806 



W EL 



THE UNIVERSAL HERBAL; 



WEL 



olid rock, require lining with stone or brick, that they may 

 preserve their figure. There are two methods of performing 

 this, which is called the steining. In one a frame of tim- 

 ber, of the same diameter as the Well, is constructed, the 

 lower edge being made sharp, and shod with iron, so that it 

 nas a tendency to cut into the ground. This kirb, as it is 

 called, is placed flat upon the ground, and the bricks are 

 built upon it to a considerable height, like a circular wall : 

 the Well-digger enters this circle, and digs away the earth 

 at the bottom, while the weight of the wall forces the kirb 

 and the brick-work, with which it is loaded, to descend as 

 fast as the earth is removed ; and more bricks are added at 

 top as fast as it sinks down : but when it gets very deep, it 

 will sink no longer, particularly in passing through a soft 

 strata: in which case a second kirb, of the same kind, but 

 of a smaller diameter, is introduced within the first. When 

 a kirb will not sink, owing to the softness of the strata, or 

 when it is required to stop out water, the bricks or stones 

 must be laid one by one at the bottom of the work, 

 taking care that the work is not left unsupported in such a 

 manner as to let the bricks fall in ; this is called under- 

 pruning. After Wells are walled round from the bottom 

 to the top, it is usual to have pumps fixed in them ; the 

 diameter of the Well is also generally proportioned to the 

 itrength of the spring. As Wells are supplied by springs, 

 which are formed in the bowels of the earth, by water perco- 

 lating through the upper strata, and descending downwards 

 till it meets with a stratum of clay, or other impervious 

 material which intercepts its course ; hence the sinking of 

 Wells is intimately connected with the nature of the strata, 

 and of the spring which each strata may contain. In cases 

 where different kinds of sandy strata rest upon beds of clay 

 at a considerable depth, and have a free issue at the lowest 

 ends of them, if Wells were sunk into the sand beds higher 

 up, no water could be found permanently, until the strata 

 of sand was penetrated quite through, and even some depth 

 into the beds of clay beneath. In such cases the water 

 could never rise in the Wells much higher than a certain 

 point; because when it rose as high as the porous sand, it 

 would flow along through it until it made its escape below; 

 and if the beds of clay should extend backwards under the 

 ground a great way, and at a great depth below the surface, 

 so as to form an abundant and never-ceasing stream under 

 the beds of sand, it will necessarily follow that the Wells 

 will continue exactly at the same height, as in the case of a 

 ftrong bason at a fountain, into which a pipe of water con- 

 stantly flows, so as to keep it running over. When, how- 

 ever, the streams below the beds of sand are small, and the 

 draught of water from the Wells at times uncommonly large, 

 the surface of the water in the Wells will of course be made 

 to sink; and, as we often see, be even entirely drained, so as 

 to require time to fill again. This evil, however, might be 

 averted by enlarging the reservoir, either by widening the 

 Wells, or sinking them to a greater depth in the clay, or by 

 both those expedients. When quicksand comes in the way 

 of Well-diggers, it presents obstacles which can only be 

 removed with great labour and difficulty. Probably the best 

 remedy is to find or form an outlet, by which the water may 

 be entirely discharged. This, when the quicksand lies 

 above the level of the sea, or the adjoining lands, may often 

 be cheaply accomplished by paying proper attention to the 

 position and natural dip of the strata, which may be disco- 

 vered by various means besides boring. But there are cases 

 particularly, where the quicksand is produced by a cavity 

 like a bason, scooped out of the entire bottom, so as to con- 

 tain water to a considerable depth, which in some particular 



situations may be reckoned irremediable. In springs of this 

 kind, the quantity of water flowing over the lower surface of 

 the clay, will not seem to be diminished by digging Wells in 

 a higher position ; for as the Well, as soon as it is filled, 

 must overflow, that will not intercept one drop more water 

 than what is drawn out of it: were it even possible to pump 

 the water out as fast as it enters the Well, that would not 

 much alter the case, because no more water could be thus 

 intercepted than that which would have flowed into the 

 mouth of the Well in its descent: hence every drop, passing 

 the Well mouth on either side, would flow forward to the 

 lower situation. If the bed of sand be of great extent, sup- 

 ported by a bed of clay, or other impervious matter, there 

 water will undoubtedly be found, whatever maybe the depth 

 of the bed of sand above it, if a Well be dug through it; for 

 as the water, that falls in showers upon the earth's surface, 

 necessarily sinks through that pervious stratum, it soon 

 escapes beyond the sun's power of evaporation, and sinks 

 downwards till it meets witk an impervious stratum. There 

 are many other cases of strata and springs, as concerned in 

 the opening and forming of Wells, that constitute different 

 classes of springs for this use, as those where the water is 

 confined and pent up in retentive beds, so as to be applicable 

 to the supply of Wells, by simple boring down into them, or 

 making slight openings in other ways, by which the water 

 may flow up. The most ingenious method of forming Wells 

 is that proposed by a French philosopher, who has advised 

 to perforate the ground to a sufficient depth with an auger 

 or borer; a cylindrical wooden pipe then to be placed in the 

 hole, and driven downward with a mallet, and the boring 

 continued, that the pipe may be forced down to a greater 

 depth, so as to reach the water or spring. In proportion as 

 the borer becomes filled with earth, it should be drawn up 

 and cleared, when, by adding fresh portions of pipe, the 

 water may generally be reached and obtained. Wells made 

 in this manner are superior to those constructed in the com- 

 mon method, not only in point of cheapness, but procuring- a 

 more certain and abundant supply of water, without at all 

 endangering the workmen employed. When the water near 

 the surface does not appear to be good, the perforation may 

 be continued to a much greater depth, till a purer fluid can 

 be procured : and wherever Wells have been injured ov 

 tainted, they can be emptied and deepened by the borer, so 

 as to reach the lower sheet of water. The greatest obstacle 

 to the general practice of this ingenious and safe method of 

 forming Wells, is the expense of the borer, which, when car- 

 ried to any great depth, would require an apparatus to work 

 it by means of horse-power. Other utensils would also be 

 necessary, in order to work through hard strata of different 

 kinds; and in some instances no doubt it would wholly fail 

 to penetrate hard substances. There would also be much 

 difficulty in driving down the wooden pipes in many cases, 

 especially to any considerable depth ; as well as in fitting the 

 wooden pipes with sufficient exactness to fit the aperture 

 formed by the boring auger. The best mode would pro- 

 bably be, to have metallic pipes cast for the purpose, and so 

 formed as to fit exactly upon each other, to any depth that 

 might be necessary in sinking Wells. Well-diggers are some- 

 times exposed to suffocation by the noxious air; which is 

 usually removed by means of a large pair of bellows, and a 

 lona; leathern pipe, which is hung down to the bottom of the 

 Well, and fresh air is forced down it by means of the bellows. 

 This, however, is a tedious and uncertain process. Some 

 throw water down, which often has the desired effect, but 

 the cost is that of having to draw it up again, which is very 

 laborious. See Land, Water, and Weather. 



