The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-03
THE FOOLS WELL.
A Hole Nearly Four Thousand
Foot Deep.
ovor Threo Years Consumed IN Sinking 1t
Said to he the Deepest Well In
the World. Yet 1t Gives
No Wuter,

Perhaps not hundred st. Louisans
are aware of the fact that their city is
famous the world over among geolo-
gists and scientists as having the
deepest well ever sunk. 1t is known as
the fools" we'll and is located at
tho city insane asylum, in the south
western portion of the city. 1t was
ordered to be sunk by tho county court
in 1866, before the separation of the
city and county, with the view of OBJ
tanning supply of water for the in
stitution, then in course of construc-
ton. Work was commenced on it
| March 81, 1866, and was steadily pushed
| forward month after mon tn and year
after year for the space of three years.
five months and fifteen days, says the
st. Louis Republic, when, the drill
striking ledge of granite that con-
tinued to hold out after penetration
! of 40 feet, the work was abandoned at
a depth of S,S43 is feet.
Various strata of rock and earth
were penetrated in the descent and at
1,700 feet granite was struck, which
should have precluded any hope of
ever striking water, as it is a we'll
known geological fact that water does
not exist below the granite.
A stream of water was struck at n
depth of 1,220 feet which rose to with
in 127 feet of the surface, but no
farther, as there seemed to be some
lateral outlet for the water. From
LAS to 1,5S6 feet below the surface
sulphur water was drawn, strongly inn
pregnated with sulphureted hydrogen
gas. A little distance below this n
vein of saline water was discovered Of
blush cast and containing per
cent of salt. AS no tubing was used in
the we'll the water from these various
streams continued to flow in during the
boring, but, as stated, never raised the
water nearer than 127 feet of the sur
face.
At depth of some $500 feeta stratum
of rock known as the Potsdam sand
stone of the lowest silurian system was
struck, and in penetrating it the drill
unfortunately stuck and was broken
off. This for time was regarded as
| putting an end to further boring, but
the ingenious engineer, after week or
two of meditation, devised contriv-
ance that successfully removed the
broken drill. A new difficulty soon pre-
sented itself, however, that still more
seriously threatened to prevent further
progress 1t was found that while the
drills were made of the very best steel,
the weight Of the iron bars extending
down from the engine to which the
drill was attached was so excessive
that drop of even one foot was power
erful enough to batter the point of the
drill and consequently prevent any
Roadway being attained. Again, how
however, the ingenuity of the engineer
solved the problem. lie reasoned that
the we'll being nearly full Of water the
substitution of wooden poles for the
iron rods to which the drill was at
tached would not only lesson the weight,
but the wood would act as a float in the
water and furnish the necessary resist
ance to overcome any excessive weight.
He accordingly procured stout poles
33 l-3 feet in length, furnished with
solid screw joints, and on testing the
experiment was rewarded with success
The work continued to the depth stated,
when it was abandoned by order of the
court as an improbable job.
This depth of 3,8a3 Is feet, compared
with the next deepest well in the world,
that located at Pesth, which is 3,1S2
feet. shows a difference in favor OF the
st. Louis we'll of 66l lis feet.
The next in depth of St. Louis wells
is known as the Belcher well, located
at the Belcher sugar refinery. 1t was
commenced in the spring of 1s40 and
prosecuted at intervals till March, 1855,
when steady work was commenced and
| int OF fo ;rt,, \
n flowing vein was struck at depth of
2,lo7 feet. While the vein was found to
be strong enough to discharge seventy
five gallons per minute and raise the
water seventy-fve feet above the sur
face, it was so strongly impregnated
with sulphur as to be unfit for the pur-
poses of the refinery. The water was
discovered to contain medical virtues,
and to this day is quite a popular drink
with st. Louisans. This well is exceed
ed in depth by the one at Pcsth, hereto
fore mentioned, the La Chapelle we'll of
Paris, which has depth of 1850 feet.
1t is interesting to note in this con-
ncction that the Chinese and Egyptians
were early acquainted with artesian
| wells, and that the oldest known one in
! Europe is at Lilliers, in Artois, whence
the name artesian is derived. This
well was sunk in ll26, but there is no
record as to its depth. The Grenellc
we'll Of Paris, while having depth of
only l,700 feet, is the most famous we'll
| of Europe on account of it's wonderful
flow Of water. 1t is estimated to yield
SIC gallons of water minute and raise
It thirty-two feet above the surface.
Owing TO the improved machinery
used in driving artesian wells in the last
few years they are becoming quite com