, 1888-11-28
JSo. r. CARROLL. Editor.
WYOMING OIL.

DAHs
Bob Lavelle, the well known Rawlins
correspondent, published an interesting
article in the Denver Republican yester.
day, which will open the eyes of many
Wyoming people to one source of terrific
rial wealth. He says: In this morn
ing's issue Of the Republican | read an
article on the oil fields of Pennsylvania,
in which it was stated that if none OF the
500 wells now drilling find a rich spot 1t
will her become a serious question with
the oil drlllers where thew shall turn TO
find the product so much sought after as
an illumlnant and it was at once evident
to my mind that the writer of that article
was entirely ignorant of or overlooked the
oil fields of Wyoming, where a belt OF oil
territory $50 miles long and several miles
wide at present exists, awaiting only the
magic touch of the drill to food the en-
tire country with a supply of oil greater
than Pennsylvania ever produced.
tine history of Wyoming oil dates
back beyond even that of the Pennsyl
wanna field, and it is its remotcness from
civilization and transportation that has
left the country in the undeveloped state
in which we to-day find it, but with the
advent OF the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad which is now building right
through the field, attention has been
drawn to 1t. Acres upon acres have been
located within the past few years, and sew
eral companies who own land there have
machinery now on the way to begin ope-
rltions in the spring. One company.
composed OF Chicago capitalists, have a
derrick already on the ground and when |
left there a lew days ago they had their
machinery in running order and were to
begin drilling at once.
This Wyoming oil field begins near
the North Platte river in township 30
north, of range 81 west, aud extends
along the north side Of the Rattlesnake
mountains through Carbon and Fremont
counties, "A distance of $50 miles, and oil
is found in springs aud oozing from the
c%raviecs in the rocks along the entire
length.
The territorial geologist has divided the
district into several basins, according to
the difference in the quality Of the oil,
which varies greatly in different sections,
running from a fine quality containing a
large per centage Of Illuminating oil to the
heavy material which in its natural state
has no equal Us i lubricant, and much of
the latter is dipped up by the ranchmen
through the country and used on their
agricultural machinery.
AN Omaha syndicate organized by
DR., George b Graf was the first to make
locations and sink wells. This was in
1885, when two wells were put down on
the Little Popoagie river in Fremont
county, and at a depth Of 700 to 500 feet,
a large flow Of oil was struck, producing
some 500 barrels daily, These wells were
put down to test the field and ascertain
II OIL was there in any quantities, and the
result was even greater than expected,
The wells were plugged up to prevent the
oil from going to waste, as there was no
means Of getting it to tho railroad, a dis
lance OF over 1850 miles, and since then no
work has been done save the assessment
work necessary to hold the claims. It's
true two or three other outfits brought
machinery into the country for the pur-
pose Of drilling aud did some work, but
tdsc economy, mismanagement and ignor-
ance OF the country caused them to, if
not abandon at least cease, work for the
present. The Omaha syndicate, however,
secured patents on their lands, and have
since rested contentedly on their oar d,
waiting for the Chicago 4 Northwestern
railroad to push farther into the country,
aud as that road is already to Casper in
Carbon county, touching the eastern
boundary of the oil district, with every
evidence of building seventy five or 100
miles further west the coming summer,
much activity il expected all through that
country in 1889, and great riches awaits
those who hold claims in the district.
At present the STANDARD Oil company
has a pipe line into Chicago from Lima,
O., fields, furnishing that oil for fuel at a
cost less than coal, and as it does away
with all the labor of handling coal and
ashes, its c~heapuess and cleanliness is
readily perceived, and as soon as the
nllroad is completed into Wyoming.
Denver, Omaha, Sioux City, and all Of
the other large towns of the West
will be supplied with Wyoming oil for
fuel"
In IT'S yesterdays issue the Stm con.