The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-05
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT.

RnkANOAO UCrAn l WCNI' Have We Petroleum and Natural Gas in
 Arkansas?
 The writer has given this subject some attention during the past ten years,gathering such facts as indicated their existence, and has come to the conclusion that an oil belt will be found when sought for, in Clark county, but just where or at what depth he is not able to state. After twenty-fiv years experience our best geologists and those who have given the subject special attention-such men as Charles A. Ashburner, of Pennsylvania, I. c. White, of the United States geological survey, Ed ward Orton, of Ohio, and others have not been able to lay downfinfal- lible rules to govern the prospector in searching for petroleum or natural gas. However, few facts have been discovered and acknowledged by all, no matter in what country or region oil has been found. First, oil, gas and salt water invariably accompany each other, though but one may come to the surface through the bore hole. Second, the oil deposits are always found in the Devonian or Salurian systems which underlay the carbonif- erous. Of the origin of coal or gas we do not propose to speak, as that is foreign to our present subject, and no we'll informed geologist claims they have any connection with the coal measure. Third, the overlying strata must be in gentle anticlinal and sym clinal waves unbroken and impervi- ous. The above are about all the facts that are recognized as such by geolo- gists who have had the most experi- ence.
 Now what have we in Clark county? In this must presume that the Devonian and Salurian systems are we'll developed, underlying the b-carboniferous, which came to the horizon in the north and west part of the county, dipping gently to the southeast, and impervious as the many artesian wells lying to the southeast prove. A spring yielding oil has been known for years in the southern part of Pike county; this spring is sur rounded by deposit of bitumen. Polk county is located northwest of Clark. Near Philadelphia salt was manufactured before and during the war. A few years ago party from Michigan bored well for salt and l am informed the brine increased in strength as the we'll went down, but after reaching depth of hundred feet or more, the work was aban- doned for financial reasons. This we'll flows to-day, but I do not know the strength of the brine or the pres sure. Petroleum is reported as com- ing from this we'll in small quanti- ties. A gentleman, whose word l have no reason to doubt, informed me he had himself gathered oil as it came from the well and fired it. know of no place where gas escapes.
 have given the above information solely with the hope it may attract the attention of oil men and lead to farther investigation, and will fur ther say that l have no pecuniary in- CeresC WnateVef III CldTk CouHly, anu this article must not be attributed to any selfish motive.
 In conclusion, I will state we have never had geological survey made of our state, and of the true positions of the oil bearing systems Oevonian and Salurian), I have but an individual knowledge, which is limited, but l firmly believe there is an oil belt in Clark county, and a large fortune awaits those who develop it.-Forest and Farm.