Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 2, Pt. 4

ESTIMATE FOR ARTESIAN WELLS.
ments for drawing it up-which would require too much time and labor when large numbers
of animals were to be supplied-the artesian wells would be the sources of running streams.
The tanks would also require to be protected from animals, and the Llano Estacado could
only be occupied by the few domestic animals which could be watered by hand.
The process of boring artesian wells is well understood in this country; and by such means
large districts of country have been redeemed from unproductiveness. The success of such
wells upon the Llano Estacado would not only be of incalculable value to the travelling
community, and in the construction of a railroad or wagon-road, but would open to occupation
an extensive grazing region which is now doomed to solitude.
In the outfit of a party sent for the purpose of boring or digging, the expenses would be
identical up to a certain point, and the number of persons required for eacn process about the
same. It would be both economy and expediency for the government to conduct the work
through its own officers, in preference to making contracts for that purpose; and with this view
it would be well to purchase boring instruments, provisions, and transportation.
One set of boring tools would be sufficient for many such wells, unless under extraordinary
difficulties of ground, which are scarcely to be anticipated on the Llano Estacado.
The wagons would be necessary to haul water to the working-parties; and at the conclusion
of the work, both mules and wagons would command a price equal at least to two-thirds of
their original cost.
In boring upon the Llano Estacado it would be preferable, if only one experiment is to be
made, to establish the depot camp on the Pecos, for the reason that the comparative proximity
of New Mexico would be an object in facilitating the supply of the party with materials and
provisions. Should an appropriation sufficiently large, however, be devoted to this object, it
would seem to me in all respects advisable to commence the work at both sides at the same time.
For entire convenience four wells, at intervals of twenty-five miles, would be necessary
between the head of the Colorado and the Pecos, and the whole number could be bored at the
same expense and in half the time as by commencing at one side only.
Allowing two months from the time of leaving the settlements to the commencement of the
work, which I would consider sufficient, and an average depth of boring of six hundred feet,
the time necessary for the completion of each well would be about six months. This time is
arrived at by allowing an average depth of three feet for each day's boring. Through hard
rock about eighteen inches a day can be made, and through sandstone and soft limestone about
six feet. From what I have stated concerning the Staked Plain, a great proportion of the
boring would be through soft sandstones and limestones. Some harder beds would be encountered, but of extent comparatively limited.
It would seem to me in all respects advisable to appropriate for the boring of all the wells
required, at once, since eight-tenths of the expense would be in the purchase of tools and transportation, and the cost of each additional well would only amount to the cost of provisions and
the wages of the party.
I append below estimates for each process.
ESTIMATE FOR ARTESIAN WELLS.
Tools, rods, augers, chisels, derrick-irons, &c., for boring 700 feet..................
Travelling forge and equipments...............................................................
Wooden tubes for 700 feet.......................................................................
Pay and subsistence of men for eight months...............................................
Cost of wagons and mules for transporting provisions and tools.......................
$1,250 00
500 00
250 00
8,016 00
9,500 00
19,516 00
37