The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-12-22

SlrADle IN tle case OF t0WnS ana CLUES,
or for manufacturing purposes, More
over, where the expense Of sinking the
we'll is great, either because of depth or
any other reason, 1t may be advisable,
even in the country, for a number to
combine for that purpose, but with the
cheaper method now employed it is by no
means aa necessary as formerly.
9. By checking the flow Of wells when
the water is not needed. There is a
common impression that this is danger
ous to the life Of a well. and there is
some reason for this. Cases might be
mentioned where wells have been played
with by suddenly shutting and opening
them and they have very frequently been
shortlived. Such treatment, like the let
ting out the dam of stream, is apt to
produce great disturbance Of the mat
er:al about the lower end Of the pipe. In
some cases large quantities Of sand and
gravel have been discharged and eventn-
ally there has apparently been 8 caving in
which has sometimes suddenly choked
the pipe or caused its collapse by bending
or perhaps in some cases the connection
of the subterranean waters with a higher
sand stratum containing water at lower
pressure, which has conducted them
away so as to prevent their appearing at
the surface. But wells have often been
temporarily closed for taking pressures,
or for connecting with city mains, or
water wheels, and have yerY5rarely been
injured to any appreciable extent.
II we'll is closed suddenly when run
ming sand, OF course all the sand sus-
pended in the pipe at the time settles to
the bottom Of the pipe and forms a sand
plug, which il fully settled has Its grains
so braced and interlocked that a strong
pressure can not start it. Such calam-
ity may be- avoided hy closing the flow
very gradually, At first the sand will
cease to appear and though we may sup.
pose that coarser grains may be suspend
cd In the water towards the bottom just
A as we have often seen in spsings. yet II
is not often the case that this is abunc.
ant enough to stop the pipe, and should
4 sucil results occur IL may be loDsened ty
lowering an iron rod in tile pipe. In
I our recommendation however, Wa do moi
comtemp plate the complete shutting off q
Z the we'll, but simply reduction Of tb.
flow.
We are pleased to find our views COR
]; roborated by the experience Of Mr.. II. +
Hunter. He thus writes OF his large vel
near Mellette, which has been running
many years and successfully used fo
! irrigation. He says:
: Il would not advise shutting Artesial
s wells off entirely. i would be afraid O
D sediment settling IN the pipe aud th
well closing up entirely, The way
handle my vel on the farm is to close
! down very slowly during the winte
months when We do not irrigate, Leaving
the. flow about equal to q one.inch pipe
= |Int the spring when wsopen IT up ngai1
: We do it very slowly, taking several day
: time. The water is liable to be q littl
sandy It opened tco rapidly. ! lthinkan
2 we'll should be regulated 30 that th
7 water runs clear. II it Is allowed 4
4 throw sand 1t Is bound to makaa cavit
y at the bottom OF the well, and this
liable to cave IN and cause trouble.
think any we'll will last longer and, a