Omaha daily bee., 1884-10-22
FLOWING OIL.
A Remarkable Well Struck in the
Rattlesnake District, North
of Rawlins.
Laramie Boomerang.

formation of the reaching of q well de
fined flow in one of the wells now beinl
bored in the oil district north of Rawlins
The following article from the Leader
contains fuller information:
That the territory is rich in mineralI
has long been known, but it is now dem
onstrated that Wyoming is to be the
Pennsylvania of the west, from which the
supply of oil is to be obtained.
Some time ago some gentlemen oi
Denver and this city organized a stock
company and determined to see whether
flowing well could bs obtained in this
district. They went quietly to work
and located their claims and then com
menced operations. Progress was
necessarily slow as all the machinery had
to be obtained In Denver and shipped to
Rawlins by rail. From the latter place
it was conveyed by wagons to the dis
trict, distance of about twenty miles.
Early In September last the engines
were set up and the drilling commenced.
The work progressed as rapidly as could
be expected. When depth of 400 feet
was reached oil was obtained but not in
sufficient quantities to force the water
from the drill hole. At the depth OF
800 feet it became evident that flowing
we'll would be reached sooner than the
experts had predicted.
On Friday courier arrived at Rawlina
bringicg the news that the company had
realized their hopes. A flowing well had
been struck at depth of $50 feet. Be-
yond this he had little or no information,
except that the flow was described as
being remarkable, both as to quality and
and quantity. The well belongs to what
is known as the Denver company, but a
good share of the capital is represented In
this city.
The claims are located on the north.
east fork of Poison Spider creek, and are
at Oil City, town about two miles
northeast of Dodge City, and about
twenty miles north of Rawlins. 1t is
known by the name of the Rattlesnake
Mining district, and is about twenty five
miles wide and about 100 miles in length,
and contains every indication that there
is an abundance of oil in that locality. 1t
has been but little prospected and there
are at present comparatively few loca
tions.
Among theclaims in the district may
be mentioned those of the Boutwell, syn
dicate and those of Graf and Rogers, of
Omaha. These are the principal ones, al
though there are quite number belong
ing to individuals. The severity of win
ter will prevent much prospecting
being done before spring, as the snow
fall is very heavy. Those located during
the present fall will be by those living
in the immediate vicinity.
the perolum of Pennsylvania, as it is moi
suitable for Illuminating purposes. 1t ia
simply lubricant, and is perfectly free
from grit and dirt. Experts from New
York, Philadelphia and England have
made frequent examinations and pro-
nounced it to be one of the finest lubri.
cants in the world, Besides, 1t has been
used to some extent by the Union Paci-
fic railway company and has received
from them the most fattering commend.
ations.
The prospect of the Denver company
were not as good as those of some claims
in the district, Many have oil springs
on their locations, but the flow was too
small to be of practical value. Active
operations have been made to sink quite
number of wells the coming spring and
the success of the Denver company will
only serve as an impetus to the enter
prise. The machinery of the Boutwell,
party Is now at Rawlins and will prob
ably ba transported to OIL City dur
ing the present month. The oil-felds
of Wyoming are not confined
to this district. The same indications
are found in the northeastern part of the
territory as well, and the district is as
large,if not larger than that Of the Sweet
water. In this section there has been
more prospecting, but as vet no wells
have been sunk, though the oil obtained
from the springs has been used for some
time by the stage companies as lubri-
cant. The profits realized by capitalists
and the remuneration paid to labor by
the oil industries of Pennsylvania prom
ise very good results to Wyoming.
The fact that oil can be obtained here in
flowing quantities is established, and it
will not be long ere capital will seek
these fields for Investment.