Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-09-27

wii be proper 10 commence by making some inquiries
mo Tue structure OF Tue earth To superficial observer
may appear, that the materials of which the earth
composed, he IN confusion and without regularity bat
upon . more minute inspection ii will he obvious that
orccr and arrangement prevail, IN this, as much as in
any other of NATURES works.
In consequence of the great extent 10 which mines
have been worked in Europe the Geolonis,s on that
continent have greater facilities for making invtstiga-
tons below the surface than cxis, in this country. TO
them therefore, are principally indebted for tie facts
to elucdate the subject.
The interchangeable industry and persevering zeal with
winch the great Werner and others iabourcd 10
acquire aud impart information this useful branch OF
SCIENCE is Known to every who has paid the least
attention to it, Subsequent researches, well in Eu-
rope as IN this country, have uniformly confirmed the
principal facts stated by Werner fn relation 10 the
science They find that TO such depths as they have
been able TO penetrate, the earth is straticd mostly as
is intended to be represented u the accompanying
tor. The lower strata are considerably elevated in
some places and form tie SUBMITS of the highest
tans they arc usually very highly inclined frequently
rest vertically; they extend to great depths INTO the
earth and considered to be of the Oldest formation.
The next winch ST upon the former, commence lower
down the declviiy of the mountain; they not so
highly inclined and believed to be of more recent
formation; and SO on 10 the highest newest strata
which form the surface of tie level regions. Ga
vcrns and assures abound some the formations; but
The oldest are generally the most compact and ccnae
queny do not SO readily permit the passage of
through them.
Porated from the oceans, bays, rivers, and smaller
streams; this is carried by the winds to the mountains
and other elevated regions, and there deposited III the
form OF rain or snow. large portion of il the
being previously converted into waer descend5 the
earth IN obedience to gIavtaton until meets with
stratum sufficiently compact prevent il gof throagl
and then runs on that stratum to the if not OBJ
structed; but npedimeuts will present in various places
and arrest tie further progress of OF it, which I'm
accordance with the law that fluids If prevented from
descending will rise the level of their sources viii be
damned until with another channel; If none
such present leading doErnward will rise the SUI face
through of tue assure, loose formations and
form springs In Its course through the earth ii fills
many of the forming reservoirs winch cause
the supply to be more uniform than it wou!d Uterw ise
be.
When ii 10 contact with soluble minerals it
takes portions OF such IN solution, causing salt lcs las
they termed in the Western country and mineral
springs; perhaps also as some suppose, tie sadness Of
the ocean.
The fact that sufficient quantity of water Is cvapo
rated Tor the above purpose, has been fully established
b. numerous experiments il is only niece sarv to stale
tie results of one two of them
Oh exposing circular surface of water OF eight inch
Is IN diameter, 10 the temperature OF ordinary SUN
me"s day. the celebrated Dr.. HALEY found that two
tcntis of an inch deep, six ounces evaporaeI in
twenty hours IN that ratio each square foot loses
about VINE pint daily square mile 500 tons, and
square degree 80 millions Of tons
In another experiment in Great Britain surface OF
eight square inches LOST by evaporation one year
1922 grains OF water, about 81 cubic inches CON
scGuerty the evaporation 10 that time was eight inches
deep, aud that without exposure 10 the and wind,
which would have made the quantity lost much greater
but even III that ratio the annual evaporation from tile
waters within the state of Mary Land aiouc which are
estimated at 100000 acres would be nearly six thou
sand millions ofhogshcads.
We will next endcayOur to draw from the foregoing
whatever may be useful TO those w ho wish to obtain
constant supply OF water for farming, manufacturing, or
other purposes, moderate quantity; for cannot cx-
Pect to obtain by the usual method of boring in suii
cient abundance TO lie used power but even in this
age OF discovery we dare not pronounce it impossible
From what has been said of the structure of the earth
1T tar to conclude. the further below the surface
meet with streams Of water, the higher will be their
sources, and of course, the higher they will rise.
In most regions great number of strata lie within
few hundred feet of the surface aud the structure o
many OF them being loose and porous, and assures
seams so numerous that water has passages in almost
every direction from which, well from the results
OF such experiments as have been made known one
would be induced believe that in almost every part OF
the earth streams flowing the surface, may be OBJ
tanned by boring from TO three hundred feet perpen-
diCuiaFly
As we have but little satisfactory information from
those who have been engaged in boring, observa
tons upon tie practical part Of the subject are submit
ted.
4 writer in late number of Tie American Farmer,
has given some account Of well recently bored, and
thinks II only necessary to tube down far will shut
out nOXiOus and pleasant mattCr that presume from
near the surface I Is possible this may suffice for bis
and some other but shall endcayour show that
1t must not be stated general rule, and that if
ceiycd as such may often cause disappointment. IN
order that the escape of portions, all thc wafer dat
would otherwise flow TO thc surface may be prevented,
tubing will in most instances be requisite. In England,
at the salt wells IN this country, If correctly in
formed IT is uniformly the practice 70 tube the whole
depth Of the wells. lit were thought that tubing
necessary il might not rise 10 the surface the probable
cause of failure not suggesting butwe could most likely
account for it recurring the structure Of the EARTH
for fa stream ofwater the we'll comes TO-, fluids i5surc
or loose formation, in any part Of the well Of sufficient
extent 10 enable ii all 10 of, IL certainly will not
rise TO the surface In such a case tubing would most
likely bring it up Tn all it would be proper.
(werc persons DO not wish to tube IL il be avoi5el
alterbaving bored 70 considerable depth without bring
ing IT up the surface Cf the earth Ia tube down be-
low The surface Of The water if il does then rise
may he supposed that place Of escape exists in some
part of IFS before arrival at the well which must
then be bored deeper to another stream and tubcd the
whole depth Of the well.
am impressed with the belief that this method ri