The Rushden Echo, 13th May, 1898, transcribed by Gill Hollis
The Water Crisis at Rushden Failure of The Trial Boring - What Shall Be Done Next? (Special to the Echo)
Unfortunately the experimental boring at the trial hole, situated near the present pumping station at Wymington, has proved to be unsuccessful, and the Urban Council of Rushden will now have to turn their attention elsewhere in order to find a permanent supply.
It will be remembered that the Council commenced operations at the trial bore about ten weeks ago, the contractors being Messrs. Timmins and Sons, of Runcorn, their representative, Mr. Jukes, being in charge of the works.
The Total Cost
of the experiment will be £400 or £500, and the boring has now been carried to a depth of 300 feet, as decided upon at a meeting of the Council. The first 22 feet consisted of valley gravel, and thence, down to a depth of 250 feet, the boring went through the upper lias. From a depth of 250 feet to 270 feet is the broken strata of marlstone and from that downwards to 300 feet is the lower lias. To the keen disappointment of all concerned, no water has been met with, and now that the lower lias has been reached it would, of course, be perfectly useless to proceed further with the experiment.
Upon the advice of Mr. Eunson, who is the consulting engineer and water expert, the Council decided to fire
A 10lb. Dynamite Shot
at a depth of 262 feet, where the marl stone was expected to be, to see what effect this would have upon the strata, which seems so dense and so close as to keep the water back if there should be any there. It appears that in several instances in the country an explosion of this sort has had the effect of making a way for water to run into a bore.
The dynamite was fired on Wednesday last at about 4.20 p.m., in the presence of Mr. John Claridge (chairman of the Urban Council), Mr. Horace Brawn, Mr. Eunson, C.E., Mr. W. B. Madin (the surveyor), Mr. John Mason, and others. The vibration was felt for many yards around, but unfortunately there was no flow of water into the boring, which has now, of course, to be abandoned.
In order to obtain
A Temporary Supply
of water a well was sunk last summer in the immediate neighbourhood of the pumping station at Wymington, but nearer the Midland Railway. The well was carried to a depth of 35 or 36 feet, into the gravel and sand. The supply here, however, is a diminishing quantity, so as to be hardly worth the cost of keeping up, though, of course, the well was sunk with the best of intentions. At first this well yielded about 15,000 or 16,000 gallons per day, but the amount per day now is only about 9,000 gallons. The gathering ground here is very limited.
A few weeks ago the Council decided to seek an additional supply of water on land occupied by Mr. Goosey, and situated on the other side of the railway. Early in March Mr. Madin, the surveyor, was instructed by the Council to gauge the springs which had been inspected by the committee with the object of
Preparing a Scheme
for utilizing this water. Mr. Madin has carried out this scheme, which includes a reservoir capable of holding about 22,000 gallons of water, and it is expected that this will fill each night. There are 1,200 yards of rising main, against a head of 36 feet. It will be worked by a steam pump and boiler. It is expected that this supply will be available by the middle of next week, and hopes are entertained that this additional supply will prove of great service to the town. The works here have been carried out by the Council, under the direction and supervision of Mr. Madin, no contract having been entered into by the Council. This naturally has thrown a great deal of
Extra Labour
upon Mr. Madin, but the work has been done very willingly, and it must be a satisfaction to the authorities to have in Mr. Madin such an excellent successor to Mr. Pare, the late surveyor. Yesterday (Thursday) the workmen were engaged in fixing the pump, which has been supplied by Mr. J. S. Clipson, and that gentleman is also supplying the engine. Mr. T. Yorke, the chief plumber under the Council, has charge of the laying of the mains, and Mr. Geo. Burgess has superintended the excavations.
Disappointed at not finding water at the trial bore, the Council are now turning their attention elsewhere. They have several things in view. One suggestion is to go to the Moors, near the Hayway, for a further temporary supply to tide over the crisis until a permanent supply is obtained. Meanwhile Mr. Eunson and Mr. Cameron, the eminent geologist, of Bedford, have been instructed by the Council to investigate the geological nature of the surrounding district and to make a report accordingly.
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