The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-17
A GASOLINE WELL
Nine Topeka Men Own "A Rare
Oil Find in Lincoln Co.
Ii It's a Big Well 1t Is worth
Immense Fortune.

Discovery of a well northwest OF
Lincoln Center. Kansas, when Pro-
duces gasoline which ignites ana
W which has been used To run autoflo-
hiles Just as it is taken from the
ground. has intensified excitement IN
oil regions and may prove a gold rllLie
for nine prominent Topeka men WHO
have leased the we'll and 6,OOO acres
Of land adjoining it. The topeka IiiG e.
interested are: Charles II. Gau!C' -
G. Arnold. c. S. Elliott, j. Y. Abra-
han. Don Mulvane. d. b. Johnson,
Frank Becl., Dr.. l.. II. Mum anu
c. Il. Merriam. e.,a
If This proves to he bona flde
gasoline well it will be one OF NV
known by the Topeka men lnteresteu
TO exist in the world. And only one,
so far as they know. has produced
gasoline pure enough to warrant ser
ing. That we'll is in Calgary, Cahaud'
and has proved gold mine to owners
Two others are in Oklahoma anu tu9
fourth just north of Lincoln OeIlte
Lincoln Center is in Lincoln county
The smith county well has never peeh
visited by anyone interested IN the ue-
VeIopment of the discovery
'EThe grade of gasoline discovered
seems too pure to be natural pI"u-
uct" said Mr.. Gault today. ! e. tIi9
owner of the land II. w. i1erren' ana
neichbors bear such a good reputa-
ton that we cannot believe there ~
ANYTHING crooked about the PROPOSE
ton"
EVAN Discovered II.
g; w Evan, who has beeh rep
scnting the syndicate of nine 4oP1Hoi
men in obtaining leases Is re- f ~
for the discovery. He heard OF IHe
well and instantly leased every acre
possible in its vicinity including the
farm on which the well is Ioca tI',ti.
Farm boys near the well clam tHty
have used the product TO operate '"ell
motor cars successfully.
The we'll was dug originally lor va
ter. II is 23S feet in depth and Two
irch pipe tconVe-- the water ana gas
oiine TO the top. An engine pumps 'He
water and gasoline
Charles Gault and Don Mulvane VS.
tied the well personally and brouSht
three gallons OF the product to To-
pcIla with them. II has been sent %
chemists for analysis. one analysis
has been made already 1t shows thal
the gasoline has a specific gravity OF
81 against Il gravity OF 81 possessed by
the refined product. It has flash
test of 80 which is considered low.
Refined gasoline. generally in use, Is
the product of crude oil which at
certain temperature produces the gas
oine product and at another temperd-
ture produces petroleum and other
products y strange feature Of the
discovery is revealed In the fact that
in Lincoln county to he north a pc
troleum well exists while to the north
OF the petroleum we'll is found the
other alleged gasoline well.
Earth Temperatures Responsible.
The Topeka men believe it possible
that the temperatures in the ground
are the same as those necessary for
the production OF gasoline and il is
thrown off from crude oil believed to
c-.ist in a belt running northwest of
The FL Dorado fields. Gault had some
Of the gasoline in his office today,
poured a quantity on a window sill i'll
the Mulvane building and ignited it.
In the near future, the Topeka men
will visit the we'll and ascertain how
much of the gasoline product can be
pumped from the ground at one time.
Following the discovery of the Cana
dian well a farmer living near it
purchased several hundred gallons, or
barrels, of gasoline, dug Il hole. pur-
chased some straw, placed straw and
gasoline in the hole and sold his land
for small fortune. Gault under
stands that man is in the penitentiary
now