Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-28
HIs FIRST FIRM coNvtCTroN.

HIS FIRST FIRM CONVICTION.
Mr.. Heerdegen-such is the inventor 8
name-was experimenting in his house in
Russia with an instrument which he ex-
| pected would indicate in one room move
ments in another from which he was absent
The experiment consisted in placing a
watch upon table, carrying from it a cord
or fine wire through passages and other
rooms to where ne was himself, and the in
strument he held in his hand would be af-
fected the very second the watch was
touched. To what degree of perfection this
process was brought cannot now be told.
It probably was not perfected, as on this
occasion the inventor was in room where
his wife was making tea, using for the pur-
pose large samovar or Russian tea urn,
and while standing near it he observed that
his instrument was affected every time that
the water was made to run from the samovar.
He became SO convinced by repeated trials
that the moving body Of water, small though
it was comparatively, affected his apparatus
in distinct and certain manner that he
Immediately went out into the grounds sur
rounding the house, where there was well,
and had his conclusions confirmed in such
manner that he abandoned his original ex-
periments, and devoted his time and atten-
tion to perfecting the apparatus ior the much
more practical purpose OF water finding.
TESTS IN THIS COUNTRY.
Mr. Heerdegen associated with himself
Mr.. Alexander E. Schnee, late United
States Vice Consul at Moscow, and came to
this country, which he regarded as 3 more
profitable field for his labors. He came
armed with testimonials from respectable
firms, some of them known in this city.
A series Of tests have been commenced
here during the past week, which, although
not conclusive IN their results, we'll warrant
further investigation into the matter, es-
pecially under more normal conditions, as
those to which Mr.. Heerdegen and his ap-
paratus have been submitted were of an un-
natural kind and such as he had never at
tempted before. The preliminary investiga-
ton was witnessed by members of the ed-
toriel staffs of the Engineering and Mining
journal aud of the Engineering NelcS, as
we'll as by Mr.. Charles P. Gowen, division
engineer of the new aqueduct, through
whose aid and the courtesy OF Mr.. Alphonse
Fteley, chief engineer OF the Aqueduct Com
mission, the tests were arranged.
The day was unfavorable for the work in
hand, the ground being covered with sew
eral inches of wet snow, the very presence
OF which, however, assisted in making the
tests more complete, because it more effect
ually concealed from the water searcher the
locality OF the aqueduct.
HOW IT WORKED WITH SNOW.
The snow was productive of two laugh
able incidents. Shortly after commencing
work Mr.. Heerdegen, proceeding very
slowly in the snowy road, with his eyes ap-
parentlY fixed upon the ground, in reality
watching the pendulum, 50 to speak, of his
apparatus which he carried near the ground,
and all of the party intently watching him
and his instrument, along came an old
farmer with his empty milk cans from Sing
Sing and saluted the party with "Be you
looking for rabbit tracks?"
Just as the party reached the point at
which the aqueduct crossed beneath the
road at depth of more than 800 feet
water was located. somewhat to the sur
prise OF the gentlemen, the width of the
stream being defined as II feet, which is
about the width Of the water flowing in the
aqueduct. Out came another farmer from
the house near the road with the offer Of his
assistance. az can help We; 1 was here
when they drew it in," and straightway he
began scraping in the snow few feet from
the road, and presently he succeeded in un-
covering an iron bolt which had been driven
into the rock by the surveyors to mark the
center line of the aqueduct.
HOW THE SECOND TEST RESULTED.
The second test gave results nearly as
startling as the first, button the third there
was a distinct failure to recognize any such |
body of water as was known to be flowing |
4S0 feet beneath. The operator claimed that |
the day was unfavorable, being heavy and |
foggy, and that the conditions were new to |
him and abnormal, as he had never before |
attempted to find water inclosed artifcially, |
the impression being given that he had ex-
pected that be would be taken to places |
where springs were known to exist On
subsequent day other tests were made on the
line of the old aqueduet, where, near the |
upper end of the city, it is conveyed in a |
tunnel under Tenth avenue, and here the |
results were similar to those obtained the |
first day, satisfactory to the water seareher
in one case and unsatisfactory IN another.
The general result thus far NAV be stated
as non-conclusive as to the infallibility Of
the apparatus, but sufficient apparent power
of locating water has been displayed to
warrant patient and exhaustive research
This will probably be prosecuted in the di-
reetion of known artesian water, and the
final report of those engaged in the investi-
cation will be looked forward to with great
interest.
TRYING IT ON A BREWERY.
A practical test of the accuracy of this
method is now being carried out in New |
York at the brewery Of Mr.. Hupiel, where a
dry we'll has been sunk to depth of more
than 1000 feet. Within short distance of
this unsuccessful well the borers are again
at work on the assurance OF Mr.. Heerdegen
that water will be met with at less depth
than 100 feet.
The apparatus is not patented, and, ac-
cording to the inventor, will work in the
hands of any one with q little practice In
appearance it is most simple, any complex
ity Of arrangement being concealed in the
vulcanite or hard rubber case, about six
inches long. shaped something like bottle
without a neck, which acts as sort of PEN
dulum, and oscillates more or less violently |
when above water according to the volume
and rapidity OF the stream. This is sus-
pended from leather-covered disk held in
the hand by thin insulated brass or copper
wire, which enters the top Of the vulcanite
case,