Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-06
OIL IN LOUISIANA.
visit to the Scene of the Recent Dis
COVery.


covery.
cor. Timer Democrat.
LAKE, CHARLES, LA, March SOL have
made trip to that problem Of geology,
the SULPHUR mine, more particularly to
see the oil well over which there has been
considerable local excitement.
After getting pretty badly lost by the
driver we found the spot distant about II
miles from this place.
The locality is fairly Uttered with huge
iron cylinders and sections OF the same,
,rdered years ago for the old sulphur
nine but unused. The old boring was
throucb a considerable depth of quick
SAND. and these cylinders were intended
~ rrevent caving. But for one reason
and another the operations were dlscOn-
tinued. and the cylinders on the scene of
the boring and many on the river repre-
sent an apparent wreck Oh goou many
thousand dollars.
Of late, Capt. Grant has resumed bor-
ing. as am informed, to test the area of
the sulphur deposit, and If the quantity
warrants and the practicabillty OF min
ing it be demonstrated without too great
expense for the same he Will develop 1t
under the aupices Of new capital and as
sociations, az | understand. prominent
factor. in which is Mr.. G. I. huntington,
the railroad magnate.
II is to be regretted that Capt. Grant
was not to be seen, he having lett Tor New
Orleans. go that something more authOri-
tative could be given. There seemed an
air of reserve about my informant, as of
semi-repellence orimpatence. Some one
suggested that he was worn out with the
innumerable questions Of the unfortunate
curiosity OF late questOners; others that
there were secrets of too vast moment to
reveal, and yet an air Of cOncealment or
evasion was next to as bad as mOmentouS
revelations.
There are several holes, or sinks, or tar
wells in the locality, and near one is a
considerable quantity of soliditied resi-
dunn, like very stif tar. One OF these it
8 said was the
FIRST SUGGESTION TO BORING,
several years ago, for oil, at which time
the wonderful discovery of sulphur was
made, which revolutiOnized both aim and
operations, inducing the attempt at sui
phur-mning, which eliminated in the
huge cylinders above narrated and the de-
bris of large capital. The old well was
bored 1890 feet, and is discharging a
large quantity of water highly impreg-
mated with sulphur, the air fairly heavy
with its fumes. This well went through
very remarkable stratum of solid sui
phur over 100 feet in thickness and Of
great purity and beauty. Another we'll
has been bored over 500 feet and flowing
sulphur water. The problem for Capt.
Grant was to solve the area OF sulphur
and find, if possible, better place for q
shaft than could be found in either of the
above wells. He bored one 610 feet, and
went through over 100 feet of sulphur.
This is flowing both sulphur water and
water comparatively pure, being so
piped az to admit of these; so there are
three flowing sulphur wells. In none of
these Except by slight Indications was
petroleum found, while at a fourth boring
land the second Of Capt. Grant, the pc
trOleum in question was found. He is in
this 410 feet. he first struck oil at $40
feet. The flow is greater than when first
struck, but since depth of 400 feet the
flow has been about the same. and is esti-
mated at from 10 to % barrels per day,
from an OTifce about three-eighths of an
inch in diameter, the drill occupying all
but that dimension of the pipe. The Oil is
black. said to be good fuel and lubricant,
and is used for their machinery. A gem
tleman Interested in land near by speaks
very highly of 1t.
THE OIL
was first struck in very hard limestone.
Then followed limestone and mari until
now, when IL is in a pulverIzed sand, to
use the language of our informant, and IN
caving material. Here operations have
ceased for the present, and it is UNDER
stood that Capt Grants mission TO New
Orleans is to learn the cOmpany's inten-
tiOps in the new and surprising aspects of
the affair. 1t is only due, however to my
informant to say that he informed me that
the company do not intend TO pay any re-
gard to the oil feature, their hunt being
after sulphur. Per contre, part owner
IN property told me that he was asked the
price of his property by party interested
in the oil well.
1t is deemed that the resting place of
the present boring is Just above the sui
phur stratum.
AS soon as the depth of the sulphur is
discovered in the present we'll it is de-
signed TO bore again at distance OF about
thousand feet away, these borings being
made to determine the extent of horizon
Of the sulphur.
The piping is in a finch hole, and the
piping IS 81 inches in diameter. The
piping in Capt. Grants first bore is 5
inches. The piping in the first and great
bore is not known.
The well borers have been working
night and day until oil was struck; but
they have stopped now for fear Of the gas
lgniting. The gas sent up the oil with
rush and noise TO over 80 feet when it first
emerged.
BELOW THE SULPHUR
IS found the bed proper Of gypsum, and
more or less Of latter is found above the
sulphur, Gypsum is struck before lime
stone at from $50 to 400 feet. Then lime
stone and then softer rock and mari; then
sulphur; then gypsum.
There has been no thorough explOita-
ZION Tor gypsum. | also visited, near by,
well highly impregnated with alum.
mus on an area within a radius OF less
man 10 acres, gypsum. alum, petroleum
ana sulphur have been found. 1t may or
may not mean much. Years ago. with
Jar les'' there was great excitement, but
tne expenditure Of large sums Of money
On Joint stock account, and several pri-
yate oorings, have depleted pockets and
cooled ardor; and the most promising, or,
at any rate, contiguous property can be
bought, as the owner tells me, at prices
unaffected by booms or sensations.