The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-08-02
THE SUMTER GOLD
MINES.

CGnteF corFespoouentre reports, Is acth0r.
lty for the statement of thee curious fact
that the water level 10 the wells from
which the water supply is obtained
"has risen more than two feet withia
the past month" +" 10 face Of the long
continued drought and defciens rainfall
Of the past three months
The wells, it is explained, ere eigb.
in aun Der, aud each is six iache; il
diameter and about forty feet deep.
''The water rises ordinarily to withio
eight fees CT tie surface of the gror1c,
md the supply is ioexhaustibIe." :" Oo
one occasion half million gallons were
pumped from these wells within twenty.
four hours, Sishous appreciable effect
on the supply, and without lowering
the water more than few inches at
any eims, although the pumps we're
driven at utmost speed. "In addition
to the abundant supply, the water is as
nearly chemically and absolutely pure
as can be found anywhere !"
The description Of the quality sud
supply Of The water strongly indicates,
Of course. that il is Of ar:esiau origin !;
but this 3oeo not explain the strap .e
behavior of the water in rising two
feet. in time of drought. Even if it
De assumed that the supply is drawn
from the hill aud mountain regions
hcrth and northwest Of Sumter, and
that its source is, therefore, far from the
wells, the drought has been as severe
and as long continued in those regions,
We believe. as about Sumter, and the
question remains. where does the extra
supply come from +? The answer would
not be made any the easier by assuming
that the wells penetrated subterrapean
lake or pond, unless it be further
assumed that some kind Of slow seismic
disturbance is producing az upward
pressure Of the bottom of tie cistern,
and We hesitate to make such an explana-
tion lightly. We cannot account for the
phenomenon, 10 short, and chee1fully
pass it 90 to more imaginative OF less
reserved scientists.
Besides. the scientific aspect of the
situation is Of mere secondary conse-
quence. We are nore interested 10 the
practical one, sod the practical one is
that the town of Sumter is certainly to
be congratulated on having such wells
at its command. An inezhaustible
supply Of absolutely pure" water,
obtainable by boring few wells, ooly
40 feet, or less in depth is an iuesti-
mable treasure for any community in
the country, even ii the water be en-
ployed only for the ordipary purposes
Of the community. Philadelphia or
New York, or any other large city in
the country would gladly pay several
million dollars for such supply at its
doors, and Sumter Gao, therefore,
reckon its wealth as enhanced by go
much.
The supply, if really OF practically
"inexhaustible," >" however, is worth
far more to the community whion
possesses it than is represented by its
value for domestic and strictly muoici-
pal uses alone. River water sad plenty
Of it is an essential! cf many kiuds CT
manufacturing processes, as the bleach
inp Of cotton cloth. the making CT
starch, fer instance, and With such
water obtaiaable from depth Of oHiy
six or eight feet or q little more. Sum
ter should be able to Induce tie estab-
!isonent of large aud important bleach
cries, starch factories, e:c, etc !,
w;shia its territory withou: difficulty os
delay Aud Is should oe able to &c
eveu ulorc taaD that.
The command Of ready and abua-
dant supply of water. CT good quality,
and cheaply obsaioaole by mea0s Of
punpiog plants, is 40 Invaluable
adjunct .o farming aad fruit growing
operations. IL makes the community
which is SO favored independent Ct
droughts and deficient !aiDfaiis as far
as the supply can be employed Tor
irrigat!ag purposes, and it ca be en-
pIoyed, as has beer proved by sgrical-
tur;sts in Other parts Of tie country &C
billy s0d Level lands alike If the
people CT Sumter toWo, therefore, will
sink more wells and train the water
from them over their fields aad orchards
and meadows. they will make the
eavirons Of tie town no. only "to
blossom like rose," but to fruit like a
lie Conte pear tree, or Carter's oats, aud
viii make their owu home the garden
spot CT the State 10 few years, AID if
the same conditions exist throughout
the county that exist 10 or near the
town 10 respect Of so free water supply,
the county can be made to share the
happy estate of the town.
Shallow ineybaustihie wells OF good