Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-10
An Uncomfortable Well.

HOW BIOLOGISTS EXPLAIN THE En-
TRAORDINARY PHENOMENA AT
BELLEPLAINB.
BELLEPLAINE, Iowa, August 81.
An artesian well four inches III
diameter burst when the depth OF
$50 feet had been reached in bor-
ing, and instantly volume OF wa
ter was forced into the air to the
distance of several hundred feet.
This gradually increased in size
and volume until stream of water
fully sixteen inches i'll diameter
was formed, and the upward force
of this stream is equal to the pow
or of powder, The water, in huge
volumes, is spouting high in the
air, and the supply seems mex
haustible. Two gigantic rivers
have been formed by this phenom-
anal water burst, which are run
ming through the town at the rate
of twelve miles an hour, and carry
ing everything be fore tn o IN.
Houses and lives are threatened
by this peculiar freak of nature,
and the citizens are appalled, at
their impending danger, which at
present they are powerless to over
come.
Finding it impossible to divert
this damaging flood, an attempt
was made to insert sixteen-lnch
boiler iron tubes into the well, but
these were instantly blown out and
forced high into the air. Finding
this plan useless, the terrified peo-
pie attempted to fill the aperture
through which this terrible geyser
was spouting it's deluge. Fifteen
car loads of stone were emptied in
to the well, but these were forced
upward as though propelled by the
force of giant powder. Bags of
sand we're then hastily constructed
and cast into the well, but these
too we're hurled into the air.
The Chicago and Northwestern
railroad was called upon for assist
ance, and Immediately sent a large
gang of men to the rescue. Tho
bridge gang of the county was also
called upon, but up to this evening
no abatement in the flow of water
was perceptible, and the rushing
rivers formed by it we're washing
the channel it had made deeper and
wider, while the basin formed by
this immense volume Of water was
spreading over the low lands in the
vicinity.
The Mayor of Belleplaine tele-
graphed to Chicago for the best en-
gineers that could be secured to
come Immediately to the spot and
use their skill and energy in at
tempting to stop this perilous con-
dition of affairs. City engineer
Artingstall, Of Chicago, at once
started out to find an engineer who
would supply tho demand, and
succeeding in inducing Engineer
Morgan to undeatake the mission.
Messrs. Artingstall and Morgan
are, however, both of the opinion
that but little if anything can be
done to stop the flow of water, but
that 1t may be possible to direct
the rivers into less dangerous di-
rections and confne them to their
channels. Mr.. Morgan left for
Belleplaine tonight, and if more
, assistance is necessary Mr.. Arting-
: stall will send all that is needed.
DEs MONIES, Sept. 2.-The re-
cent outburst at Belle Plaine of a
E powerful subterranean stream caus-
, ed by the sinking of an artesian
: we'll, excites great interest in Iowa.
, A number of successful drillings
, have been made in that place, but
this last seems to have struck a
fsure of great size, through which
poured stream of immense vol
! ume and force. A careful study OF
l Iowa geology will furnish an ak
8 planation of the phenomenon. The
3 town is situated lL the valley OF the
3 Iowa river, 90 to 80 miles south OF
, the line of outcrop of the Hamilton
{ group of rocks. The impervious
a limestone stratum dips southward
at an average:of 10 feet to the mile
!. At Belle Plane these rock lie at a
4 considerable depth, covered with
t shale, blue clay, surface drift, grav
Y ell and soil. The water trlckle'
t through the sand rock at the fal
d northward, flowing down through
o assures until it is confined between
!, the limestone beds and the super
l. incumbent mass of impervious blue
o clay. The pressure from the dis
a tant fountain head is very great
= The Belle Plaine well was sunk
l. through the clay and friable ma
d terial to the depth of about lS5 feet
}. and the force of the upward stream
was sufficient to enlarge the aper
ture, breaking through the sbal'
" and blue clay and throwing ou
y vast quantities of clay, sand ant
" gravel. The other seven wells II
y Belle Plaine ceased their flow wheI
'' the great geyser was struck. Thl'
=" indicates that there is a connection
> of assures and common fountain
- head at the north, and it may b'
20 expected that there will IN time b'
% some decrease in the volume of thu
- water