Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-09-12
Well at Dayton Has Strong
Pressure Which Is Undl-
miniShed With C0n-
slant Use.
WILL PIPE PRODUCT
TO MANY CITIES
Strike in Eddy County Causes In
tense Excitement and Prepdrd-
tiOnS Are Made to Utilize Gas
and to Prospect the
Field Further.

Boswell, N. NJ, Sept. 12.-(Spe-
cial) )-That New Mexico has a gas
field, which, with development, will
prove of an extent and capacity rival
ing the Kansas field Is the belief of
residents of this section of the terri
tory as the result of the gas well re-
Gently brought in near Dayton, Eddy
county, and which continues a flow
of natural gas with strong pressure
ever since 1t was first discovered.
Steps have already been taken for
further prospecting and it is believed
that the field will furnish natural gas
In quantity and quality sufficient to
light and heat most of the New Mex
ico cities and to offer cheap fuel as
an inducement for big factories.
The find was accidental. The well
is located on a desert claim of $40
acres two miles east and south of
Dayton, and fifty miles south of Ros-
we'll. The land is now owned by Mrs.
J. b. Platt, who contracted some time
ago for a well to be drilled, with the
idea of securing artesian water to
irrigate the tract. The well was put
down to a depth of S65 feet and some
water was found but not enough to
irrigate the 500 acres. Mrs. Eddy
then contracted for the well to be
drilled deeper intending to have 1t
put down to 1920 feet.
At a depth of 947 feet good show
ing of oil was found and the drillers
continued to depth of 1,OO5 feet
encountering oil sand. AT that depth
the first indication of gas appeared In
bubbles in the water and the drillers
continued to a depth of 1920 feet
at which a strong flow of gas was
found.
The find was made about six weeks
ago but Mr. and Mrs. Platt kept the
matter a secret as well as they were
able This was accomplished with
difficulty as it was necessary to let
the gas flow at night in order to pre-
vent it frow blowing the casing out
of the we'll and the noise it made
could be heard for miles around. This
naturally brought inquiries but the
owners of the well evaded them as
best they could and although rumors
crept out occasionally it has been
only within the past few days that
the value of the find became known
One night the gas accidentally caught
fire and the blaze it made before II
could be extinguished caused much
comment and eventually led to the
importance of the discovery being
made known.
The owner of the well Immediately
organized a company, secured pos
session of surrounding land and go
the well in shape for exhibition, "A
six-inch pipe was put down inside the
eight-inch pipe to keep the water
from the gas and the piping arranged
50 the gas could be burned. Wher
1t was lighted it made an awe inspir
ing sight and caused great excite
ment.
Other companies have been formed
and land for miles around the wei
has been secured and will be pros
pected. A number of other wells viii
be put down and an effort made t
determine the size of the field anC
the amount and quality of the ga
availa BILE.
The full pressure of the gas is no
known but a pressure of 50 pound
to the inch has been maintained Will
the gas only partly turned on.
The sight at the well is inspiring
The well is capped and arranged 81
that a twO-inch pipe can be made L
carry the current Ol Gas CllHSI W
to the side of the well and ava
from the derrick, or up through
similar pi pc to a point a safe distanc
above the top of the derrick. At tn
end of either of these pipes the ga
can be lighted. The burning ga
makes flame 25 to 80 feet lon
and probably ten feet in diamete
when turned on through the sid
pipe At the top a "T' joint ha
been put on the upright pipe, an
there is little difference in the ap
pearance Of the flames on each sid
of the joint compared with the fam
at the bottom. When the well
burned at either place the noise
deafening, very much like the roar o
steam when a locomotive Is beln
"blown of" This noise can be hear
plainly at Dayton, two and a hal
miles away TO be present when tn
well is burning satisfies the mos
skeptical II even frightens some
IL tremendous.
The excitement has spread up an
down the valley and Dayton Is tn
center Of interest. town compan
has been formed and has bought tn
property Of the Peuasco Townsit
company consisting of $50 lots. TWEEN