Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-09
EMeuRAsKNs sxtArHIwc WELLS
Phsnorsna Caused by Changes in ~
uaesphsrie Pressure. ''.'.-

IN recent paper published by the
United States Geological Survey on
Wells and Windmills In Me-
braska" mention In made Of the inter-
testing phenomena OF the breathing or
Blowing wells which are found dis
tributed throughout a large portion OF
the state. These wells are OF the
driven type mostly In use upon the
plains. bat are distinguished from
those Of ordinary character by a re-
markable and unexplained earess and
|insress OF currents of air, which pro-
duce distinctly audible sounds and
give the names variously applied. to
them Of breathing. signing, blowing or
rearing wells. according to their char
actcrs In different places. The air cur
rents are readily tested with the flames
Of candles or by dropping chair or
feathers into the well tubes. There are
periods when these wells blow out for
several days, and equal periods when
their air currents are reversed.
1t has been observed that the blow
ing occurs with changes of the
barometer. Some wells are found to
be most audible when the wind is
from the northwest. with a rise, in
air is drawn in and the water is OBJ
served to sink. During the progress of
a low barometer area over one of
these regions wind Is violently expelled
from the wells with noise distinctly
audible for several rods. Professors
Loveland and Swezey of the University
Of Nebraska. have made observations
on well Of this nature in Perkins
county and found that its breathing
periods were exactly coincident with
the bar0metric changes. .-...
The citizens Of the region have at
tempted many explanations of the
wells. Some have reasoned that the
blowing is probably due to the liberia
tion Of gas produced from petroleum,
and that as petroleum is a natural dis
tillation from great coal-fields, there
must be an abundant supply of the
latter mineral beneath the surface.
Fortunes have been staked upon this
deduction and much time consumed in
a. fruitless search for coal. Others
have noticed the change Of current
which some wells show every u hours.
morning and evening, and have thought
that this regular oscillation was due to
q tidal action Of the sheet water, err
roneotsly considering the latter as a
great subterranean lake. The phe-
nomena are most freque ntly attributed
by scientific. observers to atmospheric
pressure. which, though probably ex-
erting great influence, is not neces-
Earily the whole cause.
The material through which the
wells are driven may throw some
light on their peculiarities. In South
eastern Nebraska layer of dense
limestone. about four inches thick,
lies beneath 50 to 100 feet Of subsoil.
Below the limestone is found water
bearing gravel. When the limestone
i covering the water-bearing beds is
penetrated water under slight pressure
rises about one foot. The water-bear-
ing layer is very porous and must al
ways contain more or less air. As the
air above and the air inclosed in the
grayels below. are alike subject to the
fluctuations of the barometer, it fol-
lows that il the surface air is rem
Giered less dense the air below will pass
out through the well openings until
equilibrium between the rarer air and
denser air is established, and the op-
posite effect will follow during a period
of high pressure.