228 ANNUAL REPORT 
1,400 feet. This was located on land of G. Fryer in the northeast quarter 
of section 34 of Cadiz township, and was within the territory reported 
favorable by the State Geologist. A small flow of oil and considerable 
gas were secured. The latter was allowed to escape for a year or more, 
and then the well was closed when the rock pressure rose to 250 pounds 
per square inch. The gas has been used for more than ten years, and in 
the fall of 1900 the production was 25,000 cubic feet per day. 
On July 7, 1888, the company held a meeting to decide future action. 
Steps were taken to increase the capital stock from $10,000 to $30,000, 
but this seems never to have been accomplished. Four consecutive fail- 
ures were too much for the organiation, and the company gave up the 
search, having gained considerable in experience if not in wealth. Why, 
it may be asked, did not the the company follow more closely the advice 
of the expert whose counsel it sought? The answer is simple, though 
ludicrous: The company did not hold leases on the territory which Dr. 
Orton regarded most promising for oil or gas, and though the land 
holders would have gladly granted the leases without expense to the com- 
pany to have their farms tested, the company absolutely neglected to 
secure the leases, and so failed to test the territory where they were told 
their chances would be best. The discovery later of valuable pools of oil 
in the localities referred to is a fitting rebuke to the carelessness of the 
old company. 
In the fall of 1888 a new organization, “The Berea Grit Oil and Gas 
Company” was formed. Its capital stock was $20,000, and its object was 
to test further the territory around Cadiz. Shortly after the company 
was organzed it began drilling on the farm of H. Morgan near the north 
line of section 33, Cadiz township. This is near the gas well drilled by 
the old company, and so is within the territory regarded as promising by 
Dr. Orton. A small show of oil was secured, but not enough to warrant 
pumping, unless other wells were secured. Within the following winter 
(1888-9) a well was drilled on land of E. G. Holliday, one-half mile east 
of the Morgan well. After having been shot with 30 quarts of nitro-gly- 
cerine the well made five barrels per day. In the summer of 1889 a well 
was drilled on the A. J. Petty farm, adjoining the Holliday on the east. 
This time a small production of both oil and gas were secured, and the 
well still (1901) yields each in about the same quantity as when first 
drilled. In the autumn of 1889 a well was drilled on the D. Norman farm 
which joins the Holliday. After having been shot with 60 quarts of 
nitro-glycerine the well produced 8 barrels of oil per day, and the lasting 
power of the sand was such that 12 years later it was yielding two barrels 
per day. | : 
The poor success discouraged the company, and no further drilling 
was done for some time. The organization, however, still exists and has 
three producing wells in the pool. A half dozen or more wells have been 
