The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-12

topography of the greater portion of
Wisconsin some ten thousand years ago.
The advance of the ice was not beyond
where the wells are located and when
the frozen moraine melted and perhaps
established itself farther to the north
there was great quantity of sand
left in the northeastern portion Of the
prairie. For miles beyond the moraine
there wac carried with the flowing water
a great amount of fine soil on which there
are now many prosperous farmers, for
this has proved to be one of the garden
spots. During recent years 1t has been
been found necessary to go deeper into
the earth for water on this terminal
moraine and this has brought about
the existence of the blowing wells.
WATER LOOKS AS IF LOILED.
The phenomena exhibited at these va
rious wells is quite unusual On the farm
of Steuber Bros. the water in the we'll
often looks as if greatly agitated, not
unlike kettle of the liquid when being
boiled. Often a draught can be felt at the
surface when the wind is being forced
outward and when a lantern is lowered
it fickers as if in a strong breeze and
sometimes is eXtinguished
The one on the farm of John Werlich
makes a distressing noise at times and
the sound can be plainly heard several
rods away. Unless the boards are fas-
tened down when placed upon the plat
form about the pump they keep up con-
tinual vibration and, like a restless
youth, are not able to maintain spec;-
fed position. The pieces of timber are
two inches in thickness and even their
weight is not sufficient to keep them in
position. There is a two-inch hole in
one of the boards, and when q hat IS
placed over the opening it is blown off
by the force of the escaping air.
The well on the farm of j. Mccoy
acts in a similar manner. At times the
current from below is so strong that the
three inch planks are moved away from
where they belong, and when small
aperture in one of the boards is covered
over with some light object it is blown
one side.
From the one on the farm of Edward
Werlich a curious sound always accom-
panies the air when it is being blown
out. The noise is not unlike that which
| might be produced by large stone bal
anced on a pivot and striking another
big rock. The noise is very peculiar and
: not found in other wells
| Blowing wells are also found on the
farms of Alexander Schlag, Herman
| Thoelka, Will Wigelow. George Keller
George and Edward Gatwinkfe, o. L.
| Young, Christian Croft, and others. These
| farms are located on a strip of land
about six miles long and about one mile
! Wide. The terminal moraine at this
| point lies in direction almost due north
and south near the Wisconsin river.
FREEZE TO GREAT DEPTH.
One of the interesting and natural char.
/ acteristics of these wells is that during
extreme cold weather it is almost impos-
| sible to prevent the pipes from freezing
| At certain times the cold air rushing into
the wells congeals the water on the in.
side OF the perpendicular pipe, be it iror
have been frozen solid for sixty feet be-
low the surface of the earth. In other
instances, when these wells were dug
/ would be found frozen on the bottom
and sides, even at a depth of fifty or more
In some instances, in order to prevent
| freezing, the pumps have been proyidef
| With an iron pipe extending to the bot
tom, with earth thrown in until the low.