120 REPORT— 1875. 



With the exception of the wells in the Keuper Marls at Hornington, all 

 the borings prove these marls to be non-water bearing at Burton, the water 

 found coming from the sands beneath them. Mr. Molyneux is therefore of 

 opinion that the large amount of calcareous ingredients found in the artesian 

 wells is derived from the vast area of Keuper Marls with gypseous aggrega- 

 tions occurring in the old area of Ifeedwood Forest, to the west of the valley, 

 the gypsum-charged water flowing along lines of natural underground 

 drainage in a north-easterly direction, until its progress is checked by the 

 great north and south Trent-vaUey fault, and a portion of the water forced 

 up into the overlying gravels, where it becomes mixed with the ordinary sur- 

 face-water of the vallej', which it charges with the calcareous elements which 

 give it the materials necessary to the production of Burton beer. 



Mr. J. P. Griess, F.R.S., informs Mr. Molyneux that the gypsum derived from 

 the water used in brewing 1000 barrels of ale would be 250 pounds ; so that, 

 assuming Burton produces annually 1,400,000 barrels of ale, no less than 

 350,000 pounds of this mineral will be drank with the beer in the various 

 parts of the world. Of the water derived from the Burton valley -gravels, and 

 used in various operations of brewing, probably not less than 1,050,000 pounds 

 of gypsum will be disposed of, which Mr. Molyneux considers will not re- 

 present one tenth of the actual amount of gypsum being annually carried to 

 the sea. And it is believed that many local subsidences which have taken 

 place in various parts of Needwood Forest are due to the fracture and sink- 

 ing of gypsum-beds corroded by underground streams. 



The water recently obtained by several of the large brewing firms from 

 the Keuper Sandstone and Bunter beds rose 23 feet above the level of the 

 valley, proving the great height of the sources of supply. These waters were 

 softer than those from the marls or from the valley-gravels, the proportion 

 of sulphate of lime being much less. 



Lancashire, 



At Manchester Mr. Binney has experienced great difficulty in obtaining 

 returns ; in fact out of twenty sent out only three have been returned. 



In one of these a well and boring at Ayecroft, 433 feet in depth, is stated 

 to produce about 180,000 to 200,000 gallons per day ; but the well is only 

 pumped for two or three weeks at a time, chiefly in dry weather. 



The well is 70 yards from the river Irwell ; and when that river rises, the 

 water in the well rises also. 



Prof. HuU states that in 1863 from 60 to 70 wells in the New Red and 

 Lower Permian Sandstones of Manchester and Salford yielded not less than 

 six million gallons per day, used for factories, breweries, bleaching and dye 

 works. 



As the collecting-area is only 7 square miles, covered with houses and 

 paved streets, a large part of this supply must be derived from infiltration 

 from the rivers Irk, Medlock, and Irwell. 



As the water thus derived is useful for commercial purposes, while that in 

 the rivers is little better than sewage, the great natural filtering-properties of 

 the New Bed Sandstone are here remarkably shown. . 



Dr. E. Angus Smith, F.R.S., found the water from the deep wells of 

 Manchester, in the Permian and Bunter Sandstone, to yield 8 grains oi 

 sulphate of lime, and six of carbonate. 



WeU-water rora the south side of Manchester, analyzed by him in 1865, 

 contained : — 



