The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-27
THEHASKINLETTER
TAPPING THE EARTH FOR HEAT
BY FREDERIC ]. HAsK1N.


WASHINGTON. Feb. Sim q recent
tha wen.known English scientist, adj
voeated the sinking OF a. 12-mile shaft
into the earth's crust to investigate the
possibilities OF tapping natures secret
storehouse OF heat. Already through his
efforts bore holes have been sunk at
Lardarello, Italy, through which large
volumes OF high pressure steam have
been obtained, the motive power being
used to generate something like 10000
horsepower through the agency Of the
Parsons turbine. A similar project Is
on foot at Solfatara, near Naples, anc
both experiments promise to be sue
cessful.
In the LardarelIo venture the steam
at first tapped from under ground, haV-
ing a temperature OF nearly 400 degrees
Fahrenheit, was fed directly to small
engine used for driving g. dynamo in a
boraS plant. The alkaline character OF
the steam eorroded the engines and ma
chinery, threatening to put an untimely
end to the utilization Of natures power
However, the difficulty was surmounted
finally. in simple manner. Bore holes
were driven into the rocks to a depth
of from. 300 to 500 feet. where the steam
reservoirs were tapped. The steam OBJ
tanned was then circulated around boiler
tubes containing pure water, which in
its turn was converted into steam and
fed directly to the engine. In both oil
these experiments, however, volcanic
conditions made the matter compare.
lively simple, their chief value being
the demonstrations Of the possibilities
of natural force.
Parsons, in an address delivered ir
London, advised the sinking Of shat
similar to the one recently suggested
outlining q scheme whereby the natura
forces OF the earth might be utilized II
industry. He estimated that shaft
- miles In depth would cost abou'
$25. 900, 900, and require about SIS year,
to bore The expense, he pointed out
would be comparatively small compared
to the cost to England Of one day o
war, while the value OF the knowledge
gained would be incalculable.
His contention that q 12-nlile shat
would be entirely practical has beer
sustained by Prof. Frank D.. Adams, o
McGill university, in Montreal, and va
rious American scientists. Prof. Adams
after exhaustive experiments declares
that q shaft might be sunk TO deptl
Of Is miles in limestone and 80 miles
in granite,
Investigations as to temperature con
ditions mile and half below the sur
tsee a q ne garth n, have already peer .s
United States geological survey. Mr.
Van orstrand Is credited with beinI
ono Of the leading experts of the worlt
on the measurement Of deep well TEN
peratures, and hts methods and results
are regarded by scientists as most re
liable.
His experiments we're conducted chief
ly in the Lake and Goff wells Of Yves
Virginia--the two deepest wells in thu
A,IA AV-Aa ~ e.
American scientists, Until the COT
we'll, in Harrison county. West Virginia
was sunk, C2uchow, in the heart Of tn,
Silesian coal fields, in Germany en-
joyed the undisputed distinction OF pos
skssing the deepest we'll in the world
The German drillers succeeded in reach
ing depth Of 7,34S feet at great ex
The expense and length Of time requires
to drill the Czuehow we'll served a
effectual deterrants to other oil ant
coal men from attempting to break tn
record for deep-well drilling and TO
many years the German record was un
disputed.
But petroleum and natural gas hav
compelling lure for the oil man ant
scientist, lure that leads both Of then
to delve deeper and deeper into tn
earth's crust with visions OF untol,
wealth and knowledge to lead them on
For many years Or. |. c. White, stat
geologist OF West Virginia. and hi
brother scientists, had contended tina
the rich oil.besring sands Of Ohio
found in West Virginia ct depth o
about 5000 feet.
Encouraged by DR.. White and anx
ous to break the record held so loni
by the Czuehow we'll in Germany, Johl
q Pew. president and general manage