一些早期流动的自流井。

一些早期流动的自流井。

Within the walls of an old Carthusian convent at Fillers, in the ancient province of Artois, France, is a well that has flowed steadily ever since it was bored in the year 1126, and this is but one of many flowing wells in the province whose name has furnished the term "artesian.” Nearly equal in antiquity with the flowing wells of Artois are those of Modena, in northern Italy, which were held in such repute that two well-borer’s augers were made

the coat of arms of the town, and the first certain statement in literature concerning the employment of the miner’s drill in sinking wells is probably that published in 1691 by Bernardini Ramazzini, a professor of Medicine at Modena. Indeed, this town might well have disputed with Artois the right to give name to flowing wells. That artesian waters were discovered at such early dates may, however, be attributed to happy chances. The modern history of flowing wells began only when geology was ready to point out the necessary disposition of rock strata and the art of drilling was mastered. In the early part of the last century improved machinery for drilling was invented, and much attention was devoted to the subject. In France popular interest in these wells was so great that for a number of years the Royal and Central Society of Agriculture each year distributed medals and prizes (the highest was $600) to workers in the field—to authors, inventors, well-drillers, and those who succeeded in obtaining wells in regions where they were not before known. Many flowingwells were drilled in other countries, as in England, for example; but the chief honors for the advancement of the science belong without question to the French savants and mechanicians. One of the earliest artesian wells in the United States was that sunk at Fort Monroe, Va., in 1845. Its depth, however. was not very great—only 168 ft. An-