Evening star., 1897-04-27

Va. The conditions surrounding 1t and
the ore on Peters creek are practically
service maxfmum Thermometers were used.
and no especial precaution was needed to
prevent circulation OF the air. The ther-
mometers were lowered and raised and the
depths were measured by steel wire. The
upper parts of the wells have steel castings
or lining extending to depth of 500 feet
or more. The rest of the well Is In shale.
at a depth Of 5000 feet. In the Pittsburg
well gas was discovered at a depth OF 2.285
feet in sufficient quantity to operate the
tWenty-horse-power engines which operate
the boring cable. I found that the tenn
perature rose degree in 80 or 80 feet near
the top. while the increase got as high as
degree In 50 feet near the bottom. In
asmuch as we penetrated some 3. TOO below
sea level, it seemed worth while to attempt
barometer readings, but the instruments
used proved i'll adapted to the work. and
the results were unsatisfactory. Samples
of air were also taken from the bottom.
but they have not yet been analyzed. The
Thermometers used were incfosed in heavy.
sealed glass tubes to protect them from
pressure and were operated in pairs. The
two always agreed to within degrees
minutes Fahr. Two thermometers SWere
placed In an iron bucket three feet Tong
and three inches in diameter. on the end
OF the wire. and two were in an open wire
frame. 26O feet from the end of the wire.
fhe temperatures at depths of 100. 200 and
300 feet were determined with other ther-
mometers lowered into the well.
OF Scientific Interest.
''The probable condition of the interior
Of the earth Is a question which has at
tracted much attention in the scientific
world. The British association has seized
every opportunity for investigation in Eu-
rope. and the temperatures of several
deep wells have been taken. The investi-
cations of MIR. e. bunker of Halle. Ger
many. In regard to the Sperenberg well,
not far from Berlin, were of marked scien-
tif1c value. So also were his observations
at Schladabach. near Leipzig. These wells
are both full Of water. which interferes
somewhat with the Investigations. Never
theless, the results. as already pointed out,
are definite. Our own dry wells however
offer better facilities for scientific investi-
cation, and the Measurement of tempera-
ture is being watched with interest by
our scientists. AT present the outcome
Of the investigation is purely scientific, but
it has its practical aspects, in view of
the economic condition which will exist If
a way is invented to utilize the inclosed
heat. 1t Is certainly Only question of
digging deep enough and of raising the
heated water to the surface.
THE well on Peters creek is being dug
on the American plan, which is to raise
heavy drill on a derrick cable and to
hoist 1t up and down after the method
of a pile driver. The constant blows OIL
the rock cause the drill to sink gradually
through 1t. In Europe diamond drills are
used. Ordinary black diamonds are set in
the end of a steel bar: the latter is turned
around constantly. the diamonds cutting
their way into the rock beneath. The
latter way is more expensive in the mat
ter of Tools
Prof Hallock is making his investigations
at the instance of the United States geo.
logical survey, which is at the present
time making every effort to determine just
what lies under the United States His
nf
search which will undoubtedly henceforth
engross the attention of our scientists The
earth. through its products, has been in
directly harnessed before, but here is
scheme to capture it's internal fires and
cause them to furnish the power with
which to run our factories, light our houses
and warm our dwellings
THEODORE WATERS.