Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-03-02
The Magnetic Well Success, and the
Desired Water Secured.

| During the past two weeks Mr.. Mason
and his men have been busily at work at
the artesian well of the Alpena Magnetic
Sulphur Spring Co., endeavoring to locate
that part Of the we'll where the magnetic
water is, and to shut off from IL the other
streams above it, A number Of expert
ments were made. One consisted in sink
ing in the we'll two-inch iron pipe to the
bottom, distance Of 1,267 feet. At 036
feet from the surface-at the place where
the diameter was reduced to five inches
there is shoulder nine-sixteenths OF an
inch thick. On that shoulder projec-
ton, placed on the two-inch pipe, rested
and shut off all the upper streams. 1t
was then discovered that below 936 feet
there was not flow enough to forco water
from the bottom of the we'll up the two
inch pipe. The water at the bottom Of
the well was afterwards found to be worry
heavy with salt, and being weighed prov
ed be one and a half pounds to the gallon
heavier than the water at the surface.
No effort was made to pump the heavy
water out, so as to make passage for
the flowing streams below 036 feet, IL
there were any.
A second important test was made last
Thursday. The two-inch pipe was let
down to the bottom. The streams re-
ported struck at 500, 500 and COS feet
were not shut off. On the six-lnch iron
pipe which extended into the we'll to q
distance OF 5SS feet, on hydrant was So
cured, and in the side above ground was
an outlet with valve to let the water out
or conflne 1t, as desired. The two-inch
pipe extended through the top Of the ny
drant. The water from the streams be-
low 58S feet could thus be prevented from
flowing out of the slx-inch pipe, and made
to descend to the bottom Of the well, and
then come up the two-inch pipe. 1t would
thus mix with any mineral water on its
passage down. When the apparatus wac
all ready the plug was removed from the
two-inch pipe, but no water flowed out
One OF the city steam fire engines was
then brought to the we'll and by means Of
hose, water at a high pressure was forced
down the two-inch pipe. This water
won't down to tho bottom Of the well and
came up outside the two-inch pipe. The
result was startling surprise. Not only
was salty water brought up In the big
flow, mingled with the magnetic and sui
phur water, but also considerable quaint
ity OF petroleum. The latter was big
surprise, as no one expected oil to come
out Of the we'll.
When the fire hose was removed from |
the two-inch pipe, heavy flow Of water
began to come out Of the pipe, and this
water was strongly tinctured with the
magnetic quality desired, 1t, however,
had too much fresh water mixed with 1t,
and further tests had to be made.
The third important test was made
Monday. A seed bag was fastened on
the two-inch pipe 80 that it would close
the we'll at depth Of 671 feet, and few
feet below the seed bag the two-inch pipe
was perforated 80 as to allow water to
enter. All the streams, that were known,
were now shut off, as the last one noticed
and reported by the well drillers was at
Cos feet. The pipe extended to the bottom
Of the WE'LL but was closed at the end 80
that the salt water could not enter.
The result was another surprise, as a
strong stream Of water came out Of the