Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-05-24
EXISTENCE Of OIL
LONG KNOWN
PETROLEUM DISCOVERED ON
WHITEAKER FARM IN 1S4S.
Primitive Drilling Outfit OF Pioneer
Days Developed Strong Artcslan
Flow Of Salt Water.

Late developments at the White
aker oil prospect, three miles east OF
Dallas, have aroused much interest
and the promising prospect OF oil or
gas being found In paying quantities
Is the chief topic of conversation in
Dallas this week. Indications of sue
at the present time and every report
of progress at the we'll is eagerly re-
ceived and as eagerly discussed in the
business houses, clubs and homes OF
the city. -n-
Although no attempt was made un-
til few years ago to develop the oil
prospect on the Whiteaker farm, old
residents of Polk county have known
Of the existence of oil indications on
the premises for over half century
AS early as 1S4S, B. j. Whitaker.
the owner Of the farm, discovered
traces of salt in the water of small
creek flowing through the place. He
also noticed that his cattle were
often found licking the dirt from the
banks Of this stream. This discovery
led to a primitive investigation by Mr..
Whiteaker, who conceived the idea of
drilling a well for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning salt for domestic purposes.
With the aid OF spring-pole and q
chisel drill, he soon succeeded in
starting an artesian flow OF salt water.
which it is said yielded nearly
pound of salt to every two gallons of
water.
A later cause of speculation among
the pioneer residents was the appear
ance of an oily substance in many
Of the wells of the nelghborhoOd.
which rendered the water unfit for
drinking purposes. This oily deposit
was also noticed occasionally on the
surface of the water In the streams
flowing through the Whiteaker farm.
With the discovery OF the great oil
deposits in the Eastern states. where
II was found that salt water and
petroleum were closely associated.
the Significance of the peculiar condi-
tlons on the Whiteaker ranch began
to dawn upon the people OF the
neighborhood. II was not until about
ten years ago. however. that any at
tempt was made to develop this pros
pect for commercial purposes
The first drilling operations on the
Whitaker farm were financed by II.
Hirschberg, the weil-known Inde-
pendence banker. This well was sunk
about a quarter of a mile from the
old salt well. At depth OF s62 feet.
a heavy flow Of natural gas and a
number Of associated products Of oil
were encountered. Numerous sea
shells and other fossils almost invaria-
bly, found in petroleum districts, were
also brought to the surface, but al
this depth the drilling machinery was
found to be insufficient to penetrate
further. and operations abandoned.
No further attempt was made to
sink a we'll until three years ago.
when a local stock company. COM
posed chiefly OF Dallas business men.
and headed by George Emery, a Port
land capitalist secured a drilling out
fit much heavier and stronger than
the one that had been used by Mr..
Hirschberg and began work on
prospect a short distance from the
abandoned well. The new company
encountered many obstacles and dis
In the way OF un-
skilled workmen. broken castings ana
an unprecedented flow Of salt water.
these handicaps. the
promoters OF the enterprise kept
bravely on with the development
work. and Il was not until a well over
lzOO feet in depth had been sunk
that the project was al2lly g,yen nR--
This failure did not sdiso6dfaFe the
explorers In the least. but rather en-
souraged them 70 Increase their ef-
forts. a. SUFFICIENT indications Of oil
and gas had been found IN the OLD
we'll 70 convince them that they had
been working In oil territory. After
having perfected plans Tor another
tart. ana determined 70 profit 5y past
mistakes In carrying on the new
search. work on the present wen vas
begun IN the early spring of this year.
The officers Of the company an
,ounce that the development Work
rIu be prosecuted without delay un-
IN il l. definitely known. once Ter al.
whether on o. Gas exists In paying
,uantfies beneath the Whiteaker