Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-01
EVANSVILLE AND VICINITY.
Oil on Surface Of Eastern Branch-In-
vestigation Under Wav.
ecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
HYATTSFILLE, Md, December 1, 1902.
The appearance OF oil upon the Eastern
branch between East Hyattsville and Riv-
erdale is still the main topic Of conyersa-
ton among the people of this vicinity. Not
withstanding the rain Of yesterday, the oil
was plainly seen upon the surface Of the
stream from the bridge at East Hyattsville,
and there were people whose curiosity
prompted them to visit the bridge in the
wet weather in order to see it. Although
1t was not as thick as on Friday, there was
sufficient quantity observable to confirm
in the estimation of many the report that
oil springs were in the neighborhood.
AS the fluid was seen In greater quanti-
ties on the branch last Thursday at River
dale than at East Hyattsvilie, and crowd
of eager and excited people gathered on the
bridge there and watched it, Mr.. William
T. Casey, a blacksmith of Bladensburg,
who was at Riverdale when the oil was
first noticed on the stream, reported the
discovery to Mr.. Benjamin D. Stephen, a
well-known farmer of East Riverdale. Fri
day morning small party set out on a
prospecting expedition, and after following
the Eastern branch to where the Deep
branch empties into it detected the strong
odor of oil and noticed the fluid coming
down the stream much thicker than they
had seen it before. Deep branch was then
Of Mr.. Stephen, one mile east of Riverdale,
where oil was discovered oozing from the
banks for distance of 200 yards. Beyond
this point there were no indications of the
fluid and it's source had been found
The odor of oil could be detected for a
considerable distance on Deep branch from
the place where it was discovered.
Mr.. Stephen, when informed of the dis
covery stated that he had been under the
impression for some time that oil could be
found at that place. He based his belief
upon the information that had been given
him by. Maj. Keys, formerly chief of the
Humane Society of the District of Column
bia, who is recognized expert in Oil and
natural gases Maj. Keys had frequently
visited the place, Mr.. Stephen said. and had
. told him that the surface indications point
ed strongly to oil being found there in suf-
ficient quantities to make 1t advisable for
him to sink shaft and commence opera
tons.
The piece of land where the oil was dis
covered has been lately cleared and plowed.
and it Is supposed that before this was done
the oil rose to the surface, but was absorb
ed by the SOIL 1t is also thought that in
blowing the land the plowshare tapped
some of the veins in the bank, and the re-
cent heavy rains moistened the ground to
such an extent as to carry the oil into the
stream. t ..y.7
A report was started to the effect that
large coal-oil tank at SeabroolS, on the Bal
timore and Potomac railroad, had sprung
a leak and this accounted for the appear
ance of oil on the Eastern branch. AS
none of the streams, however. in the victn-
ity of Seabrook empty into the Eastern
its tributaries, this report did not gain
much credencen among the people who are
familiar with the geography Of Prince
Georges county.