Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-03-17
WHAT'S TO Be DONE ABOUT IT?
The Experimental We'll Strikes Sa!'
Water at 900 tert-Prosrscts
for OIL,

Contractor Lefever is in from the ex-
perimental well camp to-day and brings
word that a vein OF brackish water, quite
salt, has been struck at a depth OF 900
feet. He seems to be pretty well salts
fed that an artesian flow can not now be
had by going to the depth of 100 feet
further, as per his | 100 foot contract, and
if possible he desires to be relieved from
sinking the additional 100 feet, preierring
TO compromise with the stockholders, so
that he can get away to look after
his well contracts at Pueblo and Colorado
Springs. He prefers some such ar
cement rs this ia case the cltl-
sens do not intend to continue the
apartment to depth OF 800 feet. How
Ger, ii il should he Decided to try and
raise money to make new contract for
$40 feet after the completion Of the | 900
ieet hole, he will make very reasonable
proposition to carry on the work. Messrs
+. W Clancy and Sol. SpieGelberg Will
this afternoon call meeting of the share
holders to consider the matter.
MIR. l.eiever seems not to have been the
least surprised at striking salt water. AS
il well known, lie has all along, since
passing the 500 feet point, inclined to the
Relief that petroleum would he more
likely developed tlHn flowing water.
The striking Of this Salt 10 nation
se.ves to confirm This opinion, and
he said he believes now that oil will
he encountered should the exper
ment lie continued SUI feet further.
As to artesian' water Mr.. Lelever thinks
tie location Of the well is such rs to make
it necessary to- 20 deeper for it there than
ut almost ANY other point around Santa
Fe. The experiment has been carried
on thus far through ''"aslI ground" be-
ginning on the crest OF regular idge, Or
"hog-hack" Had the Well been located
nearer the mountains 1t Is much more
Or, bable that arteslan waterc' ulu be II ii
AS TO the Value OF oil MIR. Lele,er SAY $
it would he OF great benefit 10 the 1ly
could it be found here, and lie cites the
eagerness with which capital has come
to FIOie, Ce, Coo, since petroleum Was
struck there. The Florence oil retinerles
ure now yielding about 400 barrels per
day, and new wells are constantly being
put down. He SAYS salt water is always
struck in Coloradu just before the oil is
found, and the latter usually comes il u
slate formation.
Unless 1t lis intended to 20 further, the
only way the Water now known to exist
in this well can he utilized is by putting
on u pump. Mr.. Ltfever sa,s the salt
water cond bt plugged oil and the casing
raist at the 4tU feet point, where the
large 81 ,trt all If water Was encountered,
and efficient water would rise within lUu
feet I, { the eur uce to furnish four inch
str, am. He claims to | e able to CENT Il
stratc To anyDo ly'5 satisfaction that Il
large and ~ Iihanelt underground Slrt am
eAiete st 4OO leet below the suriace there.
The machinery 1t, " On The ground cuuli
be ustd for operating the pumps; III
isct, were three other wells SUNK
ear to- ether, ME machinery now there,
with the a,l,ilnn OF Jumps, could be
made to operate tour pumps that woul'l
furnish continuous supply of water,
each pump filling Il four inch dist larse
pipe. With -four inch streams ii water
constantly flowing reservoir could lie
supplied that would irrlgate no incUnsld-
cradle body Of land.