Cañon City record., 1901-08-08
WHAT IS BENEATH Usp
Only q Deep Well Boring VIII Reveal
That--Prof. Arthur Lakes Ad-
vises an Examination.

Ask most people what is beneath
Us, and they would answer: the
earth. But to tell what is contained
in the land or rocks upon which we
tread is a serious proposition. To
dig down into the bowels of the
earth is in the majority of cases an
expensive luxury. To use the diamond
drill is a less expensive proposition,
and one resorted to by expert miners
and prospectors. But Prof. Lakes
believes it the duty of every commun-
ity to ascertain whether precious
metals, oil, gas, or water exists in
any large body under the city or town
and to that end he has furnished the
Colorado Springs Gazette with an
able article ON the subject, from
which we quote five paragraphs. He
says:
1--WE have often thought that it
it would be good thing if in the
neighborhood of some cities deep
trial well boring were put down, to
ascertain what of economic value
might underlie those cities of possible
utility to the cities themselves.
Such well might be put down,
not at the heavy expense of one or
two individuals, but by every one
chipping in" a small sum so that if
tine project resulted in nothing, no
one would be a serious loser. Such
a well would at least be an interesting
gamble and its progress source Of
general interest to the community.
''The chances for oil by deep well
are not at all unfavorable, the geologi-
cal horizon being very similar to that
of Florence. Gas, too, is possibility.
The geological structure and con-
ditions of the great Manitou bay are
not unlike those of the Canon City
bay. The great curve in the mount
aims at the foot of Pixies Peak formed
undoubtedly an ancient bay in which
seas deposited sediments in compare
lively shallow water. Such bays are
the natural habitats of sea-weeds and
other marine organisms and it is
from such we are supposed to derive
the elements of oil, and with oil, gas.
"At Florence the oil horizon is
found in the shale below coal beds,
and north of Colorado Springs we
have the Curtis and Carlton coal beds
as top horizon. If this were Flor
ence, the oil would be found 1,500 to
1000 feet below these coal beds.
Taking all into consideration, We
think that the people of Colorado
Springs are fully justified in putting
down deep exploring. well not less
than 5000 feet. The possibilities
are oil, gas, and warm and medicinal
waters"
The points raised above were in
tended to apply directly to the Colo
RADIO Springs and Manitou section Of
the state, but from his statements it
appears reasonable to suppose that
practically the same results could be
obtained here.
1t is matter worthy of serious
consideration and one that the Cham
ber of Commerce should take cogni-
zance of. The expense attending
such project could be met by popu-
lar subscription and the funds turned
over to the city government, which
could assume entire charge of the
work, the well to be sunk on city
property. If such a well as is
described should reveal an enormous
body of pure soft water or even gas,
either could be utilized by the city
and our people would realize the
benefits therefrom. A number Of
our citizens have already signifed
their willingness to contribute to
such fund. Let the matter be fully
discussed without delay.
$16.5O, $500 and $3.50 summer