The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-03
4 BREATHING WE'LL IN KANSAS.


Scientific Observations Prnvss II to he :
Biaw barometer.
For Q number Of yesrs Mr.. II. i. Smith.
Of Winona, has noticed shat two wells
there blow ont ais 81 times and draw u IN
AZ othsr times, says 6cisnes. He has also
noticed . oloss osnnsction between their
actioa and ths wssthsS. One we'll he has
noticed more especially, and became 90
attained that ths movement Of air was con-
nsctsd with the stats Of the atmosphere
tina he called ~ + natural barometer. Ho
Wal very anxious that the we'll should DO
observed By soms scientific man with ths
necessary Instruments. IN aneroid baron-
With vii II Il. s sane s tim. s.o ardI o0i she ssss.
of the veil. His observations indicated
quite clearly that the movement Of the air
IN . out OF the well was dependent on
the pressure OF the atmosphers. A. she
case seemed interesting. the writer visited
the we'll. taking with him m sxosllsnt
msrourIal barometer and such other appar-
atus 40 seemed likely TO be useful.
The we'll WAS found to be q bored one.
cased with lumber. II was about eight
inches in diameter. Water y reached ~
ticular we'll has been drilled much deeper.
This fact has no influence on the blowing
Of air. however. 90 other wells in the vioin-
ity not over 1856 fest deep show the same
phenomenon. The we'll II abandoned now,
On aocount Of msehinery having been lost
On reaching tho well, the writer Arst
sealed the top BY msans Of mortar and
plaster OF paris, air tight. inserting q one.
quaytsr-inoh brass tube to connect she we'll
With : gaugs. The gauge consisted ora
simple U-tubs q olaas. bent 20 that IN Two
tube and for several inches up was filled
with water, and = scale behind the glass
tubes measured any difference in height be-
tween the two columns Of water. On con-
Meeting this gauge with tho we'll. II air had
S been A. ol EWING on ~ ~, Mhi s.ns, .ns vs. .s. ns. - req
outer limb rose above that In the inner.
II, on the contrary. air was being drawn
into the well. on attaching the gauge, the
water would stand higher in the inner
limb.
The observations made showed sonelu-
tionary, II tho barometer fell the air Of
the we'll at once exerted . pressure out
ward, % shown In the water gauge. Should
the barometer b remain stationary the
tension Of the air Of the we'll became grad
ually less until equilibrium was again e.
gauge the evidence WAS conclusive that the
tension was relieved by tbs escape OF air
from other openings. probably n~eiRhboring
wells. Equilibrium being established,
0hO0lQ on0 Tlb0s t0O gauge showed
that the tension of the air of the we'll was
less than that Of the atmosphere. and this
inequality was corrected by an inflow Of
air. II, sitter . fall Of the barometer, q
rise should snsus before equilibrium was
established, the gauge would still show q
greater internal tension. The we'll was
therefore less delicate than the barometer,
because Of tho interval of time required for
the necessary movement Of the air. After
! suddsn and considerable change of tho
barometer . strong movement Of or from
the we'll would be caused, and this move
ment would continue for some hours. even
though the. barometer might be returning
to It's original height.
These wells deubtlsss taps subtsrranean
reservoir Of afr. probably filling the inter-
sticss OF sand or gravel beds. When the
pressure Of the external air 10 diminished
some OF this imprisoned air escapes, and
the greater the fall Of the barometer the
greater the force with which the air ia ex-
PEELED. My friend MI. smith utilized this
air-currsnt TO blow q whistle, which could
be heard all over the town. warning the in
habitants of a possible storm. With a ris-
ing barometer. caused by tho increase in
the pressure of the air. air would be forced
back into the subterranean reese voir. Mr..
Smith tells me that while the air ia gong
into the we'll the water recsdes q certain
amount. and that when the air is blowing
out it can be heard bubbling through the
water.