BAILEY : NATURAL GAS AND COAL OIL IN KANSAS. 5 



Special mention may be made of a few of the representative wells in 

 this district. About six miles north of Neodesha is the Hopkins well, 

 1034 feet deep. This is on the bank of Fall river, and from the 

 quality of the oil is in a different "pool" from most of the wells in 

 this vicinity. A very thick heavy oil is produced, which has already 

 obtained quite a reputation in the vicinity as a lubricant, so that 

 farmers come many miles to get it for use on their farm machinery. 

 Salt water comes up with the oil. About two miles northwest of the 

 town is the Haag well, one of the best gas wells in the state. From 

 this and adjacent wells gas is piped to the town, and has been used 

 for running engines in boring other wells. Still nearer the town, and 

 on the west side quite near the bank of the Fall river, is a group of 

 wells that promise to be excellent producers. Among these may be 

 mentioned the Kimball wells, the De Moss wells, and the Pierce 

 wells. These are nested about the De Moss No. 2, where a pumping 

 station has been established. Some excellent wells have been bored 

 south of town, and in the vicinity of the confluence of Fall and 

 Verdigris rivers. In regard to the striking of a "gusher," as it is 

 called, in the spring of 1894, a citizen of Neodesha writes: "Imme- 

 diately after being 'shot, 'most of the wells spout for a time at 

 intervals until they have quieted down. Other wells, without being 

 shot, but being drilled down into the oil-bearing rock, are often 

 capped, and then whenever the cap is removed they will overflow. 

 In the case of the Mann well, the drill had hardly entered the oil- 

 bearing rock before the oil began to rise within the well to a height 

 of 500 feet, the well soon began to spout a column of oil six inches 

 in diameter, entirely free from brine, and then continued to flow at 

 intervals for several hours till the workmen succeeded in capping it. 

 Spouting and intermission are due to a contest between the oil and 

 the gas each pouring into the well. For a time the gas may escape 

 freely, but soon the oil, flowing in, overpowers the gas and is forced 

 out by it." Another interesting well of the spouting variety is the 

 Butcher well, four miles southeast, 840 feet deep, which at intervals of 

 two or three minutes thr'ows out a vast volume of brine into the air to 

 a height of perhaps 20 feet. An analysis of the brine of this well 

 shows that it contains quite large quantities of bromides and iodides. 

 In this respect it is similar to the deep well at Independence that was 

 bored some eight or nine years ago. There are other wells just as 

 promising as these mentioned, all within a short distance of the 

 town. It was not till November, 1894, that the houses of the town 

 were piped for gas. The oil yield of these wells has not been com- 

 pletely estimated, but many are believed to be capable of yielding from 

 forty to sixty barrels per day. The depth of the wells in this county 

 is from 790 to 890 feet. 



