Speaking of John P. Fort reminds me that to him is due the credit
of introducing artesian wells in southwestern Georgia, where he
owned large farming lands. He desired to protect and improve the
health of his tenants and other laborers by freeing them from
the necessity of drinking the rotten limestone water in shallow
wells which was considered productive of chills, fever, and other
sickness. So this progressive Maconite decided to experiment with
artesian wells and he had one bored on one of his plantations from
which a splendid flow of fine water was obtained. The result was
so gratifying that he had other wells bored and the health of the
people on his farms became first class. The glad news was spread
throughout all that section of country, and other planters followed
Captain Fort's example, and in a short time the boring of artesian
wells became common in that territory. An official publication says
that the sanitary advantages that have resulted to many towns and
localities all over the southwest Georgia coastal plain through the
pure, wholesome drinking water of the artesian wells, are seen in
the fact that sections once dreaded as malarial and sickly are now
considered among the most salubrious in the State and are increasing
more rapidly in population than even the hill country of north
Georgia. The average depth of the wells in south Georgia is about
four hundred and fifty feet, and as the various strata penetrated
are comparatively free of rock, the wells are bored at small cost.
Bulletin No. 7 of the State Geological Survey says: "While there is
much yet to be learned about the underground water system of the
coastal plain, there is, nevertheless, sufficient known already to
warrant the statement that almost this entire portion of the State
is underlaid by pervious beds which will furnish large quantities of
pure, wholesome water when pierced by the drill." When Captain Fort
drilled his first artesian well he bored better than he knew. The
Maconite became a public benefactor. Georgia is due him much for
his foresight and progressiveness, his philanthropy and humanity.