12 
THE ARTESIAN WELLS OF COLORADO, 
not affect the static pressure, as thus determined. Press¬ 
ure, as thus determined, may be reduced to pounds per 
square inch by dividing by 2J. 
THE ARTESIAN WELLS OF COLORADO. 
The discovery of artesian water in Colorado was an 
accident. There had been those, however, who believed 
in its existence, and who make attempts to find it. 
Probably the earliest was made by General W. J. Palmer, 
who, while manager of construction of the Union Pacific 
Railway, made an attempt at Kit Carson in 1871. The 
Government sunk wells at Akron, Fort Lyon and Chey¬ 
enne Wells in 1881-2, but without success, other than a 
small flow at Fort Lyon. Before this the Pioneer Oil 
Company, while sinking a well on the bottoms at Pueblo, 
struck water January 1, 1880. This well, now known as 
the Clark Mineral Spring Well, is still used, and has led 
to other trials in the same vicinity, all with small flow. 
General attention was attracted to this source of 
water supply by the discovery of water in North Denver 
in 1883 while prospecting for coal. The water was so 
much purer than that in use that it immediately led to 
the sinking of many others for a domestic and manufact¬ 
uring supply. This led other communities to bore for 
water, and some very deep wells, as at Greeley and Love¬ 
land, have been sunk in the search. The latter town has 
still outstanding some $8,000 of bonds which was used in 
the trial. Other attempts have been made at Colorado 
Springs, Longmont, Walsenburg, Rouse Junction, Stout, 
and on the plains at Calhan, Otis, Thatchers, etc. The 
supply has in no case been large, and in most places the 
attempt was unsuccessful. 
Water has been found east of the range at Denver, 
Pueblo, Greeley, Stout, Florence, and in the Arkansas 
Valley near the Kansas line. The only important basins 
