San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-05
SAN AN7oNIo TEXAS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY s. 1890
NATURAL GAS ON DECK.

and Messrs. Cosgrove, Boelhauwe,
Reuter-, Page, Grice and Sartor, under
the safe conduct of proprietor Dull
mig, lett the city to inspect the gas
wells and speculate concerning the
outlook. A comfortable lunch will be
spread for them with the accessories
and very pleasant time will be en-
joyed. The LIGHT was cor
daily invited to accompany the
party, but a heavy run of
home work prevented. That
the readers OF the LIGHT may know
just what the situation is the follow
ing is served up:
just after passing the siX-mile post
on the GOliad road one sees standing
some distance hack from the highway
on commanding knoll, slightly
dwelling and in its immediate Vicin-
ity tall derrick with windmill and
tank for companions. This is the
scene of operations from which, if
successful, San Antonio will derive
untold benefits. Concerning the spa
ciOus ranch buildings, with hot and
cold water baths, fire apparatus, gas
ranges and lamps, and the magniti-
vast country, it is not now the
LIGHTS intention TO speak. Neither
is Il at present in order to refer 10 the
ranch proper-its fine stock, superior
breeding yards, fish ponds, bottom
lands etc. The interest now centers
in the gas and oil wells.
These latter, two In number, were
dug near the central ranch buildings,
some half mile distant from the gas
well, and of their real volume but lit
tie can be said. These wells were
struck in boring for water and caved
in after oil had been reached in small
quantity, preventing the sinking of the
wells to depth sufficient to test the
yield. At present these wells yield
about Il barrel of oil "a week of very
superior character as a lubricating oil
and also possessing many constituents
extremely valuable IN a medicinal
way. When Mr.. Dullnig commences
operations again in this locality, he
will prepare for all contingencies in
the way of caving and fully test the
value of his natural supply.
The boring for gas was made on the
top OF the commanding knoll on which
the residence stands, and was con-
tinued to a depth of 800 feet when
supply of natural gas was struck hav-
ing a uniform pressure of 20 pounds to
the quarter inch. This supply has
been now maintained for about six
months without any perceptible
dimunition. This gas is very fine
Illuminating gas, burns~ freely, with
little color in the flame and no flick
erng. 1t burns very freely in range
and furnace as we'll, the kitchen range
and the boiler for the drilling engine
being both fed from the small supply
pipe of the first well. This we'll it
was not found possible to con-
smallnesS of the opening and other
menced about a month ago. The
new well, which Mr.. Dullnig will
sink to a depth sufficient to fully
test the value of the natural gas de-
pOsit, is twelve inches in diameter for
the first 40 feet, eight inches in di-
ameter down to 100 feet, and will
have a diameter of 6 5-S inches be-
You'd that depth until the gas supply
is fully ascertained. The operatives
at work sinking the shaft are of the
opinion that free supply will be
reached at from 80 to 1000 feet. The
superintendent says he has found
similar gas indications all over the
region south of the ranch, in A tas-
cOsa county, and has been obliged to
abandon several water wells on ac-
count OF striking gas.
Mr.. Dullnig will not intermit his
work until he finds out how much gas
there really is under his ranch. He
believes that he has a deposit fully
equal to supplying the fuel needs of
San Antonio, as he now has a supply
fully equal to supplying much larg-
or city with illuminating gas. Should
his expectations be realized in find
ing gas, and coal as well, for which
he confidently looks, it will solve the
question of manufacturing in this city
and cause manufacturing plants to
spring up like magic.
In the we'll now being dug, at
depth of 225 feet, some specimens
of mineral were met with in the clay
stratum very much resembling silver
ore as it appears under powerful
microscope.
The party who have gone out to-
day will no doubt bring back with
them many items OF interesting in
formation from the wells from which
San Antonio hopes great things.
Rough on The Lone Star.