Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-03-13

ite is deeply Interested In the matter
and well they may be for much Of
the Immediate future depends on the
final outcome. Every man with the
interests OF Pagosa and Archule<a
county at heart has taken stock
some in about every we'll being sunk.
and there are eight or ten
in the immediate neighborhood. The
Pagosa people are patriotic In this re-
spect. They have convinced outside
capital of their faith and have shown
by their deeds that they are willing
to chance It, In fact, very few think
they have taken chances. At least
nine out of ten are sanguine as to
what the result will be. And set
backs have been taken philosophical
ly. Simply hard luck" is the way
most of them put It, And this seems
to be true. One well down nearly
1000 feet had to be abandoned owing
to tools becoming fastened and lost,
much time first being spent to recov-
er them, and the company is now
down nearly as deep on another well
and it is to be hoped success will
crown their efforts. The latter is
known as the Biggs enterprise. Sew
eral other companies have had the
misfortune OF losing tools but as rule
same have been recovered. One OF
the most vexatious delays is now TAX
ing place at the Pagosa company's
well, few miles from the town--the
well which reported an oil flow some
two weeks ago. The oil had Just been
tapped when the tools became detach-
ed, and for two weeks the workmen
have struggled night and day to raise
them. Last Wednesday their efforts
were partially crowned with success
by securing portion of the drill. We
have not ascertained what success has
since crowned their efforts. This well
has suffered many drawbacks. In
the first place the casing ordered was
found too large after the well was
down 500 feet and then 1t had
to be trimmed. This took much time
as a big flow of water was encount-
cred and interefered with work.
This water flow continues and is suffi-
cient to irrigate at least 160 acres OF
land. The water flow also keeps the
oil back. which has not been encoun-
tered in sufficient quantity to force its
way through, but the writer was
shown quart can of oil which found
Its way through the water last week.
1t is a dark. blush character and pro-
nounced of splendid grade by those
who ought to know. 1t Is to be hoped
the tools have been recovered by this
time and sinking continued. 1t Is not
known how extensive the oil bearing
area is. and a flow may be obtained ut
any time. or 1t may be necessary to
continue several hundred feet.
The Federal we'll about mile and
a half distant, is down nearly 1000
feet. splendid progress having been
made since work was commenced
early In January. Hard rock WAS en-
countered recently and progress is
somewhat slower, but SO far no mis-
hap has occasioned delay and worry.
The Cbapson we'll some eight or
ten miles above Pagosa, on the San
Juan. has also encountered much hard
luck 1t is the only well in the dis
trict that has not opened flow OF ar
tersian water But 1t is not artesian
water the promoters of the wells are
after. However. the fact that water
can be obtained by sinking reason
able depth will be valuable In certain
localities where 1t Is impossible n
obtain water by means of bitches.
The Herald believes oil is a certain
quantity, judging from all indications.
and certainly no people are more enti-
tied to success, for all are pulling to-
gether and contributing to developing
| the field.