Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-18
THAT OIL SURPLUS.
Not Much Need to Fear Its Disap-
pearance This or Next Year.
Observation-Disclosures
Combination Operating Makes Two and
Five-Barrel Wells Pay.
NATURAL Gas MAY PETER BUT NOT OIL

In this skeptical age, credulous though it
be in some respects, it Is not surprising that
there are some people who begin to have
doubts of the stability of the foundation
for the bullish statistics given to show why
petroleum ought to be worth 81 a barrel.
The public shows its skepticism by keeping out
of the market and q dollar and few cents
price seems to be a potent stimulus to produc-
tion. Most people who have given the subject any
considerable attention will agree with Mr.. TIL.
Adams that never before in the history of the
business was there so much field work as at the
present time. 1t is true there may be as much
money expended boring as will be gotten out of
the ground but that fact is not deterrent, and
some Of these days no one need be astonished
either at finding at the end of another year the
surplus very little reduced or the opening Of
some vast reservoir like that Of Thorn creek,
or another field as productive as the Bradford.
The wildcatter is at work everywhere where
there is the faintest scent of oil, and someone
is almost certain to strike it rich some of these
days. Then, too it seems not only almost GER
tain that chemists will yet succeed in refining
Lima oil so as not only to make it more profit
able, but it is believed that it is largely used
now as mixture.
But the surplus will likely be largely main
tained whether new field be struck or not.
More than one hve-barrel we'll pumped with an
engine operating, is profitable at 81 barrel,
and old wells are being cleaned out daily and
revived. some of them after 20 years abandon
ment and these small wells go TAR toward fur
nishing the aggregate run.
IN THE OLD OIL COUNTRY.
The territory considered exhausted in the
upper oil country Is beginning TO show general
signs of life. In the vicinity Of Oil City and
Franklin, wells are being bored as a matter of
straight business, devoid of speculation. They
are small but lasting, and whereas they once
fd f11k Co.. k.-s ~.
drilled at 45 cents foot, all depths within 700
feet. Counting the cost of a derrick and en-
gine house at s40O well 700 feet deep can be
gotten at cost Of $7l5. A hve-barrel well is
regarded as certainty, and it may be Solar
rel one. Even five-barrel well will pay to
operate at this cost, and where several can be
pumped with one engine the return Is corre-
spondingly greater. In that section one 80
horsepower engine is reported pumping 90
wells They are connected with rods which
are connected with elbows and operated in
divers other ingenious ways. How much more
development would likely ensue were oil to sell
people think all the old Oil Creek, Pithoie
creek, Dennis run, Tionesta, Clarion county,
Bradford and in fact all the old fields will soon
be worked for all they are worth, If present
price is maintained.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
In every direction the drill is being pushed,
the local field at present making the most
noise. 1t is said that Washington wells are
likely to be drilled deeper and another sand
exhausted. On Montour run there is consider
able activity, and another strike or two will I'LL
that section with derricks. The Nier farm,
near Robb station, has been leased, and the
owner will allow but one well to be drilled at
present. though he gets One-fourth royalty
should the output be large; one-eighth II
small
The finest piece of nearly primitive forest
scenery in the country, that in the neighbor-
hood of the Forest Grove Presbyterian Church,
is being spoiled at present. The parsonage
ground will be drilled, and a possible sustenta-
tion fund secured. The section looks already
SO Scared and blasted that one might imagine
Jove had been rolling ren-pins through it, or
throwing thunder-bolts around prOmiscuously.
Croquet playing, which takes the place Of bill
lizards among the Presbyterian brethren, would
tin million years create the havoc that few
oil drillers have done in a few days. In a short
time nothing will be left the student Of naturein
that section except the study of geology. The |
wild brooks that tumble in series Of cascades |
3 depth of 400 feet in the course of two miles |
allow study of the eafthis epedermis, away |
below the postpleisrocene.
There are some people who deplore the loss |
of our forests, but the majority of them will |
sacrifice them for filthy lucre, and on the south
side of the Ohio there il but little of that aver
sion manifested so strongly in Sewickley, to the
of the greasy drillers One man |
who owns a splendid place in Grafton, says |
they may bore IN his terrace if they guarantee |
him flower and he will move and take fresh |
start, and he isn't'a very young man either.