The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-27
POCKETS OF OIL ONLY
IN PRINCE GEORGE
Geological Survey Says
There Are No Big Wells.
WELL POSTED ON CONDITION
Only Petroleum in Prince George
County From Wrecked Tank
Cars, They Aver.
WELL POSTED ON CONDITION

Experts OF the Geological Survey af-
ter an exhaustive investigation have
come to the conclusion that oil In pay
Ing quantities does not exist anywhere
near Washington. and in fact nowhere
east OF the Allegheny and Blue Ridge
mountains. This announcement was
made today by Chief Geologist G.
w. Hayes and several Of his assistants.
including N H Darton. who has been
making the investigation.
It was said recently that report on
the matter was to be issued as a result
of the discoveries made in drilling the
wen at centerville. but the plan has
been abandoned. The Government Off
GERS do not deny that pockets OF oil
may exist. but they say none is going
10 be found to pay commercially.
Bad for Nearby Boomers.
The announcement will probably have
the effect of disheartening many boom
ers Of alleged oil and gas lands in Prince
George county and elsewhere. assertions
having been made that oil exists even
In Rock Creek properties.
The work Of drilling at CenterviIle Is
still going on. with the promoters san
guine that fortunes await them. The
far, so the scientists say. from the
original gneiss and granite. which ex-
tends down into the center of the earth.
Pockets OF gas and oil have been struck.
but these. II is said. are of recent forma-
lion. being the decayed product OF vege-
tation confined in the silt and wash
clay OF the coastal plain.
How Biologists Reckon
The assertions OF the biologists are
based upon the defined dema rkations ot
the territory. which IS OF the coastal
plain part of the continents that Is, the
ground made in comparatively recent
times by the action Of the sea.
The thickest part OF this layer, which
lies upon the original granite. Is AZ the
seashore. the strata thinning rapidly
as it reaches the Piedmont plateau.
which was the beginning III the sea
shore OF the ancient continent. Back of
the plateau Is the mountain region.
which formed the original continent it
SELF.
The coastal plain has been drilled SC
often. and in so many places by ss0many
people. the biologists know definitely
that il consists OF sands. ciays. gravel
and common earth Underlying Il are the
vast depths OF granite and gneiss. and
other crystalline rocks. Back Of thu
mountains. where oil is ia quantities
once was vast bay or lake. which. wher
drained. deposited the matter from
which the oil has come. This applies
- the hills and valleys. the water al
one time covering nearly al OF what 4.
now America. excepting ONLY mountains
OF above the average height
Being sure OF the KNOWLEDGE that OF
cannot exist IN this sand OF the plair
both DR.. Hayes and Or. Darton have nc
htsitancy in confirming the results oi
me investigations which have just beer
concluded. DR.. Darton said.
Easy to Trace Line.
Tho three parts of the continent
mountain, plateau. and coastal Plain
are strongly marked. The line extend.
between the plateau and plain an IN,
way from New England 70 within few
hundred miles OF the gulf. the LOSING
point being at Montgomery. Ala. The
granite bluffs against which the seq
beats in New England is the Original
continent. Long Island is sea made. ol
recent-in such things-date. New Yor,
Is the next in tho line 90 denarcatEor
and in the order named follow Trenton
Philadelphia. Baltimore. Washington
Petersburg Richmond. Columbia. Wei
don, and then the line turns TO Mont
aomery. being lost finally in the en-
payment ~ the Mississippi Valley
which IN ages past was vast body OF
water
The head Of tidewater. the water
fails and the rock. the hills with grant,
under them, are found about ali Of tn,
cities mentioned. meeting the sands Of
the coastal plain, and scientists can fol
low the formations as easily as they
follow the beach Of the sea today. Flor
ida is not OF the original continent
computations showing that the PENN
sula was under the sea 1900 years ago
Now, we know beyond dispute thai
oil cannot be found In this sand anc
clay OF the coastal plains. and Prime,
George county Is IN Tire plain. which
ends at Georgetown. where the crystal
line rocks show magnihcently in Tn,
Potomac River. In fact. would like e
say none Of the coast cities show ~
perfectly the demarcations between tn,
original continent and the coastal plair
as does Washington
Prince George county has hills IL
number. OF course. but they are either
OF sand and clay or are q the origina
gneiss and granite jutting out into
NHAA vac 'iAts Il sea- AlVifl iNt ancient
coast Of Georgetown. IL is not OF land
though pockets may be- found
have had many samples 81 oi
brought from Prince George. and som.
OF Il was very good oil Ii may hav,
been Prince George oil. and again Il
may not.
Oil From Wrecked Cars.
Chief Geologist Hayes gave practically
fhe same facts. He however. went int
commercial possibilities a little deeper
DE related am incident occurring only 4
few mouths ago. IN which several tanl
cars niled with oil had been wrecked II
Prince George county. This oil seepet
into the porous ground. and IN a few
weeks IL was pcrcoiatins down hiii
finally reaching the surface Of the eartl
on the water Of the small streams.
The oil was seen by scores Of people
and in q few hours there was a boon
reminding one Of the busiest DAYS In