All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

284 All About Inventions water. He argued that this nuisance would prevail until the sinkers got down to, and broke through, the solid rock. But the problem was to drive the hole to such a depth. Open well-sinking was impossible unless the three labourers were provided with diving- helmets. At last, after ruminating upon the problem, Colonel Drake and his engineer decided to see what they could do with the ancient Chinese method of sinking water-wells. It had not only proved highly successful in the land of its origin, where it had been practised from time immemorial, but had been applied with rich results in other parts of the world for tap- ping subterranean supplies of water. This method is known as the artesian system; by it a pipe is driven into the ground hard on the heels of a drill, which is operated after the manner of a pile-driver and pounds the rebellious earth into dust to be with- drawn by a continuous injection of water, which flushes the debris in the form of mud to the surface. If water could be secured by the artesian process, why not oil ? This was the idea which arose in Drake s mind. To him there seemed no insuperable reason why the method should not succeed, seeing that petroleum was also a liquid. At all events, he would submit the idea to a practical test. Forth- with a stock of piping was purchased and brought to the spot with extreme difficulty and at great expense, the transportation facilities to such an out-of-the-way spot taxing the patience and en- deavours of the little party to the utmost. Then the tools for puncturing the ground had to be specially contrived. Under such conditions, despite the enthu-