Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-03-28
STEAM FROM EARTH.
SUBTERRANEAN HEAT TO SUP
PLY INDUSTRIAL POWER.
Investigation Which Leads to the
Belief That This Is Among
the Imminent Proba.
bilities.


It is promised by scientists of high
position that the internal heat of the
earth may be utilized as source of in
dustrial power in the near future.
A thermometer lowered into the
wells near Pittsburg and Wheeling
showed an increase of a degree for
every so feet. The temperature of the
Pittsburg well at the bottom was 129
degrees.
On the other hand, Prof. Agassiz
found the temperature at the 4,900-fOot
level in a mine at Houghton, Mich, to
be no more than 100 degrees. The
Schladebach we'll shows "a temperature
Of 1876 degrees at the bottom, and the
Sperenberg well 118 degrees.
1t is proved beyond doubt that,
although it varies in different local
tiles, the heat of the crust of the earth
grows gradually greater from the sur
face inward, and upon this argument
is the theory based for a new and
general source of power
The great difficulty is not in obtain
ing steam from the interior of the
earth, because that involves merely a
little extra labor in boring down into
the hot area, and it is comparatively
as easy to bore down 10000 feet as
5000, but in order to give the steam
provided for dropping the water to the
hot area, allowing it time to heat and
yet having it returned to the earth's
surface without interrupting its flow
for a moment.
Suppose two holes were bored direct
ly into the earth's surface, 10000 feet
deep and so feet apart. According to
the measurements made in the Pitts
burg well, at the bottom there would
be temperature of more than 240 de-
grees-far above the boiling point Of
water
If very heavy charges of dynamite
or some other heavy explosive were
to be lowered to the bottom of each
hole and exploded simultaneously, and
the process repeated many times, the
two holes might have a sufficient con-
nection established. If only one aY-
enue were opened between the holes
1t would be enough.
The SCATTERING Of the rocks around
the base of the holes would turn the
surrounding area into an immense
water heater. The water poured down
one hole in the earth would circulate
through the cracks and assures, the
temperature of which would be more
than 240 degrees, and in its passage
1t would be heated and turned to steam
which would pass to the earth's sur
face through the second hole.
The pressure of such a column of
steam would be enormous. Aside
from the initial velocity of the steam,
the descending column of cold water
would exert pressure of at least 5,0U0
pounds to the square inch, which
would drive up through the second
hole everything movable This done,
the water heater would operate itself
and source<of power be established.
which would surpass anything now in
use.
Judged by the Pittsburg and Wheel
Ing wells, two such deep holes would
cost about $4,000 mile, so that the
plan might possibly be carried out for
about $4,000. The benefit to science
would be many times that amount.
1t might not be necessary to go far
The estimate of depth is based on the
Pittsburg district, but there are many
places where the increase of heat
would be much more rapid The yell
lowstone valley would almost surely
yield commercial temperature at com
paratiyely shallow depths