The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-27
HIP. WassOn&CO.

crack would generally be found to exist in
all solid rocks at an insignificant uepth
beneath the earth s surface Consequently
in the Swedish rocks. he concluded that
water would be found by boring TO TINS
crack. The only places where there Was
any prospect of SUCH borlngS being uliueF-
taken were on out-of-the-way rocks ana
inlets, where water was so much needed.
In order to solve. the problem. Baron
Nordenskjold, as early as 1885, inquired re-
specting the sadness of water IN wells or
mines near the sea coast, and collected
that several wells, in sedimentary strata,
near the sea coast, yielded water free from
salt, although the springs are at depth or
100 to $50 feet below sea level. The informa-
ton he collected though far from conclu-
sive appeared to point to the fact that
water obtained by boring on rocky islands
would not be salt or bracktSh, put IreSn
Nordenskjold, therefore, proposed to the
chief of the pilot stations that he should
allow an attempt at boring TO be made at
some suitable station. The first boring
took place in 1891 on the little island OF
Svangen. south of Kosterfiorden. 1t was
abandoned after reaching a sufficient
depth because a long crack was reached
extending from the sea to the boring hole.
It was next taken up in May, 1891 by
Baron Ruth. the general director for
pilots, who. regardless of the unsuccessful
boring at SVangen, caused a second experi-
ment to be tried at Arko. The site selected
was a fat place near the pilot station. the
rock being composed of horblende, gneisS
and diorite. The results were very salts
hundred feet was reached they came to
excellent water. yielding 600 quarts an
hour At first the water was a little yell
low, owing to the clay in the cracks of the
rock, the stone dust and oil from the bor-
ing. but it soon became perfectly clear.
Water has always been found at a depth
of ninety to 125 feet and similar borings
have since been carried out successfully at
forty-four different places. At first the
water is mixed with the clay from the
cracks, the stone dust and the oil from
the machine, and it is some time before
all the dirty water is pumped away; but
soon ii becomes as clear as crystal. At
Stockholm it has a temperature Of about 43
degrees to As degrees Fahrenheit.
The boring in hard close rock would
probably have the same results in other
countries. BARON Nordenskjold is con-
WINGED that wherever hard, close rock ex-
lists, with variations in temperature and
not permeable, water will be found in the
same way as in Sweden and in the same
quantty--that is from 900 to 1000 quarts
an hour, with moderate pumping Sites
for such borings could be found for ex-
ample, on many parts of the north coast OF
Africa in Abyssinia, in South Africa, In
Spain and other parts of the western
Mediterranean, at the foot of Mount Sinai.
in Greece and Asia Minor, and in the dry
watersheds Of the canons Of the Colorado.
In the tropics, where there are dry sea-
sons, such wells cannot supply water for
extensive cultivation. But they will spring
forth, free from all bacteria and impurities,
and will suffice for household purposes,
for small villages and for gardens. The
practical Importance of Baron Nordensl5-
Jolds discovery entities it to special atten-
ton.