Mariposa Democrat., 1857-11-26
Artesion Water for Mining Purposes.

everything that promises to be of public bene-
fit, and above all, benefit to our mining pop
ulation, who are in truth, the main-stay of this
as well as almost the entire mountain country
Hooking at the position of the rich mining
district surrounding IIornitos, situated as we
are among the lower hills, and the veins of
water beneath us being easy of access, the
question presents itself to us Are not artcsian
wells practicable here, and can they not be
made available for mining purposes? We
have discussed this subject 10 some extent,
among some Of our most prominent practical
citizens, and have heard many sound argu-
ments in its favor, and it appears to be the
general impression that it only needs to be
tested to prove its utility. We are also of this
opinon-we believe that artesian wells can be
bored in the neighborhood of Horntos, upon
emnences sufficiently high to furnish water
to all the placer diggings in this vicinity, and
that the water can be sold at lower rates, with
higher profits than that furnished by any other
method. The opinion that impedments to bor-
ing exist, which will very naturally be urged by
some in opposition to our views, may be some
what dissipated when we say, that the rocky
formation to be most feared is not continuous,
nor is the rock as hard as might be supposed
upon a cursory glance 1t is well known to
all who have noticed the process of well-dig
glng here that the rock is of porous, soft char
op1f from fl,a facf hat, ,e,c e.,
Comparatively short distance below the sur
face, seems more an advantage than otherwise,
as the water being more confined, as it were,
between the different strata Of rock, can be
more readily brought to the surface. The
great consideration in favor of the artesian well,
is, its cheapness in construction, and the very
triding expense attending it after the water is
obtained. Another important feature is, that
II is never-ending source ailording stream
which by night and at other times, when not re-
quired for immediate use, can be collected in re-
servoirs, thus incidentally increasing the supply
We believe that but little investigation will be
required, to show that artesian wells are quite
practicable here and in many other portions of
this county. We are situated far below and
adjacent to the Sierra Nevada range and TAX
ing the argument of the Stocktonians in favor
of their artesian WELL our neghborhood has
superior advantages for procuring water by
that method. Their argument was, and it is
the received opinion, that the water brought
to the surface of the earth by artesan wells
was that from the veins leading from the sur
rounding mountains, rising by pressure, to a
level with tie parent veins, assisted in its pro-
gress by the accumulation from the various
veins through which the well passed. BY this
reasoning, we possess all the requisites for
obtaining an nexhaustbe supply of water
speedily, cheaply, and in large quantities
By taking the Stockton well as an example
making Of course proper allowance for the
difference in the material to be bored through
very close estimate can be made as to the
probable cost of well here, and the contract
or who sunk the well at that place, having all
the apparatus in readiness, could probably be
induced to undertake the work at low fig
ure, and perhaps take pecnniary interest in
# to some considerable extent.
We speak advisedly when we say that con-
tributtions to large amount would be imme-
dately made in this town and its neighbor-
hood, should some responsible, reliable man
como forward and undertake the enterprise.
And almost the entire county of Mariposa, feel
ing interested, Qor the wells are practicable in
many places in the county subscriptions would
be made which would be ample to sink the
first well, which is all that is now wanting to
prove its practcability after which we will
have artesan wells in abundance. There are
some ten or twelve Of our prominent citizens
here, and many more at Quartzburg, Indian
Gulch, and in other adjacent localities, who,
we are certain, having the advancement of the
county at heart as well as their own interests,
would cheerfuly contribute largely and use
their influence in its favor, provided simply,
that they could place implicit reliance on the
person undertaking the work
TO our mind, the artesian well presents the
surest method of supplying the great desdera-
tum in Marposa county, namely, water. We
see no other means of procuring water at least
for a very long time to come. Three years Of
expectation have passed away, and the canals
which were to have supplied us, are not even
fairly commenced, and worse still, God knows
when they ever will be During all this time,
while the people elsewhere have been stirring
themselves to supply the miner with water
thereby proiting by the actual price paid for
the water and also proiiting by the sale of
their goods of every kind, bought by the min.
ers with the very money which they assisted
them to obtain, to say nothing of the increased
prosperity Of their mining districts and the
consequent rise in the value of their property
while other portions Of the State have been
doing this, what have the people of this sec
ton been doingi Waiting for help Waiting
for what we fear will never come, except
through their own endeavors They now have,
within their very grasp, what they have so