The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-11
PETERSBURG GAS WELL
SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEW FIELD
DOWN IN PIKE COUNTY.
Outsiders Not Allowed Any Stock in
the Enterprise-OiI and Gas BOOM
ers Leasing Ground.
,ial 70 the indianapolis Journal.

Special 20 the indianapolis Journal.
PETERSBURG, Ind, May 10.-Peters-
burg either is in a big gas field or the
jumbo we'll which was tested last week
near this city is the most remarkable gas
we'll in the State. The test showed a pres
sure of 565 pounds, which is said to be 2l5
pounds stronger than any other we'll in the
State. The well is not down to Trenton
rock by perhaps five hundred or six hun
dred feet, but Mr.. Jabez Woolley, the coal
operator who had faith to drill for oil or
gas, and who has had considerable expert
ence in the gas and oil fields of West Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania, says the gas was
found in the same geological horizon there,
and in sand rock identical with the Ven
ango oil sand, which is also the gas horizon
of outhwestern Pennsylvania.
The people here have no doubt that this
locality is to become a big and prosperous
oil and gas center. This is an old town. 1t
has had the reputation of being slow, and
has been addicted to the "storebox" habit.
Since a week ago tomorrow, when the test
of the well was made, the people have got
down off the store boxes and begun boom
ing the town. While it is unquestionably
true that Petersburg is old and has even
been called lazy, it is not a ramshackle
place. There are good business buildings
and nice residences. Before the discovery
of gas there was only one vacant residence
in the town of 1000 population, and no va
cant storerooms. There are two private
banks, several hotels, one of which is as
good as found anywhere in towns of like
size, three newspapers and first-class
schools. The town has prospered as the
county seat of Pike county, which is rich
in 1OripD1tura and pna1 Tho ro5pac bou-
ever, are distant from Petersburg, and the
town does not get the miners trade, but
the industry helps the county, and Indirect
ly Petersburg. The men Of affairs of the
town are enterprising enough to organize
two companies for the development of the
field. Moreover, they insist that the con-
troll of the field be retained at home. Evans
vile wanted some of the stock, with a view
Of piping the gas to that place, forty-one
miles to the southwest, but Petersburg says
that whoever makes use of the gas must
come to Petersburg to do so. The Peters,
burg Mining and Manufacturing Associa-
ton, whose capital stock is 500, 900, and of
which eX-Congressman Taylor is president,
owns the WooIley well and has leased near
ly all the land Immediately surrounding the
wv The newer company, the Pike Coun-
ty Oil, Gas and Mineral Company. has $10,-
900 stock, with j. w. Brumtteld, county au-
QlLOE. PRESIDENT.
A business mems association has been or
gained for the purpose of booming the
town and securing manufacturing plants.
Mr.. w. II. Foreman is president, w. ID.
Grove, editor of the Press, vice president.
and j. NJ. Nice. Stoops secretary. Some in
quiries already have been received asking
as to the truth of the reports about the
gas field, the writers saying if il is a gem
field they want to locate in the town.
One man wants to open a hotel, another a
supply house and another wants in on the
ground floor of the stock companies.
ADVANCE AGENTS OF A BOOM.
The advance agents of oil and gas COM
panies which follow the discoveries of gas
or oil are on hand. They nave been in the
county leasing land which had not been
leased by the home companies. Runners
from the livery stables are at the depot
on the arrival of trains asking those who
leave the cars if they are going to drive
into the country Most of the oil and
gas men who nave been in Petersburg so
far came from Montpelier, Muncie and An
dersOn. Others have been here. but they
were secretive as to their business and
whence they come, after the manner OF
prospectors. The Petersburg people say
that the visiting experts have told them
that there is no doubt IL is a gas field and
most probably an oil field as well.
Mr.. Woolley is an Englishman by birth,
but has been in this county many years.
He was Il prospector in West Virginia and
Pennsylvania and of late years has been
in the coal business in Evansville. He came
to Petersburg a year ago and opened a
coal mine at the edge of town alongside
the track OF the Evansville & indianapolis
road. He found a good quality of coal at
Of the mines in the county is less than sew