The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-12-17
THE FOOLS WELL.
A Hole Nearly Four Thousand
Feet Deep.
Over Three Years Consumed IN Sinking IL
Said to BE the Deepest Well In
the World, Yet 1t Gives
No Water.

1cTniDS uOI d obs A<OdiSdho
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" well and is located at
the city insane asylum, in the south
western portion of the city. 1t was
ordered to be sunk by the county court
in 1886, 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 month 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 a penetration
of 40 feet, the work was abandoned at
a depth Of 3,843 is feet.
Various strata of rock and earth
were penetrated in the descent, and at
1,7OO feet granite was struck, which
should have precluded any hope OF
ever striking water, as it is we'll
huOWh BcOlOBlCdl AdCt tilbt WoeCA ooNo
not exist below the granite.
A stream of water was struck at q
depth of 1920 feet which rose to with
in 1877 feet Of the surface, but no
farther, as there seemed to be some
lateral outlet for the water. From
1,44S to 1856 feet below the surface
sulphur water was drawn, strongly i'm
prcgnated with sulphureted hydrogen
gas. A little distance below this a
vein of saline water was discovered of
BLUSH cast and containing Z per
cent. of salt. AS no tubing was used in
the well 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 8, 200 feet q 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 a 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 80 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. He reasoned that
the well 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 float in the
water and furnish the necessary resist
ance to overcome any excessive weight.
He accordingly procured stout poles
SO 1-3 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,s43 lis feet, compared
with the next deepest well in the world
that located at Pcsth, which is 3,18s
feet, shows difference in favor of the
st. Louis well of 661 is feet.
The next in depth Of St. Louis well.
is known as the Belcher well, located
at the Belcher sugar refinery. 1t wa
commenced in the spring Of 1S49 ant
prosecuted at intervals till March, 1855
when steady work was commenced an,
maintained for thirty-three months, an,
a flowing vein was struck at depth o
2,197 feet. While the vein was found u
be strong enough TO discharge seventy
five gallons per minute and raise tn
!, water seventy-fve feet above the sur
face, 1t was SO strongly impregnate
with sulphur as to be unfit for the pun
poses Of the refinery. The water wa
discovered to contain medical virtues
: and to this day is quite popular drin
!, with st. Louisans. This well is exceed
! ed in depth by the one at Pesth, hereto
J, fore mentioned, the La Chapelle well c
Paris, which has depth of 1850 feet
1t is interesting TO note in this COZ
nection that the Chinese and Egyptian
q were early acquainted with artesia
NJ wells, and that the Oldest known one
u Europe is at Lilliers, in Artois, whene
~ the name artesian is derived. Tn
70 well was sunk in 1925, but there is 4
"a record as to its depth. The Grenel
Ilc well Of Paris, while having depth {
III only 1,700 feet, is the most famous we
AZ Of Europe on account of its wonderf'
In flow of water. 1t is estimated to vie
s! $40 gallons of water minute and rail-
10 it thirty-two feet above the surface.
Owing 10 the improved machineI
used in driving artesian wells in the la
= few years they are becoming quite col
~ mon, but they rarely exceed depth
nv 1000 feet, and usually range from 500
90 800 feet. Louisville has one well of
~ depth Of 2,Os6 feet, and Chicago has Sc
nv eral ranging from TOO to 1900 feet. Ga
~, -, weston is just now engaged in sinking
20 we'll that gives promise Of attainir
-. some celebrity. A Milwaukee firm HI
~ a contract at the sum Of $4,000, and
~ has already attained depth Of 80
~ feet without having found water