PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS IN NEW YORK 505 



and were never got loose again. Nothing came from the ex- 

 penditure of the $5000 raised among the people, except th^ insig- 

 nificant volume of Medina gas above referred to and the valuable 

 experience accumulated in the progress of the work. This ex- 

 perience served to uproot the delusion that because the slates 

 of the surface everywhere carry low pressure natural gas, the 

 deeper rocks must be charged with great volumes of high press- 

 ure gas. 



The Medina gas vein, to which reference has been made, had a 

 rock pressure of 150 to 160 pounds. Its daily production was 

 about 7000 cubic feet. The vein has thus far proved persistent. 

 The gas has but little illuminating quality. It was turned at 

 first into the city gas mains, but its introduction brought in- 

 stant protest from consumers. It has, however, excellent heat- 

 ing power. For the last five years it has been owned and con- 

 trolled by Mr S. Phillips, who supplies his own residence and 

 the houses of several of his neighbors with fuel. The well pro- 

 vides for four winter fires and for eight fires in summer. The 

 property of the original company, including lands, well and fix- 

 tures has changed hands several times. In one instance it was 

 sold for one tenth of the money originally invested. Even the 

 small income resulting from the use described in the last para- 

 graph will pay interest on the price thus reduced. 



This prolonged experience of more than half a century had 

 made it plain that the shales underlying Fredonia were every- 

 where charged with small quantities of low pressure gas. Gas 

 escapes occur in the beds of all the streams, the only portions of 

 the surface where the shales are entirely uncovered. In digging 

 wells, also, inflammable gas is frequently found when the shale 

 beds are approached. 



This fact has naturally led to the drilling of numerous wells 

 in and around the village, the sole object of which has been to 

 obtain gas for artificial light and heat. 



The most important cluster of these wells at the present time 

 is on Central avenue about half way between Fredonia and Dun- 

 kirk. They are well represented by the three wells drilled by Fes- 

 tus Day, on his premises, for the supply of his own residence. 

 Two of the wells were drilled 15 years ago, and have furnished 



