Water Supply: the Present Practice of Sinking and Boring Wells / With Geological Considerations and Examples of Wells Executed

by Ernest Spon

The position for a well having been selected, a vertical hole is made in the ground with a crowbar to a convenient depth; the well tube a, having the clamp d, monkey c, and pulleys b, [Fig. 95], previously fixed on it, is inserted into this hole.

The clamp is then screwed firmly on to the tube from 18 inches to 2 feet from the ground, as the soil is either difficult or easy; each bolt being tightened equally, so as not to indent the tube.

The pulleys are next clamped on to the tube at a height of about 6 or 7 feet from the ground, the ropes from the monkey having been previously rove through them.

Fig. 95.

The monkey is raised by two men pulling the ropes at the same angle. They should stand exactly opposite each other, and work together steadily, so as to keep the tube perfectly vertical, and prevent it from swaying about while being driven. If the tube shows an inclination to slope towards one side, a rope should be fastened to its top and kept taut on the opposite side, so as gradually to bring the tube back to the vertical. When the men have raised the monkey to within a few inches of the pulleys, they lift their hands suddenly, thus slackening the ropes and allowing the monkey to descend with its full weight on to the clamp. The monkey is steadied by a third man, who also assists to force it down at each descent. This man, likewise, from time to time, with a pair of gas-tongs, turns the tube round in the ground, which assists the process of driving, particularly when the point comes in contact with stones.

Particular attention must be paid to the clamp, to see that it does not move on the tube; the bolts must be tightened up at the first appearance of any slipping.

When the clamp has been driven down to the ground, the monkey is raised off it, the screws of the clamp are slackened, and the clamp is again screwed to the tube, about 18 inches or 2 feet from the ground. After this, the monkey is lowered on to it, and the pulleys are then raised until they are again 6 or 7 feet from the ground.

The driving is continued until but 5 or 6 inches of the well tube remain above the ground, when the clamp, monkey, and pulleys are removed, and an additional length of tube screwed on to that in the ground. This is done by first screwing a collar on to the tube in the ground, and then screwing the next length of tube into the collar, till it buts against the lower tube; a little white-lead must be placed on the threads of the collar before the ends of the tubes are screwed into it.