Ohio Natural Gas Fields. — Bozunocker. 219 
gas at Findlay in 1884. From that as a center drilling has 
radiated in all directions until every county in the state has 
been tested ; in some the wells may be counted by scores, in 
others by hundreds, and in a few by thousands. From the 
areal standpoint these tests have in the main produced neg- 
ative results only, and yet they form the basis of one of the 
state's principal sources of wealth. The Findlay discovery 
was followed a year later by that of oil in the Trenton lime- 
stone, and in 1887 by natural gas at Lancaster. 
The first step towards testing the rocks in the vicinity of 
the town just named was taken in December, 1885, when the 
Lancaster Natural Gas Company was organized. In the fol- 
lowing May the first well was begun, the objective stratum 
being the Trenton limestone. On February ist of the ensuing 
year (1887) gas was found at a depth of 1957 feet; and 
though the well was small, the mere presence of the desired 
fuel was sufficient to secure further tests. Two additional 
wells were drilled that year in the same general vicinity, and 
with similar results. Preparations were at once made to pipe 
the town ; and the new fuel finding immediate favor, the com- 
pany was not able to meet the demands, owing principalb, to 
the expense of laying the necessary mains. 
All the wells drilled thus far were small, so that the out- 
look for the territory was not bright. In fact during the winter 
of 1888-9 the supply had so far decreased that it did not meet 
the moderate demands then existing. The situation changed 
suddenly, however, in February, 1889, when a new well, "The 
Mithoff" was completed. This had an open flow of 12,000.000 
cubic feet per day, changing at once the character of the ter- 
ritory. Another famous well was completed that year. It was 
located on the county fair grounds and had an initial open flow 
of 10,000,000 cubic feet per day. A line from this well was 
laid around the race track that fall and "By this means the 
track was lighted up at night as never was race track lighted 
before, and the trials of speed went forward under this wanton 
illumination. The idea, was novel and the scene unique and 
brilliant, but the waste was barbaric all the same.'"'' 
In the spring of 1888 the city, by authority of the Legisla- 
ture, bought the existing natural gas plant, extended the mains, 
• Geol. Sur. of Ohio, First Ann. Rep. (1S90), p. 237. 
