Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-07-13
ATESlAN WATER IN
ROGUE RIVER VALLEY
Big Flow Had From Well Near
Tslent-Contracts Let for
Other Wells.

That flow Of artesian water could
be had in various sections of Rogue
River Valley is the belief of many
who are versed ON the geological for
nation of this section, and now their
expectations have been verified by the
opening of a big gusher on the Pellett
farm near Talent. Should artesian
water be found generally over the
Valley it would do much to solve the
irrigation problem for this section and
add 25 per cent to the value Of all
agricultural land. besides making
much land productive that is now a
waste by reason of lack of water.
The hills of Southern Oregon are
full of water, notwithstanding the
long, dry Summers give semi-arid
aspect to the country. The chief
difficulty the miners encounter in
their operations underground is the
water and drainage by tunnel or pump
has to be provided for every mine.
The Granite Hill mine is proof Of
this great subterranean water supply
in Rogue River Valley. When the
shaft at this mine had reached the
200 foot level it required pump
throwing q S.inch stream to clear the
mine and when the 40O-foot level had
been reached and extensive work
carried on it took a centrifugal pump
throwing a steady 6-inch stream 10
handle the infiowing water. Follow
ing extensive development work the
mine. was completely flooded last week
by flow of water so great that the
pump could not handle it and the
food rose to the 200-foot level. The
pumping capacity has been more than
doubl, d and it is expected to have the
mine clear Of water by next week.
There are many wells in the foothills
al out this Valley that are almost i'm
possible to pump dry. AS the water
problem is serious one with
Grants Pass it would be a profitable
venture for this city to have an ex-
parimental we'll sunk.
The following is the account the
Ashland Tidings gives of the finding
of artesian water at Talent;
A flow of water estimated at ZOO
gallons per minute was struck yester-
day noon in the we'll being bored for
NJ l.. Pellet ON his orchard four
miles west of Ashland, near Talent,
by Dabney & Troxel, at a depth of
1876 feet,
interest among people generally, who
have been watching with anxiety the
reports of results Of this first genuine
boring for artesian water in the
Rogue River Valley. The Tidings
man, who received telephone mes.
sage III the afternoon, drove over to
see the gusher last evening, and 1t
even surpassed reports. The water
comes out OF the ground through the
eight inch bored hole with a surpris-
ing volume aud runs away like a
veritable mill race. Mr.. Pellet be-
lieves il is enough to irrigate
thoroughly his ninety acres of apple
and pear orchard.
No test of course has yet been made
of the water, but it is apparently very
soft and pure, with a temperature
higher than that of the water in the
surface streams.
Quite number from the surround
ing section visited the we'll last even.
ing where The contractors we're just
com pleting the last five feet Of their
work and witnessed the big drill
weighing hundreds Of pounds, at the
end Of the nearly 800 foot cable. COM
batting the great volume of water
which was forcing its way from the
depths below, and bearing message
of increased profit and prosperity to
land owners and orchardists of the
valley. Mr.. Pellett himself was there
aud naturally in high spirits. He
had spent nearly two thousand dollars
in the experiment and the well was
down yesterday m orning within five
feet OF the depth he had contracted
for. with no more Of an artesian flow
than would supply water for domestic
and stock use on the place. That
was valuable but hardly what he had
hoped for When at noon the drills
struck the big flow, his highest ex-
pectations were realized and he
watched in wonderment the outpour-
ing streams, realizing what it meant
not only to him but to other live or.
chardists and farmers OF the valley
who see in irrigation q way to double
the product Of their fruit and farm
acreage and to make the light alluvial
soils Of the foothills yield the most
bounteous harvests. Tue Rogue River
Valley is anything but an arid region
but the value Of water as an aid to
farm. fruit and garden yields have
been demonstrated to be inestimable.
and this is why the successful out
come OF this pioneer enterprise is be.
lieved to be fraught with such great
possibilities for the future.
The drill was pulled out Of the vel
last night when the 800 foot deptf
was reached. 4. X. Anderson, {
leading farmer and fruitgrower neal
by. is enthusiastic over the big strik