Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1895 — TOPICS OF THESE TIMES. [ARTICLE]

TOPICS OF THESE TIMES.

THE INDIANA OIL FIELD, The possibilities for Indiana in the way es material development seem to be almost limitless. Natural gas with in ten years has work ed a revo • lution in such a large portion of . our territory that any one predicting the -Present situation at the inception of the discovery would have been regarded as a fit subject—for a lunacy commission to draw an exorbitant allowance from the count}* treasury. Week after week the -precious fluid continues.to flow and work its wondrous, transformations, and the gloomy ending so often predicted is not yet in sight. Recently the gas belt has begun to be the center of another field of wealth that promises to reach great proportions. The oil oQ-Utput is apparently iff its infancy, yet Indiana even now has a throng of embryo “Coal Oil Johnnies” whose easilyrgotten cellars are going into circulation at a desirable rate. A correspondent of the Indianapolis News, writing from Montpelier, gives details that are interesting. He says: The Indiana oil field is on a genuine boom, and operations are branch ing out in all directions. The in • crease in the priceof the crude product to 60 cents a barrel has caused the hustling of the oil operators on the outside, and brought many an Eastern oil man to this field. These men bring capital with them, and while they are making money for themselves, they are at the same time helping otfiers. The Indiana field has heretofore been confined to ! Wells, Blackford, Jay, Grant, Adams, and Huntington counties, but from this on it will be different. The six counties mentioned have only been partially drilled, as they still contain sufficient territory undrilled to keep the drill busy for five or six years. The field is extending, and that rapidly. The venture made by Doddson & Meeks on the Murray

farm in Monroe township, Randolph county, a short distance from Parker City, that is a good twentybarrel producer, leads the trade in that direction, and shows that the oil field runs a great many miles south and west from the famous Camden pool. The territory for thirty miles south of Camden has been taken under lease, and that signifies coming activity in that direction. Another prominent venture is now under way about a mile southwest from the Murray farm well. It is owned by the Standard Oil Company, located on the Fowler farm, in Liberty township, Delaware county. The outcome of this venture will be watched with in terest by the trade: Another prominent test well was the one completed by the Standard Oil Company four miles south from Portland. This well is located nineteen miles south from the nearest oil pool, and adds a large area of undeveloped territory to the Indiana field. Many are of the opinion that the last mentioned well will cause the finding of a very productive belt which will run to the northeast and connect with the famous reservoir field at Celina and St. Marys, in the Ohio field. If the connecting link is found between Indiana and Ohio, it will then be the longest and most productive oil field in existence. The oil well struck near Elwood, a few days ago. has stirred up any amount of excitement in that vicinity. The report is that a majority of the Elwood gas wells are more or less impregnated with crude oil. This is the case of most of the gas fields laying in close proximity to the great, oil pools. At the present price of the product operations will again start up in Royal Center, Francisville, Noblesville and Terre Haute, is well as man y other portions of the State, wfyere some oil was encountered in the early days while boring for gas. There is without a doubt m oil belt extending from Terre Haute to the famous fields near this place. Taking a right course the field would pass between Indianapolis and Noblesville. The most productive portion of the Indiana field is yet to be found. The field is certainly a much larger one than the Ohio field, if the theory of oil and gas fields prove correct. This will, be a great the oil industry in this Stat?. The year of 1894 was a large, and prolific one, but the operations the present year will be nearly double. The Indiana field for the month of March shows 235 completed wells, of which eighty-three were worthless for oil, and the output of the balance are 3,095 barrels in twenty-four hours. The dry holes arc not altogether worthless, as many are gas producers and can be utilized for tpat purpose, The February report showed 171 completed wells, seven-ty-two dry holes or gas wells, and a new daily production of 2,425 barrels. This shows an increase for March over February operation of sixty-four completsd wells, eleven

dryboles,4l7o -bari:el&in newjpm. duction, and a decrease in abaa doned wells of seven. The daily average of the January wells wa 25j barrels; February, 24» : ■ barrels, and in March 20 2-3 bar rels. In drilling wells there are for the eommencement of April 187.an< rigs up 131, or a total of 318, against the number at the start of March which aggregated 155 drilling welh and HI rigs up, or a total of 26fi making a difference in April againsMarch of 32 in drilling wells and 2| rigs up, or a total increase of new work of 52 in drilling wells and rig up. These figures show for them selves and speak volumes for the in dustry. The increase in new worl is large, and shows that a genuim oil boom is now on in the vast ares of oil territory. More money will bu. expended in the Indiana oil field thi present year than ever before. The farmers who are lucky enough to b< * located in the oil districts are be coming very wealthy from theii royalty, which runs from bne-eightl to one-sixth of the product, while many receive a big bonus beside; the royalty. The money is spun; with the business people, and s large portion of the farmers are re alizing so much from the oil industri that they lay aside the farming an< move to the larger cites to enjoi their wealth which come to them sc easily. Wells county, as usual,takes the lead for March, having 67 completed wells to its credit, six o: which were dry, 1,120 barrels nevi production daily, 62 drilling well: and 43 new rigs up. Blackford coun ty shows 12 completed wells, 331 barrels production, 3 dry holes, 16 drilling wells and 9 rigs up, Jaj county shows 41 completed wells 610 barrels production, 6 dry hclei 31 drilling wells and 24 rigs up. Adams county shows 24 completed wells, 440 barrels production, 4 drj holes, 20 drilling wells and 17 rig.* up. Grant county shows 16 com pleted, 206 barrels production, I dry holes, 12 drilling wells and t rigs up. Huntington county shows 6 completed wells, 60 barrels production, 3 dry holes, 5 drilling welh and 3 rigs up. All other counties where operations are going on show 69 completed wells, 330. barrels dailj output, 52 worthless wells for oil, 41 drilling wells and 29 rigs up.