Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-07
ILLINOIS IN LEAD
According to State Survey Oil
Fields Produce More Than
Any Other in the Union.
Or. J. A. UDDEN EXPLAINS
Tells of the Geological Formation and
the Possibilities of an Extension
of the Industry.

| According to figures now in the hands
of the state geological survey, more oil
| is being produced in the state of Hi
nois today than any other state in the
union. DIR. J. A. Udden, professor of
natural sciences at Augustana college
and member of the geological survey,
is authority for this statement. DR.. I'd
den has returned from the southwestern
part of the state, where he has been in
vestigating the geological formations
| in several counties where traces of oil
| have been found and where new oil
field will probably be developed within
a short time.
| The big oil field of the state is stu
ated in Edgar, Coles, Clark, Cumbcr-
land, Crawford, Lawrence and Jasper
counties, adjoining the Indiana line.
Since oil was first discovered in this
district two years ago, the production
has Increased with remarkable rapidity
until now more oil has been produced
this year than by any other state in the
union.
| FIRST Shipped I'm 1906.
The first shipment of oil from the dis
trict was in June, 1905. During the
lyear about 10000 barrels We're mar
lketed. Last year the production had
Increased to approximately 100000
barrels, and was gaining at the as
founding rate of half million barrels
levery month toward the end of the
lyear.
The first important well was found
Inear the Indiana line, but since then
the field has been spreading rapidly to
the north and slightly westward until
some of the counties are completely
dotted with wells. 1t is estimated that
more than 600 wells have been drilled
during the two years. Considerable gas
has been found also, but little attempt
has been made to utilize it as the oil
is of much greater value.
Extending the Field.
According to DR.. Udden, the new
field will probably be developed in the
territory east of st. Louis, including
st. Clair, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Ma
coupin, Bond, and Washington counties
Several st. Louis companies and Penn
: Isylvania men have already commenced
prospecting and wild cat" drilling /;
, being carried on extensively. Trace!
" of oil have been found in several place
and big strike is expected at an,
; time
: DR.. Udden states that the geological
: formation in these counties is very sim
liar to that in the big oil field situated
in the eastern part of the state. which
makes the presence of oil very proba
BILE. The earth'S strata is greatly de
+ pressed in the center of the state, bu
I bends up sharply in both the eastern
, and western parts where oil has bee
: found.
Others. hut Not Located.
4 In the eastern field the oil has nc
r been found in extended areas, but i
spots, which leads to the belief that tn
Q oil is accumulated in pockets. DR.. Ut
0 den is of the opinion that these pocket
= underlie a considerable portion of bot
the eastern and western sections of tn
L state and believes there are many O
l areas that have not yet come unde
the observation of the geological SUI
vey. Oil prospectors are aware of thi
and are watching the work of the SUI
yey with keen interest. Whenever
theological formation is found which il
dicates the presence of OIL wells AZ
. Immediately sunk all over the distric
!, In the territory east of st. Louis ther
~ is considerable excitement over recer
!, developments and Independent comp;
MES have been formed in many of tn
~ smaller towns to engage in prospectin
is in hopes of developing a field. Expel
C oil men from the east generally hea
these concerns.
Dr. Udden intends to return to til
field within a short time in order [
he complete his work for the geologic;
l9 survey.