The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-10-13
OIL DRILLING IS OLD
IN kINGD0lA OF JAPAN
A Territory Man Tells Of His
Experiences in Far
East.
Used GAS FOR 400 EARS
Japs Soon Became Acquainted With
the Modern Methods of the Ameri-
cans-Wages Much Lower
Than in This Country.

BartleSville, |. T., special: DrillerS
II ar" back from Japan are telling
stories of what happened TO them there
While they were sinking the holes for
the Standard Oil company, which in the
east is known as the international Oil
company. None of the globe trotters is
enamored of the country. They say
that three months in Gods country"
is worth Il year in Japan OF India or
amy other eastern oil field.
-Four years < the Standard wanted
drillers to go to Japan. The company
had just secured an enormous conces-
sion and wanted to develop ii at once.
Among the drillers who went we're IL.
w. StoNer, now of Cleveland, Okla;
i. II. OBrien and c. II. McReady of
Tulsa, l.. T., and S, X. Werlich. The
last two have just returned from the
Japanese fields. And they are glad
of ii.
Has Had Oil 400 Years.
MIR. Werlich, telling OF his expert
enceS, said:
oil and gas have been produced in
Japan for hundreds of years. In all
that time they have been used as il
luminants. In this country we have
only been using oil for a period of less
than fifty years for any purpose. There
was y weird theory that some of the
old Shint gods were responsible for
these demonstrations and the people
Worshiped the fire as sacred. The
same thing happened in India. In fact
the story among the people of the east
is that The remarkable performances
OF the Persian fire worshipers We're
nothing more nor less han lighting "A
natural gas flame. 1t is impossible to
tell just how long the Japanese and
the East Indians nave known of the
presence of oil and gas. / have been
told that there are records running
hn.pl, Jhr,.n t1ln, fnl x,4, -l,--
reference to these mysterious fires
which were supposed to De the work of
the great god Shinto himself and which
We're used to mystify h e people.
Standard Introduced Modern Methods.
AZ first the oil came from seep
wells. This was drained off in the
most primitive method. 1t is only since
the Standard OIL company and the
Shell Trading and Transport company
entered the eastern fields that modern
methods have been introduced. Now
the wells are drilled by the most i'm
proved machinery ana by experienced
men. The formation is volcanic and
hard TO drill. The depth at which oil
is found varies from COO feet ia 2,40O
feet. There is, of course, Il large per-
centage of dry holes, but 1t is not
sufficient to deter the continuance of
operations. The OF is of a high grade,
some Of it running as high as 81 a
barrel. The field is constantly en-
larged. Most of it lies on the sea-
coast, where shipping facilities are
ample.
Wages Low in Japan.
Wages are not what they are in this
country, and of the nine men sent out
four years ago ] do not believe there
are two left. The trouble is with the
natives. They are initiative and learn
rapidly. They are willing to work for
Sl2 a month in our money. Therefore,
there is no shoW for an American who
is used TO getting his Sc IL day. There
is absolutely no opportunity for men
who wish to go into the oil business as
Independent operators. Everything il
on the concession basis. just as It is IN
Mexico. You ave to have some friends
in Toxic before you can get any oil
wells.
Three Companies in Japan.
There are three companies at ores
ent operating in Japan, two native
companies and Standard OIL. What the
royalties to the government are can
not say, but they are big. The govern
ment, as in the case with Mexico, owns
all mineral rights and you have to see
a Jap official and not the farmer before
Nou can get Il lease. Since the begin
ming of the war with Russia, I am told
they are demanding all kinds of things
for leases. The Japs go on the old
David Harulf principle: DO others or
they Will do you, and be sure and dc
EN- fust.' There is absolutely no room
FOR private competition In the east and
the chances are there never will be.
Where the Oil Is Found.
O is found ON the north island of
Inc japanese group, Holtkido, and on
both The eastern and western shores OF
Nippon. The wells are not large pro.
duccrs, but the oil grades so high that
IT pays to produce il. The Japanese
colnpanies and the Standard COMPANY