70 ANNUAL REPORT 
feet in less than one-half mile. It was at the margin of the higher side 
of this flexture that the great Karg well was drilled: East from Findlay 
the rock lies nearly horizontal, as has already been stated. Its depth, 
however, increases slowly on both the east and west sides of this arch. 
Another interesting disturbance is found in section 22 of Cass town- 
ship. This is a peculiar folding of the Trenton rock, called by drillers 
“the hog back.” On the Hiram B. McCracken farm, in the northeast quar- 
ter of the section, the Trenton is found at 1,040 feet; on the A. M. Green- 
lee farm, a well 4oo feet east of the last one found the Trenton at 1,167 
feet, a drop of 127 feet; one-quarter of a mile west of the McCracken 
well the Trenton was found at 1,107 feet, a drop of 67 feet ; and one-fourth 
of a mile south it was found at 1,115 feet, a drop of 75. Drillers report 
the formations in the “hog back” liable to cave, while the Trenton is said 
to contain many fissures. Salt-water is abundant. 
The oil rock east of Findlay sometimes contains numerous holes, re- 
sembling in some respects a sponge, and drillers frequently report crevices 
in the formation, as is shown by the tools dropping suddenly from a few 
inches to several feet. West of Findlay the cavities in the Trenton are 
less common, but the oil is not confined to the surface portions of the 
formation. In fact, several “pays” are sometimes found, but these do not 
form well-marked bands or zones. In the southwestern townships the 
lower pays had not been worked prior to 1899; since that time many old 
wells have been drilled deeper, and in this manner changed from the 
nearly exhausted to good producers. The oil secured from the lower 
pays has thus far been insignificant in value in comparison with that re- 
ceived from the higher or first pay. The latter is commonly formed at a 
depth not exceeding 50 feet. 
Production of Wells.—It is difficult at this late date to give accurate 
data concerning the initial production of individual wells. Doubtless, 
however, there were many which yielded hundreds of barrels per day, 
and perhaps occasionally one that flowed I,o00 barrels or more. At the 
present time, however, the wells are small. The territory in the eastern 
part of the county, having been developed more recently than that farther 
west, has the largest producers. On section 15 of Cass township the 
average production per well is about 5 barrels per day; on section 22 it 
is not less than 25 barrels. In Marion township the average production 
is smaller, having been reported at 20 barrels. The wells are kept pumping 
day and night to control the large volume of salt-water which threatens 
their life. The ratio of salt-water to oil pumped in 1902 was about five 
to one. 
Amanda township makes a similar report for its small territory. On 
section 6 the wells averaged each about 15 barrels per day in the summer 
of 1902. In July, 1901, two wells completed on this section had an initial 
production of 8 barrels daily, but after having been shot the production 
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