The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-14

son county may be on the eve or one of the most startling developments in it's history. even In comparison with the wonderful industrial eyolutions of the past
 If a number of well equipped miner alogists and geologists are only ap- proXimately correct, an oil producer may be soon brought into activity ex- celled nowhere outside of Russia and equaled only in California.
 About 20 miles west of Birmingham there is an anti-cine of prodigious depth and width of nearly 40 miles. The anti clinal axis is Democrat ridge. About 2200 feet below the axis the drill encountered the Trenton limestone said to be about 1900 feet thick by the state geologist. The noted rock was penetrated PC feet, and finding no evidence of porosty. the pros pectors became discouraged and aban- doned the work. Some time after gen tleman interested in the venture, and . man of rare judgment and technical in- formation, went back to the hole and put down shot. Unfortunately, an open shot was made, causing the explosive force to be exerted upward instead of downward as intended. Notwithstanding the error a quantity of the highest grade oil. equal to the best Pennsylvania oil, found its way into the drill hole To
 
 1t should be known that immediately un- der the Trenton limestone Is the Knox dolomite, vast porous rock of absolute ly perfect structural and geologic form, with an altitude of 3000 feet and base of nearly 40 miles. The eastern syneline is not far from Greater Birmingham. When the drill reaches this supposed enormous reservoir, hydrostatic power will send 1t to the surface in volumes The runaCifv of the KOnv dplODlita rxt1 be appreciated, when 1t is considered that the porous sandstone and magnetism limestones of other sections from which the oil is obtained, at the rate of from one thousand to five thousand barrels daily, are from seven to 15 feet thick.
 To reinforce probabilities, 1t may be said that the rock at the bottom of the drill hole was not petroliferous, but compact, impervous limestone of the original calearlous type. The oil, there fore. could not have been effected in situ. It is not straining the situation to say that the force of the blast caused a Assure In the rock, below the drill hole, up which the oil oozed.
 In conclusion, it is fair to say that oil, in limited quantities will be found in other parts of Alabama. because there are vast quantities of petroliferous rock everywhere but it is only with perfect rock structure and favorable inclina- ton and environment that capacious wells can be expected
 The reader will observe that the sub feet is created exclusively on the theory that oil is the result C1 natural distila- ton of organic matter. If the hydro cartoons are produced by chemical affin- ity on alkaline minerals or by any other method the great Knox dolomite is in position to become mammoth reser- voir.
 It Is a geologic fact that the pro- dlgious Knox Dolomite Is one of the largest anteelines in the world. Ono of the most erudite and experienced mineralogists of Alabama told me that by sufficiently deep boring he fully ex- pected to hear of a find of 75.000 bar rels of the highest grade of oil per day worth from s1 to $1.25 per barrel. paying over 10 per cent or more than s250, 100000 per annum.
 In one of his immortal orations Dan iel Webster said that If he had none of that spirit which is calculated to raise mortals 10 the skies he thanked God he had none of that other which could drag angels down, and no one could climb high enough to excite his envy, increased qualification rather" Let us emulate the lofty spirit oc Webster and pray that the enterprising and public spirited gentlemen exploiting the Knox DOlonlite may be abundantly rewarded They will not be able to hide there great wealth and all the citizens of Br- mingham and Alabama will incidentally share with them.