Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-10
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

81
BUTLER, February 9.-The growth of the
oil business in this county has been phenom-
email, and overshadows all other branches
of trade in its profits and the amount
of money invested. The greatest progress
in the development of territory has been
made in the past year, and at no time
in the history of the country has there been
such great activity in the search for new
fields as at the present time. 1t has been
estimated by persons whose relia bility can
not be questioned that 800 wells will be
started as soon as the roads become solid.
AS the average cost per we'll does not fall
below $4,000. it may readily be seen that
this means an expenditure of 81, 500. 900 for
machinery and labor, aside from the vast sums
which are being paid for bonus and rental on
leases.
In the township of Center, lying north of
Butler, 81 test wells have been drilled in the
past Is years, and yet the production obtained
there in all that time would not pay one-ffth
OF the cost OF operations; and more wells are
being drilled in that vicinity to-day than at any
previous period Experience has taught the
important lesson that the drilling of one well
in every school district does not make a
thorough test as has been abundantly demon
strated in recent years.
TEST WELLS IN EVERY TOWNSHIP.
are being drilled for either gas or oil, and
within the ensuing three months every town.
ship will have its test well. And then the
sand in which this county abounds. There is
the 100 foot field, the third sand, the fourth
sands the Bullion sand. and at this time we'll
is being driven near Murrysville, in the hope
of finding the Speechburg sand, $500 feet be-
low the surface. From all these different
strata, except the last, oil is being produced,
and in a number of instances wells which had
been producing for years have been sunk
deeper with very gratifying results, demon
strating that several oil-bearing rocks may he
found in single well.
Another phase Of the business, and not the
least important by any means, is the enrich
ment of the farmers, hundreds of whom have
reaped fortunes from beneath their lands on
which, before the discovery OF oil, they were
not able to earn more than very moderate
living by cultiVating the soil. And after all
this is the most abiding benefit growing out Of
the development of oil territory.
MOST PERMANENT BENEFIT.
Years hence when the last barrel shall have
been pumped out, the derricks removed, the
wells plugged, and the operator has emigTated
to new discoveries, there will be left behind a
prosperous farming community possessing
ample means to improve their lands and put
them in fit condition for the more quiet and
peaceful pursuits of agriculture.
The cold weather of Friday inspired hope in
the breast Of the producers here, but the snow
and rain which followed SO quickly upon the
frost have put the roads in as bad condition as
ever. Lockwood & Co. are still drilling in the
sand on their Young farm. 1t has good sand
and oil, but not enough gas to cause the well to
flow. The South Penn Oil Company's well, on
the Staples farm, has been drilled deeper, and
has increased to lbs barrels per day.
The January daily production of the wells on
Little Creek 100foot field was about 2, 300 bar
rels The Cashdollar well, owned by the AS
soci&ted Producers. is doing 100 barrels per
day. The Phillips well is doing Is barrels an
hour. Christie Bros No. 6, on the Henry
Welsh farm, is doing 200 barrels per day. The
Hazlett well is still making more than 100 bar
rels a day.