Douglas Island news., 1904-11-30
FEW WELLS ARE BORED.


 ed the predictions made last year" is the substance of the report just pub lished by the geological survey regard ing the oil fields of Alaska. Neverthe. less, the survey believes that the out look for a large development of the petroleum interests in the North is far from uupromising. The preliminary work has been hindered by various obstacles, and the ordinary develop ment, in the several localities where surface indications of oil appear, has been slow.
 No attempt has been made to report on the development of the last season, but the surveys report covers the sea son of 1903. There has as yet been no commercial production of petroleum in Alaska, notwithstanding the numerous surface indications and the wells that have been completed in the supposed productive territory" The geological survey adds, however, that "the pros pectors should not, for this reason, be discouraged, although it may require patience and careful prospecting with the drill to tap the reservoirs, whose existence seems to be indicated by re- markable surface showings of both petroleum and natural gas"
 There are four petroleum fields in Alaska. One of these is just north west oI the great Malispina glacier, 400 miles northwest of Sitka and few miles back from and parallel with the coast line. Little is known of this field, as it is not as readily accessible as the others. No test we'll has been drilled.
 At Cape Sucking is the eastern end of what is known as the Kayak field, and petroleum is found in small pools on the surface from one to ten miles back from the coast. Extensive drill ing has been done there. The first we'll in this region was drilled by the Alaska Steam Coal and Petroleum Syndicate, which has subleased from the Alaska Development Company. The we'll was not drilled to any great depth before the tools were lost, and work was sus- pended; some petroleum was, however, found in this we'll. The same company drilled a more successful we'll during the year 1902. which at depth of 25O feet developed showing of petroleum; and at depth of 365 feet in sandstone opened up a considerable amount of petroleum. During the year 1903 this we'll was drilled to a depth of 800 feet without finding any large flow. About 4,OOO feet south of this last we'll another company drilled we'll to depth of HOO feet, and failed to find petroleum in quantity, although the bailer brought up large quantity. A well was drilled on one of the islands in the Chilkat river, seven miles above it's mouth, which at depth of over 800 feet failed to find any petroleum. An other we'll was drilled on the bank of the Katalla river, about two miles above the village of Katalla, which also failed to find sufficient petroleum at the close of 1903.
 A third field of some promise is known as the Cook inlet field, and is situated between Itimna lake, near the mouth of Innerskin bay. A we'll was started at Oil bay in the summer of 1902, which at depth of 800 feet, is said to have found some petroleum; at greater depth salt water began to flow, and then some natural gas. The we'll was then abandoned.
 The fourth principal field where oil has been discovered is at Cold bay, nearly opposite the southern extremity of Kadiak island. Two wells were driven there in the summer of 1903, but no developments were reported to the geological survey. There has been a great rush of prospectors to this 5;ek,;of D