The southern press., 1852-06-17
Arteslan Well In Dallas, Alabama.

We alluded some tine since to the remarkable
Artesian Well, which was being bored on the
premises of Mr.. Joel L Mathews at Cahawba
for the purpose of supplying the necessary
water for the steam engines of u cotton mill
which that gentleman was erecting. This well
has now been completed. 1t is 735 feet deep
and discharges 1900 gallons of water per min
ute. The Dallas Gazette says: 1t is Il curiosity
and Is worth "A long ride TO have a view Of it,
The water boils up roaring like a cataract, form.
ing branch of considerable size, and the low
grounds, some two hundred yards distant, re.
quire di'ching to carry of the immense quantity
of water collected upon it's surface.
A correspondent gives pretty full account
Of the process of boring this WELL with Other
particulars relating 10 il. A well was Dug in ths
ordinary way, 81 teet, through the red clay and
gravel lying upon the rotten limestone. A large
pine log was then procured and hole 81 inche.
in diameter, bored through it. After sharpening
the end and putting an iron band around it, the
log was put down and firmly driven and forced
into the rock. The well VAS then filed up
the upper end of the log appearing about a foot
above the surface. The boring then commenced
and with the various tools and contri ances OF
the art, the earth was rapidly penetrated.
A regular succession Of etrata Of rotten lime.
stone, sandstone, blue, gray, green and red sand
were passed through, and three sheets, or grand
divisions of water lying under one another and
each separated from the other by what the well
borer called "sand rock" very hard concerto
Of sand shells.
A. each lower sheet of water was reached BY
the tools, the water was thrown up through the
hole in greater quantities, and with more VIC.
lencc. When the "first water"-that is the wa.
ter just below The first sand stone-was reached
the upward flow of the water did not exceed
seven gallons per minute. II was increased 10
one bundled gallons, when the second sand
stone was perforated, and on reaching the third
sheet Of water, upwards Of three hundred gal
Ions per minute rushed up through the orfcc,
seemingly impatient Of lis limits
Thinking that the quantity Of water would
be increased by enlargng the hole, they trimmed
il out 81 inches in diameter and 23S feet deep.
TO the sand stone lying above this third bed OF
water, and inserted tube from the first and
resting upon the third sand stone. They were
not disappointed. The water, from a small
stream became a large column, rushing up
wards with violence, at tho rate of 1900 gallons
per minute, and running OF in considerable
rvulet. II has been said the Artesan at Gren
oble, near Parish is the largest in the world /:
but the water thrown out there does not ex
coed 500 gallons, per minute. Mr.. Mathews
well throws out more than double that guam.
tity.
Mr.. Reid, the successful borer Of this well,
has commenced boring another some sixty
yards distant (eor Mr.. Mathews) which will be
some 1900, or 1000 feet deep. To prevent in.
jury to the first, il is necessary TO make the
second one much deeper, 80 as TO reach differ.
ent stream Of water. The first well is tubcd, az
the second will be.
Mr. Reid is also boring well for DR.. Eng.
lish, two hundred yards distant from Mr.. Ma
thews Isuow 536 feet deep, and discharges 200
gallons Of water per minute.-M1bile Reg.