Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-08-19
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
Straight to the Point.

FRosTBURG, Nh, August II, 1899.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
An outrage that would not be permit
ted in any other town of the size of this
is about to be perpetrated by the Water
committee boring the new arteslan
we'll at the new reservoir, instead of
at the head of the hollow where the
Curry well was started.
The facts in the case are these:
|, A well, drilled at the new reser-
voir, cannot possibly strike anything
but sulphur water, as it goes directly
into the lower coal measures, con
sisting of alternate strata of shale. coal
and ireclay. for depth of at least 800
feet before reaching the cOnglomerate
rock, where the biologists say we will
get pure sandstone water.
This is the opinion of Prof. Rowe,
of the State Geological Survey, a gen
tleman who has spent two or three
years in this section studying the lower
coal measures, and who went over the
ground carefully last summer at the
Mayors request, and made Il report to
the Council, accompanied by section
map of the mountain. His judgement
IL pIoNtN Col ltNl ny lut Nv vi NlA
wells of the old water company, which
have all been drilled into the lower
coal measures and eCe,yOne of which
runs sulphur water.
If the drill is put down at the head
of the hollow, where the Curry well is
already down 236 feet, (and could be
continued deeper by the present con
tractor at Il very great saving of time
and work, it will strike the conglOm-
crate rock, in the lower portions Of
which the biologists unite in saying
we will get a flow of good, pure sand
stone water, similar to If not the same
quality we now pump over the mount
ain. The cost of 800 feet Of dead work
through the coal measures at s. - per
foot is big price for the town to pay
merely to avoid taking the advice"
of men who make this and kindred
subjects a special study.
1t is urged against against the Curry
location that the Borden Mining com
pany will charge $500 per year for the
privilege of drilling there, and that
we can drill free of that charge at the
reservoir. In other words, dirty
mineral water is cheaper than pure
water; hence. our Water committee
decides in favor of the dirty water for
other people to drink. We are now
paying 1928 per month to pump pure
water over the mountain which Cum
berland would be glad to get at any
price. Can we not better afford 500
per year to get such water from well
into the conglomerate rock than to get
impure water from the Goals and fire
clays for nothing Would not our
savings on water be apt to go for
doctors bills and undertakers' fees
Again, if we put II well at the new
reservoir and do not run any pipe to
the Curry well, where will its ~ 900
gallons daily go, and who will get the
benefit of the flow that is now running
into the old reservoir Does any
member of the Water committee take
water from that source If so, how
many and why9
The cheapest and best way to get
good water into the tOtcns supply is to
continue the Curry well down, cement
off the small flow of sulphur water now
mixed with it, and then pipe 1t 10 our
OtcH reservoir.
a public Indignation meeting by
thinking taxpayers will secure this
desirable end.
Talking after the we'll is drilled in
the wrong place will not he p the mat
ter any more than it does in the case
of ashes placed on our main street.
q. q. TOWNSEND.