Our First Half-Century: A Review of Queensland Progress Based Upon Official InformationQueensland
History
Our First Half-Century: A Review of Queensland Progress Based Upon Official Information
Queensland
Queensland -- History
The report then discusses the question of using artesian water for
power in the industries. The Hydraulic Engineer points out that of the
total horse-power used in the United States at that time about 39.5
per cent. was hydrodynamic. Artesian water, he says, can be applied
to driving all kinds of machinery, "from a sewing machine or a cream
separator to a saw or flour mill; and for fire-extinguishing it is
most excellent." He therefore recommends the employment in Western
Queensland of turbines and Pelton wheel motors for sheep-shearing,
electric lighting, and other kinds of machinery used there, pointing
out that the horse-power available was--At Blackall, 8.04; at
Cunnamulla, 41.53; at Charleville, 123.41; and at Thargomindah,
63.51.[c] He further recommends the utilisation of the artesian supply
for street mains, a suggestion since carried out with great public
advantage in several western towns. While Mr. Henderson doubts the
utility of artesian water for irrigation, he says that, generally
speaking, it is quite as valuable as that from town mains, rivers,
and falls for developing power. The aggregate area to date in which
precious artesian water has been found in Queensland is 117,000
square miles, and he feels that this area would be rapidly enlarged
by exploration by both Government and private borings. The shallowest
completed flowing well in Queensland at that date was 60 ft., and the
deepest 3,630 ft.; the average depth so far as known to the department
was 1,289 ft.
[Footnote c: Mr. Henderson notes that these horse-powers have
since been very much reduced.]
STATIC PRESSURE AND HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.
Explaining why the volume flowing from a well does not depend upon
the diameter of the "static" pressure of the water, Mr. Henderson says
that the flow depends principally upon the relative altitudes of the
outcrops of the water-bearing beds, and of the mouth of the bore or
well, and upon the character and texture of the porous beds from which
the well derives its supply. The static pressure is ascertained by
stopping the flow by artificial means, when the pressure generally
rises, sometimes quickly, at other times slowly, until it reaches a
maximum. But when the well is again opened it will be found that
the static pressure has been more or less reduced by friction. This
reduced pressure is called the "hydraulic." The hydraulic pressure can
never exceed the static pressure; nor can the volume of water flowing
from an artesian well be ascertained by its pressure, or the height to
which the water may rise over the top of the casing, any more than the
pressure can be ascertained by knowing its volume.[d]
In the same report is announced the striking at Winton, at a depth
of 3,235 ft. of a supply amounting to 100,000 gallons a day, at a
temperature of 140 degrees. It was determined to continue sinking
under a new contract.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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