San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-09-06
,sAl.luL ~ . = -lx'' York Sun
:. Ar.e-lan Welsh sv.,''erir Tex.

ArtesIan yYellsin western Tex
3N "a, IL Igl&s " as I'm
: The dry weather has caused the
p farmers to pay more attention to arte-
sian wells than eyer before, and the
indications arethat this'mode Of OBJ,
tanning reliable water supply will be
universally resorted to. In, some
places it hasbeen found that where no
water was supposed to be, inexhausti-
biz quantities can be obtained by Dor.
ing. At the last session of Congress
Col. Upson, who represents this dis.
triotip Congress, introduced resolu.
ton, which passed, to the effect that
the Secretary of War be requested to
instruct Gen. Ord, in command Of the
department Of Texas, to inform the
House of Representatives, through the
Secretary of War, if any additional
expenditures were needed for the con-
gstruction Of roads, posts, wells and
several other items. With his usual
prompt attention to everything that
concerns his department, Gen. Ord has
instructed his officers to obtain all the
information possible in regard to ar
tesian wells. ....g s.t
The following is Lieut., Ponds re-
port: g s asa. az ..e ,... :.. "
SAN DIEGO. TEXAS, Aug. z, 1879
Commanding Officer Post of San Di.
ego, TexapSir: L have the honor to
report that in obedience to your verbal
Instructions of the Sd inst, to proceed
to Corpus Christi, Texas, and examine
and obtain all information possible,
and report Upon the artesian well at
that place, ] left this place by public
conveyance on the morning OF the 4th
inst, and arrived OF Corpus Christi
that evening. The next day visited
such of the old residents Of the place
us could give me any information on
the subject, and found as follows:
The we'll in question was commenced
in lS49 and finished the following year.
1t was dug by private enterprise, and
the object was to find a supply of fresh
water. The machinery and material
was of the most primitive order, hav-
ing wooden tube, and lined with or
binary stove pipe iron. The we'll was
sunk to depth of 1888 feet, passing
through shell, quicksand, .]clay and
compact limestone, in the order named.
The thickness or angles of the strata
l was unable to learn At this depth
water flowed. 1t was salt sulphurus
water at temperature of 80 deg, high
" medicinal, and had quite an extend.
ed reputation, being somewhat Of the
nature Of the water from the Hot
Springs Of Arkansas. The tubing was
three inches in diameter and the dis
charge pipe was bent musket barrel.
1t yielded about five gallons per min
ute. The we'll was destroyed during
the war and has now been repaired.
1t is said that, having found the wa :
ter to be medicinal, it was not put
down to a greater DEPTH though the
operator declared, that he could find
fresh water at no great depth.
This well is at sea level. con-
versed with q Mr.. DeRyee. at one time
state chemist of Texas, who claims to
be conyersant with the geological for
nation of this section. He says he
will guarantee flowing wells with un-
limited supply at about 1900 feet-the
strata that crops out near Austin lying
at that depth.
A we'll dug at this post, at about
sixty feet, passed through limestone
most of the way, being in alternate
strata, friable and compact. Seepage
was found at forty.fve feet, but no
vein has yet been reached. An arte-
sian we'll could be easily bored here,
and, in my opinion, would be eminent.
" successful, and this opinion seems
to be universal. San Diego is about
100 feet above the sea-level. Respect
fully submitted, GEORGE Il Pom,
Second Lieutenant Eighth Cavalry.