Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-11-05
ARTESIAN WELLS.

1t seems to us that tho further prosecution
of the work on the welbat Makiki is scarcely
authorized by any reasonable prospect of OBJ
tanning water; and that if a supply for the
plains below be the only desidcratum, a more
probable method by which it could be secured
would be tho boring of wells at points not ex-
ceeding in altitude the height Common to all
the flowing wells obtained to which water has
been raised, viz: AZ feet above mean tide. In
the vcnage of the town, nine flowing wells
have already been obtained, in all supplying
an amount of water whicl, is very large; and
yet there is no Indication of any cbb in their
flow which would naturally be looked for in
creasingly with the number of new flows be-
ing obtained, if tho limit of the supply to tho
common reservoir had been reached or oven
approached in quantity by the total outlet af-
forded by these wells. How much larger the
original and constant source Of supply is than
the amount yet let out by wells, it would of
course DO impossible to ascertain; but the
large amount of water collectively that has
already been obtained, aud the extent in area
of tho underground reservoir from which we
may reasonably assume each and all the flow
ing wells derive their supply in common, would
also afford negative presumption that to
look for water below the stratum of rock from
which we now obtain it would be searching
for an improbability. That n successful result
Is not beyond the range Of possibility how
ever must be admitted and that some other
underground supply than that which has boen
artifically tapped, does actually exist Is
proven by the fact that natural and constant
spring exists on the Punahou School grounds
at an altitude Of something over hundred
feet above sea level. But from the results so
far obtained in boring, We are led to believe
either that tho natural cistcrn supplying this
natural spring, is located beneath that which
has been 50 FAR struck artiicially, or that its
extent is extremely limited. That such is the
case is partially proven by the fact that in two
wells bored in opposite directions and within
no great distance from this spring the water
obtained s reduced to no-how point at a
common altitude. and that, many feet below
the height of the spring in question. In order
TO more satisfactory solution Of this question,
a well should be bored directly in the vicinity
and If water was first struck that would at
tain no higher elevation than iorty,two feet, the
presumption would naturally be that a still
underlying source did exist which might be
tapped by deeper BORING. But ii, ON tho con-
trsry, water could be raised 10 level with
that OF the spring, u strong Indication would
thereby be afforded oil the rery local source of
the supply.
II the existence Of deeper bearing
strata could once be proved, there would be af-
forded some encouragement, for the continuance
of operations at the Makiki WELL which at
present is wanting.
And as supply ofgood water for The plains
10 greatly needed. it would certainly seem
more feasible to seek It in boring wells at an
elevation Of less than ~ feet. when flowing
water could 10 looked Cor with reasonable
certainty. Tho pressure requisite for lis dis,ri-