The age-herald., 1902-01-19

of national reputation and better known to the world as the locator of the Beau- mont field, made the following report on this immediate section in Colbert aud Franklin counties:
 This field Is the extension of the great Appalachian oil belt from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
 "The development of this section oe Alabama will undoubtedly prove a very rich field in both Illuminating and lubri- eating oils.
 "The essential geological features in much of this territory are so pointed that the question of securing oil in paying quantities Is only secondary. The struc- tural arrangement is such that the pools are necessarily broad and where the catastrophes have been sufficient, but not too violent, deep pools may be anti cipated. With such evidences at youl command there Is practically an assur- ance of rich reward in discovery.
 This belt continues in the same gen. eral direction of its northern fields, oi which system it Is great factor. Anti- clinals all run N. E. to S. W. nearly but some time move from their correct lines by structural difficulties
 "The points critically examined by me were the most pronounced I have ever met with and I unhesitatingly pronounce Colbert, Lawrence and Franklin coun- ties equal to any field east of the Miss isslppi Basin
 Another well is now being bored at Passport in the west end of Colbert coun- ty on the Tennessee river by MT. Beat ty. an old Pennsylvania oil man. Reports from this well are encouraging and the prospects for striking oil are bright. MT. Beatty put down a we'll on Keithly Creek in Lauderdale county in 1890 to a depth of HOO feet. This well produced a strong flow of gas and some oil. but in shoot ing it the casing was blown out and the derrick destroyed.
 In 1893 the Iron City oil Company put down a well to the depth of 315. and struck 8 strong flow of gas which burn ed for weeks. The indications for oil were very fiatterfng but the financial depres- sion of that year compelled the promoters to abandon the work. M
 The Madison oil Company of Hunts vile has drilled a we'll near Blanche, Tenn, just over the Alabama line. which is producing from eight to ten barrels per day. oil was first struck at 100 feet and gas at 300 feet The company has purchased new and improved machinery and will drill other wells.
 This in brief is the history of the oil fields of North Alabama The future Is considered bright by experts and every effort Is being made to push the work  through to completion that brains and energy can devise. The result is problem atical as the history of the oil business will testify. oil is here as evidenced all i over the Tennessee river region, by sea- pages and croppings, and the wells that have been drilled in the past have prov ! ed that this Is an oil territory, but wheth- l CT 1t will be found in paying quantities l remains to be demonstrated. find of oil | means much for the industrial develop | ment of North Alabama. It would en- | able this section to become at once a great centre of industrial developm ent in the South. Already cotton mills and fur naces are turning out unfinished yarns l and pig iron which are awaiting the man. ufacturer to convert into finished pro- | ducts. Cheap oil fuel Is gradually revolu- tionizing the manufacturing business of the whole country and manufacturers are already moving to the centres where | fuel oil is produced. The ordinary layman can figure out for himself the result of a big oil strike in the Tennessee val- ley. w. M. BUNTING