The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-01
Petroleum.

The Chicago Republican. in reviewing Mr..
Bones late work. Petroleum and Petroleum
Wells''-says:
According to some biologists, the oil origi-
mates in the coal beds. from which it il ex-
PEELED by pressure, whilst others assert that
the coal is formed from the OIL instead of the
OIL from the coal. In support of both these
theories, the general resemblance of petroleum
to the oil obtained from the distillation of coal
IS adduced, although there are some minor
points of difference. But the existence of
petroleum does not depend upon the existence
ofcoal in the same locality. On the contrary.
the most productive oil districts are removed
from the coal fields. In the Pennsylvania oil
region the wells are entirely outside of the
coal held and so remote from it that there
can scarcely be any connection between the
coal and oil beds The strata in which the
oil Is found dip south, aud pass below the coal
measures from 500 to 1.ooJ feet-the nearest
coal bed to those northern oil wells Gaping
the highest hills about thirty miles distant.
In Iowa, on the contrary, where the coal
peas are heavy, the oil indications, especially
IN the Des. MONIES valley, are greatest. A
very ntue whiie Will determine the value OF
these indications. That there are immense
reservoirs of oil in that valley. we have no
doubt whatever: only the riches are too near
home to create any great degree of enthusiasm
about them. When oil is developed in that
region, people will be vexed that they did not
look after II before the market value of stock
rose so high.
lis always the case, however. No good,
they think, can come ont Of Galilee. We
are glad to find that our excellent friend.
Governor Stone. is calling public attention to
the subject, with view of developing the re-
sources OF the Des Moines Valley This is as
IL should be. The Governors attention has
hltherto been so much occupied with apricul-
tafai ana war matters that he has had no time
Tor OH Investigations. These difficulties are
now removed, however. TO a great extent
and we shall look for practical operations he
fore long, under his direction Already there
are three wells in the course of going down
namely, at Harrington. Spring Creek and
tort wayne. There has been some temno.
rAry mishap TO the second of these wells
owing to the caying in of the earth mt the
depth OF upwards of 400 feet: but there i M
doubt that oil will be finally obtained there
II Is curious fact that at Boutwell, in
canada, they get their oil in the second sand.
stone below the soapstone, mixed with water.
c'vVo barrels OF water TO 80 of OIL and that at
spring creek, they are now digging in the
secohu sandstone below the soapstone and
nave to contend with the same vast quantities
they were t. pump; they would get oil nj
once IN about the same proportions as it ia
obtained at Boutwell, The COMPANY. how.
ever, have made up their minds to 90 down
to the third sandstone, where they hone to
get flowing well-and we wish them sue.
cess.
There seems to be no certain rules for the
nndlng OF petroleum. II is obtained. in DIFF.
ierent parts of the world, in all the strati6ed
rocks, and IN the volcanic metamornbic for.
nations. 1t is sometimes traced to hills of
ignite. In the United States and the Cana.
das--as We have ioreseen-the sands,ones
are the most productive In the Pennsylva.
MA OIL region the hills are capped with CON
glomerate lying in geological succession mex,
below the coal measures. Through this the
well Is bored, passing through alternate LAYERS
OF shell and sandstone. and terminating in
sandstone where cavities exist. freouentlv
hii ls, with OIL, gas and saltwater
he cost OF sinking well varies, of course
with the locality and the obstructious 10 he
encountered. In Canada it costs Sd. 900 in
goid' including the watts, pumps and engine.
In Iowa, 1t costs $1,000: in Pennsylvan;a
from $4,000 to $1,000