Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-12-17
oUlCKSAND.
How 1t Is Formed and Its Grewsons
Characteristics.

TOW Ut Is Formed and Its GrewsorEe
characteristics.
To most persons the word "ouick-
sand" gives sensation Of horror sim
ilar TO that produced by the thought
or snake, and many sensational ac-
counts have given to quicksand al
most human attributes. No ordinary
observer would be able to distinguish n
dry quicksand from any other sand.
and the average person would be un-
able to restore it to its quick" prop
critics even IL he tried. IL water is
mixed with the quicksand the mass
does not become mobile. and IL the
water is drained of the sand will be
found firmly packed.
Quicksand is comparatively very
light, weighing about ninety-four
pounds to the cubic foot, while other
forms Of sand run as high as III
pounds. Quicksand- when examined
under the microscope will be found to
have rounded corners, like river sand,
as distinguished from sharp" sand.
1t is quicksand that is used In hour
glasses and egg glasses. partly because
or its fineness and partly because IL
does not eventually cloud the glass by
scratching. as would the sharp sand.
1t Is to its lightness that quicksand
owes its deadly qualities, and a DEM
onstration Of how it becomes quick"
may be given by placing a quantity
In bucket and adding water by pres
sure through hole In the bottom, al
lowing the water to overflow very
slowly when it has worked up through
the sand. The upward current will be
found to loosen the sand and to raise
the surface very slightly, separating
and lubricating the particles so that
they are easily displaced.
The bucket now contains genuine
quicksand. The sand, owing TO the
support it receives from the water,
has its weight. or supporting power,
reduced proportionately, weighing in
the water but thirty-two and a half
pounds as against ninety-four pounds
when dry. Bulk for bulk. the mixture
Is nearly twice the weight Of a man.
but is too mobile to give support and
too thick to swim In. In its natural
state. presenting an apparently firm
surface, resembling simply damp sand,
IL is the most deadly man trap con-
ceivable.
Quicksand requires in all cases an
upward current which is not quick or
strong enough to break through In
the form OF spring. Ordinarily wa
ter lowing over quicksand will not
make 1t dangerous. 1t may he formed
In tidal rivers and on the Shores of
tidal seas by the rising tide saturating
porous stratum Of ground below high
water mark, and when the tide falls q
return current Is established through
the porous (sandy) ground with a sufii-
cient velocity to loosen the sand aud
make It quick"
A permanent quicksand is found
where slow current of fresh water
finds its way to the surface OF the
sand bed either in the bottom OF a
stream or elsewhere. Quicksands that
are encountered during the sinking OF
walls and foundations are due to the
Influx of water when the work gets
below ''spring lever' or the level of
the water in the ground at that par
ticular spot. The sand. being deprived
OF the lateral support OF the water In
the excavation, is pushed In from be-
hind by the water currents flowing
from all sides.
One Of the most peculiar and grew
some characteristics of quicksand is
that it will soon engulf any object
| cast upon its surface, no matter how
light that object may be. even a per-
fectly dry stick.-Harper's Weekly.