Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-12-31

CHARAcTER OF Rocks. Thickness.
y lslny-. gand- -aad- ftanf
d DARK -bftuinin0as sllale..... .......- i5
3. Drab and gray limestone, with bands
of ebert sandy above, darker and ar
gillaceUus below. 626 {"
4. Red brown and gray shales and marls l62 "
5. Greenish calcareOus shales. ...........I0jS Z"
6. Light drab, sandy magnesian lime
7. o'White-sand rock,9 (Caicareousj.. 3i6
At 15O feet a current of water was struck
which carried away the borings to the depth
OIf242 feet. sulphar water was found at a
depth Of 1sG feet. At depth of 675 feet
salt water was found, and the saline infusion
continued through the next 1900 feet. No
borings were preserved below 2,57O feet, a
current of water having washed them away
The sand rock in which the augur stopped is
thoughtto be equivalent with the Potsdam
sandstone, which lies at the base of the fos-
siliferous series, and includes what are sup
posed to be the first forms of life which exist
ed on our globe.
In relation to the probabilities of obtain
ing water by further boring, Prof Newberry
says:
However interesting, in a scientific point
of view, the information gained of the sue
cession Of strata underlying our State may
be, this, in itself, will scarcely be regarded
as an equivalent for all the labor and money
spent in sinking the State House Well. The
object in prosecuting the work has constant
| ly been an eminently practical one, 10 OBJ
tain water. A far more mpOrtant question,
therefore, so far as the public is concerned,
than any yet considered, remains to be an
swered, viz; Win water be procured by go
/ ing deeper? To this question I think all
who have examined the register kept of the
strata penetrated, and are at all familiar
with the rationale of Artesian Wells, will
| agree with me in saying that it is impossible
| TO give very encouraging answer, for the
following reasons:
Ist. The geological structure of Ohio is
not favorable TO the general success Of ex-
periments Of this kind. Our rocky sub-stra-
/ ia lie in unbroken sheets, with a gentle and
nearly uniform dip in one direction; show
/ ing no marked disturbances, by which
ridges, troughs and basins have been formed,
that, when the water r-bearing strata are
pierced, should produce flow above the
/ surface. The great lines of upheaval to
which we might look for a supply Of water
/ derived from a higher level than that Of our
/ general surface, are so remote that their in
/ huence can scarcely be depended on. It
may be anticipated, therefore, that over the
greater part OF our territory disappointment
/ will be the rule and success the exception.
I'd. The Well has penetrated q succession
Of both porous and impermeable strata, al
ternating the one with the other. Through
several Of the former strong currents Of wa
| ter were flowing, but in no case did it rise to
the surface; and finally when, after many
months of constant labor, the augur was
driven through more than 1000 feet of fine
argillaceous shaies, wholly imperviOus to
fluids, striking into thick beds Of sandy
rock, evidently saturated with water, condi-
tions as favorable to success as any we could
reasonably hope for were attained without
the accomplishment Of the object in view.
When, then, it is by no means impossible
that by sinking the Well to greater depth
some stratum may be reached from which
water will flow to the surface, it would seem
that the probabilities are not in favor Of it.
Prof. n. says further that in case it should
happen that & stratum were penetrated at a
greater depth, from which water would flow
over the surface, that water would almost
certainly be highly saline in charaeter-per-
hapa possessing valuable medicinal quali-
ties, but probably not pleasant and healthful
drinking water." Should water be pro
cured from point below where the boiling
ceased, it would be nearly blood warm, ex-
periments having indicated temperature
of 9l0 at the present depth of the Well
He thinks there is no question that good
and pure water can be obtained in abun-
dance, by pumping, at a depth of l4O feet
and probably within lCO feet Of the sur
face.