The Dawson journal., 1883-02-08
something Interesting about
Our ArteSian- Neil

On last Friday when everything
seemed to be moving along as
smoothly and nicely as one could
wish with the work on the artesian
well, the drill became fastened in the
bard rock through which it had been
slowly cutting its way, ard it seemed
for time that no power on earth
could extricate it from below. Time
and again, the engine, painting and
putting, with more than a hundred
lbs. OF steam, surged and pulled at
ii, but not the slightest evidence was
given of its having been moved. The
drill was still stuck fast in the rock
at the bottom of more than 600 feet
OF piping. In order to extricate the
drill 1t was necessary of course to
move the whole load OF piping with
/. Again and again. The engine
surged and pulled and pulled, but
alas the load was too heavy It
still stuck fast i'll the rock below.
1t now became evident that the
engine with all of its power was no,
equal to the demands of the occasion.
Remembering at length what
Archimedes said about the power in
the fnlcrum and lever, the engine
was discarded and several long
levers brought into action, but it
was not until after large force of
avoirdupois had been gathered and
repeated efforts made with the lever
that the piping showed any signs of
having been moved. AT length one
more surge is made. The destiny of
the well now seems to hang upon
this last effort. The levers are raised,
the fulerums adjusted and
a loud cry from the leader
sends the clambering avoirdupois
astride the poles, and as they swing
down and tip the earth beneath the
crushing weight of human flesh, a
loud, swapping crash is heard and the
piping flies foot or more into the air
above. The piping has been moved,
but the question is now asked has
the drill been released? No answer
could be made to this last question
until the piping had been drawn up
The engine was soon put to work
and after about so feet Of piping
had been taken out it WAS found to
the great sorrow of the crowd that
stood around that the drill ana about
one hundred feet OF piping had been
left at the bottom of the well. The
only chance now to reach water
through the same aperture in the
earth and make the well a success is
to pass a new drill and piping
alongside the old drill and piping
left in the earth beneath, aud we are
glad to state that this will be done.
Mr.. Rogers, the contractor, now
agrees with the City Council to
complete the well for $3.50, and he
entertalns no doubt that he will be
able to accomplish the work in less
than thirty days. He further agrees
that if he fails to give a satisfactory
flow Of water that he will charge
nothing at all for his work. 1t is
proper to state here that outside of
the machinery and piping that has
been bought by the city for carrying
on the work that the amount of
money paid out under the old con
tract was only $500 Thus il will be
seen that if the well proves a success
it will cost the city in actual labor
the small sum of $3.50. The engine
and pump will be worth just as much
money when the well is completed as
when first bought, and we have no
doubt that the city will be able to
dispose of them without difficulty.
Upon the whole there is no reason
for any one to be discouraged, for
Dawson is bound to have an artosan
well