New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1921-02-05
ORLEANIANS SEE
OIL POSSIBILITIES
NEAR SALT MINES
Party Completes Inspection of
jefferson Island Projects

! j
members of the syndicate
prospecting on al oil and gas
lease at jefferson Island, ten
miles from here in an inspec-
ton of the properties and late
today bade goodbye to the
party firmly convinced that the
Teche river country will short
ly be overrun by the drillers of
major oil companies.
Arthur Barba, ST., NJ. Russell
and others in tbs party of sew
enty-five Orleanians repre-
senting a substantial portion
of the ownership of the United
Oil and Gas Syndicate, Inc,
who came here for the week
end expressed satisfaction at
the showing obtained by their
operations on jefferson Island.
They have prepared to sink
test wells to prove the theory
that petroleum lies adjacent to
the Jefferson Island salt dome
where a salt mining company
bearing that name has sunk
shafts 800 feet below the sur
face into the heart of pure rock
salt which is being brought
out into the back yard of the
old mansion built by Joseph
jefferson, the famous actor.
Biologists and experts
operating seismographic and
torsion balance devices for the
location of salt domes have
packed their instruments and
gone, from this little town after
making detailed surveys for
major companies through Yer
million, St. Martin and Iberia,
parishes. The officials of the
United Oil and Gas Syndicates,
Inc, have had offers for parts
of the $4,000 acres held under
lease surrounding the Jeffer-
son Island salt dome and
checkerboard over the geolo-
gic area. Major oil Companies
have leased elsewhere along
the Gulf coast plain front sim
liar to the United syndicate
block. These salt domes are
indentical. in structure and lies
in prolongation of the lines
projected twenty-six years ago
by discoverer Lucas from the
Spihdletop field just across
the Texas line. The Lucas
theory for systematic eXplora-
ton has been established be-
yond doubt the experts now
say and cite the deep produc-
ton record of Spind!ctop
which has been made just
twenty-five eyars after the in
itial discovery at relatively
shallow Depths
There is no frenzy of tradi-
tional ''boom times" in New
Iberia. Older fields nearby at
Jennings and iberia and else
where have seen the bonanza
rushes die; then to, all likely
lands are under lease. If oil
is found at jefferson Island
the Teche country will flour
ish and prosper and new
wealth pour into New Orleans
repositories but there will be
no scramble for the discover
les and production will be by
substantial syndicates like the
group of New Orleans business
men and by the major oil
; companies such as the stand
ard, the Gulf, the Humble,
and the Texas corporations
which have made preliminary
prospecting surveys here.
The weekend inspection by
the New Orleans group fol-
lowed offers to the syndicates
officers who described the pro-
posals to buy parts of their
leases as tempting" Mr..
Barba said the officers wanted
the directors and stOckhold-
the drilling operations now
ers to see the full workings of
going on under the moss
draped oaks of the Jefferson
estate near Lake Peigneur.
He said the company does not
want to see any of its holdings
pass even at a profit now be-
cause of the potential value of
all the holdings.
The members of the party
were taken into the jefferson
Island salt mine during the
day and were guests of the
jefferson Island Inn for a mid
day Sunday dinner served UNI
der giant oak trees.-T. p.