Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1901-02-21
The Beaumont Oil Well.

The we'll at Beaumont. Texas, has the
reputation of being the largest "gusher"
yet located in the United States. It is
estimated that fully 10000 barrels of oil
escaped from it before the flow could be
controlled. Already a large territory in
it's vicinity has been sold to oil com.
panies, and it is probable that the count
~ between Beaumont and Corscana
will lie thoroughly exploited within the
next year by prospectors.
The we'll was struck on January 10,
1901, by Capt. A. F. Lucas. a geologist,
of Washington, D. c., who has been
prospecting for oil in this section of
Texas for about two years.
While the men were at work on the
derrick they noticed a commotion in the
we'll, and hastily retiring had no sooner
reached a safe distance when the we'll
burst with terrific noise, and 600 feet
of four-inch iron pipe was shot from the
well and sent 900 feet into the air. The
pipe was followed by Kissing gas and oil
which spouted $50 feet into the air. Al
most Immediately the stream settled
down to pouring out pure oil. and from
that time until the evening OF Jan. Is
to pour without a particle of diminution
into the air. On January 10 the flow Of
oil was well under control. It fell to
the ground in mist and ran off in a
small river into ravine or valley below,
where it formed lake which was ulti-
matelv overlooked aud the oil continued
down the regular watercourse to the
Gulf Of Mexico: The stream of oil is six
inches where it issues and spouts fully
$50 feet high in solid body. then
sprays. Experts have estimated that it
flowed 10000 barrels Of oil every twenty
four hours. The Oil has specified grav-
ity of about "a degrees and is good lu-
bricating grade.
The Mayor of Toledo said in relation
of this we'll to the oil industry, after an
examination of it:
II think 1t the greatest oil well ever
discovered in the United States. 1t is
fortunate, for the oil trade, that it ia not
illuminating oil. II it were it would
paralyze the entire industry. It's ad-
vent, however. means that liquid fuel is
to be tire fuel of the twentieth century.
Smoke, si.,ders, ashes and SCOT will dis
appear along with war and other evil
dences of barbarism. The new oil we'll
means cleaner AZ we'll as better civil
ization.
Practically the only market for it IS
for fuel and roadmaking. Texas should
use millions of barrels for the latter pur-
pose. Both these markets, however,
must be created, and this means that
before market can be established two
things must be demonstrated beyond
question; first that there is a great area
OF oilproducing territory and that the
supply is inexhaustible, and this can
only be done by drilling many wells;
second, after the fact of the existence OF
the territory IS demonstrated, twill be
necessary to secure the confidence Of the
consumers Of fuel oil. and this can only
be d one by the accommodating of 4 stock
offrom 100000 to 40000,O00 barrels
on top of ground in iron tanks. This
means an investment of millions of dol
lars and systematic organized effort for
several months, possibly year or two,
before this oil market is firmly and sat
isfactorily established. '-Scientific
American.