Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-18
WONDERS BENEATH THE GROUND

To the Editor of the EAGLE.
Ten years ago about the last place on
earth that one would have expected tc
find artesian water would have been on
the island of Galveston. This island is a
deposit of sand made by the littoral cur.
rents of the Gulf of Mexico and the
trade winds; twenty. eight miles long by
two to four broad. Its average height
above mean tide is about four feet. 1t is
separated from the main land by West
Bay, three miles wide in the narrowest
place. This main land does not itself
reach an average altitude of ten feet in
the first twenty miles inland and possibly
not fifty the first seventy-five. The
whole coast for the latter distance is of
recent formation. possibly the newest
land in our country. All the streams
flowing into the Gulf through this plain
has had the effect of carry
ing their banks with them. The
stream banks are the highest land
to be found-they are the silt of a de-
composing continent pushed forward.
upward and on both sides by the per-
petual action of the fresh water In driv-
ing out the salt water.
Some parties ten years ago had the hardi-
hood to bore for artesian water. After
going down through quicksand, blue
clay, shell and gravel without result it
was given up. This failure, possibly,
induced the conservative and wealthy
old city to beard Fortune in her very
temple 1t offered 100000 reward for
an OVERLOOKING we'll. Possibly they
thought to find if there was any holes or
rocks under the island at some one else 5
expense.
A gentleman having experience in
boring for oil, gas and water went down,
and after looking about brought
down his machinery, and within ten
hundred feet he got flow ten or twelve
feet above ground of about 100, 900 gal
Ions per hour. After that well other
wells were put down, until now there are
several flowing along the surface bitches
of the sandy streets, and Mr.. Walker
and myself saw two or three more being
bored.
The deep water committee were invit-
ed into a large ice factory that stood
right on the brink of the salt bay. There
was well in the house that furnished
volume of water filling a six or eight
inch Sipe with rush as it came out.
This water was brackish, with a taste of
soda and gas. 1t poured into condenser
and was frozen into ice by the hundreds
of tons. A lighted match was set to the
bubling and foaming water as II rushed
into large receiving tank and 1t burned
in beautiful and wicked flame. Those
people have evidently got water, fuel
and light in one well; but they only use
the water as vet.
Looking back at the time Of the impos-
sibility of getting water, as II was thought
in the island. this scene was ike miracle
TO me. Nv mind required to the history
of Paulus Aemilius having wells dug at
the foot of Olympus TO supply his army,
which caused the question of the origin
OF water in the earth to be raised. 1T
was observed by the sceptical Roman
that there was no blood IN animals. but
that the wound produces 1t, BY change
in the flesh and spirits, which that i'm
preston renders fluid. So with digging
for specific purpose in the ground, n
wounds responded with the wanted
water Or to the theory Of some who
subserve matter TO mind altogether. and
make the former respond organically 70
the powerful organic wants of the other
Attitudes and gravity might prove much,
but this well came very nearly proving
the ancientor the NOVELIST modern theory.
At ali events. / had TO take the conyerss
of Brother Garnett's theory and sag
the world, it do move.
". e HUTCHIsoS.