The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-04-23
ARTESlAN WELLS IN TEX
As AND ELSEWHERE

Under the bow head the Dallas
News recently published a long edf
torial, and failed to mention the larg-
est ~artesian well district in he
world. The Pecos Valley is right on
the Texas border, too. The News
really ought to bring its Information
up to date, especially in regard to
conditions in its own immediate
neighborhood. However, the historical
features of the article are interest
ing 80 far as they 60. One point thai
will bear emphasis is that the first
artesian well syer-horea, in Ntois,
France, is still flowing after nearly
eight hundred years. This should be
encouraging to Pecos Valley well
owners who do not expect to outHve
Methuselah. We quote:
The geographical situation of
Texas, az well as the Typographical
conditions, give. to the residents OF
this corner of a continent some great
advantages in the way of climate and
commercial benefits. But these are not
all. Another telling advantage is to
be found in the inexhaustible supply
Of excellent water that underlies. Tex
as as a result of the same geograph-
tcal and typographical conditions.
The ~artesian wells of Texas have
brought to the hearts of many a new
hope, and new prospects of success
The latest Geographical Survey Bull
letil contains an interesting article
IN "Artesian Flows" Referring to
early flowing wells, it says that with
in the walls of an old Carthusian con-
vent at Lllers, in the ancient prov
ince of Artois, France, is a well that
has flowed steadily ever since 1t was
bored in the yea 1925, 4 this is
but one OF many flowing wells in the
province whose name has furnished
the term "artesian." Nearly equal in
antiquity with the flowing wells Of
Artois are those of Modena, in north
ern Italy, which were held il such
repute that two well-borers' augers
were made the coat of arms of the
town, the first certain statement
In ILSTdluIc SOutC1 hlh6 Lax ShAPAOy
ment of the miners drill in sinking
wells is probably that published in
1891 by Bernardi1i Ramazzini, a pro-
lessor of medicine at Modena. Indeed,
this town might well ave disputed
with Artois the right to give nam
to fowing-wells.
That arteFian waters were, discov-
cred at such early dates a how
ever, be attributed to happy chances.
The modern history of flowing wells
began only when geology was ready
to point out the necessary disposition
Of rock strata and the art of drilling
was mastered. In b early part of
the last century improved machinery
for drilling was invented. AID much
attention was devoted to the subject.
In France popular interest II these
wells. was so great h a fora number
OF years the Royal and Central So
ciety of Agriculture each year dis
trfbuted medals and prizes (the high-'
eat was 5000 francs) to workers in
the ield-to authors. inventors. well
driilers, and to those who succeeded
In obtaining wells in regions where
they were not before known Many
Rowing wells were drilled in other
countries, as in England, for exam
pie, but the chief honors for the ad-
vauceme1t of the science belong with
out question to the French savants
and mechanicians.
One OF the earliest artesian wells
In the United States was that sunk
At Fort Monroe, Va, In 1S45. It's