1 830.] Boring for Water . 225 
VII. — Account of a Boring made to obtain an Overflowing Spring. 
To the Editor of Gleanings in Science. 
Sir, 
As tlie experiments which are at present in progress under the auspices 
of the Asiatic Society, for the purpose of ascertaining whether good spring water 
is procurable in Calcutta, by boring, have attracted attention, it might be of ser- 
vice were I to detail the successful execution of a work of this nature in England, 
to which I was witness in the year 1824, it having been done in the grounds of 
a country house, at that time occupied by our family, at Longford, county 
of Middlesex. 
I must premise, that attached to the property is a powerful water mill, at that 
time applied to the machinery of a calico print work, a business which requires a 
copious supply of pure water for the “bucking” of the prints. As the greater 
part of the work is executed in the fall of the year, and during the winter, the 
impediments caused by the heavy rains, during the above periods, rendering the 
water of the river turbid, are at times of serious moment in all print works, urged 
by water power ; to remedy this, the idea of boring suggested itself. It may be of 
service to mention, that the country in that quarter is estimated to be on a high 
level ; it is popularly said, somewhat higher than the dome of St. Paul’s, and that 
it attains still greater elevation on the road to Windsor, on the other side of which 
town, about 8 miles from Longford, the descent begins into the rich vale of Berks. 
I know of no other spot in England so situated. In the space of less than \ of a 
mile no less than five natural and artificial branches of the same stream (the Coin) 
run parallel to each other for a short distance, and then diverge widely, each on 
its own course : the formation of several rich island meadows has thus been 
effected. 1 am thus particular in order that the important consideration of locality 
may be understood : it might naturully be asked by any one unaware of the im- 
portance of a copious and constant supply of the purest water in calico works, 
what was the use of securing additional supplies of water in such a land of rivers ? 
—but the answer is obvious. The river at all times was equal to the task of 
urging the water wheel, and its attached machinery, but when rendered turbid by 
the winter floods, impeded the course of business. The surface of the country is 
a light loam, resting on a bed of gravel of considerable thickness; this point of 
course was known, but apprehensions were entertained, that, in the course of 
operations, a stratum of chalk would be encountered ; — this, however, was not the 
case. The spot selected for the boring, was dictated by convenience, being within 
4 feet of the river bank, and only a few yards from the mill wheel. As well as I can 
recollect, a triangle was set up, composed of three spars, one resting in the stream 
the other two on shore •„ midway on this, a platform of boards was placed on 
smaller spars, lashed to those composing the triangle : an iron wheel, like those used 
for “ vionkies was affixed to the head of the triangle ; through this wheel was 
driven a stout rope attached to a barrel and winch. The platform was pierced with 
a square in winch the borer worked ; — the borer was like the ordinary iron earth 
borers, and in pieces of three feet, each screwing on the other, and the whole 
armed with a large “ earth gouge” at the lower end. 
At this distance of time, I am unable to say in what manner the bore was 
worked, but 1 am inclined to consider that no other power was applied, than that 
of two strong men turning the handle of the borer in the same manner that an 
auger is worked into wood. As soon as a few turns of the borer bad been made 
an iron instrument of large size, but somewhat similar in shape to the head of 
a claw hammer attached to the rope of the windlass, was hooked to the borer at 
the part nearest to the earth, a few turns of rope having previously been applied 
round the borer at that part, forming a kind of knot or stay to which the claw 
might attach itself. The windlass was then put in motion, the borer drawn up 
and the earth cleared out of it : this process was repeated for many days • I believe 
abouEa fortnight. 
The successive strata cut through t were noted, but I have not the means of 
detailing them. Loam, gravel, sandy clay, then clay (of the usual kind), and 
sandy earth and clay, alternating in beds of various thickness, continued to the 
depth of 140 feet, without any indications of water, beyond the occasional cutting 
through of a small vein, hardly suflicient to moisten the borer, until the instrument 
came upon a bed of clay of a violet or blackish blue colour, imbedding many small 
shells, when the spring was found to be touched, the water rising to the surface 
through the small hole caused by the borer. The boring was continued some- 
what further into the clay, when the spring still continuing, it was stopped. 
