The Portland daily press., 1877-01-08
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Deepening Wells.

In many parts of our state and other nortI-
ern states the streams and wells were ex.
tremely low at the beginning of winter, and
since that time as we have had no rains thev
have continued to grow lower. As a neces-
sary consequence, during the roughness- and
severity of the last month many persons in
the country have been compelled to 60 some
distance from home to get water, or else to
drive their stock to some neighboring brook
or river, where they could be watered.
Every one who has tried this experiment
knows very well that it is disagreeable and
dangerous undertaking. Setting aside the
personal discomforts to which the farmer is
exposed-which are more serious than those
he would encounter with his team in the
woods or on the road-we find that the risk
to animals is very great. The simple expos
ure to wind and weather frequently endan-
gers life or health, while from the wading
through drifts, the falling on ice, slipping
down rough and steep banks, or from being
hooked or trodden on in narrow paths, many
animals are killed or seriously injured. Cows
suffer very much from wallowing in deep
SHOWS or through drifts by the alternate
wetting and drying of their udders, and often
from premature parturtion brought on by
injuries thus received. A long catalogue of
evils might easily be made out as the result
of driving away farm stock for water during
the winter.
From present indications, if farmers and
Others have been compelled to begin this
practice already, they will be obliged from
the same cause to continue it for some weeks
to come, and the probabilities are that all
the mischiefs resulting from it will be aggra-
waited by increasing cold and snow. If this
apparent necessity resulted from ignorance,
or incidence, or indifference, we should in
common with everybody else consider it
worthy of the severest censure, and as it is,
we are not quite sure that it ought not gen
orally to be condemned.
In some districts there is probably no rem
edy for dry or empty wells, especially where
water is found just upon or above granite or
other rock foundation. When the usual sup
ply is exhausted there is no other recourse
but to wait for the influx of water from
heavy falls of rain. Such cases, however,
are exceptional aud in most localities the
simple remedy for lack or scarcity of water
is to deepen the wells. By digging down to
water in time of droath, never failing
supply is usually secured, in fact, it is almost
impractcable TO obtain it at any other time,
as an excess Of it prevents going to sufficient
depth.
The easiest method with which we are ac-
quainted for reaching water in we'll already
dug but dry, is to sink barrel or hogshead
its entire length at the bottom of the well.
This barrel or hogshead should be made of
ash Or oak, well hooped and without heads,
and OF such diameter as to allow of its easy
descent inside OF the bricks or stones of
which the well is made. The earth and wa
ter can be removed in the ordinary way, and,
as the amount will not be large, without the
use of the more expensive methods required
in digging well from the beginning. The
bottom of a well will not be found to be the
coldest and most uncomfortable place in the
world at this season of the year, and we pre-
sumo the entire job can be done with less
risk and suffering than is incurred in some
morning tramp to distant stream with a
drove of farm stock.
While we Recommend and prefer this
way on account of its economy and simplici-
ty, and because it secures present and fu-
ture supply of water, we also advise as
temporary expedient, the substitution of the
iron pipes used in the drive-well system.
These may be very readily driven down in
dry well to the necessary depth, and con-
nected with pump and subsequently upon
the return of high water, as easily removed.
We trust that none of our readers will be
guilty of abusing themselves or their ami
mails by unnecessary exposure to the cold in
search of water. If practicable, they should
without delay test the plans suggested, or any
others that their ingenuity may devise.