Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1889 — GILLAM'S GUSLILNG GASWELL [ARTICLE]

GILLAM'S GUSLILNG GASWELL

Trustee J. R. Guild, ot Gillam tp., i owner of the newly discovered gas ' well in that township, was in town Monday, on business connected with 1 his office, and gave us some addition* \ al details regarding the well. County Commissioner Querry has also visited the well and in his statements bears out all that Mr. Guild says in regard to it. The well is 50 -feet deep, a drilled well and just to the surface of the rock. The formation above the rock through which the drill passed, is a very compact, iniperyious clay, almost as hard as rock. The ' gas was struck immediately upon the j drill reaching the rock. None was fortnd in the clay. The well is perfectly dry. The well has been properly piped, and the gas made to flow through a three-quarter inch nozzle controlled by a stop-cock. When allowed to flow it makes a noise equal to a locomotive blowing off steam, and when set on fire the roar can be heard two miles, and the heat is most intense. The flames are nearly 20 feet high. As to the durability of the flow there is room for difference of opinion, but if, as now seems certain, the gas comes from the rock, it is likely that the flow will continue indefinitely. One of the parties who drilled the Well, states that he knows of shallow gas wells in Illinois,’ which have warmed and lighted 15 or 16 houses, each, for three years and show no signs of abatement,