe). 

Cal- Magne- . Potas- Carbon- Bicar- Sui- N"trate . cium sium Sodmm sium ate bonate ph!l.te 'd. 1 Chlorine 

(Ca).. (Mg). (Na). (K). fc<!J~l~ (~~:) (s<iJ~l~ <No~)~ (Cl). 

201 

Total 

solids. 

~~- --,~- -~~ ~~- -~~~~--~~--- -~~ ~~- -~~--~--

21 

14 

26 

9.0 

14 

19 

0 

.5 

8.3 ~~~~:~~~ ~~~~~j~~~~~~j~:~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ .... I ............... . .1 87 24 13 .0 

~ !:::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

g 1:::::::: ::::::::c:::::: :::::::::::::::: 

0 

0 

0 

.2 179 80 124 .0 

' ·····---- -----··· ----------

0 ········ ········ ··--·--· ·····-·· 0 ··-····· --·----- ·----··- --·--·- ·-·-·-·-

0.1 ····i22· ···-·a;;· ···48·-- ····a:;;· ····6:2· 

11 

.3 

0 

0 

.3 

1,100 268 5, 750 I 34 .0 

171 37 144 1 31 s.8 

:::::::::::::::::::::::}::::::::::::::: 72 41 9. 6 .0 

206 229 

391 124 372 313 451 168 414 362 

420 146 342 17 27 

384 46 360 185 414 626 

326 47 330 (a) 

427 274 s.o I 

365 229 398 138 

443 530 

470 66 266 71 442 181 333 80 62 

229 9.9 .0 

332 209 60 379 56 443 71 

297 48 3.5 

········ ... T. :::::::::::::::::::::::: ··:::::: :::::::: ····43;,· ···55··· ....... . 

11 

........ 

69 

·····-·· 

0 

2.5 

57 

1121 36 5.9 

ll7 21 

2,351 854 7,951 

8.2 .0 501 25 

.0 392 -------- ·····-·· 

372 49 470 94 

90 .0 329 2,015 

:::~~::: :::~~::: :::::~7: :::::~~: :::::::l::::::: :::::;~: ::::~~~: ::::~:~: :::~::: 24 1.4 89 37 6.9 .0 406 16 .1 

Tr. .0 412 66 

········ ................................ ········ ········J 4621 246 

39 

25 

171 

70 

373 

10 

7.2 359 

10 

40 92,920 

10 

191 

302 1,203 

181 

216 

20 

20 

65 

105 

102 637 

15,000 20,150 

280 1,132 

10 

75 

6.0 340 

50 601 

119 1,057 32 615 42 650 21 502 

10 

6.8 483 69 714 

8.9 542 

8.8 459 

12 484 

30 

50 

17,110 C33,658 

7.5 445 2.2 332 

19 465 5.5 367 2.5 394 

151 

210 

c Organic and volatile matter 21431; sulphur (S), 55; hydrogen sulphide (H,S), 377; thiosulphate radicle 

(S,O,), 18; bromine (Br.) 422; iodme (I), 73; traces of barium (Ba) and phosphates (PO,); free carbon dioxide (C02), 68 parts per million. 
202 t1:N't)E:aGBOt1::tfD WATEBS O:lr SOt1THWJ!lSTEttN OliiO. 

Location. 

JU)(ILTON COUN· 

TV-Continued. 

Source. Owner,etc. 

TABI.E 1.-0hemical composition of 

Depth wa•••P·besrlng . ro; !Dation. 

Feet. 

Date of 

collectlOii. Analyst. 

~.P Dennison.. Well.... Well at store...... 18 

Ctlrthage ......... Wells ... Public supply..... 135 A~~Uur._t~m ..... Aug. 30 J. R. Evans ...... . G :ow. gravels ... do ......... do .......... .. Cincinnati ........ Well .... Cincinnati Gas 1,2.jjj Works. 

Bt. eter...... (Old) E. B. Wayne .... .. 

Do .............. do ... ,. B~l hosaline s • Do ........... Wells(6) C Springs 

"Bbdseye"... (Old) ..... do .......... .. 

100 Allu~ (?) .. Sept. 22 H. N. Parker ..... . 

240 

Dlstlllirig Co. 

Do ........... Wells(2) ..... do............ 1,918017 

Do ........... Well. ... American Oak Bt_:,! eter ......... do .......... do .......... .. Po~t Pleasant .. do .... H. N. Parker .... .. LeatherCo.No.1. 

Do .............. do ..... American Oak .......................... do .......... do .......... .. LestherCo.No.2. 

Do .............. do ..... American Oak .......................... do .......... do ........... . LestherCo.No.3. ... . Do .............. do ..... Banner Ice Co..... ,~ Allu~!!liil ........ do .......... do .......... .. Do .............. do ..... Crystal Springs .wu Poln Pleasant ... do .......... do .......... .. Ice Co. 

Do .............. do ..... Foss-Schneider 

Brewing Co. 

Do .............. do .......... do .......... .. Do .............. do..... French Brothers 

Dairy Co. 

Do .............. do..... Gambrino Stock 

Co. 

Do .............. do .......... do .......... .. Do .............. do ..... Glbsonllousewell 

Do .............. do..... Grand Hotel. .... . Do .............. do ..... JamesHeaklnCo .. Do .............. do .... ; JosephJose_phBros Do .............. do..... Jung BreWing Co .. 

Do .............. do ..... John Kaufman 

Brewing Co. 

Do .............. do..... Keeling and Bridge Do .............. do ..... Kircluller Construction Co. 

Do .............. do ..... A. Lander Pack85 Allu)vium ........ do .......... do .......... .. 

1~ ·i>oli t1;JOOS&D'i :::~~::::: :::::~:·::::::::::: 

264 

370? 

100 

90 

180 

305 

215 

P:~~~~ ... do .......... do .......... .. 

ey~." 

..... o ........... do .......... do ........... . ..... o ........... do .......... do ........... . Allujyium (?) ..... do .......... do ........... . ..... o ........... do .......... do .......... .. Polrit Pleasant ... do .......... do .......... .. 

PC:J·E:~ ... do .......... do .......... .. 

eye" 

Point Pleasant ... do .......... do ........... . 

~ ·xuu~u.m::::: .~s::.~~- :::::~~:::::::::::: 

180 Point Pleasant Sept. 22 ..... do .......... .. ing Co. 

Do .............. do..... John H. McGow- ........................... do .......... do .......... .. an Co. 

Do .............. do ..... Moerlein B~wing 

Co. 

85 Alluvium ........ do .......... do .......... .. 

Do .............. do .......... do............ 2,408 

Do .............. do..... National Lead Co. 60 

Do .............. do..... Ohlo ButterineCo. 68 

Bt.Peter .................................. .. 

-~~~de!~::::: .~8!:.~ .. ~:~0~-~~--::::: Do .............. do..... Plilace Hotel...... 140 ..... do ........... do .......... do .......... .. Do .............. do ..... RiversldeMslting · 100 

and Elevator Co. ..... do. ........... do .......... do ............ . 

Do .............. do..... Roth & Co........ 85 ..... do ............ do .......... do ........... .. Do .............. do ... ,. 1. Schlachter...... 90 ..... do ............ do .......... do ............ . Do .............. do..... Standard Marble ............. do ............ do .......... do ............ . Works. · Do .............. do..... W~er Brewing 140 ..... do ............ do .......... do ............ . 

Do ............ ,.do .......... do............. 100 ..... do ............ do .......... do ........... .. Do .............. do ..... Crystal Springs 150 ................ 1905 Dearborn Chem. 

Ice Co. icsl Co. 

~~::::::::::: :J~::::: ~~~ems~:· ~ -~~J~~::::: -~~J>::.~ .• ~::;[~~~~-~:::::: 

Do .............. do..... W~h • Muhl- 170 Point Pleas- ... do .......... do ........... .. hsusen Brewing ant. ' Co. 

College Hill .......... do..... Cincinnati North- ern Traction Co. 35 Till........... Sept. 8 ..... do ........... .. 

Do .............. do..... C. D. and 0. c. 201 Richmond and Sept. - R. B. Dole and 

Do .............. do.: ... w~~~~~·... 24 ... ~C.~:: ...... do ........ ~d~:.~~: .. Creedville ........... do..... Fred Bclmfeloh.... 30 ..... do......... Sept. 8 Jl, N. Parker .... .. Elmwood ............ do ..... Laidlaw - Dunn- 114 Glacis! gravels Sept.- R. B. Dole and 

Gordon Works. M.G. Roberts. 

" Strong odor ofhydrot!en su~hide. b IodlnB (I), 4.7; bromfue (Br ~ 5.8; phosphate radicle (PO,), 16; organic and volatile matter, 13 parts per 

million; odor 01 hydrogen sulp ae. 
OB:EMIO.A.L .A.N'.A.LYSES. 208 

waters of southwestern Ohio-Continued. 

Silica Iron 

(SiO•)· (Fe). 

M p tas-' Carbon- Blear- Sui- N'tmte Cal- ~ Sodium 0 ate bonate phate 1 Chlorine Total clum s1um (Na). slum radicle radicle i8dicle radicle (Cl). solids. 

(Ca). (Mg). (K). (COa). (HCOa). (SO,). (NOs). 

........ "'Tr:" :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: 8.4 4.4 394 120 3,504 29 .0 

14 

14 

13 

27 

26 

5.2 

0 

5 

10 

9 

417 122 3,614 . 53 .o 

6.5 ....................................... . 

7 

2.5 ..................................... .. 

4 

15 

'Tr. 

.5 

10 

Tr. 

Tr. 

11 

11 

7 

0 

. 5 ...................................... .. 

20 

0. ------·- .............................. .. 

5.2 

0 417 121 3,615 53 .0 

2.5 ....................................... . 

.5 ............. · ......................... .. 

1 

6 

0 

Tr. 

0 

0 

Tr. 

53, 

.05 

0 

.2 

212 94 303 .0 

265 120 37 14 ~ ....................... f .............. .. 70 24 8.6 .0 

I 

384 138 630 154 553 329 

630 375 

422 154 

504 G460 

518 328 

607 287 

780 197 

707 383 479 Tr. 

G29 406 

679 362 

663 344 

I'Rl Tr. 

468 Tr. 

445 130 304 138 397 186 494 146 607 300 

521 202 

378 Tr. 

298 Tr . 

630 362 

401 191 

728 383 

1,273 375 554 287 514 287 68 46 

420 103 

467 383 

384 Tr. 600 287 

504 Tr. 

550 Tr. 

467 36 

511 276 504 215 

707 431 

348 Tr. 

610 367 .o 

526 678 30 451 47 ..... :5· 320 18 

80 

30 5,891 

6,042 

218 

Much. 

238 

538 

420 

218 

289 

228 

239 

319 

1,073 

400 

218 

146 

202 

60 

214 

1,022 

10 

10 

260 

308 

268 

6,~ 

202 

14 

34 

218 

20 

176 

760 

380 

233 

106 

120 

242 

34 

702 

47 

152 6.5 

.... io;567 

10,992 

bl0,992 

•820 

1,990 

1,480 

293 

c Organic and volatile matter, 16 parts; oxides of iron and alummum ( FlliOa+ AltOa), 20 P!"'ts. 
204 UNDERGROUND WAT:mRS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Location. 

HAMILTON COUNTY-continued. 

Source. Owner,etc. 

Harrison .......... Well.... George Dole ...... . 

TABLE 1.-0hemical composition of 

Depth. Water-bearing 

formation. 

Feet. 

Dnte of 

collection. Analyst. 

100+ Alluvium ..... Sept. 8 R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

Do ........... Wells(4) Harrison Water& 40 ....• do ............ do .......... do ............ . 

Do ........... Well .... TJ'~tht'iL". ....... • 32 ..... do ............ do .......... do ........... _. Do .............. do ..... T. P. Oyler....... 110 ..... do ......... Sept. 22 ..... do ....•........ Hartwell ............ do ..... Store.............. 25 •...• do ......... Aug. 30 J. R. Evans ...... . 

Ivo"t;~~-e::::::::: :::~~::::: -~r-~~~-~~~~~~~: :::::::: .?.~J~~-~~~:~~: ~~ .~:~d~~~~~::::::: Ludlow Grove ....... do ..... Eikenbrecker salt 271 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18ij,2 E. S. Wayne ..... . well. 

Madisonville ......... do ..... Public supply .... . 150 Glacial gravel. Aug. 30 J. R. Evans ...... . Mount Washing- ... do ........................ . 30 Old gravels.... Aug. 23 R. B. Dole and ton. M. G. Roberts. 

Do .............. do ........................ . Norwood ............ do ..... Public supply .... . Oakley .............. do ........................ . Riverside ............ do ..... Fleishman Distil30 

260 

35 

90 

Eden shale(?) .... do .......... do •............ Glacial gravel. Aug. 26 ..... do ••........... ..... do......... Aug. 30 J. R. Evans ...... . Terrace gravel Sept. 22 H. ;N. Parker ..... . ling Co. or alluvium. 

Rossmoyne .......... do..... Store ............. . 95 Richmondand Aug. 30 J. R. Evans ...... . Maysville. St. Bernard .......... do .••.. Public supply ......... _ ... Alluvium •....... do .......... do ............ . Do ........... Wells ........ do............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1905 J. W. Ellms ...... . Valley Junction .. Well .... Clif. Walker estate. 65 Alluvium ..... Aug. - R. B. Dole and 

M. G. Roberts. 

Wyoming ........... do ..... Publicsupply ..... 104-197 ..... do .•....... Aug. 25 ••••• do ............ . 

HIGHLAND 

COUNTY. 

East Monroe ...... Well.... Town............. 45 "Niae:ara" .... Sept. 11 H. N. Parker ..... . Hillsboro .. _ ........• do ..... City supply....... 45 Alluvium ........ _ ...... R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

Do ........... Spring .. JobnL. WesL ............. "Niagara" .... Sept.- ..... do ............ . I.eesburg ......... Well .... Dewey Bros. Co... 112 ..... do ......... Sept. 11 H. N. Parker ..... . Lynchburg .......... do ..... Freiberg & Wor- 1,534 St. Peter ................ A. Lasche ........ . kum Distillery. 

R~: :::::::::: . ~Sf~~-~:: ·Tow~::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::: ~;: :::J~::::::::: :::: 

Marshall .......... Well .... W.A.Elliott ..... "18 Till.. ......... Sept.11 H.N.Parker ..... . Newmarket .......... do ..•.. Town............. 60 "Niagara" ....... do .......... do ............ . New Petersbu!gh .... do .••.. D. R. Cunningham 30 ..... do ............ do .......... do ............ . Pricetowu ...... __ ... do ..... J. W. Abraham... 42 Till. ............. do .......... do ............ . 

MIAMI COUNTY. 

Fletcher ..... _.... Well ...... _.......... .. . . . . . . 60 

Do ......... _ ... do......................... 24 . .. . . .. ... ...... 1902 C. B. Dudley ..... . ................ 1900 ..... do ............ . Laura ....... _ ...... do ..... H. H. Coppock.... 25 

Ludlow ..... · ........• do ..... H. 0. Miles....... 45 

Potsdam ............ do......................... 9 

Till ........... Aug. 17 J. R. Evans ... __ .. 

~~r~~~:::::: :J~::::: :::J~::::::::::::: Rex ........... ___ ... do ..................... _. __ .. __ ... . I mile northwest ... do ................................ . "Clinton". . . . Aug. 18 ....• do ............ . Moraine .......... do .........• do ............ . of Rex. 

Tippec!anoe .......... do ..... Public supply .... _ 55 Alluvium ..... Aug. 21 R. B. Dole· and 

M. G. Roberts. 

5 miles northeast ... do ................................. "Clinton., .... Aug. 18 J. R. Evans ...... . of Tippecanoe. West Milton ...... Spring .. Public supply .................. do ......... Aug. 22 R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

Do ....•......... do ................................................ . 

MONTGOMERY 

COUNTY. 

1902 J. W. Ellms ..... __ 

Bachman ......... Well .... Mr. Hammel...... 35 Till ........... Aug. 15 J. R. Evans ...... . Brookville ........ Wells ... City ...................... "Niagara" .... Aug. 23 R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

Centerville ........ Well ................................ "Clinton' .... Au!(. 18 J. R. Evans •...... Clayton .............. do... ..................... ~1 "Niagara" .... Aug.15 ..... do ....•........ Dayton.......... Wells(6) 1Etna Paper MilL. 4.'5-48 Alluvmm ........ do .......... do •............ Do ••........ _ Well .... Brownell Co....... 54 ..... do ............ do .......... do ......... · ... . Do .............. do ..... DavisSewingMa- ............. do......... 1900 A. C. Ehrenfelt ... . chine Co. 

Do .............. do ..... National Cash ............. do......... 1906 

Register. 

W. B. Scaife & 

Sons. 

Do ........... Wells ... Public supply .... . 3(H;() ..... do ......... Mar. 7 J. W. Ellms .•.••• 

a I,ess than 5 parts. 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 205 

waters ot southwestern Ohio--Continued. 

SiliCI\I Iron (Si02). (Fe). 

C 1 u-~~ p tas- Carbon- Bicar- Sui- N"t te . a - ~~ Sodium !' ate bonate pbate radi 1 !"Bcle Chlorine Total 

Cium smm (Na). smm radicle radicle radicle (Cl) solids. 

(Ca). (Mg). (K). (COa). (HCOa). (SO,). (NOa). • 

.8 ....... ,. ········ ········ ........ ......... 354 38 10 

0 -------- -------- ---····· ···-·-·· -------- 290 35 10 

0 -------· ----···· ........ -------· ........ 336 42 14 

0 ........ ········ -------- ........ -······· 247 Tr. 10 

Tr. -------- ........ ··------ . ....... 390 136 30 

16 102 27 8.1 .0 390 45 12 

18 95 27 21 .0 366 44 35 426 21 403 4,936 2,436 29,112 .0 479 73 60,638 98,222 

....... .!. ....... 426 35 30 ·······sis 25 .3 128 25 24 .0 409 46 8.0 25 

16 1.9 80 17 15 .0 270 50 16 13 346 

48 .2 72 26 14 .0 348 23 .6 2.2 353 

2 -------- -------- ........ ·······- ........ 408 138 165 

Tr. ........ ·······- ........ ........ ········ 406 'J.lr. 20 

Tr. ········ ····---- ........ -------- ··-····· 510 344 100 

Tr. .......... -------- . ....... ··--···· ........ 672 68 40 

"""ii""" ····:r- 101 24 18 .0 406 40 12 

96 28 10 .0 324 46 31 8.9 388 

38 2.2 70 23 13 .0 314 19 .9 10 318 

Tr. ········'········ ···Tr:·· 334 41 

18 .2 90 30 7.0 ···Tr:·· 366 51 14 ·······a7i 2.9 

16 Tr. 52 32 4.7 7.0 273 2.0 16 1.8 242 

0 ·····ao· ········'········ 355 66 1.0 86 347 .0 329 66 20 

533 1,392 / 

1.2 78 29 2.3 ........ ---····· 164 41 3.5 390 

1.0 79 29 3.5 ···-··-· ........ 165 40 5.3 371 0 ········ ......... ........ ........ ········ 305 70 55 

Tr. ........... ......... ........... ·····-·· -------- 380 Tr. 55 0 .......... ···----- -·-····· . ....... ···-···· 443 78 85 

0 ··-····- ·---···· ........ ........ ·----··· 330 113 24 

1.5 493 

········ .. T .. :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: ····544· ···16··· ········ 8.9 476 

(a) 

········ ...........•............ ········ ..•..... ········ 276 362 40 

2 . . . . .. . . .. . .. •. . . .. . . . . . .. . .. .. . . .. .. . . . 390 186 47 

Tr. ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ,461 102 20 

2 ... ..... ........ ........ ........ ........ 374 102 10 

12 .1 77 27 7.8 .o 313 36 8.0 6.5 342 

53 

8.4 25 

Tr. ········· ········ ········!········ ......... 413 

13 .2 60 33 6.3 .0 305 

10 

1.3 290 

59 40 ••.............. ···•••·· ......•• 15 3.0 ... 

"""2i""" 0 ....... ii"""···· 535 176 ···To· 141 ... , ..• 420 .6 84 46 .0 343' '22 3.0 

Tr. ........ ......... ·······- ......... ......... 535 208 126 1 ........ ........... ········ ··--···· . ......... 389 168 86 

4 ... , ....... ........ ......... . ....... .......... 341 168 ........... 25 

2 ..... 43. .......... ........... . ......... 365 116 10 

12 .5 110 ............ ········ ........ .......... 81 13 

18 Tr. 148 52 6 .o 459 78 48 38 636 

16 ~ 28 31 17Q li!! ll .,.,,.,1! ••• 
206 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

Location. 

MONTGOMERY 

COUNTY-contd. 

Source. Owner, etc. 

Dodson ........... Well .... Mr. Smith ........ . Englewood .......... do ..... W. L. Weyner .. .. 

Farmersville .... , .... do..... John Holt ....... .. Fort McKinley ...... do ........................ . Kinsey .............. do ..... Wm. Kinsey .... .. KrietzerCorner ...... do ..... John Hill ........ . Do .............. do ..... Andy Isble ...... .. Do .............. do..... W. E. Snyder ... .. Little York .......... do..... G. W. Fair ...... .. Miamisburg ......... do ..... Public supply ... .. 

Feet. 

TABLE 1.-0hemical composUinn of 

Date of 

colleC>-

tion. Analyst. 

40 TilL . . . . . . . . . . Aug. 15 J. R. Evans ...... . 50 "Clinton." Aug. 17 ..••• do ••........... Richmond, 

and Mays- ville. 

78 Till........... Aug. 15 ..••• do ••••........ 24 ••••• do ............ do .........• do., .......... . 45 "Clinton".... Aug. '17 ••••• do ............ . 98 Till ........... Aug. 15 ....• do .•........... 32 ..•.. do.... . . . . . . .• do.... . . ...• do ............ . 35 ..... do..... . . . . . .. do.... . . ...• do ..........•.. 17 ..... do ...••.... Aug. 17 ....• do ••••......... 60 Alluvium ..•.. Aug. 28 R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

Mummaville ....•..• do..... ..•.. .. .. ..•...•..•. 50 ••••• do ......... Aug. 15 J. R. Evans ..... .. New Germany ....... do ................................. "Clinton" ....... do .......... do ............ . 

Oa~dge·.~·.:::::: :::~~::::: :::::::::::::::::::: ~ 'T'iii~. .'.'::::::: !~~: ~~- :::'::~~::::::::::::: Phillipsburg ......... do ..... School well........ 18 ..... do ......... Aug. 17 ..... do ............ . Pyrmont ............ do ..... Mr. Bower........ 30 ..... do ......... Aug. 15 ..... do ............ . St. Richmond ....... do ..... Wm. Fairbanks... 28 ..... do ............ do .......... do ............ . Sixmile .............. do ..... D. Kleppinger.... 32 ..... do ......... Aug. 17 ..... do ........... .. Trotwood ......... Wells ... City.............. 60 Alluvium ..... Aug. 15 ..... do ........... .. Union ............ Well .... T. P. Eby......... 93 "Clinton/' Aug. 18 ..... do ........... .. Richmona, 

and MaysWengerlawn ......... do..... Mr. Gray ......... . West Carrollton ..... do ..... Public supply .... . 

PREBLE COUNTY. 

Camden .......... Well .. .. Do .............. do ... .. Ed Gingerich .... . Town .......... ; .. Eaton ............ Wells .. . Eaton Water· 

works. 

Do ........... Well ...................... .. Do .............. do ..... Jonathan Flora .. .. 

ville. 25 Till ......... .. 65 Alluvium ... .. Aug. 15 ~ .... do ........... .. Aug. 28 R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

130~ -~~~d~~::::: .~E~:.:: .. ~:~~:.~~-e_r:::::: 80-85 ..... do ......... Sept. 25 ..... do ........... .. 

95 ................ 1896 

29 Moraine... . . . . Sept. 20 

C. B. Dudley ...... R. B. Dole and 

M. G. Roberts. 

Do .............. do......................... 18 ................ 1893 c. B. Dudley .... .. Do .............. do..... Frank Siebert..... 34 Moraine ....... Sept. 25 Do .............. do......................... 15 ................ 1898 

H. N. Parker .... .. C. B. Dudley ..... . 1 mile southeast Spring .............................. "Niagara" .... Sept. 25 of Eaton. 

H. N. Parker .... .. 

Greenbush....... Well ....................... .. 28 Richmondand Aug. 12 J. R. Evans ....... Maysville. 3 miles southeast ... do ....................... .. 25 ..... do ............ do .......... do ........... .. of Greenbush. 

New Paris ........... do ..... C. W. Bloom...... 17 Moraine ....... Sept. 25 H. N. Parker ..... . Do ........... Springs. Cedar S_Prings .................. do......... (?) J. N. Hurty ...... . 

~~:::::::::::-:it~::-:!~:~~:~::::::~~: :~,:~;ir:·;:::: :~~~~::~: :~::~~~~~e~:·::::: Verona .............. do ..... Store.............. 30 Gravel in till .. Aug. 15 J. R. Evans ..... .. West Alexandria .... do ..... S. S. Black........ 112 Moraine ....... Sept. 18 R. B. Dole and · M. G. Roberts. 

West Elkton ........ do..... Elijah Mendenhall ~6 ..... do......... Sept. 22 H. N. Parker .... .. Do .............. do ...... Town ..................... "Clinton•·• ....... do .......... do ........... .. 

'WARREN COUNTY. 

Butterville ....... Well .... T.H.Starkey ..... 

Camp Hagerman .... do ..... ValleyPackingCo. Franklin......... .. . .. .. .. . Public supply .... . Harveysburg ..... Well ...................... .. Kings Mills .......... do ..... Homestead Hotel. 

-Lebanon ............. do ........................ . Mason ............... do..... Oil well .......... . 

Morrow .............. do ........................ . Roachester .......... do ....................... .. 

Waynesville ......... do ..... City supply ...... . 

30 Richmond and Sept. 7 H. N. Parker ..... Maysville. 66 Alluvium .... . 63 ..... do ........ . 25 Till .......... . 30 ..... do ........ . 

Aug. 12 Aug. 30 

Sept. 7 Aug. 28 

20 Alluvium..... Sept. 7 485 Till............ Aug. 29 

22 Alluvium ..... Sept. 7 70 Rlchmondand Aug. 27 Maysville. 

TR:·:E:,;an.s::::::: 

H. N. Parker ..... R. B. Dole and 

M. G. Roberts. 

H. N. Parker ..... · R. B. Dole and 

M.G. Roberts. 

H. N. Parker ..... . • .... doc ........... . 

40 ..... do ............ do .......... do ........... .. 

a Less than 5 parts. 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 207 

waters of southwestern Ohio-Continued. 

Silica Iron 

(SiO,). (Fe). 

Carbon- Blear- Sul- Cal- M~gne- Sodium Potss- ate bonate phate Nitrate Chlorine Total 

clum (sMmgm). (Na). slum radicle radicle radicle radicle (Cl). solids. 

(Ca). (K). (C08). (HCOa). (SO,). (NO,). 

------------------------------------

--------

-------- 15 

14 

Tr. 

····-·-· 

9 

1.5 

Tr. 

2 

Tr. 

Tr. 

Tr. 

Tr. 

.5 Tr. 

1 

Tr. 

1 

Tr. 

Tr. 

1 

2 

4 

0 

. 1 

Tr. 

0 

0 

........ -------- ········ -------· 

........ ········ -------- ........ ··------ ····-·-· ·····-·· ··-····· ······-- . -- ·;· ~-

-------- 88 31 

-------- .......... -------- ··------ ........ -·-····· ----···· -------- ----···· -------- ········ -------- ----···· ------·- ······-· 

......... --·-·-·· .......... -······· 

.......... 70 25 

-------- ········ ........ ···-···· -----·-- --------

:::1:: --------

········ 

........ 

........ 

........ 

-----··· 

10 .o 

::::::::1:::::::: ········ 

........ 

··-····· ........ ........ ........ ········ ······-- ........ -·-····· ·······- ··-···-· ····-··· ........ ........ ····-··· ........... ........... ----·-·· . ~ ...... ........ -······· ······-- ......... 

......... ······-· .. .......... 12 .o 

461 

440 

535 

559 

432 

240 

461 

007 

392 

332 

365 

438 

396 

480 

456 

510 

535 

372 

413 

533 

413 

294 

259 

288 

301 

191 

124 

64 

106 

106 

·362 

150 

113 

104 

51 

70 

154 

222 

106 

154 

300 

208 

98 

91 

222 

222 

29 

108 

44 

Tr. 

17 

10 

······-· -···i:s· :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: ····337· ···..ri-:·· ·······- ···-···· ····o··· :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: :::::::: ····212- ···..ri-:·· ········ 

16 

20 

21 

2& 

.3 ····-··· ·-······ -·-··-·· ·······- ····-··· 

.1 ····-·-· -····-·· -···--·· ······-· ········ 

0 

2.9 

0 

0 

0 

Tr. 

1.0 

3.8 

0 

0 

3 

Tr. 

Tr. .3 

0 

1.2 

0 

.3 

0 

····-··· .............................. ··-····· 88 32 8 .o 

62 28 32 2.4 .o 

··-·-··· ........ .......... ......... ............. 

.......... ......... . ........... ········ ........... ......... ········ .. ......... ········ ........... 

-···-ai· ..................... 102 12 .o 

·····28- ...... ..!: ....... 64 85 .o 

.......... ........ ......... ········· . ~ .......... ········ -······· ............ ........ .......... 

, ........ .......... .......... .......... . ......... 

437 83 

269 64 

343 61 403 25 312 43 316 38 373 68 007 208 

396 2.1 4.0 

434 Tr. .......... 486 Tr. 

330 (b) 

437 Tr. 

432 276 206 Tr. 

355 87 """i2""" 

294 64 

438 .7 ····1:o· 

353 108 284 94 

342 60 

80 

30 

20 

86 

20 

(a) 

126 

(a) 

20 

12 

(a) 

945 

24 

101 

00 

91 

66 

30 

(a) 

50 

185 

2.9 

50 

10 

20 

3911 

316 

64 548 2.8 322 

37 479 10 

43 . 487 10 

81 

30 

10 

12 

10 

10 

24 

646 

5.9 

10 

130 

171 

Tr. 

20 

14 

5.0 

14 

94 

45 

50 

10 

....• ""383 

344 

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

·-·····46a 

·······sio 
208 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

RELATION OF QUALITY TO WATER-BEARING STRATUM. 

The principal water-bearing strata in most of the wells of whose 

waters analyses are given in Table 1 comprise, as noted by Fuller, 

the alluvium, the sands and gravels of the glacial deposits, the till, 

the " Niagara " and " Clinton " limestones, the limestones and shales 

of the Richmond and Maysville formations, the Point Pleasant formation, and the St. Peter sandstone. Other formations yield some 

water, but sufficient information regarding the quality of their 

waters is not at hand. After the analyses had been grouped in accordance with the formations noted by Fuller, the figures representing the amounts of the principal constituents were averaged. 

The averages, rounded off to avoid appearance of fictitious accuracy, 

are given in Table 2, the .first part of which shows the chemical composition of the waters in parts per million and the second the percentage composition of the anhydrous residues. 

TABLE 2.-Chemical composition in relation to geologic strata. 

:Mineral content In parts per million. 

Num- Sodium 

c b I Bicar- SuiPrincipal ber of Cal- Magne- and ar on- bonate phate Cttio- water-bearing Silica Iron potas- at~ rad- rad- analy- tSiO,). (Fe). clum slum slum lcle icle rad- rine- stratum. ses av- (Ca). (Mg). icle (Cl). 

eraged. (Na+ (CO,). (HCOa) (SO,). K). 

------------------

Alluvium ....... 63 15 1 90 30 0 380 100 60 GraveL ........ 17 25 1 90 30 20 0 400 50 25 

Till ............. 40 20 .5 100 40 50 0 400 140 90 "Niagara" ...... 20 20 .5 80 40 20 0 360 80 25 

"Clinton" .... __ 7 15 .2 ------- ........ ........ 0 430 100 50 Richmond and 

Maysville ..... 25 20 .2 190 70 140 0 380 300 160 Point Pleasant. 12 --······ 7 ······· ··--·-·· --······ 0 530 190 360 St. Peter ....... 6 30 10 5,000 800 14,000 0 350 700 36,000 

- Percentage composition of anhydrous residue. 

Alluvium........ . . . . . . . . 3 0 18 6 a4 37 . . . . . . .. 20 12 GraveL.......... . . . . . . . . 6 0 20 7 5 45 . . . .. . .. 11 6 

Till............... . . . . . . . . 3 0 16 6 8 31 . . . . . . . . 22 14 

Total 

solids. 

--

500 

440 

640 

440 . ....... 

1,100 

··51;ooo 

"Niagara". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 o 18 9 5 40 . . . . . . . . 18 6 ....... . ''Clinton" ....................... ------ ............................................................. .. Richmond a n d 

Maysville.... . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 18 6 13 18 . . . . . . . . 28 15 ......•. 

St. Peter......... .. . .. .. . 0 

Point Pleasant ................ _ .. 0 ......... 9 ........ 2 ....... 25 ......... 0 ... _._·_·_ ._._ ._._ ...... 1 .. 

1 

.... 63 .... _._·_·_·_·_·_·_ 

a Estimated. 

Definite general conclusions regarding the- chemical composition of 

the waters from the several water-bearing strata must be made with 

extreme caution. Consideration of the conditions under which the 

samples were collected and tested makes this evident. It is by no 

means certain that water from a well is a fair average sample of 

the water from a single sharply differentiated water-bearing stratum; 

indeed it is certain that many wells in this region are supplied from 

two or more distinct beds. As the primary purpose of the well 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 209 

driller is to obtain an abundap.t supply he usually does not attempt to 

shut out any water that he may encounter except possibly that near 

the surface, which is known to be polluted. Consequently any deep 

well that penetrates more than one water-bearing stratum is likely 

to yield a mixture and though one kind of water may predominate 

the other kinds modify its quality by diluting it or by increasing its 

mineral content. Even if all the supplies but one were excluded 

during construction subsequent deterioration of the casing might 

cause holes and cracks through which they could enter. It is possible 

also that wells drawing water from one stratum may not afford 

samples that are typical of that stratum over a wide area, as seepage 

from other strata may cause local changes in character. Especially 

might such modification occur in the waters of the alluvium, which 

could be locally and also intermittently affected by entrance of water 

from near-by formations whose supplies are under greater hydrostatic 

pressure. The water entering shallow wells is intermittently modified 

by the diluting effect of rain, and deep wells may be indirectly but 

appreciably affected by similar dilution. Last but not by any means 

least important is the recognized fact that the draft on a well 

affects the quality of the water; such influence has been noticed by 

different observers in widely separated districts. The water from 

most new wells contains more mineral matter than that from the same 

wells after they have been used for some time. "\Vaters from strata 

on which there is heavy draft are commonly lower in mineral 

content than those in strata not under heavy draft, probably because of the decreased duration of contact of the waters with the 

minerals; increased draft on some wells, however, results in increased mineral content, a phenomenon doubtless due to percolation 

of strongly mineralized waters from contiguous formations. No 

figures for the bases appear in many of the analyses in Table 1, and 

this lack of data casts still more uncertainty on general conclusions. 

After consideration of all these circumstances it can readily be understood that statements regarding the quality of the waters can not be 

interpreted too literally, and it is not surprising to find in Table 1 

great variations in the chemical composition of waters presumably 

from the same bed. 

WATERS OF LOW MINERAL CONTENT. 

The most noticeable feature in Table 2 is the great similarity in 

composition of the waters from the alluvium, gravel, till," Niagara," 

and "Clinton." The averages indicate that they are all alkalinesaline waters with calcium and bicarbonates predominating but with 

appreciable amounts of magnesium, sulphates, and chlorides. The 

49130° -WSP 259-12--14 
/2_10 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

similarity in composition is brought out still more forcibly in the 

second part of the table, in which the statement in percentage of 

anhydrous residue removes the differences due to dilution. The 

waters are practically alike in their proportionate contents of calcium, magnesium, and the alkalies. The combined carbonic acid exceeds all other negative radicles in amount; it is present almost invariably in the bicarbonate form with free carbon dioxide, and when 

any normal carbonates occur they are very small in amount. According to the aYerages the waters in the till are most strongly mineralized, and study of the separate analyses seems to confirm this conclusion, many of them showing high chlorides and sulphates. The 

waters of the graYels apparently are lowest in their relative amounts 

of chlorides and sulphates. The greatest differences between the 

waters occur in the proportion of chlorides. 

Examination of the individual analyses in Table 1 affords additional proof not only that these water:;; are all of the same type but 

also that the wells yield from the same formation waters more radically different from each other than the averages of the analyses of 

waters from different formations; thus it can be seen that the sources 

of supply in the alluvium, gravel, till, and 'upper limestones can not 

be differentiated from the data at hand. The normal variations of 

bicarbonates, sulphates, chlorides, and total solids of w~ters from 

these strata are given in Table 3. Some evidently erroneous figures 

have been omitted from consideration and some of the amounts 

are estimates. The figures opposite the designation "approximate 

mean" have been rounded off to avoid fictitious accuracy. 

TABLE 3.-Differences in mineral content of wells in southwestern Ohio. 

[Parts per million.] 

Bicarbonate radi- Sulphate radicle Chlorine (Cl). Total solids. cle (HCOa). (SO,). 

Source of water. 

Highest. Lowest. Highest. Lowest. Highest. Lowest. Highest. Lowest. 

----------------- Alluvium ................ 679 121 406 Tr. 380 Tr. 635 309 GraveL .................. 630 320 154 Tr. 165 2 516 293 Till ...................... 607 206 362 Tr. 216 2 637 332 uNiagara" ...... __ ....... 470 265 362 Tr. 86 3 - 537 242 "Clinton" ... ___ . ____ .... 535 30.1 222 Tr. 126 1 700 290 

------ Approximate mean.. 600 240 -aoo-r-~1-----;oo-1--2 ----ooo-1----aoo 

These figures give the highest and lowest amounts of certain substances according to the analyses in Table 1. The information regarding the amounts of calcium, magnesium, and sodium is insufficient to justify similar figures for them, but the amounts of the bases 

are roughly proportional to the amounts of the acids. The supplies 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 211 

from these strata range from 300 to 600 parts per million of total 

solids and they may contain from 2 to 200 parts of chlorides, from a 

trace to 300 parts of sulphates, frbm 240 to 600 parts of bicarbonates, 

and calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in proportion. 

There is no proof that any stratum may not yield waters reaching 

the highest or the lowest limits in mineral content, though the waters 

of the alluvium are likely to show . the. greatest and those of the 

" Niagara " and the " Clinton " the least differences. Probably this 

is due to the fact that the alluvium is exposed to greater modification 

by seepage from other formations and by percolation of surface 

water. It is evident from Table 3 that waters apparently from the 

same stratum differ very widely in mineral content, and consequently 

the averages in Table 2 can be interpreted as being indicative only of 

the general similarity of the waters. 

The alluvium in some parts of the United States yields waters 

lower in mineral content than other local formations, and that might 

be thought to be a general condition, as the alluvial matter has been 

more thoroughly leached both during and after its deposition. The 

alluvial deposits in southwestern Ohio, however, are essentially calcareous, and they will furnish calcium and magnesium to the waters 

percolating through them just like other lime-bearing beds. In addi · 

tion, most of the water entering this alluvium has previously become 

impregnated with mineral matter from other underground deposits 

which it has traversed. As a result the waters of the alluvium, 

though abundant, are not distinctly less mineralized than those of 

the other unconsolidated beds. 

WATERS OF HIGH MINERAL CONTENT. 

Though the waters of the unconsolidated deposits and of the upper 

limestones are similar, waters below the "Clinton" are sharply differentiated. Reference to Table 2 shows that the Richmond and 

Maysville formations yield supplies two to four times as high in 

mineral ingredients as those in the later formations and distinctly 

different in character. The percentages of calcium, magnesium, and 

chlorides are about the same, though the actual amounts are greater; 

the percentages of alkalies and sulphates are much greater, and the 

proportion of bicarbonates is much less. Tests of the water in the 

Point Pleasant are available only at Cincinnati, and these are incomplete, so that definite statements can not be made regarding the 

character of the supply; apparently it is similar to that of the Rich- . 

mond and Maysville formations, possibly being higher in chlorides 

and in iron. No analyses of water from the Eden shale or from the 

~'Birdseye" limestone are at hand, but the water in the former prob-
212 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

ably is as highly mineralized as that of the Richmond and Maysville, 

a11d the water in the "Birdseye" limestone is salty. The St. Peter 

sandstone yields in this region a very hard and very salt water, ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 parts per million of dissolved matter. Its 

characteristics as a strong brine can be seen in Table 2. 

RELATION TO OTHER UNDERGROUND WATERS. 

Table 4 presents figures bywhich the underground waters of southwestern Ohio may be compared with those of north-centra,l Indiana, 

where limestones are abundant. Both regions are well supplied with 

rain and are areas of hard limestone, and it is therefore interesting 

but not surprising that their· characteristic waters are similar in mineralization and in composition. 

TABLE 4.-Comparison of the quality of ground ~ters in southwestern Ohio 

and north-central Indiana. 

Mineral content In parts per mUllan. 

Num- Sodium berof Cal- Magne. and Car- Blear- Sui· Chlo- Dill- analy- Silica Iron cium slum potaa- bonate· bonate phate riDe solved ses (SiOo). (Fe). (Ca). (Mg). sium radicle i:adicle radicle (Cl). solids. aver- (COa). (liCOa). (SO.). aged. (Na+K). 

---------------------- A •••.•.....•.. 120 20 0.8 90 35 30 0 390 90 50 500 

B •.•.......... 169 18 .8 91 31 18 0 306 76 47 467 

c ............. 20 20 .5 80 40 20 0 360 80 25 440 

D •••••...•...• 80 18 1.8 82 31 Z1 0 341 70 19 466 

Percentage composition of the anhydrous residues. 

E ............. ......... 4 0 18 7 5 38 ............ 18 10 ........... F ............. ·······- 'I 0 21 7 4 35 ............ 18 11 ......... G ............. ··-····- 4 0 18 9 5 40 ........... 18 6 ......... li ............ --······ 4 0 20 7 7 40 ............ 17 5 .......... 

A, E, Unconsolidated deposits of southwestern Ohio. 

B, F, Unconsolidated deposits of north-central Indiana (Water-Supply Paper U.S. Geol. Survey No. 

254 1910, pp. 260 and 261). C, <1 "N'mgara" limestone of southwestern Ohio. 

D, .tt, Fresh-water limestones of north-central Indiana. 

SURFACE WATERS. 

Samples of water collected daily from Miami River at Dayton by 

B. F. Glass were united in sets of 10 and analyzed, with the results 

stated in Table 5. Daily readings of the gage maintained at Dayton by the Weather Bureau were averaged in groups corresponding 

to the sampling periods, and these averages are given in the last 

column of the table. By comparing the gage heights with the 

amounts of suspended and dissolved solids an idea may be gained 

of the relation between the quantity of the water and its quality at 

this place. 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 

TABLE 5.-Mineral analyses of water from Miami River at Dayton.a 

[Parts per million unless otherwise designated.] 

~ J, Date ~ !: ~ !: ! 

(1906-7). ~ Jl ~ 8.~ 0 

~ 0 0 

.., ;a 

f:1 '8, r::. -;;- ~+ " "--'- ~ ~ 

"" "--'- "' ~ "'""' ce~ >. ~ -~ 0 s f:1 "" ~ ~8 -o "o .... o "' "" § " ,z "u :a ~ "'" §, "' 1 'Ol .§i- §~ "'W ~e, "' 5 ·s .l:< r::. 1:l ~:~~ ..o~ ";l~ 

From- To- :a " ~ ~ .. 0 to -a ~ ·.: ~ 0 § bl) ..0 0 tl :::: " ~-~ to 0 

" '3 a 0 o"' E-< rn u E-< U3 .!::1 u ::.1 rn u ~ rn z ------- - ------------------------

Sept. 16 Sept. 2.5 32 75 2.34 3.1 16 Tr. 58 28 10 9.0 264 38 0.9 5.0 Sept. 26 Oct. 5 32 58 1. 81 .9 21 Tr. 65 28 9.0 9.0 280 35 2.8 5.8 Oct. 6 Oct. 15 18 32 1. 78 .4 17 Tr. 63 26 9.6 .0 297 37 3.1 5.0 Oct. 16 Oct. 2.5 14 26 1.86 .10 18 Tr. 65 27 9.0 .0 301 40 2.9 5.0 Oct. 26 Nov. 4 5 14 2.80 .15 20 Tr. 66 28 11 8.2 291 41 2.0 5.5 Nov. 5 Nov. 14 8 20 2.50 Tr. 20 Tr. 69 29 9.8 Tr. 317 41 2.0 5.3 Nov. 15 Nov. 24 75 89 1.19 2.1 14 0.24 64 27 9.8 11 2.50 40 7.0 4.3 Nov. 2.5 Dec. 4 16 21 1.31 .5 19 .05 75 28 7.4 3.6 278 60 15 4.0 Dec. 5 Dec. 14 26 34 1.31 0 7 26 .07 75 28 8.2 10 269 62 12 4. 7 Dec. 15 Dec. 24 so' 54 0 .:~~~ 1.4 15 .23 64 23 6.8 .0 239 82 13 3.0 Dec. 2.5 Jan. 4 .... 177 3.2 16 .19 68 24 7.1 .0 272 52 12 3.5 Jan. 5 Jan. 14 210 118 .56, 3.0 14 .5 50 17 6.5 .0 184 36 18 3.6 Jan. 15 Jan. 24 450 223 .501 6. 7 15 0 7 42 14 7.1 .0 161 29 11 3.4 Jan. 2.5 Feb. 4 75 49 .65 1.8 16 .6 61 23 8.8 12 229 44 16 4.1 Feb. 5 Feb. 14 45 42 .93 .5 8.8 .05 60 26 8.0 12 215 .51 10 3.8 Feb. 15 Feb. 24 11 28 2.55 .4 24 .06 58 2.5 6.9 13 212 42 11 4.1 Feb. 2.5 Mar. 6 260 143 .55 4.2 25 .08 67 2.5 7.4 8.4 246 49 9.0 3.8 Mar. 27 Apr. 6 37 52 1. 41 1.0 15 .12 64 24 8.0 12 228 44 10.0 4.6 Apr. 7 Apr. 16 2.5 67 2.68 .3 20 .14 50 26 8.4 12 200 44 15 5. 4 Apr. 17 Apr. 26 2.5 32 1.28 .6 19 .11 58 2.5 3.5 16 217 41 15 4.2 Apr. 27 May 6 20 36 1. 80 .4 15 .16 62 24 6.3 13 229 39 19 3.8 May 7 May 16 18 35 1. 94 .4 23 .11 58 23 3,3 14 217 40 18 4.3 May 17 May 28 37 79 2.14 1.3 14 .10 52 26 3.0 12 218 41 15 3.8 May 29 June 8 240 186 0 77 4.4 19 .19 53 20 12 10 197 34 15 4.8 June 9 June '18 280 2.52 .90 7.0 18 0 7 49 18 11 9.6 180 27 17 3.8 June 19 June 28 75 75 1.00 2.6 17 .12 60 22 11 2.4 249 33 6.2 4.8 June 29 July 8 90 168 1.86 1.6 17 .03 42 26 8.2 .0 206 37 1.2 4.2 July 9 July 19 ···- 3.51 ..... 7.9 30 .35 51 20 14 .0 ..... 26 6.4 2.4 

213 

~ : 1-~ -; . ] . {1)(/.JQ:>-

-~~l~i "0 ~ M:::, 

~ E-< ! - - 300 0. 7 318 .8 309 .6 317 .8 327 1.0 335 2.0 304 2.8 

346 2.4 355 2.5 296 3.0 318 4.2 238 6.5 212 7.5 301 3.3 282 2.9 

298 2.8 320 2.9 

299 2.2 282 2.1 

298 2.2 

297 2.5 

292 2.0 275 1.8 264 3.8 2.52 5.2 283 2.5 

240 1.9 2.54 4.0 July 20 July 29 .... 2M ----- 3.2 8.6 .04 26 18 12 .0 ..... 32 Tr. :6 163 3.4 July 30 Aug. 8 ---- 125 ----- 1.6 9.2 Tr. 56 24 12 .0 ..... 37 1.5 .6 2.58 2.2 Aug. 9 Aug. 18 77 ..... 1.0 18 .03 55 2.5 11 .0 ..... 39 1.5 1.4 273 1.4 Aug. 19 Aug. 28 35 48 1. 37 0 9 9.8 .05 69 29 12 .o 323 34 .0 5.4 331 1.1 Aug. 29 Sept. 7 43 46 1. 07 .9 15 .04 63 24 14 .o 287 41 2.5 5.8 304 1.2 Sept. 8 Sept. 17 140 130 .93 2.6 19 .13 59 2.5 13 .0 2.51 36 2.2 4.8 289 1.7 - - ------------------------- - Mean ............. 84 94 1.46 2.0 17 .15 59 24 9.0 5.8 244 40 8.6 4.1 289 .... Per cent of anhy- drous residue ... .... ---- ..... ...... 5.9 b,1 20.5 8.3 3.1 43.8 ····- 13.9 3.0 1.4 --·- .... 

a Analyses Sept. 9 to Dec. 4, 1906, by R. B. Dole; Dec. 5, 1906, to Mar. 6, 1907, by R. B. Dole and M. G. 

Roberts; Mar. 27 to June 28, 1907, by Chase Palmer and M. G. Roberts; June 29 to Sept. 17, 1907, by R. 

B. Dole, Chase Palmer, and W. D. Collins. Water-Supply Paper U.S. Geol. Survey No. 236, 1909, p. 72. b Fe,o,. 

During 1898 daily samples of water were taken fr9m one of the 

intakes in Ohio River at Cincinnati, and the average, maximum, and 

minimum conditions of the water of Ohio River as shown by the8e 

analyses are given in Table 6.1 

TABLE 6.-Mineral analyses of water from Ohio River at Cincinnati, 1898. 

[Parts per million.) 

~~~~1~~a~~~~J~~:: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Carbonate radicle (CO~) ........................................... . Bicarbonate radicle (HC03) ...................... , ............... .. 

~~!~~:fi~~~:~~~~t::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Maximum. Minimum. Average. 

2,333 

233 .0 

85 

46 

1.34 

44 

24 

67 .0 

24 

13 .37 

3.0 

230 

120 .0 

55 

24 .60 

10 

1 Fuller, G. W., Report on the investigations into the purification of the Ohio River 

water for improved water supply of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1899, pp. 493-494. 
214 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO. 

The miscellaneous analyses of surface waters in southwestern Ohio 

presented in Table 7 are not absolutely comparable because of differences in the analytical procedures employed by the analysts. The 

greatest difference probably is in total solids. It has been customary 

jn the laboratory of the Geological Survey to dry residues at 180° C. 

for one hour. Horton dried his residues at slightly less than 100° C. 

and Dudley at 110° C. Therefore varying amounts of water, organic 

matter, and other volatile material are included in the figures for 

total solids. Most of the large differences, however, are probably 

due to actual differences in the waters at the time of collecting the 

samples. 

TABLE 7.-Miscellaneous analyses of surface waters in southwestern Ohio. 

[Parts per million unless otherwise designated.] 

-~~ a .$ 

.;:1 -~ ~ ~ B t ~~ 0 

§t ~ ~ "· !:!:. 

Source. Analyst. Date. <I ~ ~ "O+ ~5 i oO <10 

~ -~ c!l 8 ~ -~ ~g_ OIII .; .9 -~'>< '0 

§_ o~ .o~ I ~ 1 gJEJ -~ i I ... ~ 

1! .. ·;:: 

~ '0::> 0 -~<I 

~ 0 ~ :a 0 ;:;:! 00. '>=~ 00. 0 Eo< ll< 

-------1-~----1----1----------

East Fork of Little 

Miami River: 

Lynchburg .......... E. G. Horton ...... April, 1905 .... .... 55 25 .... .... 48 4.0 223 .. .. Batavia ................. cdo............ (a) .................... 165 .... 14 258 .. .. Little Miami River: 

South Charleston ........ ,do............ (a) .................... 298 ..... 9 244. .. . Goes .... _........... C. B. Dudley...... Sept. 12, 1901 ........ _.. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 315 262 

Do ..... _ ........ Kennlcott Water Apr. 21,1903 5. 5 2. 0 87 16 8. 0 286 4412 316 .... Softener Co. 

Trebeins ............ J. W. Ellms ...... . 

xenPa~:::::::::::::: · :E:[J:0iiori0ii_·:::: Do .. _ .......... _ Kejmlcott Water 

Softener Co. 

Morrow ............. C. B. Dudley .... .. Loveland ................ do .......... .. Do ................... do .......... .. Do .............. E. G. Horton .... . Linwood ............... ,.do .......... .. Mad River: 

Urbana .................. do. __ ....... .. 

~r;'J!~~~: ::::::::: :::: :~~:::: :::::::: 

East Dayton........ J. W. Ellms ..... .. Do ................... do .......... .. MU!Creek: 

Reading ............ C. B. Dudley .... .. Ivorydale ........... J. W. Ellms ...... . Do ................... do ........... . Do ................... do ........... . Do ................... do .......... .. Do ................... do .......... .. Miami River: 

Mar. 21,1902 .... __ .. 74 22 .... 272 45 ........ 282 

Aug. 8,1904 .... .... 56 29 5.6 300 24 3.6 .~ .. 252 

(a) .................... 304 .... .9 371 ... . Aug. 12, 1902 2. 4 2. 9 75 37 _... 286 60 24 

Oct. 24, 1893 

Sept. 28, 1896 

June 30, 1898 

~:l 

a) 

a) 

a) 

July 23, 1904 

Jan. 23,1904 

Sept. 29, 1893 

Dec. 9,1904 

July 23, 1904 

Nov. 16,1903 

Sept. 16, 1902 

Feb. 21, 1902 

.. .......... ---· ............ 7 260 220 ............................ 7 304 253 ............................ 14 307 244 .................... 244 .... 1.9 364 ... . . ................... 205 .... 2.3 679 .. .. 

340 .... 1.2 456 .. .. 332 .... .5 431 .. .. 311 .... 2.8 417 .. .. .... .... 71 32 9 314 51 8 .... 303 .... .... 61 20 .... 224 37 8 .... 238 

............................ Tr. 329 271 75 28 18 312 5814 299 

45 2311 220 3510 .... 202 

89 26 26 328 56 41 .. .. 335 

101 31 21 442 16 31 .. .. 368 

94 34 .. .. 364 69 13 

Sy~e,r-.:::::::::::: :::::~~:::::::::::: ~eb. ~·~~ ~~ ra : ~ 1~~l~ :::: m 

Do .............. E.G.Horton ..... ay~aaaf .................... 268 ..... 7 404. .. . Piqua .. _ ................. do............ ( ) .................... 245 .... 1. 2 484 .. .. 

Tro~L~~~~~~~~~~~~ ;~~!;;~~~~~~~~~~~~ r~;. ~~;~m ;;;; ;;;; .. ~ .. ~~~ .. ~ "* lr 388 -~ Do ................... do ............ Dec. 9,1904 .... .... 64 23' 5 262 41 5 .... 256 

a Average of 8 analyses of water collected between April and November, 1900. 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 215 

TA_BLE 7.-MiscellaneouB analyses of mrface waters in southwestern· Ohio-Continued. 

Miami River: 

Dayton............. E. G. Horton ... .. Do .............. J. W. Ellms ...... . Middletown ......... E. G. Horton .... . 

.. .................. '08 .... 4.2 407 .. .. .. ...... 79 30 4 29 6411 .... 323 .. .................. 259 .... 3.3 423 .. .. Hamilton ................ do ....... _ .. __ Twin Creek: .................... 230 .... 3.1 626 .. .. 

Carlisle .............. J. W. Ellms ...... . Whitewater River: (c) .. .. .. :. 62 25 3 '02 '0 2 .... 247 

Ponf:ew Paris .......... C. B. Dudley .... .. Feb. 23, 1893 .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 334 248 

College Comer ....... J. W. Ellms ...... . (d) ........ 60 3316 236 7930 .... 294 

a Average of 8 analyses of water collected between April and November, 1900. b Average of 20 analyses of water collected at intake, North Dayton, at Second Street, Dayton and at Perry Street, between Feb. 28, 1901, and Mar. 7, 1906. c Average of 4 analyses of water collected between Feb. 21, 1902, and Dec. 9, 1904. a Average of 5 analyses of water collected from a pond between Dec. 8, 1900, and Dec. 9, 1904. 

Comparison of Table 6 with TablQI; 5 and 7 indicates that the 

water of Ohio River at Cincinnati is lower in mineral content than 

the other surface waters of this region~ This is due to the fact that 

the greater portion of the Ohio comles from areas of soft water. 

The Allegheny at Kittanning, Pa., c~rries 87 parts per million of 

dissolved solids and the Monongahela at Elizabeth, Pa., 81 parts; 

and though Y oughiogheny River at :McKeesport, Pa., carries 197 

parts of dissolved solids it contributes only about one-eighth of the 

discharge of Ohio River at Pittsburgh, Pa., and therefore its water 

does not much increase the mineral conltent of the main stream. The 

tributaries from th~ State of Ohio are similar to Miami River in 

mineral content, but their effect is m.ore than counterbalanced by 

the drainage from Kentucky and West Virginia, which is much lower 

in dissolved solids. 

RELATION BETWEEN UNDERGROUND AND SURFACE 

WATERS. 

The surface supplies are much lower in mineral content than ·the 

ground supplies, and are therefore better for industrial use. The 

relation between the quality of the water of Miami River at Dayton 

and those of the underground sources is shown in Table 8. The 

ground waters in general exceed the Miami water in their content of 

all constituents, but the character of the mineral matter is much the 

same in both. · 
216 UNDERGROUND WATERS OF SOUTH\VESTERN ORI6. 

TABLE 8.-Gom]Jarison of the mineral content of surface and underground 

waters. 

Mineral content in parts per million. 

Cal- ~e- Sodium Car- B~.car- Sui- Nitrate Chlo- Dis- Silica !Fe). cium and po- bonate bonate phate radicle rine solved (SiO,). Slllill tassium radicle radicle radicle (Ca). (Mg). (Na+K). (COa). (HCOa). (SO,). (NOa). (Cl). solids. 

-------------------------- A ••...•. 17 0.15 59 24 9.0 5.8 244 40 8.6 4.1 289 

B ....... 20 .8 90 35 30 0 390 90 ........ 50 500 

-----

Percentage composition of anhydrous residues. 

c ________ l 5.9, a.1 I 20.5, 8.3, 3.1, 43.8, ......... ,13.91 3.0 I D ...... _ 4 0 18 7 5 38 . . . . . . . . . 18 ....... . 10 1.41····--·· . --.- ... 

a Fe20 3• 

A, C, Water of Miami River at Dayton. 

B, D, Underground water; from gravel, till, "Niagara," and "Clinton." 

ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE WATERS. 

The best source of large amounts of water for industrial purposes 

in this region is Ohio River, whose waters are much lower in dissolved solids than its tributaries from southwestern Ohio and only 

from one-fifth to one-third as high in dissolved solids as the ground 

waters of low mineral content. Practically all the surface waters are 

lower in" mineral content than the ground waters and consequently 

are better for industrial use. In addition to dissolved matter, tl).e 

water of Ohio River averages 230 parts and that of Miami River 94 

parts per million of suspended solids, but it would be much less 

expensive to remove the suspended matter from these waters than to 

soften available ground waters that do not contain suspended matter. 

If the turbidity were removed by sedimentation or by filtration the 

surface waters could be classified as good to fair for boiler use and 

most of them could be used without further treatment. 

The waters from the alluvium, gravel, till, "Niagara" limestone, 

and " Clinton " limestone are similar in mineral content and in the 

character of their dissolved matter. Dissolved solids range from 300 

to 600 parts per million and average about 500 parts, chlorides from 

2 to 200 parts, sulphates from a trace to 300 parts, and bicarbonates 

from 240 to 600 parts. The waters are hard, but they can readily be 

softened, and in their natural condition they range from fair to bad 

for boiler use ; they deposit considerable scale and some of them are 

corrosive, but they do not foam under ordinary conditions of boiler 

operation. 

The waters from the Richmond and Maysville formations ·and from 

the Point Pleasant are distinctly less desirable as industrial supplies, being much higher in incrustants, chlorides, and sulphates. 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 217 

·Though some of the waters from the Richmond and Maysville are as 

low in incrustants as some of the waters from the later beds, the 

results of the few analyses available indicate that this is not their 

general condition. 

The St. Peter sandstone yields water so heavily mineralized as to 

be unfit for industrial use except for cooling, and even for that purpose the water would be corrosive. 

As practically all the surface waters in this region are likely to 

be polluted by sewage and most of them by factory wastes they should 

not be used for domestic supplies without careful purification. Filtration under competent supervision would probably make them safe 

for drinking and satisfactory for laundry use. Nothing in the averages of the analyses of•fresh underground waters indicates that they 

are not suitable for drinking and for general domestic use, though 

those from the earlier formations are very hard. Consideration of 

the individual analyses, however, shows that some of the waters contain so much iron that they would stain fabrics washed in them. The 

pollution of streams in this region and the sources of waters in relation to municipal use have been studied in much detail by the State 

. board of health. 1 • 

1 Ann. Repts. Ohio State Board of Health, 1897 to date. 

. ' 

. INDEX. 

A. Page. 

Aberdeen, geology and water supplies at..... 65 

Acids, free, in water, objections to........... 185 

Adams County, description of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 

eprings in............................... 60 

underground-water conditions in. . . • . . . . 61 

water-bearing formations of.. ............ 57-00 

water supplies in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60-61 

Addyson, geology and water supplies at..... 130 

Afton, geology and water supplies at........ 87 

Air Hill, geology and water supplies at...... 153 

Aiexandersville, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 153 

Allensbnrg, geology and water supplies at... 137 

Alluvium, distribution and character of. .. ~. 23-24 

waterin ............................... 37,40-41 

headof.............................. 39 

quality of.. ....................... 208,210 

Bee al8o particular cou'llliea, water-bearing 

formations in. 

Amelia, geology and water supplies at....... 87 

water at, analysis of................... 200-201 

American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association, on 

classification of waters ......... 183-184 

Amity, geology and water supplies at. . . . . . . 153 

ADalyses, authority for .................... 172'--173 

statement of............................. 173 

Andersons Ferry, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 130 

Arcanum, geology and watersuppliesat ... 51,53,99 

Arlington, geology and water supplies at.... 153 

Arlington Heights, geology at............... 115 

public water supplies at ...... _._......... 51 

Arnheim, geology and water supplies at.. . . . 65 

Artesian conditions, map showing........... 30 

Asbury, geology and water supplies at....... 130 

Avondale, geology and water supplies at..... 130 

B. 

Bachman, geology and water supplies at..... 153 

water at, analysis of.......... . ....... 204-205 

Bacteriologic qualities of water, 'nature of.... 176 

Baldwin, geology and water supplies at...... 87 

Bantam, geology and water supplies at...... 87 

water at, analysis of ................... 200-201 

Bardwell, geology and water supplies at..... 65 

Batavia, watersuppliesat ................ 51,85,87 

river water at, analysis of................ 214 

Baywood, geology and water supplies at..... 87 

Beatty, geology and water supplies at....... 82 

Beavertown, geology and water supplies at.. 153 

Beddingplanes,feedingofwaterbedsthrough. 36 

feeding of water beds through, figure 

Showing......................... 34 

Belfast, geology and water supplies at....... 87 

Bell, geology and water supplies at. • • • • . . • • • 137 

Page. 

Bellbrook, water at, analysis of ............ 200-201 

Bentonville (Adams County), geology and 

water suppijes at................ 61 

Bentonville (Clinton cjounty), geology and 

• water supplies at................ 96 

Berrysville, geology an~ water supplies at... 137 

Bernard, geology and water supplies at...... 65 

Bethel, geology and water supplies at • . . . . . . 87 

water at, analysis of .•.•.•.•.•......... 200-201 

Bevis, geology and water supplies at. . • . . . . . . 130 

Bicarbonates in water, objections to......... 187 

Biehn, geology and water supplies at........ 65 

Bibliography ................................ 1!>-17 

Birdseye limestone, distribution and character of.. ................... 23,30-31,115 

outcrop of............................... 35 

waterin ............................. 39,48,115 

qualityof .................. ,........ 40 

Blackhawk, geology and water supplies at... 171 

Blairsville, geology and water supplies at.... 87 

Blanchester, geology and water supplies at... 51, 

53, 92'-93, 96 

water at, analysis of. • . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . . . 200-201 

Blowville, geology and water supplies at..... 87 

Blue ASh, geology and water supplies at..... 130 

water at, analysis of ................... 200-201 

Bfuebali,geologyand water supplies at..... 171 

Blue Creek, water at, analysis of.. ......... 198-199 

Boiler compounds, nature of .••............ 180-181 

Boilers, trouble in ......................... 178-180 

trouble In, remedies for ••.......•....• 180-181 

water for .............................. 178-184 

classification of.................... 181-184 

Bondes Ferry, geology and water supplies at. 65 

Bond Hill, public water supplies at •....... 51,130 

Boston, geology and water supplies at....... 87 

Branch Hill, geology and water supplies at... 87 

Brandt, geology and water supplies at....... 143 

Brecon, geology and water supplies st....... 130 

Bridgeport, geology and water supplies at... 153 

Bridges, geology and water supplies at. . • . • • 137 

Bridgetown, geology and water supplies at.. 130 

Brookville, geology and water supplies at.... 52, 

54,148,153 

water at, analysis of ................... 204-205 

Brown County, description of. • • • • . . . . • . . . . . 61 

underground-water conditions in.. .. .. .. 65-66 

water-bearing formations in •••.......•.• 62'-64 

water supplies in .................. 51, 53,64-66 

Browntown, geology and water supplifl!! at.. 65 

water at, analysis of. . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . .. . 198, 199 

Buford. geology and water supplies a1....... 137 

Butler County, description of ................ 6!>-67 

underground-water conditions in. • . . . . . . 7 4 

water-bearing formations in.............. 67-70 

wat.Elr supplies in .................. 51, 53, 7Q-74 

Butlerville, geology and water supplies st..... 171 

water at, analysis of ................... 20!>-207 

219 
220 INDEX. 

c. Page. 

Calcimn, objections· to, in water ... 177,179,186--187 

California, geology and water supplies at ... 116,130 

wells at, sections of...................... 116 

Camargo, geology and water supplies at...... 171 

Cambrian dolomite, distribution and charac· 

ter of ........................... 31,115 

water in.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 49 

Cam brian sandstone, distribution and character of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 

Camden, geology and water supplies at..... 158, 164 

water at, analyses of...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-207 

Campbellstown, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 164 

Camp Denison, geology and water supplies at. 130 

water at, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202-203 

Camp Hagerman, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 171 

water at, analysis of ..•................ 206-207 

Capps, S. R., work of........................ 18 

Carbonates in water, objections to........... 187 

Carboniferous sandstone, distribution and 

character of... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 

Careytown, geology and water supplies at.... 137 

Carlisle (Brown County), geology and water 

supplies at........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

Carlisle (Warren County), geology and water 

supplies at...................... 171 

river water at, analysis of................ 215 

Carthage, geology and water supplies at...... 51, 

53,117,130 

water at, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202-203 

Catawba, geology and water supplies at..... 82 

Cedar Point, geology and water supplies at.. . 130 

Cedar Springs, location and character of ... 158-159 

Cedarville, geology and water supplies at .. 104,109 

water at, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200-201 

Cedron,geologyand watersuppliesat........ 87 

Cement rock, occurrence and effects of ....... 41-42 

view of.................................. 46 

Center Point, geology and water supplies at. . 65 

Centerville (Brown County), geology and 

water supplies at. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

Centerville (Montgomery County), geology 

and water supplies at . . . . . . • . . . . 153 

water at, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204-205 

Chambersburg, geology and water supplies at. 153 

Cbappendocia Springs, location and character 

of............................... 129 

Charleston, geology and water supplies at.... 87 

Cbasetown, geology and water supplies at.... 65 

wat<>.r at, analysis of .•................. 19&-199 

Chautauqua Grove. geology and water supplies at.......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 

Cherry Fork, geology and water supplies at.. 61 

Cherry Grove, geology and water supplies at.. 130 

Cheviot, geology and water supplies at....... 130 

Chilo, geology and water supplies at......... 87 

Chlorides, objections to, in water ...... 177,187,188 

Cincinnati, climate at..... . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . 21 

geology and water supplies at •••... 117-125, 130 

wells at ..•......................... 121-123, 130 

records of.. ........................ 11&-120 

water of, analyses of........... 125, 202-203 

Cincinnati anticline, character of............. 31 

Cities, pollution of ground water in.......... 14 

Clapp, F. G., work of........................ 18 

Page. 

Clare, geology and water supplies at......... 96 

Clark County, description of................. 75 

underground-water conditions in........ 82 

water-bearing formations in .............. 71>-79 

figure showing....................... 77 

watersuppliesin .................. 51,53, 79-82 

Clarksville, geology and water supplies at .... 93,96 

water at, analysis of ................... 200-201 

Clayton, geology and water supplies at...... 153 

water at, analysis of ................... 204-205 

Clermont County, description of............. 82 

underground-water conditions In ........ 87-88 

water-bearing formations in •••.....•..... 83-85 

water supplies in ................•. 51, 53, 86--88 

Clermontville, geology and water supplies at. 87 

Cleves, geology and water supplies at........ 130 

Clifton (Clark County), geology and water 

supplies at....................... 82 

Clifton (Greene County), geology and water 

supplies at ...••.•.•.•....•...•. 105, 109 

water at, analysis of •••.••.•..•.......• 200-201 

Climate, character of......................... 21 

Clinton, geology and water supplies at....... 96 

Clinton County, description of.. ...•.•••••.•• 88-89 

underground-water conditions in........ 96 

wa!er-bearing formations in ..••••.....•• 89-92 

water supplies in .........••••.•.•. 51, 53, 92-96 

recommendations concerning........ 92 

Clinton limestone, distribution and character of •.......•.•.••••.•.•••..• 27, 2&-29 

outcrop of.. . . . . • . • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • . • . • . 34--ali 

figure showing.. • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • 34 

view of.............................. 45 

spring from, view of. • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • . • . . . 45 

water in ...•.•.••.•.•.•.••••••••••.•.. 39,40,45 

quality of.. ••.....•.•.•••..•.•. 20&-210, 216 

value of.............................. 216 

See also particular counties, water-bearing 

formations in. 

Clover, geology and water supplies at........ 87 

Cluff, geology and water supplies at......... 130 

Cold Springs, geology and water supplies at • 82 

Cold-water softening, method of. . . . . . . • . • . 191>-196 

Coke Otto, geology and water supplies at •.•. 70,74 

water at, analysis of. .................. 19&-199 

College Comer, geology and water supplie• at. 74 

river water at, analysis of................ 215 

water at, analysis of. .................. 19&-199 

College Hill, geology and water supplies 

at ....................•.••. 121>-126, 130 

water at, analyses of. ................. 202-203 

Collinsville, geology and water supplies at... 74 

Color in water, cause of and objections to .. 175,185 

Corrosion in boilers, cause of................. 179 

Corwin, geology and water supplies at....... 171 

Country rock, determination of.............. 55 

Cozadale, geology and water supplies at..... 171 

Craven, geology and water supplies at...... 87 

Creed ville, geology and water supplies at.... 130 

water at, analysis of ....•.............. 202-203 

Crenothrix, effects of....................... 175, 186 

Crescentville, geology and water supplies at.. 130 

Crosstown, geology and water supplies at.... 65 

Crown Point, geology and water supplies at.. 153 

Cuba, geology and water supplies at. . . . . . 93-94, 96 

water at, analysis of ••••••.•.•.••.••.•• 200-201 
INDEX. 221 

D. Page. 

Danville, geology and water supplies at..... 137 

Darke County, description of ................ 96-97 

underground·water conditions in........ 99 

water· bearing formations ln ............. 97-98 

water supplies in ..................... 51, 53, 99 

Darrtown, geology and water supplies at .... 71,74 

water at, analysis of ................... 198-199 

Dayton, climate at.......................... 21 

geology and water supplies at. 52, 54, 148-150, 153 

river water at, analysis of. ............. 215,216 

well at, record of......................... 149 

water of, analysis of ................ 204-205 

Dean, geology and water supplies at........ 153 

Decatur, geology and water supplies at...... 65 

Delhi, geology and water supplies at......... 130 

Dent, geology and water supplies at......... 130 

Deserted Camp, geology and water supplies at 96 

Desoto, geology and water supplies at. . . . . . . 65 

Dodds, geology and water supplies at........ 171 

Dodson, geology and water supplies at...... 153 

water at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

Dodson ville, geology and water supplies at.. 137 

Dole, R. B., on chemical character of waters of 

southeastern Ohio ............. 172-217 

work of...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 172, 197 

Donnelsville, geology and water supplies at.. 82 

water, analysis of.. .................... 198-199 

Drainage, description of. . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Drexel, geology and water supplies at........ 153 

Drift, water in... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

water in, head of ........................ 38-39 

See also Morainal drift; Till; Gravel; Glacial valley filling. 

Dunlop, geology and water supplies at...... 130 

E. 

Eagle City, geology and water supplies at.... 82 

water at, analyses of... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198-199 

East Dayton, river water at, analyses of..... 215 

East Monroe, water at, analysis of ......... 204-205 

Eastwood, geology and water supplies at.. . . 65 

Eaton, geology and water supplies at... . . . . . 52, 

54,159-161,164 

wells at and near, record of.............. 159 

water of, analyses of. .............. 206-207 

Ebenezer, geology and water supplies at..... 153 

Eckmansville, geology and water supplies at 61 

Eden shale,.distribution and character of. 23,29-30 

outcrop of. .. .. . .. .. • .. .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 35 

figure showing....................... 34 

water in ...................•............. 46-47 

See also particular counties, water· bearing 

formations in. 

Edenton, geology and water supplies at..... 87 

water at, analysis of. .................. 200-201 

Edwardsville, geology and water supplies at.. 171 

Eightmile, geology and water supplies at.... 130 

Eldorado, geology and water supplies at..... 164 

Elenor, geology and water supplies at....... 87 

Elmwood, geology and water supplies at.... 51, 

126,130 

well at, record of. . . .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. . . • 126 

Elizabethtown, geology and water supplies at. 130 

Ellen ron, geology and water supplies at. . . . . 153 

Ells bury, geology and water supplies at. . • • • 65 

Pa.ge. 

Elmwood, geology and water supplies at.... 130 

water at, analysis of ................... 202-203 

Elston, geology and water supplies at........ 87 

Emerald, geology and water supplies at..... 61 

Englewood, geology and water supplies at.. 153 

water at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

Enon, geology and water supplies at.... . . . . . 82 

Epworth Heights, geology and water supplies 

at......................................... 87 

Euphemia, geology and water supplies at.... 164 

Evans, J. R., work of ...................... 18,197 

F. 

Fairfax, geology and water supplies at....... 137 

Fairfield, geology and water supplies at...... 109 

Fairhaven, geology and water supplies at.... 164 

Fairmount, geology and water supplies at. . . 153 

Fairview (Adams County), geology and water 

supplies at................................ 61 

Fairview (Highland County), geology and 

water supplies at.......................... 137 

Fallsview, geology and water supplies at.... . 137 

Farmers, geology and water supplies at...... 96 

Farmersville, geology and water supplies at. 150, 153 

water at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

Farm wells, pollution of..................... 14 

Fayetteville, geology and water supplies at.. 65 

water at, analysis of ...... , ............ 198-199 

Feed· water heating, method of ............ 196-197 

Feesburg, geology and water supplies at..... 65 

Felicity, geology and water supplies at ...... 86,87 

water at, analysis of. .................. 200-201 

Fernbank, geology and water supplies at. . . . 130 

Ferristown, geology and water supplies at... 65 

Ferry, geology and water supplies at........ 109 

Fidelity, geology and water supplies at...... 143 

Field work, extent of............. . .. .. .. .. . . 18 

Filtration, methods of ..................... 192-195 

necessity for............................. 217 

Fincastle, geology and water supplies at..... 65 

Fivemile, geology and water supplies at.. . . . 65 

Fletcher, water at, analyses of. ............ 204-205 

Flowing wells, conditions controlling •....... 37-38 

distribution of........................... 56 

occurrence of. . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Foaming, cause of. . . . .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. 179 

Folsom, geology and water supplies at....... 137 

Forestville, geology and water supplies at... 130 

Forgy, geology and water supplies at........ 82 

Fort Ancient, geology and,water supplies at. 171 

Fort McKinley, geology and water supplies at 153 

water at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

Foster, geology and water supplies at........ 171 

Fourmile House, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 153 

Franklin, geology and water supplies at. . . . 52, 

54,168,171 

water at, analysis of ................... 206-207 

Fruit Hill, geology and water supplies at.... 130 

Fuller, M. L., work of. ..................... 18,197 

Funston, geology and water supplies at...... 87 

G. 

Gath, geology and water supplies at......... 137 

Geology, description of ...................... 21-31 

relation of, to quality of water •.•...•.• 208-209 
222 INDEX. 

Page. 

Georgetown, geology at...................... 64 

public water supplies at •.•........ 51,53,64,65 

Germantown, geology and water supplies 

at .•..............•..•......... 150,153 

Germs, disease, freedom of water from....... 176 

Getters berg, geology and water supplies at.. 153 

Gettysburg, geology and water supplies at... 164 

Ginghamsburg, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 143 

Glacial valley filling, <listribution and character of. ........................... 23-24 

source of.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

waters in .................. · . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40-41 

Gladstone, geology and water supplies at.... 109 

Glass, B. F., analyses by.:.................. 213 

Glendale, geology and water supplies at .. 51, 53, 130 

Glen Este, geology and water supplies at.. . . 87 

G!enrose, geology and water supplies at...... 87 

Goes, geology and water supplies at........ 105, 109 

river water at, analyses of............... 215 

Gordon, geology and water supplies at....... 99 

Goshen, geology and water supplies at . . . . . . 87 

Grape Grove, geology and water supplies at.. 109 

Gravel, water in, quality of.. .............. 208, 210 

See al8o Terrace gravel; Glacial valley 

filling; Old gravels. 

Gratis, geology and water supplies at........ 164 

Grayson, geology and water supplies at.... . . 143 

Greenbush (Brown County), geology and water supplies at.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

Greenbush (Preble County), geology and water supplies at..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 

water at and near, analyses of. ........ 206-207 

Greene County, description of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 

underground-water conditions in ...... 108-109 

water-bearing formations in ............ 100-103 

water supplies in ................ 51, 53,104-109 

Groesbeck, geology and water supplies at.... 130 

Ground water, search for, loss in.. • • . . . . . . . . . 15 

Guinea, geology and water supplies at....... 87 

Gurneyville, geology and water supplies at... 96 

H. 

Hamilton, geology at........................ 71 

river water at, analysis of..... . . . . . . . . . . . 215 

water supplies at ............... 51,53, 71-72,74 

wells at, record of........................ 72 

water of, analysis of ............... 198-199 

Hamilton County, description of. ......... 109-110 

springs in. . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 

underground-water conditions in ...... 13()-131 

water-bearing formations in ............ 11()-115 

water supplies in ................ 51-53,115-131 

Hamlet, geology and water supplies at....... 87 

Hammersville, geology and water supplies at. 65 

Happy Comers, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 153 

Hardness, cause of.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 

local variation in meaning of.. ......... 174-175 

Harrison, geology and water supplies at..... 51, 

53,126,130 

water at, analysis of .•...•............. 204-205 

Harshasville, geology and water supplies at.. 61 

Harshman, geology and water supplies at.... 153 

Hartwell, geology and water supplies at ..... 51, 130 

water at, analysis of ................... 204-205 

Page. 

Harveysburg, geology and water supplies at. 171 

water at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

Hawkers, geology and water supplies at. . . . . 109 

Hayes Store, geology and water supplies at... 153 

Hazelwood, geology and water supplies at... 130 

Helderberg limestone, distribution and char· 

acter of. . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 

Hennessey, geology and water supplies at.... 82 

Hennings Hill, geology and water supplies at. 87 

Hestoria, geology and water supplies at...... 65 

Hiett, geology and water supplies at......... 65 

Higginsport, geology and water supplies at... 65 

water at, analysis of ...............•... 198-199 

Highland, geology and water supplies at..... 137 

Highland County, description of.. ...•••... 131-132 

underground-water conditions in........ 137 

water-bearing formations in ...••.....• 132-134 

water supplies in ...........•.... 52, 54,135-137 

Hill, geology and water supplies at. . . . • . . . . . 87 

Hillsboro, geology and water supplies at..... 52, 

54,135-137 

water at, analyses of. ................... 204-205 

Hollowtown, geology and water supplies at.. 137 

Home City, geology and water supplies at... 130 

Hopkinsville (Greene County), geology and 

water supplies at. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 

Hopkinsville (Warren County), geology and 

water supplies at................ 171 

H ufieysville, geology and water supplies at. . 109 

Hulington, geology and water supplies at.... 87 

Hustead, geology and water supplies at...... 82 

Hyde Park, geology and water supplies at .. 51,130 

Hydrogen sulphide, objections to, in water.. 177, 

. 179,188 

I. 

Idlewild, public water supplies at. . . . . . . . . . . 52 

illinoian till, distribution and character of ... 22,26 

Industry, water for... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Indiana, ground waters in, comparison of, 

with Ohio waters................ 212 

Industrial uses, water for, objectionable qualities in ..•..............•....... 185-189 

requisites of .............•...•.•.... -··r 184 

Information, sources of ...................... 15-18 

Ingomar, geology and water supplies at...... 164 

Investigation, object of ....... ·: .............. 14-15 

Ionic statement of analyses, adoption of...... 173 

Iron in water, objections to ........ 116-177,179,186 

occurrence of, in 0 hlo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 

Ithaca, geology and water supplies at... . . . . . 99 

Ivorydale, geology and water supplies at 126-127,130 

river water at, analyses of.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 

well at, record of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 

water of, analyses of ............... 204,205 

J. 

Jamestown, geology and water supplies at. 105,109 

water at, analyses of •.................. 200-201 

Joints, definition of................ . . . . . . . . . . 36 

feeding of water beds through .........•.. 35-36 

figure showing.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 

K. 

Kennedy, geology and water supplies at..... 130 

Kennedy Heights, public water supplies at. . 62 
INDEX. 223 

Page. 

Kessler, geology and water supplies at....... 143 

Kingman, geology and water suppliors at..... 96 

Kings Mills, geology and water supplies at.. 168-

169,171 

water at, analysis of.. ................. 206-207 

!Gngsville, geology and water supplies at.... 153 

Kinsey, geology and water supplies at....... 153 

water at, analysis of ................... 206-207 

Kirbysville, geology and water supplies at.. 65 

Kreitzer Corner, geology and water supplies 

at. ............................. • 153 

water at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

L. 

Lagonda, geology and water supplies at.... . . 82 

Lambertine, geology and water supplies at.. 153 

Laura, geology and water supplies at........ 143 

water of, analysis of. .................. 204-205 

Laurel, geology and water supplies at........ 87 

Lawrenceville, geology and water supplies at. 82 

water at, analysis of. .................. 198-199 

Lebanon, geology and water supplies at...... 52, 

54,169,171 

well at, record of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 

water of, analysis of. ............. 206-207 

Leeland, geology and water supplies at...... 171 

Leesburg, geology and water supplies at. 52,135,137 

wells at, record of........................ 135 

water of, analysis of ............... 204-205 

Lees Creek, geology and water supplies at.... 96 

Lerado,geologyand water supplies at........ 87 

Levanna, geology and. water supplies at.. . . . . 65 

Level, geology and water supplies at......... 171 

Leverett, Frank, aid of.............. . . . . . . . . . 18 

Lewisburg, geology and water supplies at .. 161,164 

Liberty, geology and water supplies at....... 153 

Limestone City, geology and water supplies at 82 

Lime water, use of........................... 180 

Lindale, geology and water supplies at....... 87 

Lindenwold, geology and water supplies at... 7 4 

Literature, list of. ........................... 16-17 

Lithium, existence of, in water ............ 189-190 

Little Center, geology and water supplies at.. 96 

Little Miami River, geology on .............. 24-25 

water of, analyses of..................... 214 

valley of, description of.. ..........•... ,. 19 

terraces on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Little Miami River, East Fork, water of, 

analyses of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 

Littleton, geology am! water supplies at...... 137 

Little York, geology and water supplies at... 153 

water at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

Location of area ............................. 13-14 

map showing............................ 13 

Lockland, geology and water supplies at .... 52,130 

Locust Corner, geology and water supplies at. 87 

Locust Ridge, geology and water supplies at.. 65 

Loess, distribution and character of. ....... 22, 25-26 

water in................................. 42 

See also particular counties, water-bearing 

formations in. 

Loveland, geology and public water supplies 

at .••.••.•................. 51,53,86,87 

river water at, analyses of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 

water at, analysis of ............•...... 200--201 

Ludlow, geology and water supplies at...... 143 

• 

Page. 

Ludlow, water at, B!lalysis of •............. 204-205 

Ludlow Grove, geology and water supplies 

at ............................. 204-205 

Ludwick, geology and water supplies at..... 137 

Lumberton, geology and water supplies at... 96 

Lynchburg, geology and water supplies at... 52 

54,135-137 

river water at, analysis of................ 214 

well at, record of......................... 136 

water of, analysis of ............... 204-205 

Lytle, geology and water supplies at......... 171 

M. 

Mack, geology and water supplies at......... 130 

McKay, geology and water supplies at.... . . . 94, 96 

well at, record of...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 

Macon, geology and water supplies at........ 65 

Maderia, geology and water supplies at...... 130 

Madisonville, geology and water supplies at.. 52 

53,127,130 

water at, analysis of ................... 204-205 

Mad River, water of, analyses of............. 214 

Magnesium, objections to,in water. 177,179,186-187 

Maineville, geology and water supplies at.... 171 

Manchester, geology and water supplies at.. . 61 

water of, analysis of ................... 198-199 

Manila, geology and water supplies at.. . . . . . 87 

Maple, geology and water supplies at........ 65 

Maps of southwestern Ohio ............ 22, 24, 26,30 

Maps, index, of area......................... 1? 

use of.. .................................. 55-57 

Marathon, geology and water supplies at ...• 86,87 

Marshall, water of, analysis of .•........... 204-205 

Martinsville, geology and water supplieg at.. 94, 96 

Mason, geology and water supplies at .. 169-170,171 

well at, record of.......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 

water of, analysis of ............... 206-207 

May, geology and water supplies at.... . . . . . . 87 

Maysville formation, distribution and character of .......................... 23,29 

outcrop of. • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 

figure showing.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

view of ............................. 46 

solution channels in, plate showing. . . . . . 36 

water in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45-46 

quality of............................ 208 

value of ••••....................... 216-217 

See also particular counties, water-beariog 

formations in. 

Mechanical filtration, methods of. ......... 194-195 

Medicinal use, water for ................... 189-190 

Medicinal waters, nature of.......... . . . . . . . . 189 

Melvin, geology and water supplies at....... 96 

Merrittstown, geology and water supplies at. 171 

Merwin, geology and water supplies at...... 87 

Miami, geology and water supplies at........ 130 

Miami County, description of..... . . . . . . . . . . . 138 

underground-water conditions in........ 143 

water-bearing formations in ........... 138-141 

water supplies in ••.............. 52, 54,141-143 

Miami River, geology on .................... 24-25 

water of, analyses of ................... 214-215 

quality of........................... 213 

value of...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 

valley of, description of.................. 19 

terraces on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 
224 INDEX. 

Pa.ge. 

Miamiville (Clermont County), geology and 

water supplies at... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 

Miamiville (Hamilton County), geology and 

water supplies at:.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 

Miamisburg, geology and water supplies at. 52, 

54,151,153 

well at, record of........................ 151 

water at, analysis of.. ............. 206-207 

Middleboro. geology and water supplies at. . 171 

Middletown, public water supplies at ....... 51,53 

river water at, analysis of............... 215 

Midland, geology and water supplies at...... 96 

water of, analysis of... .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . . 200-201 

Midway, geology and water supplies at...... 82 

Milford, geology and public water supplies 

at ......................... 51,53,86,87 

water at, analysis of ................... 200-201 

Mill Creek, geology on ...................... 24-25 

waterof................................. 20 

analyses of.......................... 214 

Milltown, geology and water supplies at..... 65 

Millville, geology and water supplies at...... 74 

water at, analysis of.. ................. 198-199 

Minerals in water, nature of. .............. 173-175 

Mineral waters, effect of, on disease...... . . 189-190 

nature of.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 189 

Modest, geology and water supplies at ....... · 87 

Monfort, geology and water supplies at .... ,. 130 

Monroe, water at, analysis of. ............. 198-199 

Monterey, geology and water supplies at. . . . 87 

Montgomery, geology and water supplies at. 130 

Montgomery County, description of. ...... 143-144 

underground-water conditions in ...... 153-154 

watel"'bearing formations in ........... 144-148 

water supplies in ................ 52, 54,148-154 

Moores Fork, geology and water suppli~s at. 87 

Morainal drift, distribution and character of. 26 

waterin................................. 42 

See also particular counties, water-bearing 

formations in. 

Moraines, description of.............. .. .. .. . 20 

Morning Sun, geology and water supplies at. 164 

Morrisville, geology and water supplies at. . . 96 

Morrow, geology and water supplies at .... 170,171 

river water at, analysis of. . . .. .. .. . .. .. . 215 

water at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

Moscow, geology and water supplies at. . . . . . 87 

water at, analysis of ................... 2()()-201 

Mount Airy, geology and water supplies at. . . 130 

Mount Carmel, geology and water supplies at. 88 

Mount Healthy, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 130 

Mount Holly (Warren County), geology and 

water supplies at................ 171 

Mount Holly (Clermont County), geology and 

water supplies at .•.•............ 88 

Mount Olive, geology and water supplies at .. 

Mount Orab, geology and water supplies at .. 

Mount Pisgall, geology and water supplies at. 

Mount Repose, geology and water supplies at. 88 

Mount St. Joseph, geology and water supplies 130 

88 

65 

88 

at............................... 130 

Mount Summit,geology and water supplies at. 

Mount Washington, geology and water sup130 

plies at ......................... 27, 130 

water at, analyses of .................. 204-205 

Page. 

Mowrystown, geology and water supplies at.. 137 

Mulberry, geology and water supplies at.... 88 

Mumma ville, geology and water supplies at.. 153 

wa~r at, analysis of. .................. 206-207 

Murdock, geology and water supplies at ... 170, 171 

N. 

N a tiona! .Military Home, geology and water 

supplies at .............. 52, 54, 150, 153 

Needful, geology and water supplies at...... 137 

Nee!, geology and water supplies at.......... 65 

Neff Grounds, spring at, views of... .. .. . .. . 108 

Neville, geology and water supplies at. . . . . . . 88 

water at, analysis of. .................. 200-201 

Nevin, geology and water supplies at.. . .. .. 137 

New Antioch, geology and water supplies at.. 96 

New Burlington, geology and water supplies 

at ............................ 94-95,96 

water at, analyses of. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. 2()()-201 

New Carlisle, geology and water supplies at .. 79,82 

New Germany, water at, analyses of ...... 206-207 

New Harmony, geology and water supplies at. 65 

New Haven, geology and water supplies at.. 130 

New Hope (Brown County), geology and 

water supplies at................ 65 

water at, analysis of................... 198-199 

New Hope (Preble County), geology and 

water supplies at.. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . 164 

New Jasper, geology and water supplies at.. 109 

New Lebanon, geology and water supplies at. 153 

New Lexington (Highland County), geology 

and water supplies at. . ... .. .. .. 137 

New Lexington (Preble County), geology and 

water supplies at...... .. .. . .. .. . 164 

New London, geology and water supplies at. 74 

water at, analysis of. .................. 198-199 

New Madison, geology and water supplies at. 99 

water at, analysis of. .................. 2()()-201 

Newmarket, geology and water supplies at. 139 

water at, analysis of ................... 204-205 

New Palestine, geology and water supplies at. 88 

New Paris, geology and water supplies at .... 52, 54, 

161-162, 164 

river water at, analysis of............... 215 

water at, analyses of. .................. 206-207 

New Petersburg, water at, analysis of ...... 204-205 

New Richmond, geology and water supplies at .................... 51,53,86,88 

water at, analyses of. .................. 200-201 

Newtonsville, geology and wltter supplies at. 88 

water of, analysis of. .................. 200-201 

Newtown, geology and water supplies at..... 130 

NewVienna,geologyand water supplies at. 51,53, 96 

Niagara limestone, definition of ............. 22, 28 

distribution an <;I character of ......... : .. 22,28 

outcrop of. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . . . . .. .. . 34 

figure showing. . .. . . .. .. .. . . . . . . .. .. 34 

partings in., plate showing. .. . .. .. . . . .. .. 45 

solution channels in, plate showing ...... 36,44 

spring from, view of..................... 108 

water in ........................... 39-40,44-45 

quality of. .................... 208-211,216 

value of............................. 216 

See also particular counties, water-bearing 

formations in. 

Nice, geology and water supplies at... . . . . . . . 88 
INDEX. 225 

Page. 

Nichols, geology and water supplies at..... . . 88 

Nickles, J. M., aid of........................ 18 

Niuemtle, geology and water supplies at..... 88 

Nineveh, geology and water supplies at ..•. _ . 88 

Northampton, geology and water supplies at. 79,82 

water at, analysis of. ________ .. _. ______ 198-199 

North Bend, geology and water supplies at._ 130 

Norwood, geology and water supplies at ... __ 52, 53, 

12&-127, 130 

wells at, records of.. .. _______________ .. _ _ 128 

water of, analysis of ....• _____ .. ___ 204-205 

0. 

Oakland, geology and water supplies at...... 96 

water at, analysis of. . __________ : __ . _ .. 200-201 

Oakley, geology and water supplies at_______ 131 

water at, analysis of. .. ______ ---- _____ . 204-205 

Oakridge, water at, analysis of. .. _ -.. ______ 20&-207 

Oakwood, water supplies at __________ .. __ 52, 54, 151 

Obannon, geology and water supplies at..... 88 

Odor in water, cause of. ____ -·-·-·-·. _______ . 175 

Ogden, geology and water supplies at .. _ . _ _ _ _ 96 

water at, analysis of. .. ___________ •. __ . 200-201 

Ohio, groundwaters in, comparison of, with 

Indiana waters. __ --- .. -... _. __ .. 212 

Ohio River, description of.---.-- .. -- __ ._____ 20 

geology on .... _________ ---------·-- .. 24-25,27 

pollution of. ...... _____________ . __ . __ . _. 20 

water of, quality of.._ ..... ___________ ... 213 

value of. .. ,_ ...... __________ ........ 216 

valley of, description of ... _________ . __ .. _ 19-20 

. terraces on .... _____ ..... ____ . ______ .. 20 

Ohio shale, distribution and character of.... 133 

Oklahoma, geology and water supplies at .. _. 164 

Old gravels, distribution and character of .• _. 22,27 

water in. ____ .. _ .. _____ ._ .. _ .. __ .... _ .... 43-44 

Oldtown, geology and water supplies at..... 109 

Olive Branch, geology and water supplies at.. 88 

Ordovician dolomite, distribution and character of. ........ ---· ....... ___ ..... 31 

water in ....... _ .. _ ..... _._._ ... _._._._._ 39,49 

Oregonia, geology and water supplies at. . . . 171 

Organic matter in water, objections to .. _ .. 176,188 

Organisms, growth of, objectionableneB!' of.. 175 

Osborn, geology and water supplies at._. __ .. 51, 

53,105-106,109 

well at, record of ..•.......... __ ._. _. ____ . 105 

Osceola, geology and water supplies at .... ___ 171 

Outwash plains, distribution and character 

of................................ 156 

Oxford, geology and water supplies at. 51, 53, 73, 7 4 

wells at, record of.. ..... _ .... _._......... 73 

water of, analysis of. .... _._._._ .. _ 198,199 

Owensville, geology and water supplies at.. 88 

P. 

Paintersville, geology and water supplies at. 106, 109 

Pansy, geology and water supplies at. ___ ... _ 96 

Parker, H. N., work of..··-··-·····-· _____ .. 197 

Parts per million, analytical results stated in.. 173 

Pekin, geology and water supplies at ... _.... 171 

Perin town, geology and water supplies at. .. _ 88 

Pigeye, geology and water supplies at.. .. __ .. 143 

Phillip burg, geology and water supplies at... 154 

water at, analysis of. . ___ .. ___ . __ . _. ___ 20&-207 

49130°-WSP 259-12--15 

Page. 

Phoneton, geology and water supplies at..... 14.3 

Pinhook, geology and water supplies st...... 88 

Piqua, river water at, analysis of. • • . . . . . • • • • 215 

Pitchin, geology and water supplies at....... 82 

water at, analysis of. ... _. __ ........... 198-199 

Pittsburgh, water at, analysis of.. .... _ •... 200,201 

Plainville, geology and water supplies at..... 131 

Plattsburg, geology and water supplies at.... 82 

Pleasant Hill, geology and water supplies at.. 88 

Pleasant Plain, geology and water supplies at. 171 

Pleasant Ridge, geology and water supplies 

at_ ........ _______ . _____ ._. ___ ._ 52,131 

Pleasant Run, geology and water supplies at. 131 

Point Isabel, geology and water supplies at._ 88 

Point Pleasant, geology and water supplies at. .... ______ .. _._._ ... _. __ . ____ . 88 

Point Pleasant formation, distribution and 

char;wter of ... _._. ____ . __ . 23,30, 85,115 

outcrop of.. ____ ._. ____ . __ .. __ ._ ..... ____ 35 

figure showing ..... _._._._ ... _.______ 34 

water in .. _ .... _. __ ._ ...... _._ ... _._. 47-48,115 

quality of.. .... _ .... _._ ..... _._._.__ 208 

value of. ..... __ ..... _ ... _ ... _ ... __ 21&-217 

Portsmouth, climate at ...... _ .... __ ._._. __ .. 21 

Port William, geology and water supplies at. 96 

Potsdam, geology and water supplies at.... 143 

water at, analysis of. .. __ ... _ .......... 204-205 

Prall, geology and water supplies at.......... 65 

Preble County, description of ........ _....... 154 

springs in ...... _._.- .. __ ._._._........... 160 

underground-water conditions in......... 164 

water-bearing formations in ...•. _ ..... 155-158 

water supplies in ... _ .. _ ....•.... 52,54,158-164 

Preston, geology and water supplieS at ..... _. 131 

Price Hill, geology and water supplies at._.. 131 

Pricetown, geology and water supplies at.... 137 

water at, analysis of. ............ _. _. _. 204-205 

Public water supplies, list of ................. 49-54 

Pulse, geology and water supplies at......... 137 

Pyrmont, geology and water supplies at._._. 154 

water at, analysis of. .. _ ...... _ .. _. _. _. 206-207 

Q. 

Quaternary deposits, map showing ...... _... 24 

R. 

Railroads, water for ..... _ ................. _. 15 

Rainfall, statistics of. • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

Reading, geology and water supplies at .• 52, 53, 131 

river water at, analysis of................ 215 

Red Oak, geology and water supplies at..... 65 

Red Lion, geology and water supplies at. __ .. 171 

Reesville, geology and water supplies at. . . . . 96 

Reily, geology and water supplies at ..... _... 74 

Relief, description of.. ...... _ .... _ .. _ .... _ . _ . 18-20 

Remington, geology and water supplies at.. 131 

Rex, geology and water supplies at.._._.____ 143 

water at and near, analyses of. .... ___ . 204-205 

Richmond formation, distribution and character of. ......... _ .. __ . __ .. _._. __ 23-29 

outcrop of ..... _.---_._ .. ___ ... _._._._.__ 35 

figure showing ... _ .. __ ._._ .... __ ._._. 34 

view of.._- .... -.-.-._ ... __ -... _._._._._. 46 

water in.- .... _ ...... _._._ ..... _. _______ . 45-46 

quality of .... _._._._. ___ . _____ ._.____ 208 

value of. •....... _. _______ . ___ ._._. 21&-217 

See also particular counties, water-bearing 

formations in. 
226 INDEL 

Page. 

Ridgevflle, geology and water supplies at.... 171 

Ripley, geology and water supplies at. 51,53,64,60 

Rivers, movement of water to ............... ~4 

movement of water to, 1lgure showing.. 34 

Riverside, gecilogy and )Vater supplies at.... 131 

water at, analysis of •••.•.•••••••••.•.• 204-:.!5 

Roachester, geology and water supplies at... 171 

water at, analysis of.. .. . • . .. • • .. . . . . . . 206-207 

Roberts, M.G., work of ••••..•.••.•.•.• 18,172,197 

Rock formations, distribution and character 

of •••••.•......•..•.•..•.•.•.•.•. 2!h'l1 

water ln .............................. 36,44-49 

flow ln.............................. 38 

figures showing ••........•.•.••• ~ 38 

head in ••.............•....•......... 37-38 

Bee al8o particular counties, water-bearing 

formations of. 

Rocky Ford, geology and water supplies at.. 88 

Ross, geology and water supplies at.......... 74 

ROIIIlburg, geology and water supplies at..... 171 

Rossmoyne, geology and water supplies at... 131 

water at, analysis of. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • 204-:.!5 

Roxanna, geology and water supplies at..... 109 

Rural, geology and water supplies at. • . • • • • . 88 

Russell, geology and .water supplies at....... 137 

RII8Sellvllle, geology and water supplies at... 65 

water at, analysis of. • • . • . • • . . . . • . • . • • • 198-199 

s. . . Sabine, geology and water supplies at. • • . • . . 96 

St. Bernard, geology and water supplies at.. 52, 

53,128-129,131 

water at, analyses of. • • . . • . • . . • . • . . . . . . 204-:.!5 

St. Martins, geology and water supplies at... 66 

St. Peter sandstone, distribution and character of ........................ 23,31,115 

outcrop of............................... 35 

waterin .......................... 36,411-49,115 

depth to............................. 56 

quality of ..••••.•......•....... 40,208,217 

value of............................. 217 

St. Richmond, geology and water supplies at. 154 

water at, analysis of •.................. 206-207 

Salem, geology and water supplies at........ 88 

Saltalr, geology and water supplies at........ 88 

Samantha, geology and water supplies at.... 13: 

Sand filtration, method of................. 192-194 

Sardinia, geology and water supplies at. • . . . . 64, 65 

water at, analysis of. • • • . • . . . . • . . . . . . . • 198-199 

Sater, geology and water supplies at......... 131 

Savona, geology and water supplies at....... 99 

8cale, formation of........................... 178 

nature of................................ 178 

Beaman, geology and water sqpplies at...... 61 

Bedamsville, geology and water supplies at.. 131 

Bekitan, geology and water supplies at....... 131 

Belma, geology and water supplies at. • • . . . • . 82 

Bevenmile, geology and water supplies at .... 73,74 

water at, analysis of................... 198-199 

Shandon, geology and water supplies at..... 74 

Sbilronvllle, geology and water supplies at. . . 131 

Silverton~ geology and water supplies at. . • . . 131 

Bimpkinson, geology and water supplies at.. 88 

Sixmlle, geology and water supplies at....... 154 

water at, analysis of •••••••••••.••..•.• 206-207 

Page. 

Sixteenmile Stand, geology and water SUIJ" 

plies at.......................... 131 

Sld1fsville, geology and water supplies at.... 66 

Sligo, geology and water supplies at......... 96 

Snyder, geology and water supplies at....... 131 

Snydervllle, geology and water supplies at... 82 

Socialvllle, geology and water supplies at.... 171 

Soda ash, use of .•....•..................•. 180, 196 

Softening of water, methods of.. . . . . . . . • . • . 195-197 

Somervllle, geology and water supplies at.... 74 

South Charleston, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 82 

river water at, analysis of.. . . . . . . . . . . . . • . · 215 

South Excello, public water supplies at ....•• 51,53 

South Lebanon, geology and water supplies at 171 

South Millard, geology and water supplies at. 88 

Spanker, geology and water supplies at...... 154 

Spann, geology and water supplies at........ 88 

Springboro, geology and water supplies at .. 170,171 

Springdale, geology and water supplies at.... 131 

Springfield, geology at. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • . • . 7lH!2 

public water supplies at .......•..• 51, 53, 7lH!2 

Infiltration gallery of, plan of, chart 

showing...................... 80 

section of, figure showing. . • • . • . • 81 

river water at, analyses of. . . . . • . . . • • • • • • • 215 

wells at, record of •............•..•.•.•••• 79,81 

water of, analyses of .........•.•.•• 198-199 

Spring Grove Park, geology and- water suppliesat.......................... 82 

Spring Valley, geology and water supplies at 106, 109 

Stabler, H., on classification of waters ••••• 181-183 

Steaming, water for.. . . • . . . • . . . . • . • . . • • • • • • • 15 

Stephens, geology and water supplies at..... 61 

Stickaway, geology and water supplies at.... 66 

Stone Lick, geology and water supplies at.. • 88 

Strasburg, geology and water supplies at.... 137 

Stratigraphy, description of ............•••.• 21~11 

section showing. . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • . . • . • • . • 34 

sequence of .......•..............••.•••.. ~23 

Stringtown, geology and water supplies at... 66 

Structure, description of..................... 31 

Sugartree Ridge, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 137 

Sugar Valley, geology and water supplies at. • 164 

Sulpha tea in water, objections to............ 187 

Sulphur Grove, geology and water supplies at 154 

Summerside, geology and water supplies at.. 88 

Sunshine, geology and water supplies at..... 66 

Surface deposits, determination of........... 55 

distribution of, map showing............ 26 

thickness of. • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • . 55-06 

See alllo partiettJar counties, water-bearing 

formations of. 

Surface waters, quality of. ................• 212-215 

relation of, to underground waters ....• 216-216 

value of. • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 216-217 

Surryville, geology and water supplies at.... 66 

Suspended matter, objections to............. 185 

Swanktown, geology and water supplies at.. 154 

Sweetwine, geology and water supplies at.... 131 

Sydney, river water at, analyses of.......... 215 

Symmes, geology and water supplies at...... 131 

Symmes Comers, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 74 

water at, analysis of ••..•....•.••••.•.• 198-199 
INDEX, 227 

T. Page. 

Tadmon, geelogy and water supplies at •••. 141-142 

Tallewanda Springs,Iocation andcb.aracterof 74 

Taylors burg, geology and water supplies at.. 154 

Taylors Creek,· geology and water supplies at. 131 

Taylorsville (Brown County), geology and 

water supplies at. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 

Taylorsville (Highland County), geology and 

water supplies at................ 137 

Terrace gravels, cemented layers in, occurrence and effects of .............. 41-42 

cemented layers in, view of.............. 46 

distribution and character of........... . 22, 

24-25,62,67,83,112-113,145 

section of......................... . . . . . . . 112 

source of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

water in ..........•...................... 41-42 

figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 

Terrace Park, geology and water supplies at.. 131 

Till, distribution and character of ...•....... 26-27 

water in................................. 43 

quality of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208, 210 

See also particular counties, water-bearing 

formations in. 

Tippecanoe, geology and water supplies at... 52, 

54,142,143 

water at and near, analysis of... . . . . . . . 204-205 

To basco, geology and water supplies at...... 88 

water at, analysis of. .................. 200-201 

Topography, description of.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-20 

Tranquility, geology and water supplies at.. 61 

Transit, geology and water supplies at...... . 131 

Trautman, geology and water supplies at.... 131 

Trebeins, geology and water supplies at...... 109 

river water at, analyses of............... 215 

Trenton, water at, analysis of.. ............ 19S:.199 

Trotwood, geology and water supplies at.... 52, 

54,152,154 

water at, analysis of ................... 206-207 

Troy, river water at, analyses of.... . . . . . . . . . 215 

Twentymile Stand, geology and water suppliesat.......................... 171. 

Twin Creek, water of, analysis of............ 215 

Typhoid fever, polluted water, cause of...... 14 

u. 

Ulrich, E. 0., aid of......................... 18 

Underground water,accessions to, at outcrop. 34-35 

accessions to, at outcrop, figure showing.. 34 

through joints.... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 35-36 

figure showing... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35 

analyses of ............................ 197-207 

available supply of. .................. 39-40, 49 

best source of...... .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 55 

comparison of, with Indiana waters...... 212 

depth to................................. 55 

distribution of, map showing............ 30 

occurrence of. ........................... 36-37 

quality of, relation of, to geology ....... 208-209 

relation of, to quality of surface waters ............................ 215-216 

relation or, to surface .................... 32-33 

source of.. ............................... 33-36 

value of ............................... 216-217 

Union (Montgomery County), geology and 

water supplies at.............. 152, 154 

well at, record of......................... 152 

water of, analysis of. .............. 206-207 

Pa.ge. 

Union (Warren County), geology and water 

suppliesat,..................... 171 

Union Pl$18, geology and water supplies at.. 66 

water at, analysis of ................... 198-199 

Uplands, description of...................... 19 

Urbana, river water at, analysis of........... 21.? 

Utica shale, distribution and character 

of ..................... 23,29-30, s.;, llf 

water in ............. : ................... 46-4" 

Utopia, geology and water supplies at....... 8 J 

v. 

Valley Junction, water at, analysis of ...... 2fJ4.l -1'5 

Valleys, description of.. ..................... 11 • i\l 

Valleys, movement of ground water in .... 33-3., ll 

movement of grotmd water in, figure 

showing ........... ·-············· ~4 

Valleys, abandoned, description of........... l'l 

Vandalia, geology and water supplies at..... [,;• 

Vandervorts Comer, geology and water supplies at................................ ~ 

Venice, geology and water supplies Pt....... 74 

Vera Cruz, geology and water supplies at.... 66 

Verona, geology and water supplies at....... 154 

water at, analysis of ................... 206-207 

Vienna Crossroads, geology and water supplies at ........ "................. 82 

Villa, geology and water supplies at. . . . . . . . . 82 

Vineyard Hill, water at, analysis of ........ 198-199 

Vorhees, ~ology and water supplies'at.. .. .• 154 

w. 

Wallsburg, ~ology and water supplies at.... 66 

Warren ·county, description of............. 164-165 

public water supplies in ......... 52,54,168-171 

underground-water conditions in........ 171 

water-bearing formations in ............ 165-168 

Water, chemical qualities of. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. 176 

impurities in, nature of.................. 174 

judgment of, from analyses.............. 174 

minerals in ............................ 173-175 

pollution of.. .......................... 176, 217 

protection of........ .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. • 176 

purification of. ........................ 190-197 

objects and methods of ..•......... 190-192 

Water-bearing formations, distribution of, 

map showing.................... 30 

Waters, mineral. See Mineral waters. 

Waters, surface. See Surface waters. 

Waters, underground. See Underground water. 

Water supplies, investigation of. ..•.......... 14-15 

statistics of .............................. 49-54 

Waynesville, geology and water supplies at.. 52, 

54,170,171 

water at, analysis of .................... 206-207 

Wellman, geology and water supplies at. • .. . • 171 

Wells,movementofwaterto ................. 33-36 

movement of water to, figures showing ... 34,35 

protection of, necessity for............... 176 

viewof.............................. 46 

water of, analyses of ................... 197-207 

See also Flowing wells; particular counties, underground-water conditions in. 

Wengerlawn, geology and water supplies at... 1M 

water at, analysis of ................... 206-207 
228 INDEX. 

Page. 

West Alexandria, geology and water supplies 

at ................... 52, M, 162--163,164 

wellat.recordof..................... .... 162 

waterof,analysisof ................ ~207 

Westboro. geology and water supplies at...... 96 

West Carrollton, geology and water supplies 

at ....................... 52, 54,152,154 

water at, analysis of............. . . . . . . . 206-207 

West Elkton, geology and water supplies at.. 163 

water at, analyses of ................... ~207 

West Florence, geology and water supplies at. 164 

West Manchester, geology and water supplies 

at ....................... 52, 54,163-164 

West Milton, geology and water supplies at.. 52, 

54,142--143 

water of, analysis of.. .................. 204-205 

West Sonora, geology and water supplies at.. 164 

West Umon, geology and water supplies at ... 60-lll 

water at, analysis of .................... 198-199 

Westwood, geology and water supplies at.. . . . 131 

West Woodville, geology and water supplies 

at............................... 88 

water at, analysis of.. .................. 200-201 

Wbeat,geologyand watersuppliesat...... ... 61 

Whiteoak, geology and water supplies at.. . . . 66 

Whiteoak Creek, waterof.................... 20 

Whitewater, geology and water supplies at. . . 131 

Whitewater River, water of, analysis of....... 215 

Wiggonsville, geology and water supplies at.. 88 

Wilberforce, geology and water supplies at.... 51, 

53,100,109 

Willettville, geology and water supplies at.... 137 

Williamsburg, geology and water supplies at. 88 

water at, analysis of........... . . . . . . . . . 200-201 

Willowville, geology and water supplies at.... 88 1 

Page. 

Wilmington, geology and water supplies at. 51;·53, 95 

well at, record of.. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . 95 

water of, analysis of.. .............. 200-201 

Winchester (Adams County), geology, and 

water supplies at...... . . . . . . . . . . . 61 

water at, analysis of... . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 198, 199 

Winchester (Preble County), geology and 

water supplies at. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 

Winkle, geology and water supplies at........ 137 

Wisconsin till, distribution and character of. 22,26 

Withamsville, geology and water supplies at. 88 

Wood bourn, geology and water supplies at... 154 

Woodiogton, water at, analysis of. ......... 200-201 

Woodlawn, geology and water supplies at.... 131 

Wrightsville, geology and water supplies at.. 61 

Wyoming, geology and water supplies at..... 52, 

53,128,131 

water at, analysis of.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204-205 

X. 

Xenia, geology and water supplies-at......... 51, 

53, lOf>-107,109 

river water at, analyses of..... . . . . . . . . . . . 215 

water at, analyses of. .................. 200-201 

Y. 

Yellow Springs, geology at •............ 107-108,109 

location and character of. .•............ 107-108 

tufa at, analysis of....................... 108 

viewof.............................. 108 

views of................................. 108 

water of, analyses of.. .................. 200-201 

z. 

Zimmerman, geology and water supplies at... 109 

Zoar, geology and water supplies at.... . . . .. . . 171 

0