Going Up High In The Air

GOING UP HIGH IN THE AIR

THE DERRICK FOR THE NEW WELL ON THE CAMPUS.

GREAT CONTRAST BETWEEN THE NEW AND OLD WAY OF BUILDING FRAME WORK.

The derrick being constructed on the campus for the well to be drilled for water is beginning to loom up towards the heavens. By this evening it will have reached a height of 50 feet. The additional 25 feet making a total of 75 feet will probably be finished by Monday night. This derrick is one of the best object lessons of the change in framing made in the last 50 years. Then such a derrick would have been framed of heavy solid timbers. Today it is all what is called balloon framing. Planks and boards are nailed together giving as great strength as the formerly used solid timbers. Great strength is necessary as it must not only be built to withstand all wind pressure, but the internal weight of a heavy cable and a 4,000 pound drill. The derrick is constructed so that no change will be necessary if the well should be drilled 3,000 feet or more. It is 20 feet in diameter on the ground and will be about four feet at the top.

The heavy timbers for the belt and bull wheel are being put in position east of the derrick. The boiler and engine will be placed east of this. The contractors hope to get their arrangements completed to start up the drill week after next. It will then probably run day and night. The first 800 feet will be run through in a hurry. Then every inch of rock will be watched as what will be struck after that distance will be unknown ground.