PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS IN NEW YORK 517 



The following list embraces most of the best known wells. 

 The number is sure to be rapidly multiplied. 



Dexter Alfred Frederick Randall, 7 



H. A. Burton Nelson Eandall 



B. J. Horton W. P. Rickenbrod 



Bert Johnson Frank Spencer 



Orson Keith Edward Taylor 



Mrs Walter Loomis D. G. Tennant 



George Martin Theron J. Walker, 5 



Alfred Palmer John Wethy 

 E. C. Porter 



The general depth of the wells is at least 600 feet. The rock 

 pressures range from 85 pounds downward, but in all the wells 

 that are counted satisfactory it is at least 20 pounds. The fig- 

 ures generally range between 20 and 60 pounds. The gas veins 

 are light, as a rule, but " blowers " are sometimes met with. The 

 first gas is expected at 125 to 130 feet. The best supplies seem 

 to come from the blue shales of the Chemung. A belt of hard 

 black slate is found in the wells 100 to 150 feet in thickness, and 

 about 500 feet below the surface. It belongs to the Portage di- 

 vision. This is a sort of " farewell " rock for the driller of shal- 

 low wells. He has learned to depend on the gas veins that 

 are found above this bed. He also finds that wells are safest 

 when separated by a considerable interval. The best experience 

 seems to be in favor of a quarter of a mile, but this interval is 

 impracticable in many instances. 



Of the 27 wells named above there is but one failure so far, 

 and this scarcely deserves to be so counted. Its history is as 

 follows : Orson Keith drilled a well for water. He did not find a 

 good vein, but at the depth of 150 feet a considerable volume of 

 gas appeared and he concluded therefore to save the well for this 

 use. For a time its service was entirely satisfactory. But one 

 day it suddenly dropped off like a light blown out. It so hap- 

 pened that at this identical hour 200 feet of water were being re- 

 moved from one of the Randall wells, three miles distant. The 

 removal of the water may have allowed the gas to rise to a higher 

 level and thus have destroyed Mr Keith's supply. If the Randall 

 well should again be filled with water and the Keith gas should 



