50 ARTESIAN WELLS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST. [bull. 138. 
have been extensively developed at this locality, and a number of 
wells sunk to various depths have thrown most important light on the 
water horizons. The deepest well attained a depth of approximately 
1,400 feet, and there are many which have a depth of over 700 feet. 
The first boring of which I have learned was made in 1858. It found a 
good supply of water at 185 feet. 1 In 1874 the gas and water company 
sunk two wells to 90 and 118 feet, 1 respectively, but no data appear to 
be on record as to the result. 
The deeper borings were begun in 1887 for the Consumers' Water 
Company, and one well reached the depth of 1,400 feet. The principal 
water horizons revealed by these wells were at about 525, 700, and 
960 feet, but several others were also found. Mr. Lewis Woolman, of 
Philadelphia, received samples of the borings from several of these 
wells, and he made a detailed report 2 on them, which is a most valua- 
able contribution to our knowledge of Coastal Plain geology. He also 
reported on later borings and studied the extension of the beds in 
other wells. 
In PI. IV, I have reproduced Mr. Woolman's columnar section of the 
Atlantic City wells, with a blue overprint for the water-bearing beds. 
The relations of the beds are so clearly shown in this section that 
further description of them is not necessary. The geologic correla- 
tions are based on careful studies of the fossil shells and diatoms by 
Mr. Woolman and others, and they represent the best information now 
obtainable. The lowest beds are regarded by Mr. Woolman as prob- 
ably Pamunkey and Severn. 3 
In the earlier reports on the wells of Atlantic City it was stated that 
a water horizon had been found at a depth of 1,120 feet, but it has 
since been ascertained that the water came from a break in the pipe at 
960 feet below the surface. The 800-foot horizon was not fully tested 
until 1893, when it was found to be a great water bearer both at 
Atlantic City and Ocean City. In 1895-'96 several wells were sunk to 
it and all found large supplies. The waters from the several horizons 
between 115 and 328 feet appear to be saline, and it is reported that 
the water from 300 feet is quite strongly ferruginous. Mr. Woolman 
gives the following list of approximate depths of the principal water 
horizons at Atlantic City: 4 
sands above the diatom bed. 
1. At about 328 
2. 406 and 430 
3. 525 middle of diatom bed. 
5. 700 to 720 ... . base of the diatom bed. 
6. 760 ^ 
7. 800 \ ..below the diatom bed. 
8. 958 ) 
1 New Jersey report for 1875, pp. 27-28. 
2 Artesian wells, Atlantic City, N. J., Report of State Geologist for 1889, pp. 89-99; 
Geology of the artesian wells at Atlantic City, N. J., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 
1890, pp. 132-147 ; and papers in New Jersey reports for 1890-1894. 
3 New Jersey report for 1894, p. 180. 
4 New Jersey report for 1893, p. 390. 
