THE AMERICAN TUBE WELL.

Southland Times, Issue 982, 8 July 1868, Page 3

THE AMERICAN TUBE WELL.

(From tho "London Mechanics' Magazine".) Probably no invention of the preseni day is causing among scientific men sc much attention as this exceedingly simple and yet most efficient apparatus for obtaining, in alD.ost all situations, pure wa^er at a Bmall outlay. It consits of «'j tiling more than an iron tube perforated with holes at the lower end, and Bhod with a steel point, which enables it readily to penetrate the harderst soil. This tube is driven into the ground vertically- by means of repeated blows by a hollow monkey working on the tube as a guide. These blows are received upon a strong clamp firmly gripping the tube near the ground, the clamp being from time to time raised as the tube descends into the earth. The process of driving is continued until it is ascertained, by means of aplumb lowered into the tube, i that a water bearing stratum has been j reached. A pump is then attached to I the tube and the water obtained ; at first i the water pumped up comes thick and dirty, but after a while it comes clearer and clearer until that is perfectly pure which remains. It is evident that, apart* from the simplicity of the tube-well system, its great advantage is in the purity ofthe water obtained. In no ordinarjTdug wellisitjiQssible to prevent Burface water and land drainage from mixing with the purer water springing from the bottom; indeed it is very questionable if in any case an open well is more than a cesspool in which the drainage from all the surrounding soil is collected. The unhealthy character of many localities may fairly be traced to the deleterious nature of the water supply arising from this cause, and it must always be a matter of vital importance to obtain water cut oft from these impurities, and, if possible, drawn direct from the natural source. This the patent tube-well system most completely effects, for the tube driven into the ground seals up the well from all surface drainage ; indeed, if the sinkers come to water inferior in quality or quantity, they may drive through that into a lower and better stratum, and completely exclude the upper water ; and then, as they pump, the smaller particles of soil pass through the perforations into the well and are drawn up, leaving behind a bed of gravel and small Btones, which forms a natural reservoir and filter to each well, and insures the purity of the water subsequently pumped up. This invention is known and appreciated by the Americans, who, in 1860, employed it in the Northern army to supply their troops with water all through the campaigns. It is of more recent introduction into this country, but is already begining to be adopted by all those who value the purity of water. The Government, after testing it practically at Aldershot, have sent a special brigade and a number of well tubes with the Abyssinian expedition. The Emperor of the Erench has had several wells sunk under his own personal supervision, with most decided success, both at Buchy and near Paris, and has ordered a number for the use of the army, and school of Agriculture.