100 E. F. PITTMA.N. 



PROBLEMS of the ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY 



of AUSTRALIA, with special reference to 



PROFESSOR GREGORY'S THEORY. 



By E. F. Pittman, a.r.s.m., Government Geologist of 



New South Wales. 



[With Plates YIIL. -IX.] 



[Clarke Memorial Lecture delivered before the Royal Society of N. S. Wales, 

 October 31st, lb07. 



In certain localities, when bore-holes are put down in the 

 earth's crust, considerable volumes of water rise above the 

 surface like fountains, and form a more or less permanent 

 supply. These are termed Artesian wells, after Artesium, 

 the Etonian name of one of the provinces of Prance where 

 the first Artesian bore was put down. In these cases the 

 phenomenon is accompanied by certain geological conditions, 

 and the rise of the water is due to well recognised laws. 



The best treatise extant on the occurrence of Artesian 

 water was published by Professor T. O. Ohamberlin, of 

 Chicago University, in 1885. * In this monograph he gives 

 the following statement of the conditions necessary for 

 Artesian wells: — 



I. A pervious stratum to permit the entrance and the 



passage of the water. 



II. A water-tight bed below to prevent the escape of 



the water downward. 



III. A like impervious bed above to prevent escape up- 

 ward, for the water, being under pressure from the 

 fountain head, would otherwise find relief in that 

 direction. 



1 Fifth Ana. Kept. U.S. Geol. Sur.> 1885,pp. 125- 173. 



