The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-05-23
Testing the Artesian Well.

readers, the vernment recently ap-
propriated a sum Of money to be expend-
ed in a geological survey OF some of the
northwestern states with a view to the
feasibility Of irrigation and a scientific
inspection Of the artesian wells of the
Dakotas in particular. The work was
given in charge Of a competent governs
ment engineer, who is aided by fifteen
or twenty assistants.
One of these assistants, Prof. S. G.
Updyke of the Bookings College, arrived
In Kimball Saturday evening for the
purpose Of testing fine well here and
learning such facts in regard to it as is
known.
Unfortunately for tho reputation of
the well, it got on one of It's tantrums
about the time the test was to be made
and sulked and throwed sand in a
manner that was a caution to behold.
Upon being turned on full head in order
to relieve the pressure on the pipes
while a hole was being drilled to receive
the water gauge, the we'll flowed a
strong stream Of pure water for nearly
an hour. But when all was complete
and in readiness to make the test the
well suddenly ch0ked up with sand and
the flow decreased to one third its usual
volume. The test gauge only showed a
pressure Of five pounds. The gauge was
left on all night and in the
morning an inspection showed a pres
sure Of twenty pounds, the well having
partially cleaned itself of sand. The
flow at this time was estimated at 225
barrels a minute, or a little over 5000
barrels in "a hours-within a few hun
dred barrels of what the GRAPHIC has
always placed it.
The flow was tested by making a dam
with an overflow outlet two feet wide in
the ditch and measuring the height of
the water that flowed over the 24-inch
outlet.
Had the test been made twenty-four
hours later when the well was perfectly
clear we are confident that it would
have showed a third greater pressure
and a correspondingly greater flow.
However, it doesn't matter, Kimball is
perfectly satisfied with her we'll and
wouldn't trade it for any well in the
country-Woonsocket's big CASHIER not
excepted. 1t has pressure enough to
carry water all over any building that
stands in the state and water enough to
supply twenty cities the size of Kimball.
Not alone this, but unlike many other
wells, the water is as pure and wholesome
as water can be and never becomes
unfit for use from clay OF mud Of any
kind. A we'll with too much pressure
for practical use is o constant source Of
apprehension, and a never ending
expense for repairs on pipes and CON
nections. The WOonsocket well has a
pressure Of 1853 pounds. Whom it is
considered that this pressure would blow
the average steam boiler into smother
Gems an idea Of the magnitude of con-
trolling such a we'll is understood.
Prof. Updyke, when asked by the
GRAPHIC what in his opinion would be
the effect Of shutting down the artesian
well completely for a year, said that he
thought it would have no serious effect
upon it inasmuch as it had never dis
charged any out but pure quicksand,
which vas almost as sitting as water
itself. He thought shutting the well
off for 80 long a time might cause a
decreased flow at the start but it would
rapidly increase and attain its full
pressure in a few days. The Woonsocket
we'll, he said, and some others. threw up
big chunks of clay. With such wells
there was a chance that they might be.
come clogged and have to be opened
with a drill, but he thought anything OF
the kind was extremely impossible with
| the Kimball we'll.