The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-04-10

have made trip 10 that problem
Of geology, the sulphur mine, more
particularly to sec the oil well over
which there has hecn considerable
local excitement.
After getting pretty badly lost by
the driver we found the spot distant
about twelve miles from this place.
The locality is fairly Uttered with
huge iron cylinders and sections of
the same, ordered years ago for the
old sulphur mine but unused The
old boring was through a considera-
bic depth of qnicksand, and these
cylinders were intended to prevent
caving. But for one reason and an
other the operations we're discontin
ned, and the cylinders on the scene of
the boring and many on the river.
represent an apparent wreck of good
many Thousand dollars.
OF late Capt. Grant has resumed
boring, as am informed, to test the
area of the sulphur deposit, and if the
quantity warrants and the practicable.
ity of mining it be demonstrated with
out too great expense for the same he
will develope 1t under the auspices of
new capital and associations, as ] IN.
derstand, prominent factor, in which
is Mr.. G. p. Huntington, the railroad
magnate.
It is TO be regretted that Capt. Grant
was not to be seen, he having left for
New Orleans, SO that something more
authoritative could be given. There
seemed an air of reserve about my in
formant, as of semi-repellence or i'm
patience. Some one suggested that he
was worn ont with the innumerable
questions of the unfortunate curiosity,
Of late questioners; others that there
were secrets of too vast moment to
reveal, and yet an sir Of coneeaIment
or evasion was next to rs bad as mo-
mentous revelations.
There are several holes, or sinks, or
tar wells in the locality, and near one
is considerable quantity of solidified
residuum, like very stiff tar. One Of
these it is said was the
FIRST SUGGESTION TO BORING,
several years ago, for oil, at which
time the wonderful discovery of sui.
phur was made, which revolutionized
both aim and operations, inducing the
attempt at snlphnr-mining, which cul'
minated in the huge cylinders above
narrated and the debris of large CAPT.
tai. The old well was bored 1890
feet, and is discharging large guam.
tity Of water highly impregnated with
sulphur, the air fairly heavy with it,
fumes. This well went through a very
remarkable stratum of solid sulphur
over one hundred feet IN thickness
and of great purity and beauty. An
other we'll had been bored over fivt
hundred feet and flowing sulphur wa
ter. The problem for Capt. Grant wa
to solve the area of sulphur and find
if possible, better place for shat
than could be found IN either of tn
I above wells. He bored one Clio feet
and went through over one hundred
feet of sulphur. This is flowing boil
sulphur water and water compare
lively pure, being SO piped as TO ad
nit of these; so there are three flow
ing sulphur wells. In none of thesl
Except by slight indieations) was pc
troleum found, while at a fourth Dor
ing and the second Of Capt. Grant
the petroleum in question was found
! He is in this 40 feet. He first strncl
oil at 375 feet. The flow now i
J greater than when first strnck, bn
since depth of 400 feet the flow ha
been about the same, and is estimates
at from fifteen to twenty-five barrel
per day, from an orifice about three
eighths Of an inch in diameter, th
drill occupying all but that dimensio
Of the pipe. The oil is black, said I
!. be good fuel and lubricant, and
! used for their machinery. A gentle
! man interested in land near by speak
I very highly Of it.
1 THE OIL
+ was first struck in very hard imestont
1 Then followed limestone and maj
S until now, when it is in pulyerize
sand, TO use the language Of orr il
formant, and 10 caving material. Her
!, operations have ceased ior the pres
ent, and it il understood chat Cap
Grants mission TO New Orleans Is /
learn the company's intentions in th
nav and silrneieinp asDects of th