The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1901-04-17
GO.PROSPECT FOR OIL.
Every Indication on John Day
and Stein Mountains.

SNstGOtoS sSHoS ouo SVsOt oSOS pSVpsC
are becoming more and more excited over
oil prospecting. Fortunes have been
made In southern California and interest
Is rapidly spreading north. Dozens Of
companies are boring for oil In the north.
ern part Of that state, In western Oregon,
on Puget Sound and eastern Washing gton,
but thus far no producing well has been
reported. Some gaudy reports rega; ding
oil signs and indications are published,
but these reports are inspired very
largely by the wildcaters who have stock
for sale.
Just to the east Of US, across Snake river
In Idaho, tits said that oil has been found at
q depth Of 600 feet. This report was put on
the wires at Boise City last week but
has not been confirmed. A company Is
sinking a we'll over there, but II oil had
been struck ten days since, full eonfrma.
tory reports would undoubtedly have
been received before now.
The story published In THE MINER
last week regarding the good fortune Of
some Sumpter citizens In getting In on
what looks like an oil bonanza In Colo.
RADIO, has been the topic Of much discus.
sion here since then, and a number Of
men know just where they can 90 and
find oil In eastern Oregon, not a thousand
miles from Sumpter.
For months past the general impression
has prevailed In this vicinity that oil
would sooner or later be found In the
John Day valley. During the past week
two gentlemen have informed the writer
that they have seen oil seepage, about
thirty miles east Of Canyon City. There
are no oil experts hereabouts, but every
body here have, Of course, been reading
during recent months about the necessary
geological formations and the surface In.
dieations Of the presence of oil below,
and many Of these conditions are found
on the John Day. There are coal and
shale and mineral springs and sand stone
and lot more Of the regulation require.
ments.
As matter Of fact, one Of the men who
stated to a MINER man recently that he
had seen oil seepage In that locality, Is
now on the ground, accompanied by an
oil expert who was introduced here as "a
mining man from Portland''-as II there
were any mining men In that jay camp; II
would be no less absurd to speak to
Denver sea captain.
According to another story, related by
an old prospentor who has followed float
clues to hidden treasurers, from California
to British Columbia, for the past quarter
Of a century, oil can also be found south
Of Stein mountains, very near the Nevada
line. He has seen the seepage there, and
even still better sign, a veritable oil
''biossom;" the "pitch stone" This Is
substance as hard as granite, which burns
as readily as rosin. It Is supposed to be
petrified petroleum. 1t Is not known by
the writer whether or not this Is theory
At the professors, but 1t Is just as good
for the purpose as II It bore the Harvard
or Yale brand. It Is thought to be an
"old" rock. not oil seepage hardened by
exposure to the atmosphere. but the pro.
duct Of Natures labratory down In the In.
side Of the earth, and Of the vintage Of a
few million years since.
"Show me-" the skeptic will say. "Go
out and see for yourselves" Is the advice
THE MINER offers. 1t Is not at all i'm.
probable that petroleum exists In eastern
Oregon, and It ought to be discovered this