Record of Geology op Texas, ISSY-IS^G. 
107 
■Everhart, Edgar. 
‘‘In the early part oif last year [1887] a campany in Nacogdoches was 
foamed to develop the petroleum deposits that were known to exist 
near that place. 'The springs are situated about thirteen miles from the 
town of iNacogdoohes. ' Efforts have been made to learn something of the 
geological formations of the locality about the springs, but without suc- 
cess. The only thing in that connection that could be aseertained was 
with regard to the nature of the ground through which the wells were 
sunk. In driving the wells sand was encountered almost entirely. At some 
stages lof sinking them the borers were troubled with quicksand, but not to 
a very great extent. In the deepest well, .which goes to a depth of 360 
feet, very hard rock was met with. The character of the rock is unknown 
to me. iProbaibly the petroleum exists in the Tertiary formation. 
“Since beginning the work the company have sunk eight 'wells, which 
vary in depth from ninety ito. one hundred and twenty feet, except in one 
instance where a depth of 360 feet has been attained. (Owing to a want 
of (facilities for handling and storing the oil, only two of the wells are at 
present in operation, the rest being securely capped. The daily yield of 
these two wells is, as I am informed, 250 barrels each. 
“The wells that have been sunk will flow to siome extent, bujt in order 
to increase the yield pumping has been resorted to. * * 
-IE- ^ 7i- ^ 
“The Texas oil is not adapted to the production of illuminating oil — its 
value eonsists in its use as a lubricant. There is probably no better 
lubricating material manufactured than this crude oil as it is pumped from 
the well. 
“In, .order to investigate some of the properties of this oil a quantity 
was obtained from Nacogdoches and submitted to various tests in the 
University laboratory. (The work was assigned .to Mr. iP. H. Fitzhugh, 
who conducted the tests under my direction. 
“Tlie oil has a brownish red color. The odor is peculiar, but not so 
offensive as the crude petroleum of Pennsylvania. At ordinary tempera- 
ture the oil is mobile, but not so much so as ordinary petroleum. iSub- 
mitted to an extreme cold the oil still retains its liquidity, but naturally 
becomes less mobile.' The temperature of the oil was reduced to less than 
zero (Eahrenheit) without its losing its flowing qualities. At no tempera- 
ture attainable in the laboratory by artificial means could any solid para- 
fine be iseparated. 
“'The oil does not gum on exiposure to the air. 
'“Mr. Fitzhugh isubjected about four pounds of the oil to distillation 
over the naked flame, in a retort connected with proper condensers. The 
temperature was .carried up to 680° (Fahrenheit. At intervals of 45° 
Fahrenheit each distillate was removed and its weight determined. The 
results of the distillation were as follows : 
1. Below 300° Fa, hr., the distillate amounted to 0.04 per cent. 
2 . 300° — 345° Fahr., the dis|tillate amounted to 0.37 per cent. 
3. 345° — 390° Fahr., the distillate amounted to 1.30 per cent. 
4. ,390°— 435° Fahr., the distillate amounted to 2.09 per cent. 
5. 435° — 480° Fahr., the distillate amounted to 3.14 per cent. 
6. 480° — ^525° Fahr., fhe distillate amiounted 'to 6.25 per cent. 
7,. 525° — ^615° Fahr., the dis;tillate amounted to 7.07 per cent. 
8j 615° — ^680° 'Fahr., the distillate amounted to 5.63 per cent. 
IRemaining in the retort 74.03 per cent. 
