STATE GEOLOGIST. 291 
COSHOCTON COUNTY. 
Exploration for oil and gas in this county began in 1865. In the 
northwestern part of the county and the adjacent part of Knox, principally 
in the angle made by the junction of the Mohican and Kokosing rivers, 
more than a dozen wells have been drilled. Gas springs were early ob- 
served in this territory, and with this encouragement a company was or- 
ganized to test the rocks. The first well was drilled in 1865 on the south 
bank of the ‘Kokosing river in New Castle township, Coshocton county. 
At a depth approximating 600 feet a very heavy flow of gas was found. 
The well was left open a number of years and a great quantity of fuel 
was accordingly wasted. Twenty-two years later the production was 
measured by Dr. Orton and was found to be nearly 70,000 cubic feet per 
day.t Another well was drilled the same year just across the river from 
the first one. It too produced much gas. During 9 years this was allowed 
to escape, and then the well was properly cased and packed. In 1887 it 
was producing nearly 165,000 cubic feet per day. Within the ensuing 
12 years 6 additional wells were drilled. In nearly every one of these 
oil and gas with salt-water were found, but none equalled Nos. 1 and 2 in 
their production of gas. The cost of this exploration is said to have been 
about $85,000. Other wells have been sunk since that time, two of which 
drilled between 1880-1888 were good producers. Within the past few 
years Peter Neff drilled several wells in the same territory, but these were 
all failures. The old wells were put to an unique use, viz.: the manu- 
facture of lamp-black, and for a time this was the only plant in existence 
in which natural gas was used for this purpose. The early history of this 
industry has already been given, and will not be repeated here.2 Tests 
have been made in other parts of the county, and these will next be briefly 
reviewed. 
Tuscarawas Township—A well is reported to have been drilled many 
years ago in the village of Roscoe, and a little oil and gas found. Neither 
was ever used, however, owing to the small quantity. In 1886 a deep well 
was drilled in the valley at Coshocton. The drift was 171 feet deep, and 
the Berea was found at 860 feet. It contained a little oil with salt-water. 
Not satisfied with this, work continued until the Ohio shales had been 
penetrated several hundred feet, but without success. Near the same 
time a well drilled on the Crawford farm one mile southwest of Roscoe, 
where nothing but salt-water was found. About Io years later a well 
was drilled on the Haight farm one mile northwest of Roscoe. The 
Berea was drilled through, but made a show only of oil. In 1899 a 
well was drilled on land owned by John Hall. The Berea made nothing 
better than a show of oil. About the same time two additional wells were 
drilled in that locality,—one on the Gross farm which made a show of oil, 
IGeol. Sun. of Onio, Vol. Vi., p. 342. 
2Ibid, Vol. I1I., p. 340, and Vol. VI., p. 340. 
