Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-10-08
DEEPEST HOLE
Science Sinks q Shaft More ~
Into the Earth.

Although mountains and cliffs have
indicated the formation of projections
of the earth's crust, and mines have
shown to some extent the formation
under ground. the very deepest mines
have not permitted the extensive and
minute researches that g~eologists and
scientists have desired. BorIngs are
limited, of course, by natural obsta-
Giles, like exceedingly hard formations,
and by the expense, unless the pur-
pose be to ascertain the location of
minerals worth mining, or get a sup
ply of water, as in artesian wells.
Holes for geological research need not
be very large, says the n. Y. Sun, but
they must be very deep, and II is nat
ural TO suppose that interest has been
excited by the reports of observations
in the deepest hole i'm the world.
The hole is at Schladebach, near
Ketchan, Germany. Ii is 5,T35 feet in
depth, and is for geological research
solely. Boring was begun in 1880 un-
der the direction of the royal mines
commission of Prussia. The work
was carried on under great difficulties.
and the accidents and delays would
have discouraged the engineers il it
had been a private enterprise, but it
being n state work the obstacles were
| overcome, Notwithstanding the ex-'
pense. and the boring was continued
for six years at a cost of more than
s53, 200. At the depth Of 5,735 feet
however, the engineers had SO many
mishaps that il was evident that for q
while and until the ingenuity of man
could devise better means operations
would have to be discontinued. Prog
ress was slow and the expenses bad in-
creased beyond expectation. The
drills were withdrawn and the Their
mometric measurements were contin-
ued down TO the lowest depth.
The initial diameter of the hole is
l1.2 inches. The first drilling appar-
atus was Of the drop-tool form, and q
casing was sent down az the drilling
progressed. At a depth of 1877 feet the
casing Of that size would not 90 any
further and the drilling was continued
without it. Subsequently a casing go
inches in diameter had TO be used
through n LAYER of loose material. Be-
yond a depth Of 574 feet the boring
was continued by means of a diamond
drill ga inches in diameter, that cut q
core 5 1-2 inches In diameter. The
size OF the hole had TO be decreased
gradually as the depth increased. At
q depth Of $3.50 feet the diameter was
l.62 inches and ut 5.655 feet and be-
yond it was 1872 inches. Owing to
two long interruptions and other de-
lays the average daily rate of boring
was about 4.59 feet.
The thermometric measurements
were begun after a depth of 1886 feet
had been marked, and we're repeated
at every 100 feet. The latest observa-
tions have been noted with great care
and during considerable periods of
time. The thermometers were fixed
in a water chamber that was inclosed
In a wrought-iron casing to prevent
breakage of the instruments under the
pressure at the great depths, water be-
Ing used to clear out the hole. Three
thermometers were used for each read
ing, and the mean of their indications
was taken as the result of the meas.
urement. For each observation the
thermometers were left in the hole
about sixteen hours. The observa-
lions showed that the temperature in
creased regularly and constantly with
he increase of depth. According to
The German method of reading the
temperature at 5,62S feet was 45.3 de-
grees Reaumur (l33.9 degrees Fahren-
heit), and the increase was ] degree
Reaumur for every 46. 90 meters (about
!.tol feet0,