50 
Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. 1, No. 4 
Discovery. — Probably the first deep well drilled in the Sunday 
Creek Valley was near Burr Oak, about 4 miles south of Corning. 
Its date is not now known, but it must have been 40 or more years 
ago. Its depth is likewise unknown, but it is reported to have pen- 
etrated the salt sand. To this day it flows salt water, and with it 
sufficient gas to be ignited. This well, however, seems not to have 
aroused suspicion that there might be valuable liquids other than 
salt water buried in the rocks. 
The discovery of oil in the Corning field was a matter of accident, 
and resulted directly from a scarcity of water for the Toledo and 
Ohio Central railroad. To remedy this a deep well was drilled in 
August, 1891, at the round house, about three-fourths of a mile south 
of Corning. The only water found was in the salt sand which is 
reported as having been struck at a depth of 630 feet. The supply 
was copious, but the salinity prevented its being used in locomotives. 
This brine was shut out of the well by casing and the drill forced 
down to a depth of 1607 feet. Finding no water at that depth the 
work ceased, but a few days later oil was thrown to the top of the 
derrick, and there were smaller eruptions later. However further 
disturbances of this sort were prevented by the company closing 
the well. 
Development.— The disclosure made by this well attracted the 
attention of oil men who immediately entered the field and began 
leasing territory. The citizens of Corning feared the territory was 
falling into the hands of the Standard Oil Company, and that it 
might not under such conditions be developed for years. According- 
ly a home company styled “The Sunday Creek Oil & Gas Company,” 
was organized in February, 1892, to make certain the development of 
the territory. The capital stock was placed at $10,000 in shares of 
$50, and $8900 of the stock was sold. Much of this was raised by 
citizens of the town subscribing for single shares. 
The new Company was successful. By January 1st. 1898, 255% in 
dividends had actually been paid the stock holders. In September, 
1898, a power for pumping the wells, and costing over $7000, was 
erected, the contractor taking the product of the wells until it paid 
for the plant. In November, 1899, the property together with $1250 — 
the amount received in excess of the cost of the plant— was turned 
over to the original holders. The power is now (July 1, 1900,) pump- 
ing 20 wells, which have a daily production of 40 barrels. 
The first well drilled by this Company was on the William Fisher 
farm in northwest quarter section 14, Monroe township, Perry county. 
The Berea was struck at 1012 feet, but the indications were so unfav- 
orable for a paying well that it was not considered advisable to shoot 
it. However, on June 2d, 1892, after waiting nearly a month, the 
well was shot with 80 quarts of nitro-glycerine, which had been 
hauled from Sistersville, W. Va. The cost of the shot was $200. The 
