Artesian Springs or Wells. 79 



happened to the thermometer with which the experiments 

 were made, and as the information which was prociu'ed 

 from the borers was not of the most accurate description, I 

 have preferred delaying the details tUl some futm^e time, 

 when more accurate experiments and information may have 

 been procured. It may be satisfactory to observe, how- 

 ever, that Mr Kincaid found the temperature in all of them 

 to be much above the mean of the district. Mr Angus of 

 Holytown has also had the goodness to make many experi- 

 ments for me on the artesian and other springs, wliich are to 

 be found in the coal-pits of that neighbourhood ; but as it 

 would mix up the subject too much at present to relate them, 

 I must also defer them till another occasion. 



It has been our object in the foregoing part of tliis com- 

 munication, to state, as concisely as is consistent Avith the de- 

 tail of the subject, the different facts which we have been 

 able to collect concerning the artesian wells of the districts to 

 which we have had access ; and it may not be out of place 

 to make a few remarks which have been suggested from the 

 consideration of the facts above mentioned. 



We may remark, then, in the first place, that artesian wells 

 are abundantly to be found throughout the rocks of the coal- 

 formation. This is a fact not at all to be wondered at when 

 we consider the variety of rocks which are to be found in that 

 series, some of which are pervious, and others impervious, to 

 water. Indeed, so well is this known in some parts of the 

 country, that preparations have always to be made before 

 commencing a perforation, so that they may be enabled to 

 stop the flow of water from it, in consequence of the water 

 proving a nuisance to the land in the immediate neighbourhood, 

 if it is not wanted for economical purposes. 



The quantity of the water which flows up these perfora- 

 tions is very various, generally bearing a proportion to the 

 width of the bore, and the depth to which it is carried. In 

 some of those which we have mentioned, the quantity of water 

 is very considerable, coming out of a bore nearly three inches 

 in diameter, in a full and continuous stream ; and I am in- 

 formed by Mr Johnston of Meadowbank, who continued bor- 



