Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-27
sALr wELLs.
Some Are Found on the Atlanti,
Coastal Plain.

are still being SINK annually. Pos
sibly a million dollars have been in
vested in this work While all of the
water-bearing beds have probably not
been discovered 1t is known that as
many as twelve horizons of potable
water underiie New Jersey, at least
six occur in Maryland and Virginia,
and probably as many in the Caro-
linas and Georgia. In Virginia and
IN states farther north these beds
yield water that is prevailingly soft,
but in the Carolinas hard waters are
common, particularly in strata lying
300 feet or less beneath the surface.
Whether hard or soft. however. true
artesian watersheds which rise not
ably in wells when water beds are
pierced-are as a rule germ-free and
beyond all possibility of contamina-
ton by surface impurities, and are
therefore highly des rable Tor dones-
tic use.
But while most of the artesian
waters Of the coastal plain are well
adapted TO household use and some
are suitable for use in boilers, beds
tapped at number of places have
yielded brackish or salt water. Most
of these are poor boiler waters and
some are not suited for drinking,
though they may possibly have medi-
cinal value. Inasmuch as thousands
of dollars have been spent in fruitless
exploration for fresh water in salty
areas, one deep well at Fort Monroe
having cost the government S35,000.
1t Is desirable that well drillers should
be informed of doubtful localities
and of the probabilities of obtainip
potable water in such places.
! Wells yielding salt waters have been
reported at Lewes, Del, Pocomoke,
Md. in Accomac and Northampton
counties on the eastern shore of vir-
G MIA, and in Mathews, Gloucester,
Elizabeth City and Princess Anne
counties on the western shore. In
North Carolina salt water was found
by deep wells in Hyde, New Hanover
Columbus and Brunswick counties.
and was presumably found in Pasquo,
tank, Tyrretl, Beaufort and Craven
counties; in South Carolina i has
been found in Beaufort and Charles
ton counties. In Georgia, although
salt water has probably been struck,
tire wells have not been reported.
Most of the salt wells are near the
sea or in low lands bordering the
coast. IL North Carolina the salt
wells are in a stretch of country that
is at no point over so feet above tide
and at many places is less than 20
feet. The saltwater wells of Vir-
ginia. Maryland, Delaware and New
Jersey are all in areas having sur
face elevation of less than Is feet A
comparison of data concerning many
of these wells shows no apparent re-
lation between the salinity of the wa
ter and depth of beds below the sur
face. The wells have but one feat
ure in commol-location near large
body Of salt water or in low lands.
They are not peculiar to any on :
horizon and have no known relation
to the geologic age of the deposits
The salt flows are ascribed to vari-
Gus causes, chief of which are the
teaching of marine deposits anu the
penetration OF sea water, or the leach
ings of marine beds into underlyins.
deposits.
The opinion is widely held that
where salt water mas been struck
fresh water may be obtained by drill
ing to some particular underlying
rock bed, but an investigat on made
by Samuel Sanford. one of the geolo
gists of the United States geological
survey, has discovered no good foun-
dation for this opinion. Probably
some fresh water WAS found above
the salt in all the wells. but at only
four localities has fresher or decided
Ily less saline water been found be-
low salt water.
1t has been suggested that If salt
fresh water may finally be obtained,
and instances of such Improvement OF
water-two permanent ana two tenn
porary-are cited by M. l.. Fuller,
Igeologist, in Bulletin No. $50 OF the
United States geological survey. But
Mr. Sanford concludes that while
active circulation of waters through
a salt well may result in ultimately
lfreshening the flow so little is known
of the rate at which such freshening
would take place that it is inadvisa-
bic to drill deep wells for fresh wa
ter in an area that yields salt wa
ter He suggests. however, that as
the seward limits Of the saltwater
horizon are unknown, fresh-water
wells are more likely to be obtained
west or northwest of the salt wells
than east or southeast of them.
An investigation of the geology and
water resources of the coastal plain
region is being made by the FEDERAL
survey with the active cooperation OF
the geological surveys of the various
interested states. and 1t is hoped that
this work will solve many important
economic problems of the region