The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-31
From the Boston Transcript.
Artesian Wells:

| An experiment is now making at East Bos-
ton on a grand scale, to determine point Of
immense Importance to the present and fu-
ture interest Of that thriving section Of the
metropolis, viz. whether sufficient quanti-
I ty of potable water can be obtained to sup
ply the necessities of the inhabitants, by bor-
ing into the earth, Believing that the de-
tails of the operation may be gratifying to
others, as they are to myself, this paper is at
your disposal
The locality on which the work of pence
traton to depth never before attempted in
New England, is going on, is on the easter
lyi part Of East Boston, above the mar
gin of the marsh beyond the settlement.
framed building was erected in the begin
ming, and an excellent steam engine set, up
with various kinds of appended apparatus to
conduct the labor with economical facility
Mr., Higgins, the engineer, already familiar
with the business, having sunk many Arte-
sian wells in the city to eighty, ninety, and
hundred feet,has devised new instrument
for drilling down through all opposition, unlike
any tool in ordinary use for the same pur-
pose. He has abandoned the common earth
augur, the handle of which is heightened
from time to time by locking on a succession
of iron rods, turned by winch and hand
power. His invention is essentially as follows
a cast iron tube, eight inches in diameter, 10
feet or thereabouts,in length is armed at one
end with two prodigious strong chisels and
just above them is an ingeniously devised
valve. At the other extremity is wrought
iron handle, fastened to which is stout short
linked chain, to raise itup and down When
in action, it operates on the principles of
chopping knife, so familiar in mince pie man
ipulations. The engine raises and then lets
it fall, like the perpendicular movements Of a
dashcr in the obsolete method of churning
butter AS the bits of stone and other mate
rails accumulate every time the massive tube
drops they are forced up through the tube,
and retained Finally, when enough has
been chopped to ELL the chamber Of the drill
the name of 1.-THE engine draws it to
the surface to be emptied. The cost Of the
one Mr. Higgins is laboring with,was six hum
bred dollars.
Before resortng to this unique contrivance
at all an ordinary well was dug 140 feet
spersed with water-worn stone, of a | sizes.
On this Mr. Higgins set cast-iron tube Of
ten inches diameter--and another on the top
ofthat, secured by water-tight joints, and SO
on to the very outlet above ground. This
long ponderous cylinder, is carefully braced
on the outside all the way, to keep it exactly
and within it the mighty bat
tering ram is let down and set in motion, a.
gainst the realm of Pluto. As fast as the hole
was deepened, the weight of the superincum-
bent pipe, pressed down further, pairing the
sides as it goes. All accumulation from that
source, with its own chips, we're secured by
the valve. After passing ten feet of the mix
.ure described, the instrument struck hard
blue slate stone, through which Mr. Higgins
urged his way at the average rate of six feet
A day, for 145 feet. Next, he came upon
bed Of tale, of a greenish grey color, greasy to
he touch, one, variety being recognized
among the tailors, under the name of French
:halk and used for marking on cloth the
course of the shears.
Finally-on Saturday evening last--tle
utter penetrated right through that stratum
the entire depth at that ate-903
eet. The tube rests ON the slate, by which
t is sustained-and water, soft and agreea-
Die in flavor rises in it to the height Of 200
eet ; probably it comes from between tie
eams and fractures of the rock, since none
an be possibly forced in 1aterally
A singular accident occurred, the relation
If which may be ofservice to those engaged
n similar undertaking. An Iishman whose
luty it was to tend the brakc-and ease the
lrill down slowly, neglected the lever for an
nstant when down ran the whole, embracing
chain 800 fees in length, with tremendous
,elocity, the last end flying from the barrel,
,round which it was wound The momentum
vedged it into the long tube, as snugly as
hoagh it had been driven in with a piston.
BY patient efforts from Tuesday till Satur-
Iay,a link was luckily caugh with a fsh-hook
Cautiously drawing the line hand over hand,
he chain was ultimately regained, yet there
vas singular and unlocked for difficulty
some mischievous fellow had dropped in what
call cold chsel, of hardened steel
tx inches of which was broken off by the
utters of the drill, and brought up by the
aithful valve. The other part, some two,
# three inches long, by half an inch square,
eing still at the bottom, a small magnet be-
ng sent down on a message, but brought up
othing but splinters. Mr. Higgins conelud-
d to wait till Monday, Ito day. and then
rop in one of the largest magnets to be pro-
feasibility of bringing out the obtrusive
Dol.
Mr. Higgins intends to persevere in wend-
ng his way into the interior, as long as means
re provided for doing so,--hopine, as your
umble servant does, that the scheme may
ot be abandoned, even if they reach the
epta of 5000 feet witout striking fountain
f an extraordinary character. 1fhe succeed
nd as at the well at Grenole, the water should
Use to an altitude of1O0 ft.above the surface in
never failing volume, it would be the marvel
f American Philosophers and the wonder of
be north. Respectfully yours.
j. Y. C..S.