Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-26

around the ailuv1aI bottom gr0unu IN ser
pentine form, but by cutting channels at
| the bends and damming up the ends OF the
| old channels at four places two line lakes
were made which are estimated to contain at
least $1,000 barrels of oil. This site was
| selected by DIR. Graft (because of the oil
| springs), through whose energy and perse-
| verence the wells were drilled. The earth is
| so saturated with oil that by digging a hole
| eight or ten feet deep anywhere in the fiat
bottom. where the wells now stand, the oil
would soon rise, filling the hole to depth
of several feet. A number OF these holes
are now cribbed with logs, from which the
neighborhood supply themselves free with
all oil needed for threshers, mowers and
other machinery. A large bucket dipper is
left at one of these holes for that purpose. I
had, some months prior, procured oil said to
be from these wells, but some friends were
credulous, therefore determined to procure
some that could vouch for, so friend
Murphy took his wrench and turned the
valve on well No. 1.
THE BLACK GEYSER
responded with hearty good will, squirting
the oil and gas with the force Of stream
from the nozzle of fire engine hose. After
satisfying my curiosity thoroughly had
him turn it down so 1 could approach close
and collect some of the flowing oil in a
bucket. He insisted on collecting it for
me, saving I would get my clothes soiled
from the splashing oil. I told him would
risk that, as was determined to catch and
bottle the oil personally from this well, so
1 could assure my friends on my return that
captured that very oil myself as it flowed
from the we'll. So did with all the wells,
and brought a bottle from each with me.
The wells responded at lively rate as the
nnht tru lad hrrf
745) seemed to be the most vigorous with
gas pressure. After the valve Of No. was
closed hole in the ground near it filled
with oil from below and overfowed, the
surface bubbling and throwing the'o in
every direction for many feet. This, it is
said, continues for day or two after the
valve has been opened.
These three wells, respectively 1873, $50
and 745 feet, were drilled in 1885, and the
strainers at the bottom of the pipe have never
been touched since. The strainer is a crude
affair, and was made by cutting many small
slits in the pipe with cold chisel. The
wonder to me is that these small orifces
have not filled up with parafne, but the
answer is given by an expert that there is
little or no parafne in this oil, but a sub
stance resembling plumbago, thus producing
its wonderful lubricating properties, of
which I have satisfied myself BY use on
machinery in my Dexter Spring factory and
by the people of Landor on mill and agri-
cultural machinery, and as has also been
done with fine results on the Union Paci1c
Railroad engines. This OIL found at such
a moderate depth, is undoubtedly from an
upper oil land, and doubtless when deeper
wells are drilled the sand rock bearing oils
of lighter gravity will be found.
DIMEN sIoNs OF THE OIL BELT.
As shown by the oil springs farther north
on this same belt in the Shoshone reserva-
tion, a sample of this oil have in my pos
session. 1t is almost identical with Smith
Ferry co. oil in gravity, color and odor.
This Dallas oil has a peculiar odor unlike
any crude oil I have smelled, which is
rather pleasing than otherwise. 1t is also
much thicker and flows less rapidly than
other natural oils, which is much in its
fsvor as lubricant AS to the size of the
oil field, nothing but the drill can determine
the strata, which, varying in geographical
height, shows along this Popoagie river and
its tributary, Twin creek, for over 30 miles,
possibly farther, running into Indian reserv-
alton. My observation of it was confined
to about 20 miles. AS to its breadth no one
can tell. To the east the hills rise abruptly,
then sloping gradually higher for many
miles to the east. To the west is ridge
averaging perhaps 2O6 feet high, having
half mile base, beyond which farther west
is plain 4U to 100 feet above the level of
the Popoagie, which rises gradually to the
west. Under this plain the strata
seems unbroken, but the depth of
the oil rock below the surface only
the drill can determine. The rocks in this
ridge along the river are frequently in an
almost vertical position, through which are
frequent breaks or canyons, allowing the
small streams from the plain to find exit to
the river. Through one of these the Popoa-
gle itself enters the Anticlinal at its juno
tion with Twin creek, which he'd followed
the Anticlinal from its source to the south,
which there takes the general direction of
the Popaogie river northwest. Should the
Anticlinal to the west prove shallow the wells
would not be deep, as the surface OF the
plain is so near a level of the river, and
doubtless great oil field would result. One
new oil we'll is perhaps 600 feet deep, the
rock is found to be quite soft, as during my
visit of an hour at the we'll the drill dropped
at least IL inches. Two other wells are pro-
jected. Should oil in any of these be found
in large quantities pipe lines or good rail-
road facilities could speedily be furnished,
one or more pipe lines being now organized
in anticipation of such result
A PROMISING FIELD.
would summarize by stating that to me
the field is very promising, indeed, and
see great possibilities for it. think its To-
cation we'll to the west of the continent,
where oil is scarce, much in its favor. Its
location among the Rocky Mountains is
only temporarily against it, but the rail-
roads surveyed to or near it will give as
good service as formerly the Erie Railroad
did to the Pennsylvania oil fields, and if
great quantities of oil should be found pipe
lines would be run to the Pacific rivers or
tidewater. But little pumping would be re-
9uired to reach the rivers to the west, from
which the descent of 5000 to 10, 1000 feet to
Pacific tidewaters would give good flow to
the oil, have reason to know that at least
one line of railroad will be built to the near
vicinity of the wells the coming summer,
and others in the near future.
As to the quality of the oil, it is, know,
valuable from tests already mentioned. But
as q matter of course it should be refined.
which would take the lighter PARTICLES for
illuminating oil, leaving the heavier for
lubricating, which, in my estimation, would
make very high quality lubricant This
Dallas, Landor, Graf or Shoshone oil field
Gas it is known by each of these names), is
but one of several localities in which oil
springs are found in Wyoming. This is
the only one of which have made personal
inspection. Several of the others know
give promise of great results.
RICH MINERAL DEPOSITS.
Oil is not the only mineral of Wyoming,
in fact 1t is but part of great undevel-
oped mineral wealth that is attracting WIDE
spread attention and interesting capital
from abroad as well as at home. Prof.
tnIy 20 or,1 1of1 1f. r.