Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-30
facts Concerning then, Gathered d.
the Geological Survey.

the Geological Survey.
fSpecial.)-An Interesting document is just
about to appear here Ii is a scientific
story Of the famous breathing wells and
the windrnills Of Nebraska. the facts hay.
irg been gathered by the geological sur
vcy. The tTeathi22c or blowing wells are
found distributed throughout a large
portion Of Nebraska. These wells are Of
the driven type mostly in use upon the
plains, but are distinguished from those
OF ordinary character by a remarkable
and unexplained egress and ingrcss o,
currents Of air which produce distinctly
audible sounds and give the names va
rio,lsiy ap6i ed to them of breat thing. sigh
ing, blowing, or roaring wells according
| 20 their characters in different places
The air currents are readily tested with
the flames of candles, or by dropping
chaff or feathers into the we'll tubes
There are periods when these wells hlo>,
cut for several days. and equal periods
when their air currents are reversed II
has been observed that the blowing oc-
| ours with changes of the barometer
| some wells are found to De most auiib.e
| when the wind is from the northwest.
! With q rise in water level; but with :.
-tte'1AesN w Win. al Is distWIl IN ana the
| water is observed to sink. During the
nrogress CT a low barometer area owe,
| one OF these regions wind is Violently
| expelled from the wells with a neise
| distinctly aEdiple for several rods. Pre-
| teSSoHs l-oveland and Swezes of the
| University of Nebraska, ave made obser
VaiI9nS on well g This nature ia Per
klas county. and found that its breathing
DerlodS We're exactly eeincident with the
barcmetric changes
MANY EXPLANATIONS
! The citizens OF the region have atte,1ai,t
cd laaEy explanations Of the wells. Some
naSe ressonsed t5at The blowing is pro,5a.
aiE 5ue 70 the liberation OF gas produced;
ron I3@traiell12l, and that as petroleum is
natural eisttila5jon FROM great Goa;
/ iie4as. t2sre mast De an abundant supply
ot tile latter mineral beneath the sur
face. EorG5nes nave been stakei upo,.
mis- deduction ailG much time consume cd
~ frut!ess search for coal Others
nave NOTICED the change OF current which
some wells show every twelve hours
aeE1aire and evening. and have tllousfa,
nat this regular oscillation was due to
tidal action OF the sheet water erro,
7sously considering The latter as a grea1
subterranean lake. The phenomenal ar.
nest frequently attributed by scienf &c
observers 70 atmospheric pressure. which.
Rough probably exertine great Influence.
y not necessarily the whole cause.
tAe material through which the walls
are driven may throw some light en- tfei-
Neculiafsies "a sout..ea ern Nebraska
layer ef dense iimeStane about fopq
inches thick lies beneath fifty TO oas
''2dsed feet OF subsoil Below the lime.
ores IS found ter-bearine grave,
When he limestone covering The water
aen1ns he6s IS penetrated water unde.
ieht pressure rises about one foot The
Eater-hee%t pg aver IS very porous ana
2at'si alwaAss contain more or less air AZ
ne air above and the air inclosed in tn.
travels below are alike subject to IN.
~rtuattons Of the barometer. 1t follows
nat II the surface air is rendered less
tet1se the air below will pass out through
me well openings until equilibrium be-.
tween the rarer air and denser air is cs-
fahtished and the opposite effect win
Follow during period of high pressure
STILL this explanation. plausible as It is.
hardly accounts for the force with which
the air is expelled ftcna some OF the wells.
and more comprehensive study of tha
proR!sM IS Elesaea to- Satisfactorily exr
-OiatH all the pAeneHsna. 5s