The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-07-06

bed is lower than the surface of the
Underground water the latter will
siphon itself from one side of the
/ river to the other. This fact pre-
vents the river from seeping out into
the adjacent valley and disappearing
altogether. The uniformity with
which the volume of flow in the riv-
er increases from mountain brook
! at its head to a large flow in its low
err stretches is feature of the Yak
/ ina, and demonstrates that it does
not waste itself at favorable oppor-
tunity, and again reassemble its wa
ters at CONSTRUCTED points
The distinction must be kept in
mind between this water-bearing
stratum and the several deeper, dis
connected strata Underlying the
whole of the Kittitas valley
Those strata or layers as has
been pointed out by the United
States geological survey consti-
tute the Kittitas geological valley
and is a striking example of a struc-
tural basin in which the layers slope
or dip on all sides toward the centre.
This centre lies considerably to the
north of the river, and this synclin-
al folding, it is believed, indicates
the possibility of hidden artesian
supplies. The central portion of
this geologic valley is underlaid with
large volumes of gravel. and sec
lions are exposed which justify the
belief that the deposits may be fully
1000 feet deep This feature Of
the geology Is here emphasized for
the purpose of showing how the wa
ter contained within such strata may
be an impounded supply of a defin-
able extent, while the sheets Of wa
ter from which this project proposes
to draw its supply is an Independent
underground percolating stream hav-
ing great width, substantial slope
and therefore a commensurate vel
ocity Of flow. 1t is not flat sheet
OF impounded water or an under
ground pond. but a flowing stream
of unknown, but large volume.
The attached drawing illustrates
the position and relative Importance
Of the underground supply.
This underground stream flows
thru an extensive deposit of remark
ably clear gravel, we'll and uniform
" graded, passing from sand TO cob
BILE stone size. While this stratum of
gravel is within itself sufficiently
porous to permit ready flow OF
water it nevertheless carries the nee
essarv amount of sand to fill the
yoids of the coarser material. 1t
thus constitutes an ideal filtering
medium which would perfectly pur-
ify any water that might percolate
into it. There are no accretfons or
deposits of lime, silica, or. other for
eign minerals to be found so far as
I could observe, attaching themselves
to the pebbles or stones. nor are
there apparently any limestone peb-
bles in the gravel. This would in
dictate a SOFT water. as test after
wards proved. In fact this water Is
very much softer than the present
sunnlv a feature which every con-
sumner should greatly appreciate ana
which is of important economic
value. The saving in soap bills in
few years will prove the economy OF
such a supply.
The water is exceptionally pure,
as attested by the analysis made by
Prof. Humphrey, it is unusually
cold-4O degrees Fahrenheit,-and
is therefore an unusually desirable
supply, perhaps one of the best in
the state.
Coupling together all of the pre-
ceding facts you would be almost
warranted in locating your wells
any place in the valley; but your
citv engineer has wisely chosen
location peculiarly surrounded by all
the safeguards that the most exact
ing sanitary expert could demand
The special site chosen is located Oh
the down stream side of bend IN
the Yakima river at point ABOUT
900 feet from the near shore OF
the river. The construction Vi
ahout 600 feet of substantial dyke
such as that which already eXls.s
along part of the bank will perfectly
protect the proposed wells ana
pumping plant from any possible
overflow from the river. the gen.
eral course of the river above the
site is parallel with the underground
stream. The valley extends above
the proposed wells for distance OF
five miles to the Dudley Gap ana the
extent Of that part Of the UNDER