The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-07-25
ARTESIAN WELLS.
Their Success Demonstrated in Utah, Wy
om1ng, Colorado and Idaho.

Denver is much excited over its ar
tesian wells, five of which are now in
full operation. These Wells discharge a
quantity of water, filling a three-inch
pipe full in its outward flow. The
wells so far sunk are only n 800 to
500 feet in depth and are capable of
raising the water far above the surface
of the city. One of the best is located
on Capital Hill, high enough to give a
good pressure by piping to the lower
part of the city. The water is said to be
almost or quite chemically pure, is cool
and remarkably fine. Water is struck
at various depths, but the lower they go
so far, the greater the flow. The stratas
penetrated are of various thicknesses of
clay, gravel, sand, hard pan, and water
in gravel, there being several different
bodies of water.
It is believed by many that such a wa
ter supply can be secured il Salt Lake
CITY. and that it would be far preferable
to the water served our citizens from
CITY Creek. On the bench near the Gem
etery a well has been sunk nearly 900
feet, all the way through a wash of sand
and gravel, there being no perceptable
difference between that on the surface
and at the bottom of the well. The well
has been stopped up by getting the tools
fast and it may have to be abandoned
after the city has spent four years time
and large sums Of money in having it
sunk. The location was always deemed
by engineers acquainted with such mat
ters, as a bad one, and it has proven SO.
At the Mingo smelter, Sandy, a well
has been driven to q depth of about 300
feet, within the past four months, part
OF which time the machinery was idle,
awaiting the coming of tubing and from
other causes. That well is tubed with
eleven and six-inch pipe, and will be
driven down until a good flow OF water
is struck. 1t is in the wash all the way
down. but it is expected that the bed
rock will soon be reached and the we'll
prove a success after passing through
that stratum.
On the bench west of the city artesian
wells have proven a success, and the
barren lands there will soon be made
productive.
Tn the lower part of this city, and
around the Warm Springs, the situation
is favorable for artesian wells II they
will be tried,
Over Jordan two wells have been
struck, producing a fine flow of pure wa
ter, and giving entire satisfaction to the
owners. One of these wells lrrlgates
twenty acres successfully.
The Oregon Short Line secures its
supply of water in the lava beds a dis
lance of eighty miles by means OF arte-
sian wells, which do not flow to the
surface, because the Laws is so open and
cavernous as to prevent sufficient head,
but the water is excellent.
The Denver & Rio Grande has a force
with machinery on the Green River des-
ert sinking wells, and they feel sanguine
of changing the appearance of that des-
ert very much through such wells.
Artesian wells have been a success on
the Union Pacific. where they have been
in use for thirteen years, and they fnd
little trouble in getting water wherever
they sink for it.
The failure of the we'll on the bench IN
the hands of inexperienced men, and
bad location, should not prevent other
wells being put down in the city by men
familiar with all the features governing
location of wells, and mechanical appli'
ances used in sinking them.-SdH Lake
Tribune.