The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-05-05
.HISCEEEnF.SEOTS.
THE ARTISAN WELL OF GRENoBLI

HE An ESlAN W ELL VI OhEN ODbE'
Most of our readers know that an Arfe
sian peli-so called from being first form.
ed in the province Of Artois.-is one
where the water is procured IN low and
arid situations, by boring into the earth
until strata are passed which have waller
beneath them, and where the liquid, beng
derived from heights, springs through the
strata to the surface, from the pressure be.
hind. At Grenoble, 10 the vicinity OF the
French capital, Il was considered advisable
some years ago, to endeavor TO procure
good water by means Of an Atteslau we'll,
NJ. Mulet de Epinay was the engineer TO
whom the task was Intrusled Ga the 3lst
OF December, 1886, the bore had been car
ried, after immense labor, to the depth Of
3S3 metres "a metre IS 3 feet and 2.l0.hs
EngIish.) The soil was a clay, very hard
and compact. la the month OF June, 1880,
the bore had reached the depth OF 400
metrel, and the soil was still bed of clay,
though variety Of strata had been Prev
ousIy passed. NJ. Mulot kept regular
journal of observations relative to the soils
and strata penetrated, and the temperature
at different depths. This record will be
valuable when published.
At length, after task Of seven years,
one mouth, and twenty SIX days duration,
NJ. Mulot was rewarded by degree Of
success proporlIoned TO the time and trou.
bic expended. Water was not only found
bu, found under such circumstances, and Il
such quantities, as will cause the well TO be
one OF the most useful works, as wei! as one
Of tho greatest maryels OF arllstlcal ngenu
iiy 10 France. The fluid burst out in {
perfect torrent, rising to the surface OF the
bore 10 the amount OF nearly three cublt
metres in a mIBute, or $50 metres 10 at
hour, and 1920 metres 10 the "a hours
shaft, tina: it mounts moe than thirty
English feet above the surface OF tb'
ground. N. Hemery, director Of roads ant
bridges, has calculated that the force Q
ascension of the water, at the bottom Of ID
shaft, exceeds BY fifty times the force wit
which water rises in a yacuated tube c
thirty three feet.
The orifce Of the well is 55 centlmetfe
(abou! foot : lnches) 10 diameter, aud Q
the bottom It is 5 centImetres in diameter
The shaft 10, in all, SAT metres Tor 1913
French leet) 10 depth, and the sides ar
strongly plated with iron TO depth Of 80
metres. The dome Of the lnvalds, whIc
has an elevation of 800 feet above ,h
ground, is thus only about a fifth Of the pei
pendicular measurement Of the ArtesIa
we'll Of Grenoble. Three times, durn
the operations, did the shaft give way, bl
the interchangeable engineer was not daunte
and at last he has had his reward. Th
water, which the we'll pours forth incei
sanity, has converted one of the neighbol
ing streets into a river, but the workme
are at present employed IN forming a char
mel for its proper conveyance from the spo
As might be expected, the fluid was at fir
mixed with sand aud earth, and continued
be so for sometime. II is perfectly swee
however, and has no odour OF dlsagreet
BILE kind, or any other delerloraling quail
ties. II 10 of such a temperature, lh'
there is an obvious smoke arising from
when i. reaches the surface. This is
feature not likely 10 continue, aud indee
easily removable before use. The who|
cos, Of this great work Of art, to the city
Paris, 10 said 10 have been 100, 900 franc
The perseverance, ln this labor, for such
period OF deferred success, IS 10 be ascribe
TO the confidence resulting from moder ger
illogical discoveries, and the value of ,bes
is most splendldly shown by the success a
tanned.
by an ingenious Continuance, NJ. Mulc
has been able 10 raise large quantities {
sand from the bottom Of the veil thus cleal
ing the water moro rapidly, and also ado
ing very considerably 10 its force and vo
ume. The removal of the sand has bee
attended with curious consequences in NOR
respects than one. After ceasing, 10
great measure, TO throw up sand, the we
has begun to throw up shells and petrifac
tons Of various kinds, The debris of q 70,
mer world. But the most remarkable CHI
cumslance Of all, is the following. A ric