The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-28
NEW SYNDICATE TO
SEARCH FOR OIL
CAPITALISTS LEASE 10000 ACRES
IN MICHIGAN. H. I:
Chippewa County to Be Scene of
Operations and Several Wells Will
Be Sunk in the Spring-Canadian
Government Promises soc Allowance
for Every Barrel Put on Market.

Special to The Journal
81. sault Ste: Marie Mich Dec. 2s-Forty thou
been sna In
the snow is of the ground In the spring
several wells will be sunk for oil. The work
will be In charge of Fl. D. Van Camper Of
Akron, Ohio. The first wells will probably be
sunk in the vicinity of Pickford. u 49,.
Van Camper left this week for Pittsburg,
where he will secure several carloads of ma
chinery. 1t will be brought here before sleigh
ing is over, that it can be taken to the
site Of the proposed operations On sleighs. Sew
to erect a refinery on the st. Marys river If
the wells are successful. If oil is not found
| nearer the surface the wells will go down
5000 feet. ..,
One of the reasons for the organization of the
company was that oil in paying quantities was
| struck on Manitoulin island in the north end
| of Lake Huron few months ago. The island
lies almost due east from Chippewa county, and,
according to the map issued by the state geolo-
| gist for 1905, the formation is practically the
same. There are now four five wells running
on the island, and more are being drilled. In
order that the company may Withstand the on
| slapghts of the Standard Oil company, the Cana
dian government allows 50 cents on each barrel
Of oil put on the market by the concern.
Oil Floats on Water.
| A few years ago several men sunk wells on
| one Of the islands in the st. Mary's river for
the same purpose, but, owing to the heavy rock
| encountered Cney were uQaDle TO Qf1ll Iar enough
to accomplish anything. The work was given
up, but the belief that oil would some day be
found in northern Michigan did not die out
For several years the farmers in one Of the
settlements in the southern part of Chippewa
county have been unable to use water from their
wells for household purposes, owing to the
strong faint Of oil. The oil floats on the sur
face Of the water in some Of the wells so thick
| that it is always noticeable.
i The state geologist, according to the map,
believes that strata of Trenton rock, such
as lies under Manitoulin island, extends across
Chippewa county, and after reaching a poin,
Y south Of Marquette, turns to- the south and
underlies part Of Wisconsin near Lake Michi
gan. Colonel Van Camper came here several
months ago and, after looking over the grount
thoroly, came to the conclusion that oil indica
tions were such that it would be a reasonable
venture to sink few wells. He claims the
formation here is practically the else
where in the country where oil fields have beer
developed. company was organized and
dozen mass meetings held in the rural districts
where the farmers were eager to lease thei
lands with promise Of one-eighth Of the pro
ceeds If oil is found. Van Camper claims tx
be an old time oil man who has worked In al
the biggest fields in the country. s.. +.. ..-- IS.
A large tract of land in northern Mackina
county, which is owned by Pennsylvania cap
italists, will also be drilled If oil Is found il
Chippewa. Pipe lines easily be laid to til
| lakes in case the experiments successful.