14 



I am now sinking a five -inch hole to the first water (240 feet) into 

 which I shall fit a copper pump for the supply of engine and men. 

 This will occupy us about twelve days, by which time the engine 

 will be fitted up and ready to resume the boring of the well at the 

 depth attained last year, (861 feet.) 



I anticipate with confidence, a successful result within two months. 

 Our march from San Antonio has been rapid and altogether for- 

 tunate. 



I am, sir respectfully, your obedient servant, 



JOHN POPE, 

 Captain Top' I Fng'rs, com'g. 

 Capt. A. A. Humphreys, 



Top' I Eng'rs, in charge of Office ExpV s and Surveys. 



An unofficial letter from Captain Pope, dated Camp on Pecos river, 

 October 1, 1857, states: "We are getting along here as well as 

 could be expected, and I hope six weeks will enable us to complete 

 all our operations near this place. The pump has been sunk to the 

 first water, (240 feet,) and is now pumping for the use of the engine. 

 Within the first two weeks we cut and hauled mesquite roots sufficient 

 to run the engine for three months, and everything goes on smoothly 

 and expeditiously. We are now pumping from the well the mud and 

 sand which have accumulated since we left it, and will resume the 

 boring in a few days." 



Camp on Pecos River, January 5, 1858. 



Sm : I have the honor to report for the information of the War 

 Department, tliat we are still engaged upon the "Llano Estacado" in 

 the prosecution of the first experiment of sinking an artesian well. 



The time consumed has already been far greater than was antici- 

 pated, from the repeated accidents and breakages of machinery, which ' 

 required mucli time in each case to rc])air. The boring has only 

 reached at this date a depth of nine hundred and fifty feet, though I 

 trust that hereafter the work will be more rapidly executed. 



Several streams of water have been already intersected since the 

 work was resumed, and the borings now are in the sulphurous shale 

 from which issue the sulphur springs at the head of Delaware creek. 

 I am in daily expectation of striking water which will overflow the 

 surface. 



The winter has been unusually severe for this region, and we are 

 in the midst of a norther, accompanied by snow. I have been obliged 

 to send into Fort Davis to be foraged all the animals not absolutely 

 necessary for the work here, and to haul from that place sufficient 

 corn to give the animals here half the ration of forage. 



