The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-09
Artesian Wells.

Artc2lan WcllS are UOleS, OI eEali
diameter, sunk to great distance ia tho
earth, from which currents Of water rise
towards the surface and sometimes flow
over In strong stream. Water thus
forced up must be subject to great press.
uro, and 1t must have its source in o
more elevated region than where the we'll
is bored and it must be confirmed be.
tween impermeable strata of rock which
will act rs apipe. These wells are called
Artesian from Artois, aprovince Of France,
where they frat attracted public atten-
tioD. The old Roman name Of the
province was Artesium. We have in this
country bored wells Of shallow depth
which are not Artcsian. They are tho
common wells that stop at the first war.
ter. bearing stratum reached. To get q
good flow of water, sub rranean foun.
tain must be struck which comes from
an elevated region and which is confined
by strata above and below, through
which water cannot pass. The first well
of this sort was bored by some Domini-
can monks at the town of Lillierg in
France in the 18th century. This is
said to be nearly dry at this date. Much
depends on the dip of the stratum bear.
ing the water. A constant channel, or
stream is necessary in order TO keep up
the supply. The source of water in our
ordinary wells Is generally higher than
their locations but they never overflow.
Water iG not forced up because the
stratum through which tho water passes
acts as q sponge and not rs q pipe.
There is no stream, or if any very
small one. that runs with little force be.
cause tho pressure ia wanting.
Nha "a, k,,ra rxf ftn &to
same we'll never varies, but 1t increases
At Paris the mean temperature is 81.
The we'll at Grenelle, 1897 feet deep, is
80, or an increase of one degree for every
58 feet. Al ST. Louis tho increase is one
degree for every 83 feet. At Charleston
the increase is one degree for ever 6s
feet. If this increase is gradual as we
descend, boiling water would be brought
up from depth of three miles.
The wells of France, London, Ger.
many and tho Mississippi Valley ere all
in the tertiary formations and the strata
Of clayn, sands and limestones are admi.
rably arranged for furnishing water by
means of these wells. These districts
are basin shaped and the water would
naturally flow to them from the higher
levels. It has generally been supposed
that In the primary, or Eozoic forma.
tion of the earth, that Artesian wells
would be very difficult to get. There is
no doubt "a to striking water.beariug
strata, but whether streams with sufficient
Roadway to force water to the surface
will be reached Is amongst the un.
known problems. Should theS we'll at
Atlanta prove success and afford o
large quantity of water, the opinions of
many persons will have to be modified
and there will be o revolution in obtain.
Ing the water supply for our cities. If 1t
Ia demonstrated that Artesian wells, with
a large and strong flow of water can be
secured, 1t will be worth much 10 the
towns ana cities IN ouF PisdmoRt belt.
The yield Of these wells differs very
much and 80 does the force with which
the water comes to the surface. The
famous Grenelle we'll was begun in 1888.
At 1900 feet the government would have
abandoned the project If 1t had not been
for NJ. Arago. 1t was continued until
l94l, when ut the depth of 1877 feet the
drill suddenly fell Il feet and the water
rushed forth. So great was the flow that
It 1aa checked by raising vertical nins
many feet into the air. 1t was thus re.
duced from 40 to 1876 gallons per min
ute. It's uniform temperature l. Sc and
the water is used for warming hospitals.
At passy, two miles from GrenelIe,
another we'll was sunk, which evidently
draws it's supply of water from tho same
source. A wonderful change has been
produced In tho desert of Sahara, by
these we'll. The frat one was sunk In
1858, which furnished o steady stream
OF water having temperature Of 81,
which is about the average of the ordi.
nary wells of this section of country.
Up to 1879 rs of these wells had been
sunk, the water being reached ut slight
depth. Thousands OF palm trees are
now growing where once the desert sands
driited, and beautiful gardens are bloom.
ing in the midst Of the wilderness. At
Bourne, England, thero is a we'll only %
feet deep thu furnishes 557 600 gallons
Of nn.e water per day.
The pFefr!s.oT5 OF the Continental
hotel In Philadelphia have we'll 200
feet deep which supplies them with 60.
900 gallons of water daily, The wells Of
st. Louis, Louisville and Charleston are
famous on account of the difficulties
attending the work. The fret st. Louis
well was hegun In 1S49. The boring was
continued under great dficnities: In
1864 water was reached at the depth OF
2,l99 feet, which, 3is discharged at the rate
of 76 gallons per minute. The water 10
mineral aud fit only for medicinal pnr.
poses. The we'll at louisville is 20SB
feet deep and flows at the rate Of $4,000
gallons D day with force equal to 10
horse power. .s IS "a: .as5:
The greatest difficulties haye been en-.
countered in boring .she first Charleston