The Washington times., 1903-07-26
oil LIES UNDER MARYLAND HILLS

the scientists and oil men were wrong
again in their belief concerning the
eastern fields.
Shown by Samples.
Captain Lucas came to this conclusion
two weeks ago, when he obtained the
first samples from the Meadows we'll, the
oil showing all of the qualities of the
Texas oil. and none of those of the Penn
sylvania product. 1t would seem that in
reality, as a result Of the new discovery.
that there are innumerable oil basins in
the country, and that one exists some
where east of the Atlantic mountain
ranges. AS yet, the explorations have
not been extensive enough to disclose
that any great basin exists IN Maryland,
though oil is there.
It Is the purpose of the owners of the
Meadows property to put down a boring
1 500 feet deep in the present location.
The boring is now down 1000 feet, the
drillers using 6-inch casing pipe. with
the Texas rotary. a peculiar kind Of a
drill fitted with a hydraulic pump. which
forces the pipe crown through quick
sand. the water preventing the sand
from packing around the casing.
New Machinery.
The drilling OF the well more than a
year ago was begun with Pennsylvania
machinery. constructed for the bed ba-
sins where no quicksands exist, and
naturally the sand down under the
CLAWS and gravels at Meadows packed so
closely around the piping that opera
tions had to be suspended. Then Cap
tain Lucas was called into consultation
and the Texas machinery was obtained.
The we'll is in one OF the prettiest
parts of the county. 1t is easy OF ac-
| cess, and the facilities for pipe line
to tidewater at AnacOstia. or any of the
/ other Potomac River points are ex-
cellent Naturally the discovery of oil
/ in paying quantities in the locality
would be Of national Importance. There
is little chance. however. of outsiders
getting "in on the ground floor" as the
company has bought 1900 acres around
the well and has leased $500 acre:
more
Progress Made.
The boring was visited yesterday by {
reporter for The Times. and those il
charge made no secret Of the progress:
made The boring is located on a small
stream. in a depression between severa
ridges of hills in the depleted forests
in the rear of Meadows.
Surface of the Country.
Strangers are warned away by a mum
Der of signs The upper surface of thu
locality is. Of the white clay mixed will
sand and gravel. in patches. which tel
of the wash" ground. The site is sir
miles from the nearest railroad station
a flag shanty en- the Chesapeake Beacl
line, and is not more than ten mile:
from the Capitol
The derrick is OF the ordinary type
sixty feet high The power is Furnished
by forty-two horsepower engine, anC
the rotary is OF the Miller type. TIL
equipment is new.
The derrick appears 10 be too ligh
for the six-inch casing. and It must b.
lre-enforced, or 1t is likely TO collaps
above, causing the loss Of much of tn
casing and compelling the operators t
put down a four or three-inch pipe in
side Of the lost casing as in all quick
sand country operations.
Machinery in Plenty.
Five men under John Z. Connel, o
Pittsburg. who had been summoned iron
the Steel City, two days ago were a
work yesterday going down slowly be
cause Of the weakness Of their ma
chinery. Contracts have been let 10