Mariposa Democrat., 1857-12-10
[coMMuNIcArED.l
AItTEslAN WELLS.
NO. l..

MOI.
MEssRs. EDIroRs-The great value of aite-
sian wells in this vicinity, were they put in
operation, is acknowledged by all thinking
men, but everybody appears to be waiting
for somebody else to take the initiative step.
The history of these wells seems but little
known among us, and as such an undertaking
here would probably be the result of combined
action on the part of the citizens, | have con-
densed as much as possible the following val
liable information on the subject from Brande's
Encyclopedia
The name "Artesan is derived from Ar.
tois, province in France where great atten-
ton has been paid to this method of obtaining
water. That wells of this description were
known to the ancients, we have proof positive
they were used for the purpose of irrigation
The oldest of modern times is in France, at Lii
lers, in Artois, in the Convent of Chartreux,
and was bored in 1926 The Chinese are said
to have had such wells for thousands of years,
but the authority is not reliable. These wells
il is said, can only exist in stratafied countries
or in countries where different beds of rock
are superposed on one another, and range in a
certain geological order. The strata generally
follow nearly horizontal direction, but are
sometimes ranged even perpendicular to the
horizon. Between the strata are frequently
found beds of permeable sand, through which
the water fiters-and reposes on the imper-
meable strata. In all locations where these
strata exist, there are as many bodies of wa
ter as there are impermeable strata, and from
these subterranean lakes, formed by the rains,
no doubt, we obtain the water Of the artesian
fountain. There is contained in the earth, in
this manner, an incolculable amount of water
for instance, the Vancuse artcsian well sends
forth continually very large stream, which
forms very considerable river in the dryest
season; at its minimum, it produces 47s0 Gu
bic feet per minute-alter rains, il produces
thrice this quantity, and annually it produces
5,030,000.000 Of cubic feet. Water is sup.
posed to pass between strata Of hard forma-
tons for hundreds of miles
The present theory concerning the jet
through the artesan fissure, is one which all
experience on the subject tends to sustain,
viz: that it is the result of hydrostatic pres
sure
Generally speaking, it is only on the acclivi-
ties Of mountains or in elevated localities that
the edges of the aforesaid strata are exposed,
and where, consequently, the rain water can
get under the impermeable materials.
Some artesian wells for example, the one at
Lilliers, in Artois, are situated in the midst of
immense plains, and away from hly country,
but il must be remembered that this does not
make any argument against the hydrostatic
theory; because the pressure acts upon the
water at great distance, at even three hun
dred niles When we consider that the same
geological structure sometimes extends over
four or five hundred miles of country, it is not
to conclude that these vast SUBJ
terranean reservoirs may possess equal extent.
In my next, win endeavor to give your
readers some idea Of the geological condition
of this place and vicinity, and its applicability
to the artesian well system.
Hornos, Dec. s, 1851.