1321] ARTESIAN WELLS IN HINDS — MADISON. 191 



The data, down to No. 8 inclusive, were furnished by Mr. J. Murray,* after 

 whose death the work remained stationary until, very lately, it has been recom- 

 menced in a more effectual manner, by the aid of a steam engine, under the 

 direction of Mr. W. B. Blake, who so successfully conducted the boring of the 

 celebrated Louisville artesian well. Strata 9 to 13 are given according to Mr. 

 Blake's accurate record ; the greatest depth reached being, by his measurement, 

 460 feet. In consequence of the failure of the supply of water for themachinery 

 atthe Penitentiary, from the ponds heretofore used, the boring of the well has 

 been discontinued at present (July, 1860), in order to allow of its water being- 

 used. It has since been reapeatedly drawn upon at the rate of 14,000 gallons 

 per day, without a sensible diminution of the supply — saving about $18 per 

 day (after deducting the cost of pumping), otherwise spent in hauling water. At 

 present the water carries with it some fine sand, which renders it turbid, and 

 is allowed to subside in a tank, before being fed to the boilers. This is owing, 

 no doubt, to the spasmodic action of the pump, and would soon subside in a reg- 

 ular flow. The water is now being used for all ordinary purposes ; it is some- 

 what mineral, the prevalent ingredient being Bi-carbonate of Soda, with some 

 other salts — contained to the extent of about 20 to 25 grains per gallon. 



Record of the Bored Well at the State Penitentiary. 



1. Surface materials and clay marl - 



2. Blue sandy shell marl - 



3. Day sand, with streaks of whitish or gray clay, containing im- 



pressions of leaves - 



4. Wet quicksand, caving very badly - 



(Here water rose to within 70 feet of the surface.) 



5. Black clays, mostly laminated, interstrafcified with layers of sand. 



Fragments of impressions of leaves, and, at 400 feet, a catkin 

 of a willow?, were bored up - 

 G. Greensand, with shells, and streaks of gray and red clay 



7. Water-bearing sand, caving badly - - - - 



(Here water rose to within 50 feet of the surface.) 



8. Greensand, with shells ; same as above ... 



9. Ledge of gray, fossiliferous limestone - 



10. Blue clay, with calcareous nodules, and some layers of green- 



sand marl ------- 



11. Shell marl, with layers of black clay ... 



12. Quicksand, with a great deal of mica - 



13. White, indurate clay, with iron pyrites. Not yet passed. - 

 The material of bed No. 6 of this profile is richer in greensand than any I have 



seen in the State ; it consists of little else than glauconite and broken shells, 

 and would be of the highest value as a manure, could its outcrop be found. I 

 suppose it to be a continuation of the Shongalo bed ; and if so, there is reason 

 to expect, that materials similar to it will be found in other and more accessible 

 portions of that bed. 



This profile shows the materials of the formation to be so variable, that water- 

 bearing beds may be expected everj'where at intervals. The water, from which 

 the fetid black clay had been "tubed out," showed no remarkable smell or taste. 

 It will be perceived, that a difference in depth of 368 feet, from the top of the 

 first water-bearing stratum (No. 4)to the second (No. 7) caused arise of twenty 

 feet ; and if the rise increase hereafter at the same ratio, and a water-bearing 



*I must observe that the aggregate depth given by Mr. Murray (500 feet) 

 greatly exceeds that since given by Mr. Blake, according to whose measurement, 

 the entire depth, at the time he took the work in charge, did not exceed 425 feet. 

 Kot knowing where the error may be, I give this part of the record as I received it. 



