Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-13
ARE WE LIVING OVER A CAVERN
nKnoxvsI,e Bunt Upon a Rock.

Many circumstances which have transpired
in and around Knoxville within the past few
years are calculated to awaken unpleasant
thoughts in the minds of our people as to the
foundation upon which we rest 1t IS certainiy
true that the earth upon which Knoxyille is
built is cavernous. 1t is well known that the
sink at the Lamar House was intended 10 De q
cistern. It was excavated for cistern, put inc
bottom fell out" and IL has answered most adj
mirably for sewer, all the slops, waste water,
&c, of the hotel being thrown INTO IL ana is
never heard of afterwards.
The Franklin House has n sewer which orig
! mated in the same way. Years ago another
cistern was dug at the same place, which, when
filed with water, lost its bottom and contents.
It was afterwards repaired and used as cister n
several years until 1863 when some repairs were
made on the premises and the cistern was filled
up.
Two cisterns on Front street, near the gas
works, were dug during the past year, and fell
repaired. Another on Mabry street was dug
some time ago by Mr.. Carpenter, and caved in
in the same way, but was afterward repaired and
now appears sound.
In the back yard of Col. John II. Crozer
there appears sink on the top of the garth. 1t
is peculiar, in that it is situated on high ground
and sank without any appreciate pressure.
When first seen, three or four years ago, it was
large enough for horse to fall into. It is now
pretty we'll filed up with logs and brush
a cistern was dug some time ago at McGhee's
block on Gay street, which caved in after filing
up with water, leaving cavity large enough to
hide mule in. 1t was, however, repaired by
Mr.. Flenniken, and has showed no signs of CIV
ing away since.
We announced o few days ago the giving
away ola new cistern under the CHRONICLE of
fee, which, in addition to subjecting us to the
Inconvenience of doing without water to run
our engine for several days, left very I'M
pleasant feeling in our minds that our foaLda-
ton was not as firm as we ought to have for so
great an enterprise as that in which we are en-
gagged. Efa
But the climax of the cavern question was
capped yesterday by the bottom falling out of
the big cistern on Clinch street. an enterprise
which has engaged the attention of our city
fathers for several weeks past The idea was
conceived by them that a mammoth cistern at
that place would be the best substitute for wa
ter works that could be devised. They went to
work TO carry out their plan, and dug the lar
gest cistern in the State, if not in the world
though we do not profess to be posted on the
cistern question. We believe it was estimated
to hold about $500 barrels of water. 1t was di-
vided into two apartments, partition of brick
laid in cement being put up in the middle. 1t
was intended to be filled by pipe from the
brick mill, the pumps being worked by ma
chinery of the mill. 1t was filed so slowly in
this way that il was determined yesterday NOR
ming to fill it up with the steam fire engine.
The steamer had worked about six hours and
the cistern was rapidly filling up. Those who had
the matter in charge went often to measure the
water to ascertain how fast it was filling up.
They had measured and found over seven feet
of water, and going back in about five minutes,
10 and behold I it had all disappeared from one
of the apartments. A vast cavern appeared in
one corner, and some one went down to exam
inc it. but became alarmed and returned with
out making any discovery Afterwards a COL
ored man went down on pole and ascertained
that the break was in a clay bank in the west
corner of the cistern. The cistern has been a
source of considerable expense already, and
such breaks as this will add considerably to the
amount which has been already expended.
We do not entertain any serious fears of
general caving in, but those contemplating to
dig cistcrns might take warning and not go too
deep. Especially do We enter our solemn pro-
test against the Corporation making any moro
of these vast subterranean explorations. If we
are treading upon mamoth cave, very near the
surface of terra frms, then ignorance of the
fac: is bliss. and it would be very foolish for us
to become wise. 1t is from this consider ton
alone that we thus enter our protest, and not
from any special objection to paying out the
stamps for such an enterprise