Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-02-24


perience, we have learned that all the
wells SO far bored in the city. in time be-
come useless on account of the effect of
the mineral in the water on the iron or
metallic casing.
Now, some suggest that the city take
up the Pearl Springs proposition and vote
bonds and try to secure enough water
from that source. Others recommend
sinking wells near the river bank and de-
velop the underflow and with a pump
ing plant and pipe line bring that water
into the city mains.
The first proposition is untenable for
the reason that it would require about
S5oo.ooo. and il we were sure of the
quantity and quality Of the water, which
we decidedly are not. to develope the
Pearl Springs proposition and bring it to
this city through pipe line and new res
ervoir. To ask the people to vote bonds
for this purpose would amount to enter
ing upon an enterprise that was aban-
dcncd BY the initial promoters after
spending considerable money. If they
had good reasons for abandoning the
project, do not think it would bs wise
on the part Of the city to undertake an
experiment with it,
As to the second. doubt If there are
one hundred voters in the city who would
favor going to a necessary expense Of
from $4,000 to 100000 to bring the
hard river water hero for domestic use
after having used the soft artesian water.
| do not believe the people will ever favor
bonding the city for the large amount Of
money that would be necessary to at
tempt to put in operation either Of the
above plans, until a further effort has
been made to secure the necessary
amount Of artesian water beneath the
city.
The test wells. (for that is all they
arel that have been drilled IN the city.
have de nonstrated beyond doubt, that
thore is an abundance OF pure artesian
sWsser to be had within about eight hun
dred feet Of the surface. and the cost Of
producing it would not exceed one tenth
the cost Of the Pearl Springs proposition.
1t has been demonstrated that wells SIX
or eigh: inches in diameter. eight hun
dred fee, deep. that are eased with me-
tallic casing only remain in repair a few
years and that their capacity is entirely
insufficient to Contain water enough with
in reasonable pumping distance Of the
surface to supply the quantity Of water
necessary. Not that tho water is not
there. but that the pipe or size Of the hole
to bring it in pumping distance to the
surface. is inadequate.
What is the renedyP | give you my
idea for what it is worth. and it is for
the reader to decide il il has merit-viz:
Sink shaft 4xs feet. clear down to
the srtesian sands: wall il up to the sur
face with silica brick. laid in alkali proof
cement; cap the artesian sands with a
layer Of concrete. and set in this concrete
six 5 inch stands OF pipe. twelve foo,
deep; have brass valves on the pipe to
control the flow of water; then take a
drilling outfit and drill ten inch holes
through the pipe into the artesian sands
clear through them, thus developing your
flow Of water, after which connect the
valves on the pipe stands with the sur
face Of the shaft, and when all is ready
turn on your valves and let the natural
flow from the sands fill the shaft with
water. The shaft will ae. as the well or
reservoir for the six artesian bores and
will do away with casing entirely. and ir
this way will solve the artesian wei
problem. safely. satisfactorily and eco
nomically. These valy es can be so ar
ranged as to shut off from the top Of the
shaft and the shaft can be emptied oi
water at any time ior repairs or cleaning
purposes.
With the strong artesian flow we have
here. these wells would bring the wate,
to the surface Of the shaft and keep il
there by their own natural flow. A suit
able pumping plant with steam power
could then be secured and pumps Of
sufficient size could be installed, and they
would not have to be placed over fifty
feet from the surface. furnishing water
for all purposes. and having to pump it
only very short distance.
This proposition is no experiment. it has
been tried and found satisfactory in a
number Of Texas towns. and we expec,
to have more definite information to fur
nsh from these places in a short time.
This plan was strongly advocated by
City Engineer Mark Denson. several
years ago. and he still favors it. provided
a gravity system cannot be obtained for a
reasonable price.
Tho assertion that tho artesian flow is
giving out and that X will eventually