New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-02

The following correspondence will be read with
interest as affecting new development of the
resources of our State, which promises the most
encouraging results;
OFFICE OF LOUISIANA Petroleum AND Coal OIL Co., !
DR. j. w Maliet Professor of Chemistry Medical Depart
ment, University of louisiana
Sir have been informed that you have twice,
not long since, visited the oil springs in Cacaseu
parish. As the company which | represent pro-
poses to develop the oil resources of that region,
you will greatly oblige me by communicating to
me Ito be submitted to the public) your obserya-
tons and conclusions affecting the practeability
and eXpediency of enterprise at that locality.
Very respectfully VIM G. SWAN, President
MEDICAL DEPT, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
New Orleans, April 30, 1866
wm Swan Esq president Louisiana Petroleum and Coal
Oil Company New Orleans;
Str-In reply to your letter, requesting me to
furnish you with such information as possess in
relation to petroleum in the parish of Calcasieu,
on the lands proposed to be leased and worked by
the company you represent, | beg to furnish the
following brief statement:
have twice, during last summer and fall, visited
the locality in question.
1t is situated near the west fork of the Calca-
sleu river, on the edge of gently rising timhered
land, on the other side an extensive tract of low
lying prairie, which is swampy in wet weather A
dark coored mineral oil eXudes from the ground
at some eight or ten spots, at some points ac-
companied by water, which latter forms springs
| of two or three feet in depth. Combustible gas
continually escapes in considerable quantity bub-
ling up through the water, and also making its
way through the dry earth with a slight Kissing
sound.
The gas has in several places pufed up the soil
and the asphaltum-ike material left by the mineral
oil, when long exposed to the sun, until at last
cracks have formed, from which the oil continues
slowly to eXude. The escape from the ground
may be traced for a distance of four hundred
yards from the springs.
Scarcely any work has been done at this place.
A few shallow pits have been dug, and two borings
were made during the war with roughly eytemno-
rized tools. These borings were carried, was
Informed to the depth of segenty-fye and one
hundred feet respectively. They are now nearly
filled up, the rude wooden tubs or curbing which
was used having decayed. In the holes still re-
feet IN depth--thefs were several gallons of mine
raj oil and some water. The oil has been collected
in considerable quantity by the country people,
and used for greasing wagon wheels, and | was
informed that the b0riugs had been suspended in
consequence of the choking of the augers
by acGumulating 'loblollyn of nominal
oil and earth, for the removal of which
no proper means were at hand. In the
heap OF loose material pointed out to me as having
been thrown out from the borings, found sand
stiff blue clay, shell loan and fragments of a
loosely aggregated, friable sandstone.
have chemically examined a small specimen
OF the mineral oil from this locality, and find it Ia
yield refined oil of excellent illuminating quality
principally remarkable for very high boiling point
and associated with scarcely any of the more
volatile benzne.
consider the surface indications of the exist
ence at the locality in question of mineral oil il
workable amount, to be such as fully to iustif7
the expenditure of the means necessary for fairly
testing the result. If these surface Indication
were in Western Pennsylvania or Virginia, should
feel no doubt whatever of favorable result, Az
yet Ghere are no data derived from positive result.
OF oOrlng in the more recent geological forma.
tons of the Gulf States, upon which so positive
an opinion can be founded If the statements re-
Gently published with reference to petroleum dis.
coVeres IN Cuba be confirmed, the probability of
success in this State will become very great.
Having myself visited, during last year. all the
| principal localities in Louisiana and Texas, at
which surface indications of the presence of mine
raj oil have been found l can safely say that the
| character and extent of these indications on the
land you propose to employ in Calcasieu parish,
| together with the collateral advantages as to
| transportation supplies of timber and fuel rem
der this locality the most desirable with which
am acquainted for the purpose Of practical ex-
| plOration
am, sir, very respectfully, yours,
j. ". MALLEF.
Byron had his hands full when he had this ad
venture:
/ II stood in Venice on the Bridge of sirbs