Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-04-02
Corvesb0ndence.


CHICAGO, fremont House, March 8.
Deor Pbonr We were told that not
one person to q hundred in this city knew
of the location of the arlesian well here,
and 80 II seemed. But as 1t is a reality, we
must visit it. We learned that 1t was To-
Gated at the city limits, at the corner of
Chicago and Western avenues, three and
une-half miles from the court house or
centre of the city. We took the Randolph
street car to West Lake street, and then
walk on Western avenue, three-fourths of
mile, through "western mud" brought
us to the vol, and buildings near, and
towers which are over them. There are two.
First we entered the room around which,
on its walls, were pencil drawings of the
geological formations and strata bored
through, which drawings were made
by Il trance medium, Mr.. a. James, before
t,c wells were bored, but which have prov
ed correct, and are truly wonderful. Many
Of thee drawings are ON full sized sheets
of paper, 90 by 40 inches, and cover the en-
tire surface. They were completed in from
three to nine hours each. The latter being
tho longest time given to any one picture.
There was one picture fifteen feet in length
and twenty-six inches in width. II is un-
derstood to be Il clairvoyant or birds eye
view Of the stream from its source in the
Rocky Mountains 10 its outlet on this
Ground. 1t exhibits ON general scale the
principles of artesian wells, and shows
the manner in which water finds its way
through the rocks and sands of earth, and
finally rises to the level its fountain head.
This picture is composed OF six sheets of
paper, each one said to have been fini; he'd
separately, and without any apparent ref
rrencC to the other, by the medium and
when joined together afterwards, were
found to match exactly and make one
complete work. This was the labor of six
tv hours. Persons familiar with the sub
iect say no ordinary artist caii do the same
amount of work in many months. A no
less wonderful part of the matter is the
manner in which these drawings were
made-thc artist holding from two to six
pencils with one or both hands, and each
pencil doing separate part of the work at
the same time.
There was also full length portrait of
The paper on which this likeness is drawn
is seven and half feet long by four and
half feet in width. 1t exhibits the Presi-
dent life size, a standing upon a rock, the
broken chain of African slavery beneath
his feet, and in his left hand the scroll of
American liberty. This picture was put
on paper in about twenty hours, and is, in
itself, remarkable production.
The well was bored in 1864 to the depth
Of III fee from which the water is now
flowing through an orifce A inches in di-
ameter, and at the rate of 5000, 900 gallons
in twenty-iuur hours, and is CARED up
twenty-five feet above the surface in a
three and one-half inch tube, which was
driven down forty feet and with head of
about eighty feet. The water is very soft,
and clear as crystal and its temperature is
~ degrees. In 1865 the water was used for
the boring of a second WELL nine feet from
the first, flowing into ilume and convey
ed to water-W hecl twenty feet in dame
ter, which is used for n power to drive
drills and machinery for other wells now
in process OF construction, and then over
howing some twenty-five acres of land for
The formation Of ice. There is near it an
Immense lee house 2lOx32 feet There is a
steam engine nt forty horse power for stor-
ing the ice. The tract of land belonging to
the Chicago Artesian Well Company" is
forty acres in extent. The elevation is
thirty-one feet above the level of the lake,
and is the highest ground within the cor
poration limits. The water has head of
nearly l25 feet above the level of the lake.
The object will be to supply the city with
pure and wholesome water.
We ascend the tower or observatory and
have view of the city and surroundings,
which must be seen TO be appreciated. The
Tunnel, which is under the Chicago river,
is half a mile in length and thirteen feet
below the bed of the river. We walked
through it and back again. There are two
tracks for carriages, and third planked
for foot passengers. We did not learn its
exact width. Solid masonry of stone and
brick work form its arches. Near the CEN
tire it was leaking slightly, and few icicles
hung, but will be repaired AS soon as warm
er weather comes.