Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-08-18

fiat-bottomed boat and fioated down
from Moab. 1t was a daring perform
anee, for the stream twists constantly,
unseen rocks and shifting bars add to
its difficulties. and the canyons per
pendicular walls threaten instant
wreck.
But 1t was done. Materials were
brought, a derrick reared, machinery
placed. a camp built and drilling be-
gun. Now, with oil flowing from
depth of 2,035 feet, the Crane Creek
well Is suddenly the wonder OF the
whole intermountain country.
A Maze of Difficulties
Just about a year from the begin
ming OF drilling the well began to flow,
with every indication that when the
drill goes somewhat deeper into the
producing sand ii will be an inn
portant producer. For the present,
drilling has been suspended. awaiting
provision for taking the oil away, It
is doubtful IL in all the history of the
600 600 wells that have been drilled in
this country, largely In regions diff
cult of access, any one has ever pre-
sented such a category of obstacles as
this canyon we'll in Utah. How the
oil will be transported to refinery is
still sheer guess work, but way will
be found, for the ingenuity and re-
sources of the oil engineers have
never failed.
IT, Nf fc
trates the difficulty Of petroleum de-
| velopment Convinced that the geo.
logical structure was particularly
favorable the projectors determined
to gamble $4,000 on drilling. Before
they got oil they had spent more than
twice that
For years wells have been drilling
In various parts of the state-fully
| 200 In all-at a cost OF probably
SIS 900 900, and this canyon well is the
first real producer! 1t is only by dint
of such persistence in coping with
natural obstacles and financial hazards
that the country's supply of oil Is
maintained The first oil well in
Western Pennsylvania became a pro-
Queer at the depth of 6915 feet. Nova
days wells a mile deep are not uncom-
mon, and they have gone down as far
as a mile and half.
Every Well Is Gamble
A large proportion of wells produce
nothing whatever and represent total
loss. 1t was recently estimated that
| in the last twelve and a half years
81. 200 ,000, 600 was sunk in wells which
were failures. Despite every effort OF
science. engineering and long expert
ence. and notwithstanding the stupen-
dous depths now reached, % per cent
of wells last year were dry.
The "wildeatter"-is the Columbus of
oil. He is to petroleum, to gasoline.
to the fuel supply Of the country's
20 600. 900 automobiles, what the old
time gold prospector was to building
the empire OF the far west. He Is es-
sentially gambler; good loser or
good winner. The lure of enormous
winnings keeps him tirelessly search
ing. and sometimes he finds his re-
ward. But in the aggregate, offsetting
all winnings against the total cost oil
this engrossing gamble. 1t is not Inn
probable that all the oil that has been
taken from the soil of this country
from the beginning cost more than 1T
producers got for it.
A World in the Big Game
But their huge gamble is the basis
on which the whole industry rests
The ice-bound Arctic and the fever
fostering tropic tungles alike attract
/ the hardy "wildcatter." To them the
, world owes its newest and best II
, transport by land, sea and air. The'
/ help light its homes and streets, pro
, vide an astonishing share OF its power
! furnish an endless list OF necessariei
: which are by-products OF petroleum
The "wildcatter' is well nigh thu
/. Atlas OF this modern mechanics
t world.