Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-08-24

SE the SmOider1nR 1OrgeS IN
~ which the mighty Rocky Noun
II tains were fashioned to be har-
\ messed and made the helpless
slaves of man-long extinct vol
canoes turned into gigantic natural
powerhouSes, rivaling in their combined
might. perhaps. even tireless Niagara?
In at least one section of Califor-
MIA steps in that direction have been
taken and the initial tests. conduct
ed over period of about two years,
seem to indicate that America has
not yet tapped a source of power SO
tremendous and so cheap that it
might revolutioniZe industry in the
west
News of these tests was brought
back to Washington by DR. Arthur L
Day. director of the geophysical lab
oratory of the Carnegie Institution
Of Washington, who. with DR.. T.. T.
Allen. chemist of the laboratory.
spent several months in Alexander
Valley, Calf, this Summer, where one
extinct volcano already is supplying the
steam with which others are being
drilled.
The section where volca mic steam
IS being sought as a means of turn
ing the wheels of modern machinery
is popularity known as the Geysers."
alexander Valley, in which it is To-
Gated, extends some miles northeast
from Cloverdale, on the Russian
River, and runs directly into the
Coast Range of California.
Although it was never seriously
regarded as a possible source of
power until about two years ago,
Alexander Valley has long been
place of interest to scientists be-
rause of the peculiar conditions that
prevail there as a result of volcanic
conditions. The healing properties
of many of it's springs have also
made it a favorite retreat for the af-
fiicted since shortly after the Cali
fornia gold rush got into full swing.
DR.. Day and DIR. Allen went to the
valley primarily to study certain
mineral deposits that have resulted
from the action of hot water on geo
logic formations. These actions. Dr.
Day said, have produced some aston
fishing effects, one of which has re-
suited in the water of several
streams being turned black. giving
them the appearance of being veri-
table rivers of ink.
In fact, the Investigator said, the
water actually is used for writing
purposes and makes a fairly legible
substitute for our modern ink. This
phenomenon is due to the formation
of pyrite, or sulphde of iron. from
the action of hydrogen sulphide on IRON
bearing waters. The two substances,
upon coming into contact with each
other, produce chemical reaction that
dScoors the water.
x X X
WHILE the entire valley abounds
w in similar wonders of natures
chemical laboratory, the most inter-
esting feature of it now is the at
tempt that is being made to turn the
steam of the long extinct volcanoes
there into sources of power, DR.. Day
said. This is being done by simply
boring into the slopes of the old VOL
canoes exactly as an oil prospector
drills for his liquid gold"
Two steam wells have already
been bored to a depth of about $40
feet and Il third, in course of being
drilled. has been sunk to about 100
feet. The first two have been eject
ing steam at d pressure of upward
of 30 pounds to square inch into
the atmosphere for nearly two years
without any sign of diminishing.
Although the two completed wells
are only so feet apart. neither has
detracted from the strength of the
other up to the present time. The
third is being bored about one-third
of d mile up the valley and in a re-
gion showing no hot springs at the
surface, in order to determine to
what extent the entire region might
be depended upon to develop power
from the dead" volcanoes.
The temperature gradient at this
third well has already reached ESQ
degrees Fahrenheit at depth of
only 100 feet, and it promises to de-
velop as much power as the otheys
when corresponding depth is reach
ed. No water is supplied to the wells
to produce the steam, except that
which is received naturally from the
drainage of the region.
In that connection, DR.. Day said, it
was interesting to note that no diff
ference is observed in the power of
the steam columns from Winter to
Summer. Even during the present
season, which has been one of the
driest Summers California has known
for many years, the steam columns
registered the same pressure.
The wells have been bored, DR.. Day
declared, in the usual fashion with
ordinary oilwell eQuipment-a churn
drill and casing from top to bottom. At
the desired depth the drill is removed