The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-11-23

SlIBTERRANEAN RIVER
Large One in Kentucky Explored and
Utilized by a Farmer.
A LARGE CAVERN DISCOVERED
Wonders of Mother Earth as Revealed
Below the Surface.
Wonders of Mother Earth as Revealed
Below the Surface.
Pumped From the Marvellous Depths
by Hydraulic Rams for Domes-
tic Purposes.

Princeton, KY, Corr. -Four years ago
there was trying drought in the vicin-
ity OF Princeton, 150 miles southwest of
Louisville. Vegetation was suffering,
and the farmers had to drive their cat
tie several miles to water at the famous
Cave spring. This spring breaks out in
the very heart of the town and supplies
an abundance of excellent water. The
opening through which it flows is four
feet high by three feet wide, and leads
into long, narrow cavern, often trav-
ersed for distance of half mile by adj
venturous young men.
About this distance from the spring
and near the college buildings there was
sink-hole communicating with the
cavern and affording ready if some
what rough means of ingress and egress.
Beyond this point the cavern had not
been explored, and no one knew the
course taken by the water above the
sink-hole. The ground begins to rise
here and slopes gradually upwards for
half or three quarters of mile. On the
slope toward the town Mr.. P. H. Darby,
owned a beautiful home surrounded by
extensive lawns, gardens, etc, which
were suffering for lack of water. After
considering the matter he concluded from
the general direction of the stream from
the spring to the sinkhole it was prob
able that it passed near his house,
certainly through his land.
With couple of negroes, small boat,
lanterns and a compass and chain, he
made survey of the cavern and the
stream from the sink-hole towards his
house, which was distant about quar-
ter of mile. He ascertained that the
stream did flow from his house, and fur
thermore that at point which he sup
posed was within fifty yards of his
house, the cavern opened into quite
large chamber, at the upper end of
which was a waterfall. He then re-
traced his steps and made the sink-hole
landing in safety. Surveying then on
the surface with the courses and dis
| tances found by the underground sur
vey, he ran the line and put down the
final stake within fifty yards of the
house.
| There was a slight depression of the
! ground at the last stake, such as is fire.
quently observed in limestone. districts,
but no seeming communication with the
cavern. He decided to drill through the
stone, being assured of the accuracy of
his survey, and never doubling but that
he would break through into the subter-
ranean chamber. There was no telling
how far he would have to go, for he had
taken no levels. However, at it he
went, and kept a man busily drilling
and blasting for two or three weeks,
much to the amusement of some of the
neighbors. He struck the chamber at
a depth of twenty feet, and there was
great joy, for even in Kentucky water is
used for domestic purposes, such as
cooking, cleansing and watering the gar
dens and the stock. He built dam in
the chamber and now two hydraulic
rams force the water wherever needed.
Over the entrance he built conserva-
| tory and it is said that even during the
severest winters all kinds of flowers
thrive to excellent advantage. The cul-
! tivation of mushrooms in the cave was
also begun.