The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1917-02-17
The new IBERIA
OIL FIELD.
Gradually Growing in Inter
est And Developing a Won
derful Importance. New
People Constantly Coming.


of the discovery of oil in this par
ish, the people have kept theil
heads wonderfully well. IL seems
to be taken for granted by oul
people that they have big thing
here and it will not be easy for il
to get away from them. TO illus
trate this, we may quote a street
rumor, which has it, that q big oil
company offered one of our oper
ating companies sl,000,O 600 fol
their holdings IN tins parish, when
the other replied-with smile
and perfectly cool and collected
"We already have had an offer OF
more than that Thus, the ne
gOtiatiOns rested. This rumor
may, Or may NOT, be stretched a
bit; but it illustrates the point
that the people are becoming con
vinced that they have at last a
real good and a real big thing,
and they are not in a panic to get
rid of 1t for the first offer.
There seems to be some five big
oil companies operating in this
field at this time, besides some two
or three local companies. All are
quietly at work getting options
upon every available piece of
property. After the options will
have been harvested then there
may be more test wells drilled. in
order to determine the value of re,
spectlve holdings. 1t is hardly
probable that every option covers
q latent gusher, and it is more
than probable that the history of
older fields will be repeated here
that more than one blank hole
will be drilled into the earth
even if the two first wells drilled
are now promising rich returns for
those interested in them.
1t Is repeated that the field has
already developed a wonderful
phase--tbe two first wells drilled
have struck oil and are promising
ventures. This record has been
but once before matched so il is
said. Big things are looked for
Every one seems to fee that oil ls
here--that it cant get away
therefore. the "optlon" is being
hunted diligently just now.
Information comes to us that o
drilling company will IN the very
near future sink a well IN what is
known as "Little Fausse POinte,"
about the middle of the peninsula
on this side of the Teche and op
posite LOreauville. A few more
options are desired before the der
ricks are erected.
Another point designated for a
tryout is on the Chas. Mestayer
farm out on the Caroline Branch
r. r. running eastward from Lo
reauville, and just before the lake
woods is reached.
The western limits Of this city
are once again the center of inter
est in certain surface oil indica-
tions, so designated, and are caus
ing the option hunters to visit
land holders of that whole section.
There is a slough which has it's
head just west of Main street in
the lands of MIR. Jean Courrege,
where many have amused them
selves at times by freeing bubbles
Of gas and ignitiDg them as they
would escape to the surface of the
water. These bubbles were filled
with a gas which proved readily
Inflammable. On the east eide
Of Main street shallow well was
80 affected by these gases that it
had to be abandoned and a second
we'll was dug, a few years ago, In
The same yard, with better results
IN getting q useable water. 1t
was right near by, that Jim Lane,
Homer Caldwell, and others, sunk
he test we'll to a claimed depth Of
300 feet or more, some sixteen
years ago. Good indications are
claimed to have been uncovered
upon the lands Of railroad
engineer Roscosby, and options
nave been signed up. Joe Bush,
! prosperous colored farmer, is
said to have good indications on
his farm, which lies west of the
railroad right of way and north of
The Uourrege slough. Options are
being harvested.
l.. p. Garret, the Superintendent
,f the Gulf Refining Co., of
Houston, arrived here last week.
The continued rainy weather
has considerably interfered with
the hauling of fuel to the oil field.
At the close of the week we
earn the the activity in the field
for options ls greater than ever.
It is also current that three or
four large oil companies are pre-
pairing to raise derricks at ont Q
and start drilling Immediately.