The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-06-22

OF the Indiana department oi Seoio-
~ and natural resources has been
issued by State Gsologist W. ;.
Blatchley. The feature Of the work
il report an the natural resources
Of the state.
In area of square miles Indiana
ranks thirty-iourth among the
forty-tive states of the union. On
Jan. /, 1899, the state stood sixth
in the production OF coal, fourth IN
the production Of petroleum. second
in the production OF natural gas,
seventh in tie production OF build
ing stone and sixth in the value OF
her clay products. The total value
OF the five leading mineral resources
produced in the state during 1895
was $lT 400, 7l5.
The natural fuels in Indiana are
three in neutrality-suspicious., natu-
raj Gas and coal. The main petrol
cum field is located in Adams, jay,
Blackford, Wells and Grant. The
field extends from the Ohio state
line to Marion and averages about
twelve miles in width. Outside Of
the main fields isolated pools or
small areas of Trenton rock prcduc-
tive of oil are found at Peru, Miami
county, near Keller's station, Wa
bash county; at Alexandria, Madi-
son county, and Broad Ripple, Ma
ron county. Oil has been found
in the coniferous lime stone at Ierre
lIaute, Petersburg, Pike county,
and near Medarville, Jasper county.
THE OIL INDUSTRY.
Concerning the oil industry the
report says:
During the year 1899 there was
greater activity in oil operations in
Indiana than in any year since
1896. On Jan. 1, 1900, there were
1886 wells producing oil in the
state. as against 3 CPS on Jan. !,
llS99, 4 gain Of los for the year.
The number OF wells abandoned in
1899 was PAT, while the number ol
dry holes drilled during the year
was was lO5. The prospects iol
1900 are very bright. While new
territory cf importance may not b'
opened up the high price Of the Ii
quid, If maintained, will stimulate
the sinking Of many new bores Il
territory already productive. Their
. l. vet room for thousands Of we'll
! in the territory known TO contain
, oil.
E The total production OF petroleum
10 Indiana in the year 1899 wa
B, S1S,7l3 barrels, which, Il th
. average price Of 81 a cents per bar
E rel, amounted to 81, 81, 314. Com
pared with 1895, this was an in
: crease in production OF 81 ,4O6 bar
! rels, or IL per cent. Owing, how
+ ever, to the much higher averag
5 price, the amount received wa
; S1.1l3, 09S, or, approximately, p
per cent. more than in l>as. an
r $3i1,314 more than in any yea
d since oil was discovered in til
? state. The greatest production
: heretofore was ! $50, 1872 barrels il
: 1896. This, at G3 cents-the aver
age price for that year-amounte
: to 50 ,954, AL.
!, NATURAL GAS.
Natural Gas occurs in a greater Q
less quantity in an area approx
mating ? 500 square miles in tn
eastern and central part Of the state
In the field on Jan. LIST, 1890, tn
pressure was 325 pounds. On Jan
III, 1900, it was l55 pounds. a
the supply OF gas is shut of whe
9 the pressure gets down to about II
pounds it will be seen the future Z
!, the natural Gas in the state i not
\. promising one. On account Of til
near failure Of the supply, all ne
factories which are thinking Of Vi
ing gaseous fuel should be warne
Il against locating in the Indiana 9;
\ field, instead Of being attracte
/ hither by premises Of free "a
: The coal bearing counties OF Ind
/ ana will furnish cheap and plent'
a ous fuel for many years to come
and in those counties we woul
Y recommend all capitalists seekir
sites for factories, when fuel is Il
. principal factor to be considered
& the choosing Of site.
9 ACTIVITY IN COAL INDUSTRY.
8 During the year 1899 there was
n great increase Of activity in the co
& regions of Indiana. The outp
6 from the mines was far greater tia
x in any previous year. Many hui
6 lreds Of acres Of the best coal d
q posts changed hands, having be,
= secured by parties having. large ca
& to invest. The coal deposits Of Il
9 ita'e cover about Z 800 squa