Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-05-10
COURT HOUSE PICK-UPS OIL WELLS in DESERT
Difficulties Encountered by Prospect
or in Arizona and Utah Finally
Crowned With Success.

i The search for oil fields in the
United States has been very active in
the last few years and has extended
to nearly every part of the United
States. This search is not limited to
the inhabited regions, but is carried
on no less eagerly in the deserts. As
prospector, thought there might be
oil in the great desert which lies
chiefly in northern Arizona but also
extends into Southern Utah. He con-
cluded to go there and investigate. I!
To reach the place he desired to eX-
anime it was necessary for him to go H
about 100 miles, from the nearest
point on the railroad, through an un-
inhabited and almost unwatered I
country to the little Mormon settle
ment at Bluff, Utah. From that place
he followed San Juan river westward |
He had gone scarcely 20 miles from
the little settlement when he found
springs of petroleum along the river
and folds in the strata which he con
sidered favorable for the accumula
ton of oil. He therefore made a
claim location. At that time it was
impossible to take drilling apparatus
into the field, but he persistentiy
clung to the belief that conditions
were favorable for an oil field. 1t
was lust 25 years later, in the fall of
| 1907 before he could return to the
field with a drilling outfit and start
well. He continued drilling unttl
March A. 1908, when he struck oil
The well was a gusher and threw oil
above the derrick to height of 10
j. feet. OF course this find caused
great excitement and induced others
;, to enter the field. New wells follow
ed in rapid succession in the next
three years, but most of them were
y only prospect holes put down to vail
= date titles of claims and not with
! the serious intention of dete:minina
the oil resources of the field. 1t was
! difficult to drill deep holes, because
! If was almost impossible to transport
;. the necessary heavy machinery into
- the field. Moreover, drilling is very
: extensive. because the region is DIR!
>, and the field is far from any bas'
of supplies. 1t is 106 miles to mar
row gauge railroad and 1853 miles t
!. standard gauge. The region lies Il
Wonderfully picturesque country
- famed as the home of the Nava1
Misunderstanding Indians. One can
,rto pf a mile deem. DlI
not unite so wide as that at the bot
tom. and has almost vertical walls
- water is scarce. A supply for drill
:. ing is hauled in barrels from Sa
Tuan river which flows through tn
d field Fuel also is scarce, few pm
- ons on one of the high plateaus an
a scant growth of the same type Q
!. tree at the base of the escarpmeI
:, around the plateau furnishing all tha
is available. In spite of these dltI
entities however, drilling has bee
-, undertaken at several places in TN
field and oil found in some of III
- wells The oil is of high grade an
Ice contains some paratfin and consider
n able gasoline. When refined the ga'
az, oline is suitable for use IN auloi'i'
th biles
The government heard of the woi
these men were attempting, learn'
~ something of their difficulties, ar
- sent one of it's geologists, Mr.. r.
20 woodruff. to examine the field az
~ nrepare a geologic map of the ne
&c showing the canyons, mountains al
,ro mesas and the trails and similar lie
"a tures He also studied the rocks al
in- mapped the geologic formations III
80. man shows where drilling is me
likely to succeed. Samples of oil we
collected and sent to Washington
for analysis. The conditions fou
HE Inv Mr.. woodruff have been sci lot
re- in a government report on the supJ'
Of CBuIletin 471-A-4 OF the Geologic
me survev). which is distributed free
ave conv can be obtained upon requ
fro addressed to The Director, I. >
to o1oeical Survey. Washington. ID. g.