The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-15
A CALIFORNIA WELL
That Supplies Good Drinking Water aud
Good Fuel az the Same Time.
Isan Francisco bulletin


Cutler Salmon, Of French Camp, not fal
| from Stockton, Cal, sunk well with
seven-inch tube TO a depth OF about S4(
| feet, and struck copious stream OF excel
| lent water. Desiring 10 learn whether he
could increase the flow by going deeper
and fearing that. should he continue the
well the same size, he might iniure the
quality OF the upper strata of water. Mr.
Salmon hit on the plan OF sinking four
inch tube inside the seven-lnch one, and
/ thus making what might be called the ex-
| detrimental well four inches in diameter
/ This inner one he bored TO depth Of
| 1850 feet, and then came TO water again
| This lower stream came TO the surface,
9nd, 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 q
large amount OF gas in this water from
the lower depth. This came bubbling to
the surface, making one think OF gi-
Santic SOda-iountain.
Some one suggested the idea OF seeing
il the gas would burn. A cOal-oil can was
nut over the top OF the tubing, and, hav-
ing few holes punched in it, an impro-
viSed gas-flxture was at hand. Only a
match was required TO complete the pre-
parationS. The match was lighted and APP
piled to n hole in the can, and flames shot
mp 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
p 4 I'll lao,
was tapped, and sufficient water for all
domestic uses and for the stock, etc, was
led of in pipes to the house and other
localities. A curling was built around the
twin wells in such a way that it formed a
reservoir for the water from the 1850 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.. Sal.
mon next went to Stockton he had gaso-
meter made with q 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 filed the bel-shaped re-
ceiyer. The next thing was to attach q
gasoline ard connect his homemade gas
machine with the house.
He put pipe perforated with small
holes across his large open fireplace, turned
on the gas, applied match, and the prob
lem OF cheap fuel was instantly solved.
After that gas-pipe was put into the fire
box OF the kitchen stove, and now the
meals are prepared with the new fuel. Mr..
salmon has also used this Gas for illumi-
mating, but it does not seem to entirely oil!
the bill. althoughit is great Improvement
on tallow dip. 1t has been suggested
that, as this gas seems to he almost pure
hydrogen. it might be carburetted and its
illuminating quality improved. The gas
throws or "a great amount OF heat, and
without doubt such well would supply Il
large number OF families with the means OF
warming their houses and preparing their
food.