Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1858 — ARTESIAN WELLS. [ARTICLE]

ARTESIAN WELLS.

“I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of valleys; I will make (the wilderness a pool of water, and tho dry land springs of water.” Did not the Prophet of old thus foretell, what man has been enabled, through the bounteous gifts of Provideufce, to? accomplish by Artesian Wells 1 It wjill be remembered by very many of the citizens in and adjoining Rensselaer, that two suimincrs tigb all the wells in this vicinity wer- dry, and that for miles around water was only obtained for drinking and culinary purp. ses from Mr. Ballard’s urwl Mr Peacock’s noble springs. In these days of progress, when impossible rf?t longer a word of practical import,such a state jof things should never occur again. Artesian wells, have become so common as to excite little wonder. Through their agenev the “desert may blossom ns the rose,” and “the dry places’of the earth be made glad by running streams.” That fin Artesian well may be bored upon our Public Sqafe.,:and water obtained at a reasonable cost, is no matter of doubt —for 'sotn»2o or 31) miles down the Iroquois, in Illinois, they have several of them, and at comparatively small expense. It. is. a question then merely of necessity and cost. There i*s but tittle question pf its necessity, when wej remember that (wo years ngo, Marion township was ini a great measure dependant upon water, from two springs which are private property, to which the public have 'no right—though the\ ill probably never be debarred the jir-ivi >• of u-imr the water. The . ust in V'vse tum s a question touching tho T mlcr pji'rt o' y. oufer-man-the pocket. No eXatt calf* i ot the. Cost can very well be ’4«doy from the uncertainty'of the ; depth at which pure! water can he obtained. Mr. Win. IS. McKay, who bored the well at I•ufayette/jgives the following bill of price.-: “For the first 100 fecit, $4,00 per foot. | “For the second 100 feet, $5,00 per foot. “For the third lOOfeet $6,50 per foot. “The above prices contemplate working in clay, sr rad orgraYel, and I furnish tho necessary tubing, (of 8 irfph cast iron.( For working in roCks, or whero it becomes necessary to use the drill, I work for twelve dollars per day, furnishing everything— -in the event of going through a strata of rock, and it becomes necessary to insert smaller pipe, this would be extra. I can give no definite idea of the probable cost of an undertaking of the kind, as water might be found in 80 or 100 feet, nnji then it might not he within a thousand—though the probabilities, in this location, are, that from 100 to 200, feet water would probably be found.” It is the opinion of many here that 100 feet would give us the best of water. A gentleman familiar with the character of the county here is of the opinion, that rock woo'd not be found on the north side of the river. Tt is not known that any wells have been dug down to, or through rock on the north side. It is understood that Mr. Van Rensselaer will give an hundred dollars, provided the citizens will give two hundred. To obtain so great a blessings as a a pure ever-running fountain of water on the Public Square; can | five hundred dollars be raised including Mr. an Renssclaier’s subscription JWe all know 7 the times are hard. But Could not a little be spared by the citizens interested— r an|d all who take any pride in their county town and Hall of Justice are i interested—and thus the sum be raised? It i is a matter of public benefit and we give v'n-’se suggestions, being desirous for the public good.