Holmes's Notes on the Geology of Charleston. 201 



these streams, in the marl, near the surface, the water breaking 

 over the fallen mass, fills a small basin, and then finds a vent in- 

 to the old passage again, which seems to dip considerably as soon 

 as it disappears, showing itself again at a short distance from the 

 spring, in a bold stream known as Eutaw creek. 



"Similar springs exist in the neighborhood, and probably in 

 other portions of the Eocene region. The water contains car- 

 bonate of lime in solution, which affects its taste, although it is 

 used every where for domestic purposes. 



"At the lower lock at Blackoak, on the Santee Canal, the 

 water from 'Pocshee Springs' passes under the lock by a brick 

 aqueduct, the roof of which is never touched by the stream pass- 

 ing through it; and the whole arch is thickly studded with sta- 

 lactites, formed by the evaporation of the canal water, which per- 

 colates through the brick work. 



11 These springs are outlets from streams of water in the Eocene 

 bed, which are not connected : they are at different depths, and 

 vary in size. Many have been diverted from their course, possi- 

 bly, by the falling in of their roofs and superincumbent strata of 

 earth, leaving portions of their track dry, and forming caves of 

 greater or less extent, as is seen at 'Cave Hall/ in St. Matthew's 

 i parish. 



" Some of these streams must be very large, as exhibited by 

 the great spring at Woodboo. In 1815-16, when the supply of 

 water to the upper portion of the Santee Canal failed entirely, so 

 that the canal was dry for many months, the water from Wood- 

 boo spring furnished an abundant supply to keep the canal m 

 navigable order from Coalhill lock to Cooper river ; and the wood- 

 boats continued their business regularly. Between Coalhill and 

 Blackoak, the canal was kept full by the springs from Pooshee, 

 making the canal navigable up to the lower lock of Blackoak. 



' This state of things continued so long, that the Canal Com- 

 pany expended considerable sums in experiments, in digging for 

 water into the canal, which all failed. The Artesian well was 

 not attempted ; but in boring, if such a stream as that supplying 

 the Woodboo springs should accidentally be entered, an abun- 

 dant supply would at once be obtained. Unfortunately we have 

 no data to determine the existence of such streams in any partic- 

 ular spot, or their direction ; in boring for them, it must be mere 









a 



\ chance which could make the experiment successful. Their ex- 



istence should, however, be always kept in mind, in boring 



escape 



through the Eocene; 



occurs, it should be attended to, and not shut out by pipes, before 



its quantity or quality has been tested/' 



Second Series, Vol. VII, No. 20.— March, 1849. 26 





