The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-13

The regions whence il comes are clearly
indicated, to my mind, by the elevation,
drainage and geology OF the parts OF West
Tennessee and Northern Mississippi lying
east OF Memphis and Shelby County,
0mitting details, attention is called to the
fact that, running northerly, or little
east OF north, through Tippah and Alcorn
Counties, in Mississippi, and McNairy and
Hardeman Counties, in Tennessee, is a
belt OF high, often billy country, fifty to
eighty miles easterly from Memphis.
From this belt there is a gradual slope
westerly and northwesterly to the Missis-
sippi River. The beds OF the largest streams
of The belt are from 100 to 200 feet above
high water at Memphis, while the smaller
streams are still higher, 10 say nothing of
the country between them. The course
OF the streams and the general drainage
are like the slope westerly and northwest
erly Now, in this whole region from
the high belt inclusive to Memphis the
strata dip to the west, and more rapidly
than the surface falls.
1t follows from this that any given stra-
tum, clay or sand, which may be pene-
trated by the augur at Memphis will be
found outcropping on the surface some
where in the country to the east. This is
the case with the water bearing sands
reached in your wells. It's outcrop is to
be looked for in Fayette, Hardeman and
other counties, covering a great area OF
country, doubtless several hundred square
miles in extent. From this area, higher
than the high water of the Mississippi.
the sand receives good portion of the
rainfall, together with large contributions
from hundreds OF streams, great and
small. Under these conditions, in con-
nection with the fact that il dips beneath
an impervious cover OF clay, the sand be-
comes filled with water, q vast, confined
volume hardly TO be estimated. Below the
surface OF Memphis 1t is under pressure
and bore hole through the cover permits
the water TO rise and reach its level. These
are the conditions Of an artesian we'll.
II may be added that there is good
reason for believing the surface at Mem
phis Is the bottom OF shallow trough, not
much, II any, less than 200 miles across, a
trough made up Of concentric strata, like
50 many concentric shells, one within an
other The diagram represents the east
ern side OF the trough, tho western being
in Arkansas.
4. From what has been said II may be
easily inferred that consider your water
supply practically inexhaustible. The area
OF country for gathering the water and the
capacity of the containing stratum arc 50
enormous ] do not see how Memphis, in
using all the water she can, will make any
impression upon IT,
More than fifty deep wells have been
bored testing thoroughly an area three
miles long by one mile wide, and from
these the supply has been constant and
the flow undiminished for moro than
twelve months.
8. The character OF the water for all
city purposes is highly satisfactory, and
its quality not questioned. / do not dwell
on this there, as number Of analyses
have been made and can be consulted. II
is very much liked by the citizens oil
Memphis, who regard It's introduction
into the city rs an epoch, and its general
use as n great blessing TO all conc erned.
Respectfully submitted.
JAS. NJ. SAFFoRD,
State Geologist Of Tennessee and Professor
ofGeology in Vanderbilt University.
Nashville, Tenn.
The following statements 70 n Nashville
newspaper reporter will also DO found o
interest:
"Dr. J. NJ. Stafford has Just returned
from Memphis, where he was called 10 ex'
anime the water condition OF the city. lie
stated last night to the AMERICAN that Inc
was very greatly pleased with the result Of
his inyestigation-that Memphis is sup
piled, as is almost any other city in Amen
ca, with a fine quality Of artesian water
lie had found underneath the city o
Memphis a bed OF clay 100 feet in thick,
ness, and underneath this layer bed o.
sand 700 feet thick. This sand bed Is
natural reservoir for an incxhaustibl,
water supply that Is backed by a sulllcien
pressure TO force II through piped holes e
the surface. There are already abou
sixty of these wells in Memphis, the aver
age depth Of which is about AGO feet. Tn,
water Is pure and excellent. II has
chalybcatc tngc aud contains Just enough
iron 10 make a slight tonic. The people o
Memphis are delighted.
"Dr. Stafford said that tho layers OF sanI
and clay rose higher Us they came cas-
from Memphis, aud that about forty mile
east thco touched the surface OF ia,
ground Thep hysical formations indicate,
that Memphis was located directly aboy
natural basin, the water OF which re-
ceiyed, from both east and west, prcssur
that drove Il 10 the surface and which wa
sufficiently protected and held in by th
clay layer. Equal nrtesian advantages
the expert believes, lie along the bank q
the Mississippi for considerable distanc
north and south Of Memphis"