The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-02-04
AN UNDERGROUND STREAM.
A Daring Kentucky Farmer Who Found
water In m nrv small.

A Daring Kentucky Farmer Who Found
water In Dry Spoil.
Some years ago there was a trying
drought in the vicinity of Princeton,
Caldwell county, KY, one hundred and
fifty miles southwest of Louisville.
Vegetation was suffering, end the farm.
ers had to drive their cattle several
miles to water at the famous Cave
spring in Princeton. This spring breaks
out in the very heart of the town and
supplies an abundance of excellent
water for man and beast. The opening
through which it flows is four feet high
by three feet wide, and leads into
long, narrow cavern, often traversed
for a distance of half n mile by the more
adventurous of young men. About this
distance from the spring and near the
college buildings there was "sinlS-
hole" communicating with the cavern
and affording ready if somewhat
rough means of ingress and egress Be-
yond this point the cavern had not been
explored and no one knew the course
taken by the water above the sinkhole.
The ground begins to rise here and
slopes gradually upward for half or
three-quarters of mile. On the slope
toward the town p. H. Darby, now of
Louisville, KY, owned beautiful home
surrounded by extensive lawns, gar
dens, etc; which were suffering for
lack of water. After considering the
matter he concluded from the general
4, 8 Al.
to the sinkhole it was probable that it
passed near his house, certainly through
his land.
With couple of negroes, small
boat lanterns and q compass and chain,
he made u survey of the cavern and the
stream from the sinlShole toward his
house, which was distant about quar-
ter of a mile. He ascertained that the
stream did flow from his house, and
Furthermore that at point which he
supposed was within fifty yards of his
house the cavern opened into quite a
large chamber, at the upper end of
which was a waterfall. He then re-
traced his steps, or rather re-embarked
for the return trip, and made the sink
hole, landing in safety. Surveying then
on the surface with the courses and
distances found by the underground
survey he ran the last line and put
down the final stake within fifty yards
of the house. There was a slight de-
preston of the ground at the last stake,
such as is frequently observed in lime
stone districts but no seeming commu-
nication with the cavern. He decided
to drill through the stone, being as
sured of the accuracy of his survey and
never doubling but that he would
break through into the subterranean
chamber. There was no telling how
far he would have to go, for he had
taken no levels. However, at it he
went, and kept a man busily drilling
and blasting for two or three weeks,
much to the amusement of some of the
neighbors. He struck the cham ber at
depth of from fifteen to twenty feet,
and there was great joy, for even in
kentucky water is used for domestic
purposes, such as cooking, cleansing
and watering the gardens and the
stock. He built dam in the chamber
and now two hydraulic rams force the
water whithersoever he listeth. Over
the entrance he built a conservatory
and it is said that even during the
severest winters all kinds of flowers
thrive to excellent advantage. N. Y.
, Post.