The record-union., 1898-10-29
GIVEN A PUMPING TEST.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
WELL NEAR OAK PARK.
A Fine Stream of Sparkling, Clear
Water Flowed From It for
Hours.
Hours.

The test well bored by the Chamber
Of Commerce on the old Saunders
place, south of Oak Park. was in op-
Grafton yesterday, and quite a number
of citizens went out to examine it.
A steam engine ran the lO-inch pro-
peller pump all day, the water fully
filled the 10-inch nozzle with stream
of clear water that tumbled and fell
over itself in it's eagerness to escape,
and rolled down in a swift stream, fill
ing the bitches provided for carrying
1t as fast as they could convey it away.
The visitors drank of the water. and
unanimously agreed that it was of the
finest quality and could not well be
improved on, even by the springs IN
the high Sierras.
The Chamber of Commerce COM
menced boring the well a short time
ago for the purpose of trying to make
a practical test Of the quality ana
prospective supply of water to be
found on the plains beyond Oak Park,
on higher ground than that where the
Williamson wells were situated, 1t be-
ing the belief of many of the old resi-
dents of that vicinity, based on the OBJ
servations of years and difference IN
temperature Of the water from wells
on various farms in that locality that
an old river bed underlies that portion
of the plain, and that one or more
subterranean streams are to be found
in that locality. Along the upper
Stockton road, beyond Swiss Station, a
stratum of gravel is found at the depth
of from thirty to thrity-two feet in
most places, and sometimes a second
stratum is found a few feet below
the first. 1t has been noticed that
wells sunk through this gravel never
fail, even in the driest seasons, even
when the greatest demands are made
on them. 1t has also been noticed
that there will be perceptible differ
ence in the temperature of the water
from different wells only a short dis
tance apart, in one instance, where
there are four wells on a ten-acre
tract, the difference between the
warmest and the coolest being 6 de-
grees.
In some wells, however, instead of
gravel, a water-sand is found. and
such wells have to be cased and give
an abundant supply. The new well
bored by the Chamber of Commerce
belongs to this latter class, only a
small stratum of small gravel having
been found in it. 1t is 80 feet deep,
and is cased forty-five feet down, the
casing resting in the second stratum
of clay, and entirely shutting out a
large vein of water that, it is
estimated, would have fully supplied
the pump.
A record was kept of the different
strata of soil passed through by w. B.
Bishop, who bored the we'll for the
Chamber Of Commerce, and who has a
large experience in boring wells in that
vicinity and practical knowledge of the
strata generally to be encountered.
This record shows that, after passing
through twenty-five feet Of top SOIL
thirteen feet of hard clay were en-
countered, followed by seven feet Of
hard sand and three feet of soft sand.
Then came three feet of hard clay, in
which the casing of the well rests.
Next came one foot of medium sand,
four Of soft clay, eight of pipe clay
(very hard), two Of fine gravel, two Of
very hard pipe clay, two of sand, sew
en- and one-half of hard pipe clay, and
two and one-half of soft sand max
ing seventy-seven feet altogether, and
at this point the boring could be pro-
ceeded with no further until the we'll
was cased.
Three feet of hard sand came next,
followed by three of very hard pipe
clay. two of very hard sand, six Of
sand that was quite hard, three of
hard clay, one of medium sand, two
and one-half of clay and sand, three
of hard sand, one of hard clay, two of
hard sand, two Of sand and clay, eight
and one-half of hard sand, two Of hard,
porous clay, seven of hard sand, four
of sand and clay, six inches of hard
sand, three and one-half of soft clay,
one of hard sand, one of hard clay,
three of clay and sand, two and one
half of porous hard sand, six and one
half Of clay and sand, three OF hard
sand and two of soft sand, which kept
running in. This brought the depth
to 100 feet
So far the steady pumping of several
hours yesterday produced no apparent
diminution of the water supply, but 1t
IS intended by the Chamber to run the
pump continuously from this morning
till Monday noon, and carefully watch
the results.
The Chamber has commenced anoth-
er well. a short distance east of this
one, and found an abundant supply of
fine water at forty-fve feet It is in