The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-03-18
ARTISAN WELLS In IDAHO.


Geological Survey as Water Supply
Paper No. rs. This report, which
was supplied by the late Prof, |. G.
Russell, is the result OF geological
investigation in parts of Canyon
and Owyhee counties, Idaho, made
with the special object of discover !
ing localities where flowing water !
can be obtained by drilling wells
v The presence of arteslan condi-
tions in an area is frequently in
ferred by biologists from a study |
Of rock structure. In what is prop
rely termed an artesian basin the
layers OF rock are bent downward,
SO as to resemble pile OF shallow
plates shaped dishes placed one with
in the other. One or more of the
beds OF rocks is porous and allows
water supplied 10y rain on its up,
turned edges to percolate into it.
Above and below the water charged
layers are close textured rocks, like
clay, that prevent the escape of the
water in the bed between them. A
number of such structural basins
are found in the region studied by
Professor Russell
Confirmation of the supposition
that water under pressure exists
-beneath the surface In any area is
found at many places in the ocur-
renee of warm springs-those with
temderatures ranging from go de.
grees to 100 degrees F. AS the
water in artesian basins has de-
scended from the surface, and as
the temperature of the earth in
crease with depth, the deeper the
water has penetrated into the rocks
the higher will be it's temperature.
The increase in the temperature OF
the earth below a depth of about
so feet in temperate regions is in
general about one degree f. for
each 60 feet, but there is consider
able evidence favoring the conclu-
sion that in southern Idaho the
rate of increase is approximately
one degree F for each 40 feet in
depth At depth of 30 feet the
temperature corresponds to the
mean annual temperature of the
locality chosen, which in this re.
gion is approximately so degrees
f., SO that if spring in this region
has temperature of IS degrees F
or Is degrees above the temperature
of the stratum OF no seasonal vari-
alton, ii would be safe to conclude
that the water rises from a depth
Ct at least 675 feet below that STRAIT
UNI, or 725 feet below the surface.
Such spring would therefore serve
as an indication of the depth to
which well should be bored to
penetrate the water. charged rock
layer.
Professor Russell calls attention
to tho fact that while warm springs
may ind cate the presence of a
water charged layer that would
supply flowing wells, hot spring,
or one having temperature OF
more than 100 degrees, is not so
favor bic as an indication. Hot
springs ordinarily rise from depths
80 great that even il they come
from we'll defined water charged
LAYER it would be unavailable as
source of supply for most purposes
for which artesian water is used, as
the expense of drilling to reach ii
would be unjustifable.
- The report referre to, which
may be obtained free of charge by
applying the director of the geolog
ical survey at Washington, d @,
contains discussion of the arte-
sian conditi ms, illustrated by dia
grams and describes the various
basins, whose locations are shown
by sketch map. A detailed &C
count of the wells and springs 10.
Gated in his region is given and
suggestions are made in regard to
the size of drill holes, casing of
wells and preservation OF we'll rec
ords, the importance of which Ia
too often overlooked.
The necessity of legislation re-
etricting the utilization, or rather
the waste, of subsurface water is
also emphasized Owners should
be compelled by law to case every
drill hole in an artes!an basin
that is to place on iron casing in
the hole, made sufficiently tight to
prevent water from rising outside
of it. Such casing should be put
in every well that remains open.
The lower end OF the casing should
de Just above the water bearing
bid. This should be done, not on
" in the interests uf the owner him
self, but because the escape of wat
or from an artesan basin in excess