Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-05-09
A CALIFORNIA WELL.
NAT supplies Good Drinking Water
and Good Fuel Mt the Same Time.
San Francisco BuIletir

CALIFOkNIA WELL.
That Supplies Good Drinking Water
and Good Fuel Mt the Same Time.
San Francisco Bulletin
Guitar Salmon, OF French Camp,
not far from Stockton, Cal, sunk a
well with seven-inch tube to a depth
or about $40 feet, and struck copious
stream of excellent water Desiring
to learn whether he could increase
the now by going deeper, and fearing
that, should he continue the well the
same size, he might injure the quality
OF the upper strata of water, Mr.. Sal
mon hit on the plan of sinking four
inch tube inside the seven inch one,
and thus making what might be called
the experimental well foar inches in
diameter. This inner one he bored to
a depth of 1, $50 feet, and then came
to water again This lower stream
came to the surface, and, indeed, rose
IN tube twenty-five feet above the
ground. The last water found was
unfit for drinking, and but for an ac
cidental 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 surface, max
ing one tAL..-k of gigantic soda foun-
tain.
Some one suggested the idea of see
ing if the gas would burn. A coal-oil
can was put over the top of the tub.
ing, ana, having 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 snot up
three or four feet into the air and
burned steadily. The gas would burn.
Mr. Salmon had fire and water com
ing out of the same hold in the
ground. The tube of the outer
well, that which was only $40 feet
deep and furnished the good water,
was tapped, and sufficient water for
all domestic uses and for the stock,
ETC., was led off in pipes to the house
and other localities. A curling was
built around the twin wells in such
way that it formed a reservoir for the
water from the 1,250-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 a gasometer made
with a 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 ana connect his
homemade gasmachine 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 solved. After that gas pipe
was put into the fre-box of the
kitchen stove, and now the meals are
prepared with the new fuel. Mr.. Sal
mon has also used this gas for illum-
mating, but it does not seem to entire
ly fill the bill, although it is great
Improvement ON tallow dip. 1t has
been suggested that, as this gas seems.
to be almost pure hydrogen, it might
be carburetted and its Illuminating
quality improved. The gas throws
off a great amount of heat, and, with
out doubt, such well would supply
a large number of families with the
means of warming their houses and
preparing their food.
New York capitalists have invested
$50, 900 in farm lands in the town of
York, aud are working with the idea
of mining the salt, although the
depth at which it is found proves
something of an obstacle. Three
bores have been put down. The vii
lage of Mount Morris also has good
we'll, but at considerable depth. A
stock company with $50, 900 is being
formed at Fowlersvllle for developing
salt territory. A satisfactory well has
been sunk at Teasle Hollow, near
Caledonia, but it is idle for lack of
funds. In Genesee county the only
salt territory so far developed is Lee
Roy, where there are three good brine
producing wells. The saline fluid has
been thoroughly tested, and by high
authorities pronounced of superior
quality. 1t is found at a depth of
only Go feet, and enough rock salt
has been struck to show that there
is solidity to back all demands
that may be made upon it. The
works will be in running order on
June 18th, with a capacity of 260
barrels a day. The steam-pipe pro-
cess will be employed The Leroy
Salt company, which owns all the
works here, has remarkable we'll at
the junction of the Delaware Lack
awanna & Western and the Rochester
& Pittsburgh roads. The salt bed is
fifty-one feet thick and is oaly $40
feet below the surface, so that it caa
readily be mined.