The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1901-08-07
HOT WATER WELLS AT VALE.
Has Temperature Of 2I0 Degrees and
Rises High in the Air.


NJ. q. Hope, of Vale, who has been
spending few days in Portland on bus
iness, states that Vale will soon have a
permanent gcyser that will send forth
hot water, of II temperature of 2lO de-
grees, to perpendicular height Of 40 to
10 feet. The flow will bc inexhaustible,
and the town Of Vale will be supplied
with II system Of hot water works from
which the water IL heated by natures
own furnace.
Along the eastern banks Of Snake riv-
or, II quarter Of Il mile east from Vale, q
succession Of hot springs flow into the
river, which have already been fully de-
scribcd in the Telegram. From this riv.
or bunk a succession Of foothills rise and
grow higher and higher until they merge
into high mountains in the rear. En-
tcrprising business men Of Vale conjcc-
turcd the idea that hot artcsian water
might be obtained back Of these springs
by boring sufficient depth in the foot
hills, basng their idea on the reason
that such an enormous flow Of water
through these hot springs should have
base Of supply In the way Of large lake
or basin Of hot water.
They began boring near the river
bank, and after various experiences in
breaking drills ut various depths in the
ground, they finally struck water at
depth Of forty.iive feet, which followed
the drill as they drew II up, and when
the drill was taken out the water spout
ed into the air to height Of 81 feet in
sizzing, irregular stream, mingled with
foam and steam, the temperature Of the
water being 2lO degrees.
A three.inch pipe was placed in this
hole and II was Thought that the gcyser
would bc II permanent one, but u sort Of
crystal formed rapidly in the pipe and
within few weeks the interior Of the
pipe became u solid mass of white crys-
tai M hard ~ flint and, Of course, the
flow Of water ceased. This crystal was
bored out and the flow began again. This
succession Of crystalixing and boring
was kept up for more than II year, and
by this means Vale had u geyser. III.
forts were made TO get u pipe that would
not crystalixe, and inventors thought
they had the very thing, but none Of the
experiments proved successful.
A larger and stronger flow Of water
was desired, and the experimental bor.
ing was begun again this spring. In
few weeks time another How was pro.
duced at higher altitude, but as II was
u little of from the main channel Of the |
supposed underground stream, the How
was not 10 strong M the old we'll, and
pipe was merely put in for temporary
experiment. However, the pipe was
not taken out, and this fact proved Of
great benefit to the promoters, and they
are now boring with renewed energy.
The pipe in the hole ut the higher al
titude, after receiving the flow Of the wa.
ter for several months, showed no sign
Of crystalixing, and the gentleman max.
ing the experiments think that by tap.
ping the underground stream ut a still
higher altitude they will get stronger
flow Of water, and also be relieved Of the
trouble caused by the water crystalixing
in the pipes.
II il expected To get flow Of water 10
to 40 feet above the highest point In
Vale, and to supply the town with this
hot water through regular system Of
water pipes, both winter and summer
Portland Telegram.