DARTON.] VIRGINIA. 173 
From 44 feet down the well is in the Chesapeake formation. The 
saline water horizon at 603 to 600 feet appears to be the same as that at 
599 feet at Fort Monroe. 
Norfolk, — A well was bored at Norfolk many years ago to a depth of 
147 feet, which yielded a fair supply of hard water. After the intro- 
duction of the public waterworks it fell into disuse and was finally 
abandoned. 
The present water supply for the city is obtained from ponds lying 
to the eastward, and, although a surface water, its quality is fair. As 
the supply is limited in amount and the city population is increasing 
steadily, an interest has been taken during recent years in obtaining 
an underground water supply. A series of test borings to depths of 
from 38 to 117 feet were made in the region east of the city and a fair 
prospect for water was found at from 30 to 50 feet, but with growing 
faith in the prospects for deeper-seated waters the commissioners have 
decided to try a deep artesian boring. This boring is now in progress, 
and the expectation is to obtain a supply of 5,000,000 gallons a day. 
Plans are perfected to sink to a depth of 1,800 feet if necessary, in 
order to get to the basal beds of the Coastal Plain formations — those 
which lie upon the granite floor, or bed rock, as shown in section 3 of 
PI. XVI. 
At Money Point, 5 miles south of Norfolk, up the Southern Branch, 
a well was sunk some years ago to a depth of 502 feet, from which 
flowed a good supply of slightly ferruginous water. Its supply came 
from sands low in the Chesapeake formation. 
Newport News. — I learn that a well was bored at Newport News to 
the depth of about 600 feet, but without reaching water. I was unable 
to secure the well record, but undoubtedly the boring did not penetrate 
to the base of the Chesapeake formation. 
Onancock, Accomac County. — This place is on the eastern shore of 
Virginia. The well was bored to a depth of 486 feet, but found no water 
below 140 feet. The water is utilized, and the well yields about 5 gal- 
lons a minute. The following partial record was furnished: 
Feet. 
150-175 shells and gravel in sand. 
180-308 fine sand ; no water. 
308-310 hard rock, 9 inches; clay, 2 inches; rock, 5 inches; clay, 5 
inches. 
310-333 clay and sand. 
333-480 clay. 
Williamsburg, James City County. — The boring made at the insane 
asylum at Williamsburg reached a depth of 876 feet without finding 
water, but in a recent boring to a depth of 280 feet a satisfactory 
supply has been obtained from the horizon at the base of the Chesa- 
peake formation. In this shallower boring a very hard stratum of 
siliceous rock was pierced at 276 feet, and water was found in sands 
beneath. 
