El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-13

stratum, II continuous, which IL prob
able, Is only 290 feet below the Rio
lGrande, and the same water would rise
there 3S7 feet, or SO feet above the
river.
Moreover, the boring which pene-
trates Cpl feet below the mesa, or 81
feet below the Rio Grande, did not
reach the bottom of the mesa forma-
ton at the point Of con tact with the
floor of the original mountain valley
Since 1t has been shown in the expert
ence of artesian areas that the greatest
volume of water is usually nearer the
bottom of the group of imbibing strata
where 1t ia retained by the resistance
of the underlying impervious forma-
ton, it is probable that the greatest
sheet of water in the mesa formation
remains unexplored, and 1 advise that
the city experiment. thoroughly to dis
cover the water conditions at the bot
tom of the mesa formation by boring
until the harder and more impenetra-
BILE mountain rock is reached.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In conclusion the following summary
OF facts Ia presented:
U) The broken, fsulted. and excess
sively disturbed condition of the struc
ture of the more distant mountains
visible from Ell Paso renders It impos-
sible that they should be a source of
srtesian supply for the city.
~ OF the more adjacent mountains,
the contrary dip or inclination, the
smallness of area which can receive
precipitation, and the intrusive sheet
of Fort Bliss syenite render hopeless
all expectation of an artesian supply
west of the city.
(3) The smsllness of area, absolute
imperviousness, minimum capacity for
i'm bl bition, and excessive inclination of
the strata render impossible a supply
from Mt. Franklin, other than limit
tanned In Mr.. Religions canyon.
(4 The Hueco-Franklin basin, To-
cally called the ''Big Mesa" is natur-
al receiving basin for the rain fall of a
large area. It's capacity for inhibition
is maximum and experiment has shown
it to be a water-bearing formation:
the only one in the vicinity Of Ell Paso
been demonstrated that there are at
least two water-bearinR sheets in this
formation, one of which is 299 feet be-
low the level of the Rio Grande, and
| capable of elevating a column of water
3S4 feet, nearly Ii atmospheres in this
altitude, or IS feet above the level of
the Rio Grande. 1t has also been
shown that the bottom OF this great
water-bearing formation, where the
=
has not been reached.
In view of these facts 1 would sug-
gest ~ that an experimental we'll
| should be located in the low valley of
| the Rio Grande, we'll east of the
Franklin mountain trend, which would
be at least three miles east of the
court house.
~ That the we'll be bored to the
bottom of the mesa formation, which 1
estimate to be over L, 900 feet.
(3) It will not be necessary to con-
'tinue into the mountain rock formation
which is the floor of the mesa deposit.
(4 If the borings in the valley sue
| coed, it can then be determined whether
sufficient pressure exists to justify the
sinking of deep we'll upon the mesa's
edge.
Finally, while not wishing to predict
the result of this work, am sure the
evidence presents to the citizens of Ell
Paso sufficient grounds to justify thor
ough experimentation, with a reason
able expectation that the fine supply of
water contained in the mesa can be
secured for their use and welfare.