Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1910-03-17
oucRSAND.
How II Is F.rmad ana It's erswsons
sD.faet.Il-ties.

sr-rsct,fi-ties.
10 moot t.r n4d quick
srtd' -.t i..u u horror sim
ilaf 10 ftsf ,roH.tl p} the thought
of u1s. t.. Irny srU ltirual az
counts sWBr -.tgu lo pBr ssand al.
moot hs.aar atsipIfrs. 80 ordinary
UDsrr;r. sou. . 9r an.c lp distinguish
DR.! 4u.caas.a5 iraiu auy other sand.
and ihc nttrIge prrsoH would be M
able go yp-.rp Il ~ it's quick prop
eriipi ever y be- Uird II water Is
mi&cd WH5 fap quicEsand the mass
does uot Atruuu' mobile aud II the
water Is drained olg the sand will be
found nulIy packcd.
QulckslEd is comparatively very
light weighing about ulnetyfour
pounds 10 the cubic loot, while other
forms OF sand run as high as III
pounds. Qulcksand when examined
under the microscope Will be found to
have rounded corners. like river sand.
as distinguished from sharp" sand.
II Is qulcksand that Is used IN hour
glasses and egg glasses. partly because
Of rs oneness and partly because 1t
does not eventually cloud the glass by
scratching. as would the sharp sand.
II Is TO us lightness that quicksand
owes it's deadly qualities, and a dem
onstratlon of how It becomes quick
may be given by placing a quantity
IA bucket and adding water by pres
sure through n 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
qucksand. The sand. owing to the
support II receives from the water.
has It's weight. or supporting power,
reduced proportiOnately weighing I'm
The water but thirty-twO and q half
pounds as against ninetyfo 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
100 thick to swim IN. In It's natural
state. presenting an apparently firm
'urfnce. resembling simply damp sand,
{ Is the most deadly man trap con-
'elyable
Quicksand requires In all cases an
Upward current which is not quick or
trong enough to break through in
he form Of spring Ordinarily wa
er flowing over quicksand will not
make IL dangerous. 1t may be formed
u tidal rivers and on the shores Of
idal seas by the rising tide saturating
porous stratum Of ground below high
water mark. and when the tide falls a
etun current IS established through
he porous (sandyJ ground with a suffi-
lent velocity to loosen the sand and }
iake It quick"
A permanent quicksand Is found
here slow current of fresh water.
nds its way to the surface of the c
lud bed either IN the bottom of 3
ream or elsewhere. Quicksands that 3
re encountered during the sinking Of r
alls and foundations are due TO the G
dux of water when the work gets p
Glow "spring level" or the level OF :,
le water in the ground ut that par
rular spot The sand, being deprived
the lateral support of the water in
e excavation, is pushed in from be- S
nd by the water currents flowing b
ON all sides.
One of the most peculiar aud grew C
me characteristics of qqicksand is
at II will soon engult any object
st upon its surface. no matter how
yht that object may be, even per-
city dry stick Harper's Weekly. Ii