The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-09-17
DEEPEST EVER BORED.
A SHAFT SUNK MORE THAN
A MILE INTO THE EARTH.


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 biologists and
scientists have desired. Borings are
limited. OF course by natural obsta-,
cles like exceedingly hard forma-
tions. and by the expense unless the
purpose be to ascertain the location
OF minerals worth mining. or get
supply of water as in artesian wells.
Heles for geological research need not
be very large says the New York
Sum- but they must be- very deep and
1t is natural to suppose that interest
has been excited by the reports OF
observations in the deepest hole Ia
the world.
The hole is ut Schiadebach. near
Ketchan. Germany. 1t is 5. 1872 feet
In depth. and Is for geological re-
search solely. Boring was begun in
1880 under the direction OF the royal
mines commission OF Prussia The
work was carried on under great Diff
iiculties ard the accidents and delays
would have discouraged the engineers
II it had been a private enterprise,
but it being a state work the obstacles
were overcome Notwithstanding the
expense, and the boring was contin-
ued for six years at cost OF moro
than $j3. 600. At the depth OF .. 1872
feet however the engineers had so
many mishaps that it was evident that
for u while and until the ingenuity OF
man could devise better means opera
tions would have to be discontinued.
Progress was slow and the expenses
had increased beyond expectation.
The drills were withdrawn aud the
thermometric measurements were con-
tinued down to the lowest depth.
The initial diameter OF the hole is
l1.2 inches. The first drill ng appa-
ratus was OF the drop-tool form, and
a casing was sent down as the drilling
progressed. At depth OF 1877 feet
the casing OF that size would not go
any further and the drilling was con-
tinued without it. Subsequently a
casing 8. inches in diameter had to
be used through layer Of loose ma
terial. Beyond n depth Of 574 feet
the boring was continued by means Of
a diamond drill ga inches in dame
ter. that cut core 81 inches in dame
ter. The size OF the hole HAD to be
decreased gradually as the depth
increased. At depth OF s. $40 feet
the diameter was 1.62 inches and at
1865 feet and beyond it was 1872
inches Owing to two long inter-
ruptions and other delays the average
daily rate OF boring was A. so feet
The thermometric measurements
were began after depth OF 8. $50 feet
had been marked and were repeated
at every 100 feet The latest observa-
lions have been noted with great care
and during considerable periods of
time The thermometers were fixed
in water chamber that was inclosed
in wrought iron casing to prevent
breakage OF the instruments under
the pressure at the great depths water
being used to clear out the hole.
Three thermometers were used at each
reading. and the mean OF their indi-
cations was taken as the result of the
measurement For each observation
the thermometers were left in the hole
about sixteen hours. The observa-
tions showed that the temperature in
creased regularly and constantly with
the increase OF depth. According to
the German method of reading the
temperature at 5, 628 feet was As.
Reaumur )133. 8 degrees Fahrenheit).
and the increase was l degree for
every 46. % meters (about ISL feet).