Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-20
NATURAL GAS.
ENCOURAGING SIGNS At THE FIFTH
AND R-sTRELT WELL.
Gas Begins to Appear and Large Body
of Fine Artesian Water is
Tapped.

When the Directors of the Citizens Nat
ural Gas Company learned that subter-
ranean spring had been tapped, by the con-
tractor who is sinking their gas well at
Fifth and R street, they hailed the tidings
with joy. Topersons familiar with natural
gas boring, the striking of water means a
great deal. 1t frequently means that gas
reservoir has been reached.
The Directors turned out in a body yes
terday morning to view the workings. and
they were interested spectators for several
hours.
The water had overlooked considerably
during the night, until the casing became
clogged with sand, stopping the flow.
When the Directors arrived, engineer
Draper had taken out considerable of the
sand, and the water was within two or
three feet of the top of the well.
GAS Is FOUND.
sJust step over here a moment, gentle
men, want to show you something" said
the engineer, reckoning to the Directors
after he had hauled the drill up out of
the casing.
Obeying his instructions the gentlemen
took turns at gazing down into the hole.
The surface of the water was plainly visi-
BILE. But what surprised those who saw it
was its peculiarly perturbed condition. 1t
was bubbling and sputtering at great
rate.
"Hot water?" asked one of the Directors,
innocently.
"Why, no-thats gas" replied Engineer
Draper.
Then everybody took another look, and
there was some little excitement. The en-
gineer explained, however, that this was
neither the quality nor quantity of gas de-
sired, but, nevertheless, was good indlca-
ton that gas was to be had in this section.
He said he felt more confident than ever
that the well would develop into bonanza.
After explaining various of the details of
gas-well boring, the contractor resumed his
work OF sinking the well. As the water
was troublesome and hampered the work.
it was DESTROYS that it should be gotten rid
of. This was accomplished with little diff
fculty. First tie sheet.iron casing was
built up several feet from the level of the
ground, until it looked like the smoke
stack of steamboat. A heavily weighted
lever was then adjusted so as to press down
ward upon the casing, and when this was
QOuc Luc PQup S WOiC leu Qp, Tic
ton being to get the sand out of the casing.
The water flowed freely while this was
going on. At the end of about half an
hours pumping the casing was seen to
slide down quickly for over foot, and i'm
mediately the water ceased to flow.
We've passed the vein" laconically re-
marked the engineer.
INTO THE QUIcKsAND.
but what the drill next encountered
proved to be even worse. 1t was another
bed of quicksand, much more unwiefdly
than that penetrated on Monday. The
trouble was that the sand filled up the
casing as fast as it was taken out, and the
only manner in which any Roadway could
be made was by levering the casing down
ahead of the bore. This was very slow
work, as is shown by the fact that the well
was only advanced three feet during the
whole forenoon.
The Directors departed in high spirits,
even more than satisfied with what they
had seen. They little thought that still
greater treat was in store for them.
1t was about o'clock in the afternoon
when word came up from the well that
another flow of water had been tapped,
and the presence of the Directors was S as-
sired. DIR. Southworth, Colonel McNasser,
Ben Leonard and others of the Directors
fastened to the well and arrived there Just
in time to see the water spout up over the
casing.
1t appeared that the bed of quicksand
was not SO deep as had been anticipated,
and the drill struck stratum of gravel
during the afternoon. The moment this
was pierced Mr.. Draper noticed that the
to- rsa,x L
cordingly notified the Directors.
FINE WATER AND MORE GAS.
The water was to all appearances of ex-
cellent quality, and the flow increased
momentarily until it soon reached hight
of four feet above the level of the ground.
Further than this, the indications were
that it would reach greater hight in q
few hours.
But what interested the party most was
the amount of bubblipg that was going on
greater signs of gas than did the previous
flow, and the directors had good reason to
feel elated.
They held a short consultation and
agreed to discontinue pumping during the
remainder of the afternoon and to-day.
They considered the fact that they had de-
veloped large body of artesian water was
of great importance to the city and it was
deemed proper to permit citizens to in
spect it. 1t was also DESTROYS to allow the
water to flow until thoroughly clear, and
then have it analysed. There was some
talk, too, of having the gas tested.
At last accounts last night the water had
reached hight of nearly five feet above
the level of the ground. through an 11-inch
pipe. 1t was decided to cap the pipe
during the night but to allow the water to
flow again this afternoon, so that the citi-
zens may see it. 1t is probable, too, that a
test will be made this afternoon as to the
hight the water can attain.
Everybody is invited by the Directors to
witness the operations to- day, and the in
vitation should be availed of, as it is an
important matter to the city, and, besides,
the flow will be shut off tomorrow, in