The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-30
ARTESIAN WELLS.
The Chances OF Striking Water in
Any Given Place.

A subject on which there is still a large
amount OF pisconception is that OF ar
tesian or flowing wells. Usually, as we
perforate the crust Of the earth, we find
water at no great depth, but generally
the water viii rise only 10 a certain
hight in the wei, which is known as the
water line. This line may vary in wet
or dry weather. or on higl or low ground,
and In the same locality water is some
times found only at surprising depths,
while near by it may be found much
nearer the surface. But there are locali-
ties in almost every country where a per-
foration down the rocks is followed by
an overlooking fountain Of water, some
times, as IN some portions of the West,
With force enough TO operate machinery.
This outflow can only be accomplished
py some kind Of pressure. There is gen
orally higher head" that is, the source
Of supply has some higher altitude. and
while this may be many miles away, the
water has found open material or favor
ing crevices under a more compact
stratum 10 serve as cOnduits, and, when
this compact cover is penetrated, the
water VIII rise TO a height corresponding
with its source, and with a force light
or heavy, corresponding with its pressure
Such is the usual condition that sustains
a well Of this kind, but there are also
others. A natural gas pressure may at
some point be exerted against column
OF water, which. when exit is furnished
Will then gush forth. Then, again, there are
evidences Of sufficient surface pressure
70 force the water 10 and over the sur
foundings when vent is offered
The phenomenon Of gushing forth Is
sometimes encountered In unexpected
places. In the small town Of North Lima
ten miles south OF Youngstown. o., an or
binary well was dug some years ago, and,
at a depth Of less than thirty feet,
stream was encountered that filled the
neaFlV Il
could be drawn up, the overflow issuing
forth in a fair-sized brook. Alarm was
taken, the excavation hurriedly
filled with stones and dirt, and the flow
was shut off, In the county of Williams,
IN the northwest corner Of Ohio, flowing
wells can be secured in many localities
by simply driving a pipe, often 10 a depth
OF only twenty feet.
Hardin county, In the same state, also
has districts where the water will over
flow, and both the counties mentioned are
rather fiat. a most remarkable geyser
was struck at Belle PLANE in the south
west corner Of Benton county, Iowa, some
years ago. and such was the volume Of
water that shot forth and impelled with
such terrific force that engineers from
Chicago were employed to devise a
method 10 get it under control All flow
ing oil wells are such by reason Of gas
pressure, and as the pressure diminishes
the flow abates.
where an artesian flow may be met with,
st is not so hard to determine where such
a flow would be impossible. Probably
twenty years ago the commissioners of
Allen county. Indiana, concluded to have
an artesian well in the court house yard
at Fl. Wayne. Pole tools We're secured
for drilling and by the most tedious
method a hole was made over 1900 feet
deep. Water Of a most villianous smell
was struck at a depth Of forty feet, and
was there all through the progress Of the
work. and Is still there. The remarkable
feature Of the case is that the city men
toned is right on the divide between the
great lakes and the Mississippi basin, and
hence called Summit City.
Yet here. with nothing higher for thou
sands Of miles in any direction, a perfOra-
ton was made 1900 feet deep in the hope
of securing an overflow against every law
known TO hydraulics. For years the
water was scorned, having a flavor as OF
decayed eggs, but at length. when an
analysis was made, 1t was declared on
high authority 20 possess extraordinary
medical virtues. and such was the pres
sure for the once despised fluid that
fountain. operated by steam power, was
established to accommodate the public.
No artesian well can be possible in such
Iocalities-Pittsburg Dispatch.