PUMPING ASSOCIATION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2084, 8 September 1875, Page 2

PUMPING ASSOCIATION.

The usualmeasuringup took placeyesterday, and added 12 feet, making the entire depth 585 feet.' The bottom is hard,'i sharp grey stone, requiring to be shot out, lithofracteur being the chief explosive agent. Beyond tlie work being a very wet job, no great difficulty is experienced in sinking, four men being constantly at work in the bottom, excepting the intervals of changing buckets ; the progress of late being attributable to the constancy of keeping the hammer going. The means of so doing are supplied by the continuous supply of air forced downthe air' shaft, and an exhaust-pipe to within a few feet of the bottom, conveying gas and smoke to the surface as fast as it is gendered. The water is fully uader control by the 18 inch lift, conveying to the 500 feet level tank, where it is taken up by the larger or 25----inch column, greatest portion of the drainage ,beil^caught and led into this tank both from the main shaft as well as the air or parallel shaft from the 400 to the 500 feet. Preparations are also being made for continuing the air shaft downwards, to be connected with the main shaft at any lower point desired. The water is warm at the bottom, and * charged with a solution of lime, which, on being brought up to a cooler, as well as a comparatively quieter region, shows itself by incrustation on the iron work connected with the 500 feet plunger, buckets, &c, occasioning their renewal at times, and constant oversight. Since January last the shaft has been sunk 111 feet.