The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-10
AN IMMENSE OIL FIELD
BIG STRIKE ON A FARM MILE AND A
HALF WEST OF BROAD RIPPLE.
Fluid SpOufed n Hundred Feet-Many
Experts on the GrOund-Farmers
Refusing to Lease.


bcrhood of Broad Ripple occasioned by the
discovery of oil, and there are dozens of oil
men here investigating the new field and
securing leases on all the land in the vi
entity that can be obtained. That great
oil field has been discovered seems now an
assured fact Night before last the we'll on
the farm of Henry Hessong, one and a half
miles west of Broad Ripple, broke loose
and flooded large territory with oil. Oil
had been discovered but there was not
pressure enough to force it to the surface,
and it was believed that it would have to
be pumped out unless drilling a little
deeper would give the gas a chance to
force the oil I'D. The drill was at work
when the sudden pressure came and with
it the oil.
1t was about 9 o'clock at night and the
men engaged in the work were sitting
about taking things coolly when there was
a big roar. The men knew what that
meant and fastened to get the well COW
cred, but were too late. A stream of oil
shot up into the air distance of 100 feet
and came down IN a shower. The pressure
very great and during the short time
the well flowed enough oil was thrown out
to completely cover the ground for several
reds. Yesterday morning it was stand
ing in pools about the neighborhood of the
derrick house and covered the floor of the
house to depth of several inches.
The well is located just west of the Hes
song farm house and near the road. The
oil was thrown out into the road. 1t COW
cred everything, presenting an unsghtly
appearance. The drilling continued all day
yesterday and will continue until the we'll
is thoroughly cleaned 1t is believed that
a steady flow will then begin and that the
we'll will yield flow of from sixty to 100
barrels a day. This was the estimate
placed upon the well by the foreman of the
drilling. He has been engaged In the work
for number of years and is an expert in
the business, but there is yet much
land in the vicinity that has not been
leased by the oil men his statement may
be taken with a grain of salt. He would
not overestimate the we'll
MOST OF THE LAND LEASED
Most of the land in what the experts
think is the new oil field has been leased
the greater part of it being controlled by
the keystone company. the Indianapolis
Gas Company and DR.. Light. The latter
has about $1,000 acres and has already
struck a well which will yield 80 barrels
of oil a day. His work was directed to-
ward finding gas and he was able to get
advantageous leases upon the agreement
to pipe the gas to Broad Ripple in the
hope of securing manufacturing plants
there The land which he has leased lies
west of Broad Ripple, and others have
come in and leased all the land surround
ing it.
of the Hessong well that has not been
leased. The farmers owning it have pooled
interests and holding off for the most
favorable terms possible. The indications
are that they will be able to get handsome
opinion of experts that the territory thus
held will prove the richest of the field.
The field was really the discovery of AL
exander Mcknight, of Pennsylvania. He
came here about a year ago, and after
carefully examining all the gas and oil
fields of the State came to the conclusion
that in the neighborhood of Broad Ripple
there was the best opportunity for devel
cpment. He interested w. J. Murphy in the
project and they quietly set about securing
leases on land The work of drilling began
early last spring. When natural gas with
a pressure greater than that In the Haml-
ton county field was discovered it was
said by alleged experts that the field would
same experts recently changed their deci-
sion when oil was found, saying that it
rarely occurred that both We're found in
paying amount in the same field.
Mr.. Mcknight said yesterday that he did
rot agree in this. He said that gas is the
PRODUCT of oil and that wherever the latter
is found gas is also to be found. He pre-
dicted that the new field would insure In
diana polls against ever returning to the
in the field would prove to be practically
inexhaustible, for he said it was generated
about as fast as it could be taken out of
the ground. But if the supply should be-
come exhausted, he predicted. it would not
be until a process for making a fuel gas
from oil shall have be en- discovered and thu.
oil will then furnish the fuel
The company of which Mr.. Mcknight is
a member expects to develop both gas
and oil Recently ar offer was made by the
company to furnish gas TO the two Indian :
apolis companies, but they informed the
new company that they had all the gas
they needed. This will be inspiring news TO
the thousands of people who suffered last
V inter and the inter before on account OF
short gas.
THE OCTOPUS MEN HERE.
1t has been learned that representatives
of the Standard Oil Company have been
here and among the farmers in the new
field, trying to obtain monopoly of it.
They were too late. however Much of the
land has already been taken by persons
who are in the business to stay and mako
whatever of profit there is to be made out
of it. In fact, nearly all the leased land Is
held by this class of people and tho farri-
ers who are holding off for fancy prices
have also refused to sell TO the Octopus.
The farmers will probably conclude to in
corporate as a company themselves and
conduct the business in their own teliaiI
Since the Keystone company, the Indian