, 1885-05-10
THOSE OIL FIELDS.
Cy Iba Gives Some Interesting In
formation
In Regard to the Wyoming Oil
Fields,
And Predicts For Them a Glorious
Future.

Mr.. Cy Iba arrived in the city yester-
day direct from the Wyoming oil fields,
where he has been for some time past.
Mr.. lba is one of the old timers of this
country, and has been engaged in mining,
prospecting and exploring thus section of
the west for the past ten years. Learn
ing that he had arrived in the city, a re-
porter of THE LEADER was fortunate
enough to find him in the store Of Baker
q johnson, on Sixteenth street. The
reporter at once made himself known, and
was o o engaged in a pleasant agreeable
and instructive conversation in regard to
the oil fields of the territory, and about
which there is at present considerable
speculation as to to their result and the
amount of oil flowing naturally from
them.
"Mr. Iba," remarked the reporter,
can you give the readers ofTHE LEADER
any information in regard to the oil fields
from which you have just returned 2"
well" replied Mr.. Iba, Il must say
that the indications are very bright, and
that the outlook for the greatest oil re-
gion in the world, in my opinion, is to be
found in the territory of Wyoming"
Tell something about the wells, the
flow and their location2"
THE well in Fremont county, about
100 miles west of Rawlins, and owned by
some eastern parties, has now reached a
depth of eighty-fve feet, and the natural
flow of the well is seyenty-ive barrels per
day. This can be increased twenty-five
barrels per day by pumping. As yet
there is not much machinery on the
ground, it consisting only of a derrick
and a drill. The owners of this well are
now, | understand, negotiating with En-
glish capitalists, and TIE well is
valued at $65O,00O, and it is cheap at
that. If this sale is made, the company
will put in n pipe line and run the oil
through it to the nearest railroad point, for
shipping.
by what name is this well known
"It is called the Graft well, and is
owned by Omaha parties"
What is the outlook for the develop
ment and future benefits to be derived
from labor and money expended upon all
Of the wells in that district"
Favorable indeed. The wells all show
a marked improvement and a better flow
as they are developed. The country is
full ofoil and all it takes is a drill and a
derrick in order to secure a flow of oil"
Are there any other wells in or around
this district"
YES. There is the Rattlesnake dis
trict, sixty miles east of this Graft well.
There are two wells there owned by a
New York company. Each well is down
to a depth OF l, 100 feet, and they have
considerable oil and gas, but no natural
flow of oil. They have derricks, drills,
and the other necessary machinery for
carrying on the work until they secure a
large flow of oil"
Can you name any others?' inquired
the reporter.
, There is the Boswell district, on Pow
der river, about fifty miles north of the
Rattlesnake district. They have springs
which flow from five to fifteen barrels per
day. They are only down about twenty
five feet, and this was done by picks and
shovels. They will at once put in drills
and erect derricks and expect to have a
well flowing a large number of barrels per
day. Then scattered in and around in
other localities are to be found other com
panies that are developing or drilling.
Among them are the Denver companies,
that have some fine property, which
promises remarkably well. They also
have oil"
What is the character Of this oil,
petroleum or lubricating2"
"Lubricating, and it is worth fifteen
dollars per barrel on the ground. 1t beats
all the petroleum wells in the country"
is there any excitement in regard to
this region, and what is your opinion in
regard to it,
There is not as much excitement as
one would naturally expect, but still there
seems to be considerable manifested
throughout, not only this section, but in
Colorado and the East. My opinion is
that this is the greatest oil region in this
country and | base my opinion, not only
upon my own observations a~ndknowledge,
but upor the reports of experts that have
examined this region. Several experts
from Pennsylvania, who have examined
the field. say that Pennsylvania is no
where to be compared with the Wyoming
oil fields. To show you what l have done
myself, it will only be necessary for me to
say that | have stuck a stick in the river
bed, and it would, when Withdrawn, be
covered with oil. There is no doubt in
my mind but what this will be the great
est oil region the world has ever known"
Have you any other resources in that
section Of the country
Certainly we have. There are the
gold and silver mines near the fields,
which 2-anise-wel Then there is soda
beds and soda lakes, which are enor-
nous. These can be developed soon. and
in addition to the oil fields, the mines and
soda works, it will make an important
factor in the of Wyoming,
"
Shirts ten cents, collars three, cuffs six,
- H-.1. - - " .