Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-01-25
ARTESIAN WELLS.


water by boring the earth. We do not know
exactly at what period the auger was first used
in the search for subterranean streams; but of
this fact we are we'll persuaded that the first o.
verlowing wells were made in the ancient
French Province of Artois, whence they took
the name Of Artesian. These wells which are
such luxury in our cities and villages, can be
made of the utmost importance 10 agriculture,
manufactures, and the mechanic arts.
They have been in use several centuries in
the north of France and north of Italy, but
were almost unknown in Germany and England
as well as the United States until some so or 20
years since. There are great many wells of
this character in London, and the neighborhool;
attained by the world-renowRed artesian well at
Paris. Tilis work has been in progress
great many years and the depth is nearly 1000
| feet. These wells have been dug in almost ev-
cry part of the United States within the past
Is years and are fast superceding the old meth
cd of digging wells, not only on account of the
difference of cost in first construction, and the
diminished cost of repairs, but also on account
of the ease with which water of the purest
kind and in never-failng quantities is obtained.
Artesian wells should not carry with them the
idea that they must necessarily, in all cases car
ry the water out of the earth--in these wells as
in all others, the fountain cannot rise higher
than lis source. In boring an Aresian well the
IL e n
sheet of water whose fountain is not more than
90 rods off, and which may be 20 feet below the
surface OF the ground (: the skill of the mechan-
ic is now required to shut off that subterranean
flow so that he can penetrate the next wateress
deposit of earth, and succeed in reaching the
next strata, where regular flow of water is
rolling in its course, this has fountain or source
it may be a mile off and yet not be high en-
ough 10 overtopthe earth: tie perseverng me-
chanc is not discouraged vet he knows that
there is land higher than where he stands, and
he knows that the clouds drop its waters upon
the mountains side as we'll as upon the even
surface of the champaign earth. He still ap-
plies the auger in its course and soon reaches an
other subterranean stream whose source is far
Their off it may be; at any rate it is higher than
the earth where he stands, and the consequent
reward of his toll retuns in an OVERLOOKING Jet of
pure water at his feet.
To be successful in the construction of an ar
tesian well depends on two things essentially
independent of each other. lst An intimate
acquaintance with the physical nature of the
mineral structure of the country you wish to
perforate. I'd. On the sklful direction of the
labor and expense by which the water level can
be reached, and of those by which we can facil-
litate its ascent in the tube.
The proper knowledge of the first and the
proper direction Of the last named items will en-
sure success. Without these requisites all is
predetermined; all uncertainty; all guess work
There has been no little questioning Of late
concerning the cause Of OVERLOOKING of wells.
We have always been satisfied with the reasons
which we have advanced above--and for the
sake OF placing before our readers authority up
on this point we quote from Urc's Dictionary of
the Arts and Sciences, the reasons he sets
forth;
1.-The cause of OVERLOOKING wells has been
ascrbed to variety of circumstances Bat. as
It IS now generally admitted that the numerous
| springs which issue from the ground proceed
! from the inhtration of the waters progressively
condensed in rain, dew, snow, etc upon the SUI
face OF our globe the theory Of these interor
streamets becomes by no means intricate: be-
ing analogous to that of svphons aud water lets.
as eNpounded in the treasea on physics. The
waters are dtfused, after condensation, uron the
surface of the soil, and percolate downwardS.
through the various pores and assures of the
geological strata, to be again united subterrare-
ousIy IN VEINS, rllls, strcamlets, or expanded
films, OF greater or less magnitude, or rcpulari-
| ty. The beds traversed by numerous dsiunc-
uons VIII give occasion 10 numerous interior
currents in all directions, which cannot be re-
covered, and brought to the day; but when the
ground is composed of strata of sand, or gravel
very permeabe to water separated by other
strata nearly lmpervious 10 it, reservoirs are
formed to our hand, from which an abundant sun
| ply OF water may be spontaneously raised. In
TINS case, as soou as the upper stratum is perfo-
rated, the waters MY rise, in consequence of
! hydrostatic pressure upon the lower Strata. and
even overflow the sHriace in constant stream.
provided the level from which they proceed be
propnrtionably higher.
The sheets OF water occur principally at the
separation OF two contiguous formations and, il
the succession OF the geological strata be con-
sdered. this distribution of the water will be
seen to be its necessary consequence In fact,
the lower beds are frequently composed of com
pact sandstone or limestone, and the upper beds
of clay. In level countries, the formations be-
ing almost always in horizontal beds, the waters
which feed the Artesian wells must come from
districts somewhat remote, where the strata are
more elevated, as towards the secondary and
transition rocks. The copious streams condens- |
ed upon the sides of these colder lands NAV be
therefore regarded as the proper re sorvoirs Of
our wells" G
Sheep i'm Michigan.
In 1910 there were S9,9S3, in lS49 there
100000, the amount of wool exported last
year was 100000 lbs, added to 100000 lbs !
manufactured in the State, gives the wool
growth for Michigan :, 2O0O,OOO lbs.