Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-09-24
'"siience Of the .,atche FEAT.
D,eginsct Of the cler,i on tho Rivers
Bank for1nrescy Furnace swamped
with n Mighty stream.

D,erInsct Of the cleri, ON tho Rivers
Bank for Tanescy Furnace-swamped
With n Mighty stream.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
4 most remarkable water shan, the first
ever made in the United States rs being
sunk at the Lucy furnace, 10 cost about
$4,000, under the surerintendence OF
Samuel Harris, according 10 plans ana
specifications prepared by MaLag Scott,
Of the furnace. During the progress of tho
work great difficulties had to I've sur
mounted, owing 10 the shan being sunk at
the rivers edge. In the sinking of the
shan three pumps were used constant y to
keep ont the water.
The work began on September 2, with 20
men employed. Afler working three weeks
an immense cast iron cylinder, made at
the Twenty ninth street works, weighing
80 tons, was placed In tho well. Thee YIN
der is Is feet in diameter and ~ inches
thick. After the cylinder was put in posi-
tion 10y Jacks, the ground beneath was re-
moved, and II sank Of it's own weight. The
cylinder acts in double capacity, as a sup
port 10 the ground and as n receiver of the
spring water The bottom section of the
cylinder is perforated, but at present the
holes are plugged, They viii be opened
soon as the work is completed. Az the
top Of the cylinder is projection Il inches
in diameter, upon which is built circular
brick wall IL feet deep and Is feet in diam
eter, the wall being securely boitod.
Amer the cylinder was sunk y feet
sand bottom was touched. In one minute
after the sand was reached, while the men
were still in the well and the pumps run
ming full, gush Of water spurtod up that
filled the shaft Is feet deep. IL was by the
Nericst hairs breadth that the men escaped
drowning. Water impeded the work dur
ing its progress, but II was not until the y
feet had been sunk that the great outpour-
Ing came. This has stopped the work until
they can arrange for putting another pump
in place. The three pumps that are work
ing cannot begin to remove the water In
the well there Is centrifugal pump, with
an engine and two Cameron pumps, but IL
will be necessary To attach another pump
tn remove the water 80 that the gravel can
be taken out.
When the gravel has been cleared away
IL is tho intention still further to sink the
iron cylinder feet which will make II a
depth OF ~ feet from the surface of the
ground and ~ feet from the waters sur
face. This will allow the water to pass
in the 30 holes punched into the sides and
bottom of the cylinder without becoming
muddy.
When the work has been completed, two
large pipes will enter into the shat and
convey the water into a receiver, situated
some 80 feet from the well. This will then
be distributed into two iron tanks, tompor-
nrily placed, % feet high and u feet In
diameter From these two tanks the water
will I've drawn for the various furnace pur-
poses. The four pumps that will be used
are of the latest design. They will be able
to lift 5000, 600 gallons every l. hours.
The well is great engineering feat, which
will greatly facilitate the work of tho fur
mace. The water will be clear. carncgcs
are building, In connection with this well,
an enormous tank, 30 feet high aud - feet
in width, which viii be the largest in this
section of the country. II Will be made of
iron, and will be circular In shape. Aiter
II has been erected the other two distribu-
ting tanks will be removed, and this will
receive all the wator from tho receiver.
Tho cost of this tank will approximate
10000. Upwards of 1000 tons of gravel
had TO he removed before the water was
reached.
Samuel Harris, who had charge of the
work, has been connected with some great
eNcavating schemes. He sunk u shaft for
Colonel Andrews, in the state of Durango,
Mex, Mt n silver mine. He has also worked
in France, Germany and Switzerland.
While In the latter country he was supcrn-
tending the Howenscin tunnel, when 63
mon and seven horses were suilocated by
the shan taking fire.