The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-02-01
TO DRILL 5000 FEET
FOR GAS OR OIL Plan
UNDER CONSIDERATION
BY Piercing Crust to Great
Depth There Is Prospect Of
Valuable Find.


Pierre. 8. D., Jan. 29.-Plans for Sc
curing a deep well, penetrating the
earth to the depth OF 5000 feet II nee
essary, to discover what Is under US,
were thoroughly discussed and ap-
proved by a largely attended and rep
resentative citizens meeting yesterday
evening, and preliminary steps taken
to begin the work, which 1t was pro-
posed should be done through the CO.
operation Of the city n a company
Of citizens. There has always been
evidence that there is either dry gas or
petroleum some where in this imme-
date vicinity.
Nearly rs years g vet gas was
found In drilling an artesian well at
the Indian school, ano since that time
further wells have been drilled in
Pierre, and in central South Dakota,
nearly all Of which ave yielded an
abundant flow Of gas along with the
water. The Pierre a Is evidently or
petroleum origin, and h supply from
the wells wakes and wanes, giving
water is ~impregnated with the gas
which has seeped through assures from
the main supply below. Gil experts
have repeatedly stated that there Is
every Indication of the presence OF
petroleum.; n or the Fort Pierre side.
| JubI UcIDW lIdt CITY, HI u
been found oozing out Of the base OF a
high bluff in small quantities. Just
this fall q small quantity was discov-
cred in the water from The state house
gas well. The supply Of wet gas, while
In total quantity about the same as
when first discovered, seems to be linn
tied in this immediate vicinity. new
wells not adding materially to the to-
tai amount. The city uses this gas
Tor power In h pumping station,
which averages 900, 600 gallons a day
elevated 245 feet, and the electric sta
ton for both arc and incandescent
lights. These utilities consume prac-
tically all the gas, leaving a shortage
for domestic use. AS the city grows 1t
is evident the present supply will be in
adequate, unless it can be largely in
creased. 1t Is for this immediate rea-
son hat the agitation and talk which
has taken place for years has been
brought to a head.
A company. formed by Ave of the
leading citizens, has secured leases on
about $4,000, n promises of bou
5000 more acres of land in this vicin-
ity; such leases running to one of the
number as trustee who will assign
them TO the company when incorpo-
rated. 1t is believed that it will require
$25, 600 to complete the well to 5000 feet,
n 1t is proposed to issue stock, in
$40 shares to the amount Of $25, 900; a
committee being appointed to list all
persons, corporations and property
owners in Pierre, and to assign stock
70 each in proportion to their ability
to pay, and expect them to take the
same for the public good. A similar
plan worked admirably in raising s12,-
600 for the construction Of the Gas
Bet auditorium.
It is believed the city will contri-
butte it's deepest we'll q, $50 feet), which
is said to be finely cased and in good
condition, together with some expen-
sive drilling machinery, and will agree
to purchase all of the gas produced
by the deep we'll at a reasonable price
for a fixed period in order that tho
investors may receive some return.
Fort Pierre has been asked to assist
and everything points to the imme-
date construction of a well to bed rock,
conclusively showing whether or not
Pierre is in the center Of a great pc
troleum or dry gas field.
HoMEsrEApERs ORGANIZE
PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION
Goldfield, S. D., Jan. ga Home
steaders' association was organized at
Eleanor today with an enthusiastic
membership. They expect to affiliate
with the associations at Chalk Butte
and Gold Field. Permanent officers
will be elected at their next regular
meeting. Talk Of the organization is
current everywhere In this country n
a general feeling Of protest exists
owing to the fact that legislation ben
eficial to the homesteaders has not been
enacted.
For some years past the homestead
ers have demanded a herd law, but
thus far all their efforts have been
unavailing.
In the midst of a period of severe
drought. the last legislature passed a
y--x, --A.yfltw- Co., AhA f,.-- ~ -AAl
by counties, a note being taken against
the land and the growing crop, which
If not liquidated became a lien assess
able as taxes. 1t would appea to the
homesteaders as though the legisla-
ture anticipated this situation and had
determined to forestall n possibility
Of the state being called upon to aid
N the crisis, and left them to bear the
entire burden of developing the
try.
Petitions were circulated asking that
ONE of the proposed railroad be ex-
tended and work be given to the home
steaders, and it is thought that had
pressure been brought to bear by the
state that something might have been
DONE. This would have aided to some
extent.
Some months ago petitions were cir
culated asking that better mail service
be provided. and q Star route be es-
loplioliCo ~ poANioSCu ii6ht
Of way Of the Belle Fourche Valley
railway. The patience Of the settlers
has been abou exhausted with the
unending red tape necessary to get
actual results.
SOUNDING BALLOONS GAINS
HIGHEST FLIGHT ON RECORD
Huron, S. D., Jan. Pat the South
| Dakota state fair held here a year ago,
| the weather bureau sent up a number
Of sounding balloons from the ground
In this city, and in the annual report
Of the chief of the weather bureau for
the past fiscal yea Is the statement
that one of these balloons reached an
| altitude OF 1879 miles above sea level.
The experiments here were made by
tn theological staff OF the Mt. Weather
observatory. and the results of them
were never made known here.
The report does not discuss the mat
ter, but it is a fact that a device of
| this sort or OF any other kind has never
before reached sue an altitude. The
! previous record was attained by a bal
loon sent up at Urcle. Belgium, No
vember 5, 1908. This n rose Is
| miles, nine-tenths OF a mile less than
the one sent up here on September /.
-
DEATH OF DEADWooD PIONEER.
DEADWOOD, s. D.-James ConZett,
nnn Of 4hn r,to0o1 md hAot Erncuyp ~