The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-25
''SHOT" A WELL.
Drillers in Highland Park Ex-
pIode Nitro Glycerine.
Didn't Get a Gusher But viii
Try Again.
FOUND VEINS OF COAL.
Eighteen Inches of Excellent
Quality at ego Feet.
Oil Drips from Drill at Depth of
$50 Feet.
Work on a Second Hole Has
Commenced.
FOUND VEINS OF COAL.

An oil well was shot only two miles
from Topeka on Wednesday of this
week but the secret was SO carefully
guarded that very few people knew any
thing about the event or in fact that a
company of men had been drilling for oil
for several weeks on the farm Of George
Flanders in Highland Park
While the company was not successful
in bringing in an oil well the members
are sufficiently encouraged to start to
work at once in drilling a second hole.
They are certain that they have dis
covered a paying vein of coal of excel
lent quality and they are also satisfied
that they will be able in the second
trial to bring in either an oil or gas
gusher.
The company is represented by H. S.
Montgomery. The well was "shot" with
one hundred pounds of dynamite Wed
nesday and the neighbors in the vicinity
thought a gusher had been brouszht in.
The explosion shook the earth for quite
distance about the well, and a column
of smoke, water and rock was thrown
one hundred and twenty-five feet in the
air. Drilling has been in progress since
early in September but numerous acci-
dents and other obstacles have delayed
progress.
The well has demonstrated the fact
that there exists many valuable products
near Topeka. At a depth of 20 feet a
vein of coal IA inches IN thickness was
discovered. at 125 feet another vein of
coal 16 inches thick was found, and be-
10 wthis vein of coal, q stratum of clay
which would make an extra fine quality
of Portland cement. 10 feet in width,
was encountered. Professor Lovewell,
state chemist, analysed the clay and his
report was as follows:
The paste like sample is composed OF
clay with a large percentage of oxide of
iron. 1t contains a little lime, both car
Donate and sulphate, but the clay and
iron are the chief constituents, in the
proportion of three of clay to one of iron.
This specimen seems unusually finely
divided, and material of this sort, burn
ed with limestone, as at the lola works,
would make a fine quality of Portland
cement. With mixture of two parts Of
sand it would make an excellent quality
of brick, very hard and of a yellowish
brown color, and is darker and harder
the more it is burned
Later Professor Loveweu visited the
well and made a careful survey, render
ing a report which in part was as fol
lows.
After inspecting the drilling of the
we'll near Vinewood mark, and making
an analysis of the substances brought
out by the bailer, reach the following
conclusions: The material in which the
drill is now working is a ealcareous
shale, impregnated with more or less
petroleum constituents, and these are
seen when the contents of the bailer
are emptied on the ground, in streaks
of dark oily matter which floats on the
surface. On distilling portions of this
oily scum, I found the oily part was like
the heavy dark petroleuTns, but th@s
amount at my disposal was too small to
enable me to present a portion of the
separated oil for inspection"
At a depth of go feet, the drill pass
ed through another vein of coal, of ex-
cellent quality, is inches in thickness.
At $50 feet strong indications of oil
were discovered, and a few feet below
that point, oil of a rich brown color
dripped from the drill each time it was
withdrawn from the well. From this
depth downward for over 100 feet, the
oil was always clearly in evidence, only
the color changed to very dark hue.
When a depth of nearlZ 400 feet had
been reached, the water when drawn
from the well dubbed like mineral wa
ter which has been charged" showing
the presence of gas. At $50 feet a vein
of asphaltum was found, some three
feet in thickness. Wednesday the drill
ers believed it advisable to shoot the
we'll, which was done as above men
toned.
Mr.. MONTGOMERY has faith that there
is either coal, gas or oil in paying
quantities in the land upon which he
has leases. and will continue drilling
with the hope of finding one or the 9TH
err. The Portland cement clay Wou1a
be a most valuable mine f77eed. were
it nearer the surface Of the ground, but
the depth at which it is situated, may
make its development prohibitive. This
feature is now under consideration by
practical parties. however, and there
may be an arrangement made to put il
a plant to work it.
The well is located on about the high
est point in the vicinity. A large vol
ume of water was tapped at 800 feet
and filed the well nearly to the sur
face After the water was reached
and had filled the well, it could not be
lowered more than 40 feet. There were