Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-29
TO AID SCIENCE.
TH2 BOGGS RUN WELL OF TRg WHEELING
DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
To Be Dedicated 70 the Farihsfauc q Geological Ia
formation. The United States Government
Will Take Hand in the Mater ard As.
ssi in Drilling Il Deeper.

The REGISTER some days ago printed
a special dispatch from Washington
stating that the L. S Geological Survey
was willing 10 contribute $500 towards
deepening the well being bored by the
Wheeling Development Company at
Boggs' Run, below this city, in the in-
terest OF science. Thisaid was brought
about through the influence Of Prof ].
C. White OF the West Virginia Uni
versity. Further information on this
subject IS contained below in letter
from Director Powell Of the Geological
Survey to n. b. Scott, president OF the
Development Company. II is as follow.
DEPARTMENT oT THE INTERIOR
UNITED STATES GEOLnGt,AL SrRyrr.
WAsHINGToN. ID. C.. April -. 1921.
Hon. v. b. Scott. Prc.ticHt U'hs,lng Dcr,ior.
mcnt Co.. ". Va.
SR-l have learned from Prof T.
White, Of the University OF West Virginia.
that the public spirited citizens of N heei-
ing having failed of fnarcial success in
the boring Of deep well. have dedicated
the well 10 the purposes of science. and de-
termined that IL shall become in that wa
a success. Not only does this determine
tiOn give me great personal satisfaction.
but it will enttlc you 20 the gratitude and
high esteem Of the gcologists aud physicist,
OF the world
II the well is carried down until
reaches the Cornifor0us limestone. Do viii
add a very important measurement tO the
local geology and will aid iu guiding future
operations in boring for e, On0mic purposes.
not only in your own vicinity Dat iu fro
States OF Ohio aud keutucky.
As il stands now, and especially if carried
deeper without enc0unteriug veins of
water, IL will afford an opportunity. prac-
iically unique for the determination 0f the
laws OF temperature change beneath the
surface Of the earth
II is known from observations in other
places that as we descend into the earth
the temperature gradually rises, so that in
some Of the deepest mines the dep.h Of
has actually been limited by
The heat encountered The majority of
such observations have been qualified by
ocal difficulties. la the ease of mines the
geologic process which form the orr dcnos.
Is are still going on or other chcficai
,hanges are taking place. aud tl, se have
uch influence on the temper tIrc illt fhc
observations DO not show the normal rIfcnf
with depth. ln mountain
Dus regions where The ROCKS are
olded and crushed and thc
process Of folding and crushing
5 in progress, the heat engcudrrcd by ihis
process is combined with the heat ascend
ng from the interior OF the earth. s0 that
he observations fail 10 give the simple rc
ult desired. Where stream, az water are
ncountered In boring. these pass mp on
own the bore and tend 20 impart the roNn
emperaturc 20 the walls of the bore SD
hat the original temperature Of Tine rock
by the drill is lost. and can bee
only by stopping the iiOW of
water and giving the well % long time t0
estore itself to iis uatura, condition
20 stop the flow of water casing
S required, and casing necessarily
caves small space between me
ase and the rock through which
here is more or less circulation. still tend
ng 10 vitiate the observations The ideal
ocality, therefore, for the investigation of
he law Of temperature increase with thn
epth is one where a deep well pcnciratcs
horizontal strata and does u0'
ap veins OF water. These are the peculiar
Of your well, and The rom
alton has never been realized before The
est temperature observations heretofore
made have been in sell tapping several
ems OF water.
/ am therefore very desirOus 10 secure for
cicnce the best records atiainablo from
OF this we'll and / have de.
allied for the purpose DR. William Hal
ock. "a trained and experienced PHYSICIST.
Who will begin his preparatory work im
nediately and will carry 0n his WORK ou
he ground al proper times
Prof White ia recent letter advises "a
preliminary series OF temperature Obscrya-
ions when the well shall have acquired %
epth of 800 feet, SO that some resu.tat
east may be secured before The depth has
,ecome such as 10 seriously increase the
anger OF accident in boring lu this view
Oncur. adding the consideration that It is
possible that water may be- encountered at
ONE point below, aud thc work of temper
ture measurement thus complicated VIII
ou have the kindness 20 communicate the
,rogress Of the work. $50 that Dr llaIloCE
nav know when it will bc necessary FOR
i'm 10 start Meanwhile be- is preparing
Instruments and apparatus
Prof White has already communicated
o YOU our willingness 'o cOn'r. butte toward
he cxponse Of deepening the well
Again cOncratula'lng YOU and your col.
eagues upon the spirit Of iiDculitY which
eads YOU 10 dedicate the well t0 science.
] remain. yours with respect
j. ". POWELL, Director.