Evening journal., 1903-08-14
INSPECTED THE
ARTESIAN WELLS
Engineer Leisen Does Not
Think the Camden Water
System Would Do Here
CONDITIONS ARE NOT THE SAME

Theodore A. Leisen, consulting engi-
neer of the Water Department was I'm
Camden yesterday and inspected the
artesian well system Of that city. He
was much pleased with Il. but does not
think IL would do for this city as the
conditions here are much different
Mr.. Leisen stated this morning that
he was not sent there by the water
board, but went on the invitation of
George Pfeiffer, Jr. who built the
Camden water plant When asked If
the local Water Department thought
OF adopting the artesian well system,
he replied that he did not think 50.
MIR. Pfeiner was recently in VIII
mington and with Mr.. Leisen looked
over the ground In the vicinity of the
city. He was of the opinion that his
system would work here and that an
ample supply OF water could be secured
from artesian wells.
Mr.. Leisen said that conditions are
much different In Camden. New Jer-
sey, he said, is a large bed of sand
and In fact he said the ground there
Is natural filter bed I'm itself. He
thinks the weak point here would be
that the supply would not be positive
or long lasting. one well might be
sunk and at first "a fairly good supply
secured, but after a time II would prob
ably run out. The conditions are such
he said that II a hundred wells were
sunk, many OF them would probably
draw from the first one dug and thus
the city would not get near a hundred
times more water from hundred wells
than from one well.
Mr.. Leisen said that Camden has 102
wells, all OF which have furnished a
supply OF excellent water ever since
they were sunk in 1896. These wells
vary in depth from 60 to $50 feet and
with few exceptions, where ten-inch
pipes are used the wells are equipped
with pipes eight inches in diameter.
Mr.. Leisen reports that water of first
class quality and almost as cold enough
to drink, is secured and that the city
has all Il needs and more. The water
Is used in boilers and answers all pur-
poses. OF course some wells give a
greater supply OF water than others,
but those in charge report that the sup
ply is even better now I'm many cases
than ii was at first. There appears to
be two sources OF supply, one at a
depth OF 60 feet and the other at a
depth of 15O feet.
OF the 102 wells As are in the lower
part Of the city and AZ higher up
with yet 10 others stili further back
The water from the various wells is
gathered at certain points and two
pumps are now used to distribute tho
supply under what is known as the Hol-
~ direct system. The two pumps now
in use-a third and old one is to be used
again--have each capacity OF 10000.
900 gallons a day, and they are kept
continually at work. BY the system
employed each well can be put out OF
service by itself. and there has never
been any difficulty whatever since the
system was inaugurated.
in respect to the cost the Camden
officials say that the system was bull
for about 100000, but at a time wher
prices were low. To duplicate the sys.
tenn now II would probably cost forty
percentum more. or an even one million
OF dollars.
Water Commissioner Jones was seei
this morning and was also OF the opinion
that the artesian well system would no
give satisfaction here.
lie said that the brewers have expert
monted without any good result. The onl.
good well he said in the city was a
Hart and Company's establishment ol
East Fifth street. Even the water fror
this well Is said to be hard on boilers
The Water Department has to look ou
for the factories as we'll as dwellings
The department has never talked q
adopting the arteslan well system.