GC: You will have before you Sections 31, 32, 33 and 34, in
Township 67, Range 25, Monroe County, also Sections 6, 5, 4
and 3 in Township 68, Range 25, Monroe County, all in the
State of Florida, in and near the city of Key West, and you
will tell us at what depth fresh water may be found, giving
the formation above and below the water strata. You will
also give an analysis of the water and the proper method in
drilling for it.
EC: In locating the water strata, and in giving the proper
place to insure success in obtaining the same, it is best -
as we see - that directions be given from the plan of the
city as laid out. First in the geological conditions
surrounding this territory we find this is built up of coral
and sedimentary elements. Hence the depth at which sweet
water will be found, or water proper for the physical body's
use, will be found only at the top of the cretation
formation, which will be found to be nearly thirty-eight
hundred (3800) feet - but here may be found in quantity
sufficient to supply the needs of the city in every
commercial, even in one operation - though many may be
sunken for the convenience of the surrounding territory.
In the upper portion of city there is seen in the contour of
the country that of the appearance of the ridge dividing the
land in a northeast, southwest direction. Here we find the
form of a fold. This, then, would be the proper place to
drill for fresh water production. Upper portion meaning the
northeastern part of city, and there will be found first the
coral formation with that of sedimentaries, which are of the
shale, and with seepage or form of billage water. This will
be necessary to be kept cased off, using only sufficient of
the water for drilling operation. The drilling may be made
with that of the rotary nature, provided that the bits are
for the rock formation. This would assist in keeping the
pole clear and in enabling one to keep the hole cased as the
operations progress. Casing will of necessity have to be set
motion. That is, follow operations until at least twenty-six
to twenty-eight hundred (2600 to 2800) feet are reached.
Here we encounter more of the red or colored chalk
formations, and below this a lime shale, and in the lower
portion of the shale - near the thirty-eight hundred (3800)
foot level - water will be found - fresh water. The analysis
- being near pure, with the tendencies of iron and silicon
reaction, only that of sufficient quantity to raise water
near the surface itself. Follow these instructions, and
along this ridge - in any vicinity of those northeastern
section - water may be located. We are ready for questions.
(Q) What formation will be found just above the water
stratum?
(A) The blue lime shale.
(Q) This may be used for a marker?
(A) This is the strata just above the water. This strata
being some twenty-nine (29) feet in its depth.
Necessary that the seepage water from sea level be kept cased
as the operations progress, drilling something like the full
length or more of the casing - lowering same, see?
We are through for the present.
BACKGROUND
See previous readings on oil well lands.
11/28/27 Mr. [
943]'s letter: "I have another proposition to
submit to you with reference to fresh water in the City of
Key West, Fla. For many years there they have spent many
thousands of dollars trying to locate fresh water and at the
present time they have not succeeded... They obtain water
there now by shipping it there from near Miami in tanks. I
sincerely trust that you will find time to give a reading
real soon and I assure you that I will do all I can to help
you when the proper time comes. I have several people that
will back me in trying to find water for the above city and
will have no trouble in getting help if you will give me the
information as stated above."
REPORTS
1/14/28 Mr. [
943] obtained
5637-4 on Monroe Co., Fla., oil
well -
5637-4.
11/25/28 "I am working on the Key West water deal just now
and it looks like I may get it through [See
5741-15 Reports
for entire letter]... Am organizing a development company
here to do the drilling with people that have the money and
are not afraid to gamble a little."
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation