The evening times., 1899-06-26
A NEW OIL FIELD OPENED.
Great Excitement In TioRa Co.nsy
Pcnnnylvania.

Gaines. Pa, June 26.-The Gaines oil
| region. in Tioga county. is Just now en-
gaging the speculative attention Of all oil
dom, and is attracting thousands OF visit
ors who are interested in petroleum de-
velopment. The staid little village Of two
hundred souls is gradually being trans
formed. and the quiet order Of thirgs has
been succeeded by Western turmoil and
excitement.
The native has caught the infection, and
while holding his lands at fabulous price
becomes mysterious at the approach Of n
stranger. 1t is little use to ask questions,
even the direction Of the pcstcfiice SO
fearful are they that the answer would
afford the crafty foreigner an inkling of
the turmoil in the natives mind To get
10 the facts one must walk out to the two
groups OF derricks. a short distance from
the station. located on the Atwell and
Watrous farms. On the Atwell are eight
cen wells, and in Watrous' there are nearly
forty. each within stones throw of each
other. Further away. to the north and the
south are number of wildcat ventures.
West OF the village is the most likely
spot. and there the man Of broken fortune
from Oil Creek or Bradford SHES his di-
vining rod.
One man. former Congressman Flood, has
sunk we'll on the Elephant Mountain.
This was shot Sunday and flows forty-fye
barrels steadily
To locate wells on the top will necessi-
tate an expense of drilling as many extra
feet as the mountain is high because it is
a certainty that the oil stratum extends
on level. Nov that oil in large quanti-
ties has been found at its base, the noun
tain VIII not stop the large spectators
who have already leased the land, and will
commence drilling within few weeks.
The Billings heirs are holding meetings.
and many Of the preliminary steps have
been taken for opening the estate for oil
development There are also many ether
parcels of land of speculative value. and
perhaps, in some. large fortunes will be
made. aV
The Standard Oil people are watching the
sand as eat does mouse, and the best
indication of the future of the Gaines re-
gion is shown by its heavy investments
here. pipe line is nearly completed
through the woods for twenty three miles
to Black Forest, Lycoming county. to con-
meet with the Tidewater line OF the Ma
ticnal Transit Company. 1t is apparent
that every device is being employed to
hold back the production until the pipe line
is completed.
The average shown for this field is
strong, twenty-five barrels per day. which
Just crowds the storage. Here in Gaines
the oil is found at a depth of from 800 to
800 feet. which is considered very shallow.
The sand resembles that of the Bradford
field. and is from Is to "a feet in thickness.
The oil men call this spotted territory,
occasionally. within 200 or 300 feet
Of a producer one will strike dry hoe.
The Watrous farm is oyercrowded with
wells. but more are going down, and all
are flowing at their top-notch records. 1t |
IS very significant that all the defined ter |
lease holders, and back of them it is hinted |
Is a big monopoly.
An Elmira. n. Y. company has begun
operations with 4 view of piping natural
gas 10 that city, some seventy miles away.
Corning. n. Y, is also expecting gaseous
fuel from this field. The railroads carry
thousands of excursionists to the region,
md for their benefit an Atwell well was
shot the other day. young woman lib
srated the go-devil. There was seconds
,ush. and then a report as from hundred
'annons. telling of the mighty work Cf the
me hundred quarts of glycerine exploded
beneath This was followed by mighty
liss and then came forth a column that
hot slowly up past the walking beam. then
O the top of the 72-foot derrick. still up
Yards as far again. and then settled slowly.
bright yeIlowish cloud that dissolved into I
spray and soaked many white dresses be-
ore the fair spectators could get away.
t was sight never to be forgotten.