Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-05-31
Tube Wells

toIlng was made hV the writer in 1850
on hi- lots IN block L. corner oi Wash
ingtOn and second streets. His faith
in the undertaking was based upon
the record Oi the spring, on the lot
now owned 10y Mr.. \. II. Chambers,
corner OF Fourth and Main streets,
which Is now covered 10y his brick
: building. 80 vigorous was the flow
from this vein, that it was discovered
the water would rise and flow over a
curling OF almost any height, and at
one of the periodical cleanings Of the
spring from the leaves and sediment
which accumulate in an open curb. il
was resolved to confinc the water and
see how high it would rise from the
force oi the natural fountain head.
Accordingly large barrel was inn
bedded over the vein, with a tight
head into which was screwed length
OF gas-pipe. 1t was found that the
water would flow over this at a height
OF II or IL feet, showing that the wa
ter came from a reservoir beneath the
hard-pan, supplied from a head much
higher than the level of the streets
and the location of the spring. No
effort was made, however, from the
time of this discovery till the year
named to turn these conditions to ac-
count.
But unfortunately for the project,
the want of practical knowledge and
modern appliances resulted in failure.
1t was before the oil wells in Pennsyl-
vania had opened up a means Of
puncturing the earth with expedition
and certainty. Only a general idea
existed i'll the little community OF the
way in which an occasional we'll was
sunk to obtain salt or mineral waters.
But this did not deter an effort, and
accordingly John l.. Clark, "the vii
lage blacksmith" was employed on the
unusual order OF constructing an anger
one hundred feet long to bore into the
earth. The only form that apparently
suggested itself to Mr.. Clark was a
cylinder about Is inches long with a
cutting tfange, or bit, and three
inches in diameter, the projected size
OF the we'll. This was attached to a
stout shank to which sections ten feet
long were to have been attached as
the work progressed. But alas! the
larger part of the auger" was never
used, for total penetration of twenty
feet was all that was achieved after a
fortnight's patient endeavor. Rocks
were encountered, for which no drills
were provided, the sides caved in, and
the well-diggers knew nothing of " cas-
ing" nor is it probable that suitable
pipe could have been obtained for the
purpose if they had known just what
was suitable for the purpose. Under
these circumstances, the project was
abandoned.
Several years later, the drive.wells
appeared in the East, and Mr.. E. T.
Young obtained one of these and drove
it on his premises adjoining the lot
where the former attempt had been
made. The early drive-wells" were
simply lengths of pipe attached to a
steel point resting in a socket. These
were driven in attached sections until
some indications of a flow were OBJ
tanned, when the pipe was withdrawn
far enough to release the point, and il
flow was not obtained q pump was
usually attached to raise the water.
1t is quite evident that this plan is
only feasible where the ground pre-
SCENTS no great obstacles in the way of
rocky formations, which can only be
passed by drill. Mr.. Young's well
was a partial success. He struck a
supply of brackish water, at mode
rate depth, but it had to be pumped
into the tank which still occupies a
place in the disused tower, and never
was of any practical benefit except for
affording limited supply of water that
was available for extinguishment OF
fires. Had either Of these first efforts
been prosecuted with the knowledge
and appliances now available, they
would doubtless have been successful,
and our present excellent water-sys-
tenn, with its lis pounds pressure for
fire purposes would probably have not
been realized.
The present tube wells are ten in
number. The first driven was the
Talcott we'll, in the rear of their
jewelry store on Main street. The
second was driven by T. NJ. Reed, on
the north side of his brick building,
corner of Sixth and Washington. The
third was at the new Springer mill at
the foot of Jefferson street. Then
followed in rapid succession O'Brien's
we'll, at the blacksmith shop, corner
OF Columbia and Third; Byrne's well
in the rear of his store on Fourth
street; Craig's, q block further East
Horr's, at his dock, near the draw
Noschka's, at his residence, corner OF
Fifth and Jefferson; Martenson's, on
Cherry and Fourth; and Mrs. Hale's
in the rear of Hale block on Fourth
street. All of these have an efficient
flow, except the Horr we'll, which i.
quite ample at the level OF the tide
flats, but has not, so far, risen to an
elevation that might adapt it for use.
| DRoCTH which rcOrches growing vegetation
tnht gold monometallism. Free and unliIn
lteu ram which swamps everything-that's sill
yer recommendation. beneficent proportiOn
OF siivery drops of moisture and golden RAYS OF
sunshine-that's bi-metallis ~ Post InfeIIi0ea
Ger.
Beautifully stated. And all tina,