The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-15
TO DEEPEN THE WELLS.
RIVER WATER PUMPED INTO THE
MAINS AT Low TIDES.

The City to Sink the Water Works
Wells to a Depth OF 1000 Feet to
Increase the Water Supply Plan
to Utilize the Waste Water at the
Well on the Spring field Plantation.
The fact that river water has been
pumped with the artesian water of late at
the water works as announced last week in
the MORNING NEWS, was a revelation to
many water consumers who had not de-
tected the adultsration, as the water fur
nished has been perfectly clear.
Supt Manning was asked yesterday after
noon to what extent river water is being
used, and he said that he is unable to
approximate the proportion, but that it is
not great, nor is it an everyday affair. He
said that at very low tide, when the wind is
from the west, it has been found necessary
to draw from the river. This, Mr.. Manning
thinks, will be obviated when the wells are
sunk deeper II is learned from another
source that about 25 per cent Of the water
furnished, when the river is being drawn
from, is river water.
TO DEEPGsJ THE WELLS.
At the last meeting of the city council q
resolution by Alderman Myers, acting
chairman of the water committee, was
passed, authorizing the committee to pur-
chase equipments for deepening six of the
artesian wells to depth of 1000 feet, and
it is understood that the committee will
meet to-day to take action in the matter
looking to an early beginning of the work.
Meantime, Mr.. Manning says that the work
of drilling ia the new artesian well on the
Springfield plantation will be continued, as
: i -. 80
yet be reached.
Two physicians were discussing last night
the increase of diarrhoea among children,
and one Of the physicians attributed it TO
the mixture Of Savannah river water with
the artesian water. The physicians say
that the diarrhoea is of the most stubborn
type.
WASTE WATER AT THE BIG WELL.
An alderman said that the new artesian
well on the Springfield plantation is vast
ing from 100000 to 100000 gallons of
water daily that can and ought to he util-
lied. He thinks it could be util-
lied by the expenditure of about
$1,000, and the city has an engine that
could pump it, utilize the water and obviate
the necessity of drawing any part of the
water supply from the river. He expressed
the belief that no more water will be OBJ
tanned in the deep well, and that drilling
should be suspended, and another twelve
inch well put down. 1.-THE deep artesian
WELL" he added, sis wasting nearly half as
much water as all the other artesian wells
are supplying, and this great waste should
be stopped"
2,500.O00 GALLONS A DAY.
Contractor Joyce says the well has been
flowing for three months at the rate Of
2,500,0O0 gallons daily, that is, 225 900, 900
gallons of the purest artesian water has
gone to waste.
To a MORNING NEWS reporter, who
visited the well yesterday, Mr.. Joyce ex-
pressed some disappointment that the flint
formation continues. The drills are rapidly
worn away, requiring a change of
tools every half hour, and four
or five feet is very fair days
drilling. The jagged flint sides Of the we'll
are wearing away his pump, and he had to
cut off rs or 100 feet of his cable, which
began TO show signs of weakness from
friction with the hard flint sides of the
well.
STILL DRILLING IN FLINT.
Occasional strata of clay are met with,
but Of inappreciable thickness, the flint
formation continuing and of diamond-like
hardness. Mr.. Joyce said he could hardly
| approximate the present depth of the well
| but it is believed that it has reached l ,45C
| feet.
Supt. Manning says that a measurement
will be taken on Friday afternoon. He is
confident that heavier vein of water will
be struck below the flint, and he says the
drilling is to be continued for while
| longer.
AS this extensive flint formation has moi
been met with in the deep wells of Charles
ton, or in Florida, nor in the gas or oil
wells of the north, the depth of the stratum
is conjectural. If, in the convulsion Of
nature, this flint formation lies edge
wise, there can be no telling how deep il
extends.
A GREAT DEPTH OF ROCK.
On some of the mountain spurs of the
Blue Ridge rock formations upheaved ono
planted on edge reach from base to summit
and how the flint rock lies at the bottom o.
the we'll. now being drilled, can only be sur
missed. Mr.. Joyce says he cannot understand
it, but he often finds it difficult to keep the
drill from fouling in the flint, and in all hi
experience he has never had such a hard
formation, or so much of it to contend with
There is no indication that it is about to b.
penetrated, as on the contrary, he says, il
appears to have become more solid.