Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-19
HOW ARD WHERE CLEAR WATER CAN
BE PROCURED.

pure water for our city has deservedly re-
public attention has been called to the method
of obtaining it from the ground near the city.
There seems to be q misunderstanding in re-
gard to the term "artesian well, many con-
founding it with the ''bored WELL" The
proper meaning of the term is " a well made
by perforating the different strata of earth
by boring or other process till water-bearing
strata is reached which is supplied from some
source situated above the level of the ground
where the well is commenced, and in which
the water rises above its surface" There are
but four such wells near Sacramento, and
they are such by reason of the ground where
they are situated being below the bed of the
American river. The general opinion of per-
sons not acquainted with the nature and
formation of the water-bearing strata near
our city is that sufficient supply for the
city cannot be obtained from the earth.
SEVERAL EXPERIMENTS
Have been made by the City Trustees to test
tie correctness of this opinion, and have,
without exception, ruled in favor of it. All
of these trials were made in the northwestern
portion of the city, and from certain geologi-
cal conditions could not result otherwise than
in failure to obtain good water. One unsuc.
cessful attempt was made in the Sacramento
river, about opposite l street, in 1870, the
theory advanced being that there was
strong underground current, from which good
water might be obtained. The stream was
supposed to be supplied by liberation from
the river itself. a prior attempt had been
made in China slough. upon the supposition
that there was strong spring in that basin.
This, as far as the existence of the spring
was concerned, proved successful, but the
water obtained was not satisfactory. The
last attempt is still fresh in the peoples mem
cry, as is the unsuccessful result. 1t was
made to ascertain the feasibility of construct
ing large filter in the bed of the American
river and to test the quality of the water
there found. This subject of filter received
considerable attention at one time, and de-
served to receive more, but the filter itself
was not spoken of at any place where it had
the least chance of being a success. We have,
hold, near us, already constructed, large,
wide and inexhaustable filter, from which
clear, pure and soft water can be obtained by
simply tapping the gravel bottom at the
proper place. The cause of the failures above
noted is easily arrived at VIXEN the subject is
looked at in the right way.
IN THE FIRST PLACE
Let US call to mind the exact position Of the
Sacramento and American rivers, and remem
Der that the ground lying between the rivers
does not form level plain, but has some
large portions depressed to considerable
extent and others raised equally above the
average; that the general tendency of the
line of all these considerable elevations and
depressions is from northeast to southwest,
finally that the general average falls from
east to west, and we are prepared to glance
underground. The water in the earth near
Sacramento runs in channels which do not
tend directly toward or parallel with the Sac
ramento river, as many suppose, but take
southwesterly direction, thus following the
general tend of the elevations, depressions
and streams of the surface, as the line of eie-
vations formed by Oak Ridge, Poverty Ridge,
ETC., and Burns slough in the eastern portion
of the city. The veins Immediately under the
city dip from east to west about forty feet to
the mile, commencing at the eastern portion
of the city, and convey water as follows
Starting at the northwestern corner and pro-
ceeding southeasteriy across the city. thus
cutting al the veins at about right angles. we
find fret iron water at depth Of some 70 feet
below the high grade, as was recently proven
by the veil in the bed of the American river.
At the railroad shops, the Pioneer Mill and
the experimental well in the bed of the Sac
IdllltutO river tlGlo 10 III GDlluduCo vi WALT,
but still containing iron. At HI. S. Croker
& Co.'S printing Office the same quality OF
water is found. At or about the line of the
old slough which ran through the city in early
days. past Eighth and j, Sixth and K, etc.,
the character of the water changes from iron
to alkali, and is found about fifty feet below
the sui face. With one exception this remains
till Burns slough is reached and the depth is
reduced to thirty feet. The exception re-
ferred to,
A MARROW STRIP
Which lies in the same general direction and
crosses K street at the ice factory, between
Tenth and Eleventh. in this strip the upper
vein is absent and no water-bearing strata is
reached till at depth Of some 100 feet.
Here is vein of excellent quality, affording
an abundance of clear, cold and pure water.
There are several successful wells on this
strip and more are contemplated. At Burns
slough the water again changes and we find
the pure, soft clear and cold water so much
desired. The water bearing strata also
change their character here and do not
vary IN depth 20 such an extent as we pro-
coed eastward, but remain at the same aver
age depth for miles. That the supply in this
vein il practically inexhelstible, is well
known TO all who are familiar with the sub
ject.
MILLIONS OF GALLONS
Are pumped from it every day and have been
FOR Years. At oue place 10000 gallons are
taken from we'll thirty feet every hour for
ten to fifteen hours day during the summer.
and this is the capacity Of the pumps and
not of the well. This is but single instance
Of what can be seen in many places southeast
of Sacramento, and III no place has there been
failure of supply where the well has been
properly sunk While great deal might be
Al. .. T LII
presents an outline of it as found from years
of practice and experimenting, and from
which may make few deductions. First
In regard to the filter which occupied such
prominent position ON the list. Numerous
propositions have been advanced in regard to
locating q filter in the western portion Of the
city upon various theories, some being IT,
tended to draw their supply from the Sacra-
mento river, and the last upon the suprosi-
ton that vein of gravel could be found at
from twenty to thirty feet below the surface
and be supplied by liberation from the
American river. This part of the city, it has
been shown. overlies the seYenty-fve feet, or
iron vein of water, and as there is no supply
to be had at less depth the experimental
well had to reach that vein, and, of course,
the result was unfavorable.
THE RESULTS OBTAINED
From this experiment and the previous one
in the Sacramento river, as well as the fact of
iron water being found under all that portion
Of the city, clearly show that it is not a ia
vorable locality for establishing filter. Be-
sides these reasons are several to be found on
the surface, which tend to render any location
in that portion of the city unfavorable. 1t
being in the extreme corner OF the city, and
in a place that is constantly filing in and
being washed out, would necessitate an inn
meDse expenditure of money. and the city
would not be permanently benefited thereby.
Let us then look for better location, that
shalt fulfill the following conditions which
are of considerable Importance: 1t should
supply an abundance of pure soft and clear
water; be Of easy access on or near an ele-
walton sufficient to afford a pressure
of at least ten pounds per square
inch at Front and | streets, and capable OF
being constructed alta comparatively light cost.
Poverty Ridge, in the eastern portion of the
city, ful6lis the third condition as to eleva-
ton, and the gravel beds at the base of the
ridge tap the large natural filter. thus con-
forming to the hrst condition. Being near
the railway the location is easily reached, aud
the cost Of constructing the necessary works
would be light The first source of supply of
this immense
UNDERGROUND STREAM
Is undoubtedly in the mountains northeast of
here, and the American river crossing it at