The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-01-26
Bamberg's S Artesian
We'll is a Gushe,

Bamberg'sanew artesian we'll is a
reality. Saturday about noon the
contractor boring the we'll hurriedly
hunted up the members of the board
| of public works and carried them
| around to view the we'll, which had
developed into a 'gusher.'' A mag
nifcent flow of beautiful. clear, de-
| lightful water was issuing from the
depths of the we'll The contractor
said that it was one of the finest
wells he has ever bored.
The we'll was finished finally as an
eight-inch we'll 1t was expected
when the piping became jammed sew
eral weeks ago that possibly the we'll
| would have to be reduced to six inch
es at the bottom, but all obstacles
were overcome and removed, with the
consequence that the work was car
ried on as originally planned. The
flow is fine, and the water pressure
is very great.
According to rough calculation
of the wells capacity, it was found
that it is now flowing approximately
140 gallons of water per minute, or
201,600 gallons per day. This is more
water than the town has ever con-
sumed, the greatest consumption in
the warmest weather of the summer
months being around 10000 to 175,-
900 gallons a day. Thus, the COM
missioners feel that the water prov'
lem is solved, for the time at least,
and doubtless for many years
to come. In addition, it is to be re-
membered that the town already has
facilities for furnishing approximate
ly the normal consumption of water
for household purposes, and with the
new we'll, there will will be an ample
supply of water for all needs, in
cluding plenty of reserve for fire pro-
lection.
The new artesian we'll has occas-
ioned much comment since the work
was under way few weeks. 1t will
be recalled that many relics of in
teresting historical and prehistoric
value were found in the depths of the
10 and S-inch bore, particles of wood,
some of them so perfect as. to show
knots, were drawn up from depth
of more than four hundred feet, while
a sharks tooth and shells were found
at approximately similar depths. A
considerable distance Of the depth of
the well extends through a stratum
of shell formation. Another STRAIT
um is of fine quality of slate, speci-
mems of which many people now
treasure.
The we'll is 474 feet in depth,
which is about the distance most ar
tesian wells reach in this section to
secure a flow of good water. The
bottom of the we'll is some SO feet
below the sand bed which gave the
contractor 80 much trouble in boring.
This sand bed is without doubt the
old ocean bed Of medieval times, a
period which the scientists and geol-
ogists say was thousands or even
millions of years ago. The particles
of wood found have lain undisturbed
during all these thousands or mil
lions of years, the period of existence
being fixed according to the beliefs OF
the various opinions.
While the historic value Of the well
is of intensive interest to the geolo-
gist, what more vastly concerns the
layman resident of Bamberg is the
flow of water. This is the practical
side of it, and it may be safely said
that of the hundreds who have visit
ed the we'll since the flow began Sat-
urday few thought little OF the pre-
historic man or beast who walked the
beach when Bamberg was seaside
resort or was, more likely, miles out
to sea. What concerned them more
than anything else was that there IS
now in sight plenty Of good pure
drinking water for houshold purpos-
es and fire protection.
It is expected that the well Will De
connected with the city reservoirs in
the next few days, and henceforth, 1t
is hoped, there will be water ample
for all purposes.
coHymEDCNCE PROGRAMME