[ 4ir> ] 



LXXXII. On retaining Water in Rocks for Summer Use. 

 By Mr. William Smith, Engineer^ M.Y.P.S.* 



A S practical applications of knowledge acquired from geo- 

 '^*- logy in relation to the comforts and conveniences of man 

 in a most essential article of life, must be considered matter 

 of importance, I hope to be excused for troubling the Society 

 with a detailed account of what 1 may call a Geological Reser- . 

 voir of water made in the hills near Scarborough in the dry- 

 est summer this country has experienced for sixty years. 



We know from the annual variation of springs, that rocks 

 hold a much greater quantity of water in winter than in sum- 

 mer ; and we further know, that in wet seasons rocks hold pe- 

 riodically much more than their annual average quantity both 

 in winter and summer : and hence the question as to the pos- 

 sibility of retaining water in rocks for summer use is tlecided 

 by the annual and periodical operations of nature. 



For the means of altering or improving some of these na- 

 tural operations, so as to render the irregular supply of water 

 which falls upon the earth more convenient to the general 

 purposes of man, we must resort to geology ; — to find what 

 stratum is fitting for the object, and what site in the range 

 thereof; what the rock lies upon; what stratum or diluvium 

 covers it, and the dip, rises, and troughs or undulations in the 

 strata. 



I have for many years entertained notions of the practica- 

 bility of making use of rocks as subterraneous reservoirs of 

 water, in some cases extensive enough for the use of canals : 

 and once, in a Report on Springs, suggested such a plan to one 

 of our canal companies. But lor the use of towns and dwell- 

 ing-houses, many situations may be found where the joints of 

 a rock are capacious enough for penning up winter water 

 therein, for use in even the dryest summers ; as many springs 

 which then fail, produce a superabundant quantity in winter. 



This was the state of the first springs anciently taken from 

 adjacent hills to supply the town of Scarborough ; which sup- 

 ply has been from time to time increased and improved at the 

 expense of the Corporation. Within a \'gw years new pipes 

 have been laid at a great expense. 



Still however, in the summer months, when there was much 

 company in the place, water was deficient ; and the commis- 

 sioners for improving the town undertook to search for more 

 water on the lull sides about a mile and half distant. 



In tlie month of May last a small quantity was found to 



♦ R«ad to the V'orkshirc Pliiloso|)hical Society, Manh 1827; ami com- 

 municated bv the Hev. W. V. Vernon, Pres. Y.P.S. 



