The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-03-23
M. L. BRANDT WRITES.
Thinks the City Wells are in
Danger.
Says They May Become as Great a
Curse 10 the City as They are a
Blessing.

Geo. NJ. Palmer has contracted
with Windmiller & Son to repair the
big mill artesian wells, work to
begin in about two weeks, or as soon as
the machinery can be brought from
Butterfeld, where the firm is at work
on we'll for the Omaha road. The
firm has gone down $50 feet with no
sign of water. For 1870 feet the drill
went through jasper, and now it is in
still harder rock, and the job will pro-
badly have to be abandoned.
Mr.. Palmer has received the follow
ing letter from M. l.. Brandt, who put
down the artesian wells in this city.
1t is so important that he has turned it
over to the city authorities.
Jennings, La March 6, 1900.
Hubbard Milling Co.,
Dear Sirs: This answer to your
favor of Feb. 22d has been delayed on
account of sick spell on my part.
81 am certain that the old well is ten
inches down to the rock and that the
pipe is standard gas pipe and had
a shoe made to fit the pipe
and the pipe was driven into the rock
about two feet, happened to hit the
most favorable locality on the face of
the bed rock in this well, better than
any of the subsequent wells. In the
rock, the we'll was scanned out to seven
inches to depth of $50 feet, and from
there down to the bottom is six inches.
"Now, when l attempted to'repair
this we'll and make it permanent job,
foolishly tried to initiate the gas and
oil well system of piping and packing,
as many others are doing today, when
the needs of an artesian we'll are as diff
ferent from the oil we'll or gas
well as day is from night. / then
found out by sad experience that the
lining of an artesian well must be
something permanent and indestruct-
able. In my attempt to repair this
we'll l seemed out hole to about
nine and one-half inches. trying to get
a shoulder to rest the packing on, but
found that my reamer would dodge in
to where the shale was washed out on
one side and leave the other siding
rock project, and the hole being left
crooked could not get resting place
for the bottom of the pipe, but it learned
me something, and is just as well for
you, as by this time the pipe would be
about gone.
"The new we'll for two pipes. the out
side one simply going to the rock, the
inside one going down about twenty
feet in the rock and is packed with rub
Der and is So casing and Al inch bore
in the rock constructed on the same
poll parrott principles of oil and gas
wells. Now as to the measurement of
these wells, no man can accurately
measure them in their present state of
destruction, as the pipes in some
places are gone and I think in others
are becoming dislocated.
when l repaired the fbreware
works we'll, used seed bag and hemp
packer and put it down about 100 feet,
but it was very unsatisfactory to me
and can with the experience of that job
do much better now, but that we'll is
safe and in permanent condition.
''The cause of this shrinkage in water
is obvious. The pipe being gone moth
ing to contain the water, it now passes
out in the different currents of water
and sand above the rock, and
if left in this condition will soon be an
uncomfortable water hole and will
probably cost you much money to stop.
l am fully satisfied that you do not
realize the perilous condition of the
wells. They can be made very easy to
be az great curse to you as they have
been a blessing, and I have warned you
before and you did not realize, and now
the critical time has come, but ex-
pected it at least two years ago.
''Now as to the Third street well, it
was never possible for me to make a
good joint at the race or the peo rocK
on account of boulders, and am
doubtful of its repair being possible.
I felt it my duty to go in and see the
city engineer and warn him as to the
condition of the city wells, as L
wanted them made permanent, as /
take a personal pride in all those
wells. as you all know the queer plight
you were in when had come to you.
l was talking to the engineer when Mr..
Halstead came in and said "our wells
are all right" That settled it and 1
had nothing more to say.
GAS I am exhausted and weak. l must
close and hope to hear from you and be
useful.
Yours respectfully,
M. L. BRANDT"