The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-06-04
Linn County, May 81, 1871


A wONDERFUL STORY.
Linn County, May 81, 1875.
Editor Democrat:
will write you for publication an
interesting account of gas well re-
Gently discovered in Faswell county,
Illinois, from our old friend, Charles d.
Miller, formerly of Linn county Ore
gon. The wellspoken of is on the farm
of VIM. Garrison, at Stanford, 10 miles
southwest OF Bloomington, Illinois.
The well was dug the latter part Of
January, depth of SS feet. Abont
the first of February, they began to
bore and continued boring until they
got down some 80 feet, plaking in all
about 70 feet below the surface; at
this depth there was no signs of water
Out jet Of gas began to rush out with
great force, and could be heard below
ing like escaping steam several yards
from the mouth of the well. This gas
had no smell whatever, and Mr.. Garri-
son would work. in the well half a day
without the least Inconvenience. When
light paper or straw was thrown in it
exploded with heavy sound, blowing
the straw go or so feet above the ground
After it escaped two or three weeks he
put in gas pipe conducting it in his
stove and lighted his house with it. 1t
will heat the stove red hot in five min
utes. 1t is still flowing without the
least abatement. The blaze Of this
gas is not so white as ordinary gas, but
the flame is much hotter After they
would fire the well of, there was first,
heavy explosion, heard sometimes
one fourth of a mile-and then the gas
continued to blaze in flame 2or 8 feet
long at the mouth of the auger hole
until water was thrown In to put 1t out,
and sometimes it took two or three
buckets full. There is now and has
been no water In the well. If had
not seen this with my own eyes |
would require greater proof. But !
was in the neighborhood when the gus
first began to escape-saw It fired
dozen times, and there are scores of
men who will make oath to all these
facts. 1t is truth wonderful truth,
and YOU may tell it as sIch with per-
feet confidence. r.. D. MILLER.
THE OLD-FAsHIoNED MOTHER.
Editor Democrat:
felt more than little vexed the
other day while l stood In hearing of
some prudish woman and heard them
accuse you of vulgarity because you
said outat the Firemen's Picnic "rhank
God that had mother-or would
not be here" Yes, Mart, say too,
thank God some of us have an old
fashioned mother-not woman of the
period enameiIed end painted, with her
great chignon, her curls and hustle,
whose white, jeweled hands never felt
the clasp of baby fingers; but dear
old-fashioned, sweet-voiced mother,
,n;,,, ovas IN ,yhosa dear denths the
,."o' o'r,,It shono ond hrown hair inst
t,,roaded With silver lvinv smootblv
- hor fadaa ohaak Tb,se d.ar
hands worn with toll, gently guided
Ss.oa.,,od a,sr n;IIou - sioLnoss ever
.o,.,..s,,,. oHs,s III, ,,oor,,ina ,o,dar
nsaS p,aasad e ,ha =, on,orv oe an old.
moh,onod ro,I,arI r. aoots n ns pow
a.. ~ -, tss,,,is.', uo.f,,oo sror, 40 ma
~ ,",,'s m, ..,a.a 80 o,,,o,
voices may be Lost, but the entrancing
memory Of her will echo in our souls
forever. Other faces may fade away
and be forgotten-opt hers VIII shlne
on. When ~ the ntla4 pauses ol ousy
: life our feet wander BACK 10 the olo
homestead, ana crossing 'he "eli-"ori
threshold stand once more IN Lpe room
so hallowed by her presenee-depend
', ence comes over us ana W. Kheei uOWN
in the molten sunshine strealniht
through the open WINDOW Just wner'
long years ago we knelt oy our nlotheri
knee lisping "OurFather'" How many
, times when the tempter iureu Us q
with MS poiSoneu cpil'ice mas 'ne 'ne'"
az ,vor,ls her faith and prayers-sayeC
E - from, nlunvino into the abyss of sin
! ali 800 ,Ir;e,s botwoo,