The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-11
A GEOLOGICAL FREAK
Phenomena Of Wind and Wafer
Deep in the Earth.
FOUND IN souTH sewer TuNNEl
Discovery Of ~ Underxrsund ssresm.
subserransan Winds and Buried
Foresa-1Aeery OGsr~d.

The uork on The south sewer tunnel has
been productive Of some ssray leaflets from
the geologic sfory of the past from which
sorae very interesting theories can be con-
structed. The exceptional condition AZ
fording the exceptional results il due to
the circumstance that the tuneIing has
been driven so deeply that it has struck
strata other than those usually nearer the
surface.
On Saturday there was found at dis
tanee Of 100 feet from the bay shore and
965 feet below the surface piece OF bark
about twelve or fourteen inches wide and
three inches thick, shaped like nine-pin
ball. 1t affords evidence of . probability
that there must have been forest of large
trees long after the glacial period. The
wood il soft and brown and the smooth.
rounded edges show that it must have
rolled and rolled for many, many years IN
tidal waters
AT the place where il was found there is
an underground stream. A mixture OF
water and fine sand flows between the
clayey strata. 1t seems as If submerged
stream. which probably originated in the
Hanford donation claim many genera
tions before the land passed into that
through the imperfectly covered channel,
on whose upper crust the dust OF ages has
accumulated 1t may be that the great
glacier which slid down the side of the
Cascades, and either gouged out its bed or
slipped into q vast erayice, into which it
melted and made the waters OF Lake
Washington, drove before 1t forest and
accompanying earth, which it lung mp
4.
Seattle, or ID may be that, long after the
great glacial period, a remnant Of the great
ice crust fell down upon second forest
growth and drove up the embankment
which now keeps the waters OF Puget
sound back from their old shores ct the
base of the Cascades The wood resembles
cedar, bat no authoritative opinion can be
had as TO that. If il be so, then the Sec
ond forest growth before the present one
is certainty.
When the tunnel, after passing through
dry and easily handled earth. reached
what seems to be the debris of water
course, but before the underground stream
was struck, there were found several small
pieces OF primeyal wood. As the workers
penetrated dark water began TO trickle.
II had most offensive odor, but was soon
drained of and pure stream. ranging be-
tween twenty-five and sixty gallons an
hour, began 20 flow. There were several
deionations. followed Mt intervals during
several days by gusts of wind. This yen-
trail phenomenon has yet to receive sat
isfactory explanation.
1t happens. fortunately, that the shaft
being sunk is Immediately over the treach-
erous ground and the height to which the
stratum rises can be easily ascertained
when the shaft. now 100 feet down, reaches
the tunnel level
Already the seepIng water has begun to
be troublesome, and ii has been det irmined
to tub the shaft. City Engineer Thorn
son will try the experiment in few days.
and has no doubt bis plans. when COM
pleted, will be successful.
Mr.. Thomson has incidentally had his
attention called to the character of the clay
around and near the city. 1t is found in
large quantities in the region OF the tun-
mel, and much of it possessing remarkably
good commercial qualities. lie considers
that manufactures from clay will be one Of
the most active and profitable industries
on Puget sound. 1t Is as excellent in
quality as il is abundant in quantity, and
In few states in the Union is found so
favorably located with regard 10 fuel.