The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-03

manner OF roads, lifting il out Of the mud
holes of misfortune and tugging ii man
fully over the hills OF discouragement.
TIE EVOLUTION OF A GAS WELL.
The Trouble, Ncxatiou nnd superb
Courage It Took 60 Get 10.
Fort Smith has natural gas, and its dis
covery was brought about by just such
courage rs spoken OF above.
There is no indication Of natural gas
upon the surface OF the earth or in the
geological formations underneath. There
are no crossroads posts pointing TO the
locality in which II may be found. II
does not crop ont on the tops Of mount
aims or in the ledges OF hills. II is indeed
hidden treasure. II is only confidence
and courage and determination that will
find II. How many people ever thought
that here in Northwestern Arkansas, far
below the surface OF the earth, lay vast
reservoir Of natural gas2 Anybody who
would have predicted such thing two
years ago would have been laughed at and
drummed out OF town, no 10 speak. To
have told the people here or elsewhere
that there lay underneath Fort Smith
great lake OF fuel. that did not need the
sinking OF q shaft TO reach 1t, nor the pick
OF miner to loosen IL from its iastnesses,
nor the services OF mule 10 get II out and
then did not have 10 be earned 10 houses
and factories and shoveled into CRATES and
furnaces, would have provoked smiles Of
ridicule and the pointing OF the finger TO
the head.
Such is the case, however. Fort Smith
has natural gas las every place else has, as
the writer vii. later on show and more
IL has a natural gas well. II is not all in
having natural gas. The wells the thing.
The following story tells its own tale and
gives a complete picture Of the evolution
Of gas well and the obstacles incident
thereto:
Under the leadership OF Mr.. Harry Kei-
ley, yenng man who camo 20 this city
from Kansas, Who had seen natural gas
aud appreciated it, Advantages, com.
pany of twenty-five gentlemen, mostly
citizens OF this place, was organized in
August, 1857 It's purpose was 10 uxpnri-
mcnt with tho view and hope Of tinding
natural gas. II was bold undertaking OF
Mr.. Kelley, but he believed, and rightly
too. that u Kansas and Pennsylvania and
Ohio had natural gas, why should not
Arkansas and Fort Smith have II? lie had
faith In this conclusion without any knowl.
edge Of natural gas Il was just ON the
general proposition OF the 'Im-asgood-
as-you.are" doctrine and III will believe
II until find and prove 10 myself that
am not" lie was deeply impressed with
the fact that Arkansas was as rich IN
natural resources rs Pennsylvania and was
determined TO demonstrate 10 the world
that such was the case. so alter much
hard work and many soibacks, the COM
pany was securely established with him
acli rs President and general manager.
The money Tor the necessary machinery
was paid in. The drilling outfit arrived In
due time and in September, 1887, the
boring began on q site IN the eastern part
OF tho city. BY March, lSSS, well $50
feet deep had been drilled. In this hole
four veins OF coal, aggrceating thickness
of eleven feet, had boon passed through.
The thickcst vein was five feet aud was
found $50 feet below the surface.
At about 100 feet natural gas was
struck, but the hole filed up with water.
This paralyzcd the company. The precious
stuff was touched off with fro brand, and
Il burned. Everybody in the company was
thoroughly ignonnt Of Haiuul gas aud
how 10 overcome this obstacle, which
could have been easily femCdicd bv Gas
ing in," they were az a loss 10 know. After
burning six weeks the lame. which was
the flame OF hope 10 the nnXi0ns members
of the company, who went out every day
10 see II Il were still burning, was choked
oil by tho water aud cXiinguishrd.
This was sal event, 10 depressing 10
some ol the company that their dreams Oi
ever having natural gas were also chOkcd
of by tho water In the we'll, and they sim
ccrcly regretted that the we'll didn'l run
dry
Tho leading spirits, however, did not
auccumb to the misfortune, but worked
along until i.3S0 feet We're drilled out.
Still The water troubled them. They had
learned nothing by tho bitter experience.
They were 10 absolutely ignoa II about
the details oi their undertaking that "ois.
ing in" never occurred 10 them. They had
water on ihcbrl.n. This was an instance
whcrca little learning wouldu0l have been
a dangerous thing.
This well was given up IN disgns,. Ia
| spite Of the fact that gls lad been found.
NNN NHNAN'N NANN WfNNNNN NANlAN NAN NHNfAfhf .
had q jolly time over the failure. For all
that u, known they may have held . con.
ycniion and thanked God that natural gas
had not been found, simply because They
told YOU 70.
To lho aggfayaiion Of some Of the com.
pany and To The delight Of the cr0akers,
''cxpcria' visited the town, looked over
the situation "lcancdlg," as u they could
tell whether natural gas existed here or
not. They positively said Il could not bo
found from The indications present. This,
/ too. when II was known 10 have burned
six weeks, and was only stopped by
/ water.
sa,alal vas experts remind ne very
/ much Of the critics in the play, "lca
WoilinVion;" they don't know the real
thing when they sc Il. will deal with
the question of indications directly,
To use not very elegant, but still an cx
| pfcssiyc phrase, There were no flies on
Mr.. Kelley" lie had seen the gas burn.
lie knew Il was here, and would not per
NIT hiG way 10 be blocked by what pro
fcssionala said about H. so, after III,
hOugti.so have been dzz had hzsled IL