Arizona republican., 1904-04-17

the assayer, and found to carry fine
quality Of paraffine OIL
A representative Of The Republican,
learning these facts last night, visited
Mr.. Bennett at his home and asked to
know what there was for a basis to
! these highly pleasing reports. Mr..
Bennett merely permitted the inspec-
ton of the dump and answered a ser
les of questions respecting the discov-
cry of the Gil, which is no new thing
to members of his family. The dump
in question is a little pile of sand and
boulders taken from the we'll that
stands within a few feet of the house.
| The well has been used for domestic
purposes ever since Mr.. Bennett has
lived there, a matter Of two or three
| years. Owing to the dry weather the
water got low and at Mrs. Benefits
request he employed a couple of men
to sink it deeper, about four feet of
gravel, sand and boulders being taken
out. The Republicans representative
scraped eff the surface of the pile, then
picking up handful of the moist sand
and placing it to his nose smelled the
odor of kerosene as plainly as though
standing with his head in a well filled
ell tank. Not once alone, but a dozen
times was this thing done so that no
doubt could exist respecting the pres
ence of oil in the sand
Turning to Mr.. Bennett the news
paper man asked him how long since
he had emptied his oil can on the
dump. Biblical expressions were used
in the reply, but they were thrown
together in a way suggesting that they
had net been acquired in Sunday
school. They demonstrated clearly
that Mr. Benefits integrity in the
matter was not to be aTronted.
Asked if indications of oil had been
previously noted Mr.. Bennett said they
had, in fact ever since he had lived
there, though he never before regarded
the matter seriously. When they first
moved there members of the family
had Noted occasionally, peacock colors
on the surface of water that was al
lowed to stand, though there was no
oil taste sufficient to be noticed in
drinking. AS long ago as the opera
tons of the local company at Camel
back Mrs. Bennett had remarked that
she believed they had as much oil as
did the people operating there. The
subject became a family joke but went
no further. The we'll has been cleaned
been noticed every time that the oil
indications We're more pronounced af-
ter each cleaning. When the sinking
began the last time, which was d
couple of weeks ago, the usual greasy
appearance was seen on water that
was allowed to stand and when Mr.
Bennett came home one night he ac-
cused his son of having accidentally
dropped some oil in the well during
The cleaning OF his bicycle, but the
boy denied having cleaned his wheel
in the vicinity of the well. A day or
so later after the sinking had Been
practically finished Mrs. Bennett call
cd her husbands attention to the fact
that the gravel and boulders were
black and greasy. which an investiga-
ton showed to be true, and which fact
is still in evidence to all who go to
see. 1t was at this stage of the pro-
ceedings that the material from the
| bottom of the well was handed over
to the assayer for analysis two or
three tests being subsequently made.
At the same time it was noticed that
a black Shiny substance an eighth Of
an inch thick had settled on the top
of the pool of water near the well
curb. which had been formed in the
cleaning out OF the we'll subsequent to
the sinking. Mr.. Bennett called her
husbands attention to this and said
it locked like it would make good axle
grease.
This is all there is to the oil story,
so far, but it is about all that could
be desired for practically a surface
showing. Any man who knows the
| smell of kerosene, knows there is oil
in that pile of sand and rocks and no
man who knows Harry Bennett would
suspect that it found it's way there in
any manner other than that related.
But neither Harry Bennett, nor any
other man. can tell at the present
| time, how much mere oil there is;
whether it be a surface stratum only,
and of no commercial value, or wheth-
er it be an indication of a large oil
basin below. The latter hope at least
is well warranted and though nothing
| has been done toward deeper explora-
ton, there can be little doubt that
something will be done, and that as
quickly as possible. The development
of oil within the limits of this corpora
J ton would mean more to Phoenix just
Eow than anything else. Water stor-
/ age is certainty and is coming as
! fast as it can, but it isn't here yet
| What Phoenix and all the surrounding
| country wants is cheap fuel and if
/ there's oil here, there's none better.
And with oil developed here there is no
necessity of being at the dictates of the
! trust. The home market is all suffi-
cient. The demand is already on hand
clamoring fer the supply. And with oil
developed in this city the benefits will
not be confined to the man that owns
the oil land. 1t will start things in
every avenue of business activity. Los
Angeles made her first big jump to the
front in exactly that way and now half
! the residents on one side of the city,
each have their oil we'll in the back
yard, bringing in a constant source Of
revenue, while the owners are engaged
in other business.
Mr.. Bennett was asked what he pro-