32 ANNUAL REPORT 
The Discovery at Findlay.—These early discoveries of gas played a 
small part in the fuel supply of the state; in fact they were little more than 
scientific curiosities. “The same is practically true of oil; for while the 
total value of the production from.1860 to the close of the year 1884 was 
$579,223, it is significant in comparison with the vast treasure that has 
been taken from our rocks since that time. Had the state’s production of 
oil and gas terminated with the year 1884, these products would never 
have been ranked among the important ‘séurces of wealth in Ohio, nor 
would the state have been mentioned, ‘ex¢ept in a passing way, in works 
devoted to these fuels. The importance of the discovery at Findlay was 
estimated by Dr. Orton in 1888 as follows:— “No geological discovery 
ever made in the country, unless the original discovery of petroleum in 
western Pennsylvania shall be excepted, has. exerted so widespread and 
powerful an influence on half of the United States, or at least on the north- 
ern Mississippi valley, as the discovery of Findlay gas.’* Viewed from the 
the standpoint of the production of wealth, however, the discovery of gas 
was of small importance in comparison with that of oil; for the Trenton 
limestone must now be rated as one of the first, if not the first, formations 
in the world as a source of petroleum. 
Indications of natural gas had long been noted at Findlay and vicinity ; 
along the banks of the Blanchard river the gas found its way to the sur- 
face, and it was also found in small quantities in digging water wells and 
sewers.2 The earliest specific mention of the fuel was made in 1836 when 
it was struck at a depth of perhaps ten feet. The gas was ignited, and the 
flame is reported to have been maintained for a period of three months. 
In 1838 a stronger flow was found, this time in the town of Findlay; and 
the fuel, collected in rude fashion, was used in a residence. It is interest- 
ing to report that gas was still being used in this manner in the residence 
referred to when the great discovery was made in 1884. As early as 1864 
Dr. Charles Oesterlin, a citizen of Findlay, urged the construction of res- 
ervoirs to store the natural gas, preparatory to using it for domestic pur- 
poses.* However, his ideas were in advance of his time and nothing came 
from them. Twenty years later the neighboring state, Pennsylvania, was 
enjoying benefits resulting from the discovery of vast volumes of natural 
gas. The people of Ohio were quick to see the possibilities of the new fuel 
and began testing the underlying rocks for it. This work aroused Dr. 
Oesterlin’s interest which had been dormant for twenty years, and in the 
spring of 1884 he succeeded in organizing a company to test the rocks at 
Findlay.» An experienced driller was secured from Bradford, Pennsyl- 
vania, and on October 20 work was begun. Small volumes of gas were 
found at several horizons, the supply being adequate for drilling. At 1092 
1Mineral Resources of the U. S., 1900, p. 542. 
2Geol. Sur. of Ohio, Vol. VI, p. 117. 
3Ibid, p. 109. 4Tbid, p. 110. 5Ibid, p. 111. 
