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PORT COLBORNE NEWS- NATURAL GAS.
[Welland Tribune, 1 March 1889]
Taking Findlay as an example: Findlay is the county seat of Hancock county, Ohio. At present it has a population of about 6.000. For many years there had been evidence of both oil and gas in and around the town. Old citizens tell us that about forty years ago there was a place south of town where gas escaped from the surface of the ground in such quantities that a small flame could be kept burning for several days at a time. We have similar indications near Port Colborne. At Findlay, some twenty years ago, Jacob Carr, drilled a well on his lot for water to a depth of 135 feet, when he struck a small vein of gas, and the well was abandoned so far as water was concerned. But Mr. Carr turned it to account by using the gas to light and heat his house, which he continues to do tot eh present day. Notwithstanding all the evidences have remained undisturbed for years to some had it not been for the untiring efforts of one man, Dr. Charles Osterian, who for many years advocated that Findlay was situated in the centre of a vast oil and gas field. For a long time the old man found but few to listen to his arguments, and less to believe them. Still he did not despair, and in the spring of ’84 he so far succeeded in his plans that by his influence a company was formed to drill a test well, and on the 29th day of April, 1884, they took out a charter under the name of the Findlay Natural Gas Company, with a capital stock of $5,000. This company was not composed of men of wealth, but of men of energy and perseverance, and they were considered a set of old fogies and hair brained lunatics. Even the state geologist ridiculed the idea of finding gas or oil in northwestern Ohio. The company commenced their first well in the latter part of September, and completed it in the middle of November. At 600 feet they got a small flow of oil and a small vein of gas. At 1,092 feet they struck a large flow of gas, estimated from 200,000 to 250,000 cubic feet in 24 hours. This was the first direct evidence of gas in this part of the state-in fact it was argued by scientific men that this part of the state lay beyond the oil and gas limits. Soon after the drilling of the first well other wells were drilled with success, producing 1,000,000 cubic feet and over per 24 hours. The thirteenth well drilled was known as the Karg well, and is generally called the grandfather. It was finished on the 20th of January, 1886, and is supposed to be the third largest well ever found in the States. It flows from 40,000,000 to 80,000,000 cubic feet in24 hours. On lighting the gas the illumination could be seen 50 miles, and the roar of the escaping gas could be heard 12 miles. Natural gas has revolutionized the town. In two years the population has doubled, and many factories are in full blast. Findlay is booming. Our indications for gas here are equal, if not superior, to Findlay. Why superior? Because we have a very large reservoir to draw from, and which cannot be tapped south of us. Under Lake Erie is a grand reservoir for gas. Of course we cannot tell how far the gas belt extends under the lake. Natural gas is appreciated on the other side of the line. Those who have used it for fuel will tell you that if you would deliver coal free of charge, they would rather pay $3 per month for gas then burn the coal. I could name some in this town that would do the same.
Yours A TAX PAYER
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