The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-17
WEALTH IN THE GROUND
VIEWS OF THE STATE GEOLOGIST ON
THE OIL AND GAS FIELDS.
Who Gets the Benefit from the Oil
WeIIs-Other Matters Contained
in the Annual Report.

The twenty-first annual report of the In
diana Department of Geology was issued
yesterday. The report is a voluminous one
and is made up of reports from State Geol-
ogist Blatchley, State Natural Gas Super
visor j. S. Leach, State Mine Inspector
Robert Fisher and State Supervisor of
Oils c. F. Hall, together with papers by
specialists. The special report on the Bed
ford oolitic limestone beds by T. c. Hop
kins and C. E. Siebenthal is in the book
j. IT, Scovel writes on the geology of Vigo
county.
In speaking of the mineral resources of
this State Mr.. Blatchley says that those
for fuel are the most useful. He maintains
that like all other worthy things it is being
wasted The waste of gas at Montpelier
is spoken about in the report. According
to the geologist, 4,659.000 barrels of pc
troleum have been taken from the oil field
About. the oil he says:
From a careful study of the Indiana
oil field, and conversations with the lead
ing operators therein, it Is the writer S
opinion that nearly, if not quite, much
money is being spent in the field each
year as is got out of it. Some men
who understand fully the details of oil
production and are following the business
of producing as a vocation are making
money in large amounts, but many who
enter the field for purely speculative pur-
fb are Losing t. The Prncpf4 Of
striking oil at any one place. even on the
best proven territory. But little reliance
can be put In the size or shape of any So
called pool in Indiana, as, on account of
the deep drift covering the surface. the
anticlines and the synclnes of the Niagara
by the drill. All wells are, therefore, risky
investments. In the words of leading
operator:
Each new bore is practically a Wild
eating experimental lottery, where you
pay $1,000 to $500 a chance, and some
times Or dTaW Ufta, big bp3p2e' sometimes fair
LAS the spirit of speculation is ever rife
among the American people, individuals
are plentiful who are willing to accept the
chances at the prices given, and SO each
year sees many wildcat bores go down
large proportion of which are losing in
VestmentS.
"As the output of the older wells is con-
stantly diminishing, it is necessary that
a large number of new ones be put down
ton from dropping. While in 1896 the an
nual production was increased, the new
output did not increase proportionately
the average production OF the held. and
the older operators believe that unless a
large area of virgin territory is soon To-
Gated the average will soon drop from
four barrels to three, or even less, per
WELL
up to the present the farmers who have
owned the land on which producing wells
are bored are the ones who have been most
benefited by the discovery OF oil in Indiana.
They had everything to gain and will be
finally plugged, and the only benefits de-
rived from its boring will be the marking
more clearly the limits OF the productive
field The average 'Wildcatter is satisfied
if he makes S., 900 in the oil business. II a
good well is struck close to the limits of
territory already producing, 1t ana the tease
on which it is located are usually SOLD TO a
company with larger means. This company
puts down six or eight bores, and if they
are fair or good producers it, in time,
usually sells to still larger company IKE IKE
the Standard or the Northern Indiana for
a good profit The usual selling price IN
the Indiana field for an oil consisting OF a
lease of eighty to 100 acres, with three TO
eight wells, having a settled production,
is $500 a barrel for the average daily pro-
ducton. More money has been made by IN
diana operators in thus partially develop
ing and selling leases to the larger COM
panies than in any other way.
The report says that the gas field of this
State covers about 900 square ml tes ana an q
output In regard to gas the geologist says
in speaking of Mr. Leach's report:
"a careful study of the excellent report
on the present condition of the field, fur
nished by Mr. Leach and printed IN an
other part of this volume can put lead
gas is slowly but surely failing, ana that
manufacturing establishments tnat con-
sumo half million or more rect q Gay can an
not be greatly multiplied in any part OF the
Indiana field without rendering speedy eX-
haustion of the supply certainty eWhen
petroleum or salt water lnVaueS noT di,s
gas IOCh II SOhAiN'1 -
until it is pumped out, the water perli nao
nently, since the supply of that liquid IS TOO
great to attempt to overcome. 49,
Much undeveloped gas territory IS is S TN
Indiana field. and upon it manufacturers
can draw for a limited period after the
present producing territory is exhausted
THAT the leading manufacturers realze the
coming failure of the gas supply is evlnced
Nv the number OF letters and inquiries re-
ceived from them on the subject. They
know by experience the value CT a gaseous
fuel and it was, If possible, to retain their
factories within the State that the lIlVestl-
gafions were started concerning the COM
Dosition of Indiana Goals and their ntness
for conversion into gaseous fuel. -, -
"Meanwhile each consumer or natural gas
should use every means at his command nndn to to
husband the supply by stopping at once al
,innecaesarv use or wanton waste. BY so
doing. the length of time for which the
Gas can be supplied for household use can
he materially heightened. and anotner oeee
cade may even go by before the iaSt 81
this valuable and most convenient A00i WI
be consumed. 4oa of tho
c+ata and the fuels taken out or the
eround. Statistics on the amount OF oulld-
- oYsr