SHORT NOTES ON PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS. 
45 
40. Norton’s American Tube Well.* 
This well consists of a hollow wrought-iron tube, the lower end of which, being 
provided with an eight-square point, and perforated with a number of small holes, 
is driven by means of a monkey or weight into the ground. 
The lower length is 11 ft. long over all, of which the solid point is 10 in. long, 
and, being welded 2 in. into the lower end of the tube, leaves the hollow part of 
the tube 10 ft. long. The holes extend up the tube in six parallel rows 1| in. 
apart, for a length of 2J ft., their total area being about 1| times that of the 
internal diameter of the tube, which is 11 in., while its exterior diameter is 
HI in. 
The weight per foot is about 2§ lbs. The tubes sent down from London were 
in various lengths from 3 ft. to 9 ft., and, having a screw thread cut in each end, 
can be jointed together by means of iron collars 2 in. long, screwed over the ends, 
the joints being made good by means of white lead. 
Driving the Well, 
The position for the well being selected, a hole is made with a crowbar, per¬ 
fectly vertical, in which the tube is inserted. A clamp of cast-iron, faced on the 
top and inside with steel, having a groove in the centre of the size of the exterior 
diameter of the gas pipe, with a screw thread cut roughly inside so as to lay hold 
of the pipe made in two pieces capable of being tightened up by means of two 
screw bolts, is placed on the tube at a height of from 18 in. to 2 ft. from the 
ground, according as the soil is difficult or easy, and screwed on firmly, care being 
taken to tighten each bolt equally. 
The monkey, consisting of a hollow iron casting weighing about 75 lbs., with a 
couple of lugs, projecting one on either side, is next placed on the pipe, and lastly 
a couple of pulleys are clamped to the tube as high from the level of the ground as 
a man can conveniently reach, usually about six feet, a rope being rove through 
each pulley, and secured to the lugs on the monkey. Fig. 1. The monkey is 
raised by two men, who should work steadily together, and pull the ropes at the 
Section of Well. 
Fig. I. 
same angle with the pipe, so as not to cause a tendency in it to lean over on one 
side more than on the other. The monkey may be steadied and assisted in its 
7 
* Report by Lieut. W. B. Hurst, R.E., on Norton’s American Tube Well. 
