Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-11-14
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FROM THE CINCINNATI GAZETTE.

FROM THE CINCINNATI GAZETTE.
.WesSrs. EdUors:-In compliance with
YOUR request, will briefly state some Of
The facts connected with the progress of
the Cholera at Oxford, so far as they
have bearing upon the question Of the
geological theory. 4 brief explain alton
of the character of our formations may
be necessary 10 proper understanding
of the statements shall make.
In nearly all limestone districts, the
rock is interstratified with n.arItte-a
mixture Of lime and clay. The lime
stone rock is impervious TO water. but the
Joints and assures in the strata allow the
descending rains, or melting SHOWS, 10
penetrate the earth, often to great depths
But where the rock is interstratified with
the lnarlite the water is prevented from
reaching any greater depth than the mar
lite. because Of its compactness.
Where the everything soil rests upon the
marlite, the rains can only penetrate thro'
the soil and must then run off in springs
or into wells, if coming in their way
The rain-water, Of course. takes up the
putrid matter of decomposing animal
and vegetable substances, and bears it
down into the earth with it, where the po-
TOuS VI tiiC SoIiS dIttt uilucIIy iIlS
strata will permit. But where the soils
and strata are more compact, the water is
filtered and the putrid matter left behind
in the soils, sands, &c, and the water
reaches its outlet in d state of purity pro-
portioned to the depth penetrated and the
capacity Of the medium. through which it
passes to retain the impurities.
In the diluvial districts, where the soil
rests upon deposit Of sand, gravel, peb-
Bile, &c, the water must generally pene-
trate through both the soil and diuvian be-
fore it reaches the marlite or limestone 10
be arrested in its descent. and made to
pass off into springs and wells. The
thickness of the diluvian is from one foot
to two or three hundred, in different To-
calities Where it is Of great depth the
rain water, penetrating down through its
sands, may become fully purified from all
putrid matter.
In sandstone regions, the rock is gen
orally interstra'ifed with shale-sand
and clay intermingled. which is more po-
rous than mar1ite. and permits the sur
face water to penetrate through it. An
occasional stratum. however, is compact
enough to act as flooring to conduct the
water into springs or wells. As the wat
err of sandstone districts usually pene-
trates to a greater depth than in those Of
limestone, it is usually better filtered and
more pure.
At Oxford we are on the upper portion
of the blue limestone or iouer sifuriaH Of.
Biologists. where the marlite predomi
mates. and but little soil and diluvian COW
ers il and the rock The town is built
upon an oblong mound shaped hill
There are occasional patches OF diluvian
underlying the soil. and resting upon the
rock or marlite. but never more than a
few feet in thickness. The descending
rains. consequently mostly pass rapidly
off upon the surface. or in natural drains
or sewers. little below the surface. Some
of our wells are in the range Of these
natural sewers. and receiving their con
tents, are filed up rapidly with the an
filtered murky surface water. which bears
along the putrid matter derived from the
deconposing vegetable and animal sub
stances Of the filthy portions of the alleys
and streets. Other wells having theiI
source of supply from greater depth
are unaffected by rains and the water, be
ing well filtered, is always Transparent
and pure. The water of these wells
however. penetrating through the lime
stone strata TO greater depth. is NOR,
highly imPregna,ed with carbonate Q