El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-19

been known for many years, but the
existence Of artesian water has been
known only short time A little
over a year ago the Duncan-Sligh
well was drilled in the midst Of the
village Of san Simon, picture OF
which is here reproduced, and foun-
tain of pure water gushed into the
air from the small pipe, rising to a
ground This well was drilled only
$50 feet to the first stratum of water
and afterward was sunk deeper
through other strata. 1t flows the
gallons minute The dlscoYerers
donated the well to the people OF the
little town, so they have free water.
The water is 80 percent pure, as pure
as rain water and as soft 1t comes
out warm. being about IS degrees tenn
perature, an important factor for ir-
rigating. This discovery was a reve-
lation. Soon second well was drilled
by the Globe Water & Irrigation com
pany, three miles northwest OF town
to the same depth, which gave a flow
Of 200 gallons Of water a minute.
The good news spread rapidly and
settlers, land hungry, flOcked IN and
the 'nestOrs. became thick DrllI
holes went down as fast as the limited
means Of the settlers permitted. WITH
in the past is months, is flowing
wells have been brought in, and IL mas
been positively proved that the known
artesian basin is at least II miles
long and three miles wide Immediate
" around the little town. This area
is constantly being extended by new
drilling and it is believed II VIII eX-
tend for 90 miles up and down tho
valley Only Rast week a flow was
struck at Moore's Spur, up the valley.
. 40 miles away, by the FL Paso *
Southwestern railroad
The deeper the wells have been
I drilled the stronger the flow. The
~ Ia n
deeper, and it remains for some one
to bore down to bedrock where II is
/ believed there is mighty volume OF
water
The Principal Wells.
The following are the principal
I flowing wells already brought in: The
TOWnsite or Duncan-SliGh well IN
/ town: the Globe. three miles north
west; the Barnett one and halI
miles north; the Morrison well, two
miles northwest; the Averills two
miles west: the Moore, four and half
miles northwest; the Cry, five miles
northwest; the FOxwOrth, five miles
south; the Washburne, two miles
7 south: the Car, four miles southwest;
I the George Elsen4 a few miles north
west; the J. L Hill well, three miles
northeast; and the Matseler, halt a
mile west of town.
These holes have demonstrated the
| existence of three strata or arteSlan
( flows, one at AIS feet one at 500 feet
/ and a third at $50 feet.
Drilling for artesian water still con-
/ tinues, and it is said that no one has
been disappointed by not getting a
flow New contracts for drilling are
being let. For instance one by Rev.
/ W +. Nine to Jessie Averill on MS
I place four miles west of town; one
( by =. A. Washburne on Jim Hibbler's
/ claim two miles south of town; one
| to George E Sigh on Dr. Burgess $
/ place west of town, to go depth OF
I 1900 feet. J. d. Ayeriu will drill q
/ mile and a half west of town; Dr..
| Hammons has secured a rig to drill
+ four miles west Of town, and deeper
1 drilling has begun on the Burris wen.
! The latest is that w Z. Washburne,
/ an artesian explorer, and Roy ana
I Frank Meads, of Los Angeles, have
! organized the San Simon Land & Wa
] ter company, with a million dollar
I capital, among Los Angeles capital
/ lists and have secured by purchase and
/ location several large tracts of land
/ on both sides Of the railroad, two to
I three miles west Of town and have
purchased a large drilling machine
] capable Of going down $500 fet to
: where it is thought the bed rock viii
! be found, where 1t is expected the big
flow or gushers will be secured II
( successful they viii drill many more
1 wells. Every one Will watch this deep
| experimental well. If a big flow IS
found at the greater depth, hereafter
/ the practice win be for several ad-
/ joining land owners to club together
/ to sink a joint well instead of indi-
vidual shallow wells
Cost OF Drilling.
/ Drilling costs are said to be from
I so cents to 81 a foot, according to the
size Of the well casing, which is eX-
I ira. being from So to IS cents a foot,
| according to size and quality ordered.
| Every San Simonite is a genuine
| booster. There are no knockers.
/ Think of a little community Of only
/ 200 toWnsmen and as many country
| people organizing a commercial club
! and getting out all kinds of adver-
I Using dope and showing all visitors
around the valley at their own eX-
/ pense paying livery hire. This is a
fact, and the organization is called
the san Simon Commercial club
They heard that the train load of Ell
| Paso trade boosters had failed to place
! San Simon on the list of stopping