The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-08
ARrESIAN WELLS.
A Successful Demonstration at the
Works of the Crescent G ity Ice
Manufacturing Company.


Works of the Crescent c ity Ice
Manufacturing Company.
From the New Orleans Picdyune
Many of the more extensive manufacto-
ries in the city, where large quantities of
water are necessary, have resorued to the
use of artesian wells, and while the supply
furnished has in most cases proved ade-
quate, and the water satisfactory to taste
and smell, in some instances larger Quanti-
ties than could be supplied by the drove
wells were wanted.
To increase the flowltof water has been
sometimes difficult, if not altogether impos-
sible, but the question has been at last
solved IN a satisfactory manner, and flow
of water from a single well of 100000 gal
Ions in JWenty-four hours is an accomplished
fact.
Among the fallacies regarding artesian
water in this city was one that it could not
be used for the manufacture ice. This was
disproved by the management of the Cres-
cent City Ice Manufacturing Company,
who used it for that purpose from the first.
Two artesian wells, s740 feet deep each,
were driven in the yard of the factory, on
Front, between Lafayette and Poydras
streets, the first furnishing water at the rate
of sixty gallons per minute, and the other
eighty gallons. Recently the company
added a new thirty-ton ice machine to their
plant, and a larger supply of water was
| necessary. A third drove well was deter
mined upon, but even with this addition,
| should it flow at the rate of eighty gallons
| per minute 1t would not prove sufficient for
| their purposes. lhl
Capt. S. J. Whitesides, of Savannah, Ca,
| who is vice president of the New Orleans
| company, determined to venture on an ex-
pertinent to increase the flow of water, and
that ne was successful can be demonstrated
| by visit to the company's works, where
the flow of water will astonish all. Instead
| of an outpour of so gallons per minute at
the surface of the ground he has secured an
unremitting flow OF 700 gallons per minute
| three feet above the surface, and the water
is pure, clear and sparkling, for it is
slightly impregnatedi with carbonic acid
gas and is devoid of taste.
Capt. Whiteside found in Savannah, Ca,
that by cutting off the pipe twenty feet
below the surface and attaching to the end
pump the flow of water greatly increased.
He concluded to try the experiment here.
about month ago the pipe lone inch in
diameter), having been driven TAO feet and
flow of eighty gallons per minute having
been obtained, he set to work. First he
stopped the flow and commenced digging a
well about thirJy-fve feet in circumference
around the pipe. He had dug down twenty
A pump with cylinder is by "a inches,
with plunger twonty feet long, was
pleaced upright In the bottom of the well,
and at the surface steam cylinder Is inches
by "a inches was placed vertically. and
connected with the boilers inside the build
ing. A six-inch discharge pipe was con-
nected with the pump, and all was ready.
Again the knowing ones were disap-
pointed. They had told Capt. Whitesides
that il he stopped the flow of water from
the draw pipe sediment would form in it
and choke the flow of water. The pipe had
been closed a month. yet when it was
opened and the pump set to work the How
was not only as great, but nearly ten times
greater than it was at first. The six-inch
discharge pipe appeared to be almost too
small to allow the column of water which
jutted forth to escape, and the cutters in
the streets were soon OVERLOOKING. For
four hours steadily the water flowed, and
there was no apparent diminution in the
supply, nor yet were the two other drove
wells. not twenty feet distant, affected by
the discharge of the immense quantities of
water
Capt. Whitesides says by this means
supply of 100000 gallons every twenty
four hours is attainable, while by lowering
the pump to still greater depth the supply
would be still larger and could readily be
increased to 2, 000, 900 gallons III twenty~four
hours.
The experiment, for such it can very
properly be called. proved to be thorough
success, and the company, which is estao-
fishing branch factory on Decatur or Vic
tory street. between Marigny and Elysian
Fields streets, has determined to build a
similar well at that place.
Capt Whiteides naturally feels proud of
his success, for he has exploded three
fallacies in regard to artesian water-frstly,
that it was unfit for the manufacture of ice;
secondly, that he could not increase the
supply Of water, and thirdly, thatif pipe
was closed it would choke up, thus stopping
the flow of water. Another advantage
gained by the application of the pump, as
devised by Capt Whitesides, is the lessen
ing of expenses. While the supply Of water
is nearly ten times as great by the use Of
the apparatus, tee latter does not cost as
much as would the driving Of well which
would probably only double the supply.
Capt. Whitesides predicts that in not very
many years New Orleans will depend en-
tirely upon artesian wells for its water sup
ply. as it is far more palatable and clearer
than Mississippi river water, and, equally
as healthy.
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