San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-26
A MINE NEAR
SAN ANTONIO
CHR|STENEO
Ichthyol Deposit to Be
Marketed by Potrahco De-
velopment Company.
NAMED THE ST. ANNE
Rev. Father Nichol Off
ciates at Interesting Cere-
mony Monday Morning.

, The shaft OF what is said to be the
first ichthyol mine in America is be-
ing put down in Bexar county, near
the Castroville road, on Frank T..
Carlos farm, by the Potranc Develop
ment Company, offices at sos Russell
Place. The mine was christened Mon
day morning. Father i. L. Nichol,
pastor of st. Anne's church, Erede-
ricksburg road, was in attendance. 1t
will be called st. Anne's mine.
Ichthyol is believed TO exist in pay
ing quantities on the 3i2-acre tract
owned by Mr.. Garlic, who is president
of the Potranco Development Com
pany. 1t was first discovered recently
after Mr.. Garlic had found a showing
of crude oil in q water well drilled
on the land. He completed the water
well and then drilled three oil wells.
All are down around go or 800 feet
and oil is said to have been found in
each but not in paying quantities.
The last test made was failure,
after the we'll had been shot at n
depth of about go feet, Mr.. Carrie
saws. On this occasion the casing
was left in the hole and when the
nitro-glycerine was exploded the cas-
ing is said to have been blown 900
feet into the air.
Found Unusual Shale.
While drilling these holes. Mr.. Carrie
SAYS, he encountered black shale
which had a peculiar odor-somethinS
like that of dead fish. The shale was
saturated with oil and an examination
disclosed that it contained the valu-
able ichthyol. The shaft being put
down at the present time is expected
to encounter this stratum of ichthyol
at a depth of 200 feet.
The mine is due to be one of the
most unusual mines ever dug in Anne
RIGA. If the same stratum is encount-
cred in the shaft as in the tests Tor
oil. one of which was put down within
100 feet of the location for the shaft
the Potranco Development Company
probably will be the producer of silver,
granite. polishing powder. Fnlier's
earth and several other minerals in
addition to ichthyol. Drillers OF the
oil well also report that they could
detect pieces of iron ore and Mt times
could see microscopic specks OF gold
when the bailer was run.
Near Potranc0 Road.
This mine is located between the
Culebra and Castroville roads. 1t is
near the Potranco road which. runs
due south from the Leon Creek bridge
on the Culebra road. The shaft Is
being put down on small limestone
hill about one-half of a mile from tn:
Potranco road on Frank 7. Carries
land which fronts on this road,
Monday morning at 10 O'clock
Father Nichol. accompanied by Frank
earle visited the shaft. Father
Nichol blessed the mine. christening
il st. Anne's Mine, at request OF
the owner.
]. =. Brink. we'll known in San
Antonio and who has been in Mexico
for a number of years where he was
employed in mines. is contracting
with the Potranco Development com
pany to sink the shaft to the stratum
of ichthyol believed to be at about
200 feet. He and two helpers have
already made about twenty feet into
hard limestone. Monday morning q
softer and yellower limestone was
showing and the charges of blasting
powder were having considerable
more effect than in the hard lime,
stone on the surface. 1t is believed
that the shaft will be down around
200 feet within the next several
weeks.
Expects To Find Silver.
Before reaching the stratum oil
ichtbyol. Mr.. earle says he expects
to find quartz and mica in which he
says he believes deposits of silver will
be found. 1t is possible, biologists
say, that silver will be found in pay
ing quantities. These formations
will be given a thorough test. Mr..
earle announces, after which the
shaft will be deepened to the ichthyol
shale. The oil will be extracted from
this shale at the time.
Ichthyol is a valuable medicine.
1t has excellent healing qualities.
Heretofore it has been found only in
foreign countries and after it is i'm
ported to America, commands a ready
sale as well as substantial price.
Eastern concerns interested in the
importation of ichthyol have already
expressed great interest in develop
ment of the substance in Bexar
county. The shale containing the
valuable medicine is believed to exist
in large Quantities in this section OF