The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 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. s. D., Jan. 29.-Plans for Sc
curing a deep well, penetrating the
essary. to discover what is under us.
were thoroughly discussed and APP
proved by a largely attended and rep
resentatfVe citizens meeting yesterday
evening, and preliminary steps taken
to begin the work, which it was pro-
posed should be done through the CO.
operation of the city and q company
OF citizens. There has always been
evidence that there is either dry gas or
petroleum some where in this imme-
date vicinity.
Nearly 25 years ago wet gas was
found in drilling an artesian well at
the Indian school, ana since that time
further wells have been drilled in
Pierre, and in central South Dakota.
nearly all of which nave yielded an
abundant flow of gas along with the
water. The Pierre gas IS evidently of
petroleum origin. and the supply from
the wells wakes and wanes, giving
foundation to the theory that artesian
water is im%pregnated with the gas
which has seeped through assures from
the main supply below. Oil experts
have repeatedly stated that there is
every indication of the presence of
petroleum; and on the Fort Pierre side,
just below that city, this substance has
been found oozing out of the base of a
high bluff in small quantities. Jus:
this fall a 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
for power In the pumping station,
which averages 1000, 900 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 it
is evident the present supply will be in
adequate, unless it car be largely in
creased. 1t is for this immediate rea-
son that the agitation and talk which
has taken place for years has been
brought to q head.
A company, formed by five OF the
leading citizens, has secured leases on
about 1000, and promises of about
Is, 900 more acres of land in his vicin-
number as trustee who will assign
them to the company when incorpo-
rated. 1t is believed that 1t will require
$25, 900 to complete the well to 5000 feet,
and it 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
to 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,-
900 for the construction of the Gas
Belt auditorium.
1t 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
Iy Tho l-ID ,x,a1l ~ - IL
for a fixed period in order that the
investors may receive soma return.
Fort Pierre has been asked to assist
and everything points to the irnme-
diate 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.
HoMEsTEADERs ORGANIZE
PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION
steaders' association was organized at
Eleanor today with an enthusiastic
membership. They expect so affiliate
with the associations at Chalk Butte
and Gold Field. Permanent officers
will be elected at their ne1t regular
meeting. Talk of the organization is
current everywhere in this country anG
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 nave been
~unavailing.
In the midst of a period of severe
drought, the last Legislature passed a
law providing for the furnishing OF seed
by counties, a note being taken against
the land and the growing crop, which
If not ~liquidated became q lien assess
able as taxes. 1t would appear to the
Il h0ynpStna6arS as thnl1oh tho 1aoicjo-I
ture anticipated this situation and had
determined to forestall any possibility
of the state being called Upon to aid
in the crisis, and left them to Dear the
entire burden of developing the coun-
try.
Petitions were circulated asking that
some 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 a Star route be es-
tablished following the purchased right
of way of the Belle Fourche Valley
railway. The patience OF the settlers
has been about exhausted with the
%unending red tape necessary to get
actual results.
SOUNDING BALLOONS GAINS
HIGHEST FLIGHT ON RECORD
Huron. s. D.. Jan. 2s.-At the South
Dakota state fair held hero a veal 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 year Is the statement
that one of these balloons reached an
altitude Of 1873 miles above sea level.
The experiments here were made by
tn Astrological 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 1t Is a fact that a device of
this sort or OF any other kind has never
before reached such an altitude. The