Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-13
WESTERN OIL FIELDS.
How the Industry in Colorado Is
Rapidly Developing.
FIRST WELLS DRILLED In 1888.
No Show for Individual Operators in That
Section of the World,
WHAT is DOING IN THE HOME FIELDS
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE p1sPArcH.I

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE pIsPATCH.I
FLORENCE, Col, April 8.-Pennsyl
Vania, of the East, among other things
boasts of her oil field. So, among othel
things. does Colorado, of the West. Penn.
sylvanis's oil industry is gian. and may
be has reached its growth. Colorado's oil
industry is but babe and is growing.
The oil field of the West is located south
of the central part OF the State in Fremont
county. All developments thus far have
been confined to the south side OF
the Arkansas river, in the vicinity
of the little city of Florence. The
field is SO miles west of Pueblo,
and within ten miles of the mountains.
The discovery of oil in Colorado dates back a
number of years. As long ago as 1863 a
Yankee from the East erected two small
stills in the mountains beyond Canon City,
collected the oil as it oozed from the rocks
along Oil creek and refined it. He sold it
10 the miners and travellers for the small
sum of So 90 per gallon. When the rail-
road was built through this part of the
country oil was brought from the East and
sold for 81 80 per gallon, and the poor fellow
had to 60 out OF business. The refners now
sell the oil for 25 cents per gallon and even
at that low price manage to keep the volt
from their door. They are not above want
however, for they want the earth and all the
fullness thereof hereabouts.
First Wells in the Florence Field.
The first wells drilled in the Florence
field were on the ranch OF Edwin Loback, in
1855. The company drilled two wells at a cost
of SlS0 900. A fair showing of oil was found in
both wells, but through lack of knowledge in
the handling of the wells they were both spoiled
and the venture proved unsuccessful. The
real development of the field commenced IN
lsS4-sS when Major John Coon, of Cleveland,
o., organized a stock company for the pro-
ducing and refining of oil in this place.
This company, which is now called the United
Oil Company. has been very successful. Ex-
Senator n. P. Hill, of Denver is President
Other companies operating in the field At pres.
eut are the Florence, the Rocky Mountain, the
Triumph, the C., c. d L and Beaver Land Com
pany. There are no individual operators. It
would be foolish for an individual to try to
operate here unless he were possessed of i'm
mense capital
The cost of developing this field is great
The machinery is all shipped from the East,
while rig timbers and lumber must all be
brought from Oregon or New Mexico. Then
200, the territory is very spotted; they count
only on . per cent of the wells drilled as being
good; l. e., out of four wells drilled they expect
but one good one. So it evidently is not poor
mans oil field. Another big item of expense is
lack of water. Wells have been drilled to the
depth OF 5000 feet without finding drop of
water. The Rocky Mountain Company force
water through five miles of three-inch pipe
line, from the Arkansas river to their works.
Where the Oil Is Found.
Like Pennsylvania oil, this oil is found in the
sub-carboDiferous strata; but unlike Pennsylva-
mia OIL it is not found in a sand rock. The
second thing that a Pennsylvania asks when
be gets OF the train at Florence IS: What sanc
90 they get this oil in? And the fellow who has
been here some time shoves his sombrero lit
tie farther back on his head, gives his jeans a
hitch, sci!es broad, deep Colorado smile, and
proceeds to explain.
At 10 or 20 feet below the surface the drill
comes IN contact with soft, dark slate forma-
tiOn, which continues without a break to an
unknown depth, for the deepest wells were
still drilling in the slate when the drill was
stopped The formation is very soft; so soft
that ii Will n ot stand shooting. Only twice in
the history of the field was glycerine used and
it spoiled the wells both times. The average
depth of the wells is about 200 feet The
least depth at which oil has been struck is
1000 feet, and the greatest 2, 400. There is no
definite place at which the drill should strike
oil, but it is liable to puncpure a YeiE at any
depth from l. ,0O0 to 2 400 feet.
There are many peculiarities connected with
this field which no doubt would be very inter-
esting to oil men and well drilers. but we will
have to defer telling them at this tune
The oil obtained is dark green OIL rich in par
atfine, and from 81 to 36 gravity. A splendid
lubricant is made by passing the crude through
q retoTt As an Illuminating oil it is equal in
per cent OF the crude can be utilized for illu-
minatng oil. The residuum. or tar, as it is
called is used for fuel Sprayed into the fur
mace by means of steam Jet, it burns with a
bright, clear fame, making good substitute
for gas. Very little gas is obtained each well
g1ving not more than enough to light the boiler
house.
The Number of Wells Drilled.
There have been close on to 200 wells drilled
in the entire field, At present there are q
wells producing oil. with an average daily pro-
duction of l,SO0 barrels. The Developments are
increasing and WILL no doubt, double during
the next year. The product of the field for
1890 was 2g7, 600 barrels of crude. Eighty thou
sand five hundred barrels of refined oil were
sold in the State of Colorado, while u 900 bar
rels were shipped to markets out of the State
Besides this amount of refined oil large GUAM
tity of lubricating oil was made. The greater
part of the oil manufactured here is handled
by the Continental Oil Company, of Denver, of
which ]. E Blake, an old Pennsylvania oil |
man, is President
The crude capacity of the United Refinery
plant is }. 500 barrels; that OF the Florence is
1000 barrels, while the c. G. /. are at present
erecting a refinery that will have a capacity of |
not less than LOO barrels. It is quite likely |
from present indications, that the Rocky |
Mountain Company will locate their refinery |
at Pueblo and pipe the oil from Florence to |
that place.
Colorado, with her abundance of natural re- |
sources is bound to become the great manu- |
featuring State of tho trans Missouri country
and in time her petroleum industry will not be |
nun bcred least among her productions