Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-22
A California Well
That Supplies Good Drinking Water and
Good Fuel at the Same Time.
TFropn the EaD Franci9co RulJetin1

That Supplies Good Drinking Water and
Good Fuel at the Same Time.
[From the San Francisco Bulletin.l
Guitar Salmon of French Camp, not far
| from Stockton, Cal, sunk well with seven
inch tube to depth of about $40 feet, and
struck a eopious stream of excellent water.
Desiring to learn whether he could increase
the flow by going deeper, and fearing that
| should he continue the we'll the same size, he
might injure the quality of the upper strata
of water. Mr.. Salmon hit on the plan of sink
| ing a four-inch tube inside the ssven-inch
| one, and thus making what might be called
the experimental well four inches in dame
| ter. This inner one he bored to depth of
| 1850 feet, and then came to water again.
| This lower streana came to the surface and,
indeed, rose in q tube twenty-five feet above
the ground. The-last water found WAS unfit
for drinking, and but for an accidental dis
eovery of its wonderful properties might have
been considered a nuisance. 1t was found
that there was large amount of gas in this
water from the lower depth. This came bub
ling to the surface, making one think of a
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 the tubing, and having few
holes punched in it, an improvised gas fixture
was at hand Only a match was required to
complete the preparations. The match was
lighted aud applied to hole in the can, and
flames shot up three or four feet in 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 tabe
of the outer we'll. that which was only $40
feet deep and Furnished the good water, was
tapped, aud sufficient water for all domestic
uses and for the stock, &C., was led off in
pipes to the house and other localities
curbing was built around the twin wells in
such way that it formed reservoir for the
water from the ], $50 foot level, and that por-
ton from above which was not conveyed
aw in the pipes All through this water /
ia the reservoir came bubbling up the gas, gen.
Grated somehow, somewhere down below.
When MIR. Salmon next went to Stockton he
had q gasometer made with stop-cock IN the
top and this he took home and fastened over
his wells. The bottom was beneath the sur
face of the water in the reservoir, and tie
gas speedily filled the bell-shaped receiver.
The next thing was to attach gas pipe, and
connect his homemade gas machine with
the house.
He put a 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 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 tallow dip. It |
has been suggested that. as this gas seems to |
be almost pure hydrogen, it might be car
buretted and its illuminating quality i'm
proved. The gas throws off great amount |
of heat, and without doubt, such well |
would supply large number of families with |
the means of warming their houses and pre- |
pairing their food.