The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-11-19
Shaft Now 1903 Feet Deep,
Yet Produces Insignifi-
cant Water Supply.
MAY REACH AMOUNT
NEEDED IN 100 FEFT
President Dearmont Says Project
Will End if 500 Feet Fails
to Find Supply

NAL School will be made by sinking
the shaft from 100 to 500 feet deeper
at cost of So foot yesterday be-
came known. The we'll now has been
drilled to a depth of 1903 feet and the
proper volume of water has not been
struck. If, at the end of 1000 foot
bore, the return is not satisfactory,
the venture will be abandoned, it is
said
A contract was closed Tuesday by
the officers of the Normal with st.
Louis well-digging company to sink
the shaft deeper.
The we'll water is to replace the wa
ter furnished by the public utilities
company for all purposes at the Nor
NAL School, with the exception of fire
protection. The franchise of the utili-
ties company provides that the COM
pany shall provide high pressure fire
lines in the Normal School district
The we'll water will be used for
drinking purposes, for use in all the
laboratories of the school, for use in
the dormitories, and it is desired that
it be used in the engine rooms of the
power plant.
In order to make the we'll practical
Bile for this extensive use, it is essen
tial that a flow of about 65 gallons
a minute be obtained
The test of the we'll at the 1903 foot
level gives d return of only IA to Is
gallons minute, which might, under
ordinary circumstances, be sufficient,
but it is not estimated as being high
enough to cover an emergency Of any
kind.
The drill work on the 1903 foot well
was completed last Saturday and
Tuesday tests were made.
Assistant State Geologist Wilson OF
Rolla Mo-, and Prof. T. NJ. Sheppard
of Springfield, of Drury College, were
in the Cape Tuesday to advise with
the officials of the Normal School re-
garding the extension of the drill.
The we'll was commenced last Au-
gust. At depth of 200 feet, free
supply of water was encountered, but
it was deemed that it was too close to
the surface Of the ground to be the
right quality for the purposes it is
wanted for.
The drill continued and passed
through stratum of substance known
as St. Peters sand which is belt 80
feet thick and 1910 feet below the
surface. This stratum of sand gave a
good supply of water, but the drill
was continued.
1t was hoped that a stratum of sand
yielding better and larger volume of
water would be encountered before the
1900 foot lever was reached.
As the 1900 foot level was APP
preached, the drill was sunk into bed
of Jefferson County limestone. Any
limestone is not as good conductor
of water as sandy stratum. This
accounts for the low flow of water.
The experts who advised with the
Normal School officials estimated that
! by sinking the well from 100 to 200
feet deeper, the drill would pass
! through the limestone belt and strike
the sand, known to biologists as the
| Robideux sand. This will contain the
proper flow of water, it is believed.
and as soon as that is struck, the drill
ing will stop.
However, President Dearmont, last
night informed The Tribune that if the
Robideux sand is not encountered in
| the next 500 feet, the venture will
close.
The various strata or belts of lime
stone and sand that are encountered by
the drill get their water supplies from
the Rocky Mountains, hundreds of
miles west of here.
The explanation of how the water
may be conducted from the Rockies to /!
this region, itself is a study of geolo- !
gy. At various times in the history of |
this part of the world, these belts of |
sand and stone have been spread out |
over the entire Mississippi Valley, cx-
tending to the rockies, in much the |
same fashion that a merchant would |
pile his rugs, one upon the top of the |
others.
Compression has made them solid |
At another period in the worlds his
tory, these belts or rugs" have been
appended at the place where the
Rockies now appear. The belts have
maintained their individual textures,
so that when water is poured upon
them in the Rockies that water travels |