, 1854-12-23
The Deepest Artcsian Wen in
the World.

the world.
lrs MYSTERIES ExPLAINEp.-We wore
fortunate enough 10 direct steps towards
4 Belcher'S immense Sugar Refinery, short
time ago, for the purpose Of making some
observations Of the great Artesian Well,
which is now being hored at that place
Fortunate, We say, for we never spent an
hour more to our interest ard profit, than
the one employed in witnessing the opera
I ton of the digging, and in learning the
history and progress of the work.
This well was commenced about six
years ago by Mr.. Belcher, his object being
TO secure, for the purpose of his large Re
incry, supply of pure water. For six
months the operations were continued by
hand, and reached depth of some two
hundred feet below the surface, when it
was found necessary to employ the agency
OF steam with suitable machinery.
Since the application of steam, the work
has progressed steadily and perseveringly
until the present time, when the incredible
depth of twenty-five hundred feet has been
reached. This is said to I've the deepest
Artcsan well in the world. One of the
most important that VIC now remember Of
is that of Grenelc, near Paris, in which
operations were continued for eight years,
and which was sunk to u depth of nineteen
hundred and siXty-one feet below the sur,
face of the ground. And we believe there
is another somewhere in France which
numbers about twenty-one hundred and
fifty feet but none have yet reached the
distance into the bowels of the earth that
this of Mr.. Belchers has
We do not know that this wonderful en-
tcrprise was commenced with any aniicipa-
tiou that so much time and expense would
he consumed in its completior; nor are we
advised that it was originally proposed
upon any geological theory, leading to the
belief that the stream OF water desired
would be found at any particular depth,
or between any supposed strata Of rocks /;
yet having undertaken the work, the sub
sequent energy and persistence of labor,
reflects the highest credit upon him for
whose benefit it is designed. Success in
the boring Of .Ariesian wells must always
be Of n problematieal kind-even where
there is the most accurate knowledge Of
the geological character of the region Of
country in which the enterprise may be un-
dertaken, for however certain theory may
be regarded, there are yet certain unknown
conditions in the formation Of the different
underground strata which may render sue
cess impossible " sr't ali
In the present instance the most formida-
BILE impediments have met the operation.
From the surface to the EXTREMIST depth,
the drill has met with constant success
ion Of the most stubborn rocky formations,
with the single exception, however, of a.
strata of soft slate stone about 100 feet in
width, at a depth of 1000 feet below the
surface. The formation penetrated by the
drills is yellow sand stone. lnsN
What further conditions or impediments
are yet to be encountered we are not
enough of geologist to theorize upon, yet,
whatever may be, the steady perseverance
in the work for period Of six years would
seem to warrant the belief that the enter
prise will not be abandoned until absolute
impossibility meets its operations. a
The work, first begun with hands, was
carried on by means Of spring pole, with
the drilling rods and the drill attached to
one end, and working up aud down.
Since the application of steam engine
Of about twenty-five horse power, the rods
and drills are made TO work in a vertical
direction, the same as with hands, from the
end Of large beam, which has two or
three foot stroke. The width of the bore
is FIVE inches The kinds Of drills used are
various, some being adapted for pulverizing
the rock, others for hooking up soft sub
stances, and then there is an instrument
called rimmer, used for cutting the sides
Of the bore to make it ronnd and smooth.
Tubes are also used containing valves,
which catch the loose particles of rock and
carry them to the top of the we'll The
drilling rods are made out of stout oak
wood, about two feet. long, having iron
screws and fastenings dt the ends, by which
a continued rod may be formed of any
length. 'h - "''''
The presence of one or more persons is
constantly required for the purpose of
turning the drill around in the bore, as its
vertical motion continues. At present the
operators are engaged in enlarging the
cavity at the point where the soft slate
stone occurs, for the purpose Of introducing
a copper tube to pre' ent the continual ca
wing in Of the soft PARTICLES which are con
stantly sloughing from the sides. y,
We are told that this falling in Of the
blue slate stone had left a cavity as large
perhaps as good sized house. We be-
lieve it is the intention to introduce copper
pipes from the top to the bottom Of the
well, as soon as it is finished, although the
hard rocky sides would seem to make it
unnecessary
The object to be gained by this is to
shut out the various Kinds Of waters from
the sides, so that the pure stream from the
bottom may reach the top without any
mixture. FF"" ~
At the depth of 100 feet vein of salt
water was struck, and at 800 feet an I'M
! p,anca vain of sulnhar vratpr hurst forth