Csath Béla: A Zsigmondyak szerepe a magyar vízkutatás és fúrás történetében (Vízügyi Történeti Füzetek 12. Budapest, 1983)

Idegen nyelvű összefoglalók

SUMMARY Although the first artesian well was not drilled in Hungary, there is hardly another country in Europe, where their number has increased and their drilling technology developed at faster rates than here. There is certainly no other country, where they assumed greater importance than in Hungary. This was the case especially in the 19th century, in the Great Hungarian Plains. The attempts at reclaiming these areas, at making them habitable and the lands arable had two objectives,viz. to provide flood control to the areas inundated regularly each year by the spring runoff in the rivers and to resettle the areas opened in this way to development. Streams, lakes and shallow dug wells yielded water for the animals and the people under primitive conditions (low population density) only. Wholesome and safe drinking water supply was the essential, elementary prerequisite to any development. The problems and difficulties encountered in this field were overcome by the ingenuity, experimental skill and enterprise of Vilmos Zsigmondy, Mining Engineer, who as a child of the reform era awakening the nation to consciousness, lived and worked in the years of ruthless opression following the defeat in the Liberty War and subsequently in the early period of industrialization promoted by the atmosphere of reconciliation. In his handbook entitled „The art of mining" he directed attention first on „groundwater withdrawal". His main objective was to create and perfect the techniques of well drilling most suited in this particular area. In his efforts he was guided by the conviction that in Hungary deep artesian wells offer the only practicable alternative to using water from the increasingly contaminated dug wells. He introduced and used the most efficient drilling tools and mechanical equipment available at that time. His deep dniiing company entered thus into successful decades, bringing fame and recognition far beyond tne national boundaries. He is recognized as the founder of the well drilling industry in Hungary. The most outstanding and lasting feat in his professional career was the construction of the Town Park (Városliget) well (960.4 m) in Budapest. The achievement won international professional reputation and brought results of both technological and scientific importance, which triggered revolutionary progress in the domains of groundwater development, well drilling and geology alike. This well set off a series of successful ventures, under which artesian wells were drilled all over the country, introducing spectacular changes in the lifestyle of the population and assuming thus national significance. The art and technology of drilling artesian wells became important factors of development in the Great Hungarian Plains, where the need was most pressing and where they found widespread application in a short time. For a decade the artesian wells were drilled by the engineering company founded by Vilmos Zsigmondy in 1865. Beginning whit 1976 his work was resumed and continued by his pupil, nephew, partner and successor, Béla Zsigmondy, Mechanical Engineer, with the same professional skill and thoroughness. He has perfected the art and technology of well drilling over the next 40 years in Hungary, and became the driving force behind the efforts at providing wholesome drinking water to the population of villages and towns in the Hungarian Plains. His achievements in this field will never be forgotten. The good example has found many followers. The flushing method of rotary drilling, developed in 1890 at Hódmezővásárhely, has lead to the foundation of several well drilling dynasties, who acquired national reputation. This techniques was perfected successively and became soon popular. In the ensuing period of well drilling activity the Zsigmondy Company retained its leading position by