Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-01-20
From the Marion (Ala. Rcric,r.)
ARTISAN WELLS.

There is much connected with the his,o
~ OF we'll boring in Alabama, which is GU.
rious and interesting, aud which would be
highly valuable TO the geoolog;s,, were all
the facts properly presented. Bored wells
are now becoming very common in the p raj
rio and cane brake sections of the State.
Water 10 found ct various distances from,
the surface, ranging from 20 to TOO feet.
The most usual depth is about 800 feet
On tho waters making into the Warrior
River on the east, the wafer is generally
brought to the surface, sometimes ten OF
more feet above it; while in the wells bored
east Of the dividing ridge between the War
rior and Cahawba and Alabama rivers, the
water rarely comes nearer than 90 fee, of
the surface. II is said too, that west Of the
Tonhgbee river. 1he water, never comes
to the surface. Sometimes 100 and even
500 feet boring will not bring water.
There are many things associated with
this going down into the earth, and bringing
up therefrom living streams Of pure water,
that we should like TO hear explained by
the rules Of science. The different strata
through which the augur Fenetrates, afford
as fine specimens for the critical eye of
the practical geologist, as he could wish to
have presented for his examination. Well
borers say they go through three beds Of
hard rock-so hard that they have 10 peck
through them before they get low enough
10 bring water 10 the surface, although
water is found under each. After going
through the first and second beds the augur
will frequently drop,ooparenlty into lake
or stream Of water, from two 10 ten feet;
but this water will not rise to the surface.
and, j, is only when they SO through the
lower strata, that the wafer will rush up.
wards with sufficient force TO come on: at
the top.
In boring one at Erie in Green county,
short time since, the augur after going
through the strata of rock. struck a log Of
wood, nesrly three hundred fee, from the
surface, was so hard they could not bore
it, and were defeated in attempting 10 peck
through it. by its rising and falling in the
water. AT another well below, on the riv-
er. a log was actually bored through and
the chips brought up But this is only one
of the curious facts presented by well
boring.
But the idea Of bringing water some 8
or 400 feet right up out of the earth 10 turn
a mill is certainly novelty.
There isa mill now in operation at Erie
which is carried by the water furnished
by three bored wells, and which, we are
informed, grindsove n hundred bushels Of
corn a day. Another man, below on the
Warrior river, who has been running saw
and grist mill by steam for years, is now
boring wells for the purpose Of running his
mills by water instead Of steam. One Of
his wells is said 10 furnish $50 gallons pei
minute.
If many such undertakings are gone in.
to, the important question presents Itself :
Is this supply Of water inexhaustible?-al.
so, are these wells all supplied from the
same source2 Where is the source7-
Water was obtained in Paris, France, at O
depth Of 100 feet, and man lately offer.
ed 10 get water at that depth, for the city
of Boston, for 80, coo dollars! Is the in.
side Of the globe filled with water instead
Of fret AT any rate, we should like &c
know whittier it comes from-how it go,
,here-and how much propably there is Of
| it, Who can tell?