The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-08-09
Major Otley the DiscOverer Of Texas
Oil.

Major 0tley the DiscOrerer of Texa,
Oil.
A special from Farmville to the
Nashville, Tenn Banner says:
MIR. John w. Otley has returned
home after five months absence i'm
Texas. 1t is proper to call attention to
the fact that Mr.. Otley was the first
man to direct attention to the possibil-
tiles of Texas in the production of oil
and II was in obedience To his suppes-
ton that the first well, now known
as the Lucas Geyser,n was sunk at
Beaumont. The development of thar
territory as the immediate result of the
Lucas strike has fully confirmed the
representations made by Mr.. OtIey i'm
1873 and he is properly regarded as
not only one of the best and most re-
liable experts in the country. but Il
the premier authority on the oil con
dltlons in the Lone Star State.
Mr.. Otley stopped i'm Alabama ON
his way home for the purpose of in.
vestigating the oil territory and what
ne says III regard to the conditions in
tennessee and Alabama is of especial
interest at this time.
When asked for an opinion on fine |
lexas Held and the result of his initial |
investigation, Mr. Otley SAID:
The Texas oil fields Of today are the
marvel OF the world. I'm the year of
1919, on account of West Virginia can.
llallsts who were in possession of le-
gendary Information bearing ON two
points located in the prairie plain of
southeastern Texas, | was empioved IA
make a critical examination and re.
port on the possibilities of oil i'm This
region. In order to make careful and
Scientlilc report it required much time
ana thought and research. The propo-
si'ioil was unlike anything | had ever
seen before. While features were abun.
liant 1t required patience 10 devotion
mem into their true meaning. | soon
discovered the system was not confined
o the prairie or cortal PLAN. but had
Is development much to the north and
vest. | succeeded in tracing a system
4 pools of in this direction and an
Idgust II, 1895, was able TO give a
'IrIy accurate report Of the entire belt
Iom DAKOTA to the Gulf. Since the
scent developments along the entire
eslgnated line referred to then. | have
al no occasion to amend or alter il i'm
ne least The possibilities Of this field
e immense. The common public
'hnot grasp 1t. There is not only one
stem Oh pools across the State. but
ave now III preparation papers based
CRITICAL examination ald proof COW
ing as many AS four distinct belfs
you advance north on these svs. :
JUS you discover the crude material F:
'hter III gravity and Of less sulphur !
lderlng 1t more acceptable for iliumi'
te distilates." ..a
III response To query about his re. 81,
~ exploration in Alabama, Mr.. Obey 81
The Alabama fields recently exam
"a by me bid fair to be the rival If
ler Ields In the great Appalachian
l. Nhlle there is no promise of
Sas gushers, yet they do contain
lures more pronounced than their u
e." 81 'i's -
The Tennessee fields were cyan, IN
ny me many years ago" continued
Ouey' and some parts of them i'm
'hl years. | want TO say, so far ~
recall and learn from my old notes
the promise of these fields are To
u ana The mystery to me is why Il
they been neglected so ong.D ton ton
I. Otley, when questioned on the sible
.olilty OF surface indications i'm fhe Two
ting of oil, replied: -" i 'n,,l
lOu have asked me are there any groui
ice indications that ta.d =, - TIL
tlty OF OIL pools This is suscepti. cent cent
u Tue answers, yes and no Tho prime
)glst whose KNOWLEDGE Of tha ole the p
'"iJ 'eachihS OF the schools and aug