The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-26
THE DEEPEST HOLE IN III EARTH
Observations of Temperature at
Depths of More Than a Mile.
From the Neto York Sun

OpSerVauopS OF temperature at
Depths of More Than Mile.
From the Neto York Sun.
Although mountains and cliffs have Indi-
Gated 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 geol-
ogists and scientists have desired borincs
are limited, of course. by natural obstacles,
like exceedingly hard formations, and by
the expense, unless the purpose be 30 ascer-
tain the location Of minerals worth mining
or get a supply Of water as in artesian
wells. Holes for geological research need
not be very large, but they must be very
deep, and it is natural to suppose that in
terest has been excited by the reports of
observations In the deepest hole In the
world
The hole is at Schladebach, near Ketschan,
Germany. 1t is 5,735 feet In depth and is
for geological researches solely. Boring
was begun in 1880 under the direction of the
royal mines com mission of Russia The work
was carried on under great difficulties, and
the accidents and delays would have dis
Outraged the engineers if it had been
private enterprise, but it being state work
the obstacles were overcome, notwithstand-
ing the expense, and the boring was con-
tinued for six years at cost Of more than
$50 900. At the depth OF 5,735 feet, how
ever, the engineers had SO many mishaps
that 1t was evident that for while aud
until the ingenuity of man could devise
better means operations would have to be
discontinued. Progress was slow and the
expenses had increased beyond expectation.
The drills we're Withdrawn and the Their
mometrio measurements were continued
down to the lowest depth.
The initial diameter Of the hole is 1l.2
inches. The first drilling apparatus was of
the drop-tool form. and casing was sent
down as che drilling progressed. at depth
Of 1877 feet the casing Of that size would not
90 any further and the drilling was contin-
ued without it, Subsequently casing 90
inches in diameter had to be used through
a layer Of loose material, beyond depth Of
574 feet the boring was continued by means
of a diamond drill S.4 inches In diameter,
that cut bore 515 inches In diameter. The
size of the hole had to be decreased grad
ually as the depth increased. At depth Of
$50 feet the diameter was 1.62 inches, and
at 5, 665 feet and beyond it was 1.63 inches.
Owing to two long Interruptions and other
delays, the average daily rate Of boring was
about f. SO feet
The thermometric measurements were
begun after depth Of 3,036 feet had been
marked, aud were repeated at every hum
ered feet. The latest observations have
been noted with great care aud during oon-
siderable periods Of time The thermome-
ters were fixed in watsr chamber that
was inclossd in a wrought-iron casing to
preyent breakage of the instruments under
the pressure at the great depths, water
being used 20 clear out the hole.
Three thermometers we're used for each
reading and the mean of their indications
was taken as the result Of the measurement.
For each observation the thermometers
were left in the hole about sixteen hours.
The observations showed that the temporal
ure increased regularly and constantly with
German method Of reading, the temperature
at 5. 62S feet was As. Sc r. 1888 Fahr.) and
that the increase was 10 R. for every 1909
meters about ISL feet.