ON THE CIRCULATION OF UNDERGROUND WATERS. 67 



varying thickness according to the position of the well, that the well-sinkers 

 and borers had to penetrate to get to the water-bearing rock below. This 

 portion has of course in each case been tubed. The succession of those strata 

 is shown on the sections, and consists first of Marsh Clay or Silt (Postglacial), 

 Quicksand (Glacial), and a great depth of a tenacious, unctuous, fine clay of 

 a brown colour, evidently recomposod to a considerable extent from the 

 Triassic Marls, but being itself of glacial marine origin, as shown by the 

 shell-fragments and occasional erratic boulders and pebbles it contains. This 

 reposes on a red sand often containing erratic pebbles, the top sand of the 

 red rock below. According to the Geological Survey the bed-rock belongs to 

 the Pebble Beds, or middle division of the Bunter. 



It is pretty certain from the consensus of evidence on the subject that when 

 this retentive bed of brown marl was first pierced the water rose above the sur- 

 face of tho ground. A reference to the section will show that the water-level has 

 been permanently lowered by pumping to an average of about 8 feet below the 

 surface ; when the pumps are at work, of course the level of the water in the 

 well is entirely dependent upon tho power of the pumps. I have not been, 

 able to obtain returns from all the well-owners, but the amount of water of 

 which I have returns, if we include the Local-Board well at Crouton, is 

 1,670,000 gallons per diem ; I should think, however, there must be a mil- 

 lion more gallons pumped*. The form of the printed questions, however, 

 creates a difficulty, as the " Quantity capable of being pumped up in gallons 

 per day " is not necessarily the same thing as the actual yield. 



There can be no doubt, however, that a very considerable quantity of water 

 in this area is tapped and utilized. It will be seen from the sections that 

 the extreme height the water rises above ordnance datum is 18 feet. 



Stocks Well, Cronton. — This is a well belonging to the Widnes Local 

 Board. It is situated about 2 5 miles from Widnes, and is 70 feet above O.D. 

 (not 45 as stated in the return) ; but as it does not lie in the Preglacial 

 valley of the Mersey, I mention it separately. It yields 800,000 gallons per 

 day. Before pumping the water flows over at the surface, and therefore 

 rises 52 feet above the water-level at Widnes. The Widnes Board are sink- 

 ing a well at Netherley Bridge, and, I understand, get a yield now of about 

 350,000 gallons per day. 



Garston Iron Works. — The yield of this well is 240,000 gallons per day. 

 It is situated on the margin of the river Mersey, and the water-level appears 

 to be approximately the same as at Widnes. As it is nearly 7 miles from 

 Widnes and 4 from Liverpool the water-level appears to be governed by 

 proximity to the river. The water-level is stated to have diminished. 



At Whiston the St.-Helen's Corporation have established a well; but 

 further than that the yield is 1,000,000 gallons per day I have no reliable 

 information. 



Ince Waterworks, Qolbourne. — In a direct line this well is over 10 

 miles from Widnes. The surface-level is 125 feet above O.D. ; the yield 

 240,000 gallons per diem. The water-level before pumping is stated to be 

 80 feet below the surface, or 45 feet above O.D. 



The Sankey White-lead Works, Well, Sankey Bridges. — The peculiarity 

 of this well is its being all in the drift, finishing in a bed of gravel about 100 

 feet below the surface. The water, rising to within 3 feet 6 inches of the 



* Mr. Boult, who has collected a great amount of information on the subject, gives 

 480,000 as the yield of the Ditton Iron Company's well, Pilkington's 240.000, and tho 

 Tharsus Copper Works 192,000, or a total of 912,000, all of which will be additional to 

 my returns. 



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