87 



long ages afterwards. He considered the contention in question 

 especially valueless, because in all probability the entire area now 

 occupied by the Farrington group was originally covered by the 

 Radstock series ; and the fact of one part having been denuded 

 while another area had escaped denudation, could not in his 

 judgment affect the thickness of the seams lying beneath. 



And without expressing any sanguine opinion as to the com- 

 mercial value of the undertaking, which a little time will probably 

 establish, the writer can only say that the result of this sinking, 

 carried out in the very centre of the Eadstock basin, has entirely 

 disproved the evil predictions referred to ; the thickness of coal 

 proved being fully equal to what has been met with in other parts 

 of the district. 



To return however to the subject of the paper, the strata 

 immediately under the Radstock series yielded little or no water, 

 and what little there was appeared to be quite fresh. The Red 

 Shales already referred to were cut at a depth of 190 feet below 

 the 9 inch vein, and were found to be 170 feet in thickness, 

 presenting no feature of special importance. The first indica- 

 tion of Salt water was in a bed of Sandstone met with at a 

 total depth of 1353 feet, and it yielded 90 gallons an hour. At a 

 depth however of 1385 feet from the surface, and in a bed of Grey 

 Sandstone, 21 feet in thickness, a much more considerable spring 

 of water was met with which was found to be highly impregnated 

 with Salt. In approaching this bed the miners were first warned 

 of the presence of these Springs, by the water issuing with consider- 

 able force from the bore holes made for blasting purposes, in 

 some instances spouting up to a height of several feet, and 

 evidently indicating considerable pressure. On reaching the rock 

 from which the water came, it was found to be full of joints and 

 fissures from which the water issued on all sides in considerable 

 quantity, amounting at first to 1,000 gallons per hour; but 

 gradually decreasing until it did not much exceed 400. Although 

 the water was excessively salt, as members will find who taste the 



