The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-04-18
THE TEXAS OIL DEPOSITS.
How the First Discovery Was
Made May Give Cheaper Fuel.

J ~,
, The excitement over the discover,
, OF seemingly lnexhauslIble oil deposits
III TeXas appears to be growing. The
government experts, geologists anC
conservative business men consider tho
location Of oil in Texas aud California
OF Tar more Importance than the dis
, covcry of gold in California. In fact
II is looked upon as a development that
will have n tremendous economic in.
fluence on all the industries Of the
southwest. George Il. Adams, an cX.
pert OF the geological survey, has been
sent TO Texas to make an investigation
ami report upon the extent Of the oil
deposits and the manner in which they
are beng worked. An official of the
geological survey in speaking Of this
matter to the Brooklyn Eagles Wash
irgton correspondent said
The oil is lIot the Illuminating va
riety, but is used for fuel. 1t will
supply the one thing that was before
lacking to enable the tremendous re-
sources of that country to be properly
developed. Texas is nearly the rich
est State in the Union in natural re.
sources, hut there are no coal deposits
there. She has gotten her fuel in the
past from Indian Territory, and after it
had beer ha11ed and shipped to 7 cxas
it cost between SS and 50 ton. The
excessive cost of fuel has done much
to rctard the operation of the deposits
Of cement, iron and other ores with
which Texas abOunds. The discovery
of a cheap fuel within her borders
will work wonders with Texas inter-
csts.
The utmost excitement prevails all
through Texas, and excursions are run
from Galveston to Beaumont to see the
big geyscr. -Four thousand persons
recently visited Beaumont in a single
day. AS may be supposed the town
has experienced tremendous boom.
People are tlockiny in and securing
the country prospecting for oil and
buying up land leases. 1t is almost
impossible to secure accommodations
IN either hote's or boarding houses,
and living rates have gone way up.
New wells are being sunk every week,
but precautions arc always taken to
prevent waste Of oil. Improved ma
chincry has been introduced, and as
soon as oil is struck the flow is checked
until tank cars are secured. Pipes are
being laid to Port Arthur. tho nearest
port, where ii will be pumped ON
board oil ships. Lucas secured leases
Oh 5000 acres of land before he began
opc crations, and he pays a royalty TO
the owners on each barrel that is sold.
AS before stated, the various raill Dads
OF that section are preparing to change
from coal to oil fuel. The main thing
that the operators arc waiting for now
are tank cars to take their product to
market. Following the discovery the
price of oil in Pittsburg tumbled dan.
gerously, but it has since been stcadicd.
Among those who have since learned
that oil existed under their farms is
cx Senator Roger q. Mills, who is
said TO have been made independently
rich by the products of a well sunk on
his land.
3" One Of the great advantages Of the
OIL deposits is that they are right on
tide water, thus making Is possible to
ship 1t by water at little cost. The
government officials are very enthus-
iastlc over the discoveries and declare
that the oil will furnish cheap fuel
not only for the local industries of
Texas and New Mexico, but for trans
continental transportation and for
shipping interests in the gulf and West
! Indies.
The story of how the first oil strike
was stumbled on and the opening ur
of the unlocked for riches roads like a
tale from Arabian Nights.N A. +.
Lucas, a Washington mining engineer,
was engaged as superintendent of the
Avery Rock Salt mines, in Louisiana,
but having a disagreement with the
management, he left and driftcd over
to Texas. Reaching Beaumont, which
IS about three hours ride from Calves.
ton, he went out prospecting for sui
phur. lie struck some sulphur springs
and observed that small quantity of
natural gas was coming from them.
In putting down well he ran across
slight deposit of oil, and this fact,
together with the presence Of natural
gas, led him to believe that oil was to
be found there. He accordingly sank
n well for OIL. About 900 feet were
penetrated and Il six inch pipe inserted.
Inside of this section of four-inch
pipe 720 feet in length, was dropped.
The oil stratum had not actually been
lcachcd by the drilling machine, but il
seems that it was almost touched at
the time the four.inch pipe was put
inside the larger pipe. Suddenly those
who wcro working the derrick that was
lowering the smaller tube noticed that
it was acting qucerly. Something was
lifting it from the bottom. Mr.. Lucas
understood the signs and called to his
men to run for their lives. The oil
had burst through the crust of earth
that separated it from the drill and
came spouting up with terrific force.
1t pushed the pipe through the derrick
carried away all the machinery and
finally threw the 720 feet of pipe high
into the air. Fortunately, the pipe
came down end first and hurt no one,
but it buried itself deep into The earth
1t has not since been dug out. Turn.
. inc ahOut Mr. Tucaa saW al troom nj