Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1899 — To Prospect For Oil. [ARTICLE]

To Prospect For Oil.

Monos News: For the bast few weeks Mr. L. Clarke, an expert in prospecting for oil, has been at work in the region of the oil well farm, five miles west of town. Mr. Clarke is working under the auspices of a company of Lafayette and Indianapolis capitalists. If a sufficient number of leases can be obtained on which to do prospecting, a well will be started by September 1. The first prospecting well will probably be put down on Mr. Darrow’s land, about four miles west of the oil well farm. Mr. Clarke had a sample of the gummy muck or soil taken from the oil well farm analyzed by a Lafayette chemist, which showed over 70 per cent, of oil. Mr. Clarke expresses the opinion that there has been an eruption at some time and the oil has gradually escaped in these low places, or else there is a regular sea of the fluid, with possibly gas in the earth awaiting the prospector’s drill. He is favorably inclined to accept the latter condition. Prospecting will not be abandoned until at least a half dozen holes are drilled. 100 good envelopes with your return card printed thereon for only 50 cents, at this office.