Artesian Wells in Queensland.

Manawatu Herald, 17 January 1893, Page 2

Artesian Wells in Queensland.

Writing upon the success which ia attending the artesian water supply - in tho interior of Queensland, the Argus srys : — '• Already hundreds of these well* are pouring forth millions of gallons a day, and then the number is increasing every year. No well, so far, appears to have produced more thaa 4,000,000 gallons per day but the latest strike at Cunnamulla, it is said will give between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 gallons per day. It is impossible to over estimate the value of such a supply in a dry territory. It means increasing the stock carrying capacity of the land to an extent not dreamed of by even the most sanguine of the pastoral pioneers of Western Queensland, and in a few years, if other discoveries are made, the whole aspect of the country should be changed. The cost of boring is infinitesmal compared with the results obtained. The Cunnamulla well is 1848 feet in depth aud as the average costs of boring in Queensland is 87s per foot it follows that a priceless stream of water 5,000,000 gallons a day, has been reached for about £4,300. The possibilities are even much greater than those figures indicated, for low as the cost is compared with the benefit gained it is still very much higher than it ought to be. In the United States the average outlay on wells is only 8s a foot, qv one fourth of the Queensland price, and it is said that the difference is to be accounted for to some extent by the fact that the strata are more broken in Australia that in North America, but mainly because there is keener competition in well-sinking on the other side of Pacific that on this.