panies, have obtained control of almost all the portions of the township that are counted promising in this respect. More than a score of wells have been already drilled and an enormous production has been secured. In fact, Bloom township is the main center of distribution of natural gas to all of the surrounding country. Two pipe lines extend from it to Toledo, and it is substantially the same field that furnishes gas to the Fremont and Fostoria lines.

None of the later wells have reached the large proportions of the Karg well of Allen township or of the Levi Simons' well already described, but several of them have a daily flow exceeding five million cubic feet, and not one of them sinks as low as one million feet per day. Measurements have not been secured by the Survey of many of these new wells, but the following are believed to be the most important, viz., the Niebel, the Brandeberry, the Abram Baker and the Gray wells. In addition to these, excellent wells have been obtained on the following farms, viz., the Fife (four wells), Moke, Stove, Weisel, Rhoads, E. Simon, Minks, Handwerk, Myers, J. C. Baker and the Byal farms. The Weisel well, as reported by C. C. Conroy, showed six pounds pressure in a 3-inch pipe, which stands for a production of 3,800,000 cubic feet per day.

The gas territory as now defined occupies the following sections in whole or in part, viz., sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. It is quite possible that it may be found necessary to add a few sections to this list, and it is also to be noted that one or two sections are included here that have not yet been proved to be productive. The latter are, however, surrounded by productive territory.

A few sections of Perry township to the eastward may also prove to be gas-bearing on a fair scale.

The territory as now laid down agrees quite closely with the areas of Niagara limestone, as represented on Winchell's map of 1871-2, as already pointed out. Its northern limit is found in the Portage sag, referred to in several other connections. To the southward the gas territory of Bloom township unites and is continuous with the Allen and Cass townships field already described.

On the west the boundary is sharp, being effected by the northward extension of the Findlay monocline. The breadth of a single farm, and sometimes of a single field, is often enough to cover the change from gas to oil production.

It is probable, from recent investigations, that the eastern boundary does not extend far beyond the territory already proved.

Several millions of dollars have been already invested in the exploitation of the Bloom township gas-field, with the surest prospects of being returned to the investors, with large additions.

Pipe Lines.

The Northwestern Ohio Company's line extends from the southern boundary of sections 10 and 11, Cass township, Hancock county, due north through Bloom, Portage, Center and Webster townships, of Wood county, and thence to Toledo, a distance of thirty-three miles. The entire line is laid with 10-inch pipe. This company counts at the present time twenty-four producing wells, and among these, as already stated, are many of the largest wells of the entire field.

The Toledo Natural Gas Company has a line about thirty miles long, extending from the Hancock county line at its contact with Sections 31 and 32, Bloom township, in a due north direction. It is three miles west of the line previously described. For most of the distance 10-inch pipe is used, but a few miles nearest Toledo are laid with 12-inch pipe. This company has a number of fair wells in the territory already reviewed, embracing several of those previously named.

The Fostoria and Fremont lines consist of 6-inch pipe.

The Tiffin line consists of two and one-half miles of 6-inch pipe and nineteen miles of 8-inch. This last-named company has thus far depended almost entirely on the famous Thorntree well, of Marion township, Hancock county, but in August, 1887, a well was finished for the line that exceeds, according to the report of Superintendent Brooks, all the wells of the new field. Its open pressure in the casing was found to range between six and seven pounds, thus showing a production of more than 15,000,000 cubic feet per day.

The well is located on the farm of Adam Roth, section 14, Marion township, near the center of the section, about a mile south, and a little east of the Thorntree well.

THE HENRY TOWNSHIP OIL-FIELD.

The oil production immediately to the west of the Findlay break as the latter extends through Henry township, far exceeds in importance that of any other equal area in the new field. The productive territory is limited to the two easternmost lines of sections of the township, viz., sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36. These sections are by no means of equal value in this regard, but the third, fourth, fifth and sixth of the square miles named above bid fair to take rank with the most famous centers of production yet found in the United States. Section 14 must be added to this list, but only a small portion of its eastern side is likely to be found good territory.

More than fifty wells have been drilled within the areas above noted during the last year, all of which have produced oil in valuable amount,

and some of which stand easily at the head of the oil production of the

state.

The development of the field began with the drilling in of a well on the David Fulton farm, Section 14, about the first of December, 1886. The well was known at the time as the Hammansburg well. Its record, as kindly furnished by C. C. Conroy, Esq., is appended:

(430 feet below tide-approximate).
Oil found at 1,192 to 1,194 feet. Filled a 250-barrel tank in twelve hours.

This was the largest production that had been found outside of the Lima field, no well in the Findlay district having thus far yielded more than half this amount per day. The consequence was that there was a great influx of drillers into the immediate neighborhood, and the new territory was eagerly competed for.

The second well to be brought in is known as the Henning well. It is situated about 500 feet eastward from well No. 1. It was completed on February 25th, 1887. The Trenton limestone was reached at a depth of 1,206 feet, and the oil at thirty to thirty-seven feet in the limestone. At a depth of thirty-three feet, 250 feet of oil appeared in the well. Below the first oil streak a hard crust occurred. When this was penetrated the drill seemed at first to fall as if it had reached a cavity. Presently the force of the gas that accompanied the oil became so great that the weight of the tools was borne up, and the walking beam thus relieved, played rapidly up and down. The oil filled a 250-barrel tank in fiftyseven minutes, and the total production of the first day ranged between 1,500 and 2,000 barrels, according to judicious estimates.

Facts like these put a new face on the oil production of northwestern Ohio, both as regards producers and purchasers. In spite of the low and the steadily shrinking prices for the oil, production could be maintained on wells like the last. The possibilities of the new territory as revealed by the Henning well led to an immediate reduction in the price paid for oil throughout the fields. The Henning well is now producing sixty to seventy barrels per day.

After this surprising record, the development of the field was pushed forward rapidly until in July a well was brought in that belongs to a class to which very few in any part of the world are admitted. The Slaughterbeck well, No. 3, in the southwest quarter of section 13, the first day after the oil-rock was reached, and without any aid from torpedoes, put 4,800 barrels into the tanks and then overflowed upon the ground for two hours. It is entirely within limits to say that its first day's yield was in excess of 5,000 barrels. At the end of two months it was still producing between 2,000 and 3,000 barrels per day when allowed to flow. Its total production to October 1st, 1887, will fall little, if any, short of 100,000 barrels. This well marks the highest point reached by the new oil-rock, and would ensure it a place, if any doubt existed as to its character, among the great oil reservoirs of the world. In this region the Trenton limestone is found at a depth of about 1,150 feet, or about 440 feet below tide. It lies very nearly level throughout this region.

Another great well has recently been brought in (September, 1887,) on the Jere. Foltz farm, section 12, near the line of the T., C. & S. R'y. This well was shot, and in the first two and one-fourth hours thereafter put 1,000 barrels into the tank.

It is not necessary to follow the details of the development further. The producers of the Henry township field could safely sink wells even when the price of oil was reduced to fifteen cents a barrel, and it required varied arguments, the most potent of which was the intimation that tankage would not be provided for the oil, to induce them to entirely suspend the work of the drill through the latter half of 1887, except as the requirements of contracts might occasionally demand.

The practical men who are familiar with the history now briefly sketched entertain great expectations of this portion of the field. The most conservative among them declare that with a price of thirty cents per barrel for oil, the production of Henry township would in sixty days rise to 50,000 barrels per day. There are those who believe that these figures could easily be doubled within this single township.

The cost of drilling is comparatively light. Casing does not exceed 400 feet, and the wells are but little more than 1,200 feet deep.

Thus far but few of the wells have been "shot". So long as the production exceeds 100 barrels per day, they are let alone. Torpedoing restores their production for a time. No pumping has yet been done here.

The character of the oil has already been noticed in the description of the first well at North Baltimore. When fresh, it has a gravity of fully 42° B. In other words, it is livelier and more valuable for refining than Lima or Findlay oil. A more extended discussion of the character and real value of the various grades of Trenton limestone oil will be reserved for a separate chapter.

The field is quite limited in extent, as already implied. It consists of a belt, of less than two sections (or miles) in breadth, and extending five or six miles in a north and south line, on the east side of which great accumulations of gas are found, while on the west the drill strikes saltwater as soon as the oil level is reached. In some parts of the field, saltwater is found with the oil-sand; in all parts it comes in as the wells begin to fail. The value of the field is no doubt enhanced by the near presence of the Portage sag, a northeasterly depression in the strata, which makes the northern boundary of the field as now defined. Wells drilled in this territory strike salt-water promptly.

WELLS OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

The drilling done to the west and north of Lima will next be described. The experience of Van Wert and Delphos in their search for the new source of power will be given at this point. The Citizens' Natural Oil and Gas Company was organized early in 1886 in the former town, with a capital stock of $3,000 in $10 shares. The contract to drill a well was let to the Lima Drilling Company. Work was begun near the center of the town on April 23d, and on May 15th the Trenton was reached at a depth of 1,220 feet, or 434 feet below tide. For the record of the well and for access to an excellent set of samples of drillings from different depths, the Survey is indebted to Dr. D. L. Corbin, of Van Wert. The record is herewith given, the divisions being established on the samples examined :

The well was shot from 1,230 to 1,242 feet, and the oil was thrown high above the casing. The pump was introduced, and it delivered oil in connection with salt-water in large proportion for a few hours. Then followed a small quantity of oil alone, fifteen to twenty barrels being pumped in all. The stream grew finer, and finally ran down to nothing. The gas was piped to the mills near by, and was used under the boiler for fuel, but the flow is insignificant, being less than 3,000 cubic feet per day. Here again, the presence of oil in quantities sufficient to be pumped attracted the attention, and inspired the confidence of prospec