The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-28
IS OIL PLAYING OUR
Prof. CARL OF the Pennsylvania
Geological Survey Takes a
Gloomy View.

Il NCW L OEh SPCC10l W tlIO AOulo
Globe-Democrat: John F. CARL is As
sistant Geologist of the state of Penn
| sylvania, and for several years it has
been his especial business to collect
statistics and all available information
regarding petroleum and natural gas.
Prof. CARL lives at Pleasantville,
Venango county, Pa, in the heart of
the great petroleum fields, and has had
opportunities of making careful study
of the oil industry. His geological re-
ports made for the state are invaluable
to the trade and are eagerly sought
after, both by producers and specula-
tors
In conversation with Prof. CARL he
expressed to the writer some rather
sensational opinions regarding the
future supply of petroleum. Notwith-
standing other views are taken by pro-
ducers, Prof. CARL says the petroleum
fields of Pennsylvania are being rapidly
drained, and at the present rate of ex-
haustion it will not be many years until
the question OF supplying the world
with petroleum will be a most serious
one. "For the past year." said Prof.
CARL, ''the supply was 100000 bar
rels short of the demand, as gagged by
former years, and every day the de-
mand is more and the supply much
less. A few years ago the reverse was
the case. Stocks were piling up at the
rate of 1000, 900 barrels per month, or
about that, and now they are being de-
creased at the rate of 100000 barrels
month, and have been for the past
year. This shortage in the supply in
cludes the large production of the Ohio
fields, where extraordinary results
have been obtained in the way of large
wells" There are now something like
100000 barrels of petroleum in
tanks in the Ohio field, but this was be-
cause Ohio Oil was not yet used extern
sively as an illumlnant
Prof. CARL was asked his opinion
regarding the probable extent of the
Ohio field, and said he believed it
would be found much less in extent
than the trade and the public generally
believed. There have been opinions
expressed that the yield of the Ohio
field could be increased to 100, 900 bar
rels day. He thought it would not
last long at this rate of production.
when this field comes to be entirely
Defined" he said, sit is pretty sure to
fall very much below the expectations
that are now held out for it." When
asked if he thought Ohio oil would
ever be successfully refined and enter
the market as a competitor of the
Pennsylvania product, he said: II
certainly hope so. Without this oil l
can not see where the worlds supply
is too come from, and it would be q
very great hardship to the people If
they had to give up this cheap and
popular illuminant. Neither gas nor
electricity, in my judgement. can ever
take its place as means of illumina-
ton for the masses. And yet, with the
known fields being as rapidly exhaust
ed as they are, 1 look before many
years for great scarcity of
petroleum. Bradford was the field
that produced such an extraordinary
quantity of oil. piling up the stocks in
tanks until they reached $4,000, 900
barrels, with the field still yielding Co.,
GOO barrels day or Whereabouts. In
regard to the possibility of another such
field being discovered, Prof. Carill said
he believed there was absolutely
no likelihood of it. The number of
experimental wells that had been
drilled in search of another Bradford
sand in all parts of the country seemed
to establish the fact that Brad
ford was unique and alone. He did
not believe that such a petroleum de-
posit as this would ever be found in
any country in the world. The Brad
ford field and its annex in Allegany
county, N. Y, are apparently being
drained to the dregs. At one time the
production of the field was as high as
10000 barrels every twenty-four
hours. Now 1t is down below 10000,
possibly as low as $4,000 barrels
Bradford has produced about Sc, Q00,-
600 barrels of oil. and pool that will
yield the fifty-sixth part of this is some
thing that the OIL producer is eagerly
looking for. Prof. CARL said there
were yet possibilities of opening up
small pools that would produce from
1000, 900 to 100000 barrels, even in
some of the old fields, such as Venan-
go, Warren and Butter counties, in
Pennsylvania, but even these possibil-
tiles were growing more and moro re-
mote. The Cogley field, which has
produced about 5000, 600 barrels, was
the last extensive field found in We
mango county, and this was perhaps as
large field as would ever be found
there again.
Considerable exploring has been
done in Kentucky for petroleum. and
Prof. CARL was asked his opinion in
regard to the likelihood of oil being
found in that state in paying quanti-
ties. He thought from his observa-
tions in that state that Kentucky
would yet produce considerable oil.
but nothing in comparison with Penn
sylvania. The oil bearing sands un.
derlie portion of Kentucky and lap
over into Tennessee, and here petrol
cum would be found, but in limited
quantities. AS to Texas, he was of
the opinion that experiments there
would never be profitable. Prof.
CARL, before ne became connected
with the Geological Survey. went into
Texas, in Nacpgdoches county, ~ SUI
perintend the drilling of experimental
wells there for company Of capital
lists who had great faith in the coun-
try, because Of alluring surface indi-
cations Of oil. After drilling well
or two and noting the various strata
of rock, he was convinced that petrol
o,,v, ~ r,.uipr nropfffias xya,,Jd ~