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Show Volume XXX Issue X The Ogden Valley News Page 9 March 1, 2023 Source and Operation of Artesian Wells Supplying Ogden City Water System cold, has no taste or color except that of pure water, and chemical analysis show it to be entirely free from injurious minerals. The supply is adequate for the city at its present size. If the water of a well flows to the surface like a fountain, it is called an artesian well….. Originally, Ogden Valley was much deeper than at present, and its sides much steeper as shown in the bed rock portion… the coarse rocks from the mountain sides having been carried by ice and water into the deep valley, partially filling it…. At this remote date, the climate was much colder, also much more rain and snow fell as proven by the fact that there was a glacier on Mt. Ogden, back of the peak, above Wheeler canyon. Three rivers: South Fork, Middle Fork, and North Fork, then much larger than now, filled with water all the valley not occupied by rocks and flowed on out as they now do… at the lowest point in the solid rock surrounding the valley. Note: The following article and photo ran in the Ogden Standard-Examiner December 12, 1920. At the request of Miss Ida Fitzsimons, one of the supervisors in the Ogden city schools, O. J. Stilwell, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, prepared an outline for teaching local geography which was published in the Standard-Examiner a few weeks ago. Mr. Stilwell has answered the questions of the outline relating to the growth of Ogden and Lake Bonneville. In this issue, he is giving an elementary explanation of the third section of the outline, which related to the source of Water Rises Eventually the water rose in the man body of great Lake Bonneville until it backed up into and filled Ogden valley, reaching… 5200 feet above sea level, about 400 feet above the present site of Ogden; Ogden Valley at that time being a quiet bay connected with the main lake through the straits which then filled Ogden canyon. While the water was raising, and so long thereafter as the bay One of the thirty-four wells of the Ogden city water system. contained water, a fine sediment, continued on down the canyon its entire length, connecting with the delta at the Ogden’s city water: Ogden is the proud possessor of one of the mouth of the canyon, the formation of which purest water supplies in the world, its source was described in the story on Lake Bonneville, for opposite the car line bridge, just below being 34 artesian wells. It is obvious that this artesian water con- Becker’s Bridge, a portion of the old deposit tains neither bacteria nor organic matter. It is has not been washed away and may be seen as an alluvial shelf or short terrace, reaching a height of about 100 feet above the river, and farther down on both sides of the canyon near the red fence, and also opposite the water fall, there are clinging to the rocks great masses of gravel which were deposited under water as the lake went up and down. All these remains, as well as the delta on which Ogden stands…. When the lake had so far descended as to leave Ogden Valley dry, the surface sloped somewhat towards [the Ogden River] but was nearly as smooth as the waters that had formerly covered it. Result of Erosion The gullies, valleys, and terraces one beholds are result of erosion by the tree rivers and their tributaries. It is doubtful if there is any better place in the world than Ogden Valley for the study of erosion. The phenomena are on a scale small enough to be comprehended, and yet fully as stupendous as the mind of the ordinary student can grasp. The writer often drives past the cemetery to the point to enjoy the inspiring view of nature’s workmanship [now under the water of Pineview]. The car stands on the ancient alluvial deposit which was the bottom of the lake. A hundred feet below, at the left, is the valley of South Fork which the stream has cut down o eroded from the level on which we stand. On the right is the valley of Middle Fork, which has been similarly eroded, both uniting with the eroded valley of North Fork to form the extensive meadows where the wells of Artesian Park are located [now buried underneath Pineview Reservoir]. Between the streams, portions of the old lake bottom have been left standing, while valleys have been cut down, forming meadow only a little above the Ogden River…. If the rock barrier were not… I would cut still lower. Note: Please not that at this point, the right side of the historical copy of this article has been cut o昀昀; thus, many of the words are missing, which makes the small remainder of the article unreadable. A copy of the article wit additional graph can be found at newspapers.lib.utah. edu/details?id=7142217&q=ogden+valley&s ort=rel&facet_paper=%22Ogden+StandardExaminer%22. From The Past . . . Snowslide in Ogden Canyon, early 1900s. Photo courtesy of Etta Baker of Huntsville. The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you have material you are willing to share. -Flatwork -Decorative Concrete -Concrete Prep Schedule a Quote Today! 801-857-1567 Danny Graves | @DJFencingLLC Fridays during Lent Communion Service 6:oo p.m. & Stations of the Cross 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Saturday Night Sunday Morning First Friday 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. 8:30 a m. Fr. Joshua Marie Santos 801-399-5627 FrJoshuaS.Stambrose@gmail.com Saturday 5:30 p.m Sunday 8:00 a.m. or by appt. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 |