The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-22
DeFuniak Oil Analysed
As Lubricant and Soap
State Chemist Rose and Two
Other Assistants Find Dis
covery is Same Old Story.
BUBBLING HAS CEASED
Since Sewer Was Broken Supply
of Oil in Brook Has Appre-
ciably Diminished.

Upon examination and analysis % a
sample Of the oil recently said 10 ha
discovered flowing from a spring near
De Funiak Springs the state ,lemist.
Capt. r. +. Rose has declared If tn he
a refined lubricaiing oil. The sample
was sent 10 the state chemists Office
by g. Beardslcy ~ De Funiak SPRINGS,
and proved 10 be am ordinary lubricai-
ing oil, slightly perfumed ami thers
Was also the presence Of sm3l per
'centagr Of soap.
Capt Rose declared that ne had uX-
amined many such samples II OIL from
various sections Of Florida durmg the
last ij or % years with a similar re-
suit. The samples he has examined 90
the past have some times. ne stated.
been kerosene or BLACK oil Yr ,'yiindar
oil. and are frequently mixed with mud
or clay. Dn analysis. however. such
samples are readily detected rs some
form Of oil in tiie refined state.
Since the discovery" Of lhe seepIEe
at DeFuniak The Journal has conduct
ed d thorough investigation iuto tllo
ease The state chemists examination.
reported from Tallahassee bv WIRE 10
The Journal last night. corroborates
the analysis made by two other chem
lists. each working Independently one
chemists sample disclosed that the OH
was a parafinc base product with tll
the characteristics OF a specially pre-
pared oil which is refined By one oil
company only. 4 second sample WAS
found 10 bear essentially distinct char
acterisiics.
The Journals investigated al Be-
EfnE4L TsE4
from the ground near the little bay
tree" MONDAY morning. The sewer
from the high school was opened at
some distance from the place where
The oil was bubbIing forth and no trace
Of oil was found in it, 4 second open
ing nearer TO the bubbling place was
opened and a slight trace Of oil was
found.
Next the earth WAS dug away from
the sewer close 30 where 70 empties
into the brook and heavier traces were
found. This, it was claimed. was
caused by the b8cking-up of oil from
the brook. Since the sewer digging
operations We're started the volume NJ
sccpaEe has decreased until now ID
causes only a slight film on the sur
face of The water.
The Journals investigator could not
find that q plant" had been made He
discovered spots on the ground at
various places on The branch above the
seepage hole. which were claimed 90
be oil seepages. These spot appeared
TO be surface indications only.
Residents Of DeFuniak are least in
terested Of all i'm the "oll discovery
and are openly shepticaL Most of the
interest seems 10 be on the part Of
people outside OF DeFuniak. although
the local people say they hope its
So"
J. NJ. Reid, DIR. C.. b. McKinnon. w.
l. Stinson and others Immediately or
ganized a stock company 10 drill for
oil on the land where the seepage was
scovered. This company has already
Ken steps TO start actual drilling op-
ations,
IN the meantime the oklahoma Star
Refining Co. which has been operating
for some time in West Florida, actu-
ally has a rig on the way from Witch
ita Falls. Texas. The bin Of lading
was offered TO be exhibited as evidence
Of this
The Oklahoma star Co. however.
will not drill on the recently discovered
location. but will continue operations
on the territory previously designated
by them as their stamping grounds"