The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-11-08
UNwATERING THE GREAT WEST
ERN NINE.

The unwatering of the Great Western
mines by means Of drill holes driven
AT a depth Of 800 feet below the water
level 10 tap the immense body Of liquid
that was contained in the openings OF
the mine was so successfully accom-
plished that description Of the plan
by which II was carried out is at once
interesting aud Instructive This is
not the FIRST instance in which there
were greater obstacles 70 overcome
than IN any other similar instance
that has come under our notice.
The new shaft had reached a depth
at which it was desired 70 connect IL
with the old workings and allow the
mining Of apme ore. The bailing had
proven how method Of unwatering
and it was certain That the water
would not be out ia tme TO get ON
any ore If that method aione WAS
depended upon 80 superintendent
Richards determined to tap the water
with a diamond drill hole and put the
biz Prescott IN service torking the
water The task Of doing the drilling
was left to Vat Lee The Well known
contractor A drift was driven from
the shaft towards the openings y
] within abo1 30 feet Of the mine ami
the diamond drill was placed at this
point The water pressure was figured
at something like 5l pounds and in
order 10 handle the flow casing pipe
was sunk into the breast distance OF
85 feet. Then the very best grade Of
Genet that could be secrued was run
around the pipe and to be sure that it
was packed firmly il was subjected to
hydraulic pressure. n front Of this
casing, pieces Of timber running across
the drift were placed the ends sunk I'M
bitches on the top and bottom Of the
drifts. These timbers We're designe
to act as braces 70. support the pipe IN
its place when the great pressure OF
the water would be upon it,
In the drill rod next TO the core
barrel was placed a swing check valve
designed TO hold the water back
when tapped On the casing pipe was
placed a gate valve and outside Of IL
Tee pipe.
When all was in readiness the drill
was started ON fiat hole. At first
the men were little skittish but they
soon got over their fright and were
very successful with all Of the holes
they drove The water was tapped
and the rods successfully drawn, a
pair Of tonges heing all that was used
to hold them back When the rods
were out the valve was closed and
cap put on the casing. The gate valve
was then opened and the water con-
Quoted to tn stump through the con
Meeting pipe. Four holes were driven
in this manner before a sufficient sup
ply was secured a. feed tie monster
pump and not once was man wet
during the operations. 50 great was
the water pressure that the water oozed
through the rock all around the holes
Il was seen that when the water got
low there would not be a sufficient
supply for the pump and there was no
room to bore more holes in the breast
70 advantage To overcome this
drift was driven off at right angles for
short way aud then turned towards
the water.
When within ten feet of the water
long drlll with a q in. bit was placed
in the machine ana a mole driven
through. Then the question of stop
ping the flow from this hole, should the
pump stop. was mp and solved in this
way. A long plug with a gentle taper
from the apex to size sufficient TO
FIJI the hole was made and experiment
proved that il colld be INSERTED all
right against the water flow, the only
harm done being a severe drenching Of
the workmen while inserting Il.
Accordingly three more holes were put
through and plugs made for them but,
luckily there was no use for them -
the punY worSed 70 protection All
through tie nnwatering
This little procedure helped aioug
by a aast month the unwatering
Of the mine and reflects credit upon All
Of those connected with it