The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1853-09-11
Artesaan Wells.

| IL. -. OF charleston, Oh the SUBJECT 9
Artesian Wells. 1t gives the result of
efforts to obtain water in this way at
Charleston, s. G.
A Well was conmencedstlere, in
1s4s, BY Mr.. Andrew G. Wilton, IN
der the authority of the City Council.
As early as 1924, an Artesian Well
was commenced under the same au-
thority, and sunk to the depth of 335
feet, when the iron rod twisted off, in
an effort to bore through a limestone
rock, and it could not be extracted -
In 1926, n second effort was made
and in 1t46 Capt. Bowman under
took one at Fort Sumter. in Charleston
harbor. under the authority Of tht
General Government the work was
suspended after boringa a depth of 800
feet. In ls4s the well referred to, BY
Professor Lynch, was commenced, and
has now attained the depth of ! 145 #.
The Superficial soil Of Charleston
| is a loose alluvial sand. about twenty
feet thick, the lower half Of which IS
saturated with water. Beneath this
lies stiff. compact clay, (post pleio-
cene) gradually passing into a sand.
likewise water bearing and about 40
feet thick /; go feet below the surface
| the firm eocene mari is concentrated.
the various strata Of which are in The
aggregate $50 feet thick. Beneath
these, and differing but little from them
III neurological character, lie the Gre
taceous strata Of as yet unknown thick
ness. Both. the eocene and the ere
taceous stata consist Of alternating lay
ers, of hard limestone, firm mari sand
stones, and loose sands, seldom CON
tanning less than 20 per cent. of carbo-
nate Of lime. Cast iron tubes of 6 #.
internal diameter, were at first sunk
80 feet to exclude the superficial and
the post pleiocene sands.
The engineer generally found the
Well so or 100, sometimes lao feet
less deep in the morning than he had
left in the preceding evening. After
toiling in vain for a long time to ex
haust the streams, it was determined
to shut them out by a system Of oftubing.
To do this the passage through all the
rocks had to be opened, from 81 to
fully 5 inches in diameter.
Notwithstanding the use of the most
perfect tubes that could be procured,
the sand still continued to give annoy
ance.
The temperature Of the well has been
examined from time to time, by u
"Sixes Register Thermometer" but the
tube has not been affected. This how
ever does not so to shew that the tenn
perature does not vary, as we 60 down
into the bosom Of the earth, for the
difficulties and delay oceasioned in
letting the Thermometer down and
drawing it out, gives the instrument
time to vary.
The Artesian Wellsin Paris, Rochell
and other places in Europe, establish
beyond doubt, that as we approach the
center of our globe, the internal heat
increases. The Artcsi,tn Well now
being bored for Belcher's Refinery al
st. Louis, is the deepest on this cont
nent, and will no doubt throw some
light on this interesting subject; for
that wealthy establishment has resolv-
ed not to discontinue the work until
they arc fully satisfied that water can
not be had.
A MODEL Acr.-The Legislature of
New York, at its last session. passed
the following act. which should serve
as model for all Legislators hereafter.
The People in the State Of New Y.
represented in the Senate and Assem-
bly,. do enact as follows:
SEC. l. Ten hours shall be deemed
days work, in the absence Of any
agreement, for mechanics and laborers
~, I'll ,rf,rlyc ,,f tbsc Stata