Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-08-23
WATERING THE DESERT.
irrigation by Artesian Wells.--How the
Plan Works In Tnlare County, Cal.
san FrancIsco ChronIcle.

A mile and half from Upton, III
Tulate county, Is an arteslan well. }. Is.
Scupham assistant engineer OF the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad company, who has
recently returned to this city from that
section OF the country, makes Il report
concerning the supply Of artcsian water,
which he regards rs very important
matter in connection with the develop
ment Of the land, and believes that Il
great reservoir underlies the whole val
ley. lie says he closely examined the
earth broughtto thesurface, asccrtained
the temperature Of the water, and meas
urcd she capacity Of the steam, and is
convinced that copiOus streamsof water
flow beneath the plain, which is 200
miles in length and 80 miles III width,
in boring, mountain debris was pierced
for depth Of $50 feet, and u good sup
ply Of water was not reached until u
stratum OF sandstone from four to six
feet thick, lying upon n bed Of quick
sand, had been passed through. The
first flow was ut the rate Of eight gallons
~ minute from II scVcn-InCh pipe one
foot above thcsurface. Then II iive-inch
pipe was sunk thirty feet deeper, which
pierced stratum Of blue clay, contain
ing four separate layers ofsand, each Of
which contributed supply Of water.
The lower one gave out u considerable
volume Of water. II was decided to
stop sinking at this step to secure the
water already discovered The well 1T
last accounts WAS delivering $4,000 gal
Ions day out Of II livc-inch pipe, four
feet above the surface Of the plain, and
tic supply is constantly increasing in
stead of diminishing. The water, ac-
cordlng TO the statement Of Mr. Soup
ham, is very pure and shows its identity
with glacier lalScs. II has less than six
grains Of solid matter To the gallon.
The solid substance il chloride of sodi-
lnl, which corresponds almost exactly
with the waters Of Lake Tahoe. The
well itself has the capacity for irrcgating
100 acres, and its cost is from 500 to
~ 900. II is believed that water can he
obtained by sinking wells to the depth
OF 800 or 400 feet, in any part Of the
Tularc plains, and in the opinion Of
Mr. Scupham these wells might be
placed on every quarter section Of
ground without the supply being matte
rally affected, or they might be sunk
oven closer together without decreasing
the flow. The temperature Of the VIZ
ter is 72e, aud the soil Of the surface
needs nothing but water to render il
iortlo. a few years since 100000 GU
calvptus trees were planted in this local
ity by the Central Pacific Railroad com
pnny, and 70 per cent. Of them are now
IN II thriving state. Iii five years tie
trees WILDE big enough for ties and tel
cgraph poles. and worth Sl500OO to the
company. The mountain debris re
ferrcd to is supposed W bo the ruins Of
extinct Elacicrs. which erodcd tic Sicr-
ra to their present shape. Geologieally
speaking this debris was carried tx il
very recent period from the mountain
slopes and SUBMITS nnd deposited IN
the valley, and il is Scupham's idea chat
the main portion Of the Sierra WAS at
one time moro than 10000 feet high,
and the lotiest peaks were Mt least 5000
feet higher. From the acrial currents
from the west, heavily charged with
moisture from the ocean, immense vol
umes Of rain were condensed and pre-
cipitated ON the mountain slopes to-
ward the ocean, which, flowing to the
plains, caused great lake, which IS now
extinct.