The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-23
DIGGING FOR WATER
A Gigantic Well Being
Constructed at the
Abbatoir.
A DEPTH OF 1000 FEET.
The Plunger Fast in the Hole and
May Not Be Extricated.

Twelve years ago the owners and oper
ators OF the abattoir at the foot OF Sixth
street. becoming aware that increasing
business would of a necessity demand in
creased facilities. began scurrying about
to prepare for such an emergency. All the
room that was desired was secured, and
the only difficulty seemingly that con-
fronted them was the inadequacy of the
water supply. Suggestions of varied de-
scriptions were offered, but the most
plausible seemed to be to drive a well. say
five hundred feet deep. and secure from
this source a bountiful supply. This
plan was adopted. An engineering CON-
pany offered for a consideration of a few
thousand dollars to sink q well deep
enough to give the supply needed. Ii the
scheme was q failure The company was to
be charged only for its outlay.
The WORK Was begun and the locality
chosen was just north of where the Sixth
street gas tanks stand, and which were
recently threatened by flames The we'll
wa driven 500 feet, but the supply was
insufficient. Down and down the well
was driven, until a depth of 1900 feet was
reached. The long looked for vein of
water had been struck. The officials of
s"N WV hopPIs eSAA tiO hACtuau
les elated over the fact tina their efforts
had been crowned with success. The well
was a grand success SO far rs the sufic-
iency of the supply was concerned, but
indescribable disappointment marked the
successful finding of such a vein of water,
when an analysis disclosed the fact that
Its properties were chiefly magnesium.
For som purposes this well would nave
been invaluable. To the abattoir people
II was valueless, as water containing UGH
large quantities of magnesium, instead of
fattening the bullocks. has a decided
tendency in the opposite direction. The
sunken well was abandoned, notwith-
standing the great outlay of money 1t had
necessitated.
Business at the abattoir increased.
improvements were made. The number
OF cattle pens were increased. The de-
iention quarters for cattle were en-
lsrged. Various schemes were put into
execution whereby every part of the
animals killed was used. The engine
erlng department of the abattoir was en-
larged. Extra large faucets were put in
the liz pens in which cattle are confined.
The faucets are usually turned on.
Large faucets in the sheep-pens were
constantly open, ana soou it became ar.
pareut that the supply given to the
peuned up cattle or the engines could
not do the WORT required OF them.
r e. The NEAT ~
To cap the climax Engineer Pete
Smith conceived the idea of
turing ice for use at the abattoir. So
matters continued until the abattoir
officials found themselves in a fine
dilemma. Two years ago engineers con-
traeted to sink a we'll near the engine
room at the abattoir. This room Is To-
Work was begun. The company drilled
60 the depth of one Thousand feet and
then abandoned the project, it havlug
happened that the plunger useu
became stuck In the rock. The
Company was never able to re.ease it.
Six months ago a geographical survey of
the bed of the river at about ten feet from
where the second we'll was sunk, was
made. A strata OF rock was discovered
which was covered by about ten feet Of
mud. This strata of rock was found to
extend from IL point lear Bedloe's Island,
following up the short front to the Pali-
sades. The strata is undoubtedly a part
and parcel Of the same upheaval that
created the picturesque Pa isades. Tx
perts s id the rock could be easily drilled
as strataS of it were of a clayey sub>t tnce.
Engineer Pete Smith wished to try his
hand at the matter and that privilege
was extended to him. A plunger. weigh
ing about W tons and built iu the sane
manne as plungers used on steam
pounuoiS. was uiaue. "A prOCectOrv pipe,
about 8 inches in diameter, was made. A
new engine for this specific work was
purchased and Smith began operations.
THE FINAL EFFORT.
The depot at this point Is about eight
feet, and tLen the muddy bed Of the river
is found. ihs plunger was 200 feet long
and constructed In sections so that
when 1t dropped III point struck tue
rock and Il second af.er the thee con-
nect1n1 sections came dc WIN witt q HING
carrying from three to five hnncred
pounds with it. ln this manner the work
was kept up. For four months mattels
have progressed steadily, and everyone
believed Smith has made n success OF it..
An immense iron rope was attached to the
plunger, and it lifted it uD and down. A
depth of 765 feet had bee attained ND to
last week, when one bright morning the
engine vas stopped suddenly, AMI the
wire cable attached to the ptunger fol-
lowed. Day and night Smith work ed to
release the plunger, bat as yet his efforts
save been without avail. The plunger. il
seven hundred feet In the rock, bnt
Superintendent Simeon Smith and the
engineer are confident that they will he
able to release it. 1hs intention of the
company is to sink the we'll 1900 teet. and
IL water Is not found at that point, the
scheme will be forever abHndt ned aud
the city asked TO extend another water
main to the works. Many large. manu-
featuring houses throughout the city are
driving wells with the hope OF securing a
good supply of water. The water being
used at present, owing to its filthy conul-
tion, has a tendency to ruin the engines
and boilers.
John ssSlack, treasurer of the Conduc-
tors Mui ual Beneit Association, in his
~semiannual report just issued states that
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