The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-21
THE INDIANA GAS FIELD.
The Subsistence of the Earth's Crust
Brings the Supply Within Reach.
Gas Flowing from Wells that Yielded No
Supply When Bored Years Ago-Valua-
Bile Information for Prospecters.

Scientists are very cautious persons. When
ever they say anything their utterances are cir
cumspect to the highest degree. An inquiry by
| a Journal reporter concerning the possibilities of
the Indiana gas field and its extent elected the
following from ex-State Geoogist Colett: "Je
hovah never does useless thing. This world
is governed by laws exact, inviolable and ire
versble. There is a cause for every effect in nat
ure sufficient to account for every phenomenon.
Gas and oil are produced from refined vegetable
matter bitumenized by age and pressure aftera
process of fermentation. This, by heat, is zen
dered volatile, or in the form of gas. Gas, rich
in carbons on being cooled, precipitates Gil and
asphalt All through the world, in going from
the surface toward the center of the earth, in
crements of heat are observed, varying accord
ing to latitude and locality.
I'm Indiana this increase of heat at the Lodi
and Terre Haute artesian wells is one degree for
every seventy nine feet going down. It is easy
to calculate where the boiling point of water will
be reached as also Of lead, silver, iron, gold and
more infusible materials. In Ohio land to us in
Indiana this reference is most applicabel deep
bores have discovered large amount of btu,
minous and vegetable matter in the lower sdu
rian rocks at depth of from 900 to 1000 feet.
From these by distiilation caused by the inter
nal heat of the earth gas and oil are produced.
The cause is exact, scientific and efficient. The
oscillations of the crust OF the earth are in this
part of North America represented by subsi-
dence which exposes deposits of vegetable
and bituminous matter to this internal heat of
the earth. which is constant force The pro-
cess has been long continued and will be. So
the production of gas and oil in these regions
will be persistent for ages to come. The sup
plies will be continual but individual wells may
have their supplies cut off by other wells at low
er geological horizon and an old. long-continued
we'll is sure, in the course of time, to be choked
up and the flow stopped by condensation of the
most easily soldfed materials, such as parafine,
tar, etc.. at the point of discharge in the lower
rocks. Hence the necessity of occasionally shoot
ing or opening up these closed places with dy-
Mantle The supply of gas, where once found
is therefore expected to be continuous, while
tn ese causes may stop the local supply or we'll
1.-The deep bores in northern Indiana, reaching
as far south as Columbus, have given evidence
of gas in larger or smaller quantities. Recent
bores south of that give no indication of gas Of
any economic consequence, except in Harrison
county. During the last twenty five years sew
eral hundred wells have been bored in Indiana,
a great many of them only 500 TO 800 feet deep, a
few of them from g 900 to 5000 feet deep In
none of these gas found of economic i'm
portance until within the last two years. which
indicates that the subsistence of this portion Of
eIo odibus cruSt HAS UepreSSeu oeuS OI an
cient vegetable matter to within reach
of the internal heat of the earth in northern and
central Indiana. Earthquake action shows the
subsistence of this area has been continuous
during the past four five years, eliminating
during the present year at Charleston. This
subsistence will probably be continued, and will
produce the same results indefinitely in the
future / would call especial attention to a
point in Shelby county, in the valley of Blue
river. near Shebyville, where hot water is re-
ported as coming to the surface, varying in tenn
perature from 70 to 50 degrees There are pos
sibilites of gas there. The chances of finding gas
at any one point are uncertain yet the finds at
Kokomo, near Muncie and other points give suf-
fcient grounds for making experiments within
the territory have named"