The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-07-19
a CALIFORNIA WELL
That Supplies Good Drinking Water
and Good Fuel at the Same Time.


San Francisco Bulletin.1
Guitar Salmon, Of French Camp, not far
from Stockton, Cal, sunk a well with
seven-inch tube to depth of about $40 feet,
and struck a copious stream of excellent
water. Desiring to learn whether he could
increase the flow by going deeper, aud fear.
ing that, should he continue the well the
same size, he might injure the quality of
the upper strata of water, Mr.. Salmon
hit on the plan of sinking a four-inch
tube inside of the seven-inch one, and
thus making what might be called the ex-
perimental well four inches in diameter
This inner one he bored to depth of $50
feet, and then caIh6 to water again.
This lower stream came to the surface, and,
indeed, rose in a tube twenty-five
feet above the ground. The last
water found was unfit for drinking, and but
for an accidental discovery of its wonderful
properties might have been considered a
nuisance. 1t was found that there was a
large amount Of gas in this water from the
lower depth. This came bubbling to the sur
face, making one think of gigantic soda
fountain.
Some one suggested the idea of seeing if
the gas would burn. A coal-oil can was put
over the top of thetubing, and, having a few
holes punched in it, an improvised gas fixture
was at hand. Only match was required to
complete the preparations. The match was
! lighted and applied to hole in the can, and
flames shot up three or four feet into the air
and burned steadily. The gas would burn.
Mr.. Salmon had fire and water coming out
of the same hole in the ground The
| tube Of the outer well, that which was
only $40 feet deep and furnished the
| good water, was tapped, and sufti-
cient water for all domestic uses and for the
stock, etc., was led off in pipes to the house
and other localities. A curbing was built
around the twin wells in such way that it
formed reservoir for the water from the
1,25O-foot level, and that portion from above
which was not conveyed away in the pipes.
All through this water in the reservoir came
bubbling up the gas, generated somehow,
somewhere down below. When Mr.. Salmon
next went to Stockton he had gasometer
made with stop-cock, in the top, and this he
took home and fastened over his wells. The
bottom was beneath the surface of the water
in the reservoir, and the gas speedily filled the
bell-shaped receiver. The next thing was to
attach gas-pipe and connect his home made
| gas machine with the house.
He put pipe perforated with small holes
across his large open fireplace, turned on the
gas, applied a match, and the problem of
| cheap fuel was instantly solvei. After that
gas pipe vas put into the fire box of the
kitchen stove, and now the meals are pre-
pared with the new fuel. Mr.. Salmon has
also used this gas for Illuminating but it
does not seem to entirely fill the bill, although
it is a great improvement on tallow dip. 1t
has been suggested that, as this gas seems to
be almost pure hydrogen, it might be car
bureted and its illuminating quality inn
proved. The gas throws off a great amount
of heat, and, without doubt, such well
would supply a large number of families
with the means of warming their houses and
preparing their food.