The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-02
may yet be permitted to crown his work with the succ
WATER SUPPL. FROM OTHER sounoEs.


In connection with the ArtcBian Wells have been fire.
quenty impressed with the thought Of another Of
supply which, in my opinion. has great doal to
the nfltrated portion Of the rain water that tails
upon the earth's surface showing annually thickness
OF inches and representing in solid measure
about l60, ,000 hundred and sixty thous nd cubic
foet per square acre, equal to 600 gallons the yield
Of each acre square annually portion is drained over
tho soil over certain impermeable layers another is car
red of by evporaon and another portion again passes
away by inftuon into tho erth at such depth ns the
parts composing tho geological character Of tho surface
formation win permit FonrRfhs of tho water inhltracs
and can collected by water gardeng It is clear there
FORE the city to purchase several square miles Of
land, five six miles of wcro the price OF such
invites invesnen t. yield Of water perfectly pure
from extensive tract, with properly constructed
WORKS. would be prodigousbeing for each square milo
GAO times that or IN acre as given above The assures
and stratum Of sand receiving the rain watcr absorbed
worry extensive, and the depth or thickness
considerable that they .ourd even at tho dryest
aousons of tho year to yield very abundant supply
sometimes much more thnn a gallon per minute.
These know as springs their situation frequently at
depth OF two or three feet or slightly moro, from tho
surface, and often in very undulaug ground, many
twenty feet Wo find these Issurea, from the very
slight dip OF their strike, dscharging aud issuing the
abundant supplies into immense lagoonB orkes; and in
many instances would be found, as to quantity dis
charging from four to FIVE gallons per minute. They
again TO be in all the Light cuts used bitches ut
the side of JIG roads and railroad cuts of such Depths
and more frequently and constantly In ditchcs supply
ing from their sides the water that In tho bot
toms, and evidently showing that the water which is
invariably very Clear is brought there through the s
sures by the process Of inration and cannot be
garded therefore, surface which surface water in the
dry seasons is not apparent, except after shower
These springs agnin, apart from the principle Of alb
sorpton and ntltraon on the earh, may be produced
by the condensation of vapors rising into the SOLID
crust of the oarth The water from soas rivers and
akes perculnng through certain strata Of earth at the
same levsl and forced into tho earth By the pres
of the water ITSELF and the heat nearer the earths
centre converts 1t into vaor which rises and when
the surface is condensed In tho several fseures and
In that condensed state forming not only the source
Of jetttng wells or /" Eaur Jaatissdntes, but fire.
quently adding to the volumes Of springs the
surfaces and passing out from these springs to the
face it becomes again separated before explained,
clouds, surface water and springs,
of such springs which be clearly In the yarous
forms that have attempted to explain can, after max
ing proper researches soundings for them, by
veys properly conducted, and with proper system OF
levels connecting the entire suryey-the 1evelling be-
ing done to show their elevations with our bench
marks 1t Charleston, to determine their use;
the distances oil to be measured, and the operations
showing their localities all mapped out-they may be
collected together forming sovorai large reservoirs at
short disnnce from the city, Gnd, by means of proper
supply pipes, bo brought into the city and distributed
Pelse look to the city Of Augusta for very many years.
and still 90 to-day; all her supply of waterthe most
wholesome in tho entire sato OF Gcorgiawas obtained
from small Lake at the sand hills about three and
half miles from the city and doubt much whether tho
supply they got from that would exceed the quan
1ty anticipate from the sources have sugg ested
do not propose for this purpose to 60 beyond ten
miles from the city, and still sse reaaon why not go
fifteen miles, If rcsearcles be rewarded by securing
bountiful supply Of wholesome water. The springs
that feed the small streams that may be called the trb
uaries to the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, taking their
rise in the frat formation Of the ridge country between
Charleston Aiken may contribute largely to want
This survey could not cost 1nuch and most assuredy
map and report showing this question and testing Its
merits will always be valuable contribution city
document. even were II impossible to carry it out.
Dear Sir allow mo a apologize for 80 lengthy paper
fear that have too much taxed your patience: but
felta strong desire to bring these points to your atcn
ton, as Chairman of Committee on tWnter supply &C.,
leaving it with you to submit to Council ii you fit,
and ct the same time, to oifer 1t matter OF engineer
ing, which may day prove of service to city
en- very truly, your obedient servant
LOUIS j. BARBOT,
..@t== - [ iYil EnQinoer, &c.