The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-17

that this we'll would supply with as much Gas az
IS now consumed 488 cities like Kokomo. and
third gentleman, from Cleveland, thinks il would
require four wells like the one now opened to
supply Kokomo. 1t will be observed that there
is wide hiatus here. This probably arises from
different premises taken. At present Kokomo
consumes but ID, 900 feet Of gas daily. OF course
this would not be anything like the amount de-
manded when gas is to be used for all manner of
purposes, from heating and cooking to manu-
featuring
But regarded in whatever light it may be. Ko.
komo is to be envied and will be envied by other
Indiana towns. She is assured advantages that
not one in hundreds can ever hope for At pres
ent 1t appears that this supply of gas is inex.
haustible and of course, other wells will be sunk
as rapidly as the work can be prosecuted, and
the supply corresponding increased. a second
company was organized last week and yesterday
dispatched committee to the oil and gas regions
in Ohio and Pennsylvania to see what ia the
best mode of procedure. They have leased
land a short distance from the site of the we'll
now operating and on the same side of the
creek 1t is said that the Standard Oil Com
pany has arranged to put one down near the
junction on the north side of Wildcat creek.
and so it goes the gas fever influencing all and
setting aaoat some of the widest schemes OF
speculation
1t must be stated, in justice to the people OF
kokomo. that they are conducting themselves ia
a very comrnendable manner, and do not seem
disposed to kill the gas goose There is little, X
dly, luulcaClOn OF WILDCAT nguf0S on real estate.
In facr there seems to be moro OF still-huDt
than anything else, though just what it meane
is not evident 1t is impossible now TO steal
march on anybody, if there were disposition or
intention to do So The secret of the presence
or gas Is no longer secret, and it will not be
many weeks till there willsbe wells started all
round the town. The effect. unless some
nopoly swallows I'D the small fry (which, for the
good of Kokomo is to be hoped will never be
realiZed will be that competition will reduce
q O q
and all the people will be gamers thereby There
will not be the big bonanza to the well owners
but all the people will profit by the discovery,
and the city will be enriched. 1t is not probable
that Kokomo will ever rival Pittsburg for there
are other elements than fuel wanting to accom-
pllsh it. The latter city has not only coal and
gas near at hand, but iron ore, as we'll so that
her prestige is not likely to be shaken soon. But
the discovery of natural gas is necessarily q
great advantage to any place, and cannot help
making it much more than it could ever hope to
be without it.
From all that could be learned, the writer
would judge that the Kokomo we'll is not moro
than half as large in product as the best at
Findlay, o., which indicates pressure of some
4l9 pounds per inch 1t is possible that other
wells opened at kokomo may rival or even eK
coed the Findlay we'll, but that is something that
cannot he predicted with any accuracy. OF
course, it is possible that the supply may fail at
kokomo. but the indications that it is perma
nent. Were there none other opened there this
would prove of inestimabe value
For those who would like to know something
of the cost of such wells it may be stated that
the average cost about 81. % to 81 so per foot,
not less than |. 200 feet being contracted for.
The company at Kokomo expended but 81 600
when they reached their find. Other gas wells
have been drilled at Portland, three at Rich
mond Union City, Bluffton and Lafayette, the
last named being abandoned, we believe. The
one sunk in Indianapolis has reached depth Of
LOCO feet without result, and one at Wabash has
gone down 2, 200 feet without getting any vaua
bic return. At Oxford. Be nee 81 lsfSsSee sWas
struck, out in what quantity IS not Known to the
writer. 1t is often the case that after gas 10
struck it is not found in paying quantities