Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-09-02
THE FROZEN WE'LL.

AT the recent Scientific Convention at
Springfield, Mass, the following paper
relative to the frozen we'll at Brandon,
was read -
Prof. Edward Hitchcock OF Amherst
then read paper upon the frozen well
at Brandon VT He said it was part OF
his report upon the geology of the State,
but he had received permission from the
governor to present # at this meeting.
The well had been examined by himself,
and his assistants, A. d. Hagar and G.
II. Hitchcock.
After describing the locality he said:
The well was dug in November, 1853.
For about ter feet it passed through soil
ana gravel, then about four feet of clay.
Below this lay deposit from II to I5
feet thick of frozen gravel, with quite
large boulders intermixed. Continuing
the excavation two feet farther in the
same material, water was reached. The
whole depth is not far from 35 feet
The frozen part passed through appear
ed precisely like the same materials froz-
en- at the surface in winter.
The we'll was stoned up late in the au-
tumn, and during the winter ice formed
upon the water in one night two inches
thick. 1t continued to freeze till April,
since which time no ice has formed on
the surface, but when visited June 25,
the stones of the well for some four or
five feet above the water were mostly
loaded with ice, and the temperature of
the water was only one degree above
freezing. July IA there was ice in the
well. The water at that time was 2;
inches deep. About 100 rods distant i.
another well, the temperature Of which
on the 25th of June, was 81. Another
well II feet deep, 60 rods distant, had ;
temperature of 40.
The subject presented two leading in
quiries, said the Professor-1st. Wher
and by what agency was the congelatioI
produced so deep beneath the surface
I'd. BY what means is the frost preserv
ed from external and internal heat? II
reply there were two suggestions to b,
made: lst. These frozen deposits MAJ
r have been produced during the glacia
period that accompanied the formation o
the drift
This suggestion was dwelt upon a
S length, and it was contended that froz
n en- deposit of any past period might b
e indefinitely preserved. Experiment
e had been made which SLOWED that eve
"a thin layer of clay was powerful re
n sistant to heat. The clay on the surfae
at Brandon would exclude the extern,
l. heat, while the gravelly strata, free froi
lie sand, would act as tunnel TO carry th
a ascending internal heat 10 the surfac
ID and it would not, therefore, reach ii
IN frozen deposit. The arrangement
a Brandon was in many respects similar
is the most approved ice houses But, q
is ter all, he was not sure that this was Il
30 true theory.
g There was another theory.
II. l. We maintain that in porous depo.
ry tions, especially when ihterstraiified wi
er those nearly imperyious to air, iee mi
er be formed in large quantities at any dep
n and remain unmelied for great leng
to Of time.
or This position was elaboratsd-showil
by diagrams that when porous ma
a. was overlaid by clay, the heat Of samm
nd could have but little effect upon II.
rt. had been stated, and il bad not been a
to proved, that there were subterrane
les currents Of air. AT Owego the eanS
nd flame was detected at the depth Of thu
on feet.
ri: Upon the whole, though II is poszil
,es that the Brandon deposit i a remnant
IN, glacial period, hs looked with more
at vor upon The snpposision that u was I
an, result Of operations nov going on. p
de- dueed by currents oi air through the I
rous deposit.--BossoH Jos~nak