Abstract
Artesian Well in Paris IN theAthenœum of October 26, 1839, it is stated that: “At a late sitting of the Academy of Sciences M. Arago stated that he had that morning been making some thennometrieal experiments at the artesian well at Grenelle, in order to ascertain the temperature at the depth which had already been attained, viz., 483 metres or 1584 feet. When the workmen had reached 466 motres the chalk was of a green colour, indicating the proximity of water. Since then the chalk had become mixed with clay, and of a dark colour, a still stronger indication that the sheet of water which it intended to meet is near. M. Arago used the thermometer of M. Walferdin, and after having taken all the precautions in order that the pressure which at such a height is equal to 50 atmospheres would not injure the bulb, six thermometers of the same kind were successively let down to a depth of 481 metres, care having been taken not to lower them until 36 hours had elapsed since the boring, in order that the heat which this work might have communicated should have subsided. The thermometers were left in the well for thirty-six hours. The heat at this depth was 27° of Réaumur, or 92¾ of Fahrenheit, being about 23 metres for each degreo of temperature. M. Arago expressed a hope that no water might be found for a hundred metres more, as in that case there would be a permanent hot spring at the very gates of Paris.”
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Science News a Century Ago. Nature 144, 720 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/144720a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/144720a0