Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-24
B0GGS' RUN WELL.
TaB WATER PUMPED OUT, AND fHB WORK OF
DRILLING RESUMED.
Prof. |. Q. White Holds Consultation Wit
0theials q Il, Development Com
pany-NOtsd Wells Of
the World.

Prof. /. {. White, Of the Morgan
town University. came to the city from
Fairmont yesterday afternoon, and re-
turned few hours later. At two
o'clock consultation was held with
President y. Il. Scott and Secretary j.
c. Brady, Of the Wheeling Development
Company, at the McLure House. re-
garding the Development Company
well, out Bogg's run. Prof. White in
formed the gentlemen that he had se-
cured from Mr.. Gilbert, Assistant Di-
rector OF the United States Geological
Survey, promise Of $500 or 5000, TO be
applied toward deiraying the expenses OF
continuing the drilling OF the well.
Two men from the Office Of the Survey
will be here In about week or ten days,
for the purpose OF taking the tempera-
ture at the unusual depth OF over 1000
feet, and securing such other scientific
data as is desired by the Government.
Satisfactory tests OF this character
have never been made by the Govern
ment, for the reason that wherever at
tempted, more or less water has been
encountered in the hole. 1t is expected
that the Development CompaEy'S well
will be perfectly dry, so that the officers
OF the Geological Survey can make
the proper tests.
The money which the Development
Company has on hand and the promised
financial assistance, including the con-
tribution from the government, amounts
In all to about 81, 500, which is sufficient
to sink the well to a depth of 100 feet,
After two weeks work at the pumps
the water was finally taken out OF the
well and the work OF drilling resumed
on last Saturday. The hole is now down
400 feet, and the work Is necessarily
slow and very expensive. 1t costs 5000
for every one hundred feet which are
now drilled. Mr.. Il. 5. Kinsey, OF Wells
burg, the contractor who has
charge OF the work here, is
an experienced drller He sunk
both the wells Of the Central Glass
company, and also the Paul well In
Martins Ferry. 1t is hoped that II the
Development Company succeeds in drill
ing the well TO depth OF 400 feet,
they will be able To raise enough money
In Wheeling, or from other persons in-
terested in the scientific effects 10 be
attained, TO sink il few hundred feet
more, and make 1t the deepest hole in
the world.
Samples OF the different strata through
which the drill passed have been pre-
served in small cans, which are
labeled with the depth at which they
were reached and the thickness OF each
strata. About forty OF these cans.
which are now in Secretary Brady'S Of
flee at the Hinge factory, will be for
warded in few days to Prof White. 1t
is the intention to make five or SIX com
plete schedules Of the well, showing the
geological formation Of the strata, and its
relative thickness. One OF these will be
sent To the Worlds Fair at Chicago, a
second will be sent TO the United States
Geological Survery at Washington, an
other will be placed in the University at
Morgantown, fourth will be given to
the Chamber OF Commerce and the last
will be sent to the State Capital at
Charleston, while copy will probably
be kept by the Development Company.
II the well is sunk TO the depth OF
4, 700 feet; 1t will be the deepest In the
United States with go feet to spare.
The deepest well at present Is the West
inghouse at PittSburg, which is down
1850 feet. 1t was abandoned at
that depth, on account OF the rope
breaking OF its own weight. There are
at present 1000 pounds OF rope used in
the Boggs' Run well. A ST Louis well
is 3,l47 feet in depth. The deepest well
In the world at present Is one at Potts
dams, Germany, which is down 5.27O
feet. Among the celebrated drilled
wells in Europe is one FOR the Paris
sugar refinery, owned by NJ. Say. and
drilled by NJ. Dru. II is 10 inches
in diameter, and 2,gO0 feet deep.
Another at Sperenberg, Germany,
about twenty miles from Berlin
is one OF the most remarkable on
the globe. II Is sixteen feet
in diameter to a depth Of 2s0 feet, and 3
inches In diameter To depth oi i,l9i
feet, and was drilled through salt for its
entire depth. At the time 1t was sunk,
II was also the deepest In the world. At
Butte Aux Cailles, Paris, France, is
well which is 6i. feet in diameter, aud
200 feet In depth. Another remark
able well was begun al La Capelle,
France. in 1886. and j. s.! feet in
diameter. In 1869 it had reached a
depth OF l,sll feet, and the drilling tools
which were used weighed over four.tons.
The public, and scientific men espcc-
Tally, will await with interest the result
OF the drilling Of the Development
Company's well, aud IL is to be hoped
that It will be sunk a full mile, $3.50
feet, making it the deepest hole in the