O KANSAS UNIVERSITY QUARTERLY. 



Several pieces of rock weighing fully fifty pounds were found a block 

 and a half away, where they had been carried by the force of the 

 explosion." All around this crater are cracks as if the earth had been 

 lifted up and had fallen back nearly in the original place, and in 

 many places it looks as if a veritable earthquake had passed that way. 

 There is one very important industry that is fostered by the natural 

 gas in this place. A large establishment, with a capacity of 25,000 

 per day, is making an excellent grade of vitrified brick from the bluff 

 shale south of the city. In addition to this, there are numerous fac- 

 tories and mills that depend on this gas for fuel. 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY. 



At Peru a well has been bored which yields both gas and oil. It 

 is 920 feet to gas and 940 to oil, though it was bored to a depth of 

 1300 feet. The "oil-bearing sand" is said to be much thicker than 

 that at Neodesha. A flow of water made it necessary to case the 

 well for 800 feet down, and when hot salt water was struck at a little 

 over 1300 feet, the well was plugged and further exploration stopped. 

 The closed pressure of the well is said to be 400 pounds. The oil 

 belongs to the black heavy lubricating class. 



At Buckle's well, two and one-half miles west of Peru, between that 

 town and Sedan, another well has been bored which is estimated to 

 flow 20 gallons without pumping. At Niotaze, east of Peru, a well 

 has also been bored. The well at Sedan, iioo to 1200 feet deep, 

 proved a dry hole. Another at the county poor farm is under 

 contract. 



LABETTE COUNTY. 



At Mound Valley a well was sunk ten years ago to a depth 

 of about 750 feet and a fair supply of gas obtained, which has been 

 utilized ever since at a "Health Home" in the vicinity. Other 

 prospectors are now in the field and numerous leases have been made. 



BOURBON COUNTY. 



At Fort Scott, several years ago, wells were bored in the bottom 

 near the Marmaton river and the gas obtained was piped into the city 

 and used at houses near the wells. 



Of this field Robert Hay, in his report to The Kansas State Board 

 of Agriculture, 1885-6, says: "One company has drilled four wells, 

 three of which are yielding an abundant supply. of gas. Mains have 

 been laid and gas is now in use in Fort Scott hotels, private 

 houses, car-barns, &c." In the report to the same Board in 1891-2 

 he says: "The wells have gradually diminished their yield and the 



