, 1884-11-23
The OIL WELLS.
A Chat With Prof. Aughey, the Ter
ritorial GeoIogist.
The Formations and Developments
in the Oil Regions.
A Conservative Account of Our
Future Great Industry.

Yesterday morning Prof. Samuel
Aughey, who succeeded Prof. G.. f..
Bailey as Territorial Geologist, returned
to Cheyenne after a months trip to the
oil fields, where he went on Territorial
business. AS is well known, Prof.
Aughey, before his appointment as Ter
%ritorial Geologist, was engaged in prospect
ing the oil fields of Wyoming in the in
terest Of what is known as the Boutwell,
syndicate. As his interest in that por-
ton of the Territory is especially %piquant,
it is his intention to continue his survey
Of the field during the Winter months
and he will, therefore, return to the oil
fields Monday evening.
There can be no question that enough
field work, in surveying and developing,
has been accomplished to clearly establish
the.fact that the oil interests Of Wyoming
will, in the near future be an important
and valuable factor in its progress.
During II conversation with Prof.
Aughey last evening, a reporter of The
LEADER learned the following facts con-
corning geological matters in Wyoming:
Among the subjects which have engaged
his study and examinations are the soda
deposits of the Territory. The general
opinion entertained Of these immense de-
posts is that they originated from the
decomposition of archaen rocks, contain
ing soda compounds, especially albite and
associated feldspars. During the last
year, however, an elaborate scientific
work was published in Germany which
attempts to account for the origin of sui
phate and carbonate of soda by
the earbonic acid gas of volcanic vents.
coming in contact with the mother liquors
of ancient and partially dried up seas.
During his recent trip the Professor exam
ined the Archaen rocks Of Sweetwater
range in order to ascertain whether this
theory had any basis of fact in the soda
region of Wyoming. His general concur
sion is that the original theory accounting
for these deposits, is the only one as yet
well substantiated.
Regarding the oil fields, he states that
his investigations during his recent trip
devoted principally to the Powder river re
gion. The oil springs and escapes hitherto
observed, occurred in the sandstones and
conglomerates of the Dakota group,
urb,ob --or~ q. A. h.,.I - IL.
%cretaceous. In the oil basin on the Pow
der river, near Arthur ranch, about four
square miles are covered by these oil phe-
nomena. During his investigations Prof
Aughey found, however, an extension of
this basin to the south. In this exten
sion, four additional oil springs and es-
capes were observed. Here, however, the
oil energies from the %iurasic marls and
triasic red sandstone. He is now of the
opinion that the oil in this entire basin
has its original source in these triasic
sands and conglomerates; that they have
underground connections is evident from
the fact that the oil from all the springs
and escapes, and also from the wells that
have been sunken, have the same specific
gravity of 23o of the Baume scale. The
work of development in this basin has just
begun. A crew of eight men is now at
work sinking shafts, and a large force will
Immediately be employed in the work. A
log house has been put up for shelter,
and preparations have been made for an
active development of the wells. Ono
shaft has been sunken to the depth of
Is feet which produces, when the water
is kept out, six barrels of oil every twenty
four hours. Another shaft, which prom
ises even better results, has also been
started and work will be continued during
the entire Winter. Among the interest
ing things discovered in the extension of
this oil basin is a magnificent spring OF
salt water, which bubbles out a few feet
from an oil spring. While salt springs
and salt wells are common phenomena in
the oil regions of Pennsylvania, Russia
and India, this is the first one discovered
among the oil springs of Wyoming. 1t
is also remarkable for the clearness of its
water, the traces of the iodides and
bromides which it contains and its attrac-
tive taste to all who partake of it.
1t has been reported to the Professor
that the work in the Rattlesnake oil
region is also being rapidly pushed. Two
drills are at work there, one of which has
reached a depth Of 400 feet, and the other
has penetrated 800 feet. Prof. Aughey
is deeply interested in the geological rela-
tons of the oil-containing rock and pro
poses to continue his Investigations.
Their relations to the great coal bearing
strata throughout the Territory is a ques-
ton not yet entirely determined and he
will devote considerable time and study to
the investigation of that interesting sub
ject.
Prof. Aughey will remain in the city
only a few days and will thenreturn to the
oil regions.
Fine lot of Thanksgiving poultry just
received at A. D. Kelley's grocery store.
The incest and cosiest place in the city