Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-01-03
From our Special Correspondent.
FROM THE CANADA OIL REGIONS.
boutwell,, G. W., Dec. 2lst, 1865

. . Az NJ a~bAANN' NN'SS
OIL. in Boutwell,, G. w.. | propose to drop
you an Article in regard to the prospect of
the country. and, the chances for petrole-
um. Boutwell, lies on the Great Western
r. R.-about 70 miles from Detroit, and
40 miles from London, G. W. 1t is fiat,
level country, and the wells mostly lie on
a small river called the Thames There
are from twenty to thirty wells in opera
ton, and there has never a we'll failed
yet There are about three hundred wells
going down, and as many more about to
commence.
This is a great Oil Country, and there
is no question about it. Men are here
from all parts of the country, and are in
vesting in oil lands; companies are form
ed and their agents are here to sink wells /;
and this town, which few months ago
was nothing but wood station, is now a
place of business, A large depot is being
put up, stores. hotels, shops, and build
ing of all kinds are being erected, all on
account of 'ile." The hotels are crowded
and one can hardly procure lodgings for
the night, but as fortune would have. it, l
found very comfortable quarters at the
Royal House, and have managed to keep
them.
The origin Of oil being found here, is,
that two men were out fishing on the
Thames river, and saw oil on the water
Search was Immediately made, and they
found place where the oil oozed from
the bank of the river and spread over the
water, This induced them to sink
a well, which they did, and found oil.
This we'll have been to it is called the
Old Company well, and has been running
ever since, which is now about three years
This we'll when first bored produced about
four barrels per day, and has averaged
this amount ever since, although | was
informed by the owner that it was doing
better now than ever before. This is the
least that any well is pumping. The best
well which is now pumping is the Seton
Well; it is now producing about 200 bar
rels per day, and has been in opera
tion only about month. This we'll is
237 feet deep, and is worth ore hundred
thousand d3.iars. Oil is worth twelve
dollars per barrel in gold. The next best
we'll is the Boston or Pepper Well this
we'll was the best until the Seton "struck
OIL" and has been running since last July.
There are good many new wells which
have Just struck oil, and some of them
have got to pumping Among them is
the Mellon Well. which is good well
aud is now pumping so barrels per day
The farm on which most of the wells
are situated, is the Pepper Farm, which
!, is completely covered. 1t city Of C n.
CINE houses Engines are putting night
and day, for they run these wells all the
time.
Q There is a hotel put up here which il
S called the Green Mountain House, and il
doing large business. have taken din
ner there several times and find they ge
y up good dinner after the Green Noun
tain style, better dinner than you car
get any where else in Boutwell, thei
charges are only 25 cts per meal in silve
or twice that in greenbacks; so you SC,
y that greenbacks are at discount. and on
. coming here had better get their none,
changed before they cross the line.
This is a great place to make none,
many men have made their fortune
! here and many more are going too, n
doubt Farmers who could not have soil
/. their land one year ago for ten dollar
;, per acre. arc selling it for from tire
r hundred to three thousand dollars per acr
according to its locality. Within the las
= two weeks land has doubled and
still rising.
n Men arc here from the Pennsylvania Of
IA regions and are investing in the land her
.. they say only about one we'll in tie
produce oil there, while not we'll ha
70 failed here yet.
u Have not had any snow here until las
night when it showed little, but
ID warmer to-day and the snow is meltin
:" away. Has been nice winter so far fl
us the oil business. and it is being improve,