THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY I9II 51 



given 59 were dry, as compared with 61 and 32 respectively for the 

 two preceding years. 



The oil pools found in the State constitute the northern exten- 

 sion of the Appalachian field which reaches its main development 

 in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. They underlie small 

 areas in Cattaraugus, Allegany and Steuben counties near the 

 Pennsylvania border. The first well was drilled in Cattaraugus 

 county in 1S65, and Allegany county began producing about 1880. 

 The oil is found in fine-grained sandstones of dark color belonging 

 to the Chemung formation of the upper Devonic. In Cattaraugus 

 county the productive area embraces about 40 square miles, mostly 

 in Olean, Allegany and Carrolton townships. The pools of which 

 the principal ones are the Ricebrook, Chipmunk, Allegany and 

 Flatstone, occur at several horizons from 600 to 1800 feet below 

 the surface. The oil district of Allegany county extends across the 

 southern townships of Clarksville, Seneca, Wirt. Bolivar, Alma, 

 Scio and Andover and is divided into several pools that are con- 

 sidered to be more or less independent. The Bolivar, Richburg and 

 Wirt pools have been most productive. The oil is found at depths 

 of from 1400 to 1800 feet. The Andover pool lies partly in the 

 town of West Union, Steuben county, and is accountable for the 

 production in that section. The reports of the Mineral Resources 

 covering the year 1910 showed a total of 10,995 productive wells 

 in the State, of which number Allegany county had 7859, Cat- 

 taraugus county 2917 and Steuben county 219. Practically all the 

 wells are pumped and the average yield is less than one-third of a 

 barrel a day. 



There has been a great deal of exploration outside the districts 

 mentioned, but up to the present time has not led to any positive 

 additions to the productive area. Some of the more interesting 

 and promising developments have been in northern Allegany 

 county. A discovery of oil was reported a few years since in the 

 town of Granger on the Livingston county border, considerably 

 north of the other pools, and about 30 wells were drilled as a test. 

 Some of these flowed under natural pressure, but they soon gave 

 out, yielding less than 3000 barrels altogether. In the last year 

 or two another section near Swain, town of Grove, has been under 

 exploration. The original discovery was reported on the Fred 

 Bennett farm where oil and gas were encountered in a well put 

 down to 740 feet depth. Some other holes in the same vicinity 

 were dry. Recently drilling has been under way on the Harman 



