X, A, 3 Smith: Geology of Panay 227 



bored at Iloilo and in the neighboring towns. One well at Iloilo 

 penetrated to a depth of about 800 meters in clays, sands, and 

 shales and struck no potable water. The well at Janiuay al- 

 ready mentioned did not get through the thin-bedded shales and 

 resulted only in striking salt water and gas. A number of com- 

 paratively shallow wells near Iloilo which did not go below the 

 alluvium obtained water which in some cases proved to be 

 brackish and in others to have a taste of iron. After these 

 unsuccessful attempts were made, a scheme for diverting water 

 from Tigum River into a reservoir from which it was to be piped 

 a long distance to Iloilo was projected. This, however, would 

 entail the expenditure of at least a million pesos, and naturally 

 there was some hesitation about undertaking it. Finally I 

 was detailed to visit the region with instructions to look into the 

 artesian-well possibilities. After three weeks on the ground I 

 submitted a report giving the following conclusions: 



1. The artesian conditions of the sandstones and conglomer- 

 ates are not sufficiently favorable for us to recommend any 

 further expenditure of money in this direction. 



2. It is deemed probable that an adequate water supply can be 

 obtained from the deep gravels in the alluvial deposits in the 

 lower end of the Iloilo plain. 



3. More detailed study of this region should be made along 

 the lines adopted by the hydrographic branch of the United 

 States Geological Survey. 



4. Geologic investigation should precede all artesian-well 

 projects. 



The first conclusion was arrived at after due consideration 

 of the depth, inclination, thickness, and porosity of the possible 

 water-bearing strata, all of which appeared as pointing to very 

 unfavorable conditions, and in view of the past experience in 

 this district in well-boring, other and simpler means of getting 

 water should be tried first. 



Since this investigation was made, reports from that locality 

 state that in some of the wells near Iloilo, particularly the one 

 at Molo, the water has improved and is losing some of its 

 brackish taste. In one of these wells 1 noted a slight taste of 

 iron, which would not be harmful and even might be beneficial. 

 It is my expectation that the water from these wells will in 

 time become entirely potable, and that sufficient water for the 

 supply of the city of Iloilo will be obtained from numerous 

 comparatively shallow (75 to 300 meters) wells in the ancient 

 gravels of this plain. 



