East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-11-15
THE CANADA OIL REGION.
Where the Springs Are and How to
Cot There---O--.,,v, ng Expenses---
Comparative Profits Of Canada and
Pithole.
Correspondence of the Advertiser and Tribune
OIL SrMSGs, (Enniskillen Township,) !

Correspondence Of the Advertiser and Tribune
OH SPRINGS, (Enniskillcn Township)(
October 81, 1865
The ADVERTISER AND TRIBUNE, of q
recent date, contained synopsis of
the geological theories concerning the
oil-bearing rocks of Michigan and
Canada, the speculations of theorists
concerning oilformations, accompanied
by some general remarks concerning
petroleum, its history, brief account
of its discovery at Oil Springs, and
the early attempts to obtain the crude
oil; accompanied with reference to
the extraordinary beds of bituminous
deposits that have been known to exist
49, .i.i- ---.;---y II - 49, .ioi.,i.y vi
these beds, where the first experiments
in sinking oil-wells were made. Black
Creek, which passes through the town
ship of Enniskillen, was many years
since known to be coated with thin
oily substance, which still character
ICES its surface, and which, gently
flowing down the stream, greatly in
creased in quantity from the working
of the wells in its vicinity, presents a
beautiful appearance, exhibiting all
the eolors of tho rainbow, happily
blended and running into one another,
with combination of delicate tints
and forms which the most skillful
artist can never hope to initiate. This
peculiarly of petroleum when floating
on the water, first suggested the idea
of extracting from it various coloring
substances, which have been found so
highly valuable in the arts. Besides
the gum-beds we have already des-
cribed, there were other Indications Of
petroleum in the vicinity which at
tracted attention, such as small natural
oil springs and diminutive beds OF
bitumen, scattered here and there over
the surface for considerable distance.
These surface Indications, Of course,
were not overlooked by oil operators
and spectators. They furnished
ocular proof of the value of deposit
far down below the surface, which,
though dimly imagined at first, has
turned out more prolific in quantity
than the most sanguine could have
anticipated.
Several well authenticated instances
of remarkable flowing wells are re-
lated in connection with the early
efforts to develop the oil product OF
this region. We will mention two OF
the most prominent that now occur to
us. In July, 1862, Mr.. John Shaw
sunk well, which is still known as
the Shaw well. Mr.. S. reached the
rock after sinking crib of fifty feet
from the surface. He then commenced
drilling, and reached the depth of one
hundred and fifty-eight feet, MAXI ~
in all two hundred and eight feet. =
Almost despairing of finding oil, and
when he had expended his last dollar,
he was about to abandon the under
taking, resolving one more days un-
successful effort should be the last. -
The following day he fortunately
struck very prolific vein which speed
lily filed the well and an adjacent
tank, and it commenced overflowinl
into the creek. Mr.. Shaw's well wa.
furnished with an iron pipe of only
one and a-half inches in diameter. :
Some fabulous stories are told abou
the immense yield of this remarkabl,
well. Your correspondent does no
exceed the bounds Of truth when h,
states that it at first yielded from on,
TO two thousand barrels in twenty
four hours, and for a long perioc
thereafter poured forth it's liquid treas
ure with profusion that has scarcel,
been exceeded in the richest territor,
of Pennsylvania. The success of Mr.
Shaw was soon known to the public
and large number of adventurer
gathered in that vicinity, who bough
or leased lots and commenced opera
tons, nearly all of them without cap
ital, and able to bring into use onl,
the rudest machinery. The fluctua
tons in the price of oil were SO great
and the profits Of the business SO un
certain that most of the early opera
tors we're compelled to abandon thei
wells. 1t should be stated that abou
the time tho Shaw well began 10 flow
; another well near by, known as Bloc