SECOND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF PENNSYLVANIA:
18T5 to 1879.
.THE GEOLOGY
OIL
WARREN, VENANGO, CLARION, AND BUTLER COUNTIES,
INCLUDING
SURVEYS OF THE GARLAND AND PANAMA CONGLOMERATES
IN WARBEN AND CBAWFORD, AXD IN CHAUTAUQUA Co., N. Y.,
DESCRIPTIONS OF OIL WELL RIG AND TOOLS, AND
A DISCUSSION OF THE PREGLACIAL AND POSTGLACIAL DRAIN-
AGE OF THE LAKE ERIE COUNTRY.
JOHN F. CARLL.
WITH TWO INDEXES, 23 PAGE PLATES, AND AN ATLAS OF 22 SHEETS OF MAPS, WELL-
SECTIONS, AND WOKKINU DRAWINGS OF WELL BIG AND TOOLS.
HARRISBURG:
PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FOK THE SECOND GEOLOGICAL SUBVKY.
1880.
Entered, for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the year 1880, according
to acts of Congress,
By WILLIAM A. INGHAM,
Secretary of the Board of Commissioners of Geological Survey,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Electrotyped and printed by
LANE S. HART, State Printer,
Harrisburg, Pa.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
His Excellency, HENRY M. HOYT, Governor,
and ex-officio President of the Board, Harrisburg.
AEIO PAEDEE, - Hazleton.
WILLIAM A. INGHAM, Philadelphia.
HENEY S. ECKEET, Reading.
HENEY McCoEMiCK, - Harrisburg.
JAMES MACFAELANE, - Towanda.
JOHN B. PEAESE, Philadelphia.
JOSEPH WILLCOX, Philadelphia,
Hon. DANIEL J. MOEEELL, - Johnstown.
HEISTEY W. OLIVEE, Pittsburgh.
SAMUEL Q. BEOWN, - - - ----- Pleasantville.
SECRETARY OF THE BOARD.
WILLIAM A. INGHAM, - - - Philadelphia.
STATE GEOLOGIST.
PETEE LESLEY, Philadelphia.
188O.
ASSISTANT GEOLOGISTS.
PERSIFOR FRAZER Geologist in charge of the Survey of Chester county.
AMBROSE E. LEHMAN Topographical Assistant, for mapping the South
Mountain.
E. V. D'IXVILLIERS Topographical Assistant, for mapping the Easton-Read-
ing range.
FRANKLIN PLATT Geologist hi charge of the Satistical Survey of the An-
thracite coal fields, <fec.
W. G. PLATT Geologist in charge of the Survey of Armstrong and Jefferson
counties.
R. H. SANDERS Topographical Assistant in Franklin county.
I. C. WHITE Geologist in charge of the Survey of Susquehanna and Wayne
counties.
J. F. C ARLL G eologist in charge of the Survey of the Oil Regions.
H. M. CHANCE Geologist to report on the Mining of the Anthracite coal
fields.
C. A. ASHBURNER Geologist to report on the Geology of the Anthracite
coal fields.
A. W. SHEAFER Assistant in the Anthracite coal fields.
F. A. GENTH Mineralogist and Chemist at Philadelphia.
F. A. GENTH, Jr Aid in the Laboratory.
A. S. MCCREATH Chemist, in charge of the Laboratory of the Survey, 223
Market street, Harrisburg.
JOHN M. STINSON Aid in the Laboratory at Harrisburg.
C. E. HALL Geologist in charge of the Survey of the Philadelphia belt,
and Palaeontologist in charge of the Museum.
M. CHAPMAN Aid in the Museum.
H. C. LEWIS Volunteer geologist for the survey of the gravel deposits of
south-eastern Pennsylvania.
LEO LESQUEREUX Fossil Botanist, Columbus, Ohio.
E. B. HARDEN Topographer in charge of Office Work, <tc. 1008 Clinton street,
Philadelphia.
F. W. FORM AN Clerk in charge of the Publications of the Survey, 223 Market
street, Harrisburg.
CHARLES ALLEN Aid.
LETTER OF TRANSMISSION.
PHILADELPHIA, October %5, 1880.
To His Excellency Governor Henry M. Hoyt, Chairman of
tJie Board of Commissioners of the Second Geological
Survey of Pennsylvania :
SIE : The important report on the oil regions of Venango,
Clarion, and Butler counties, which I have the honor to
transmit to you for publication, covers more ground than
is indicated by its title, and will be found to be not only a
description of facts, but a statement of the principles es-
tablished by them, regarding the origin, location, abundance
and character of our Petroleum deposits, and of the history
and mode of their exploitation.
These facts and principles were clearly but briefly indica-
ted by Mr. Caiil, in his First Report of Progress, (I,) a vol-
ume of 127 pages, published by the Board in 1875.
His second report, consisting almost entirely of oil well
records, was published by the Board, in a volume of 400
pages, in 1877.
Three years have passed, and the value of that report lias
been fairly tested. It is a treasury of facts, obtained at a
great expense of time, labor, and thought, corrected and
verified by every possible means, and classified and indexed
so as to be at the ready command of the statistician the ge-
ologist, the well sinker, the civil and mining engineer, and
the general reader.
The value of such a record of facts can hardly be over-
estimated, and oil men have acknowledged this value. The
facts given in that report were sifted from a much larger
collection of similar data of every grade of reliabilitj", some
of which proved on examination to be worthless, and the
rest so doubtful as to be dangerous if published with those
( v in. )
VI III. DEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
of good character. If the board be of opinion that they
should all be given to the public, it will only be necessary
to classify them to make another volume of well records
equal in size to that of 1877.
The present report (III) makes a volume of about 500
pages, with a separate atlas of illustrations in 20 sheets,
consisting of: maps of the two principal oil regions,
that of Venango and Warren, and that of Clarion and But-
ler counties ; maps of special localities, like Spring Creek,
Titusville, Franklin, and Parker ; maps of northwestern
Pennsylvania and contiguous parts of Xew York and Ohio,
showing the pre-glacial drainage and its conversion into the
present post-glacial river system ; a map of the line of sur-
vey through Warren and Crawford counties into Ohio, to
establish the outcrop of the Garland Conglomerate, on which
the geology of the oil-sands depends for its explanation ; a
large number of vertical sections, carefully selected from
the most authentic oil-well records, and so adjusted to the
horizon of the Ferriferous limestone as to exhibit to the eye
the geological structure of the region ; and finally, a gen-
eral profile section from Lake Erie to the Virginia State line,
showing all the various horizons of the Dunkard Creek,
Smith's Ferry, Butler, Yenango, Warren, Bradford, and
Canada petroleums, their mutual super- and sub-positions,
their universal hypsometrical slopes southward and their
several relations to tide-level.
The preparation of these illustrations has caused Mr. Carll
and his aids, as may well be supposed by those who are
acquainted with such work, infinite labor and trouble, which,
however, will be amply repaid in the shape of usefulness
to this and future generations of oil men.
For a special trial map of the Bradford oil-field, which
has recently superseded and in a good degree eclipsed the
others, the reader of this report must be referred to the atlas
accompanying Mr. Ashburner's Report of Progress in Mc-
Kean county (R) just published by the Board.
The main feature of the report is the settlement of the
true character of the Venango oil-sand group as a distinct
and separate deposit, with characteristic marks distinguish-
LETTEK OF TRANSMISSION. III. Vli
ing it from the Palaeozoic formations of a preceding and
a succeeding age ; the differentiation of the group into three
principal and other subordinate layers of gravelly sand,
holding more or less oil and gas ; the local variability of
these sands, their singular persistency beneath long and
narrow belts of country, their change into barren shales
elsewhere, and their independence of other oil-bearing sands
and shales of an earlier and of a later date.
Seeking for oil in unexplored ground, is like seeking for
tobacco in a smuggler's trunk. The traveler and his lug-
gage look suspicious ; that is the full extent of the customs
officer' s knowledge. The tobacco must be found, if at all,
with the probe. The officer's instinct may be deceived ;
the trunk may have no false bottom ; or the false bottom
may hold no tobacco.
Just so, the geologist who knows the district knows more
than the oil man, but he does not know whether sand exists
at a given spot beneath the surface, nor whether, if there
be a sand, it holds oil or not, nor whether, if the oil be there,
it will flow towards a drill-hole. But this ignorance of facts,
all of them out of sight and out of reach before experi-
ment, he shares with everybody else. No one, absolutely
no one can know such facts before a well is bored.
But what the geologist does know is the depth beneath
the surface at a given spot at which a given oil-sand in the
series ought to lie, and consequently the depth of a required
trial hole. This fact men who are not geologists may also
be acquainted with in the immediate neighborhood of pro-
ductive wells, or in a local district where they are familiar.
But let them go to other localities, more or less distant, and
their knowledge becomes ignorance, because it is restricted
by special experience. Whereas the geologist carries his
knowledge of one locality with him to another, because Ms
knowledge is theoretical, that is, reduced to system, and
subject to well established laws of earth structure. He
knows that no two well records are alike in detail. He is
therefore obliged to discover their general or classical re-
semblance.
Until practical oil men learn to value the theoretical prin-
viil III. KEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
ciples established and illustrated by Mr. Carll in this re-
port it cannot be expected to reach its highest pitch of use-
fulness. That these principles are not visionary will be
clear to every thoughtful reader of it. That they are sup-
ported by a great multitude of harmonized facts is plainly
shown by its maps and sections. That they have virtually
governed geologists, even when less well comprehended than
Mr. Carll has now made them to be, is a historical fact put
on record by printed reports of experts. That they ought
to govern explorers of new territory follows as a matter of
course ; and so far as oil seekers consent to respect the rea-
sonable results of long, close, and experienced investigation,
so far will their pecuniary risks be diminished, and the ac-
tual cost of discovery be reduced to a minimum.
A flagrant example of this truth is given by Mr. Carll on
page 137, where he describes the disastrous consequences to
a great many people of a purely geological^we\\ theoretical
mistake, made by the oil men of the "Fourth Sand Belt of
Butler county," calling themselves practical men but work-
ing on a theory all the same. Practical men, so-called, are
just as theoretical, and much more theoretical, than men of
science; the distinction being, that the latter base their
theories on a wide range of well connected facts, while the
former establish theoretical prejudices upon the basis of a
comparatively narrow circle of the facts with which they
happen to be very familiar.
The Yenango well sinkers had grown accustomed to the
three oil sands of Oil creek, and they constructed and car-
ried with them into the new field a theory of three sands
which was merely a local prejudice. The first sand they
struck, was to them, theoretically, the Yenango First Sand,
and when they reached a second, they theorized upon it as
the Yenango Second Sand. All they had to do now, ac-
cording to their former practice and present theory, was to
go one stage lower to the Yenango Third Sand, and they
would be sure (theoretically) to get great wells. But when
they reached their theoretical third sand, it proved to be
poor in oil. Their theory, however, arrested them here in
spite of their being practical ; in fact, precisely because they
LETTEK OF TRANSMISSION. III. i
were practical men. They could not be induced to go
deeper ; they knew what they were about ; no geologist
could teach them anything ; they had worked on Oil creek ;
they knew by long experience and at great cost that there
existed no oil beneath the third sand ; why then should they
go deeper.
Now the fact is, that as long as they remained practical
men on Oil creek they were all right ; their local theory
was a good one. But being merely practical men they were
unconscious of the great law that a local theory is not good
off its own ground, and must subject itself everywhere else
to some larger theory, constructed slowly and painfully
not by practical but by theoretical men, by men of science,
by men who know the relative value of the theories of prac-
tical men.
Had the land owners and oil producers of the Fourth
Sand Belt respected geological theories enough to take them
into consideration, they would have made progress towards
profitable truth by steps taken in the following order : 1.
Although their first sand resembled the first sand on Oil
creek, they would have suspected that the same kind of
sand might be deposited at different times in different parts
of the old water area, and therefore that resemblance did
not prove identity. 2. They would have considered the
evidence which Mr. Carll published in his first report, prov-
ing that the three sands of Oil creek (sometimes locally sub-
divided into four or five) form a single group, with hun-
dreds of feet of soft drilling ground over it, and a great
depth of soft drilling ground under it ; and they would have
kept an extra careful record of their drillings to see if this
proved true in their new field. 3. They would have found
thus that their three sands in Butler county did not form
a single group, as on Oil creek, but that the upper soft drill-
ing ground lay between their Butler first and second sands.
4. This would have led them, theoretically, to deepen their
wells in order to make their oil group complete, and they
would have found a fourth sand to correspond with the
bottom (or third) sand of Oil creek.
The consequences of their scorn of theoretical geologists
X III. REPOKT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
are depicted on page 137 of this volume. Concluding that
they were working in a poor field of the Third sand, (whereas
they were really exploiting the Second sand,) they sold out
and moved off. The newcomers, influenced insensibly by
the light thrown on the region by the Geological Survey,
tried the experiment of sinking deeper, struck the true
Third sand, and restored the prosperity and reputation of
the Butler belt.
But clinging still to the old error of supposing the upper-
most sand to be the Venango First (whereas it was the Third
Mountain Sand, or Berea Grit of Ohio ; the Pithole Grit of
this Report) they called the rich new lowest sand thus ob-
tained the Fourth Sand, and insisted on placing it under-
neath the Yenango Third, whereas it is identical with it.
Not only do " practical oil-men" theorize in spite of them-
selves (as their drillings along certain compass lines show
in a remarkable manner) but they are as capable of theo-
rizing well and reaching just conclusions as thoroughbred
geologists are, if they would take the pains 1, to observe
the facts, 2, to exhibit them properly on paper, and 3, to
compare together a sufficient number of them, so as to dis-
cover their real connection and relationship. Xo shrewder
or more intellectual people exist. JN"o better observers live.
If they only believed in scientific methods of research they
would need no enlightenment from geologists. But theydes-
pise a slow, painstaking, accurate, wide extended system-
atic investigation. They bring a handful of sand to a geol-
ogist and expect him to declare from an examination of it
alone, apart from all other circumstances, what rock it comes
from, how much oil that rock probably holds, and how fast
the oil from it will .probably flow or be pumped. To furnish
such an opinion would be mere quackery. And yet on such
specimens and such opinions opinions called ''practical"
but which are purely and simply "theoretical," mere pre-
judices adopted from some former and distant experience
costly and futile attempts are made to open new oil fields in
barren measures.
Oil men ought to make themselves their own geologists.
The elements and principles of geology ought to be part of
LETTER OF TRANSMISSION. III. xi
their stock in trade. They have more ample opportunities
for acquiring this kind of useful knowledge than any other
class of men living. They know and feel the necessity for
examining with minute attention the oil sands, and they do
this work admirably well when they reach them ; but they
pay no heed to the geology of the other parts of their bore-
hole. If they did, the knowledge they would thus get
would be of far more importance to them, for it would en-
able them to compare one well with another and thus cover
the true relationships of the oil sands. They form a theory
and then examine the facts. A geologist collects and puts
together the facts before he allows himself to construct a
theory. They theorize that the oil sand they want lies so
many hundred feet beneath the surface, and they pay little
or no attention to the hundreds of feet of various measures
through which they pass in descending to that depth.
No wonder that they are as liable to blunder in sinking a
second hole as in sinking the first. In fact by this utter
disregard of his well records, except just where low sands
lie, a man may sink a hundred wells and have no more true,
safe, reliable knowledge of the subject than he had at first.
Nor does time seem to cure the evil, but only to confirm it.
What was a reproach to the oil well sinker of ten or fifteen
years ago, is a reproach to the generality of oil well sinkers
in 1880. Where are the records of the scores of thousands
of holes bored? And how absurdly, suicidally indefinite,
inexact, fragmentary and unreliable are the few records
which have been made and preserved ! What an immense,
what an irretrievable loss, not to science merely, but to the
intellectual stock in trade of oil men, has happened !
It is impossible for a geologist not to feel and speak
warmly on such a subject ; and it would be shirking a sacred
duty if the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania did not do
its best to place this flagrant omission of common business
precaution, this wholesale waste of valuable business infor-
mation, this fruitful source of business embarrassment, dis-
traction, and disaster, in its true form and colors before the
eyes of the whole oil producing community.
To return to the "subject of the importance of geological
xii III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOH^ F. CARLL.
generalizations as^seen in a practical light, I may be per-
mitted to describe in the first person a singular case in point.
In 1841, I was ordered by the chief of the First Gfeolog-
ical Survey to report on the counties lying along the New
York line, and down the eastern bank of the Allegheny
river, as far as the Kiskiminitas. Other assistants on that
survey had already discovered and reported the geological
structure of the Allegheny river and Beaver river water
basins ; and the rate of descent of the rocks southward and
south westward in relation to tide level had been calculated.
My business was to follow and locate upon the map the an-
ticlinal and synclinal rolls which locally change and modify
this general dip, and to identify the principal coal beds over
a large area.
After the discovery of petroleum (which of course did
not in the least set aside or essentially change the structure
of western Pennsylvania as established by the First Survey)
I happened to be employed by the Brady's Bend Company
to examine their property, and to give them, among other
items, an opinion upon the probable existence and depth
of oil beneath it. To do this, I merely did what any geolo-
gist who had thoroughly studied that country would have
done ; I calculated the vertical distance from the oil sand
on Oil creek up to coal A ; then I calculated the dip of the
measures between Oil creek and Brady's bend ; and then I
identified coal A at Brady's bend. I reported that the Ve-
nango oil sand, if it extended under ground as far as
Brady s Send, ought to lie at 1100 feet beneath water level.
Any geologist who knew the country could have done this.
It required no genius, no uncommon knowledge, nothing
but a plain, simple, systematic, or scientific, in other words,
true theoretical method of applying known facts for dis-
covering the unknown. Any oil man could have done the
same, if he had noticed the rock-layers as he went up and
down the river, and put this and that carefully together.
Yet, when after a few months oil was actually struck at
Brady's bend within a few feet of the depth which I had
assigned to it, the astonishment of all classes of oil men
was ludicrously extravagant ; a score or two of copies were
LETTER OF TRANSMISSION". .III. xiii
made from the manuscript report, and these copies passed
from hand to hand as precious things, and their author was
looked upon as a prodigy of mental penetration, and was
offered large sums of money to locate wells in different dis-
tricts ; none of which offers, of course, were accepted, be-
cause he was as ignorant of the actual existence of an oil
bearing sand in any given locality as everybody else.
The story has its moral. Let "practical men" believe
in and respect the slowly, carefully reached* conclusions of
"theoretical men " enough to take them into consideration,
so far as to comprehend them, and to govern themselves by
them in their own collection and collation of facts relating
to their own pecuniary interests.
When a geologist like Mr. Carll has spent years in sifting
and -comparing the data of a great geological problem, and
publishes his mature conclusions in a modest, earnest, plain,
unvarnished report like that which is contained in this vol-
ume, it is probable, to say the very least, that its value to
practical men like oil producers, struggling with immense
obstacles to fortune, will be real in proportion to the pains
they take to understand it.
It will be noticed that great pains was taken and much
time and labor spent outside of the oil region proper, along
the northern outcrop of the remarkable pebble rock deposit
which caps the hills on both sides of the Brokenstraw above
Garland station in Warren county, as well as the plateau
east of Warren, and the hills on both sides of the Philadel-
phia and Erie railroad, south and east from Warren into
McKean county. Outlying masses of this rock crown
isolated summits to the west of Wrightsville and Lottsville,
and within three miles of the New York State line. Further
north nothing of it is seen ; but similar outlying patches
exist in Crawford county, and are marked on the geological
colored map of Crawford and Erie counties, intended to ac-
company Professor Wright's Report Q 4 '*. The survey of
*The geological map of Warren county has been prepared for the press }
but awaits important additions.
XIV III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOII^ F. CARLL.
the general line of outcrop is described in the first five chap-
ters of this report (I.I.I.) where its close study is justified ;
since it plainly appears that this so-called Garland con-
glomerate is the Sharon conglomerate of Crawford and
Mercer counties, and the Ohio conglomerate west of the
State line ; is also the Olean conglomerate of McKean
county ; is the bottom sub-division of the great Pottsville
conglomerate (No. XII) of northern, middle, and eastern
Pennsylvania, 'surrounding the Anthracite coal basins, and
is the Second Mountain sand of the oil producers on Oil
creek and elsewhere. It is, therefore, in a good degree, the
key to the whole geology of Northwestern Pennsylvania.
But when these facts were settled, there arose questions
concerning a great pebble-rock formation at Panama, and
around Lake Chautauqua in New York ; and it was impor-
tant to know whether this passed into Pennsylvania under-
neath the Garland ; and at what distance ; and whether it
bore any relation to the Yenango oil sands. Professor
White will present in his report on Erie county his reasons
for believing it to be the Venango Third Sand. Mr. Caiil,
in chapter 6 of this volume, describes the rock as far east
as Salamanca, and shows that it fades away into fine sands
and shales southward in Pennsylvania before reaching the
Venango oil belt, just as the Garland or Olean conglomer-
ate fines away into soft sands and shales southward. The
coarseness of these deposits at their extreme northern out-
crops seems to point to a Palaeozoic shore in that direction ;
but every trace of the rivers which brought these pebbles
down to the shore of the ancient sea, of the currents or
tide-runs which distributed them laterally, and of the high
lands which such rivers must have drained, has been swept
away in the ancient general and profound erosion of the
country now occupied by the chain of the Great Lakes.*
Between the upper Garland-Olean deposit and the much
older and deeper Panama- Salamanca deposit, Mr. Carll has
reason to believe that one and perhaps two other similar
deposits exist, forming rock cities along the State line ; but
he is not prepared in this report to present the facts on
*See discussion in report T, on Blair county.
LETTEK OF TRANSMISSION. III. XV
which this opinion is founded. One of these may possibly
represent the Third Mountain Sand (Pithole or Berea Grit)
and the other one of the oil sands ; but this must be left to
future investigation. The relationships of the Pithole Grit
of Venango to the Berea Grit of Ohio, however, is amply
discussed in Chapters 7 and 8 on the Mountain Sands.
The attention of oil men will no doubt be chiefly directed
to the description of the oil sands themselves, and of the
areas which they occupy, in Chapters 9 to 16, 23, 24, and 25 ;
while the curiosity of business men everywhere will be
gratified by the elaborate descriptions of the whole process
of oil seeking, drilling and pumping ; its machinery, its meth-
ods, its obstacles, its improvement, its rate, quantity, and
cost, as given in Chapters 27, 28, and 29.
The origin of petroleum is still an unsolved problem, and
Chapter 26 merely suggests queries respecting it. That it
is in some way connected with the vastly abundant accu-
mulations of Palaeozoic sea weeds, the marks of which are
so infinitely numerous in the rocks, and with the infinitude
of coralloiol sea animals, the skeletons of which make up
a Inrire part of the limestone formations which lie several
thousand feet beneath the Venango oil sand group, scarcely
admits of dispute ; but the exact process of its manufac-
ture, of its transfer, and of -its storage in the gravel beds,
is utterly unknown. That it ascended rather than descended
into them seems indicated by the fact that the lowest sand
holds oil when those above do not, and that upper sands
hold oil where they extend beyond or overhang the lower.
The chemical theory, so-called, which looks upon petro-
leum as condensed from gas, the gas having been previously
distilled from the great black shale formations (Marcellus
and Genessee) must face the objection that such a process, if
chemically possible, which is doubtful, ought to have dis-
tributed the oil everywhere, and permanently blackened
and turned into bituminous shales the entire thickness of
this part of the earth crust for several thousand feet. It
fails to explain the petroleum obtainable from the Cannel
coals, and from the roof shales of Bituminous coal beds.
And it fails also to explain the entire absence of petroleum
XVI III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
from immense areas of not only shales, but sand and gravel
rocks, equally underlaid by the Marcellus and Genessee for-
mations.
The supposed connection of petroleum with anticlinal
and synclinal axes, faults, crevices, cleavage planes, &c.
is now a deservedly forgotten superstition. Geologists well
acquainted with the oil regions never had the slightest faith
in it, and it maintained its standing in the popular fancy
only by being fostered by self-assuming experts who were
not experienced geologists.
The case of the oil-bearing glacial and river gravels about
Titusville is very curious ; their description and the history
of the "Grasshopper well" flurry given in Chapter 36 will
repay perusal.
These river gravels are connected with a wonderful deposit
of Canadian rock fragments not only upon but to the depth
of several hundred feet beneath the present surface of
Northern Pennsylvania, a deposit which forms a great belt
more than a thousand miles long across the continent, from
Cape Cod in Massachusetts to Iow r a and Minnesota beyond
the Mississippi river. Brought from the north by a sheet
of moving ice which once filled the great lakes and rode
over the highest mountains to the south of them burying
all New England and New York, Northern New Jersey,
Northern Pennsylvania, the AVestern Reserve in Ohio, and
large portions of the States lying further west projecting
long tongues or slowly moving torrents of solid ice south-
ward as far as and even beyond the Ohio river in Kentucky,
and driving slowly before it the reindeer, musk ox, cari-
bou, moose, and other arctic animals whose bones are found
in the diluvial clays of the Kentucky caves ; while the
walrus inhabited the shores of the Atlantic as far south as
the Ashley river i:i South Carolina,* and the Esquimaux
* Even if the walrus tusks found at Long Branch, N. J., by Prof. J. F. Frazer
in 1853 and Prof. George H. Cook afterwards, (described by Leidy, in Trans.
A. P. 8. Phila, XI, 1857), in Accomac county Virginia (described by Michell,
Smith and Cooper, Ann. Lye. Nat. His. N. Y. II, 1828,) had been brought
down on ice bergs by the Arctic in-shore current, the skeleton found (1878)
at a depth of 7 feet in the clay beds of Portland, Me. (described with the others,
by J. J. Allen in Hist. N. A. Pinninds, Hayden's Survey of the Terr. 1880, p.
LETTEE OF TKANSMISSIOIST. III.
race no doubt accompanied these animals into the Gulf
States (just as it did in France as far south as the Pyrenees)
this deposit of moraine matter, sand, clay, scratched rocks
and hugh bowlders filled up the valleys by which our rivers
had previously flowed into Lake Erie, and turned their
waters southward into the Ohio.
This interesting episode in the drama of the Glacial Age
of geology is described in great detail by Mr. Carll in Chap-
ters 30 to 34, adding largely to our knowledge of a subject
which is commanding the close attention of the best geol-
ogists of Europe and America, and which demands much
more attention than the Survey has been able to give to it
yet in the northeastern counties of the State.
Besides the two maps which will be found in the Atlas
accompanying this report, and which are intended to show
how our rivers flowed before the invasion of the Ice, a map
was partially prepared to show the barrier divide through
from central New York to Illinois ; but difficulties of con-
struction arose which would have delayed too long the
publication of the report. This map is spoken of in the
text as Map II bis.
It only remains for me to express the hope that the Legis-
lature will provide -for and the Board order as close and de-
tailed a survey and report of the Bradford oil-field as of
the older and just at present less important fields. The
time will come however when a larger, less exciting, but
more healthy and profitable exploitation of the now almost
abandoned belts will recur ; and then the facts and princi-
ples embodied in this report will receive a proper estimation.
Very respectfully,
J. P. LESLEY.
60, 61) the skull found (1874) in the inland diluvium at St. Menehoulde in
France, (Bull. Geol. Soc. France II 1874), and the tusk found in the Ashley
river phosphate beds (described by Leidy, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. VIII.
1877,) all show that the Walrus was a resident of our Atlantic coast in the Ice
age ; as a different and now extinct species of it had been in Tertiary times.
Bill.
Xviii III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Pages .
Chapter 1. The topography and drainage of the
outcrop of the Garland Conglomerate and
Lake Erie, 1 to 10
Chapter 2. The Garland Conglomerate ; survey
of its outcrop ; place in the series ; part of
the Pottsville Conglomerate formation No.
XII; underlying Sub- Garland sandstone, . 11 to 19
Chapter 3. The Garland Conglomerate and under-
lying measures in Warren county ; Pike's
rocks ; Freehold township ; Garland Station ;
Spring creek ; West Spring creek ; McClay' s
hill, 23 to 33
Chapter 4. The same in Crawford county ; at
Bate's hill; Southwick's summit ; Hickory
Corners ; Meadville ; Ellis or Thorpe quarry ;
Citizen's oil well ; Meadville Drift notes, . 33 to 42
Chapter 5. The Sharon Coal, the Garland Con-
glomerate and under-rocks from Meadville
into Ohio ; Miller's quarry ; Mushroom farm ;
Jackson's quarry ; linger' s
run ; Adamsville quarry ;
Snodgrass ore bank ; Christy's quarry ; Snod-
grass quarries ; J. H. Christy's quarry ; and
quarries in Ohio, 34 to 56
Chapter 6. The Panama Conglomerate in New
York State, at Panama Rock city, Block-
ville, Ashville, Ellory Centre, William's,
Lewis, and Chautauqua quarries ; and in
Pennsylvania at Bleaksley, Middleton, and
Moravian or Carroll quarries ; average fall
per mile southward ; influence on the topo-
graphy ; quarries in Erie and Crawford coun-
ties ; fossils ; associated shales ; dip and
physical changes, as shown by the Eureka
well, Lottsville well ; inferences ; overlying
measures ; Salamanca Conglomerate ; Den-
nis oil well in McKean county, 57 to 79
TABLE OF CONTENTS. III. xix
Pages.
Chapter 7. The Mountain Sand series and its con-
trast with the underlying Oil Sand Group ;
Pleasantville section ; First, Second, and
Third mountain sands ; Pithole Grit, the
Third mountain sand, and the Berea Grit of
Ohio ; selected sets of oil well records ; Bul-
lion ; John Smith well ; Mountain sands un-
reliable guides ; reliability of good records ;
the red rocks ; Amber oil and Heavy oil hori-
zons, 79 to 90
Chapter 8. The Pithole Grit, its identity with the
Berea Grit of Ohio discussed, 91 to 97
Chapter 9. The two Oil Belts, Upper and Lower,
or Northern and Southern ; the Six Petrolia
wells, 97 to 104
Chapter 10. Series of wells from St. Joe to Taren-
tum ; from Petrolia to Cherry run, .... 105 to 111
Chapter 11. Series of wells from Oil City to
Clarion, Ill to 114
Chapter 12. Series of wells from Pittsburgh,
north to Clarion county, 115 to 119
Chapter 13. Contrast between the producing and
non-producing areas of the Oil Sand Group.
Resum : the Panama Conglomerate, Sala-
manca Conglomerate, Oil Sand Group, Red
belt, Pithole Grit, Garland, Sharon or Olean
Conglomerate, Sharon Coal Group, Berea
Grit of Ohio, 119 to 126
Chapter 14. The Yenango Oil Group described,
with grouped sections of oil well records,
showing the sands, the intervals, and the over-
lying and underlying soft-drilling measures, 127 to 138
Chapter 15. The general dip south westward of
the Venango Oil Sand Group, based on com-
parative tables of levels, 139 to 144
Chapter 16. The Butler-Clarion oil belt maps and
profile ; oil production of the belt ; Cross or
Fourth Sand Belt, . 145 to 148
XX III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOffiT F. CARLL.
Pages.
Chapter 17. The profile section from Lake Erie
to West Virginia ; vertical section of all the
known oil-producing formations, with a sum-
mary sketch of their characters in thirteen
groups, 149 to 164
Chapter 18. Causes for withholding oil-well rec-
ords from geological inspection ; their abund-
ance ; small percentage of good recording ;
drilling by contract ; record-circular issued
by the Survey ; value of returns ; utility of
well records not appreciated ; secrecy ob-
served about trial wells ; interest of the driller
in doctoring the record ; of the landowner ;
traditional sentiment that dry wells are not
deep enough ; publicity opposed to business
policy ; the geologist's difficulties ; obliga-
tions of the Survey for good records ; plan
adopted to secure a number of them, . . . 165 to 174
Chapter 19. Bad well records the true cause of
the confusion in the popular names and posi-
tions of the oil-rocks ; how to secure reliable
records ; the driller' s record defective ; rock
distinctions disregarded ; careless numbering
of the sands ; local arrangements of the
sands ; true arrangement ; variability ; Oil
creek arrangement ; sections at Tidioute and
Pleasantville ; measurements made by the
Survey ; the various methods of measure-
ment described ; the various difficulties en-
countered in measuring one well ; difficulties
in measuring a group of wells at once ; kind-
ness of drillers and owners, 175 to 188
Chapter 20. Six wells at Petrolia accurately
measured by the Survey, and the results ;
rate of drilling shown in diagram ; time rack
described, 189 to 212
Chapter 21. Three wells at Edenburg accurately
measured by the Survey, and the results, . 213 to 223
TABLE OF CONTENTS. III. Xxi
Pages.
Chapter 22. One well in McKean county accu-
rately measured by the Survey, and the re-
sults, ". 224 to 231
Chapter 23. The structure of the Venango Oil
Sands reasoned out theoretically ; sediments ;
vehicles of transportation ; fluviatile and
oceanic currents ; a new epoch commenced
with the Yenango Oil Sand group ; elevation
of sea bottom ; shifting of old shore lines ;
alternations of sea level ; structural varia-
tions, 232 to 242
Chapter 24. Crevices in the sandrock not essen-
tial to paying wells ; ere vice- searchers ; no
communication between an upper and a lower
sand ; crevices more numerous in the upper
sands ; porous sand the reservoir of oil and
channel of oil-flow ; calculation of the rate
of flow ; no oil lakes ; shale or slush oil above
the Warren and Bradford oil sands, .... 243 to 255
Chapter 25. Flooded territory ; invasion of water ;
pools ; circulation of oil through the rock ;
first wells have the longest life ; examples ;
exhaustion of different districts ; new eras
in oil-production ; pumping ; casing ; tempo-
rary flooding; magnified picture of an oil
sand in section, 256 to 269
Chapter 26. The origin of petroleum, a chapter
of queries ; various grades of petroleum ;
organic matter ; facts of sedimentation ; gen-
esis from gas ; relation of oil to tide-level ;
the deepest holes all dry, 270 to 284
Chapter 27. Oil well machinery ; derrick ; run-
ning gear, rig-iron, boiler, engine, &c., . . 285 to 297
Chapter 28. Drilling-tools ; stringing them in the
derrick ; spudding and drilling, 298 to 310
XXii III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Pages.
Chapter 29. Different methods in use at different
stages of oil history from 1861 to 1878 ; the
well of 1861 ; the well of 1868 ; the well of
1878 ; geological sections of the oil-ground ;
explanations of figures ; cost of a Bradford
well in 1878 ; torpedoes and their history, . 311 to 329
Chapter 30. The Glacial Drift ; drainage of the
Chautauqua basin ; tables showing the slope
of the old river floor, 320 to 338
Chapter 31. The northern pre-glacial outlets ;
map of the Steamburg triangle ; depth of the
Drift ; Canadaga lake ; three classes of val-
leys ; the drainage of Tionesta creek valley ;
drainage maps ; Allegheny river drainage, . 339 to 355
Chapter 32. The Conneaut northern pre-glacial
outlet; French creek; Oil creek; depth of
Drift, 356 to -
Chapter 33. Excavation of Lake Erie ; grand
movement of northern ice westward through
low divides in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois;
glaciers, 367 to 376
Chapter 34. The Canadian mer-de-glace and the
Appalachean mer-de-glace ; their encounter
and movement westward ; northern Drift and
local or southern Drift to be distinguished ;
local erosion illustrated by examples ; local
deposits ; eddy- hills ; terraces, 377 to 397
Chapter 35. Well records not before published, 397 to 420
Chapter 36. Gravel pit oil at Titusville; Grey's
well and others in Ohio, 421 to 432
Chapter 37. Building stone quarry notes in Ohio ;
sections at Oil City, Franklin, and Cran-
berry, in Pennsylvania, 433 to 439
Index A, to the names of persons and places re-
ferred to pages, 441 to 461
Index B, to subjects mentioned or discussed, re-
ferred to sections (), 461 to 482
ILLUSTKATIONS. III. xxill
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
(In the Text.)
Page.
Vertical section above Garland station, 74, 31
" " at Johnson's Mill, 85, 31
Sections at coal banks, in Crawford county, 130, . . 47
Sketch-map of location of wells, the sections of which
are given in Plates IV to VII, XII, 80
Sketch-map of the Red belt area in Penn'a and Ohio, . 92
Geographical diagrams of the six Petrolia wells, . . 99,101
Vertical diagrams of the same, 103
Grouped vertical sections 40 to 67, . . . . 129, 131, 133, 135
" " " 68 to 73, 178, 179
Sketch-map of the positions of the six Petrolia wells, . 191
Lithograph of Specimen rack, . . bound in between 212, 213
Magnified section of an oil-sand, 267
Picture of an oil-well steam boiler, 289
" of an oil-well pumping engine, 293
Sketch-map of the Steamburg triangle, 341
Sections of the Northern Drift at Lakes Cassadaga and
Conneaut, 364
Vertical sections at Oil City and Cranberry, 439
(In the Atlas.)
Sheet.
Map of north-western Pennsylvania, showing the out-
lines of the present or post-glacial water basins, . . 1
Map of the same, showing the pre-glacial water basins, 2
Profile section from Meadville south-westward, . . . . 3 A
Contoured map of Spring creek-Brokenstraw junction, 3 B
Group of oil-well sections, Figs. 1 to 12, 4
" " " Figs. 13 to 21, 5
" " " Figs. 22 to 30, 6
" " " Figs. 31 to 39, 7
Diagram map and section : dip of Venango Third Sand, 8
III. EEPOET OF PEOGEESS. JOHN F. CAELL.
Sheet.
Map of Butler, Armstrong, and Clarion Oil-Field (two
sheets), 9
Geological section from Black Rock, in New York State,
to Dunkard creek, Greene county, Pa., 10
Vertical section from the Upper Barren Coal measures
down to the Corniferous limestone, 11
Group of oil-well sections, Figs. 74 to 83, 12
Mechanical drawing of Derrick and Rig, 13
Sectional drawings of the oil wells of 1861, 1868, 1878, . 14
Mechanical drawings of cross sections of the same, 14 Ms
Three oil-well sections to illustrate the progressive deep-
ening of the borings, from 1861 to 1878, 15
Detailed drawings of tools used in drilling, 16
Diagram of daily rate of drilling six Petrolia wells, . 17
Contoured Map of the vicinity of Franklin, 18
Contoured Map of the vicinity of Titusville, 19
Geological colored map of Venango county, 20
REPORT
III.
ON" THE PROGRESS OF THE SURVEY
IN THK
OIL REG-IONS
OP
WARREN, VENANGO, BUTLER AND CLARION COUNTIES
FROM 1875 TO 1879.
CHAPTER I.*
The topography and drainage of the country lying between
the northern outcrop belt of the Garland conglomerate
and the Lake Erie divide, in Warren and Crawford
counties.
1. A line drawn from Sngar Grove in Warren county to
Jamestown in Mercer county represents approximately the
northwestern margin of the outcropping Garland conglom-
erate as instrumentally traced from New York to Ohio in
the second year of the survey, 1875.
2. The bearing of this line is about S. 58 W., N. 58 E.
being parallel with the average trend of the shore of Lake
Erie and distant from it say 30 miles. (See map Plate I.)
3. The outcrop of the Garland conglomerate, thus in-
dicated, is, however, by no means an unbroken escarpment ;
* Report of the work done in 1875.
2 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
but a range of hilltops or outliers, separated by numerous
shallow vales, through which streams flow towards the south;
all of them being tributaries of the Ohio river ; and some
of them having their head-springs within 8 or 10 miles of
Lake Erie, on the crest of the "great divide" or water-shed,
the gently sloping southern side of which is drained into
the gulf of Mexico, while its steep northern slope is drained
into the gulf of St. Lawrence.
4. The original gaps in the ranges of conglomerate
capped hills were gradually, in course of time, deepened
and widened into valleys between elevated upland ridges ;
and these ridges in their turn were worn down and cut/
through sideways, more or less, by the general rain- fall and
smaller lateral streams, until now only an occasional de-
tached outlier of the Garland conglomerate (or sandstone)
remains on the crowns of the highest hills along the line
above referred to.
5. Pike's ridge, an outlier of this kind, the most
northwesterly in the State of Pennsylvania, may be found
about 2 miles from Wrightsville and 4 miles from Sugar
Grove in Warren county, on the divide between Little
Brokenstraw and StilhvUter creeks.
6. To the north and west, the Garland conglomerate,
with all the rocks above it in the series, has been removed
by the general erosion of the country, which, deprived of
its protection, has been carved into broad valleys and grace-
fully rounded hills and ridges of the softer and more homo-
geneous measures below it. The contrast is very striking
to the sharp and rugged topography of all the country to
the southeast, where most of the higher eminences are still
protected from erosion by a considerable capping of the
massive, current-bedded, micaceous sandrock deposits, un-
derlying the Coal measures.
7. At the Olean Rock City, in Cattaraugus county, N.
Y. is found the next prominent exposure of the Garland
conglomerate to the north and east of the one last men-
tioned. It bears N. 80 E. from Pike's ridge, distant 47
miles, and near the Pennsylvania State line, about 6 miles
southwest of Olean.
TOPOGRAPHY AXD DRAINAGE. III. 3
8. If now we start at the Olean Rock City and glance
southwesterly along the line indicated on the map (Plate I)
first to Sugar Grove, and thence to Jamestown, we notice
that the principal streams cutting the line come in the fol-
lowing order : I. Tunangwant creek, flowing north into the
Allegheny ; 2. the Allegheny river, flowing south ; 3. Cone-
wango creek, delivering the waters of Chautauqua and Cas-
sadaga lakes southward into the Allegheny ; 4. Little Brok-
enstraw creek ; 5. Blue Eye run ; 6. Big Brokenstraw creek ;
7. Oil creek, with two branches ; 8. French creek ; 9. the
Conneaut outlet ; 10. Crooked creek, and 11, the Shenango
river, all of them flowing south.
9. More or less of the Garland conglomerate (or sand-
stone) remains in place along the line, on all of the ridges
which intervene between these streams ; and in some in-
stances (as in the vicinity of Meadville) spurs of hills
capped with it extend still further north. The actual out-
crop therefore, if followed along its windings, would make a
very irregular line upon the map ; while several isolated
patches exist to the north of the general strike-line com-
pletely cut off from the main body by lateral streams run-
ning nearly at right angles to the leading arteries of drain-
age.
Spring cresJc in Warren county, and Hyde (or Little Oil)
creek, in Crawford county, are lateral streams of this char-
acter. The crown of the southerly water-shed of these two
streams trends in nearly a due southwest course from Big
Brokenstraw to Oil creek, and is virtually an unbroken
ridge capped with the Garland conglomerate ; while over
all the country to the northwest the rock lies only in de-
tached masses on isolated knobs of the spur-ridges.
] 0. Valley features. To repeat what was said above,
the configuration of the country and the character of the
streams north of the main outcrop line of the Garland con-
glomerate are in striking contrast with those south of it.
To the north, the erosion of ages, after accomplishing the
complete destruction of the sandstone, has attacked the
underlying shales, producing innumerable hills rounded
to a graceful contour ; the valleys are broad, with bottom
4 III. JJKPOKT OF PROttKESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
lands through which the sluggish streams sweep in curves
and loops and flow almost entirely between banks composed
of lacustrine or fluviatile re-worked Drift. Scarcely an ex-
posure of bed-rock can be seen in all their meanders.
To the south, on the contrary, the hilltops protected by
massive sandrock are angular and rugged ; the valleys are
narrow ; the streams are hemmed in between high and pre-
cipitous bluffs ; and flow with considerable speed and di-
rectness through rocky channels, holding comparatively
small accumulations of re-worked Drift.
11. Water basins. On a further examination of the
hydrography of the region, the water-courses draining
these trenched summit plateaux or basins arrange them-
selves naturally into four groups, the members of each
group converging toward a common outlet, deeply eroded
through the sandstones and shales at the south ; but the
waters of all four groups eventually commingle in the Ohio
river at the mouth of the Big Beaver, below Pittsburgh.
These groups of streams, 'or water-trees, are designated
upon the map (Plate I) by the following names :
Chautauqua.
Oil Creek.
Conneaut.
Pymatuning.
12. The Chautauqua water basin. All the drainage
of the Chautauqua group, gathered from the numerous
headwater branches of the Allegheny, from the Conewango
and its lake feeders, and from the Big Brokenstraw and its
affluents, flows down the Allegheny river in one body after
passing Irvineton, which is situated near the centre of War-
ren county.
Near Thompson's station, six miles below Irvineton,
there appears to be a slight anticlinal crossing the river ;
but just where exactly located and of how much importance
it would be difficult to determine without an extensive in-
strumental survey. Here the southerly rim of the Chau-
tauqua water basin is cut by the Allegheny river valley.
Following the rim or dividing ridge aronnd, it may be
seen on the map to, commence a little west of the head of
TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE. III. 5
Chautauqua lake ; thence, southward, passing near Corry
in Erie county, to Thompson's station in Warren county ;
to Kane in McKean county ; to Keating Summit in Potter
county ; and sweeping around by the east of Coudersport,
and the head of the Allegheny river, to the noted "Conti-
tinental summit" near Raymond's Corners in Potter
county.*
The outlet of this group of streams, at Tidioute, drains a
larger area than that of all the other three groups com-
bined.
13. The Oil Creek water basin is comparatively small^in-
cluding only Oil Creek and its branches. Its waters enter the
deep cut through the lower carboniferous sandstones a short
distance below Titusville, and after following a tortuous
course for seventeen miles, along a narrow bed hemmed in
by high walls on either side, commingle with those of the
Allegheny river at Oil City.
14. The Conneaut water basin includes French creek
and its branches, some of them streams of considerable im-
portance. It collects its water from the Lake Erie divide,
the westerly rim of the Chautauqua basin, and the northerly
and westerly sides of the Oil creek basin, and delivers it
through French creek into the Allegheny river at Franklin.
15. The Pymatuning water basin. The area above
Greenville drained by this group is inconsiderable in ex-
tent, but the physical features of the basin are worthy of
note. It includes the Pymatuning swamp with its sev-
eral small feeders and two outlets the Shenango and
Crooked creek. These outlets come together at Greenville
in Mercer count}", and, re-inforced lower down by the Py-
matuning from the west, the Neshannock from the east and
the Mahoning from the west, from the Big Beaver river
which enters the Ohio about 30 miles below Pittsburgh.
Pymatuning swamp lies only about 35 feet below Con-
neaut lake, and is separated form it by a low and narrow
* Where the rainfall on a fifty acre tract is carried off in one direction
through the Geiiesee river into Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence, in another
through the Allegheny, &c., into the Gulf of Mexico, and in still another
through Pine creek and the Susquehanna river into Chesapeake bay.
6 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOITX F. CARLL.
divide.* At the point where the ol'd Beaver canal (taking
its water-supply from the summit reservoir (Conneaut lake)
passed through this divide ; but a short cut about 25 feet in
depth, and entirely in drift, was required. The amount of
Drift piled in here, and the configuration of the hills on
either side, make it seem not at all improbable that the Py-
matuning waters once flowed into the Conneaut basin.
Comparative levels of the Water Basins.
16. To aid in obtaining a comprehensive idea of the rel-
ative levels of these groups of drainage channels, let us
now imagine the Allegheny river at Thompson's station,
where the conglomerate-capped hills rise abruptly between
six and seven hundred feet above the stream, to be checked
by an obstruction raised in the valley 200 feet above the
present surface of the water. This dam, although slight as
compared with the hilltops, would throw back the water of
the Allegheny river to the north, and flood the wide valleys
of all its principal tributary streams. It would raise the
surface of Chautauqua lake about 31 feet above its present
level, and Cassadaga lake 25 feet. It would cause slack-
water to extend up the Allegheny and its branches beyond
the New York State line ; flood the Conewango valley and
a large part of the country between Warren and Chautau-
qua and Cassadaga lakes, and fill the trough of the Broken-
straw to a point above Garland.
Let us in like manner suppose Oil creek dammed to the
* To the southwest of Conneaut lake and swamp, just under the comb of
the ridge, between 30 and 40 feet lower in level, is to be found the great Pyma-
tuning swamp. This marsh is very extensive, as its western boundaries lie
some distance within the State of Ohio. The river Shenango finds its source
in this swamp, a river which runs in a southerly direction until it meets the
Neshannock, in Lawrence county, at New Castle, and thus forms the Beaver
river, which falls into the Ohio about thirty miles below Pittsburg. The area
of the swamp, as near as could be ascertained by this cursory survey-, is nine
thousand acres. I believe that all the water which flows from it contributes
to the Shenango. A small bay on its eastern extremity, is cut off by the Erie
extension canal, and forms a subsidiary reservoir for that work at Hartstown ;
out of this end of the swamp flows Crooked creek, %vhich joins the Shenango
about four miles above West Greenville Surveys of the Pymatuning and
Conneaut swamps, by Col. Jos. Worrall, C. E., Under the joint resolution
of February 28, 1868.
TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE. III. 7
height of 200 feet where it enters the highlands just below
Titusville. The side walls here rise about 400 feet above the
stream. This would flood all the low country along Oil
creek nearly up to Oil lake and form a sheet of water two
or three miles in width in some places. The valley of East
Oil creek would also be filled as far up as Colorado, and
Caldwell creek as far as to Pleasant valley.
An obstruction of 100 feet on French creek between Frank-
lin and the mouth of Sugar creek, would cover the Con-
neaut marsh, and the broad valley of French creek to Mead-
ville, thus enlarging the boundaries of Conneaut lake and
forming a sheet of water of no mean dimensions.
An obstruction 100 feet high in the Shenango river at
West Greenville would form a lake with a large island in the
center, extending up both branches of the Shenango, and
embracing within its outlines the great Pymatuning swamp.
The surface of the Chautauqua basin were it filled with
water as we have imagined it to be would lie at an elevation
above the ocean of about 1330 feet ; the Oil creek basin,
1360 feet ; the Conneaut basin, 1080 feet ; the Pymatun-
ing basin, 1070 feet.
17. Into these four basins all the drainage between the
Lake Erie divide and the almost continuous range of out-
cropping Garland conglomerate now centers ; and if they
were flooded, as supposed, the inflowing streams from the
north and the dividing ridges, would simply be feeders to
these long, narrow, irregularly outlined lakes ; and the sur-
plus accumulations of water from all this country, would
pass out, as they pass now, only through the four gaps in
the conglomerate first indicated.
18. Going still further in this line of illustration, let us
now compare these four imaginary sheets of water and note
the probable effects of a change in their respective levels.
By increasing the obstruction in the Allegheny river at
Thompson's station 10 feet, the Chautauqua basin would
overflow to the north through Cassadaga lake into Cana-
daway creek and thence to Lake Erie.
By raising the Oil creek obstruction 10 feet, the Oil creek
basin would overflow to the northwest, through the west
8 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
branch of Oil creek into Muddy creek and thence into
French creek.
By raising the French creek obstruction 10 feet, the Con-
neaut basin would oner/low to the west into the Pymatun-
ing basin, thus converging all the waters from the Oil creek,
Conneaut and Pymatuning basins into the Shenango river.
But if we should now raise the SJienango dam 30 feet,
bringing it up to 1100 feet above tide, and build up the
French creek obstruction to the same level, we should prob-
ably check the southern flow of water from all this area,
and a new channel would be opened for it at the north, from
Conneaut lake into Conneaut creek and thence into Lake
Erie.
19. We must bear in mind that the southern boundary
of these basins is a highland capped with several hundred
feet of the coarse sandy measures outcropingfrom beneath
the coal fields of the south. At Thompson's gap the aver-
age top of the ridge may be put at about 1800 feet above
tide ; at Oil creek about 1600 feet ; at French creek about
1400 feet ; and at the SJienango about 1200 feet.
20. Thompson's gap. We have seen that an obstruc-
tion in the Thompson's station cut, if raised to an elevation
of 1340 feet above tide, would stop the passage of water at
this point and open a new outlet for the drainage of the
Chautauqua basin through Cassadaga lake into Lake Erie.
By what agency, then, and when, was this gap (at Thomp-
sons) opened ; since whatever it was that opened it must
have commenced its work in the upper rocks at an elevation
of 1800 feet at least 460 feet above the place where the
water now would have a free outlet to the north ?
21. Oil creek gap. So too on Oil creek, when the water
is stopped, and thrown back until it finds an outlet to the
north, by an obstruction 1370 feet above tide, 230 feet of the
upper part of the chasm remains as a witness of the work
of other agencies than the waters of the present basin.
22. French creek gap. The French creek gap also pre-
sents similar features. If its channel were filled to a suf-
ficient height (1090 feet above tide) to cause the Conneaut
basin to deliver to the west, there would still be an erosion
TOPOGRAPHY AXD DRAINAGE. III. 9
of 310 feet of the upper part of the old gap in the hills to
be accounted for.
23. Date of the formation of the gaps. It appears
therefore quite certain from the above presentation of the
case that these southern outlets through this escarpment of
massive conglomerates and sandstones, were opened long
anterior to the time when the drainage of this area began
to be influenced by its present topography, and before the
waters were confined within the rims of the respective
basins as we now find them. Otherwise the overflowing
waters could not have cut through several hundred feet of
sandstones and shales on the south, lying at a higher level
than their surface ; but would have found a more ready
outlet and a more rapid delivery through the softer meas-
ures of the north and west the Chautauqua, through Cas-
sadaga lake into Lake Erie the Oil creek through Muddy
creek into the Conneaut the Conneaut into the Pymatun-
ing and the three latter (combined) into the low levels of
the Shenango river country.
24. The agency glacial. The peculiar arrangement of
these basins between the Lake Erie divide on the north and
outcropping conglomerates on the south ; the positions of
their several outlets, which singularly enough are cut down
through the highest and hardest portions of their inclosing
barriers the highest reservoir having cut the deepest out-
let ; and the immense amount of northern drift, accompa-
nied by erratic bowlders, spread over nearly all this sec-
tion seem to point clearly to the inference that these
features are not due to the action of aqueous and atmos-
pheric erosion alone, but that the general outlines of the
present topography were "carved out in the rough" prior
to and during the glacial epoch, and afterwards modified
and smoothed down by the gradually receding waters as the
ice disappeared.
25. No continental rock "barrier. We can hardly im-
agine that the levels of the country between the Cincinnati
anticlinal and the Chautauqua highlands were ever so ad-
justed as to hold a fixed body of water to the north at the
high elevation of the Chautauqua basin ; and if they were
10 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
so adjusted, then, when the first outlet opened to the south,
down the dip of the strata, wherever that outlet might be,
the erosion would be so rapid that only one waste weir would
be required. This outlet, deepening, widening and lowering
the surface of the water to the north, would be likely to leave
in the basin behind (as the waters subsided by drainage) a
system of streams all converging towards the common outlet.
But instead of one basin of this description we have shown
that there are four ; each one having an independent outlet,
cut down deeply through ponderous rocks lying high
above the average level of the country drained by it.
26. JVo general submergence. Neither are we prepared
to accept the hypothesis of submergence below sea level
to account for the superficial deposits and the facial pecu-
liarities of this section. For in that case, when the land
again emerged, and drainage commenced in any direction,
we should have the same features as those above referred to
repeated. Or, if an isolated basin remained unemptied, it
would overflow and open an outlet for itself at the lowest
point in its barrier, and not through sandstone cliffs rising
hundreds of feet above its surface.
The orographic features of the district stand out boldly
as witnesses of a fact which will hardly be questioned by
any one after an examination of the country. They offer
the best of evidence in themselves that they are not the
results of the action of water alone, but of ice and water
combined. In just what way the erosion was accomplished ;
what its status was at the beginning of the glacial epoch ;
and what the measure of its progress has been during and
since that time, we can as yet only surmise.
CHAPTER II.*
The GARLAND (Olean\ or Sharon^) CONGLOMERATE and
SUB-GARLAND (Sub-Olean-\- or Shenangoty SANDSTONE
placed and traced.
a. Leveled Line of Survey.
27. In selecting a route over which to run a spirit level
line across northwestern Pennsylvania in 1875, for the pur-
pose of connectedly tracing the several outcrops of Garland
conglomerate, that they might thus be identified with co-
temporaneous rocks in the State of New York on the one
side and in the State of Ohio on the other, a due consider-
ation of the amount of time that could be appropriated to
the undertaking without prejudice to interests of equal im-
portance in other parts of the oil district made the adop-
tion of a route imperative which offered fewest obstacles
to the speedy execution of the work.
In addition to the levels, courses and distances also
were to be taken, in order that the line might be used as a
base for future operations if occasion required. It was
therefore desirable to follow some highway; and, under
these circumstances, the choice naturally fell to the " State
road" commencing at Busti, in Chautauqua county, N. Y.
and running through Sugar Grove and West Spring creek
in Warren county, Pa. ; Ricemlle, Meadvillc, Adamsville,
and Jamestown in Crawford county to Kinney 's Corners
in Trumbull county, Ohio.
28. Although the selected line of survey does not keep
constantly upon the outcrop of the Garland conglomerate it
is an excellent one along which to study the geology of the
* Report of work done in 1875.
f Names assigned by Mr. Ashburner in his Reports (R, RR) on McKean,
Cameron, Elk, and Forest counties.
{ Names assigned by Mr. White in his Reports (QQ, QQQ, QQQQ) on Law-
rence, Mercer, Crawford, and Erie counties.
( 11 III. )
12 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
country, and it is as direct a line as any highway at our
command between the points named.
29. Messrs. F. A. Hatch and Arthur Hale, with C. A.
Bodge as rodman, performed the work. The distances
were measured with a ten foot odometer- wheel. Bearings
were taken by transit- telescope and needle. Elevations
were observed on the vertical circle of the transit instru-
ment, and reduced to ocean level by reference to the data
given in the profiles of the several railroads crossed.*
30. The region traversed by this line of survey, rapidly
executed for a special geological purpose, affords ample
scope for the investigations of afield-party during an entire
season, even if all the time were devoted to a study of its
Drift phenomena alone. Its glacial grooves its bowlders
scattered at all elevations along the hillsides its old water
channels, some of them now filled to a height of 400 feet
or even more its drift-clays and lake beaches each and
all of these deserve close and careful study, and proffer the
material data for a very interesting chapter in the geology
of the State.
31. But for the present, attention must be chiefly given
to the more important task of tracing the Garland con-
glomerate (the Second Mountain sand of the oil wells)
along its northerly outcrop across Pennsylvania ; identify-
ing it with certain conglomerate strata outcropping in New
York and Ohio ; and endeavoring to fix its horizon defi-
nitely in relation to the overlying coal measures and the
underlying oil-bearing rocks.
The following chapters will deal chiefly with these topics,
other matters being incidentally noticed as they were ob-
served.
b. Place of the Garland Conglomerate in the Series.
32. The term Garland conglomerate is used' in these
pages as a convenient local geographical name for the low-
* As the survey along this line has not been amplified or extended in any
direction, as it was originally intended to be, only a portion of their notes
have been used in the preparation of the contour map and profiles (Plates 3
and 3B) herewith presented.
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE.- III. 13
est member of the Carboniferous Conglomerate series in
this part of the State.
It is apparently identical with the Olean conglomerate
in. McKean county ; with the Sharon conglomerate in Mer-
cer county ; with the Ohio conglomerate in Ohio ; and with
the Second Mountain Sand of the oil wells.
33. There has prevailed hitherto great confusion of ideas
respecting the massive conglomeratic sand deposits under-
lying the Productive coal measures.
The Conglomerate (XII) at Pottsville in Schuylkill county
(where it is more than 1000 feet thick) has been traced
around the Anthracite coal basins and along the Allegheny
mountain to the Maryland State line, without much diffi-
culty ; and it has been recognized as a whole, throughout
western Pennsylvania, wherever it appears upon the anti-
clinals, in gorges, and along the sides of valleys. But it is
as thin in the west as it is thick in the east ; and the Mauch
Chunk red shales (XI) which underlie it, and measure more
than 3000 feet in thickness east of the Susquehanna river,
and more than 1000 feet on the upper Juniata river, dwin-
dle to 100 feet in Clinton county, and almost disappear on
the Allegheny river and Beaver river waters. This brings
almost into contact with the base of the Pottsville conglom-
erate (XII)' the top of the Pocono sandstone formation (X)
in western Pennsylvania; and caused the heavy conglomer-
atic sandstone strata in the upper part of X to be con-
founded with the conglomeratic sandstones of XII.
The Garland conglomerate in Warren county, the Olean
conglomerate in McKean county, the Panama conglomer-
ate in Chatauqua county, N. Y. and the Salamanca con-
glomerate in Cattaraugus county, N. Y. have been looked
upon not only as local exhibitions of one and the same de-
posit, but as the common representatives (in a thin form)
of the whole Pottsville Conglomerate formation (XII) of
eastern and middle Pennsylvania.
34. But it will be seen in the progress of this report
that both of these suppositions have been mistakes, due to
superficial observations at far distant and necessarily un-
connected points. More elaborate, connected, instrumental
14 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CAHLL.
surveys have placed clearly in light the true state of things,
namely :
1. That the Panama and Salamanca conglomerates in the
State of J^ew York are different (and lower) formations
from the Olean and Garland conglomerates in Pennsylvania.
2. That the Olean and Garland are two outcrops of one
and the same conglomeritic sandstone deposit.
3. That this again is a different (and lower) formation
from the Ilomewood conglomeritic sandstone of the Alle-
gheny river and Beaver river valleys, denned as No. XII
by the First Geological Survey of Pennsylvania in 183o-
1841, but which is only the upper part of No. XII.
35. Between the Homewood sandstone of Butler county,
(underlying the lowest bed of the Productive coal series,
and therefore the representative of at least the upper part of
the great conglomerate) and the Garland conglomerate ex-
ists a vertical interval of more than 200 feet.
In this interval lie the Mercer group of coal beds and the
Sharon block coal bed the variable coal beds of Crawford
county to be mentioned further on, the thin coal beds
north of the Allegheny river in Venango and Warren coun-
ties and the most northerly coal beds of McKean county.
These intermediate groups of coal beds attain their best
development in Mercer county ; but they appear to be simi-
lar in physical character wherever they are found. They
lie in "swamps," irregular in outline and uncertain in ex-
tent, and are often liable to "pinch out and terminate when
least expected." They may be locally traced with consid-
erable uniformity as to levels and position, but can seldom
be relied upon as persistent over wide areas.
The interval in which these coal beds occur is occupied
largely with sandy measures, and local layers of pebbles ;
changing frequently from conglomerate to sandstone and
from sandstone to slate and shale ; sometimes thin bedded,
sometimes very massive ; one bed fading out and another
of a different character coming in.
36. The Pottsville conglomerate, (XII, the Serai con-
glomerate of Prof. Rogers,) the recognized base of the coal
measures in eastern Pennsylvania, is 1000 feet thick at
GAUL AND CONGLOMERATE. III. 15
Pottsville, as said above, and cannot be looked upon as a
solid homogeneous formation, but as a series, or group, of
pebble-rock and sand-rock layers, separated by beds of
coarse shale and slate, black slate, and coal. At the west
end of the Pottsville basin it holds a number of small coal
beds, and onethe Lykens valley bed of great size and
value.
It may very well be represented then in western Pennsyl-
vania by the interval above described, extended to include
the Homewood sandstone at the top, and the Garland con-
glomerate at the bottom, an interval of full 300 feet in
thickness, and with a character which closely resembles the
description just given.
37. It may be pertinently asked, therefore, why the
Homewood sandstone at the top of this interval, should be
regarded as the sole representative in the west of tlie whole
of the Pottsville conglomerate formation No. XII in the
east, seeing that the whole series of strata between the top
of the Homewood and the base of the Garland has a gen-
eral constitution imitating so closely the general constitu-
tion of No. XII in the physical character of its members
or alternations?
In other words, why should not the Garland conglom-
erate be viewed as the bottom member of No. XII, and the
Sharon and Mercer groups as intra-conglomerate coals ?
c. The Pottsmlle conglomerate described in 1S5S.
For the convenience of ihe readers of this chapter, por-
tions of the excellent description of the formation (No.
XII) in eastern and middle Pennsylvania, by Prof. II. I).
Rogers, in his Final Report of 18oS,* is here appended.
38. "At Mauch Chunk its thickness is about 90 feet.
"It is here composed of hard gray siliceous conglomer-
ate in ponderous beds, coarse gray sandstones, sandy clay
shales, and a few thin layers of fissile black coal, slate, and
fireclay.
39. "'At Tamaqua its thickness is about 803 feet.
"Here it is an alternation of very coarse siliceous con-
Vol. I, page 146.
16 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
glomerate in massive beds, the pebbles of the size of an
egg or orange down to that of a nut or pea ; also of inter-
posed coarse and fine gray sandstones, and here and there
a sandy shale. There are also two or three imperfectly
developed beds of coal in it.
40. "At Pottsmlle its thickness is about 1030 feet.
"Here the rock contains a less amount of coarse con-
glomerate, a larger proportion of rough argillaceous sand-
stone, two or three bands of coarse shale, two or three beds
of coal slate, and a very thin imperfectly formed layer of
very slaty coal."
"It is divisible at Pottsville into three members.
41. "The upper division of the formation, both in the
Sharp mountain and around the Anthracite basins, gener-
ally has a more uniform composition than the beds beneath.
Many of the more massive strata are composed solely of
large pebbles of white quartz of nearly similar size and
shape, packed together with great regularity. These are
somewhat ovoid, smooth, or actually polished, and inclose
contact, their larger dimensions parallel with the plane of
the bedding."
This would correspond with the Homewood sandstone of
the Beaver river country, in western Pennsylvania.
42. The middle division of the formation consists
chiefly of thick irregular obliquely-deposited beds of a hard
blue rock made up of quartz, sand, clay, and small pebbles
of slate. In the Sharp mountain this part of the formation
embraces beds of slate, almost identical with the slates which
inclose the coal-seams.
"At least one bed of coal, sometimes of a thickness fit for
mining, usually occurs in this division.
"Near the east end of the basin the thickness of this mid-
dle group is probably not less than 200 feet. It is the cause
of the flatness of the summits of both the Sharp and Locust
mountains throughout the range from Mauch Chunk to the
Little Schuylkill."
This division would seem to correspond well with the Mer-
cer coal group of western Pennsylvania, underlying the
OAKLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 17
Homewood sandstone and overlying the Connoquenessing
sandstones. See Reports of Progress Q, QQ and V.
Or it may represent the entire interval of 200 feet between
the base of the Homewood sandstones and the top of the
Sharon conglomerate, and therefore include not only the
Mercer coal group, but the next lower Sharon coal group.
43. The Lower division, is subdivided by Professor
Rogers in another part of his Final Report* in the following
manner :
' ' 4. Chiefly yellow and white sandstones, with included
layers of a grey grit, composed of pebbles of crushed slate
"3. A coarse silicious conglomerate of large and irregu-
lar pebbles, chiefly of milky quartz, but with others resem-
bling the Primal and Matinal slates ; and a few of dark
grey sandstone, of perhaps the same age
"2. Massive beds of a conglomerate composed of quartz
pebbles in a paste of disintegrated green slate. These beds
also include layers of red shale. The thickness of this por-
tion is from 10 to 20 feet. In the very lowest bands of this
rock, especially those which alternate with, or are imbedded
in, the upper layers of the Umbral red shale, this imbed-
ding material is greenish, and sometimes quite yellow . .
"1. Yellow and grey sandstones, alternating with thin
beds of red s?iale, identical with the Umbral red shale, and
containing a few scattered quartz pebbles, some of which
are large. This division, which exhibits a passage from the
Umbral to the Serai deposits, is from 60 to 70 feet thick.
"At Bear gap, Wiconisco basin, it measures 460 feet.
"At this locality, and indeed in the outcrops of the base
of the coal measures throughout the western part of the
Wiconisco basin, the group consists wholly of coal meas-
ures, having lost entirely that preponderance of conglom-
erates and coarse sandstones which it contains throughout
the Sharp mountain, and indeed in botli borders of the
Pottsville basin as far west as Dauphin. It possesses here
even less of the Sharp mountain or conglomerate type than
*Geol. of Penn., 1858, Vol. II, p. 21.
2 III
18 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
it exhibits in the Shamokin basin still further northwest-
ward.
44. "In ShamoJcin gap No. XII measures 630 feet.
In the mountain at the village of Shamokin, the lower
or conglomeritic group of coal measures restricting its
limits, as we have done elsewhere, to the top of the hard
rocks below the fifth seam of coal ascending, which is very
generally the commencement of the softer coal measures
consists of an alternation of ribs of nut coarse conglomer-
ates, pebbly and fine grained sandstones, with coarse shales
and coal slates in about equal proportions. It is made up
of five of the hard siliceous strata and four of the softer
argillaceous, each of the latter including a bed of coal:
some of these are of good quality and thickness.
45. "In Zerbe'* s gap it measures about 500 feet.
"Here, at Treverton, we see the most natural section of
the conglomeritic coal measures in the Shamokin basin.
The mass consists of five ponderous strata of silicious con-
glomerate and coarse sandstone, and four thick beds of
argillaceous shale and slate in regular alternation with them
the two kinds of rocks in about equal quantity. Each
argillaceous member encloses a thick and valuable bed of
semi-anthracite. In this western end of the Shamokin
basin these coals of the conglomerate group are far thicker
and of higher average purity than anywhere else in the
corresponding part of the coal measures around the anthra-
cite region.
4(5. " Of the reduction in the coarseness of the conglom-
erate, as we compare it in its successive outcrops more and
more towards the northwest, there is the amplest evidence.
Passing from the Sharp to the Broad mountain on the north
side of the same basin, there is a perceptible diminution
in the pebbles, and an approximation to greater uniformity
of size.
"Advancing to the outcrop of the Spring mountain, the
conglomerate is seen at the notch or gap of Hazle creek
with its pebbles considerably smaller, the beds of slate
somewhat thinner and less numerous, and the sandstones
and conglomerates less abruptly separated. The pebbles
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 19
are more even in size, and are packed together with less of
interposed sand.
"In the bituminous coal field of Broad Top mountain
in Huntingdon and Bedford, the rock exists chiefly as a
light grey coarse siliceous sandstone, with but little of the
conglomeritic character. At Uray's hill, on the edge of
this high plateau, it measures not more than 250 feet. And
this estimate accords well with observations made at other
places in the basin. In this district as in the anthracite
basin, the rock embraces one or more beds of coal, show-
ing that it is as elsewhere a part of the coal formation."
47. It would be misleading to quote from the final re-
port of 1858 the author' s generalizations respecting the con-
glomerate in western Pennsylvania, because the facts on
which they were founded have been virtually set aside by
the closer examinations of that part of the State in recent
years ; but all that is quoted above stands good, no new
facts having appeared to interfere with the abundant mate-
rials collected by the first survey.
d. The Sub -Garland sandstone.
48. The importance of this yellow sandstone as an
auxiliary in tracing the Garland conglomerate was not fully
appreciated by me in 1875, and only after the work in other
districts had sufficiently advanced to admit of comparison
of sections on the east and west, did its true significance
come to be understood.
49. Both at Pike's rocks, which was the first exposure
of Grarland conglomerate surveyed, and at Snodgrass quarry ,
near which was the last or westernmost upon the line, as
well as other exposures of it passed in carrying on the sur-
vey, this yellow sandstone was noted.
At Pike's rocks it lay about 25' below the Garland con-
glomerate, if the water well record be correct ; and at Snod-
grass' quarries, 41'.
50. An investigation of this yellow sandstone was not
followed out at that time in either direction, except in a
general way ; the equivalency of the Garland rock with the
Olean of N. Y. and with the conglomerate of northeastern
20 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOH]^ F. CARLL.
Ohio seeming to be satisfactorily assured by what had al-
ready been done. But in 1877, Prof White, extending his
detailed survey of the Shenango river country to James-
town, joined on to my section there, and identified my yel-
low sandstone with his Shenango sandstone, and my Gar-
land conglomerate with his Sharon conglomerate. To him
therefore belongs the credit of having first called attention
to the importance of this sub-conglomerate sandstone.
51. Meantime, explorations in Warren county by Mr.
Chance, Mr. Randall, and myself had shown that a similar
stratum of sandstone was traceable beneath the Garland
conglomerate in that county ; and Mr. Ashburner had also
discovered it beneath his Olean conglomerate in McKean
county.
52. It thus seems to be a very persistent rock and co-
extensive with the carboniferous conglomerate on its north-
ern outcrop.
53. The two rocks may also be seen in more southern
exposures at the quarries at Franklin and in the bluffs at
Oil City in Venango county, in the river hills at Warren,
at Big Bend in Warren county, and in several places in
McKean county.
54. The interval between the Garland conglomerate
and the underlying Shenango yellow sandstone in these
several exposures varies only between 25' and 55', but in
some parts of Forest county and southern McKean the in-
terval increases to. 100' or more.
55. Facts then seem to warrant the conclusion that Prof.
White's Shenango sandstone, my Yellow sandstone, Mr.
Randall's Sub-Conglomerate, and Mr. Ashburner' s Sub-
Olean are merely different names for the same stratum,
and there is a general sentiment among the geologists of
the survey that inthis interval* are to be sought the repre-
sentatives of the Mauch Chunk red shales of formation XI.
56. The constitution of the rock in question (Shenango
yellow sandstone) varies greatly in different localities.
West of French creek it is a yellowish sandstone of medium
grain ; contains many pockets or balls of iron ore and clay ;
and often runs into beds of flags. Further east it assumes
*That is between the Olean and Sub-Olean.
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 21
sometimes a conglomerate character. Northeast of Warren
it is often a homogeneous mass of pebbles of the size of
wheat grains ; contains much iron ore in irregular seams
and balls ; and frequently many fragments oifisTi remains.
It weathers in small, irregular pieces ; and when lying in
the tops of hills forms a very characteristic terrace, sur-
rounded by steep and regular escarpments; giving a hilltop
the appearance of a truncated pyramid, or of some exten-
sive earthwork fortification.
57. Southeast of Warren this (Sub-Olean) rock takes on
a more conglomeritic character, enclosing pebbles even an
inch and a half in diameter. It here forms rock cities, the
blocks of which are 40' or 50' in thickness. These are often
in the near vicinity of rock cities made by the Garland
(Olean) conglomerate; and the two exhibitions are then so
much alike as to be geologically as well as geographically
confounded.
58. At least four characteristic features of composition
however serve to distinguish the lower from the upper
the sub-Olean from the Olean conglomerate.
1. The lower rock is conspicuously current-bedded, the
face of the great walls of horizontal strata being crossed by
multitudes of oblique lines, suggesting their deposit in
rapid waters, the direction of the current being frequently
changed.
2. The pebbles of the lower rock are remarkable for their
flattened or lens-shape form ; and the examination of many
and distant localities by several independent observers has
put beyond doubt this peculiarity. On the contrary, the
pebbles of the upper rock, and generally of all the con-
glomeratic sandstones upwards, to and into the coal meas-
ures, have a round or rudely round or oval shape ; and
observation has shown that this also is true over wide areas
of country, to whatever cause it may be assigned.
3. Fish spines and fragments of bones, and land plants,
have been found in the lower rock in many places. And
from the interval between the lower and the upper con-
glomerate, where it is fairly exposed in the vicinity of War-
ren, Mr. Randall has made a very large collection of fossils
22 III. EEPOET OF PEOGEESS. JOHI* F. CAELL.
of well known Waverly types which have been secured
for the Museum of the Survey. But where the rock has
been passed through in borings for oil, further south, fos-
sils have not been noticed; partly, no doubt, because not
looked for by the borers ; partly because they are ground
up by the boring tools ; but chiefly perhaps because the
deposit changes its thickness and composition in that di-
rection.
4. The lower rock is deeply discolored with iron in all its
seams and crevices ; and the whole mass is evidently fer-
ruginous ; having a yellow and sometimes a brownish tint.
Mr. White reports it in his district charged habitually with
balls of iron ore to such extent as to induce him at first to
name it the ferriferous sandstone.
CHAPTER III.*
The Garland Conglomerate, and underlying measures in
Warren county : Pike's rocks; freehold township; Oar-
land; Spring Greek ; West Spring Creek ; McGlay Hill.
Pike's Rocks.
59. The dividing ridge between Little Brokenstraw and
Stillwater creeks, in Sugar Grove township, Warren county,
rises to an altitude of 1980' above ocean level.
Several fine exhibitions of conglomerate occur on it, the
most remarkable one of which is called Pike 's Rocks.
60. This is a huge mass of conglomerate, broken and
fissured, irregular in outline, and covering an area of about
two acres. It presents mural exposures on all sides, and
looks in the distance, whatever point of perspective may be
chosen, like the ruins of some Cyclopean structure built
by a pre-historic race.
61. Unlike other Rock cities most of which rest on
wooded eminences obscured from distant view, or run as
an escarpment of rock along the crest of some dividing
ridge these rocks stand out in bold relief against the sky
on the summit of one of the highest hills of the country,
surrounded by well-cultivated fields, stretching from the
base of the rocks over gracefully rounded hillsides into the
valley below.
The rock-walls rise about 30 feet in height perpendicu-
lar or overhanging, and weathered into fantastic profiles.
Avenues wind in all directions through the ruins, and peb-
ble-covered slopes lead over natural arches to the summits.
62. The whole rock is a massive conglomerate from top
to bottom, but very uneven in composition, and irregular
in structure. Here a layer of three feet of clear pebbles,
* Report of -work done in 1875.
(23 HI. )
24 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
white, coarse, and occasionally as large as hens -eggs, with
scarcely enough of sand-matrix to hold them together
there a stratum of finer conglomerate, and a larger per-
centage of sand ; here oblique bedding in one direction-
there in another.
The disintegrated pebbles and sand-grains spread all
around the base of the exposure like a sea-beach, and be-
come, when screened, valuable for masonry.
63. A zone of warm, sandy, pebbly soil encircles the
rocks, beyond which the land becomes more cold and clayey.
From the top no hills can be seen as high as this one ex-
cept to the southeast and one to the northeast.
Several pine-stumps two feet and a half in diameter re-
main on the bare summit where there is scarcely a foot of
mould their roots penetrating deep into the fissures and
reaching over the naked rock. Some 30 or 40 large pines
are said to have grown upon and immediately around the
rocks, the only trees of the kind in the vicinity.
64. The Sub-Garland yellow sandstone. Within 30
rods of these rocks and about 15 feet below their exposed
base a well was recently sunk for water by Mr. J. S. Jaquay,
which passed down through 10 feet of drift clay and then
32' of coarse yellow sandstone; water here came in and
stopped the workmen before they reached the base of the
sandstone. The water is good but somewhat roily and liable
to fail in dry weather.
In blasting the rock in the well it was found to be full of
crevices running in a northeast-southwest direction, one of
them ten inches wide and eight feet deep.- These fissures
doubtless prevent the water from being constant, as it has
an opportunity of flowing freely through them to appear in
copious springs, along the base of the sandstone, lower
down the hillside, leaving dry the upper portions of the
rock in seasons of long continued drouth.
The Yellow sandstone (according to Mr. Hoppins who
lives near by and has sunk a great many water wells in this
section of the country) is found on all of the high ridges,
resting upon a "blue, hard, flaggy sandstone or slate."
Unlike the conglomerate above it, it is not reliable for af-
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 25
fording water. Wells sunk a few feet in the "blue bed
rock," however, universally furnish a never failing supply,
and that of good quality.
65. CJiemung shales underlie the yellow sandstone and
exhibit themselves in the road gulleys and side ravines, in
spite of the fact that the whole of this country is covered
to considerable depth with Drift-clays, principally local, or
derived from the glacial abrasion of the country rocks. The
bedded rocks wherever exposed beneath the clay consist of
characteristic Chemung brown and olive shales, wave-mark-
ed, and inclosing fossil shells, and fucoids.
66. Drift heaps. It is a noticeable feature here, that
the bed-rock appears nearer the surface on the northerly
slopes of the hills than on the southerly. (See 78.)
It is also noteworthy that the southerly ends of ridges,
at the confluence of streams flowing south, are almost al-
ways covered with heavy deposits of rather angular rem-
nants of the local rocks, intermixed with foreign Drift.
These accumulations suggest the idea that the mingled
drift has been brought down the valleys in separate currents
and thrown off their margins, as they closed around the
point to fill the one channel below.
Lottsmlle rock city.
67. In Freehold township, on a bold spur between
Swamp run and Little Brokenstraw creek, about half way
between Lottsville and Wrightsville is another Rock city
of conglomerate, in plain sight of and almost equal in ex-
tent to Pike's rocks.
This is the most northern Garland outlier in the western
part of Warren county.
A line drawn from this point to Spring Creek station on
the Big Brokenstraw would very closely define the north-
western limit of the ro'ck.
Considerable bodies of it lie in the ridges to the southeast
and in some places quite continuously.
Our profile shows it on the State road between the two
Brokenstraws and again between Little Brokenstraw and
26 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Still water creek; but bej^ond this range to the northwest it
has all been swept away.
Garland quarries.
68. The Garland quarries are found on the crest of the
ridge between Blue Eye run and Big Brokenstraw creek,
about one mile northwest of Garland, in Pittsfield township,
Warren county.
The base of the rock, where worked, lies 480' above the
Philadelphia and Erie railway track, or 1810' above tide.
The summit of the ridge is 55' higher, i. e., 1865'.
69. Two quarries are opened here, both of which lower
their material to railroad level by gravity cars, operated by
wire cables, over steeply inclined tram -ways. But although
there is no lack of good stone, and the shipping facilities
cannot be surpassed, very little is being done at present
(1875) at either one of them.
70. The sandstone is 40' thick ; massive ; coarse-grained ;
obliquely bedded ; colored yellow and white in some parts,
iron stained in others. Pebbly horizontal layers and pock-
ets occur ; and the pebbly layers seem to recur more fre-
quently near the base ; but it can hardly be said that the
lower portion is uniformly conglomeritic, or the upper por-
tion a consistent sandstone.
The rock works remarkably free when fresh from the
ledge, being soft, and easily dressed into any desirable
shape ; but it hardens on exposure to the atmosphere into
a durable building-stone, useful, when a proper selection is
made, for all architectural purposes.
71. Fallen masses. The face of the cliff overhanging
the Brokenstraw valley at this point has been undermined,
and huge blocks, 40' in thickness, have. become detached
from the brow of the hill and been arrested in all attitudes
in their descent to the stream below ; some standing on
edge ; some turned completely over. Those that stand on
edge are easily split in the lines of deposition, and there-
fore preferred by quarrymen to the rock in place above.
72. Fossil tree. On one of these half revolved blocks,
where the free side has been split off, is visible the impres-
OAKLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. '27
sion of a carboniferous tree stem, 8 inches in diameter and
12 feet long. The surface markings being too imperfect to
indicate its species.
It is evident from an inspection of the fossil that this tree
stem was stranded on a sandy shore or sandbank, and caused
an eddy in the current which deposited coarse, gravel on
one side of the tree to the distance of a foot or more, while
on the other side of the tree only fine sand is seen. The
cast of the tree body is composed principally of fine sand.
Now if the exact position of this mass of rock before it
was displaced could be discovered, then the direction of the
current which stranded its fossil log might be ascertained
from these circumstances with considerable accuracy.
73. The Sub-Garland yellow sandstone seems to be
poorly developed at Garland, a thin band of fine pebble
conglomerate being all the representative of it that could
be found ; but as the talus from the upper rock obscures
its horizon it quite possibly may have been overlooked.
74. Garland section, Fig. A, page 31. On the point of
the bluff, about 80 rods west from the Philadelphia and
Erie railway station at Garland the following section was
obtained ; and it possesses peculiar interest as being the
only observable exposure, in the six miles between Garland
and Spring creek station, of a massive sandrock of any
considerable thickness occupying the interval between the
conglomerate and water level of Brokenstraw creek :
Shale, blue and brown, sandy, 1365', 15 ' to 1350
Sandstone, weathering brown, a mass of spirifers, . 2
Shale, brown, 5
Sandstone, tine-grained massive, grey, 10
Shale, }
Plate of sandstone with fossils,
Shale, fissile, brown and blue, 18
Thin sandstone with spirifers,
Shale to R. R. level, 2
Concealed to creek level about, 18|
to 1348
to 1343
to 1333
to 1332|
to 1332
to 1314
to 1313|
to 1311 i
to 1293"
74. On the Cotter farm about one mile above this point
may be seen a clean exposure at this horizon in which no
massive sandstone appears. The section there is as follows,
descending :
28 III. BEPOKT OF PROGRESS. JOffiT F. CARLJL.
Rocks concealed.
Flaggy sandstone, (1385' above tide,) . . ' 5'
Shale, brown and olive; upper half somewhat sandy lower
half argillaceous and fissile, 50'
The elevation 1385' seems to be too high to permit this
flaggy sandstone to represent the sandstone at Garland.
75. South of the Brokenstraw the valley hills are gen-
erally capped with conglomerate. In fact it may be said to
extend in almost an unbroken ridge (with the exception of
the low divide between the heads of Caldwell creek and
Mullingar run) but at varying distances from the creek, all
the way from Thompson's station on the Allegheny river,
to the high bluff-point at the junction of Spring creek with
the Brokenstraw, beyond which, to the northwest, it is not
to be found, as the hills are not high enough to hold it.
76. Horn's cliffs. About three miles northwest of
Garland, cliifs of Garland conglomerate rise from the south
bank of the Brokenstraw, near the residence of Mr. C.
Horn, and they are similar to those at the Garland quarries
on the north bank. The rock is here at least 30' thick ;
white, fine-grained, solid, and with no appearance of peb-
bles. A little back of the brow it is covered to the depth
of ten or fifteen feet with surface deposits sustaining a
heavy growth of pine, hemlock, beech, maple, and other
woods.
Spring Creek*
77. The junction of this stream with the Brokenstraw
forms a broad basin bounded by hills. Terraces or foot-
hills of Drift on each side of the basin and extending some
distance down the Brokenstraw, indicate that the water
level some day has been ^,t least fifty feet higher than at
present. The stream has cut down through this Drift in
changing channels, now sweeping to this side now to that,
leaving islands or mounds scattered all about the bottoms.
These mounds are composed of coarser and less water- worn
materials than the Drift found at lower levels along the
margins of the present streams. They have been covered
* Seo Plate 3B.
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 29
with a forest of immense pines ; some of the stumps still
remaining measure from 3 to 4 feet through.
78. An accumulation of Drift, such as described in
66 above, occurs at the junction of Dry run on the north
side of the basin, on the point of the nose between the two
streams. It lias been quarried for railroad ballast, and the
excavation shows a large percentage of northern rocks,
among which are frequent gneissic bowlders a foot or more
in diameter.
79. Erosion. There are good reasons for inferring that
the stream once flowed through this basin at a level consid-
erably higher than its present bed.
80. Buried valley. There are equally conclusive proofs
that it has also flowed at a much lower level. For, an oil
well on the Cotter farm was carried down nearly 200'
through gravel and clay before reaching bed rock ; and one
at Spring Creek station, 137 feet. Within 20 rods of the
last named well a trench was dug, but a few feet deep, for
a mill foundation and yet the walls were laid upon the strat-
ified rocks in place.
This interesting feature of old filled-in channels is notice-
able in all the broadly eroded valleys of our northern
streams where oil wells have been sunk. But when the val-
leys in going southward become narrow and the streams
enter the deep cuts between the conglomerate-capped hills,
the bed rock is always found nearer the surface.
81. Fossils.- The measures beneath the Garland con-
glomerate in all this section of country may be briefly des-
cribed as blue, olive, and brown shales, with occasional
thin bands of grey and yellowish sandstone. The most
common fossils are Fucoids and Spirifers, with less fre-
quent specimens of Productus, Cypricardia, and Amculo-
pecten.
West Spring Creek.
82. The little settlement of West Spring creek is located
in the broad drift-filled valley of Spring creek where it is
joined by the West branch, about 3 miles above its conflu-
ence with the Brokenstraw. The "bottom lands" here are
30 III. REPORT OF PROGRE3 .5. JOHN F. CARLL.
some 80' higher than those along the Brokenstraw. A mill-
pond lies on either side, near the base of the inclosing hills
and the dwellings are built on the triangular flat between
the two streams.
83. Water wells. A rather remarkable feature is no-
ticed here in connection with the water wells. They are
sunk to a depth of 30', through coarse gravel, to a point at
least 15' below the surface of the mill-ponds ; and yet it is
affirmed that the water in the wells tever rises to the level
of the ponds and seems to be in no vay affected by them.
In dry weather the most shallow oi these wells fail, the
ponds being still full of water, but on being sunk deeper in
the gravel a good supply of water is always found.
These facts seem to indicate a drainage of the gravel beds
through the lower levels of the Brokenstraw gravels inde-
pendently of the ponds and streams at the surface.
84. Bates' Section. In the face of the bluff, south of
the residence of F. Bates, and about one mile and a quarter
northeast of West Spring creek, may be seen a fair expos-
ure of rock in place for about 240' above water level.
Bluish shale, (at the top as far as seen,) 30'
Thin-bedded, shaly sandstone, 50'
Conglomerate, fine-grained, in layers 2" to 4 ' thick; pebbles
firmly cemented, apparently by some lime-iron solution, . 2'
Sandstone, yellowish brown, fine-grained, micaceous, massive, 5'
Shales, bluish-gray, argillaceous, with occasional sandy layers
approaching to thin sandstones, 150
85. Section at Johnson's saw mill, on West Spring
creek. See Fig. B, page 31.
Top of observations above tide, 1477'
1. Shale, (concealed above,) 10' to 1467'
2. Sandstone, with shale partings, 6' to 1461'
3. Shale, brown, 3' to 1458'
4. Sandstone, in thin layers, 5' to 1453'
5. Shale, brown, 4' to 1449'
6. Sandstone, brown, laminated, 2' to 1447'
7. Shale, brown and blue, 6' to 1441'
8. Sandstone, pebbly, contorted, coal films, ' . . . . 2' to 1439'
9. Sandstone, brown 1' to 1438'
10. Shale, brown, 1' to 1437'
11. Sandstone, yellow, rather massive, 6' to 1431-
12. Sandstone, greenish, soft, friable, almost crumbling
in the hand when wet. This sandstone probably
SECTION AT JOHNSON'S SA W MILL. III. 31
Fig. A.
abr. Garland.
Johnsons "Mill
1428 Spring Creek
32 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
extends below water level. It contains many
fossils, among which Mr. Hall recognizes San-
guinolites, Cardiomorp/ia, and Productella. It
also smells strongly of petroleum, and when
crushed and dropped into water the iridescent
colors, which constitute a "good oil show," are
abundantly manifest,
13. Water level below mill dam, (above ocean,) . ,
86. False coal. Several hundred dollars have been
expended here in a vain search for coal. The "coal blos-
som," which was supposed to lead to a larger deposit be-
neath the hill, was seen in very thin films in the outcrop-
ping rocks along the creek bank, at 1439' in the section.
Knowing that this horizon is at least 400 feet vertically
beneath the Garland conglomerate, it needs but a slight
examination of the situation to satisfy one that the ' ' blos-
som" will not ripen into desirable fruit.
The stratum in which it is found is a gnarled conglomer-
ation of clay, sand, pebbles, fossil mollusks, and thin masses
of carbonized plants. It has every appearance of being a
sea-shore drift containing just sufficient vegetable matter
here and there to form slight films of coal. There is no
under-clay, and no indications in any of the surroundings
that could reasonably warrant the expectation of finding a
paying coal bed. It is merely a local exhibition of vegeta-
ble matter, which cannot be traced far in any direction.
87. Hosmer run oil. The sandrock at water level, 1431'
to 1428', appears to be deserving of more attention. From
its position and elevation it may be supposed to have some
connection with the Hosmer run oil rock, the ancient oil-
pits along that stream being only about three miles to the
southeast. This exposure may possibly represent, also, the
northwestern outcrop of the First oil sand of Venango
county. Still it is not to be presumed, judging from the
experiences of operators on Hosmer run, in 1865, that the
"oil show" here will lead to any very profitable results.
88. Are the oil sands CJiemung f The presence of car-
bonized plants and films of coal in the section above given
is good evidence that coal plants were flourishing within
reach of the drifting currents at the time these strata were
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 33
forming; and it would appear, also, from the peculiar
character of the rock containing these evidences, that it
must have been formed along the margin of some dry land.
If, now, this sandstone be the equivalent of the First oil
sand, these facts suggest an inquiry, rendered pertinent,
also, by many other considerations to be noted hereafter :
Do the Yenango oil sands belong to the Chemung period,
or are they of more recent age ?
89. On McOlay hill, the summit between Spring creek
and West Branch, one mile southwest of West Spring
creek, the sub-Garland yellow sandstone is in place, but
so drift-covered as not to be noticed, except in sinking
water wells. Large gneissic bowlders, with occasional blocks
of sandstone, lie thickly strewn on its northeastern slope.
90. Flsli. Here, in a bowlder of pea-conglomerate, a
good specimen of CtenacantJius triangularis was found by
Mr. Hatch, the only one I have ever seen in so coarse a
conglomerate.
The county line (Warren- Crawford) is but a short dis-
tance west of this hill.
CHAPTER IV.*
The Garland conglomerate and underlying measures out-
cropping in Crawford county at Bates' 1 hill ; South-
wic7is summit; Hickory corners ; and around Mead-
mile; with notes upon the drift.
91. The Survey line. Between McClay hill and Mead-
ville the State road passes over but two or three elevations
capped with the sandstones of the Garland conglomerate,
the most conspicious outliers being found a short distance
to the south of it. It was our intention to run side-lines
to connect these exposures with the profile, but time did
not permit. There is sufficient rock in place, however, near
the road, to assure the accuracy of general results ; and
* Report of work clone iix 1875.
3 III.
34 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
where the sandstone is wanting, or its exact position obscure,
we may be assisted in no small measure by a study of the
characteristics of the landscape around us. The topography
of the country the position of its springs, the composition
of soil and the species of indigenous trees growing upon it
indicate the lines separating soils derived from sandstone and
soils derived from shale almost as unerringly as any system
of leveling with good exposures could do ; even in situa-
tions where considerable bodies of drift are present.
92. Bowlders. All across Crawford county erratic bowl-
ders of gneissoid rocks, from 2' to 6' in diameter, are scat-
tered along the road, and they spread out to the south as
far as the ridge before referred to as the southeasterly water-
shed of Spring creek and Hyde creek. Approaching the
Ohio line and in eastern Ohio they become more rare. Xo
doubt they have been also deposited in quantity there ; but
the country is more thickly settled, building stone is not
plenty, and they have consequently been broken up and
removed.
Sates- hill.
93. About one mile and a half southeast of Spartans-
burg, near the residences of A. Bates and J. Eastman a
summit rises to an elevation of 1800' above ocean. Large
blocks of conglomerate and sandstone lie scattered on the
slope facing the east, and smaller ones may be seen on the
westerly side descending toward the east branch of Oil creek.
The true position of the conglomerate is somewhat obscure ;
but the yellow sandstone, here a flat pebble conglomerate,
caps a large portion of the ridge. It is found in water wells
and the outcrop may be seen along the road coming from
the east about 45' feet below the summit. In several places
both on its eastern and western slopes the under-shales are
exposed at frequent intervals, being plainly of the same
character as those seen at this horizon, elsewhere along the
line, and containing similar fossils.
94. From Bates' hill towards the southwest the hilltop
levels fall to about 1600' and then to loOO' or less, and none
of the ridges passed over by the State road are high enough
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 35
to catch the conglomerate until the College Hill ridge east
of Meadville is reached. We are compelled therefore to
look to the south for an intermediate exposure to make the
connection more continuous.
SouthwicJi s summit.
95. Knob. In Richmond township, on the divide be-
tween Muddy creek and Woodcock creek, two miles south
of New Richmond, rises a sharp knob of sandstone, the
peak covering only about two acres. The sandstone is very
similar in appearance to the Meadville rock, except that no
pebble stratum is exposed in place. Ib is white and yellow,
and contains small concretions of iron, by which it is .dis-
colored in some of its members. Three or four massive
layers are exposed, having a thickness in all of about 30 feet.
96. fossils. A few fragments of Sigillaria and some
unrecognizable impressions of matted masses of long, nar-
row leaves were the only traces of fossils seen.
97. Drift Tieaps. On the northerly face of the peak
the sandstone has been so cleanly swept away that its pres-
ence is only indicated by a drift-covered escarpment show-
ing no traces of sandrock upon it. But on the south the
conditions are quite the reverse ; ledges of the rock are ex-
posed and large blocks lie scattered over the surface of the
slope, down to the stream below.
98. Stoss side and tailings. These facts are but the
repetition here of notes made under similar circumstances
in many other places ; and their recurrence so often in my
note-book leads me to confidently expect as a general rule
that, where a hill top is but just swept bare of conglomerate,
large blocks of it will almost Invariably be seen on the
southerly slopes, while very few will be found on the north-
erly. If some portion of the conglomerate is still in place
the northern face will be abrupt and comparatively free
from fragments, the southern sloping and covered for a
long distance below the ledge with broken masses from the
outcrop. With the erratic foreign bowlders, however, the
conditions are reversed ; more of them are found on the
northerly slopes than the southerly, although they are in
36 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
some situations quite thoroughly intermixed with the local
sandstones. Do not these facts point to the probable action
of the same agencies in both caies ? Did not the ice-cur-
rents from the north bring down these erratics to be strand-
ed on the northern slopes at the very time they were dis-
lodging and slipping the local sandrocks to the south ?
Hickory corners.
99. Knob. Two miles and a half southeast of Soutli-
wick's lies another sandstone-capped hill of about the same
elevation of summit. It is on the west side of Woodcock
creek, near the north line of Randolph township. Xo very
noticeable outcrop occurs here, but local exposures of
coarse yellow sandstone are quite frequent.
100. Coal. About 30 feet below the summit a seam of
coal 16 inches in thickness is reported to have been found.
It has been seen in a number of water wells, and is said to
lie in the sandstone without any shale or clay above or be-
low it. This I believe is the most northerly point in Craw-
ford county where coal is known to exist. It occurs, how-
ever, at a number of places to the south, in Randolph, Mead
and Wayne townships, but in no locality has it yet been
found of sufficient importance to be extensively mined.
Meadmlle.
101. College Hill, a mile and a half northeast of Mead-
ville, contains a broad thick cap of conglomerate and sand-
stone, the highest point of which (at Ellis' quarry] is 1558'
above ocean level.
The elongated summit, from its northerly slope throws
its drainage into tributaries of Woodcock creek, and from
its southerly into Little Sugar creek ; while to the west
several small ravines find a direct outlet into French creek.
The preservation of conglomerate upon it no doubt is due
to its peculiar situation in relation to the denuding currents
which have so cleanly swept the country to the east and
west of it.
102. In ascending this ridge from Blooming valley,
the State road rises to the top of the conglomerate and
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 37
continues above it, across an almost level plateau, for a mile
and a half, until the westerly slope towards Meadville is
reached. To the southeast the conglomerate extends irreg-
ularly, according to the circumstances of erosion, to a dis-
tance of perhaps a mile, and to the northwest in some places
nearly as far.
103. Quarries. The old Ellis qarry (now Thorp's) is
at the northeasterly point of the rock ; College Hill quarry
(Carroll' s) at the northwesterly point ; and True 1 s quarry,
near the State road, as it begins its descent into Meadville.
Besides these well-known openings, the rock has been
worked less extensively in several other places.
Ellis or Thorp quarry.
104. From this quarry the stone used in constructing
the new court house at Meadville was obtained.
About 25' of rock is exposed, and the bottom has not
been reached.
The upper 10' may be called a ferruginous sandstone ; it
contains many iron-nodules and clay-filled cavities coated
with iron, among which are remnants of Calamttes, Lepi-
dodendron, Sigillaria, and also imperfect impressions of
broad flat leaves.
The under part is more homogeneous in structure, and
contains less iron, which is evenly disseminated through it.
It is a massive, coarse-grained sandstone throughout, but
divided into bands of varying thicknesses by well-defined
lines of bedding, which are beautifully and distinctly rip-
ple-marTced. These ripple-marked su -faces are generally
oxydized more or less, and the-furrovs appear to run at
right angles to the dip of the rock, witich is to the south-
southwest as nearly as could be ascertained here and in
the other quarries.
The color of the rock is remarkable, being a purplish-
pink and yellow, blended in clouded or watered lines,
making when dressed a style of graining, as it were, re-
sembling that of chestnut wood. It is a beautiful stone
when first worked, but weathers dark and somewhat rusty
38 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
from the oxydation of its contained iron. Still it is dura-
ble, and highly esteemed for architectural purposes.
No conglomerate layers are seen.
Elevation of top of quarry, 1558'.
105. Glacial scratches were noticed at this quarry (and
again o .1 the State road) running in a southerly direction,
corresponding with the trend of the easterly outcrop of the
conglomerate.
College Hill quarry, (Carroll's.)
106. The most northwesterly outcrop of conglomeritic
sandstone occupies a narrow ridge, on each side of which
a number of openings have been made.
Carroll'' s quarry lies almost at the extreme point where
the rock shows 35' thick.
Elevation of the top, 1530'.
Here it is a massive, yellowish coarse-grained sandstone,
somewhat discolored by iron, and irregular in constitution
and structure, which causes it to quarry in cuneated masses
difficult to work, and entails a large amount of wastage.
Still, when the rough blocks are reduced to shape they
make a good lasting stone.
Toward the bottom of the ledge are layers and pockets
of conglomerate which are sometimes little more than beds
of closely compacted pebbles, readily dug up with a pick,
and utterly worthless for mechanical purposes.
107. About 400' in a southeasterly direction is another
opening, showing 25' of massive sandstone, the bottom por-
tion of which is a beautiful, white, even- textured and rather
fine-grained sandstone, admirably suited to monumental
work. Some blocks have small white pebbles sparsely scat-
tered through them, but they do not in the least detract
from the beauty or value of the stone.
108. Beyond this a few hundred feet and still going
southeast, a small opening shows a very different* and quite
* It will be observed that irregularity of structure, variation in color and
rapid changes from conglomerate to sandstone, and vice versa are conspicu-
ously shown by a study of the several quarries upon this ridge, and there can
be little doubt but that similar circumstances have conspired, in many places,
to produce similar results, in all the sandy members of the carboniferous age.
The pebbles in all the conglomerates, here are of the ovoidal type.
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 39
inferior rock, it being in some parts only a series of thin,
warped plates of micaceous sandstone from half an inch to
two inches in thickness ; and all of the rock exposed here
is obliquely or current bedded in a very curious manner.
True 's quarry.
109. On the southwesterly brow of the summit, over-
looking Meadville, and but a few rods north of the Sta*te
road, a very good and accessible rock is worked.
It is a massive yellowish-white sandstone, sometimes
clouded, almost free from pebbles, and works easily into any
shape desired. The face of the cutting measures 12 feet,
but probably the bottom has not been reached.
110. Water-beds. On the lot of Benjamin Newell,
across the road from Mr. True' s, and at an elevation of 10'
above the top of the quarry, a water- well shows the follow-
ing section : Drift clay S' ; coarse yellow sandstone 16'.
At a depth of 24' a horizontal seam was found, beneath
a thin conglomerate, containing loose pebbles and an abund-
ant supply of good water. As this well is not far from
the southwesterly escarpment of the conglomerate, now
obscured by drift, it may be presumed that these crevices
and pebble-paved water courses, owe their origin to a slight
displacement and slipping of the rock before its ragged
edges were covered.
Meadville section.
111. A section made at Meadville, descending from
Trues quarry by way of the ravine east of Greendale cem-
etery, reads as follows :
Sandstone, (exposed top,1526',) 12 to 1514
Concealed to ravine, 134 to 1380
Shale, bluish-grey 50 to 1330
Sandstone, thin-bedded, 5 to 1325
Shale, sandy, 5 to 1320
Sandstone, thin-bedded, 10 to 1310
LIMESTONE, sandy, impure, weathering in rectangular
blocks with desquamated edges,* 2 to 1308
* This is probably J. T. Hodge's limestone referred to by Prof. Rogers in
Geol. of Penn'a, 1858, Vol. I, page 584. It is Mr. White's Meadville limestone
of Report QQQ, note p. 61.
40 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHK F. CARLL.
Sandstone, blue, in layers 1" to 2i" thick, 5 to 1303
Shale, blue, with thin layers of sandstone, 23 to 1230
Concealed, 30 to 1250
Sandstone in thin plates, 5 to 1245
Flags, blue, sandy, 5 to 1210
Shale, blue, 10 to 1230
Concealed to railroad level, 150 to 1080
This section gives a fair exhibition of the general char-
acter of the strata exposed above water level at Meadville.
In traveling up and down the ravines in the neighborhood,
no good and continuous exposures can be seen, but we get
glimpses here and there of a few feet of rock in place at
various elevations, and may judge of the quality of the
intermediate strata by the topography, and the manner in
which the erosive agents have worked upon them. The
arenaceous limestone was not noticed in any other locality
than the above, but the measures at this horizon give evi-
dences in many places of containing a greater amount of
sandy material than those above or below them.
The Sub-Garlandyellow sandstone, which should occupy
the interval beneath True's quarry, was not seen in the
vicinity of Meadville, unless it may be the rock exposed
on Kycenceeder hill west of French creek. A very hasty
examination of this point left it in doubt whether the
stratum seen there should be correlated with the Garland
conglomerate, or with the underlying sandstone.
Citizens'* oil well.
112. In 1872 a well was drilled for oil in Meadville,
located between North street and Mill run, on a lot belong-
ing to D. Morris, about one mile southwest of True's quarry.
It commenced at an elevation of 1135' above tide, and
was driven down to a depth of 1104', or to within 31' of
ocean level.
No detailed register was kept, for the reason (as stated
by the drillers) that the strata were so homogeneous that
there seemed to be nothing noticeable to record ; but Mr.
Frederick Metzer, one of the owners and managers, con-
firmed the following particulars obtained from one of the
men who worked on the well :
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 41
Conductor, 8'.
Water cased off effectually at 108'.
Gas at 450' in sufficient quantity to fire the boiler during
the rest of the drilling.
Well pumped at 1000', and a good show of oil obtained.
Then drilled to 1104' and again tested, with no show of
oil. Gas considerably weaker on the last test, and not
enough to pump the well.
The drilling was "shelly" down to 450', but no sand-
stone (more than 4' thick) was passed through at any point.
"Below 450' nothing but soft shale and slate no sand-
stone no increase of gas no oil."
113. Fossils. Mill run cuts down to bed rock, oppo-
site the well, and flows over a blue sandy shale, in some
places changing into warped plates of false-bedded, thin-
bedded, argillaceous sandstone, traversed by mud furrows,
thoroughly ripple-marked, and containing, in somo layers,
fossils in great abundance.
114. Supplementing the above section at Cemetery run
with these facts, obtained from the oil well, we may get a
very good general idea of the character of the measures at
Meadville extending down 1500' below the conglomerate.
Meadville reservoir Drift deposits.
115. The surface of the country about Meadville is
covered with heavy deposits of Drift, even to the tops of
the hills, and many rounded and smoothly worn Erratics
of metamorphic rock, from 2' to 5' in diameter, lie scat-
tered at all elevations along the hillsides.
116. The new reservoir is located on one of these drift
deposits, on the west face of College hill, on a ridge between
French creek and a small stream which rises near the Car-
roll quarries, and runs in a southwesterly direction into
Mill run.
It is said to be 315' above French creek, or about 1385'
above ocean level.
The excavation was made 20' deep in a clay drift thickly
filled with gravel and bowlders, the bottom being blue and
black clay, with occasional small fragments of rocks, angu-
42 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
lar and unworn, and evidently of local origin, as compared
with those in the upper part.
The only bed rock seen was a blue sandy shale, and this
was just touched in excavating for the construction of a
drain from the bottom of the reservoir into the stream
aforesaid.
117. The following notes in relation to the Meadville quar-
ries were made by Mr. H. M. Chance in 1877.
True's quarry, 12' rock exposed, top at 1526'
College Hih quarry, top at . 1530'
35' rock exposed,: contains conglomeritic patches and
layers. Mainly composed of massive and coarse, yel-
low sandstone, to 1495'
Quarry 300' south of College Hill quarry, top at 1522'
22' rock exposed, viz:
Coarse, conglomeritic sandstone, 12'
Conglomerate, 3'
Coarse, greyish sandstone, 7'
22' to 1500'
Quarry 500' E. by S. from College Hill quarry, top at . . . . 1525'
Sandstone containing layers of conglomerate, . 10'
Coarse, grayish-yellow sandstone, 8'
18' to 1507'
The rock here is very massive, but in the northwest end of the quarry the
bed underlying the conglomeritic portion is very strongly false-bedded. The
ialse-bedding is at an angle of about 30 to the true bedding, but the false
bedded portion is not separated from the bed above by any bed-plate.
Quarry 100' E. by N. of latter quarry, top of rock, 1533'
25' rock exposed, to 1508'
In the bottom of this quarry a very white rock was found.
Ellis quarry, top of rock, 1558'
Coarse-grained ferruginous sandstone, 10'
Tolerably good quarry stone, 7'
17' to 1541'
Garland sandstone in Collega hill, 40' to 1495'
? 168' to 1327'
Flaggy, thin bedded sandstone beds, 1" to 3" thick, 6'
Massive but flaggy sandstone, 2'
? 8'
Flaggy, gray sandstone 8'
- 24' to 1303'
? 223' to 1080'
Railroad level, Meadville, A. and G. W. K. R 1080'
CHAPTER V.*
The Sharon coal, Garland conglomerate and under -rocks,
southwest of Meadville, through Crawford county, into
Ohio.
East Fallowfield township.
118. Southwest of Meadville, the broad erosion of Con-
neaut outlet has left little to note in connection with the
conglomerate, until the high ground which forms the east-
erly water-shed of Crooked creek is reached.
119. Levels. To economize time, therefore, we inter-
mitted levels at Meadville and commenced again at Evans-
burg station on the Atlantic and Great Western railway,
two miles southeast of Conneaut lake, running thence south,
for 5^ miles, along the highway passing through nearly the
centre of East Fallowfield township ; and then, turning
west along the road leading directly to Atlantic station.
120. Profile. As this interval contains a number of
quarries and coal beds of special importance in studying
the characteristics of the lower carboniferous sandstones,
we give a profile section, to assist in understanding the
notes to follow. (See Plate 3 A.)
The profile is drawn on a north and south line which would
pass very near to all the quarries and coal beds mentioned,
some lying a little to the right and some a little to the left.
Miller's quarry.
121. This is the starting point of the profile, half a mile
north of the railway station.
* Report of the work of 1875.
(43 III.)
44 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Elevation of top above ocean 1303'.
Thickness of rock quarried more than 15 feet.
The principal part of the stone used in the old canal con-
structions at the foot of Conneaut lake was obtained here.
Only a few feet of soil overlies the ledge, which forms a
broken escarpment of considerable length, facing the west,
and thus the sandstone is very accessible, and easily wrought
into blocks of any size.
The rock is rather coarse grained, massive, somewhat ir-
regularly bedded, of a yellowish color, weathering brown,
and contains some iron concretions, not only in the bedding
and seams, but in the solid sand also.
122. Fossils. Near the top is a stratum a foot thick
rich in fish spines, bones and teeth. No carboniferous plants
seen and no conglomerate. This seems to be the Sub-Gar-
land yellow sandstone stratum.
123. Coal beds are noted at three points on the profile
on the Mushrush farm, 1^ miles southeast of Miller's quarry ;
on the McEntire farm 1^ miles south of Mushrush' s ; and
' on the Hazen farm 2f miles south of McEntire' s. At none
of these places have excavations been sunk to the base of
the sandrock beneath the coal, and its outcrop lower down
the hillsides is so obscured by Drift that its thickness can-
not be definitely stated.
Mushrush farm.
124. Coal Pit section, on the east side of the road nearly
opposite the dwelling house.
Top of hill, 1336'
Surface soil, 1' 6"
Sandstone, 7' 0"
Shale, fawn color, friable, 3' 6" to 1324'
Coal, upper, part slaty, 3' 0" to 1321'
Fireclay, indurated, 2' 0" to 1319'
Sandstone, thicknessunknown but bottomnot reached
in a shaft near by at (1336-40,) 1296'
125. Quarry. Many years ago an opening was made a
few rods east of the coal-pit, and at about the same level.
The rock was found to be not as good as Miller's and much
harder to work. It is a white hard sandstone full of con-
torted masses of Catamites and other carboniferous plants.
OAKLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 45
It is said that thin coal beds were found in the sandstone
sometimes pinching out between two layers and some-
times stopping abruptly as against a wall.
The rock is very uneven in composition, being firm and
massive in one place, thin-bedded and broken into small
blocks in another, and interlaminated with thin seams of
coal, fawn color shale and fireclay.
126. Boring for coal. Twenty or thirty rods south of
the quarry, a drill hole was put down in 1845 to a depth of
45' \ All that is remembered about it is, that thin seams
of coal were passed through in the upper part and that ' ' the
lower part was not satisfactory." It commenced at an ele-
vation of 1336'.
127. A coal sliaft, was also sunk in this immediate
vicinity at about the same time and from the same eleva-
tion, to the depth of 40 feet and stopped before the base of
the sandstone was reached.
' ' Thin seams of coal from half an inch to one inch in thick-
ness were found at intervals all through the sandstone."
128. The sandrock on Mushrush's hill, where these tests
for coal have been made, lies so near the surface in many
places that it may be struck by the plough ; but to the south,
between this ridge and McEn tire's, it is cut out below the
level of the coal-bearing strata, and covered by from 10 to
15 feet of drift clay, as shown by the water wells.
129. Timber. This interval is a wide flat swampy plain
occupied in part by very remarkable "timber lots " in which
beech, maple, oak, hickory, ash. chestnut, cucumber, white
gum and other trees all grow together with equal luxuriance.
McEntirefarm.
130. Coal. A number of coal-pits or shafts were opened
on the McEntire property as early as 1837, and considerable
coal was taken out to supply the surrounding country be-
fore the introduction of railroads rendered the business
unprofitable. The coal was mined in a very primitive way.
A shaft was dug six or eight feet square and the coal picked
out under the side walls in all directions as far as it could
be safely and conveniently reached, when it was abandoned
46 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOH^ F. CARLL.
and a similar one sunk a short distance from it. Several
acres are covered with these old pits, long since fallen into
disuse, and only the weather-worn fragments of there fuse
materials thrown out can now be seen.
The following section of one of these old pits represents
as nearly as can now be remembered by the owner a fair
average of these old pits. See Fig. A, page 47 :
Elevation at surface above ocean, 1349'
Surface clay, 3'
Sandstone, soft and broken and easily removed with a
pick, 17'
Coal slate, micaceous, 1' to 1328'
Coal of good quality, 3' to 1325'
Sections, Figs. B, C, D and E, on the same page (47) are
from pits opened further to the east, where the coal lies
nearer the surface.
Section C is from a shaft sunk for a water well near Mr.
McEntire's house, in 1874. The hole was about 8' square.
On the south side of the excavation the coal measured 11
feet and on the north side 6 feet. The lower 6 feet being
good block coal, the upper 5 feet laminated, and somewhat
slaty, lying unconformably upon the lower bed as repre-
sented in the section.*
131. Bowlders. On the gentle slope to the northeast,
and below openings D and E, many large blocks of sand-
stone lie* scattered oVer the surface, and below them, in the
banks of a run emptying into Conneaut outlet, may be seen
the outcropping under-shales.
Jackson ' s quarry.
132. About a mile to the west of these coal beds and
belonging to the same horizon of sandstone is Jackson's
quarry from which is obtained an excellent stone now being
extensively used by the A. and G. W. railway for the en-
gineering work along their road.
Unger's hill.
133, The next rise of ground to the south (elevation
* As none of these pits are now open the sections are necessarily made, not
from personal inspection, but from information derived from Mr. McEntire.
Plate XXI.
III. 47
48 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
1348') is capped with sandstone ; white, massive, fine-grained,
free from iron, and with a layer of pebbles on top from half
an inch to ten inches in thickness. No fossils and no evi-
dences of coal discovered.
134. Bowlders. On the south slope of Unger's hill, and
fifty feet below the McEntire coal, lie large blocks of sand-
stone, with iron balls and stains similar to the Miller quarry
stone. These are probably from the Sub-Garland yellow
sandstone horizon, while the white sandstone on the hilltop
represents the Garland conglomerate.
135. Along the stream below J. Unger's mill may be
seen an outcropping sandrock, ten feet or more in thickness,
the base of which lies 70' below the McEntire coal. This
is the lowest band of sandstone in place noted.
136. Iron ore. Fifteen feet beneath this lie thin beds
of concretionary iron ore. In the talus of the cliffs and
wash of the stream may be found many masses of this ore,
having the appearance of fragments of bodies and branches
of trees, crooked, gnarled, and forked in a very curious
manner. A sample of the ore sent to Greenville furnace
several years ago was said to have yielded a large per
centage of iron ; but the supply, although considerable, is
not sufficiently concentrated to make the mining of it profit-
able.
McLanahart s quarry.
137. This quarry is of the same description as the others
along this ridge. It furnishes both white and yellow sand-
stone which is somewhat irregularly bedded but massive,
and contains iron concretions and a few pebbles near the
top of the mass.
138. Glacial stria. On the summit and at the com-
mencement of the southeast slope (elevation 1315') are a
number of plainly marked glacial grooves on the rock, run-
ning in directions between S. 37 E. to S. 58 E.
Hazen coal mine.
139. About two miles east of Atlantic station a summit
is reached which rises to an altitude of 1413' above tide,
being the highest point found in this part of the survey.
GARLAXD CONGLOMERATE. III. 49
140. Coal. This ridge contains a good but uncertain,
seam of coal which has been exposed on the northerly side
in a number of places on the Hazen farm and adjoining Mil-
ler farm. Several attempts have been made to mine coal
here, since the year 1851, but they all seem to have ended
disastrously.
In 1864 or 1865 considerably money was expended at the
Ilazen mine, in laying a tramway, opening a drain at a lower
level (which was rendered necessary by the strong south-
erly dip of the coal) and making the needful preparations
for a systematic working of the seam. It was operated for
about two years, during which time quite a large amount
of coal was taken out, but the enterprise proving unprofit-
able the mine was abandoned. The drift having since partly
fallen in, and the drain being choked, the mine is so full
of water that no satisfactory examination can be made.
The coal can be seen slowly dipping to the south and run-
ning below water level. Its thickness is from 2 feet 6 inches
to 3 feet, and it appears to be of good quality. But the
deposit partakes of the same character as all the other coals
of this horizon. It lies in swamps or beds of uncertain
limits and is liable to thin out or terminate abruptly any-
where. But as the mine has been so long in disuse, little
reliable information could be obtained concerning it.
It was impossible also to get a complete section of tlie
rocks at the mouth of the drift, but the one below will give
some idea of the stratification.
Concealed from surface, (1413',) 38' to 1375'
Yellow sandstone, visible for 10'
Black shale, visible for 4'
Concealed to top of coal, 13' to 1348'
Coal, 3' to 1345'
Concealed, . 7
White sandstone, visible for 10' to 1328'
141. Borc-Jioles. Many of the land owners in this
neighborhood have entertained the idea that a better bed
of coal would be found by shafting below the Hazen seam ;
and to test the matter several bore-holes have been sunk.
Mr. 0. K. Miller gives, from memory, the following frag-
mentary facts concerning them.
4 III.
50 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
One bore-hole, 45' deep, was put down on the farm of T.
J. Miller, a little west of the Ilazen mine, commencing just
below the coal horizon. In this a two feet seam of coal was
reported, but at what depth could not be stated. This was
in 1848.
In another bore-hole sunk from nearly the same level and
to the depth of 85', an 8-inch seam of coal was said to have
been found within three feet of the bottom.
Two other bore-holes were drilled on the south side of the
ridge, on land of 0. K. Miller, "at about the level of the
cross-roads," (which would be 1363' above tide,) one 45 feet
deep, and the other 87 feet. Both passed through thin
seams of coal, but at what depth can not now be remem-
bered.
The records of these drillings, kept only in memory, are
so imperfect that we did not think it worth' while to make
further inquiries about them. Such fragmentary accounts
of old prospecting ventures are more likely to mislead than
instruct.
142. Dip rate. He f erring to the profile, it will be seen
that the Hazen coal bed lies 20' higher than McEn tire's, and
24' higher than Mushrush's, which would imply (if they
all belong to one seam) a dip toward the north of about six
feet per mile. But the Hazen mine dips so strongly to the
south that the difficulty of drainage was one of the causes
of its abandonment. It is an open question, then, whether
these several coal beds lie at different horizons in the sand-
rock, or whether there may not be a slight anticlinal be-
tween the Hazen and the McEntire openings.
Henry 1 s run.
143. Eighty rods south of Atlantic Station, on the At-
lantic and Great Western railway, along the banks of a
small stream falling into Crooked creek, may be seen a par-
tial exposure of measures below the Garland conglomerate.
They consist of blue and brown slaty-shale, inters tratified
with thin plates of false-bedded shaly sandstone, and occa-
sional lines of kidney ore, all remarkably non-fossil if erous.
143. Drift. While along the high ground just de-
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 51
scribed very little coarse northern drift is to be seen, here,
on the contrary, it appears in quantity, as if driven over
the comb of the hill, and dropped in the valley. As the
stream enters these drift-deposits the bottom-flat widens,
and the current sweeps from side to side, cutting in places
down to bed-rock, through ten feet or more of Drift, so im-
pregnated with iron that the water- worn material of which
it is composed has nearly all of it a rusty cast.
144. Below the railway embankment crossing Henry's
run the stream is thickly strewn with thin plates of sand-
stone, reddish, fine-grained, hard, and having a metallic
ring when struck with the hammer. These must have come
down from the upper part of the shales ; for, all of the
rocks exposed directly above the creek bed, and along its
lower cliffs, are of soft slate or shale, and some of them are
so exceedingly fissile that they weather down into thou-
sands of small pieces. These lower shales are also discolored
by iron.
Fiicoids are found here, with wave-marks, on thin sand-
stones, and long branching cores, cast, evidently,- in mud-
grooves upon the shore.
Adamsmlle quarry.
145. Crooked creek section. The next exposure of sand-
rock to be noted is upon the hill on the west side of Crooked
creek, about one mile west of Adamsville ; descending from
which the following section was taken, along a little stream
which plunges in a waterfall over the quarry rock, and then
makes a rapid descent through a deep-cut ravine into the
valley of Crooked creek.
Elevation of top of exposure above ocean, .... 1240
Sandstone, massive, coarse, yellow and white, contain-
ing iron concretions and clay balls, 8 to 1232
Shale, blue, friable, 2 to 1230
Sandstone, thin bedded, and dark shale, warped and
irregular, in layers half an inch to six inches thick,
and containing impressions of plants, 5 to 1225
Shale, blue, sandy, friable, 35 to 1190
Sand plates, thin, with shale partings, 10 to 1180
Shale, blue friable, 40 to 1140
Sandstone, yellow, thin bedded, 5 to 1135
52 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
Sandy shale, 20 to 1115
Shale interstratified with thin sand banks, 30 to 1085
Shale, blue, friable, with an occasional thin layer of
flaggy sandstone, 35 to 1050
Concealed to water of Crooked creek, 54 to 996
A few fossils were found here, as Productus, Amculo-
pecten, Strophomena, Spirifer, and Fucoids.
Snodgrass ore bank.
140. About half a mile west of Adamsville quarry the
summit of the ridge between Crooked creek and the She-
nango is reached at an altitude of 1360' above ocean, and
on the commencement of the western slope, 30' below the
crest, lies the Snodgrass ore bank, on the farm of J. M.
and Robt. Snodgrass.
This is a rich deposit of iron ore 1 foot C inches in thick-
ness, in basin shape sloping on all sides, but of nearly uni-
form thickness over quite a large area in the centre.
Extensive operations were carried on here in ISou, and
large quantities of ore were taken out and delivered by teams
to the furnace at Greenville. It was worked profitably by
stripping, being covered by only about 9 feet of surface
clay and 3 feet of black bituminous shale; but the losses
incurred by the failure of the parties contracting for the
ore caused mining to be suspended. No doubt large quan-
tities of the ore still remain under the hilltop.
147. Coal. In digging a drain from this bank a thin
seam of coal is said to have been discovered. Indications
of coal are also vaguely reported in several other places on
the summit.
Christy s quarry.
147. This quarry lies a mile and a half north of Snod-
grass' s ore bank and at an elevation which fixes its horizon
at the latter place beneath tJie ore.
White, irregularly bedded, coarse-grained sandstone is
exposed for 10', but no doubt it extends down deeper, and
the top has evidently suffered some erosion at the quarry.
The rock fractures quite irregularly, but works easily when
first quarried, and hardens on exposure into a firm and
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 53
durable stone. Contorted masses of carboniferous plants
occur in some parts ; a few iron concretions and numerous
clay -ball pockets are seen, but no pebbles.
148. The knob containing the sandstone is the highest
in the vicinity, and covers an area of perhaps 100 acres.
149. Glacial scratches. On its -gentle southwest slope
a portion of the top of the rock can be seen, polished and
grooved by glacial action in a direction corresponding to
the contour of the surface.
150. The ice conformed to tlie present topography. ~ -It
may be remarked here in relation to these striated rocks, a
number of which have been previously mentioned, that
while the grooves all have a trend pointing plainly to
to a general movement of the sculpturing agent toward the
south or southwest they at the same time, as far as my
observation goes, conform universally in detail to the out-
lines of the present topography of the country wherever
they are found. For. example, on the point of a ridge fall-
ing on one side to the southeast and on the other to the
southwest, the direction of the furrows will vary according
to the slope of the surface rock. It would appear then
that these groovings are not the inscriptions made by the
early glaciers, moving slowly and undeviatingly along their
track, but those of more recent and thinner ice-sheets which
split upon the resistant headlands and were deflected to the
right and left along the valleys, which therefore must have
been shaped then substantially as they are at the present
day.
Snodgrass quarries.
lil. Jamestown section. On the W. J. Snodgrass farm
one mile N. E. of Jamestown and just beyond the north-
east angle of the borough limits, the upper part of the fol-
lowing section was taken, and it is connected with Dr. Gib-
son's oil well record, near the base of the hill, in James-
town ; thus exhibiting the general features of stratification
at tliis point throu<:;h a vertical distance of 1283' and down
to a level 4.' below the surface of the ocean.
54 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F- CARLL.
Elevation of top of quarry above ocean, 1278
Sandstone, coarse-grained, friable, brown-
ish yellow, containing many fish re-
mains, 1 to 1277
Snodgrass Sandstone, false, bedded, laminated, yel-
Upper , low 4 to 1273
quarry. s an dstone, blue, flaggy, 5 to 1268
Sandstone, micaceous, slaty, thinly lami-
nated full of carbonaceous specks and
l_ carbonized coal plants, 2 to 1266*
Partly concealed, irregularly bedded, flaggy, fucoidal
sandstones exposed at frequent intervals, 41 to 1225
( Sandstone, massive, yellow, containing a
Snodgrass | f ew j ron concretions, and broken frag-
quarry. | ments of plants, 6 to 1219
^Sandstone, in layers from 1" to 3' thick, 6 to 1213
Partly concealed, (see explanation below), 140 to 1073
Christ v run 1
and
Gibson well J> Sandstone, flaggy, (see below), .... 12 to 1061
mouth j
quarry. )
[Continue down with Dr. Gibson's oil well record,
published in I.I., with the 2?o. 1187.}
Slate, soapstone, and hard shells, 90 to 971
Sandstone, fine-grained, blue, 20 to 951
Slate, blue, 65 to 886
Sandstone, whiter than the above (thickness estimated,) 25 to 861
Slate, blue, 90 to 771
Sandstone, coarse and pebbly, 18 to 753
Slate and soapstone, soft, 92 to 661
Red rock and hard shale, 100 to 561
Hard sandy slate, 50 to 511
Black slate, 200 to 311
Black slate, no sand, 315 to 4
152. On Cliristy run. Following down a small stream
(called above Christy run,) which falls over the lower mem-
ber of Snodgrass quarry and runs in a southerly direction
into the Shenango, the measures are not very well exposed ;
but occasional glimpses caught of them in the side w ils of
the ravine are sufficient to satisfy one that they are a com-
paratively homogeneous mass of sandy shale similar to
those seen below the Adamsville quarry.
153. Cliristy run quarry. In this ravine at a vertical
distance of 140' (by barometer) below the Snodgrass Lower
quarry another quarry is worked which shows a face of
about 12', and furnishes a bluish-grey, flaggy, sandstone
some layers of which are locally from 8 to 10 inches thick.
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. Ill, 55
The same sandy band, but not so well defined may be seen
just at the mouth of Dr. Gibson's oil well and again along
a little run north of the well.
154. Fossils. Mr. J. Dennison who has taken out a
large quantity of stone from the exposure in the ravine,
states that he found large numbers of fossils, principally
Discina and Spirifer, near the base of the rock ; some line
specimens of which he kindly donated to the survey. We
did not discover any colonies of fossils at this horizon, but
obtained several single specimens.
15,1 Gibson' s oil well. The record of Dr. Gibson' s well
was, unfortunately, not kept with sufficient care to give us
a faithful representation of the strata passed through. The
so-called Third sand is no doubt correctly located (as to
depth) in the section ; but the positions of the other sands
are somewhat uncertain ; and the quality of intermediate
strata is very vaguely stated. If this so-called Third sand
really belongs to the Yenango oil group it probably repre-
sents not the Third but the First sand on Oil creek.
The distance from the Snodgrass lower quarry down to it
is 442 feet ; which agrees, approximately, with the corre-
sponding interval as measured in Yenango county. But
this of itself is not sufficient to prove its identity with the
First Sand of Yenango county. It may be a different rock,
not at all connected with the' Yenango group. The question
could only be satisfactorily settled by a careful examina-
tion of the character of the measures above and below it in
the well ; but as the sand pumpings were not preserved, this
of course cannot be done. I therefore give the section, as
above, merely to show the general character of the lower
measures in this part of my survey.
J. II. Christy 1 s quarry.
150. Snodgrass Lower quarry rocJc. About a mite and
a half east of Jamestown and one mile south-southeast of
the Snodgrass quarry there is a very good exposure of the
Snodgrass lower quarry rock. It may be seen in two places
just above the forks of a little stream flowing into the She-
nango, and about half a mile north of the highway.
56 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
The following is the section at that point :
Elevation of top rock above ocean (barometer), .... 1190 .
Sandstone, yellow and grey, sometimes massive and in
layers from 2' to 3' thick; quite coarse-grained, iron-
stained, and containing many impressions of carbo;.-
ized plants, 8 to 1182
Sandstone, thin-bedded (plates, 1" to 8"), 12 to 1170
Shale, blue, visible for 10 to 1160
Concealed, 10 to 1150
Shale, blue, 45 to 1105
Sandstone, flaggy, visible for 1 . 10 to 1095
/Survey continued.
157. From Jamestown southwest our levels were con-
tinued to the dividing ridge between the Shenango and Py-
matuning, &tKi,nney's Corners (cross roads) in the extreme
northeastern corner of Trumbull county, Ohio. The high-
est point (hill top) in this vicinity, a short distance south of,
and 30' higher than Kinney's cross-roads, has an altitude
above tide of 1191'.
158. No sandrock was seen in place here, everything
being completely covered with Drift ; but the indications
are that this little rise in the general level of the crest marks
the horizon of the Snodgrass lower quarry rocJc.
159. Conglomerate. Sweeping around at Kinney's Cor-
ners from southwest to west no deposit of conglomerate can
be reached within a distance of about 30 miles. Every vest-
age of it has been removed from all the northwestern town-
ships of Trumbull county, Ohio ; although it remains in
great thickness in the eastern tier of townships of Geauga
and Portage townships.
We must look to the south, then, along this Pymatuning-
Shenango ridge for the connection of our GARLAND CON-
GLOMERATE with the OHIO CONGLOMERATE and our Sub-
Garland yellow sandstone with the SJienango sandstone.
l6o. Ohio conglomerate. The first prominent exposure
of Ohio conglomerate is at Hobarf s quarry in the south-
east corner of Kinsman township, about 4 miles south of
Kinney's Corners.
Half a mile southeast of this at Foulke 1 s quarry in Mercer
cer co.. Pa. a higher stratum of sandstone is exposed which
GARLAND CONGLOMERATE. III. 57
is probably the one lying above the Orangeville coal beds
further south.
Mr. Foulke has drilled here .for coal and find a 10' sand-
stone 95 feet below the quarry rock which seems to be the
Shenango sandstone. This sandstone is also exposed in a
small stream falling into Booth run about a mile and a half
south of Mr. Foulke' s.
A mile and a quarter southwest of this point, and two
miles north of Orangeville, both the Conglomerate and She-
nango sandstone outcrop one above the other in the cliff
facing the Pymatuning.
About two miles east of these outcrops the Sharon coal
is mined quite extensively.
Tims the GARLAND CONGLOMERATE may be traced step by
step until it is found coalescing with the Oino CONGLOMER-
ATE beneath the Sharon or Block coal. It is unnecessary
to go further into details in this report of my work of 1875
since Prof. White's systematic survey of Mercer county in
1878 (See Report QQQ, already published) fully confirms
and establishes the connection.
CHAPTER VI.*
On Hie Panama conglomerate.
161. This conglomerate, which takes its name from the
place of its best exposure, in the village of Panama, Chau-
tauqua county, N". Y. appears to have a considerable range
of exposures in a northeast-southwest direction.
But at right angles to this line of its best development
that is in a southeast direction it seems to dip rapidly be-
neath the general level of the country, to lose its conglom-
eritic character, and by reason pf a great acquisition of
* Report of work done in 1875.
58 II]. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
argillaceous material, soon becomes unrecognizable, (even as
a well pronounced horizon of sandy shale, ) where .pierced
by borings for oil.
162. The Panama conglomerate has often been men-
tioned by geologists, in the same category with the con-
glomerates of Ellicottville or Salamanca, Olean, Wellsville,
or Genesee, and Quaker-Hill or Garland.
Consequently, it has been represented lying at the base
of the coal measures ; which conveys an entirely wrong im-
pression of its true age and stratigraphical position.
163. On the other hand also, the Panama conglomerate
has been frequently referred to as a Chemung rock ; and
also as the northerly outcrop of one of the Yenango oil
sands.
The first classification is unquestionably erronious ; and
there are grave reasons for doubting whether the latter be
absolutely correct.
164. As the rock can only be properly studied along its
outcrop, we have been compelled to trespass upon 'New York
territory, and devote some time to an examination of its
exposures in Chautauqua county, in order that we might
become acquainted with its character and position there,
and thus be better qualified to follow it in its southern ex-
tension into our own State.
But this examination has not been thorough enough to
dispel entirely the obscurity which surrounds the subject,
and I am still unable to indicate positively the precise hor-
izon of this interesting deposit in our oil well sections;
and chiefly for the reason before stated, viz : that it fines
down into shale and is lost before reaching the oil-produc-
ing districts.
165. The facts about to be given, however, lead clearly
to the folloAving conclusions :
1. That it is an older rock than the conglomerates of
Olean, Garland, &c., and therefore is not of carboniferous
age.
2. That although actually of Chemung age, it probably
is not the equivalent of any one of the oil-producing sand-
stones of Yenango county, lying much deeper in the series.
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 59
Panama rock city.
1GG. At Panama a north and south ridge, rising on the
west of Little Brokenstraw creek, and containing the rock
in place, is cut through by a branch heading in the high-
lands to the northwest.
This branch seems to have formerly plunged over the face
of the escarpment of sandstone forming the west wall of
the valley of the Little Brokenstraw ; but it has now cut
back a gorge, half a mile or more long.
At the present head of the gorge the waterfall is quite
inconsiderable, except in times of freshets, and the descent
over the ledge of pebbly sandstone is made in two leaps,
with a sloping cascade between. The bed of the ravine is
crooked and obstructed by large blocks of conglomerate
dropped from the nearly vertical side walls of the gorge.
It is a picturesque spot, p resenting attractive features to
the lover of romantic scenery ; and it opens to the student
of nature instructive pages in the physical history of the
globe, both as to the attitude, structure, and constitution of
this remarkable deposit of ancient gravel and sand ; and as
to the fossil forms of life, which are in great abundance, en-
tombed in it, as well as in the shales underneath it.
167. Level above tide. To place its elevation above tide
beyond question a spirit-level line was run from grade at
Grant station, on the Atlantic and Great Western railway,
to the top of the rock, near the "Rock Hotel," Panama.
The rise was found to be 234'. This, added to the altitude
of Grant station, (1437', as given in the R. R. levels,) gives
1G71/ as the true elevation of the top of the Panama rock
above mean ocean level, at this point.
1GS. Thickness. On the northerly side of the ravine,
a short distance from "Rock Hotel," the base of Hue con-
glomerate is well exposed by a cutting for a mill Hume.
Leveling to this point made the rock 69' thick.
169. Under-sJiales.llvYQ the rock is seen resting on
bluish-green shales, very argillaceous and considerably dis-
colored by iron. About 25' of these shales are exposed ;
and beneath them, for 25' more, (which carries us down to
60 III. -REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
the level of the stream,) may be observed other blue shales,
much more sandy than the first, irregularly bedded, and
containing several bands richly stored with fossils.
170. The shape of the pebbles. The Panama rock may
be described as a massive conglomerate composed of quartz
pebbles and sand ; the proportion of sand to pebbles being
much larger than in many of the purely conglomeritic
masses of northwestern Pennsylvania. The pebbles whether
large or small, are almost always of lens shape. They sel-
dom measure an inch in their longest diameter ; but one
may occasionally be found measuring an inch and a half or
even two inches. They are generally of a very pure white
quartz, but some are pink ; and quite frequently one may
be observed of red or slate colored jasper.
One of the first things which attracted my attention while
examining the Panama rock, was the marked contrast in
form between the pebbles composing it and those of the
Pennsylvania conglomerates whicli I had been studying.
In these last as far as I have observed them, the pebbles
are universally of an irregularly spJieroidal sliape ; Avhile
in the Panama rock the pebbles are as characteristically
lentiforrn ; a spheroidal pebble being as much an exception
to the general rule at Panama, as a lenticular pebble is at
Lottsville or Garland.
Whether this diversity in the shape of the pebbles amounts
to positive proof that the rocks belong to different ages or
horizons I do not pretend to decide. But it seems quite
improbable, to say the least, that two conglomerates so en-
tirely dissimilar in structure and in the shape of the peb-
bles composing them, as the lock at Lottsville, and the rock
at Panama, separated also as they are by a geographical
interval of less than ten miles, should be deposited by the
same mechanical agents, and at the same time.
Certainly the shape of a pebble must depend not only
upon its constitutional structure, but also in great measure
upon the manner in whicli the frictional forces have acted
upon it. If it has been constantly subjected to a rotary or
rolling motion, it would assume a spheroidal form-if abraded
by sliding and alternate movements backward and forward.
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 61
without rolling, it must take on the lens-shape. But we
may ask if these varying conditions prevailed contempo-
raneously in these two localities so close together, and formed
such different kinds of conglomerate in one and the same
horizon, why should not similar conditions have occurred
and produced as conspicuously varied results in other places ?
I am not aware that there can be found in the whole range
of the Conglomerate series, a single instance where a flat
pebble conglomerate of the constitution of the Panama rock
is interstratined with the round pebble conglomerates char-
acteristic of the carboniferous age.
It seems quite probable that the original structure of the
q;iartz may have had something to do with the ultimate
shape of the pebble ; for in the flat pebble rocks of Chemung
and Pocono age the material has a tendency to a lamelate
fracture ; while the rounded pebbles of the Pottsville period,
break up into more approximately cuboidal masses.
I merely call attention here to these facts, for their sig-
nificance can only be properly understood after the subject
has received further investigation.
171. Alternate layers. The rock at Panama is made
up from top to bottom of alternating layers of sandstone
and conglomerate blending one with the other as the pro-
portions of sand and pebbles varied intermittently during
the deposition of the materials composing the rock. Fre-
quently a layer of pebbles consisting of only one course
may be seen running horizontally for rods along the face of
the cliff. The pebbles lie flat, and the sandstone having
weathered away from above and below them, their project-
ing edges jut out and glisten in the sunlight like a string
of beads suspended in front of the sandstone.
In some cases two or three courses of pebbles in imme-
diate contact have been deposited between purely sandg-
lasses, a foot or more in thickness. Several blocks with
this structure have fallen from the cliff in such a manner as
to split open along the line of pebbles, exposing two plane-
surfaces of sand-stone beautifully inlaid with a wonderfully
regular and uniform stratum of lenticular pebbles. The
whole aspect of the rock suggests the story of a gravel heap
62 III REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
along an ancient shore reached by occasional storms, the
waves of which have washed into the beach, the "back
tow" bringing out and distributing the pebbles systemati-
cally over a smooth and sandy floor.
172. Fallen blocks ; fissures. The disintegration of
the soft shales at the base of the conglomerate lias under-
mined it. Long ranges of rock have broken off in the lines
of cleavage (which here run about X. 00 W.) and settled
away one after the other from the undisturbed portion be-
hind them, leaving a series of fissures from 2 to 10 feet
wide separating the several portions one from the other.
These fissures are about 40 feet apart ; and the detached
projecting portions of rock are traversed by a secondary
series of transverse crevices, and thus split up into huge
blocks, 70 or 80 feet long. Some of the blocks along the
front of the escarpment have slipped down, rolled over,
and now lie near the bed of the stream, 50 feet below.
All the rock cities of southern New York and northwest-
ern Pennsylvania have been formed in a similar manner.
Many of them are situated on the highest hilltops, but they
are always composed of rocks in situ. They have neither
been brought from a distance ; nor have they been thrown
up to their present position (as popularly imagined) by
"convulsions of nature." Their formation has been as
slow and quiet as the operations of frost and water amid
which we live. They are merely the last remnants of thick
and extensive deposits of coarse sandstone that once covered
the country, and are now everywhere else removed. Their
preservation from the destructive erosion which has been
going on constantly for an untold number of ages, removing
rock after rock above them, and carving out the valleys
hundreds of feet deep below them, must be ascribed to one
of two causes, or to both combined : either to their peculiar
position in relation to the eroding currents, and to the fact
that some great change in the direction and energy of these
currents occurred at just the proper time to leave the rocks
thus exposed to view ; or to the peculiaf constitution of
the deposit, its superior thickness, coarseness, homogen-
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 63
eousness, and consequent power of resistance, in those
parts of it now occupying these positions.
Range of exposures.
Taking Panama now as a central point, let us trace the
conglomerate and see what is its probable stratigraphical
position in the geological series ; in what direction it ap-
pears to thicken or thin ; how it dips and what changes of
constitution or character it undergoes in the several places
where it may be examined.
174. BlocJcmlle or AsTimlle exposure. Going to the
northeast, the first exposure found is on Stony ridge, about
a mile and a half north of Blockville and two miles north-
west of Ashville.
Here the rock assumes a mixed character. Some parts
are masses of pebbles loosely held together in a scanty
sandy matrix, easily disintegrated by moisture, frost, and
heat on exposure to the atmosphere, and utterly unfit for
architectural purposes.
Other positions afford a beautiful white and brownish-
grey sandstone suitable for monumental bases, lintels, or
any similar work.
The precise thickness of the whole stratum was not as-
certained, but it can hardly be less than fif ty feet.
Elevation (by barometer) of assumed base of rock 1660'.
175. Ellory Centre. Continuing to the northeast, we
cross Chautauqua lake, and find the last traces of the rock
(in that direction) in loose pieces, but apparently very near-
ly in situ, on the highest hills around Ellory Centre.
Elevation by barometer 1750'.
Huge erratic bowlders of gneissic rock are thickly strewn
over the hill slopes (especially the slopes facing the north)
to within 40 or 50 feet of the highest summits.
64 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
Beyond this in the same northeast direction there are no
hills high enough to hold the rock. If it even were depos-
ited there, it has been eroded off.
170. Williams' quarry, on the westerly slope of a hill
four miles north from Panama, has been worked for more
than forty years, furnishing stone for the Mayville court-
house ; and from layers which seem to be those at the base
of the Panama deposit.
The rock is a fine-grained, free- working, grey sandstone,
splitting smoothly and easily ; and readily wrought into
fence posts, or into square blocks of almost any desired
length. The upper pebbly strata are not present at the quar-
ry. The lower compact sandstone layers of the formation
underlie a large area covered by only a few feet of surface
clay ; and the upper rock surface beneath this clay is in
many places plainly glaciated, the direction of the ico
scratches being here nearly north and south.
Elevation (by barometer) of base of quarry 1660'.
On the rise of the hill 30 or 40 feet above the quarry, con-
glomerate precisely similar to Panama rock city may be
seen in place.
177. Lewis quarry. Half a mile west of Williams' lies
the Lewis quarry ; and at many other places in this vicinity
the rock could be easily quarried. The character of the
stratum is the same throughout, and there can be no doubt
of its equivalence to the Panama rock.
178. CJtaulauqua quarry. Near Panama station on
the Buffalo, Corry and Pittsburg railroad, five miles west
of Panama village, Messrs. Warren and Hammond of May-
ville have opened a quarry calling it by the above name.
It furnishes a fine-grained, compact, bluish-buff sand-
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 65
stone containing minute, evenly disseminated specks of
iron ; dresses very smoothly ; is said to weather without dis-
coloration, and to be very strong and durable.
The stratum worked is about 12 feet thick. Below it are
blue clayey shales ; above it thin bands of flat pebbles
loosely held in a sandy matrix and iron-stained. Probably
much more conglomerate of a massive character lies above
these thin bands since loose blocks are seen on the slopes
of the hill.
The bed of the rock dips very strongly in a north north-
easterly direction as shown by the water on the bottom of
the quarry ; but this may be only a local feature which will
not continue when the quarry is worked further in.
A branch railroad is laid up to the opening from the B.
C. and P, R. R. and they have now every facility for quarry-
ing and shipping an excellent material for monument cut-
ters and builders.
Elevation of base of quarry about 1600'.
Other exposures in Chautauqua county might be men-
tioned, but as they are all on the same range of rock and
these are sufficient for our purpose we now pass on into
Pennsylvania.
The Panama rock in Pennsylvania.
179. BleaJcsley quarry. Passing the State line and pur-
suing a southwest course the observer finds the surface of
the country heavily covered with northern Drift, and very
few attempts have been made to discover the underlying
building stone deposits.
On the Bleaksley farm, however, 3 miles south of Watts-
burg, Erie county, a quarry has been opened, exposing
about 15 feet of sandstone and conglomerate. The con-
glomerate is of flat pebbles, often thinly bedded and split-
ting in layers from six to twelve inches thick. Some of the
more sandy layers are quite massive and work up into good
building stone.
180. A drill hole for oil was here ".kicked down" a
hundred feet or more about the year 1864. It commenced
in the quarry-opening seven feet below the top of the rock
5 III.
66 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
and is said to have gone through 60 feet of sandstone at the
top. If this be true there must be a heavy deposit at this
point, and the base of the rock would lie at an elevation of
about 1340'.
181. Large blocks. Two miles south of Bleaksley's,
the same kind of conglomerate and sandstone lie scattered
along the foot of the hills skirting the westerly side of
Beaver run indicating close proximity to the rock in place.
182. Anotlier exposure of the rock occurs about three
miles southwest of Bleaksley' s on the farm of Mr. Doolittle,
where it is laid bare by a small stream falling into the west
branch of Le Boeuf creek, showing a thickness of about
15 feet and quite similar in appearance to the quarry last
noted. Elevation of base by aneroid 1330'.
183. Oil well. Mr. Doolittle furnishes from memory,
the following record of an oil well drilled here in 1860 :
Sandstone, (bottom layer of quarry rock), 2 to 2
"Soapstone," ' 40 to 42
Shelly sandstone, 88 to 130
Slate and shale, rather hard drilling 470 to 600
Gas and oil show all through the 88' of shelly sandstone.
Oil of heavy gravity translucent and very clear "looked
like honey."
Between 200' and 300' a restricted gas reservoir was tapped
which flowed strongly for two hours and then ceased.
The well was drilled wet and abandoned without pump-
ing. Drill hole 4 inches in diameter.
184. The next quarries of importance are those situated
in the southeast corner of Waterf ord township, Erie county,
on the adjoining farms of J. W. Middleton and J. McClel-
land. They have been worked for many years and are men-
tioned in Prof. Roger' s Final Report of 1858 as being of
considerable note when the first geological survey was made.
185. The Middleton quarry is now worked principally
for its flags. It turns out some very fine slabs of bluish-
grey sandstone from 3 to 5 inches thick, which find a ready
market as they are well adapted for sidewalks, curbing, &c.
A section of this quarry, from the top down, would be as
follows :
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 67
Flat pebble conglomerate, irregular, false bedded and contain-
ing many fossils, 2'
White sandstone quite massive, 2'
Bluish-grey flags in layers from 3 to 5 inches thick, 4'
Flaggy measures said to underlie the band now being worked, 15' ?
No systematic quarrying lias been done to make it abso-
lutely certain that there remains 15 feet more of flags below
the 4' band now worked.
The barometric elevation of the conglomerate is 1275'.
186. Moravian or Carroll quarry. The last ledge of
this rock in a southwest direction is at the old Moravian
quarry near Le Boeuf. Here some fine building-stone is
obtained, and being on the line of the Atlantic and Great
Western railway and only a few feet above railroad grade,
it is easily shipped to all parts. Consequently the quarry
is more extensively worked than any of those previously
mentioned, except perhaps the Chautauqua quarry.
The section exposed here is as follows, from top down :
Fossiliferous sandstone, crowded with spinfers and ryncho-
nellas, 2'
Blue, friable shale, 15'
Flat pebble conglomerate, containing fossils and similar to
Middletown quarry, 2^'
Barometric elevation of conglomerate, 1220'
"Yellowish sandstone, with pebbles in seams and pockets, . . 2^'
White, massive sandstone, 5'
Yellow, massive sandstone, 6'
Average fall per mile.
187. We have now followed the Panama conglomerate
for about 35 miles in a southwesterly direction ; from its
scattered remnants on the highest hilltops in the centre of
Chautauqua county, N". Y. to its last appearance, a few
feet above the waters of French creek in the southern part
of Erie county, Pennsylvania.
The difference in altitude between the points of starting
and ending is 1750' 1220'= 530' : an average fall of about
15 feet per mile.
This rate of descent carries it down below the surface to
the southwest of Le Boeuf, (if it continues on in that direc-
tion,) and we get no further traces of it.
68 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHIS" F. CARLL.
Influence on the topography.
188. It is worthy of passing note that this range of the
Panama conglomerate, probably the line of its maximum
development, crosses Chautauqua lake at the "narrows;"
and the peculiar "saddle-bag" outline of the lake, which
is said to have suggested its Indian name, Chautauqua, is
no doubt due to this fact.
A stratum of massive sandstone interbedded between
softer measures and coming up from the south with a very
perceptible rate of ascent, could not fail to be influential
here in lining out the drainage channels of the pre-glacial
system, as well as in directing, locally, the flow of the great
glaciers themselves.
From Chautauqua lake to Le Boeuf, a high range of hills
marks the trend of the Panama conglomerate and forms
the water shed for streams flowing in opposite directions.
One branch of French creek rises to the north of the ridge
and within five miles of Chautauqua lake ; another branch
to the south of it, near the east line of Erie county, Pa. ;
the two streams running southwesterly, and gradually con-
verging, as the conglomerate sinks in that direction, until
they meet near Le Boeuf, where the rock has lost much of
its massive character, is thin, and lies not far above the
flood plain of the creek.
The southerly water-shed of the ridge, in Chautauqua
county, drains quite directly south, through numerous
tributaries of the Brokenstraw creeks ; but the deeply ex-
cavated basin of Chautauqua lake cuts entirely through
the range, and receiving the water from several small streams
rising on the great divide, within five miles of Lake Erie,
outlets toward the east into Conewango creek. The only
cuts, therefore, through the ridge are on the southwest,
where the Panama conglomerate is thin and has sunken
nearly to present water level ; and on the northeast, where
it is coarse and friable and is seen just scaling the tops of
the highest hills now remaining in the vicinity of Chautau-
qua lake.
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 69
Quarries in Erie and Crawford.
189. Many quarries have been opened in these counties,
to the northwest of the range of the Panama rock as we
have traced it. Some of them have been wrought for years,
supplying building stone for the villages, and dressed blocks
for the old canal locks, so frequently mentioned in the Final
Report of the First Geological Survey.
An examination of a large number of these quarries has
led to the conclusion that none of them can certainly be
classified with the Panama conglomerate. They belong to
no one constant horizon, but lie at various levels in the
softer measures ; and are due to comparatively local causes
operating during the deposition of the rocks, and resulting
in an intermittent and varying supply of fine sandy sedi-
ments carried along to be deposited at one time in this
place, at another in that.
The variable character of these strata is clearly indicated
in the Final Report of 1858, Vol. 2, page 583, where, speak-
ing of the numerous quarries of this section, it says : ' k The
thickest arenaceous beds measure in some places 12 or 15
inches, and where a number of them occur together with
only thin partings of shale, the mass is quarried as a build-
ing material. It is seldom possible to
trace a particular stratum of the sandstone for any consid-
erable distance, for the beds soon thin oif, or deteriorate for
economical uses, by becoming too argillaceous, and thus
they fade into the great body of the formation."
An inspection of the old canal locks, now fallen in decay,
and many of them being torn out for the purpose of secur-
ing the dressed stone for other uses, shows that some of the
material of which those in this section of the country were
constructed is not of an enduring quality. A majority of
the blocks have weathered badly, some presenting de-
squamated faces and rounded corners, while other have a
tendency to split into thin laminae, causing them to fall to
pieces in removal, and are fit only for rough walls. These
characteristics, so entirely dissimilar to those pertaining to
more massive formations like the Panama conglomerate, are,
aside from other considerations, trustworthy witnesses in
70 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F CARLL.
favor of the argument that the quarries furnishing the ma-
terial do not belong to the Panama horizon.
Panama fossils.
190. One of the exceptional features of the Panama
rock, as compared with other conglomerates, is the great
abundance of fossils found associated with it, and even in
the pebble-mass itself. A large number of specimens have
been collected from it, embracing
Euomphalus depressus. * Rhynchonella.
Cypricardia rJiombea. Productus.
" contracta. Fucoids.
Spirifer disjunctus.
At Williams quarry a small fragment of fisli bone was
found ; and at Chautauqua quarry several casts of plants,
too imperfect to be identified, one of them two inches in
diameter and over two feet long coated with a thin film of
coal containing iron pyrites.
Associated Strata.
191. Let us now look at the associations of the Panama
conglomerate.
The measures below it come up to daylight and spread
out over all the belt of country between the line we have
followed and the shore of Lake Erie. They have been
recognized on all hands as of Devonian age, and those im-
mediately under the conglomerate as a portion of the Che-
mung group, as indicated by James Hall, in 1843. There
can scarcely be a question raised, therefore, in relation to
the age of these lower measures.
192. But the equivalence of the measures above the
Panama rock, by reason of confounding this conglomerate
with the conglomerates at the base of the coal measures,
has been brought into dispute.
Within three miles of Panama, in going south, south-
west, and west, we may pass over and inspect from 125 feet
to 225 feet of the softer measures superincumbent on the
conglomerate. They can be critically examined in many
exposures in this locality, and always present the well-
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 71
known characteristic features of the Chemung group blu-
ish-green, olive, and brown shales, with occasional local
acquisitions of sandy matter, resulting in restricted and
irregular bands of thin-bedded, flaggy sandstones.
They also contain frequently recurring fossil bands
crowded with Spirifera, Rhynclionella, &c.; forms which
seem to be identical with those found in similar fossil bands
below the conglomerate. There are no massive sandstones ;
and nothing to indicate that any of the great changes had
yet occurred which are so plainly recorded in the character
and arrangement of the sediments composing the oil pro-
ducing rocks of Yenango and those above them. There
seems to be no good reason, therefore, why these upper
measures should not be considered as belonging to the same
Chemung age as those immediately below the conglomerate.
Dip and physical changes in the Panama rock, going
south.
193. Little Brokenstraw creek flows in a southerly di-
rection from Panama, crossing the State line about five
miles below the village, and continuing on 13 miles further,
empties into the Big Brokenstraw at Pittsfield in Warren
county, Pennsylvania.
Following down the stream for two or three miles from
Panama the*presence of the Panama rock is plainly marked
in several places on the west side of the valley, by steep
bluffs which indicate unmistakably the position of the
stratum although it is so drift-covered that no exposures
are seen.
But at a point a little over three miles (in a direct line)
from Panama, the "Eureka oil well," put down in 1869 (?)
gives the position of the rock beyond a question.
194. Eureka well. The record can now only be obtained
from memory, and the precise depths and thicknesses of
the different strata drilled through cannot be stated in de-
tail ; but the general facts are these. The drill started on
top of the Panama conglomerate. It passed through sand-
stone or sandy measures from 60 to 80 feet thick. Then
came an interval of blue, muddy rocks ; then a heavy stratum
72 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
of very red shale ; then soft drilling, with some thin, fine
sand-shells ; and finally, quite a coarse massive sandrock
18 feet thick, which seemed to contain considerable oil.
The drill was sunk in slate 15' below this sandrock, and
stopped at a depth of 456 feet from the surface.
On the test of the well it produced only a "good show"
of oil and was abandoned.
One remarkable feature about the well was, that without
casing of any kind to keep out the water, it was virtually
a dry hole all the water seeping into it from the upper
rocks could be bailed out in a few minutes at any time with
a sand-pump.
195. In this record we have two important facts to work
upon the top of the conglomerate and the presence of red
rock beneath it and not far below its base.
As to the conglomerate, there can be no mistake. Its
pebble-covered top is visible at the well mouth and in the
bed of the little side-hill gully in which the well is located.
Lower down in another gully branching to the west, the
water is seen coming over sandy layers in water-falls, and
the structure can be well observed. The rock is not homo-
geneous and massive throughout, as at Panama, but con-
sists of quite a massive stratum of pebble-sand on top,
then fine greyish sandstones in layers from 6 to 15 inches
thick. There appears to be several bands of these thin
sandstones, separated by thin, soft, greenish shales, and
the total thickness of the whole mass exposed cannot be
more than 25'. But there may possibly be sandy shells ex-
tending down further, as would seem to be indicated by the
well record.
Elevation of well mouth and top of conglomerate 1569'.
Top of same rock at Panama 1671'.
Fall per mile nearly due south about 32'.
196. No further exposure of this rock in place was
found south of the well. But on the farm of Mr. E. Bord-
well, about one mile south of the State line and on the west
side of Little Brokenstraw valley a very interesting exhi-
bition of conglomerate occurs in loose blocks covering per-
haps 40 or 50 acres of ground at an elevation of about 30'
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 73
above the creek bottom. At first sight they have the usual
appearance of blocks of this character skirting an outcrop.
They lie at proper level to correspond with the dip brought
down from Panama through the Eureka oil well, and it can-
not be positively asserted that they are not in close prox-
imity to the rock in place.
But here we are met by a difficulty. If the conglomerate
be in place, it is much more massive and ponderous than
anything discovered about the Eureka well, and it is very
surprising that no traces of it, even as a thin bedded sand-
stone, was found in the Lottsmlle oil well, 3 miles down
stream ; and that no other outcrop of it is known on either
side of the valley south of the State line.
A study of the surrounding country, however, afforded
a plausible account of the presence of the blocks in this
place. They lie on the west side of the stream, at a point
where there has evidently been a moraine, or Drift-dam,
across the valley, in precisely the spot where they would
naturally have been deposited if brought down by ice from
the hills at the north. The moraine has since been cut
through by the stream, leaving a vertical wall of 20' to 30'
of Drift on its easterly bank, and these conglomerate
masses intermixed with erratic bowlders of gneissic rocks
on the west.
I am not certain that this is the true solution of the
problem, for time and circumstances did not permit of as
full an investigation as was desirable to settle the question ;
but if the rock be here in place, it adds additional proofs
to the strong dip of over 32' per mile observed between
Panama and the Eureka well.
197. The Lottsmlle well, drilled in the autumn of 1877,
is five miles from the Eureka well, and its height above
tide 1450'.
With a dip of 32' to the mile (see 195 above) the top of
the Panama conglomerate should lie in the Lottsville well,
41' beneath the surface, i. e.
Panama conglomerate at Eureka, 1569'
Dip, 32' per mileXo miles=160', 1409'
Mouth of Lottsville well, 1450' 1409'=41'
74 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
But the well-record asserts that for the first 90' there is
nothing but sandy shales ; and then, 20' of soft red rock.
As the red rocks underlie the Panama conglomerate hori-
zon (see 195 above) in the country to the north, and as the
dip would bring it down into the ninety feet above them
here, there is but one conclusion possible, viz., that the
Panama conglomerate (coming south) has lost its massive
character and been converted into shales or thin argilla-
ceous sandstones.
The alternative that the rate of dip has been overestimated,
and that the Panama horizon overshoots the top of the
Lottsville well, is negatived by the fact that, in the bedded
rocks exposed in a ravine for a considerable distance above
the oil well, some greenish-blue flags have been quarried,
here containing very curious fucoidal impressions on their
surfaces ; but there is no well-marked horizon of massive
sandstone exposed.
Unavoidable inferences.
198. These meagre data are all that have been secured
in relation to the Panama rock in this part of the State,
and it is a matter of great surprise that a rock exhibit-
ing such massive proportions as this at Panama (and on
the range northeast and southwest, containing the quarries
above mentioned) should so quickly merge to the south and
southeast into the thick masses of sandy shale accompany-
ing it, and become unrecognizable as a distinct stratum in
the numerous wells of that section, and in the many cliffs
and gorges where a sandstone might reasonably be expected
to indicate its presence in the topography at least, although
generally so drift-covered as not to be actually in sight.
199. If the Panama rock were one of the Venango oil-
sands, as has been claimed for it, we should expect to find
some geographical sandstone connection between it and the
particular oil-sand (whether the 1st, 2d, or 3d) which is sup-
posed to represent it.
Any range of sandrock in Venango county from 20' to 7(X
thick, outcropping as a conglomerate of similar thickness
along the Panama range, only 25 miles to the northwest of
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 75
the oil-belt, would be likely to show unmistakably its hori-
zon in oil wells drilled between the oil-belt and Panama.
But the fact is, over more than one half of this inter-
vening area we get no reliable expression of eitlier the Pan-
ama rock or the Venango oil-sands even approximating to
their normal condition ; and in the other half of the area
what indications of them we do get only serve to prove
that the Panama rock is not stratigraphically identical with
either of the three (or more) oil-sands ; and that they differ
materially also in their respective rates of dip towards the
south.
200. Another and collateral proof that the Panama rock
is not one of the Venango oil sands is deducible from the
abundant evidences presented on all hands of a total dis-
similarity in the structure of the oil sands and associate
measures when mewed as a group from the structure of
the strata accompanying and including the Panama rock
when viewed as a group.
Facts presented in other parts of this report show that
the Venango oil-rocks constitute one well-defined and con-
sistent group of sandstones, shales, slates and, red rocks ;
and that the sandy members of this group whether three
in number, as first discovered on Oil creek, or six or seven
in number as afterwards developed in Butler county may
all be included between two horizontal planes not more than
350' (on the average) vertically apart.
If now the Panama rock be one of the oil sands we should
reasonably expect to find some of the other members of the
group accompanying it. If it be the First sand, then some
evidences of the presence of the Second and Third should
appear at proper distances below it. If it be the Third sand,
then surely some traces of the First and Second should be
found above it.
201. Sub-Panama measures. An oil well put down
immediately at the base of the conglomerate at Panama to
the depth of 1200 feet encountered nothing but soft shales
and slate in the whole distance.
Other wells at Clymer, Columbus, Corry, Union and else-
76 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
where near the range of best development of the Panama
rock tell the same story.
Neither do the outcrops further north, where the under -
measures expose themselves on the surface, bring up to view
any sandstone at all comparable with the oil sands.
Therefore the Panama conglomerate cannot be regarded
as the First oil sand, for none of the associate lower mem-
bers of the group accompany it.
202. Super- Panama measures. In going over the hill
west of Panama to Panama station we can examine 225' of
measures overlying the conglomerate.
In going from Panama south to the Eureka well we can
examine 125' of the same measures.
In the railway cut along Coffee creek valley, 1 miles
southeast of Bear lake station (A. and G. W. R. R.) where
the top of the conglomerate is probably 30' beneath grade,
we can examine more than 200' of the same measures.
Nowhere does a sandstone stratum appear such as should
be expected if the conglomerate be the lowest oil-rock.
203. In this Coffee creek valley are several cuts, and in
the deepest one appear the following rocks :
Drift on top of the point of hill cut through, 10'
Shale, sandy, with thin sandstone layers, 10'
Shale, brown, friable, 20'
Sandstone, one persistent plate, three inches.
Shale, brown, 4'
Sandstone, fine, false-bedded, blue, 4'
Shale, brown, 6'
Total, 54'
204. The bed of Coffee creek as it leaves its winding
course through the hills and enters the broad valley near
Pine creek station lays bare many fine exhibitions of wave
marks. Numerous fossil bands are found here and some
in the railway cuts, in which Spirifer predominate, some of
them being of very large size. All the fossils have a CJie-
mung aspect and seem to be identical with those found
above the Panama rock in all this section.
205. The Panama conglomerate, then, tried by this test
cannot be the Third or lowest oil-sand ; for there is plenty
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 77
of room for the Second sand, at least, if not for the First,
to appear above ; but nothing of the kind can be seen.
206. It follows as a matter of course, that not being the
First, nor the Third, it cannot be the Second oil-sand ; and
we must conclude that the Panama rock is not any one of
the Venango oil-sands ; but that it is a GJiemung rock, of
greater age, lying at a greater depth ; and that it fines away
rapidly going south and southeast ; and blending with its
associate measures soon becomes untraceable in that direc-
tion.
207. It seems superfluous now to attempt to prove that
the Panama rock is not the equivalent of the Garland con-
glomerate, with which it has often been confounded ; but a
single fact bearing on this point may be added here.
On the west side of Little Brokenstraw creek, about half
way between Lottsville and Wrightsville and seven miles
southerly from the Eureka well, a rock city of unmistak-
able Garland conglomerate may be seen on the crown of
the ridge.
It is near our line run (over the State road) in 1875, and
its top lies about 1950' above tide. The top of the Panama
rock at this point should be approximately, 1345.*
Here then we have a vertical interval between the hori-
zons of the two rocks calculated to be more than 600', and
that too without taking into consideration the notable fact
that the Panama horizon is apparently dipping south at
about double the rate of the Garland horizon.
The Salamanca conglomerate.
208. To the foregoing summary of facts in relation to
this rock west and south of Chautauqua lake, we have now
to add others east of the lake, pointing to the same general
conclusions.
209. A line drawn from Panama to the long famous
Ellicottmlle or Salamanca rock city, placed upon the ridge
between the streams of Little valley and Great valley, 3
miles north of Salamanca, in Cattaraugus county, N. Y.,
* At Eureka well 1569', 7 miles dip at 32' per mile 224'. 1569224=1345.
78 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
would pass over an area of comparatively low levels, the
face of the country having here been subjected to excessive
erosion, which has cut down the measures in most places
below the horizon of the Panama rock.
This break is so wide (about 40 miles) and the chain of
outcrops is so completely interrupted by it, that it cannot
easily be decided whether the Panama and Salamanca con-
glomerates belong to the same horizon or not.
210. Dennis oil well. After making a hasty examina-
tion of 'some of the exposures of the Salamanca rock, in
southern New York, it was thought advisable to secure a
complete record of an oil well on one of the highest hills
in the vicinity of Bradford, McKean county, Pa., so that
the position of the rock might be definitely fixed at that
place, to assist in ascertaining its dip and studying its asso-
ciations. This section was completed in February, 1878,
and is given in a subsequent chapter. It will be seen,
however, on reference to the record, that it does not, as was
hoped, unravel the knot, but rather complicates the prob-
lem by the total absence, in the suite of specimens pre-
served, of any sandstone corresponding in quality to the
Salamanca rock.
This absence would be a matter of great surprise, were
we not, in a measure, prepared for such a result by the ab-
sence of any good representative of the Panama rock in
the wells holding a similar southerly relation to it, as de-
scribed above.
We have seen that the Panama rock becomes unrecog-
nizable in the Lottsmlle well, ten miles south of a 70' out-
crop of it at Panama.
Just so, now, at Bradford, twelve miles south of Carroll-
ton, where a good exposure of the Salamanca conglomerate
may be seen, we are unable to fix the horizon of the Sala-
manca rock in the Dennis well, by the lithology of any
rock drilled through ; for there is nothing like it in the
well- section from top to bottom.
211. This similarity in the physical habits of the two
rocks (the Panama and the Salamanca] is suggestive at
least of a similar origin and like conditions of deposition ;
PANAMA CONGLOMERATE. III. 79
and it may be noted as one of the facts in support of the
argument that they both belong to one formation, although
their stratigraphical horizons may not be absolutely or pre-
cisely identical.
212. The failure to find the Salamanca conglomerate
decidedly developed and plainly located in the Dennis well,
and the discovery of other rock cities on the hills border-
ing the Tunangwant creek, between Carroll ton and Brad-
ford, which have not yet been systematically traced, but
which apparently lie between the horizons of the Salamanca
rock and the Glean (Garland) conglomerate, makes it im-
prudent at present to attempt to fix the precise relative
positions of these several strata.
It appears most probable, however, that there are three
ranges of conglomerate sandstones, if not more, outcrop-
ing along these State line hills -all forming rock cities of
similar character, where the conditions are favorable ; and
that they have all heretofore been regarded as parts of one
and the same stratum.
213. If this view of the structure should prove to be
correct we shall then have in descending order the follow-
ing series of sand formations locally conglomeritic :
1. Olean, (=Garland:=Sharon=Ohio.)
2. Sub-Olean, (=Sub-Grarland=Shenango.
3. Tunangwant.
4. Salamanca.
5. Panama.
But we must await further investigation before the true
sequence can be satisfactorily established.
80 III.
Plate XXII.
SketchMap showing the geographical position
of Well Sections given on Plates IV. V. VIMXII.
CHAPTER. VII.
On the Mountain sand series, and its contrast with tJie
underlying Oil sand group.
[Illustrated by Plate IV, Figs. 5 to 12.}
212. The Pleasantmlle section. In Report of Progress
I, 1874, a typical section made from oil-well records was
given, to show the general geological structure of the meas-
ures drilled through at Pleasant ville in Venango county.
At that time but little field-work had been done and the
collection of facts was not adequate for a proper compari-
son and correlation of the leading members of the forma-
tion, except over a very limited area. Subsequent investi-
gations, covering a broader field and affording better op-
portunities for a correct interpretation of structure, make
it evident that some modification should now be made in
the section referred to.
213. The designations First, Second and Tliird Mount-
ain sands, used provisionally in 1874, answered very well
for the purposes of that local report ; but, to adhere to the
use of these ordinal numbers still, after the comparison of
oil well and surface sections has been extended southwest-
ward to the very borders of the State of Ohio, and north-
eastward into the southern counties of the State of New
York, would only perpetuate confusion in our geological
nomenclature. Other rocks than those thus numbered in
early oil well borings have been found intruding into the
series ; and to these additional rocks fixed geographical
names have been assigned in districts outside of and adjoin-
ing the oil regions proper. I propose therefore to adopt in
this report such geographical names, and to drop the use of
the terms First, Second and Third Oil sands as no longer
available.
6 III. < 81 >
82 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
214. The The First mountain sand appears to occupy
the horizon of the Connoquenessing sandstone of Butler
county, and the Kinzua creek sandstone of McKean county,
and may as well therefore be spoken of when occasion re-
quires under one of those two names.
215. The Second mountain sand cannot indeed be robbed
entirely of its name for reasons that will make themselves
felt in future pages of this report. But whenever it is thus
spoken of, the name must be accounted as a mere synonym
for the Garland conglomerate, and not at all as an index to
the numerical position of the rock in relation to other sands
in the series. To the oil men it will always be the Second
mountain sand ; but to the geologist it will sometimes have
another number in the series. But it will always be the
Garland-Olean-STiaron-OJiio conglomerate. The reason for
this will appear further on.
216. The Third mountain sand will receive in this re-
port a new name, the Pithole grit.
This rock was first recognized as a persistent sandstone in
the Pithole oil wells, being well developed in all that coun-
try, and making conspicuous outcrops along the Allegheny
river on the south and along Oil creek on the west.
The term grit sufficiently designates it as a sandstone ;
but what is more important, will serve to associate it in the
reader's mind with the Berea grit of Ohio, which seems to
have been a cotemporaneous formation ; although the two
rocks have not been traced across the country towards each
other to a common place of actual meeting.
217. Neglecting for the present the mountain sands as
separate members of a small series, and grouping them and
their intervals together as a whole, I must now show that
they constitute one (and the upper member) of a larger
series.
The vertical section of rocks in the oil-belt, as exhibited
by the well-records, shows three characteristic subdivisions :
1. Mountain sands, so called by the oil well drillers.
2. Crawford shales, a group of shales and mud-rocks, in
the midst of which lies the PitJiole grit.
MOUNTAIN SAND SERIES. III. 83
3. Venango oil sands, a group of sandstones and shales
interleaved.
These names will be useful in denning those features of
hardness and softness by which the driller classifies the
rocks through which his well passes downwards ; but they
must not be taken by the geologist to signify formations of
three successive and distinct ages, plainly and absolutely
separated from each other. For such dividing planes can-
not be satisfactorily established from the imperfect records
of oil wells alone.
The oil miner's field of operation is large. He has
stretched a broad cordon of wells across Pennsylvania from
the Ohio to the New York State lines, and furnished from
them an amount of information bearing upon the general
underground structure that could have been obtained in no
other way. But any attempt to work out the complete
geological column of the country which he has thus per-
forated at numberless points, or to define the precise limits
of the great Palaeozoic formations known in eastern Penn-
sylvania as Nos. VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII, solely from the
data thus obtained, would only result in diiappointment
and confusion.
In this report I limit myself to the study of the well
records strictly as well records ; and by comparing one
record with another I shall endeavor to establish the general
features of structure throughout the oil district / leaving
the special surveys of adjacent districts to determine how
far the several upper Palaeozoic formations can here be
recognized.
218. The unity of the Venango oil group, or rather its
uniformity as an oil-producing formation, is the first fact to
illustrate.
It is important to state the fact clearly at the outset, that
throughout the whole area which has afforded the Venango
oil, that is, along the entire length of the oil producing
belt (or belts) of country, the structure of the oil-sand-
group is virtually one and the same. On the other hand,
the moment we leave the oil-producing-area to the right or
84 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
left, the internal constitution of the oil-sand-group becomes
quite different.
All the wells which pierce the oil producing belts exhibit
remarkably the same group of oil-sands. All wells put
down outside of these belts exhibit quite a different kind
of deposits when they reach the plane of the oil-sands.
219. To make visible this prime fact of the geology of
the region I have selected several series of oil well records,
ranged along certain geographical lines upon the map ; some
of these lines following the general northeast-southwest di-
rection of the oil belts ; others diverging more or less at
right angles from it and crossing the barren country.
The locations of the wells chosen for this representation
are shown by spots upon a, sketch-map, given on page 80
above, which extends from Tidioute in Venango county to
Pittsburg. Five wells in Venango county are so marked ;
10 in Clarion county ; 3 in Armstrong ; 7 in Butler ; 2 in
Allegheny ; 3 in Beaver ; 3 in Lawrence ; and 1 in Mercer.
The vertical sections into which the records have been
translated occupy Plates IV, V, VI, VII and XII, accom-
panying this volume ; and they are arranged with the south-
westernmost to the left, the northeasternmost to the right
of the reader as he sees them on the map.
220. TJie first series to be discussed (see Plate IV, Figs.
5 to 12) is composed of wells stretched along a line of about
80 miles in a southwesterly direction extending from Pleas-
antville in Venango county to Smith's Ferry, at the Ohio
State line, in Beaver county.
Fig. 5. Smith's Ferry, Ohio township, Beaver county, Pa.
(Record from Report Q, page 270.)
Fig. 6. Ohioville, Ohio township, Beaver county. (Re-
port Q, p. 271.)
Fig. 7. Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Economy well No.
2. (See Appendix.)
Fig. 8. Iron Bridge, Perry township, Lawrence county,
Nesbitt or Chew well. (See Appendix.)
Fig. 9. Cove Hollow, Slippery rock township, Lawrence
county, Nesbitt or Shaffer well. (Appendix.)
MOUNTAIN SAND SEEIES. III. 85
Fig. 10. Muddy Creek, Brady township, Butler county,
John Smith well. (Appendix.)
Fig. 11. Bullion, Clinton township, Yenango county,
Phillips Bros. well. (Report I.I., No. 1093.)
Fig. 12. Pleasantville, Venango county, Reliance well.
(See Appendix.)
221. Between Pleasantville and Bullion the essential
elements of structure are so uniform and they are so well
established by records from the large number of wells
drilled in the interval, that there is no need of introducing
intermediate sections between these points.
A section made from one of the valley wells at Bullion
is used, because no detailed record of a hill-well could be
obtained. The length of column is sufficient, however, for
all the purposes of this comparison". It shows the oil group ;
an interval with red rock above the First oil sand; then a
20 foot sandstone with another mass of soft rock above it,
and then a heavy sandstone at the top.*
The stratigraphical agreement between the Pleasantville
and Bullion sections is so apparent that there can be little
risk of error in identifying the sandstones and shales in one
well with those lying at the same horizon in the other, and
we thus trace a continuance of the Oil creek structure nearly
to the southern limits of Yenango county.
222. A similar arrangement of strata might be shown
to prevail in oil wells at Tidioute and Colorado in Warren
county ; Church run in Crawford county ; and Sugar creek
and Raymilton in Yenango county, f
223. Southwest of Bullion. In carrying forward our
comparison of sections to the southwest of Bullion, the
*The record gives no intimation of the constitution of this 100' SS., but it is
most probable that it contains shaly layers near the centre as shown at the
corresponding horizon in Fig. 10, and is not a massive sandstone from top to
bottom as here represented.
f Going still further northward, the outcrop of the Garland conglomerate
(with the Pithole grit where the exposures are favorable, appearing at the
proper distance beneath it) might be traced in the hills of Warren county at
Tidioute, Garland and West Spring Creek; and of Crawford county at Sparta,
Meadville, Evansburg and Jamestown. But these details need not be repeated
here as they have been sufficiently described in preceding chapters of this re-
port.
86 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Ferriferous limestone (the "key-rock" of the Butler county
driller) becomes an important auxilliary and guide. It is
well to note, therefore, that its place in the Bullion Run
section would be about 870 feet above the First oil sand;
which fact is ascertained thus :
At Clintonville, 3| miles southwesterly from Bullion run,
the Ferriferous limestone is found in the hilltops, and
wells drilled near its outcrop show an interval of about 870'.
On the highest hill immediately south of Bullion the
limestone and underlying shales cannot be found. They
have been eroded off. The erosion seems to have been
checked by the Homewood sandstone, which usually lies
from 30' to 50' below the limestone.
Wells on this hill find First sand at 830 to 840 feet ;
which would make the interval between the Ferriferous
limestone and First sand, at this point, agree substantially
with that observed at Clintonville.
224. John Smith well. We may now pass on to Fig.
10, which is made from the register of the John Smith well,
put down in 1877, by Messrs. Phillips Bros., in Brady town-
ship, Butler county, southwest (and about sixteen miles in
advance) of the termination of the Bullion Run develop-
ment, and twenty miles from the location of Fig. 11.
The section is so remarkably in accord with the two al-
ready compared, that it might be viewed with suspicion as
having been made up from some established formula, in
conformity to the views of those who always find the rocks
"regular" no matter where they drill, did it not present
in itself many strong evidences of its fidelity to truth, and
were we not assured by the owners of the well that it was
carefully watched and measured by themselves while being
drilled.
The record need not be accepted, however, on its own
merits alone. From the Ferriferous limestone down to the
red rocks and First oil sand it is confirmed in a remarkable
manner by wells not far distant from it on Wolf and
Slippery Rock creeks wells put down by other parties,
and whose records have probably never before been brought
into comparison with this well.
MOUNTAIN SAND SERIES. III. 87
Below the red rock there is a marked disagreement be-
tween the Smith well record and the others ; but this is not
at all surprising ; it is, in fact, in keeping with observed
facts in well, developed territory, where the oil group
changes materially in structure, or fades out quickly, in
directions transverse to the trend of the deposit.
225. If then the Smith well section may be relied upon
there need be no hesitation in concluding that the general
structure shown in the oil wells of Yehango county pre-
vails here also ; and we may now take this well as a pivotal
point from which to carry forward the further identifica-
tion of these measures to the northwestward, to the west-
ward, and to the southward.
226. Southwest of the Smith well. Continuing our
course in the same direction, then, we may now compare
the Slippery RocJc well, Figs. 9 and 8 ; the Beaver Falls
well, Fig. 7, and those near the Ohio line, Figs. 6 and 5.
227. The Ferriferous limestone is not seen in any of
these sections, as it lies above their tops.* But since it is
seen outcropping above the well mouths, on the hillsides
along Slippery Rock creek and the Beaver river, its place
over each section is readily ascertained ; and the sections
are adjusted mutually by reference to the horizon of the
limestone, f
228. Tlie Mountain sands unreliable guides. The
variableness of the several members of the sandy deposits
belonging to the Mountain Sand series is well illustrated
in these figures ; as indeed it is in every case where well
sections are placed side by side for comparison.
It is quite evident from a study of these sandy deposits,
that no one of them, however locally thickened or largely
developed in this or that particular locality, can be trusted
as a sure guide to the geology (whether in an oil well, or in
a surface section where the rocks are exposed to view) any
further than it can be actually traced without break from
* Only the Ohioville well is high enough to catch it, and in the record of this
well it is wanting, the deposit being either absent, or so thin and poor as to
be overlooked by the driller.
f This is shown by the addition to the Beaver Falls well of a portion of
Prof. White's surface section, given in Report QQ.
88 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
place to place. When a sandstone is once lost sight of it
is very hazardous to attempt to take it up again in a dis-
tant place without other proofs of identity than an appar-
ent similarity of composition and structure ; for it is plain
to see that the Carboniferous measures are full of these
varying strata, and one band of them often imitates so
closely another in all its characteristics that no depend-
ence can be placed on any one of them unless its identity
is well assured by collateral evidence.
229. Reliability of well records when properly
grouped. I have said a great deal in other places about the
unreliability of well records. It is quite true that in most
cases they are faulty in detail, and particularly so in their
upper parts ; but whenever a number of them are available
for comparison in the same locality the general structure
can be made out almost to a certainty. The Slippery Rock
wells furnish an instance.
The record Fig. 8 exhibits the sandstone producing
heavy oil, which must have been wanting (or very poorly
developed) in record Fig. 9 ; for it is not probable that the
drillers overlooked it, since it is one of the oil horizons
which they were searching for, and the place of which they
were well acquainted with.
Again, a combination of the two sections Fig. 8 and Fig.
9 taken thus as a type of the stratification in that locality
harmonizes well w T ith section Fig. 10.
So, too, a combination of Figs. 5 and 6 confirms the
structure of Fig. 7.
But if we had merely Figs. 6 and 7, or merely Figs. 5
and 9, and no more definite horizon than the sandstones
themselves to guide us, a mistake might easily be made in
attempting to identify any particular stratum in one well
with that in another.
230. These sections on Plate IV are given, it must be
remembered, for the purpose of correlating the geology of
Venango and Butler counties, along a geographical interval
of about fifty miles. And they are amply sufficient for the
purpose ; seeing that they are confirmed by scores of other
wells along the line.
MOUNTAIN SAND SERIES. III. 89
The uniform thickness of the 'Crawford shales between
the Mountain sands and the Pithole grit, the persistency
of the Pithole grit, the interval of shales always to be
seen below it, carrying the characteristic red rock of this
horizon, and the well-sustained integrity of the Oil group
at nearly every point, clearly establish the identifications
here claimed.
231. The red rocks grow thin in a southwest direction
from the Smith well to Slippery rock creek.
The Venango oil sands as a group not only thin away,
but disappear and are wanting in the Slippery Rock coun-
try.
Both these guides to the mutual adjustment of the well
sections are therefore lost, as we proceed southwestward.
But on the other hand, the Ferriferous limestone in the
hillsides above the derricks becomes a good guide horizon.
From the Ferriferous limestone down to the Red rocks
the section type on Slippery rock is very much the same as
that on Muddy creek.
From the Red rocks down to the Oil sands there is great
variation, as just observed. But the variation is confined
to this interval. Whatever may have been the cause pre-
venting the deposit of the Oil sand group in the Slippery
rock vicinity, it evidently operated only up to the time of
the deposit of the Red rocks. After that time uniform de-
posits were spread over both districts, and .the well sections
become generally alike, up to the Ferriferous limestone.
232. Southwest of Slippery rock. At Beaver Falls and
Ohioville the Ferriferous limestone is the key rock.
In this part of the country the cause which prevented the
oil group deposits 'on Slippery Rock creek seems to have
lasted longer. Its effects are observable in higher strata ;
above the red rocks. Not only is the Oil group cut out,
and also the red rock over it, but the sandstone deposit oc-
cupying the horizon of the Pithole grit is enlarged: the
shaly interval above the sandstone becomes sandy ; and thus
the true base of the Mountain sand series becomes some-
what obscure.
233. The Homewood and Connoquenessing sandstones.
90 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN E. CARLL.
fortunately, can now be added to the Ferriferous limestone
as guides.
These constitute two well marked horizons, quite reliable
as bases of measurement for adjusting our well sections :
the Homewood sandstone at Beaver falls and Smith' s ferry
the Connoquenessing sandstone (seen lower down in the
sections Figs. 5 to 10) containing in some places thin beds
of shale, but recorded variously as 84', 40', 50', 67', 75' and
100' thick.
234. PitTiole grit. The general harmony of structure
being thus well established, there can be little doubt that
the Eighty foot sandstone at Beaver Falls is the equiva-
lent of the Pithole grit, which we have therefore now traced
through from Pleasantville in Venango county to the Ohio
State line.
235. The Amber oil and Heavy -oil horizons. It fol-
lows from this study of our sections that the Ohioville am-
ber oil must be derived from the horizon of the Pithole
grit, which also furnishes amber oil in small quantities on
Slippery Rock creek.
It follows as logically, also, that the Slippery rock heavy
oil is found in one of the lower members of the Mountain
sand series, an horizon which also produces heavy oil in
many wells at Smith' s ferry.
CHAPTER VIII.
On tlie identity of the Pithole grit with the Berea grit.
[Illustrated by Plate JF, Figs. 1 to 4.}
236. The Pithole grit forms one of the most prominent
features in the sections referred to in the foregoing chapter.
It appears to be more constant in its horizon, and to pre-
serve its identity more unmistakably than any of the other
sandstones along the line where the wells are located. We
know, however, that in some parts of Clarion county and
Butler county it is very inconstant, and is frequently un-
recognizable.
It may be well then to examine somewhat into its north-
ern and western extension with a view of ascertaining its
character in that direction, and seeing what the probabili-
ties are of its being the equivalent of the Berea grit in
Ohio, the oil-bearing rock of the Mecca oil district.
237. Four well sections are added to those described
above, on plate IV, to assist in this investigation.*
Fig. 1. The upper portion of the deep well at New Castle
in Lawrence county ; continued upwards as a generalized
section of the surface rocks, after Mr. Chance's survey
along the Shenango river valley, in 1875. See Report of
Progress V, page 228, Fig. 151.
Fig. 2. The John Smith well in Brady township, Butler
county. Its rocks have been identified in the description
of Fig. 10. See 224 above.
* For full records of these wells, see Appendix.
( 91 III. )
92 HI.
Plate XXIII.
PITHOLE GEIT. JII. 93
Fig. 3. The upper portion of the deep well at SJiaron in
Mercer county ; continued upwards by the addition of Mr.
Chance's section of the surface rocks.
Fig. 4. The Raymond well, No. 6, at Raymilton in Ve-
nango county; continued upwards so as to include the
Mercer coal group outcrops, in the hillsides above the well
mouth.
238. In studying sections made from the records of
wells drilled outside of the oil producing areas, where the
Oil sand group is not found in its integrity, and the sur-
face rocks belong to the Mountain sand series, errors of
identification may readily be made if one is compelled to
to depend on the well records alone.
In all cases where it can be done, then, it is advisable to
lengthen the well section upwards as high as to the outcrop
of the Ferriferous limestone on the hill slopes. With this
key rock in the sections comparisons can be confidently
made with other wells situated in any direction. This plan
has been adopted in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 ; which are all four
adjusted to a horizontal line above the well-mouths repre-
senting the position of the Ferriferous limestone.
239. The horizontal coincidence of the horizons of lime-
stone, coal and red rocks in these sections leaves little
room to doubt that the Pithole grit is represented lying at
a depth of 382' in the New Castle well by the 78' sand-
stone, and of 185' in the Sharon well by the 75' sandstone.
240. The Mecca oil Jield in Trumbull county, in Ohio,
lies about eighteen miles northwest of Sharon.
The geologists who have surveyed the State of Ohio assert
that the oil-bearing rock of that district is the Ber.a grit,
named from the famous quarries worked at Berea, Inde-
pendence, Amherst, and other places in that State.
If, then, the 75 foot sandstone in the Sharon well could be
shown to be the equivalent of the Mecca oil-rock, the pro-
priety of identifying the Pithole grit of Pennsylvania with
the Berea grit of Ohio could hardly be questioned. But as
no well sections offer themselves for comparison across this
interval of eighteen miles, we are compelled to resort to a
94 III. k REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
calculation of dips, and a consideration of collateral evi-
dence. *
241. The following figures, taken from the Ohio Geo-
logical Reports, show the relation of the Berea grit to ocean
level at the places named. See map, page 92 above.
Above tide.
Near the mouth of Vermillion river, ...... base 673' top 733
Amherst ..................... "714
Elyria, ..................... "638
Berea, ........ (80' thick,) ....... "713
Cuyahoga Valley, N. line of Summit Co., ..." 748
774
698
793
808
1081
Little Mountain, ................
Where the base of the rock is given in the Report, I have
added a constant 60' to get the top elevation, which may
not be absolutely correct in every instance.
The levels of places further east, determined by our sur-
vey, are as follows :
Above tide.
Powers Corners, oil-bearing rock, (Berea Grit,)
Mecca town, O., ................... top 915*
Jamestown, Mercer Co., Pa., . . . (Berea?) .....
Sharon, Mercer Co., Pa., (Pithole grit,)
New Castle, Lawrence Co., Pa., . . " "
Meadville, Crawford Co., Pa., ... " "
Ray mil ton, Venango Co., Pa., . . . " "
Fresh- Water rock, at Warren, Ohio, (Berea?) . . .
1095
715
428
1303
765
242. The calculated average dip per mile of the Berea
grit is then as follows, (in feet :)
A. From Little Mountain, Geauga Co., O.
* It is not to be supposed, nor is it here or anywhere else in this report in-
tended to be asserted, that this stratum of sandstone (or any other in fact)
lies in an uniform plane, susceptible of accurate and indisputable tracing in
this or that direction, by the extension of the slopes which are known to ob-
tain in on locality, into an undeveloped district miles in advance. Undoubt
edly there are slight undulations and warpings in the most undisturbed of-
strata; but it is nevertheless evident from experience in similar* cases that
the general gradual southwestward and southward sinking of the formations,
relative to ocean level will plainly manifest itself when a considerable dis-
tance intervenes between the points of comparison, whatever local irregular-
ities may exist. The figures given in the text, therefore, are not intended to
represent the exact slopes of the Berea grit, or of the Pithole grit ; for in
some cases, no doubt, the formations run across slightly disturbed areas; but
they show the position of the rocks approximately; and they thus indicate
the horizon at which one may reasonably look for them, in sections.
* By barometer observation.
PITHOLE GRIT. III. 95
1. Southwest to Berea, 8'
2. South to Cuyahoga Valley, 9'
3. Southeast to Warren, Trumbull county, O., ....... 8'
4. Southeast to Powers Corners, (Mecca,) 5'
B. From Jamestown, Mercer county, Pa. :
1. West-southwest to Powers Corners, Ohio 9.5'
2. Southwest to Warren, Ohio, 12'
3. South to Sharon, Pa., 22'
4. South to New Castle, Pa., 15'
C. From Meadville, Crawford county, Pa. :
1. Southwest to Jamestown, Pa., 11'
2. South-southwest to Sharon, Pa., 18' .
3. South by west to Newcastle, Pa., 20'
4. South by east to Raymilton, Pa., 20'
D. From Powers Corners, (Mecca,) Ohio:
1. South by west to Warren, Ohio, 14'
2. Southeast to Sharon, Pa 12'
3. Southeast to Newcastle, Pa., . , 14'
E. From Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio :
1. East by south to Sharon, Pa., 3'
2. East-southeast to Newcastle, Pa., 10.5
F From Sharon, Pa. :
1. South-southeast to Newcastle, Pa., 15'
243. Of course, the concordance of these various calcu-
lations, even were it perfect, would not prove the rock at
all these points one and the same, i. e., Berea grit=Pithole
grit ; but it lends an additional reasonable coloring to the
hypothesis. For, in a country so little disturbed by crust-
warpings as this confessedly is, some reliable conclusions
may be drawn from a study of the slopes of the strata when
extended over considerable areas.
244. The remarkably uniform declension of the Oil
rocks towards the southwest, shown in the large diagram
Plate VIII, is merely a parallel fact, illustrative as well as
confirmatory of the general slope of the (higher lying) Pit-
hole-Berea grit in that direction.
245. The red rocks offer another open line of evidence
to the above presumed identity of the Pithole grit with the
Berea grit further west.
96 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
The 'probabilities of the correctness of the identification
are greatly strengthened by the fact that a thick and persist-
ent band of red shale is known to underlie the Pithole grit,
all the way from the south line of Warren county to the John
Smith well (Fig. 10) in Butler county, a distance of about
55 miles, that it appears in proper place at New Castle, 17
miles in advance to the southwest, and that the geologists
of Ohio state that in their northeastern counties the only
red rock known to them in this part of the geological col-
umn is the red member of tJte Bedford shale, which comes
in immediately below the Berea grit. *
* "Beneath the Berea grit, in northern Ohio, we find 70' to 75' of argillaceous
shale, of which the upper portion is generally of a marked red color, while
the lower portion is dark bluish grey. These shales are very variable in their
relative thickness, sometimes one or the other filling the entire interval be-
tween the Berea grit above and the black Cleveland shale below, sometimes that
interval being equally divided between them, and sometimes again one or
the other greatly preponderating, while both are present. In the section ex-
posed at Bedford the red shale is scarcely visible ; while it is met with at New-
burg, five miles distant, and in the hills east of Cleveland fills the larger part
of the interval that separates the Berea grit from the black shale which un-
derlies the East Cleveland quarries. At Berea and Elyria both shales are
visible ; while on the Vermilion which takes its name from this circum-
stance the red shale is much more largely developed and attains a thickness
of something like sixty feet." Geology of Ohio, vol. 2, page 90.
"Below the Berea grit comes in the Bedford shale, and this is exposed in
all places where the sandstone is cut through. In L/orain county the upper
part of the Bedford shale is generally red, and this will serve as a convenient
guide in future explorations made in search of the Berea grit, it being un-
derstood that the only red shale in the county lies immediately beneath the
sandstone. This red shale is well shown at the village of French Creek, in
the gorge- of Black river, at Elyria, in the railroad cut between Elyria and
Amherst, in the quarries at Amherst and in the cliffs bordering the Vermil-
ion in Brownhelm." {Vol. #, page 212.)
"In some localities [in Summit county] the Bedford shale is more or less
red, and has been here, as elsewhere, used as a mineral paint." Geo. Ohio,
vol. 1, p. 209.
"Section of the rocks in the valley of Black River:
1. Berea grit, thickness, 40' to 70'
2. Red shale, thickness, } ( ... 30' to 60'
3. Grey shale, thickness, 10'
4. Grey limestone, thickness, < Bedford shale, <j 5/ , to , g ,,
5. Calcareous shale, thickness, j I *'
6. Black bituminous shale, -\ . . . 27'
7. Gray shale, > Cleveland shale, < . 7'
8. Black shale, like No. 6, > ' . . . 50'
9. Grey shale to water-levelErie Shale, 40' "
(Geol. Ohio, vol. 2, p. 215.)
PITIIOLE GRIT. III. 97
246. The Red SJiale belt. In Pennsylvania this par-
ticular stratum of red shale seems to have been deposited
in a long irregular and comparatively narrow belt,* seldom
more than 12 or 15 miles in width. It is well developed at
New Castle, which is probably near the center of the de-
posit ; but only traces of it show at Sharon, on the north,
and none is seen at Beaver Falls, on the south.
In Ohio, red shales are noted at various places between
East Cleveland and the Vermilion river, and the limiting
lines of the formation may therefore be traced approxi-
mately as shown on page 92 above. The continuity and
constancy of this red band over such a stretch of country
can hardly be without some important significance in a
study of the structure where the deposit is found.
CHAPTER IX.
The two oil belts.
{Illustrated by Plates V, VI, VII; and diagrams, on pages 99, 101, IDS.]
247. No direct connection^ has yet been discovered be-
tween the Upper or Tidioute-Bullion oil belt, and the Lower
or Clarion-Butler Oil belt.f
248. The Upper belt. The present southern termina-
tion of the line of productive wells on the Upper belt, is
* The supposed limits of this belt are marked by dotted lines upon the
little map on page 92, above.
f The popular names Upper and Lower Oil belts have no geological value,
the rocks being the same. They do not mean two oil formations one lying
over the over; but two parallel strips of oil-producing territory one further
up country from Pittsburg than the other. It is a purely geographical dis-
tinction and has its convenience in being understood and used habitually by
all oil men. The two names arose naturally out of the fact that the Upper
Belt was first developed, far north, and high up the valley of the Allegheny
river ; while the later developed Lower Belt lies to the south and east of the
other, and crosses the river valley as low down on the Allegheny river as
Parker in Armstrong county.
7 III.
98 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
near Clintonville in Venango county. This is about 12
miles northwest of Columbia Hill in Butler county, which
is the nearest point of development on the Lower belt.
249. The Lower belt is known to extend south-south-
westerly from Columbia Hill into Summit township, Butler
county, some 20 miles ; and northeasterly into Elk town-
ship, Clarion county, some 15 miles. (See Map and Section,
Plate IX.)
250. The interval between the belts. The area of coun-
try separating the two belts (say 12 miles between Clinton-
ville and Columbia Hill, and 17 miles between Oil City and
Shippenville) has been tested in hundreds of places with
results in most cases quite unsatisfactory. Nevertheless,
several good pools of oil have been discovered, one on Slate
run and one at Gas City, both in Cranberry township, Ve-
nango county ; and subsequently one at Six-Points, near
Crawford's Corners, on the Venango-Butler county line,
about 3 miles west of Emlenton, the development of which
is now progressing. These however do not establish a con-
nection between the belts ; for the stratification is somewhat
irregular throughout all this district, as far as known, and
the continuity of the oil-producing rocks seems to be here
interrupted.
We cannot therefore speak of the Upper belt as being
directly connected by a line of paying wells with the Lower ;
yet the main structural features of the group in the Upper
belt are observable across the interval, and the rocks them-
selves reappear with their characteristic aspect as soon as
the Lower belt is reached.
251. The two belts are of the same age. That the de-
posits of the Lower belt have been subjected to more vicis-
situdes of water level than those of the Upper belt, result-
ing in a greater number of alternating bands of sandstone
and shale within the vertical limits of the group, seems
evident : yet it cannot be doubted that the deposits in the
two belts were being laid down at one and the same time.
They occupy the same geological horizon ; they are asso-
ciated with similar strata ; and they exhibit a like parallel-
ism of structure. Geologcally, therefore, the two belts may
Plate XXIV. III. 9 9
The Six Petroiia wells.
1. Tlieir geographical positions.
Morehead&L. JV?2.
2. The basal plane of the ferriferous limestone.
Its height above tide,and amount of slope in feet.
J. Tlie basal plane of the Mountain sand group
Its height above tide.arid amount of slope in feet.
100 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
be viewed as one and may be studied and described accord-
ingly.
252. The Ferriferous limestone is the drillers' key-
rock in Butler county and in some parts of Clarion. In all
places where it is found he knows very nearly the depth to
which his well should be sunk. The interval between the
limestone and the Oil Sands varies indeed somewhat in dif-
ferent places ; but the rate of the variation, in any given
direction is soon ascertained as development advances, and
the well-sinker seldom makes a mistake in his calculations.
253. From the Ferriferous limestone down to the Oil
sand group the distance is astonishingly constant, as will
be seen from the following tables :
DISTANCE FROM BASE OF FERRIFEKOUS LIME-
STONE TO TOP OF
1st SS.
3dSS.
4th SS.
In the Upper Belt.
At Bullion
870
823
847
860
898
942
980
'905
947
910
882
919
916
933
902
950
1105
1100
1075
1140
1147
1205
1205
1190
1226
1189
1182
1129
1155
1165
1185
1173
1170
1152
1152
1155
1214
1217
1285
1275
1270
1308
1234
1249
1189
1228
1270
1266
In the Lower Belt.
Edenburg (McGrew No. 4),
Columbia Hill (Columbia No. 4),
Parker (Sheasley),
Sheakley Station (Ed. Bennet),
Petrolia (Hazel wood No 21)
Karns (Matteson & McDonald),
Millerstown,
St. Joe (Mead well),
Carbon Centre (Thompson),
Across the Lower Belt ; E, & W.
Greece (Morrison), ......
Modoo (Sweepstakes),
Fairview (Sutton No. 4),
Between Petrolia and Kama (Evans No. 21) , . . .
Frederick (Kern No. 6),
Crisswell ( Boss Well)
254. The variability of the distance in different locali-
ties, observable in the above table is certainly less than
might be looked for under the circumstances. For the
limestone itself is slightly undulating ; the sandrocks, also
are locally irregular ; and the drillers measurements are
always subject to unavoidable accidental inaccuracies.
205. The maximum of interval appears, curiously
enough, to lie vertically underneath the maximum of lime-
Plate XXV.
III. 101
The SixPetrolia wells.
4. The plane of the top of the Oil sand group.
Its height above llde.cuicl amount of slope infect.
,140'.
149
The plane of the top of the Third Oil sand.
Itsheiqht above tide, and amount of slope infect.
-K5
6. The basal plane of the Oil sand group.
Its height above tide, and amount of slope in feet.
Scale 6400=1 Inch.
102 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
stone ; that is in the central portion of the great water-basin in
which the limestone was deposited. Now, if this be anything
more than an accidental coincidence, it suggests the proba-
bility that the interval does not keep on increasing south-
westward, southward and southeastward from Butler, where
both it and the limestone have reached their maxima of
thickness ; but that it will be less at Beaver Falls, Pitts-
burgh, Tarentum and Millville, where the limestone is com-
paratively thin. The sections to be given presently sup-
port this view of the case.
256. Local variability of the oil sands. To illustrate
the local variations which occur in so-called parallel strata,
not only in one locality and at one horizon, but everywhere
and in all sedimentary rocks, we give below an analytical
study of the six wells measured carefully for the survey,
while being bored, near Petrolia, in six little diagrams and
two vertical profile-sections, showing the undulations of
limestone and sandrock over a small area,* A glance at
these sections will suffice to impress upon the mind the rad-
ical contrast between the rude symmetry of nature and the
absolute parallelism of human art.
257. Sufficient data may be found in the chapter on the
Venango Oil group, in the diagram showing the dip of
the Oil Sands (Plate VIII), and in other parts of this Re-
port, to prove that the Venango and Butler oil-rocks were
cotemporaneous deposits and have a similar general struc-
ture throughout the oil producing districts. But in look-
ing for a geographical extension of the Oil Sand group
from the Butler oil field towards the southwest, south and
southeast, very important and significant stratigraphical
changes are noticeable ; so that any proposed identification
of the Butler rocks in wells at Pittsburgh, at Tarentum, or
at places further round toward the east, must demand care-
ful consideration.
To illustrate these changes, and the numerous obstacles
they place in the way of such identifications, I have pre-
sented on Plates V, VI and VII, four series of grouped
well sections, selected along lines starting from the oil belt
where all the features of its stratification are well known,
* Plates XXIV, XXV, XXVI.
Plaie XXVI. III. 103
TheSixPetrolia wells.
l.JVbrihern line of the polygon.
K"
Tide
1. NO 2 N? 6 TOe.^
>ioi JSase of
+M6 Jiase of
+ ii7 m^ tfernf. .Lime.
as Mountain- sands.
-1U74
90
mo Top of
449 Oil- sand,- group.
+140
fe]
-no Top of
-93 Third- oil-sand.
-19^
pS
Of
^)
J$a#e of Oil -sand -group.
2. Southern line of the polygon <
2K
Ti'rfe
1. N93. N94. N9
'<*
Ml ^*e o/*
^648^1/OZ^/:."
H033 Limestone.
K52 sands.
noo Toff of Oil
+119' &ctnd
110' Top of
-120' Third
4U oil-sand.
1
-19tf 7
-i\i
-211
/- sand-group.
Vertical sccde 8OO':l"
<Note. Figures in ovals GSb&c.are calculated.
104 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOim F. CARLL.
and running out in different directions into this unknown
territory thus :
Series 1. A line from the Mead well, near St. Joe in Done-
gal township, Butler county, to Tarentum in Allegheny
county. (Plate V. Figs. 13/14, 15, 16, 17, 18.)
Series 2. From Petrolia in Fairview township, Butler
county, to the Cherry Run well in Toby township, Clarion
county. (Plate V, Figs. 19, 20, 21.)
Series 3. From Oil City and Franklin in Yenango county,
to Clarion in Clarion county. (Plate VI, Figs. 22, 23, 24,
25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.)
Series 4. A cross line connecting the ends of the other
three, from Pittsburg to Tarentum, Cherry run, Clarion
and the James well, 7 miles northeast of Clarion. (Plate
VII, Figs. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.)
These four series of selected well-records will be discussed
in the following chapters.
CHAPTER X.
Series No. 1, Plate V. from St. Joe to Tarentum.
S&ries No. 3, Plate V. from Petrolia to Cherry run.
258. Fig. 13. Mead well near St. Joe, in Donegal town-
ship, Butler county (I.I. No. 1173). This record was made
from memory by the owner and the driller, who both as-
serted that it was as accurate as any written record could
be. It makes the interval between the Ferriferous lime-
stone and the oil group less than is given in other wells in
that vicinity. The well produced a large quantity of oil.
Fig. 14.. Thompson well at Carbon Centre, Summit town-
ship, Butler county (I.I. No. 1175). This well produced oil
from the 3d sand and was afterwards sunk to the 4th, where
a flow of gas was obtained sufficient to fire 20 boilers at the
neighboring wells, without any further increase of oil. Sup-
posed to be a reliable record.
259. Fig. 15. Summit well near Herman Station, Sum-
mit township, Butler county, (Appendix.) A fragmentary
record but good as far as it goes. This well was but a small
producer of oil being apparently near the southwestern ter-
mination of the Butler productive oil belt.
260. Fig. 16. Harvey gas well at Larden's Mills, Clinton
township, 'Butler county (LI. No. 1181). The first great gas
well from which pipes were laid to Sharpsburg, for the pur-
pose of utilizing the gas as fuel in the manufacture of iron.
(See Natural Gas in Iron working, Report L.) Record from
memory but said to be correct.
261. Fig. 17. Mohan well, Middlesex township Butler
county (I.I. No. 1182 and Q. page 81). This well produced
a little amber colored oil from the "1st SS." and black oil
at a lower horizon, but both in unremunerative quantities.
Two versions of the record are given by the owners, but
they do not differ in material points.
262. Fig. 18. Graff, Bennett & Co.' s well at Tarentum,
(105 III.)
106 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Allegheny county, Appendix. ) Xo oil was found in this
well. It produced only gas and salt water. The record
was carefully kept and the measures passed through at
this point appear to contain an unusual amount of fine
sandy sediment.
263. Three horizontal lines across Plate V will be
noticed by the reader.
The upper line is intended to show the approximate jflace
of the Ferriferous limestone.
The middle line indicates the approximate base of the
sandy measures belonging to the Mountain Sand series.
The lower line limits approximately the top of the Ye-
nango group of oil-bearing rocks. These lines will guide
the eye across the plate, and enable one to make compari-
sons more readily.
264. The Ferriferous limestone is shown in all the sec-
tions except in that of the Mahan well ; and here its hori-
zon is plainly indicated by the coal beds which accompany
it, which are placed at 290 feet, and 640 feet, (round num-
bers. ) The upper coal bed, underlaid by a limestone, (whose
thickness, 20 feet, is no doubt exaggerated,) must be the
Freeport Upper coal. The lower one must be either the
Clarion or the Brookville coal. The horizon of the Ferrif-
erous limestone, then, may be considered as well estab-
lished in all the sections.
265. But the base of the sandstones beneath the Fer-
riferous limestone seems ill-defined; partly by reason of
the incompleteness of the records ; and partly because our
line of study is not geographically coincident with the trend
of deposition. In addition to this, it passes over the
Brady's Bend synclinal and anticlinal, and w r ell down into
the fifth coal basin.*
266. Crawford Shales. Wherever the normal type of
*On the theory generally accepted that the anticlinal and synclinal struc-
ture of the country was accomplished as a whole, after the close of the car-
boniferous era, any reference to the Brady's Bend anticlinal and synclinal in
this discussion is unnecessary, since they did not exist when the Oil group
and Conglomerate rocks were deposited; but there is a feeling with some
geologists that the beginnings of the crust movements may have taken place
early in the coal era ; and been only consummated at its close.
TWO OIL BELTS. III. 107
stratification observed along the Oil belt does not obtain,
there the structure becomes obscure. The shaly interval
between the Mountain sands and the Oil sands, (the Craw-
ford shales, ) referred to more particularly in Chapter VIII,
when not found with its characteristic Pithole grit near the
center, may contain other sands in its upper or its lower
part ; and such sandy deposits might easily be mistaken
for members of the Mountain Sand group above, or of the
Oil Sand group below. For example
267. A Shaly Sandstone close over the First Oil-sand
is noted in the well-records of some localities.
This shaly sandstone, if we were not so well acquainted
with the constitution of the Oil group, might be considered
a part of it. But, after ascertaining the normal structure
by the examination of hundreds of well-sections, we can
say without hesitation, in cases where the integrity of the
oilsand group is best preserved without it, that this sandy
stratum must be merely a local interpolation of coarser ma-
terial in the muddy measures above the Oil-sands.
There is a great deal of sandy matter all through the
Crawford shale in some localities, and there can be little
doubt that occasional and local beds of sand were being
spread over parts of its area during the whole time of its
deposition. Changes of current and material undoubtedly
took place.
We have a striking proof of this in the fact that in one
district red shale was deposited immediately upon the First
Oil sand, at the commencement of the Crawford shale for-
mation.
In another place a few feet of blue shale was deposited
first and then the red shale ; and in another place blue shale
first and then sand. Why not then in other places sand
upon sand ; that is, a Crawford shale-sandstone upon the
First Oil sand ?
The line of division, then, separating the Oil sand group
from the Crawford shale group, would be locally an arbi-
trary one, and could only be drawn in agreement with the
harmony of structure above and below it, rather than from
108 III. EEPOKT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
any evidence furnished by the sand and shaly-sand deposits
themselves.
These remarks apply with equal force to the junction
plane between the top of the Crawford shale group and the
sandstone group above it.
268. The three geological divisions which have been
adopted, (Oil group, Crawford shale, and Mountain sands,)
appear in fact to blend together in such a way that no ab-
solute planes of separation can be discovered between them
in the oil well sections, except in certain localities, where
the conditions have been most favorable for marking in a
sharp and decisive manner the principal changes of de-
posit.*
*In eastern Pennsylvania, the measures between Chemung rocks and Serai
Conglomerate (No. XII) are of great thickness and the sediments seem to be
easily divisible into the three groups, named by Prof. Rogers, TJmbral, Ves-
pertine and Ponent, and in the Reports of the Second Survey, Mauch Chunk
red shale, Poc4no gray sandstone and Catskill red sandstone.
At Broadtop City, Huntingdon County, Mr. Ashburner gives their several
thicknesses as follows. (See Report F.)
Mauch Chunk red shale (Umbral), 1100'
Pocono sandstone (Vespertine), 2133'
Catskill red shale (Ponent,) 2680'
Total 5913'
At Liockhaven, Clinton County, Mr. Chance gives the following section of
them : in Report F.
Mauch Chunk red shale (Umbral), 100'
Pocono sandstone (Vespertine), 1175'
Catskill red sandstone and shale (Ponent), 2106'
Total, 3381'
In Venango county the total mass of all three formations has evidently
thinned down to 800' or 900', and with this diminution of volume there ap-
pears a corresponding alteration in the distinguishing lithological character-
istics of the several groups, and their characteristic fossils seem to be promis-
cuously intermixed, so that the palaeontological planes of distinction se'em to
disappear. In one place Chemuug and Catskill rocks cannot be distinguished
apart by their fossil contents. At another place the Catskill cannot be sepa-
rated from the Pocono. At another place the Pocono sandstone group (Ves-
pertine) apparently merges into the Pottsville conglomerate group (Serai);
and the intermediate Mauch Phunk, (Umbral) seems to have disappeared en-
tirely, or if present cannot be recognized by color, constitution or fossils.
Any single section of the rocks, as at Tarentum for instance, would" furnish
a very deceptive identification with strata of the same age in Eastern and
Middle Pennsylvania.
TWO OIL BELTS. III. 109
269. The three horizontal lines across the sections on
Plate V, while agreeing approximately with the vertical in-
tervals assigned to these measures in generalized section
Plate XI, must not be considered to represent absolute
planes of division between established geological forma-
tions. They merely accentuate to the eye of the reader
the prominent groups of sandstone and shale strata pene-
trated by the oil wells ; and render unmistakably visible
their really distinct characters and their succession in the
order of time.
The structure of the sections under review being thus
analysed, we reach the following results, viz :
270. 1. The sandy measures shown in the Tarentum
well (Fig. 18,) from 1218 feet to 1362 feet, seem to mark the
upper part of the Butler Oil-group. *
271. 2. The Gas-sand of the Harvey well (Fig. 16) is
seen to lie above the Oil group.
The structure of the Crawford shale mass here seems to
be quite the reverse of what it is along the Venango belt ;
shales occupy the middle portion, and sandy measures the
top and bottom ; in other words, the Pithole grit is absent.
The Mahan well, Fig. 17, exhibits similar features ; and
many other wells of the same class might be mentioned.
272. 3. The (so called ) First sand of the Butler county
driller, lying near the bottom (or in the lower part) of the
Crawford shale, is (as shown in Chapter XII) not the First
sand of Venango county, but a higher rock. The Second
sand of Butler is undoubtedly the First sand of Venango.
This (so called) First sand of Butler is quite variable in
both position and thickness, and is frequently absent alto-
gether ; as may be seen in records published in Report I.I.
In the Harvey well (Fig. 16) it lies 65' above the top hori-
zon-plane of the Oil-group, as shown by the records of other
wells in the neighborhood.
* I have two specimens of sand purnpings, one from 1220' ; the other from
1287'. The former might properly be called a dark micaceous sandy shale;
the latter is a clean, fine-grained, white sandstone. The top of the First Oil
sand probably lies somewhere between the two points from whence these
specimens came.
110 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
In the Mead well (Fig. 13) it is marked at 110' above the
oil group.
In fact well-records of different sections are so incongru-
ous in their location of this so-called Butler "First Sand,"
that it is clearly not a continuous sand sheet, but a series
of comparatively local beds deposited at various levels in
the lower part of the (Crawford) shaly interval coming in
above the Oil group.
273. Gas well horizons. But whatever this "First
sand" of Butler may be, it is frequently a gas-producing
rock ; and so notably in some localities as to receive from
the drillers the name of "gas-sand" Many wells however
pass through it without obtaining gas.
Prof. White says (Report Q page 84) "Just east from
this [The Harvey or Lardintown well], one fourth of a mile,
a well was commenced at a surface level of 125 feet above
the Lardintown well and bored to the depth of 1772'. It
struck no gas of any importance until the bottom was
reached, when a very large supply was obtained. It was
not so strong as the Lardintown well however."
At this locality the rocks are rising rather rapidly to the
northwest, and I have no means of ascertaining the precise
geological relations of the two well mouths ; but it is evi-
dent that the deep well above referred to obtained its gas
from a rock lying about 500' below the Harvey well gas-
sand ; and a reference to the Thompson well- section (Fig.
14) shows that this rock must be the "Fourth sand" the
same stratum which furnished the large flow of gas 'in that
well, and which also, further to the north, produced the
celebrated gas-wells known as the Burns and the Delemater,
near St. Joe.
274. But attention should be called to the fact that? the
production of gas is not confined to any one particular
stratum of our oil measures.
We have powerful gas wells in McKean county from Che-
mung rocks 1000' or more below the Venango oil group.
The gas at Fredonia, IS". Y., and Erie on the lake shore
comes from still lower strata.
As to our Yenango oil-group gas is in the Fourth sand,
TWO OIL BELTS. III. Ill
in the Third, in the Second, in the First, and in sands higher
still in the series, above the oil-group, as we have just seen.
At all these horizons heavy gas- wells have been obtained,
in different places, at one time or another. It appears to
be an universal product, confined to no particular horizon
or locality ; but why it is found in this place in one rock,
in that in another, is as much a matter of speculation as are
the questions concerning its origin and the sources of its
supply.
Series No. 8, Plate V. From Petrolia to Cherry run.
275. This series consists of only three wells, as fol-
lows :
Fig. 19. Evans well No. 21 (I.I. No. 1201) four fifths of a
mile southwest of Petrolia, measured for the survey by
John H. Carll, and specimens of sand pumpings preserved.
Fig. 20. Binkard well No. 1 (I.I. No. 1163) Perry town-
ship, Armstrong county.
Fig. 21. Cherry run well, Plyer farm, near the centre of
Toby township, Clarion county (Appendix).
These sections are all reliable and the structure is so plain
that no comment is necessary.
CHAPTER XI.
Series No. 3, Plate VI. From Oil City to Clarion.
276. This series consists of nine borings, full records
of which may be found either in Report 1. 1., or in the Ap-
pendix to this volume.
Fig. 22. Hains well, on Halliday run, Oil City, Venango
county.
Fig. 23. Washington well, near P. T. and B. Ry. station,
Franklin.
112 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Fig. 24. McGreio well (I.I. No. 1059) near Halls run, Cran-
berry townspip, Venango county.
Fig. 25. Oelsclilager well No. 1 (I.I. No. 1116) Ashland
township, Clarion co.
Fig. 26. Schreiber well, Strotman farm, Elk township.
Clarion co.
Fig. 27. Columbia Oil Co. well No. 19, H. Keiser farm,
near Edenburg, Wheatiand township, Clarion co.
Fig. 28. 'Hope well (I.I. No. 1117) 1 m. N. W. of Shippen-
ville, Elk township, Clarion co.
Fig. 29. Rohrer well No. 2, on a branch of Deer creek,
1 m. south of Shippenville, Elk tp., Clarion co.
Fig. 30. Griswold well, Rattlesnake G-ulch, near Clarion,
Clarion co.
277. Scattered over quite a wide area these well- sections
afford an excellent opportunity for comparing the oil-rocks
of the old Venango district with those of Clarion county,
and a short study of them must convince any one that the
lower line drawn across the plate approximately represents
the top plane of the Venango Oil-group in all the wells.
278. None of the sections commence high enough to
catch the Ferriferous limestone; but its position has been
calculated at the Washington well from one of its most
northerly outcrops in Cranberry township ; and it is seen
near Columbia well, No. 19, lying only 2' above the level
of the well-mouth. These are the only places where we
have the data for locating it ; but a line drawn across the
sections through these two points will indicate very nearly
its horizon at all of the other wells.
279. The Mountain sands are not shown in Figs. 22,
24, 26 and 29, simply because the drillers omitted to note
them in the records.
The bottom member of the Mountain- sand group, in Fig.
23, is supplied from quarries opened in the hillside above
the well-mouth, and also in several places at Franklin.
280. The Pithole grit is also supplied, in Fig. 23, from
other wells in the vicinity ; but it appears of diminished
size in the wells to the southeast of section, Fig. 24 ; not
only thin, but graduating into shale.
TWO OIL BELTS. III. 113
281. The Eohrer well, No. 2, section, (Fig. 29,) is quite
imperfect in the upper part ; and it is only given because
it goes down to an unusual depth. The following notes ac-
company the record, and suggest what must be inserted in
order to make it complete.
"The regular strata of first, second and third sands were
passed through, but we kept no record of the first and sec-
ond sands. " " Water was cased off at 260 feet. ' ' No doubt
just below the Mountain sands, as is usually the case. We
thus get the approximate place of the base of these sands.
"The first red rock was struck at 660 feet." As there is
no red rock above the first sand in this region, the first sand
must have already been passed. We may fairly presume,
also, as they were evidently drilling without noting details
in this part of the well, that the red rocks above the "Big
red" were overestimated for the Second Oil sand should
come in here.
With these additions and corrections (and they are evi-
dently called for) the section will be similar to the very re-
liable one furnished by the Hope well (Fig. 28).
282. Red sliale above the Oil Sand group. One of the
most noticeable features in this group of sections is the
manner in which the red rocks vary.
Tn Fig. 23, 115' of red shale is seen above the First sand;
in Fig. 24 only streaks of red mixed with grey ; and in Fig.
25 it has disappeared entirely.
This is the red band traced in chap. 8 all along the Ve-
nango belt and thence to New Castle and so on into Ohio ;
but it is not, to my knowledge, found above the Oil group
in any part of the Clarion or Butler districts.
283 Red shale in the Oil Sand group. The^main red
rock of the Clarion field is the "big red" or "blood rock ;"
a stratum of dark-red shale, (as its name implies,) from 30'
to 45' thick, lying between the Second and Third sands.
284. Red shale below the Oil Sand group. There are
nlso other red rocks interstratified at various levels with the
oil sands, and extending down two or three hundred feet
below them, in some localities to the southeast of the oil-
producing belt.
8 III.
114 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
If one had in hand for comparison merely the sections
Figs. 23 and 30 he might very naturally fall into the error
of identifying the 115 foot red rock in Fig. 23 with the 90
foot red rock in Fig. 30 ; in which case he would suppose
that the measures between the Red rock and the Ferrifer-
ous limestone thickened toward the southeast.
But with the whole group of sections before him, the
reader cannot make this mistake. The red shales are plainly
seen to be local and variable deposits, occupying intervals
in one well, which are filled with grey shales in another well
only a short distance from it. Evidently these red deposits
are not to be depended upon as horizons to work from, ex-
cept over restricted areas, and in certain directions.
Going toward the southeast the red bands become more
numerous and occupy lower levels successively in the oil
group. The general parallelism of the whole series, how-
ever, being preserved, it is evident that the red rocks seen
low down in the oil group at the southeast can have no con-
nection with those seen higher up in the group at the north-
west ; and that those found to the southeast of the produc-
ing belt, below the place of the oil group, can liave no con-
nection with those of the oil group itself.
CHAPTER XII.
Series No. 4, Plate VII. From Plttsburg to Clarion
county.
285. This group of well sections extending, from Pitts-
burg to Blyson run in Mill Creek township, Clarion county, 7
miles northeast of the town of Clarion, is composed of nine,
all (except 33, 37 and 39) to be found recorded in the Ap-
pendix to this volume.
Fig. 31. Boyd Hill well in the city of Pittsburgh.
Fig. 32. Graff, Bennett and Co." 1 s well at Tarentum, East
Brady township, Allegheny county (Fig. 18 in group No. 1).
Fig 33. Leecliburg gas well (I.I. No. 1191) at Leechr
burg Allegheny township, Westmoreland county.
Fig. 34. Pine creek well, on the Allegheny river flat near
the mouth of Pine creek, Pine Valley township, Armstrong
county.
Fig. 35. Midland well No. 1, at Millville on Red Bank
creek, Red Bank twp., Clarion county.
Fig. 36. GTierry Run well, on Cherry run a tributary of
Clarion river, near the centre of Toby township Clarion
county. (Fig. 21 in group No. 2).
Fig. 37. Sllgo well (I.I. No. 1121) on Licking Creek, a
tributary of Clarion river, Piney twp., Clarion county.
Fig. 38. Griswold well No. 1, Rattlesnake Gulch, near
the town of Clarion. (Fig. 30, in group No. 3).
Fig. 39. James Well (I.I. No. 1120) Blyson ^run, Mill
Creek township, 7 miles N. E. of Clarion.
Boyd s Hill, Pittsburgh well.
286. The section of the Pittsburgh or Boyd Hill well
(Fig. 31,) as here given, differs somewhat from that pub-
lished and commented upon in Appendix E to Report L.
When Prof. Lesley examined the specimens of drillings
in Pittsburgh 'they were packed, layer upon layer, in large
glass jars, in the order in which they came out of the well ;
(115 III.)
116 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
and consequently only the top layer of each jar could be
critically examined. In that shape, (like glass tubes simi-
larly packed, which many esteem so highly) they were of
very little use in studying the character of the sediments.
The drillers had passed through the Ferriferous lime-
stone without noticing it, as it was thin and lay nearer the
surface than they calculated and, mistaking another lime-
stone for it, had given it a place in the record 220' below its
proper position.
As the specimens were packed, the drillings from the in-
terval where the Ferriferous limestone ought to have been
found, and also of the interval said to contain limestone,
were both covered by other layers, and none of the ma-
terial could be taken out for a chemical test. All tjiis cast
a shadow of uncertainty over the whole record.
287. On one of my visits to Pittsburgh, since the pub-
lication of Report L, the owners of the well kindly made a
donation of the whole collection of sand pumpings to the
survey. I carefully dipped the materials from the jars,
layer after layer, keeping only the central portion of each
layer, and throwing away the top and bottom where any
intermixture of material occurred. Assisted by Dr. Hunter
with his drilling record in hand, I put the specimens in
paper bags, marked them in agreement with the record, and
shipped the whole to Pleasantville. I have since filled a
set of bottles and labeled them so that each specimen may
be examined separately and compared with any other in
the large collection prepared in the same manner for the
State Museum.
The section as given on Plate VII, agrees with the speci-
mens as thus arranged ; and there now appear to be but
two or three points in the record open to question ; and
these are quite immaterial in a study of the general struc-
ture.
288. Where the Ferriferous limestone should be looked
for (taking the coal beds and sandstones of the record for
guide) I found small pieces of limestone, intermingled
with the dark bluish-gray sandy shale drillings. But as
only one specimen of drillings through 15 feet of well had
TWO OIL BELTS. III. 117
*
been preserved, the thickness of the limerock and the part
of the 15 feet interval which it occupies must of course re-
main unknown. I judge that had it been, say, more than
5 feet thick, it would have, compelled the attention of the
drillers, even although they were looking for it at another
horizon.
289. Limestone is plainly to be distinguished also in
the drillings from 879' to 914', where the drillers supposed
the Ferriferous limestone to lie; but the geological sig-
nificance of this we need not stop to consider here.
290. A " White lime' 1 ' 1 is marked below the Ferriferous
limestone in the Harvey and the Mahan well records (Figs.
16 and 17) ; but there is no way of finding out whether it
is really a limestone or only a driller's name.
Doubtless local deposits of limy strata would frequently
be found at various horizons in the oil wells if the sand-
pumpings were carefully tested ; but no attention is given
to such strata, except when some test-well is being put
down where the position of the Ferriferous limestone is
not known, and it becomes necessary to watch for it with
unusual care. Traces of limestone are sometimes thus
brought into notice which otherwise would have been over-
looked, and which are seldom heard of again in subse-
quent adjacent wells, after once the proper position of the
Ferriferous limestone has been ascertained.
291. The extent of country over which these sections are
distributed may be seen from the following rough measure-
ment of distances :
From Mead well (Fig. 13) to Pittsburgh (Fig. 31), in a
direct line, 35 miles.
From Evans well No. 21 (Fig. 19) to Millville well (Fig.
35), 22 miles.
From Franklin (Fig. 23) to Clarion (Fig. 38), 25 miles.
From Pittsburgh (Fig. 31) to James well (Fig. 39), 67
miles.
292. In comparing sections over so wide a range of ter-
ritory, it is not to be expected that they should agree in
118 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
A
detail. Indeed, it would be contrary to every known law
of sedimentary deposition if they did. From the very na-
ture of the mechanical agents employed and the materials
wrought upon, local irregularities of structural constitution
should be looked for, among the subordinate members of a
group, even where a marked parallelism might be seen to
exist between the general division-planes hypothetically
adopted as separating one characteristic series of rocks from
the next above or below it. We shall be well satisfied, for
the present, if we be able to trace approximately these pri-
mary divisions ; the subordinate ones are of secondary im-
portance.
293. LeecJiburg gas-sand in the PittsTiurg well. If we
have correctly traced the first oil sand in groups Nos. 1, 2
and 3 (Plates V and VI) down from the producing oil belt
to the wells at Tarentum, Cherry run and Clarion, it seems
probable from the arrangement of sections in Group No. 4
(Plate VI) that the sandstone in the Pittsburg well at 1590'.
represents the top of the oil group. It is also evident that
the Leechburg gas-sand belongs to the same horizon.
294. The James 1 well record as published in report I.I.
needs some modification. It there appears as if the first
435' from the surface was all sandstone, which is not the
case. This part of the record seems to have been rather
vaguely kept. The facts given in a note accompanying the
record are as follows and the accompanying section is made
accordingly.
"Conductor 25 ft. to a rotten sandstone."
"White mountain sand struck at 278 feet."
Leaving 253 feet to be represented by rotten sandstone
and unknown strata : next
"Fresh water cased off at 314 ft. in a grey sand"
Consequently the ' ' white mountain sand ' ' must have been
less than 36'. We have called it 30'.
"Struck a 90 ft. grey sand at 435 ft.. Oil in this rock at
445' and 518' it rose in the hole from 60' to 80' in a few
minutes."
We have then from 308' to 435'=1 27' to represent the
grey sand and unknown measures below it ; and, in all prob-
TWO OIL BELTS. III. 119
ability, the "90' grey sand" was rather a series of sand
shells than a solid sandstone. Below this the record is very
precise, no point being left open for question.
295. One other matter should be mentioned in connec-
tion with this well. From 2063' to 2112' the record gives
"49 ft. of olive shale with brown shells." Mr. James' de-
scription of this is as follows "49 ft. of olive shale and
sand shells a light-brown colored sand alternating with the
shale, each sand showing oil and gas. The sand is greasy to
the touch and smells of oil. These streaks of sand run
one to eight feet thick. A description which would apply
equally well to some of the Chemung oil-rocks of McKean
county to which series this deposit undoubtedly belongs.
296. It only remains, now, to note the contrast between
the rocks of the oil group as shown along the oil producing
belt, and those at the same horizon as seen in the last group
of sections ; and to offer if possible some plausible hypoth-
esis to account for it. This is done in the next chapter.
CHAPTER XIII.
Contrast between tJie producing and non-producing areas
of the oil-sand group.
297. Previous to our present survey, the Yenango oil-
sands were universally regarded as of CTiemung age.
In the summer of 1875 evidences began to accumulate
pointing strongly toward the probability that they were of
more recent date ; but the idea seemed then so heterodox,
and the facts to support it were at first so meagre and ques-
tionable, that no definite conclusion on the subject could
be immediately arrived at.
Even now, their relative place in the Palaeozoic column
of eastern Pennsylvania cannot be precisely and positively
indicated. We can only say there are reasonable grounds
for inferring that they do not belong to the CTiemung forma-
ti6n, as represented in New York State and in eastern Penn-
sylvania.
120 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
298. That the close of the CTiemung period was accom-
panied by movements of the earth-crust of at least sufficient
importance to interrupt the uniform conditions of deposi-
tion previously prevailing over a large portion of western
Pennsylvania, cannot be questioned ; for, bands of coarse
conglomeritic sandstone, indicative of such movements,
make their appearance near the top of the formation, in
marked contrast to the homogeneous deposits of shale and
slate below them.
299. We may infer that these coarse sediments which
lie as a group of transition strata between the deposits of
the Chemung age and the deposits of the next following
CatsJcill age, represent a considerable interval of time.
During this interval-age changes in the general relations
of land to sea must have been going on. These changes
would affect the character of the deposits in some districts
and not in others ; and thus the nonconformity was estab-
lished between the present vertical section of western Penn-
sylvania with that of eastern Pennsylvania and New York.
I can imagine that a vertical movement of sea bottom to
the extent of say one hundred feet would have an effect
upon the subsequent deposits, varying according to the
depth of water ; scarcely perceptible where the sea was
deep, and where the same class of deposits would go on if
the same kind of material were furnished ; but where the
water was shallow, sufficient to materially alter the nature
of the deposits, and even to change the bottom into dry
land, or vice versa.
Thus, the deposits in one area of the State may be very
uniform ; while in another area, deposits of that same age,
.and laid down in the same sea basin, may be quite hetero-
geneous.
300. Furthermore, while such movements left the gen-
eral system of currents carrying along the materials for
deposit practically unchanged in force and direction, it
might and probably would happen that the character of
the materials carried would suffer some and perhaps a
notable change. The shore lines being shifted by the shifted
.sea level, new sources of material would be exposed and
TWO OIL BELTS. III. 121
utilized ; a different range or country of rocks in place
would be eroded ; consequently a different kind of sedi-
ments would be laid down.
Where the water was deep, there the red sands of the
Catskill would immediately cover the brown and olive muds
of the Chemung, and the change would be sudden and dis-
tinctly marked. But in the shallower parts of the sea-
basin an irregular series of the two would be in process of
deposition at the time ; alternations of red Catskill and
olive-brown Chemung strata would be made ; and thus a
transition series would take the place of a sharply defined
plane of distinction.
301. A corresponding change in the animal life of the
period would take place ; and while in one area the change
from Chemung fossils to Catskill fossils would be at once
and complete, in another area forms characteristic of the
Chemung age would be mixed with or alternate with char-
acteristic forms of the Catskill age next succeeding it.
302. A comparison of the structure and depth of sedi-
ment belonging to the Catskill, the Pocono, and the Mauch
Chunk periods in eastern Pennsylvania with those of the
same ages in western Pennsylvania leaves little room to
doubt that the former represent deposits in a much broader
and deeper sea than the latter a sea perhaps whose bottom
was undergoing a steady depression in the east while it was
alternating between depression and elevation, and gradually
shallowing, in the west.
An elevation of ocean bottom near the close of the Che-
mung period seems to me to have thrown off the waters
from a large portion of its former bed in the west, leaving
submerged in that direction only a narrow arm of the sea.
representing perhaps some old sub-marine valley. This
comparatively contracted and shallow basin must necessa-
rily, from the very nature of the case, have been the reposi-
tory of immense deposits of re-worked CJiemung sediments,
rapidly brought into it from the newly emerged mud-land,
to be interbedded with the CatsTcill reds which were inter-
mittently swept in from the east to greater or less distances
as circumstances directed.
122 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
We might then expect to find in this basin precisely what
the drill discloses alternations of Catskill red and Che-
mung grey argillaceous shales, occupying the deepest part
of it ; and more sandy deposits lying around its edges.
303. It is not surprising then to find that the representa-
tion of the Oil- sand group (in Plate V II) by records of wells
in the barren country, differs materially from that of Plates
IV, Y and VI constructed from well records along the oil
producing belt.
The rocks in Plate VII -evidently lie in a deeper part of
the basin. Red shales appear more abundantly and at
lower levels. The sands are finer ; of more uniform texture ;
and more micaceous. They look like sediments deposited
over areas where the transporting currents, having just mo-
tion enough to hold this kind of matter in suspension, met
dead-water and dropped the burden. In such situations
deposits take place rapidly, as we know from forming sand
bars at the present time ; and in this fact we have a suffi-
cient explanation of the additional thickness of the meas-
ures which I consider to be of the same age as that of the
Oil -sand group.
304. But although the Oil-sand group appears to be
thicker in some of the sections along this line (Plate VII)
than along the oil-producing belt, it is nevertheless unpro-
ductive of oil as far as yet developed. Whether this may
be owing to a lack of the material required for the forma-
tion of oil, to a poorer quality of sand rock, to the universal
intermixture of a large amount of argillaceous matter
throughout the whole mass, to the quality and conditions
of the measures below, or of the cap rock above the sands,
to the depth at which the oil sand lies below surface and
sea level, or to one or all of these conditions combined with
unknown causes who can say ? The facts have been pre-
sented, let each investigator decide for himself.*
*The relationship of the Devonian rocks of Western Pennsylvania to those
of the Middle and Eastern districts and to the mass of the Catskills may pos-
sibly be illustrated by Prof. Geikie's correlation of the Lower Old Red Sand-
stone south of the Ord, with the upper portion of the great Caithness flag-
stone series, in the last paragraph of his memoir "On the Old Red Sandstone
of Western Europe," published as No. XVI of the Transactions of the Royal
Society of Edinburgh, Vol. XXVIII, page 345 to 448, and read April 1, 1878.
TWO OIL BELTS. III. 123
Resume.
305. It may not be amiss now to glance hastily over the
general structural features of the whole district as sum-
marized from the facts advanced in other parts of this re-
port. If it be found that the superincumbent rocks ex-
hibit similar peculiarities of structure to those claimed
above for the Oil-sand group, if they all seem to indicate
by the quality of their sediments and the manner of their
strewing that there was open water to the southeast and dry
land to the northwest, the probabilities of the correctness
of our conclusions in relation to the Oil-sand group will be
greatly augmented.
306. The Panama Conglomerate. We may commence
with the Panama rock, the lowest conglomerate, geologi-
cally, in the measures we are speaking of. Its best expos-
ure is in Chautauqua county, New York, where it attains
a thickness of 70 feet. Going southeast it sinks gradually,
He explains his views thus: The southern margin of Lake Orcadie (the De-
vonian sea) did not extend beyond the Ord, during the greater part of its his-
tory. All south of that granitic ridge was land. Scotland extended then
much further northward than now. The depression went on to the north.
Late in the flagstone age the depression began to allow the land south of the
Ord to be overflowed. The Devonian waters slowly crept southward, filling
up the hollows leading up into the Grampians and penetrating to the heart
of the mountain country. Gravel banks were formed along the new shores
at successive levels, especially in such recesses as that of Cawdor. Northern
fish found their way southward, but when they died were buried in a calcare-
ous silt, and around their bones nodules were formed. These silts represented
intervals of changed conditions, not frequently recurring. As a rule sand
and gravel were deposited on the lake bottom, and in these scarcely any fish
are found.
An analogous state of things in Pennsylvania might be thus expressed:
The depression went on through the Chemung age unequally, the greatest
sinking being through Middle Pennsylvania. By the time the first Catskill
deposits were being deposited in still deep water there, the Chemung basin
had shoaled up westward toward Ohio and southward in Virginia, and low
mud flats appeared, by an arrest of sinking, or by a slow elevation further
west. This action limited the red Catskill deposits (IX) to the eastern area.
Afterwards the general depression permitted the western area also to receive
soft deposits, corresponding therefore then to the Gray Pocono deposits (X)
in the eastern area. But the western deposits were in shallow water, and at
intervals were charged with iron, and so constitute now the red bands of X,
the reds of the Oil region, &c. This was followed by the great deposit of
Mauch Chunk red shales of XI in the east, represented by gray shales in the
west and limestones and coal beds in the south. J. P. L.
124 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN" F. CAttLL.
and finally disappears beneath water level in the southern
part of Erie county, Penna. Where last seen it has lost
much of its conglomeritic character and become greatly re-
duced in thickness. If traced transversely to this line, that
is towards the south and southeast, it soon passes into
sandy shale, loses its individuality, and becomes unrecog-
nizable as a sandstone.
307. The Salamanca Conglomerate or Ellicottville rock,
another conglomerate very similar in aspect to the Panama,
is best exposed in Cattaraugus county, New York. Its
geological horizon is apparently from 200' to 300' higher
than the Panama rock, which in its trend, slope and physi-
cal characteristics it closely imitates.
These two conglomerates by their positions and fossils
and by the fossils of their associate strata, are evidently of
Chemung age ; and, from their ascertained dips toward the
southeast, and all the traces that can be obtained of them
in well borings on the interval between their outcrops and
the productive oil belt, the inference is that they are narrow
ranges of pebbly sandstones trending in a northeast south-
west direction and that they soon merge into shale when
traced toward the south or southeast.
308. Tlie Oil-sand group. Ascending the geological
scale, the Venango oil sands come next in order. Whether
these rocks be Upper Chemung, Catskill or Lower Pocono
need not be discussed here, as it is the geographical range
of the formations and the manner in which the sedi-
ments have been laid down, and not the age of the strata,
that we are now considering. Wherever this group is found
in its integrity it is always deeply buried from sight. Like
the conglomerates mentioned above, it also trends in a
northeast southwest direction, and the several sandy mem-
bers become more argillaceous when traced toward the
southeast. The range of its maximum development lies
some 25 miles southeast of the range of the Panama rock.
309. The red belt. Above the Oil group comes in the
persistent band of red shale before referred to ; sometimes
125' or more in thickness, and spreading out over many
square miles of the Yenango Oil belt ; but nowhere in Penn-
TWO OIL BELTS. III. 125
sylvania showing an outcrop to the north or northwest al-
though its horizon is in many places above water level.
310. The Pithole grit, lying still higher, is a massive
sandstone, well denned along the Yenango Oil belt as
we have seen above, and traceable in frequent outcrops
at the north and northwest of it. but scarcely recognizable
in the oil wells of Clarion county and Eastern Butler.
311. The Garland (Sharon, Olean) conglomerate.
Then the remnant outliers of the Second Mountain sand
(the conglomerate of Olean, Garland, &c.) may be seen
sweeping around to the southeast of the before mentioned
conglomerates of Salamanca and Panama. This rock too
fines down in composition and frequently thins out or be-
comes interstratified with shale as it spreads toward the
southeast.
312. The Sharon coal group. Investigating still fur-
ther, we find the lowest or oldest coal beds coming in a short
distance to the southeast and south of the outcropping con-
glomerates in Ohio, and in Crawford, Yenango, Warren and
McKean counties in Pennsylvania.
These coals are not discovered in any of the drill holes
over the central parts of the basin. They lie in detached,
irregular and restricted areas, as if accumulated in land-
locked bays, and swamps, at the dawn of that luxuriant
era of vegetation which in a later day spread the thicker
and more persistent Lower and Upper Productive coal-
measure beds over the central portions of the great water
area filled by this nearly to sea level. *
313. The Berea grit in Ohio is said to gradually pass
from .the coarse and sometimes conglomeritic sandstone,
seen in its northern and western outcrops, into flags and
sandy shale as it is traced towards the south and east. The
conglomerate underlying the coal measures fines down or
thins out in the same directions, and the lower coal beds fol-
*In Ohio, however, the preparatory conditions for large continuous coal
beds were accomplished earlier than in Pennsylvania ; so that, what are scat-
tered patches of thin poor coal (Sharon and Mercer) in Pennsylvania, are in
Ohio regular and continuous large coal beds; and therefore the Lower Pro-
ductive coal sen'es of the Ohio geologists does not terminate downwards at
bed A of the Clarion series of the Pennsylvania reports. J. P. L.
126 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
lowing the trend of the conglomerate are lost in passing
transversely to it. toward the great central coal basin.
There is nothing in all these facts to conflict with the
views advanced above in relation to the deposition of the oil
sands ; but on the contrary, they appear to furnish con-
firmative evidence of their probability.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Venango oil group.
314. The " Group of the three oil Sands" was referred
to in Report I, and a number of sections of its oil rocks
were given, made from well records obtained in Yenango
county. Continuing in this report the same line of research,
I will now give some additional similar sections, for the
purpose of illustrating the extension of the group south-
south-westward, into the counties of Clarion, Armstrong
and Butler, where it is as plainly recognizable by its struc-
ture, position and general characteristics as it is in Venango
county.
315. Four plates occupying pages 129, 131, 133 and 135,
each plate containing seven sections, drawn to a common
scale, and representing (in diagram) records of wells located
in different parts of the district, are designed to exhibit the
varying positions and thicknesses of the several sandy
members of the group.
The well-sections on each plate are numbered from left
to right, to correspond with the southwest-northeast ar-
rangement of the first three, and the northwest-southeast
arrangement of the fourth.
Series Figs. 40 to 46 extends from Bullion in Ve-
nango county, to Tidioute in Warren county.*
Series Figs. 47 to 53 extends from Carbon Centre in
Butler county, to Parker City in Armstrong county, f
Series Figs. 54 to 60 extends from Columbia Hill,
* See note a, Chapter XV.
1 1 am compelled to leave Fig. 49 blank, for the reason that no detailed
record of the oil group could be secured at or near Millerstown, although spe-
cial efforts were made to get one. The depths to Ferriferous limestone and
"3d sand " were all the measurements that could be obtained another illus-
tration of the indifference of the well driller to anything but his " key rock "
and the oil sand.
(127 III.)
128 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
near Parker City, in Butler county, to Shippenville in
Clarion county.
Series Figs. 61 to 67 extends from Greece City in But-
ler county, to Criswell City in Armstrong county ; along
the "Cross Belt" or "Fourth Sand Belt" of Butler
county.
The integrity of the Venango Oil-sand group must be
kept in clear view if the value of these sections is to be fully
appreciated.
It is a group in the strictest sense of the term. It has a
well-defined top and a well-defined bottom.
It is overlaid by several hundred feet of measures the
Crawford shales which have a plainly different character.
It is underlaid in like manner by hundreds of feet of
measures Chemung which (whether belonging to the
same epoch or not) have as plainly different a character.
316. Oner the Oil-sand group, everywhere along the
Oil-belts, lie from 400' to 500' of. soft rocks, unmistakably
separating it from the Mountain- sands above.
This great soft formation outcrops in abroad belt through
Warren, and covers a great part of Crawford county,* be-
neath the northern Drift.
Along the Venango Oil belt it is split by the Pitliole grit
into two divisions, of nearly equal thickness, f
Its upper division (above the Pithole grit) may be called
195' thick ; but there is often a considerable difficulty in
fixing its top, on account of occasional or local massive
sandstone layers, similar in all respects to those of the
Mountain-sand series above it.
Its 'lower division (under the Pithole grit) is much more
easily measured, averaging 185' in thickness, and so homo-
geneous that the drill makes more rapid progress in passing
* Hence its provisional name of Crawford Shales, adopted by the State
Geologist to avoid complications with the Ohio column, pending the final set-
tlement of the harmony between it and the Pennsylvania column.
f See plate IV.
Plate XXVII.
III. 129
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130 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
down through it than in any other section of the wells of
equal volume.
Taking the Pithole grit at say 20 feet, the whole Crawford
Shale formation may be said then to measure about 400 feet,
along the Venango oil-belt.
317. Where the Pithole grit does not split it into two
main divisions, i. e., in 'parts of Butler, Armstrong, and
Clarion counties (where the horizon of the Pithole grit is
obscure, and the Crawford Shale is not so homogenous a
formation) there are nevertheless always to be found above
the Oil-sand group from 300' to 400' of soft measures,
through which the drills go faster than anywhere else ; a
visible evidence of which fact is presented in the curious
diagram of the Relative rates of drilling in the six Petro-
lia wells, Plate XVII.*
318. The sandy layers at the top of the Crawford shale
are of no moment in the present discussion. The sole fact
here insisted on is this :
1. That oxer the Oil-sand group lies a distinct soft forma-
tion, 300' or 400' feet thick, in all parts of the oil regions
of western Pennsylvania, which, for the present, we call
the Crawford shale, and in the middle of which appears,
in some parts of the region, a massive sand deposit called
in this report the Pithole grit.
2. That the well sinker will find an abrupt change of
character when he gets through this soft formation and
strikes the top of the Oil-sand group. The transition from
the soft Crawford shales or slates to the First oil-sand is
sharply defined ; and the geologist is obliged to see here
the close of one period of deposits of one kind, and the
beginning of another period of deposits of a very different
kind.
319. The name adopted, therefore, Venango Oil-sand
group is not an arbitrary designation, suggested merely
by the fact that petroleum was first discovered in them in
Venango county, nor by the fact that our oil surveys com-
menced with them in Venango county, but a designation
f See also photographs of the cabinet arrangement of the specimen, drill-
ings from these \vclls.
Plate XXVIII.
HI. 181
132 III. .REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
based npon a sound geological generalization of all the facts
obtained thus far in our surveys of the whole oil field be-
tween Pittsburg and Lake Erie, confirming the integrity of
the group' as a group, its type being in Venango county.
The Warren oil sands are quite a different older and lower
group ; and the Bradford oil sands also.
320. Under the Oil-sand group, again lies a perfectly
well marked different formation.
The driller having gone through the Venango Oil-sands
and their separating shales, and reached the base of the
group, suddenly, by as abrupt a transition as that which
he encountered at its top, enters a different set of rocks.
Wherever the group is normally developed, the drill passes
at once from sandstone into shale, and continues from that
point in the well, to go steadily down through shales for
hundreds of feet, without encountering any sandstone lay-
ers like those above.
A large majority of oil wells were never drilled below the
Third sand, or base of the group ; for experience had con-
vinced operators that it was useless to expect another sand
layer below that horizon, along the whole line of the Ve-
nango and Butler belts.
Several hundred wells, however, were put down to depths
of 100' to 500' beneath the lowest Venango Oil-sand. Their
numbers and the extent of ground over which they lie
scattered, afford conclusive evidence that the measures
beneath the Oil-sand group have everywhere the same clay
character. The universal testimony of their records is
soft drilling and no coarse massive sandrocJc after leaving
the Productive oil measures.
Occasionally, indeed, a "sand" has been reported ; and
some fine-grain sandstone layers were to be expected, for
they are not unknown in the Chemung series ; but it is now
conceded that such layers never resembled the Oil-sands,
and that they occurred so rarely, and the reports of them
are so vague and questionable, that we are warranted in
treating them as mere local variations of some of the beds
of the Chemung shales.
Plate XXIX.
111. 133
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134 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
The whole experience of deep drilling proves that nnder
the Oil-sands lies a mass of rather soft shale, sometimes
pure argillaceous shale (red or blue), sometimes "shelly,"
but always a quiet deep water deposit, totally unlike the
oil-sands, with their shore-deposit aspect.
321. The Venango Oil-sand Group, itself, is seen in the
sections to be a mass of sandstone deposits, from 300' to
380' thick, with layers of pebbles, and many local partings
of shale and slate.
As a whole, it is a well-defined group of sandstones lying
between the two shale formations above and below it de-
scribed above ; so sharply separated from them, so persist-
ent, so characteristic, and so uniform in structure and thick-
ness, that it deserves the special name which it receives.
322. Its thickness, as measured in different parts of the
district is seen in the sections, thus :
Fig. Well. Feet.
At Tidioute, . 300
' Pleasantville, 322
" Rouseville, 318
" Reno, 301
Fosters, . 306
Scrubgrass, 310
Bullion, 331
Shippenville, (278', 3d SS.+30'to 4th=) 308
Edenburg, 339-[-
Pickwick, (293', 3d SS.-f 30'=) 323
Keating, 308-}-
Ritts, between St. Petersburg and Emlenton, 304
Foxburg, 325
Reddiokfarm ("Columbia Hill "), 332
Parker's Landing, 325
Sheakley Station, (255'+81'=) 336
Petrolia, (25S'+80' Dougherty No. 2=) 338
Karns, 325-f-
Millerstown, ?
St. Joe, (265'-f 75'=340 ; or 265'-f 75'-f 30'=) 370
Carbon Centre, (351' ; or 351'+30'=) 381-}-
Greece, 333^
Modoc, 372-f.
Fairview, Suttoii No. 4, (295'-f-86'=) 381
Fairview, Evans No. 21, 334
Frederick, (260'+75'=) 333
Criswell, 3SO-}-
Crisvvell, 34^
Plate XXX.
III. 135
136 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
323. These figures may be varied somewhat by taking
other well records ; but it will be found, as a general rule,
that a thickness of 350 feet, as claimed in Report I, will in
nearly every case embrace all the sands belonging to the
Yenango group even the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth sands, as
the lower members of the group, in some localities have
been called.
324. That the confessedly variable thickness of its indi-
vidual members should vary the dimensions of the group
as such, might be expected. It is wonderful therefore how
the group maintains its total thickness with such uniformity
for a distance of 62 miles in a straight line, from Tidioute in
Warren county to Herman station in Butler county. The
top sand is sometimes 10' thick and sometimes 85' ; the bot-
tom sand may be 5' thick orit may be 120' ; and so, either
one of these members may individually vary in thickness
about as much as the whole group is found to vary.
325. Shape of the Oil-sand deposits. It has sometimes
been asserted that the top of a sandrock is always uniform,
and that any irregularity of thickness necessarily implies
an uneven base. But facts do not seem to warrant the ac-
ceptance of any such law of structure as universally preva-
lent. The commencement of sandy deposits upon soft ones
would no doubt, under certain circumstances, be attended
by some unevenness of bottom. Strong currents bearing
course materials might excavate first to a certain extent, and
then deposit ; while sluggish waters would lay down finer
sand on the original floor undisturbed. And this has some-
times happened ; for we not infrequently discover by actual
levels and measurements, that where a thin fine sandrock
swells into a thick pebbly one, there is a more uniform level
at the top of the stratum than at the bottom. Still, where
the conditions of deposition were so variable and uncertain
as these must have been, it would be unsafe' to formulate
any fixed rules for universal guidance in these particulars.
326. The importance of mewing the oil-rocks as a group
by itself, and of studying them individually, always with a
view to their natural association as members of such a group,
cannot be too earnestly impressed upon oil producers. It
VENANGO OIL GKOUP. III. 137
is the true key to a correct understanding of the structure
of the oil regions, the only one indeed which unlocks the
complications and involutions of the drillers oil sand nomen-
clature, some specimens of which are given in Chap. XIX.
If for example the pioneer operators in Butler county
had only always kept in mind the fact which they very
well knew tliat above the first oil sand they had always
found a mass of soft rock about J^OOfeet thick, and if they
had always noted the relative positions of all the sandy
members of the oil-sand group, instead of confining their
scrutiny to that one of them from which the oil came, they
would have soon remarked that what the driller called
Second sand in Butler county was really nothing else but
the First sand of Venango county.
327. If, at Petrolia, the oil drillers had observed care-
fully when and where they struck the top of the Oil-sand
group, they would have noticed in going deeper that their
so called Third sand lay only 250 feet beneath it, and there-
fore could not be the Oil creek Third sand; for they would
have inferred that the group had been only two thirds
pierced, and that there must be other sands still below them.
The result in some cases was disastrous enough. There
were men in the Petrolia district who, relying on their own
judgment, and ability to indentify the Third sand any-
where, and knowing by experience that no oil was to be
expected under the Third sand of Oil creek, stopped their
borings at the first rock that yielded oil, calling it the Third
sand, and then, getting little or no oil from it, sold out at
a loss, without an effort to go deeper. The name of Third
sand stopped them. It is easy to imagine their surprise
and chagrin when new owners suspecting the right applica-
tion of the name, or for other reasons, carried down their
holes to the bottom rock of the group and got hundreds of
barrels of oil per day. Territory which the first owners had
condemned and sacrificed through the mistake of a name,
came to rank in second hands among the most valuable in
the country.
328. I could cite several cases where the knowledge of the
simple fact, that all the oil-sands lie in one group and that
138 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
this group lias a well defined soft top and a well defined
soft bottom, would have saved the operator more money
than the whole expense of the geological survey of the oil
region.
But this fact simple as it is became known, and could
only become known, by a strictly geological method of
observation. Yet the average oil producers sees no util-
ity in a geological investigation ; shifts his tools from place
to place ; puts down his wells ; and decides for himself, by
surface levelings in reference to some assumed dip of the
oil- rock, where his Third sand will be, stamping a charac-
ter, productive or unproductive, on the territory, which the
geologist can easily show to be unmerited.
CHAPTER XV.
The dip of the Venango oil sand group.
Plate VIII, (with a map, Plate IX.)
329. The unity of the group having been exhibited, and
its identity proved both in the Venango and the Butler-Clar-
ion belts, it remains to show how it lies in reference to sea
l^vel ; how it dips southwestward,
Plate VIII, and the tables below, tell the whole story
without more words.
It is to be regretted that the exhibition in the. Clarion
county part is not fuller; but although the oil develop-
ments have there spread out much wider than is shown on
Plate VIII, or on the large map Plate IX, I have limited
myself to facts in hand ; omitting several interesting calcu-
lations for which my data were still insufficient. The map
however is complete enough for the purpose intended ; and
others may place upon their copies of it additional facts as
they get them, and so extend the calculations.
alt was intimated in Report I (page 30) that there were reasonable grounds
for supposing that the Stray and 3d sand had coalesced and united into one
in the Tidioute and Triumph district. Additional facts since obtained leave
little doubt that such is the case. Accordingly, in the arrangement of the sec-
tions on Plate p. 129, the top of the Tidioute and Colorado sands have been
placed to correspond with the top of the Stray in other localities. This view
of the order of stratification would require a reduction of the elevations of
the Tidioute and Colorado sands of about 45', in order that they may agree
with the top of the Oil Creek 3d sand, (which lies about 45' below the top of
the Stray, ) this being the horizon used in all the other elevations given on
the northern belt, from Tidioute to Clintonville.
The Tidioute Third sand horizon will then be ... 100845=963'
The Colorado Third sand horizon will then be ... 85345=808'
The dips in Table A 3 will be changed as follows:
Tidioute to Fagundus, from 30.9 per mile to 20.0
Tidioute to Church Run, from 11.9 per mile to 9.6
Church Run to Colorado, from per mile to 6.8
Colorado to Pleasantville, from 20.2 per mile to 10
Fagundus to Colorado, . . . from 5 per mile to 14.0
( 139 III. )
140 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F- CARLL.
330. Table A 1 ; giving the Elevation of the Top of the
Third oil sand above sea level, at the points along the belt,
in Warren and Venango counties (designated on Plate
VII) from Tidioute to Clintonville ; as follows :
Table A. 1 Warren and Venango counties.
Tidioute to Clintonville.
Height of top of Third sand above ocean level. See Plate VII.
Tidioutef, *1008'
Fagundus, *878
Colorado *853
Church Run, .' *853
Titusville (Watsons Flats), *793
Pleasantville, *768
Shamburg, *723
Pithole, *683
Cashup, *708
Petroleum Centre, *653
Rouseville, *558
Clapp Farm, 550
Siverly Farm, 528
Reno, 472
Milton Farm, . 455
Franklin, near A. V. RR. Depot, 421
Raymilton, Raymond estate, 360
Fosters, 363
Scrubgrass, 340
Bulion run, Gealy Farm, 345
Clintonville, Cross Farm, 230
Emlenton, near town, 130
Table A z . Warren and Venango counties*
Tidioute to Clintonoille.
Dip of top of Third sand, in feet, per mile.
>
A
a
II
l-a
2
c
Vt
5
i
1
|1
1
1
From Tidioute to
Church run,
13
S. 840 w.
1008 to 853
155
11.9
Colorado,
6?
S. 720 w.
1008 to 853
155
22.8
Fagundus, .
a
S. 270 W.
1008 to 878
130
30.9
* These points were used on a diagram in Report I, 1874, but the elevations
as there given are all now raised 13' to cause them to conform to ocean level,
as explained in Report II, 1877.
f See note a previous page.
VENANGO OIL SAND GROUP.
III. 141
From Fagundus to
Colorado,
5
71
N.710W.
S. 77 W.
878 to 853
878 to 768
25
110
5.0
14.7
8'
S. 41 W.
878 to 708
170
21.0
From Colorado to
6|
N. 820 W .
853 to 853
0-
0.0
-U
S. 390 W.
853 to 768
85
20.2
From Church run to
Titusville (Watson flats) ....
Pleasantville
3
S. 50 E.
S. 420 E.
853 to 793
853 to 768
60
85
24.0
15.5
From Titusville to
7
S. 120 w.
793 to 653
140
20.0
4A
S. 20 E.
793 to 723
70
16.3
Pleasantville,
From Pleasantville to
Sliamburg,
Pithole,
Cashup, .
From Cashup to
Pithole,
From Shamburg to
Petroleum Centre,
Rouseville,
Pithole,
From Petroleum Centre to
Rouseville,
From Pithole to
3&
3
?
if
k
3&
7JL
S. 650 E.
S. 400 w.
S. 40 E.
S. 25 E.
S. 680 w.
S. 470 W.
S. 30 W.
S. 420 E.
S. 90 W.
S. 590 W.
793 to 768
768 to 723
768 to 683
768 to 708
708 to 683
723 to 653
723 to 558
723 to 683
653 to 558
683 to 558
25
45
85
60
25
70
165
40
95
125
6.4
14.1
16.3
12.0
13.6
17.5
22.6
10.8
25.7
17.6
JP
S. 47 W.
683 to 550
133
17.3
J
S. 38 W.
683 to 528
155
16.8
From Rouseville to
Clapp,
Reno, .
From Clapp farm to
Siverly farm, .
11
2
S. 120 E.
S. 400 W.
s. 30 w.
558 to 550
558 to 472
550 to 528
8
86
22
6.0
16.4
11.0
Reno, . . . ....
From Siverly farm to
Reno,
4|
3 1
s. 530 w.
S. 780 w.
550 to 472
528 to 472
78
56
17.3
16.0
Milton farm,
4>
S. 63 W.
528 to 455
73
16.8
Foster's
8
S. 41 W.
528 to 363
165
20.6
From Reno to
Milton farm,
n
S. 200 w.
472 to 455
17
11.3
Franklin . . . .
v
S. 63 W.
472 to 421
51
15.7
From Milton farm to
4'
S. 21 W.
455 to 363
92
19.7
n
West.
455 to 421
34
13.6
From Franklin to
Foster's,
a
S. 10 E.
S 68 W.
421 to 363
421 to 360
58
61
13.4
6.6
From Foster's to
Raymilton,
Scrubgrass,
Bullion run,
From Raymilton to
Bullion run,
Clintonville, ..:....
From Scrubgrass to
Clintonville, .
From Bullion run to
ClintonvilLe,
95
y
&
5
3 3
N. 85 W.
S. 220 w.
S. 360 w.
S. 480 E.
S. 300 E.
S. 370 W.
S. 180 w.
363 to 360
363 to 340
363 to 345
360 to 345
360 to 230
340 to 230
345 to 230
3
23
18
15
130
110
115
0.3
5.1
3.0
1.8
13.0
22.0
34.1
Scrubgrass,
2
N. 680 E.
345 to 340
5
2.5
142 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHJST F. CARLL.
Table B 1 . Clarion county.
SMppenmlle to Foxburg.
Height of top of Third sand above ocean level. See Plate V1I1.
Foxburg.
Shippenville, 1 m. N. E. of town, 370'
Edenburg, {, m. S. E. of town 325'
Beaver City, ^ m. S. W. of town, 255'
Dogtown, \ m. west of town, 230'
Turkey City 220'
Foxburg, 100'
Table B 2 Clarion county.
SMppenmlle to Foxburg.
Dip oftJie Third sand in feet per mile.
Shippenville to Edenburg, ....
Eden burg to Beaver City,
1
S. 450 W.
s. 770 w.
S. 46 W.
370-325
325-255
255-230
45
70
25
14'
40'
V
Dogtown to Turkey City,
Turkey to Foxburg,
1 J
4J
S. 60 W.
S. 440 W.
230-220
220-100
10
120
10'
25'
Foxburg to Parker (Island], . .
Foxburg to Columbia Hill, ....
3
South,
S. 480 w.
100-60
100-100
40
27'
0'
Table C 1 . Armstrong and Butler counties.
Parker's to Herman's Station.
Height of top of Oil-Sands above ocean level. See Plate VIII.
Columbia Hill Reddick farm
3rd SS.
+100
4th SS.
Parker Island, at mouth of Clarion
-j- 60
4- 10
Stonehouse, in valley, near R'y station,
8
Frousinger farm, 1 m. E. of Martinsburg,
20
Martinsburg, Say farm, S. E. of town,
Argyle, near the pump station,
30
70
Petrolia, near the post-office,
100
Frederick, Mortimer farm,
108
Criswell, vicinity of Boss well,
105
190
Brady's Bend, at furnaces, .
(_130?)*
215
Fairview, McCleary farm,
-90
175
Modoc, near town,
(120?)
200
Greece, near town,
KarnsCity, McClvman's farm, .
Millerstown, (4th v SS. on eastern belt?)
St. Joe, J. Now farm, .
(220 ?.)
160
245
260
300
250
320
(_33n?)
Carbon Centre, R. Thompson farm,
294
376
Humes,
Herman station, ' .
(_375?)
(418?)
457
500
* The figures given in brackets have been supplied for the purpose of keep-
ing the horizons of 3d and 4th sands separate. To preserve uniformity and
avoid confusion, the dips are calculated throughout for the "3d sand," and
where its exact position was not noted at the points designated, because it
was imperfect and not oil-bearing, we have located it from 80 to 85 feet above
the "4th SS." The 3d and 4th sands appear to lie very nearly parallel in
this section, therefore the dips here given may be considered as representing
the slopes of both sands, one lying about 80 feet below the other.
VENANGO OIL SAND GROUP.
Table C z . Rate of dip in feet per mile.
III. 143
Table 0*.
Columbia Hill to
Parker (Island),
Miles.
12
2i
Bearing.
N. 850 E.
S. 35 E.
Ocean level.
+100' to + 60'
" " + 10
Fall.
40'
90
Rate.
23'
36'
Stonehouse,
Parker (Island) to
Farrentown,
Farrentown to
Stonehouse,
2J
2^
2
S. 11 W.
S. 13 W.
S. 66 W ..
" 8
+ 60 to + 10
+ 10 to 8
108
50
18
39'
21'
9'
Fronsinger Farm,
2
S. 250 W .
r --20
30
15'
Stonehouse to
Fronsinger Farm,
Martinsburg,
a
S. 350 E.
S. 200 W.
8 to 20
" " 30
12
22
8'
20'
Fronsinger Farm to
Martinsburg,
11
N.830 W.
20 to 30
10
8'
Argyle,
2
S. 240 w.
" " 70
50
25'
Frederick,
2?
S. 10 W.
" " 108
88
32'
Criswell,
8l
S. 190 E.
105
85
24'
Bradv : s Bend,
?!
S. 43 E.
" " 130
110
20'
Martinsburg to
Modoc,
61
S. 40 W.
_ 30 to 120
90
14'
Fairview,
r
S. 120 w.
" 90
60
20'
Argyle, . . .
2
S. 120 E.
" " 70
40
20'
Argyle to
Fairview,
Petrolia .
>
s. 470 w.
S. 150 \v.
_ 70 to 90
" 100
20
30
13'
30'
Frederick,
Petrolia to
Frederick,
Karns,
1J
1
13
S. 400 E.
S. 880 E.
S. 210 w.
108
100 to 108
" " 160
38
8
60
30'
8'
34
Fairview to
1
N. 80 E.
_ 90 to 100
10
10'
11
S. 120 E.
" _160
70
47'
4J
S. 60 W.
120
30
7'
Frederick to
Karns,
2i
S. 420 w.
108 to 160
52
23'
Karns to
Millerstown,
Milierstown to
St. Joe,
St. Joe to
Carbon Centre,
Carbon Centre to
Humes. .
Herman Station,
Humes to
Herman Station,
Modoc to
Karns,
3i
8|
2
2
3?
2J
4
S. 150 W .
S. 35 W.
S. lio W.
S. 250 E.
H. 240 W.
s. 550 w.
N. 820 E.
160 to 245
245 to 260
260 to 294
294 to 375
" " 418
_375 to 418
120 to 160
85
15
34
81
124
43
40
26'
4'
17'
40'
33'
15
10'
Millerstown,
Greece,
1
S. 510 E.
S. 51 W.
" " 245
" " 220
125
100
31'
50'
Greece to
Millerstown, ... ....
St. Joe,
42
4|
S. 730 E.
S. 34 E.
220 to 245
" " 260
25
40
5'
8-1'
Herman Station,
91
S. 50 E.
_4i8
198
| fll'
Criswell to
Frederick,
n
N. 63 W.
105 to 108
3
2'
Karns,
? S
S. 730 W.
_160
55
18'
Millerstown,
51
S. 43 W.
" " 245
140
25'
Brady's Bend, ........
Hrady's Bend to
Millerstown, *. . .... , ; , .
21
7
S. 760 E.
S..620 W.
" " 130
130 to- 245
25
115
10'
16'
144 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
Table I) 1 , Along the axis of development.
Northern ( Venango) belt.
Tide.
1008
853
768
723
558
472
455
363
345
Tidioute
Colorado
Pleasantville
Sham burg
Rouseville
Reno
Milton Farm
Fosters
Bullion Run
Tidioute
Tidioute
Ti
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
p of Third Sand at
Colorado,
Fall.
155
85
45
165
86
17
92
18
116
Miles.
6.75
4.20
3.20
7.30
5.25
1.50
4.66
6.00
3.37
Rate.
22.8'
20.2'
14.1
22.6'
16.4'
11.3'
19.7'
3.0'
34.1'
Pleasantville,
Shamhurg,
Rouseville,
Reno,
Miiton Farm, . . .
Fosters,
Bullion Run,
(230) Clintonville, .
Clintonville total,
Clintonville, bee line, S. 39 W.,
778
42.23
39.5
18.42
19.70
Table D 2 , Along the axis of development.
Southern (Butler-Clarion) belt.
230
Do<rt,own* to Turkey City, . .
10'
1.00
10'
220
Turkev City to Foxburg,
120
4 75
25'
100
Fox burg to Parker,
40
1.50
27'
60
Parker to Farrentown,
50
2.33
21'
10
Farrentown to Fronsinger Farm,
30
2.00
15'
20
Fronsinger Farm to Argyle,
50
2.00
25'
70
30
1 00
30'
100
Petrolia to Karns,
60
1.75
34'
160
Karns to Millerstown,
85
3.25
26'
245
Millerstown to St. Joe,
15
3.50
4'
260
St. Joe to Carbon Centre,
34
2.00
17'
294
Carbon Centre to Humes Farm,
81
2.00
40'
375
Humes Farm to Herman Station, (418',) . .
43
2.75
15'
Dogtown to Herman Station Total,
Dogtoivn to Herman /Station, bee line, S. 27 W.,
648
29.83
28.25
21.72
22.93
Table E.
Tidioute to Clintonville, as above, . .
778
42.23
18.42
Clintonville to Dogtown, (Strike,)
o
o
Dogtown to Herman Station,
648
29.83
21 72
Tidioute to Herman, along development,
19.80
1426
72.06
Tidioute to Herman, bee line, S. 21 W.,
62.00
23.00
Table F.
Tidiou
Dogto
Tidiov
te to Dogtown, S. 19 W v
wn to Herman Station, ... S. 27 W.
778
648
1426
34.0
28.25
62.00
22.88
22.93
23.00
ite to Herman Station, S. 21 W.,
Table G.
Tidioute (1008') to Shippenville (370'), . . . S. 8 W.,
Pithole (683'+45'=728') to Turkey City (220'), S. 7 W.,
Foster (363) to Modoc (200), S. 5 W.,
638
508
563
29.
22
24
22'
23
23
* Same level as Clintonville in last table.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Butler -Clarion Oil belt map. The Oil-production of
the belt. The Cross or Fourth sand belt.
(Illustrated by Plate IX.)
331. The map of the Butler, Armstrong and Clarion
Oil fields, in two sheets forming Plate IX, was partly drawn
in the winter of 1875 by Messrs. F. A. Hatch and Arthur
Hale while working up the notes of the previous season's
field work.
332. This map was originally intended to serve as a
skeleton base for details to be obtained by subsequent sur-
veys.* Our principal base lines at that time extended from
Parker City to St. Joe ; from Petrolia to Greece City ; and
from Foxburg to Shippenville.
Nothing more was done toward collecting material for the
map until late in 1876, when Mr. H. Martyn Chance and
Mr. Hale prolonged the line from St. Joe to Herman Station
and also lined across from Petrolia to Brady's Bend. In
the winter following Mr. Chance drafted the map anew,
enlarged it from the notes of his own surveys, and added
the profile section at the bottom.
333. It was found that, while the surveys made and the
data collected, sufficed for the study of the general features
of structure underground, they would not serve the purpose
of settling difficult local geological questions with an exten-
sion of the survey. For these questions accurate and com-
plete well records were needful ; and it was utterly impos-
sible to obtain such, except by employing a number of
assistants to watch and measure wells as they were bored,
and preserve the sand-pumpings for study. As this could
not be done over such a field, except at great expense, it
*No opportunity has since been afforded for doing additional field work of
this kind in either of thes^ counties and consequently the map is not tilled,
out in detail as wag originally intended.
10 III. (14: m.)
146 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
was obviously a waste of time to make spirit level surveys
simply to locate oil wells and get their heights above ocean
level, when nothing could be learned of their geological
record, except the one fact of the depth of the oil-produc-
ing sand beneath the mouth of the well.
334. The systematic detailed surveys, made by Prof.
White in southern Butler, and by Mr. Chance in northern
Butler and Clarion, diminished still further the necessity
for completing the map in the mode originally intended.
335, The map is therefore published as drawn, to show
the geographical extent of Butler- Clarion oil district ; and
to indicate the trend of the central or main developement
along the "Third Sand Belt," from the northeastern ex-
tremity of productive territory in Clarion county, to its
southwestern termination in Butler county. The new dis-
tricts which have been opened up since then, to the right
or left, can easily be located by those who desire to study
the subject in detail.
Production.
336. The first paying oil well on the Butler-Clarion
belt was obtained on the Allegheny river at Parkers landing,
in the fall of 1868 ; and operations spread out but a short
distance from that point during the years 1869 and 1870.
337. In 1871, the somewhat unexpected measure of suc-
cess attending the test wells which were advancing toward
the northeast into Clarion county, and also those toward
the southwest, into Butler county, started forward develop-
ments in both these directions, which resulted in pretty
thoroughly outlining within the next three years the main
or central belt.
Subsequently, side lines of development were run, and
the district was found to widen out in many places and to
contain side belts and pools ; with oil sometimes in the
Fourth sand, sometimes in the Third, and in some locali-
ties even in rocks above the Third sand all which aided
very materially in augmenting the production.
. 338. In 1874, the maximum development of the district
PRODUCTION. III. 147
was reached, during the great Fourth sand or "cross belt"
excitement.
The average production for the month of July in that
year, was 28,424 barrels per day ;* or an average of IT^Vir
bbls. per day to each of the 1,600 wells then at work.
From this date (1874), although the wells constantly in-
creased in numbers, the production gradually declined
until
339. In 1877 extensive new developments, principally
in Clarion county, added very largely to the daily out-put,
as the following figures based on Mr. Stowell's reports will
show.
Average Average Average
During No. of Wells. Production daily. Production per well.
1875 1696 20,060 bV
1876 2346 14,490
1877 3889 22,787
1878 4650 18,730
1879 4315 11,840
Is 11.828 bbls.
1 8.308 "
5.859 "
1 4.028 "
i 2.744 "
The second column showing the average number of wells
at work in the district during the year.
The Profile section.
340. The general structure of the oil group along the
central line of operations on tJie Butler-Clarion belt is shown
in the profile section on Plate IX ; where dotted lines in-
dicate the horizons of the Butler Third and Fourth sands
and explain why no ' ' Fourth -sand ' ' was found at Parkers
Landing.
Here (at Parkers Landing) the oil came from the lowest
member of the Oil group the representative of the Oil-
Creek Third sand, and so the rock was very properly called,
not the Fourth sand, but the Third.
In Clarion county, however, and likewise in Butler, the
oil first obtained came from a rock higher in the series.
But the drillers of the early wells did not notice the change
from one horizon to another ; and consequently supposed
that they were still getting the oil from the Parker Third
sand.
According to Stowell's Petroleum Reporter.
148 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
After the development had reached Modoc and Petrolia,
it began to be suspected that there might be two oil horizons
instead of only one, and then commenced the experiment
of deeper drilling at Petrolia, and elsewhere, which finally
resulted in the development of the "Cross Belt," which
was also called the "Fourth sand belt."
The profile shows how the "'Third''' and "Fourth" sands
of Butler and Clarion must unite to form the Third sand
at Parkers, if the drillers nomenclature of the oil sands be
followed.
CHAPTER XVII.
1. A profile section from lake Erie to West Virginia.
%. A vertical section of known oil producing formations.
(Illustrated by plates X and XI.)
341. A grave misapprehension exists in the minds of
many oil producers regarding the true relationship of the
oil rocks of one locality to those of another. Because it
can be shown on a map that nearly all of the oil producing
areas of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia are in-
cluded within the limits of a comparatively narrow gen-
eral belt of country, stretching from northeast to south-
west, it is taken for granted by those who do not stop to
reason much about it, that the oils of different localities
along this general belt are all produced from one and the
same series of rocks.
This erroneous idea has given occasion to a great deal
of injudicious drilling along lines run merely to connect a
district producing oil from one horizon, with another dis-
trict producing oil from a higher or lower rock.
342. When Bradford first began to give signs of prom-
ise as an oil field, the map of western Pennsylvania being
consulted, the embryo development was found to be on a
nearly direct continuation of the Clarion county oil belt.
Immediately several transit lines were started by different
parties and run through from the old to the new ground.
Each surveyor had his own particular angle of deviation
from the meridian to run by ; and each one, as far as pos
sible carefully kept the exact bearing and location of his
line a secret.
343. A statement was published at that time, and much
quoted as a proof of the unerring exactness of this method
of tracing an oil belt, provided the the bearing of the ' ' lead ' '
had been properly calculated. As the story went, a "belt
( 149 III. )
150 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS JOIIX F. CARLL.
line expert" ran one of these lines sixty-five miles through
an almost unbroken forest, employing an engineer who had
never been over the country before, and who knew abso-
lutely nothing about the work beyond the bald fact that he
was traveling by a designated d'egree of the compass, never-
theless the line thus run conducted its fortunate projector
out of the woods, down the mountain side into the valley
of Tunangwant creek, to a station within a few feet of the
largest well. at that time known in the Bradford district.
And this termination of the line was considered by many
as a conclusive proof that all the lands through which that
line passed were "on the oil belt ! "
344. The profile section on Plate X, and the vertical
section on Plate XI, have been prepared for the purpose of
exhibiting the fallacy of such views ; and to enable the
reader to see at a glance, what some of the fundamental
features of the sedimentary structure, of the oil region
especially, are.
345. The profile- section Plate X, follows a line upon
the map drawn from Black Rock on the Niagara river, in
Erie county New York, to Pittsburgh and thence to Dunkard
creek oil -field in Dunkard township, Greene county, close
to the West Virginia State line.
From Black Rock to Pittsburgh the bearing of this line
is S. 20 W. distance about 175 miles.
From Pittsburgh to Dunkard creek, its bearing is S. 3
E. distance 50 miles.
346. Places on the line of profile, Plate X. Starting
at Black Rock the line crosses the foot of lake Erie and
strikes the southeasterly shore at' Lakeview, in Erie county
N. Y.
Thence it runs through, or very near to, the following
places: Jamestow n, N. Y. ; Youngsmlle, on Big Broken-
straw creek, in Warren county, Pa. ; Tidioute on the Alle-
gheny river, in Warren county; President on the Alle-
gheny river, in Yenango county; Foxburg on the Allegheny,
in Clarion county ; Parkers Landing, on the Allegheny, in
Armstrong county; and Petrolia, Miller stown and Great
Belt city, (or Summit] in Butler county.
PROFILE SECTION. III. 151
Thus it may be said to follow the Butler oil belt very
nearly along its line of best development.
347. It is evident that as this allignment of the profile
section coincides geographically so nearly with the trend of
the Bulter and Venango oil sands, there can be no trouble
in properly locating upon it the Venango oil sand group.
348. The Warren oil development, however, lies some
8 miles to the east southeast of our line ; and the Bradford
oil development, some 30 miles from it in the same direction.
349. Now it is a remarkable and important fact, that in
no boring in Pennsylvania has the Warren group of oil
rocks (unmistakably developed) been seen directly beneath
the Venango group.
It is equally a fact, that in no boring has the Bradford
"Third" sand been seen directly below the Warren group.
In other words, we have not a single direct oil well meas-
urement between these several groups ; and therefore we
must trust to some pretty nice and difficult calculations,
when we try to determine the thicknesses of these intervals
that is, when we attempt to place the Warren and the Brad-
ford oil rocks in their proper places in our profile section.
But whatever inaccuracies of detail may thus creep into
the section, it will still suffice to show the relative positions
of such oil horizons as have been 'profitably worked in dif-
ferent parts of the country.
It will certainly demonstrate the folly of drilling on so-
called belt lines, run from one producing district to another,
regardless of the age or equivalence of the rocks to be con-
nected.*
350 The Vertical Section, Plate XI, is intended to
show that oil has been produced from ten or twelve differ
ent geological horizons in the earth's crust, ranging through
a thickness of about 4,500 feet of sedimentary strata. And
the most skillful oil producer, the most expert geologist,
*It must never be forgotten that a "line well " may prove remunerative
by discovering a local oil horiz m not before known; but, in that case its suc-
cess as an oil well will have nothing to do with the theory on which it was.
located ; or, in plainer terms the line run to locate it can have nothing to do
with the existence of the local horizon of oil which may be thus fortunately-
explored.
152 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. J01IX F.-CARLL.
cannot tell how many other oil horizons may exist at inter-
mediate depths beneath the surface, (*". e. in the scale of the
formations) but which, being good only within certain geo-
graphical limits, have as yet escaped the oil miner's drill.
351. The lowest horizon* in our country from which
oil in paying quantities has been obtained is that of the
Corniferous limestone f formation, the home of the Cana-
dian oil.
This rock can be unmistakably identified at Black Rock
in New York ; and therefore Black Rock has been selected
as the northern end of our profile section, Plate X.
352. The next and only other point at which the eleva-
tion of the Corniferous limestone can be fixed, is in the
Coburn gas well at Fredonia, Chautauqua county, N. Y.,
* Oil lias been found or struck at lower horizons yet, but in insufficient
quantities.
f "The color of the Corniferous lime&tone varies from a light greyish blue,
to dark blue or black, and it is sometimes even of a light gray or drab color.
It contains numerous nodules of hornstone, and the strata are sometimes sep-
arated by irregular layers of the same. In other localities these layers of
hornstone increase in number and thickness to the almost entire exclusion of
calcareous matter, and they then present a very harsh outline." * * "At
the eastern end of the district the hornstone is intermingled and interstratified
with the calcareous strata, the whole very dark colored. The same character
prevails at the western extremity of the district, where the rock outcroping
on the Niagara has, from its black color, given name to the village of Black
Rock."
" It will be observed, that in all cases where this rock is highly developed, the
Onondaga limestone, the next rock below, is but meagerly so. For all prac-
tical purposes, in the Fourth district, the two masses may be considered as
one. They are intimately connected, forming together the limestone terrace,
and there are few good localities where both are not to be seen. In litholog-
ical character, there is scarcely more difference between the Onondaga and
the Corniferous, than in different parts and different localities of the latter
rock."
" It forms a slight barrier at the outlet of Lake Erie, at Black Rock, prxluc-
ing a rapid current with considerable descent, and presenting a small island
just above the water which is all that now remains to show that the rock was
once continuous from the two shores."
" The point of greatest thickness actually measured is on Allen's creek [near
LeRoy, Genesee co.] where it is seventy-one and a half feet. At the eastern
extremity of the district, the thickness cannot be more than half this, and at
same points I have estimated it at thirty feet. At Black Rock there is about
twenty-five feet laid open to view ; but the higher part of the rock is not visi-
ble, and from (he deep alluvion covering it further east, it cannot be correctly
estimated." (Geol. of New York, 1843, Part IV, pp. 161 et seq. by Jas. Hall.)
PROFILE SECTION. III. 153
for in our own State, as far as known, it has never been
reached by the deepest borings.'*
353. The average pitch of the Corniferous limestone
towards the southwest can be calculated from its elevation
at Black Rock and Fredonia, allowing us to judge approxi-
mately of the thickness of the measures between it and the
Venango oil group.
At Black Rock, as shown by the quotations below, the
exact thickness of the rock is not known. We have as-
sumed the top to lie about 52 ft. above the surface of Lake
Erie, or 625 ft. above ocean level, which cannot be far wrong.
In the Coburn well at Fredonia it is said to have been
struck at a depth of 1050 ft. which, (the elevation of the
well mouth being 735') puts it 315 ft. below ocean level at
that place.
The distance from Black Rock to Fredonia is about 38
miles in a direction S. 35 W. and this gives an average slope
or dip of about 25 ft. per mile.
But along our section line (S. 20 "W.) the average dip of
the limestone ought to be stronger than 25' per mile, because
the line runs more nearly in the direction of the line of
greatest dip as calculated from other strata which admit of
more accurate tracing. And this inference is strengthened
*As the thickness of limestone reported in the Coburn well is rather sur-
prising, it may be well to state here a few facts in relation to the well, as given
by Mr, Coburn himself who has several specimens of the sand pumpings still
preserved in his office.
In digging the conductor to the rock some gas appeared. After the drill
was introduced the gas increased all the way down to 700 ft. below which point
no further increase was obtained.
The limestone was struck at 1,050 ft. and continued until the drill was
stoped at 1,207 it. It was "hard and flinty" and produced neither oil or gas.
The well is tubed at 700 ft. The lower part of the hole fills up to the tubing
with salt water. The pump is put in motion about once a year, but there
seems to be no accumulation of water above the bottom of the tubing.
The flow of gas is 4,000 cubic feet per day by measurement. P. essure 19 Ibs.
per square inch. The well was drilled in 1871 or 1872 and is apparently deliv-
ering as much gas now (Oct. 1877) as when first struck.
Mr. Colburn kindly gave me some specimens of limestone, one of which,
coming from a depth bf 1,200', contains a well preserved fossil shell, readily
recognized as the Atrypa prisca, figured in geology of N. Y. Vol. IV page 175.
154 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
by the fact that no limestone is reported in Jonathan Wat-
son' s deep well near Titusville. *
354. The distance from Black Rock to Watson 1 s well
is about 100 miles. Direction S. 26 W. Elevation of well
month 1290 ft. above ocean. Depth of well 3553 ft.
On an average slope of 25' per mile the limestone should
have been found at 1875 ft. below ocean level, or 3165' from
the surface. But as no limestone was seen in the well, we
must conclude either that it is absent in that locality (which
is hardly probable) or that it has a greater average dip
slope than 25' per mile in that direction.
As the well stopped at 2263' below ocean level, an average
of 29' per mile would put the limestone at 2275' or 12 feet
beneath the well. A greater dip would of course put it still
deeper.
355. A number of other deep wells are shown on the
* Owing to a combination of unfortunate circumstances the record of this
important well cannot be given.
In an exceptional and expensive experiment of deep drilling, such as this
was, it could not be expected that the owner of a well would allow it to be
watched and measured as an ordinary well might be, or that he would give
to the public facts which his money paid for until satisfied that his own inter-
ests no longer demanded secrecy. Prudential considerations suggested that
the daily revelations of the drill should be known only by those connected
with the well, but Mr. Watson instructed his drillers to keep a good record,
and to preserve sand pumpings whenever a change of rock occured, so that a
satisfactory history of the well might be given to the survey when the proper
time should come. This was all that could be asked and probably shortly
after the work stopped a very good record could have been obtained. But Mr.
Watson did not yet feel willing to make the details public because he intended
soon to put up heavier machinery and sink the well deeper
Thus the matter lay for a couple of years, and then when an attempt was
made to get at the facts it was found the record had been mislaid or lost, and
that the specimens had suffered the usual fate of all such collections in an oil
producers office some of the bottles had been emptied because they were
wanted for other purposes and others had lost their labels and were worthless.
But three reliable specimens remained. One of these is of considerable im-
portance as it shows the character of a 15 foot band of black slate at a depth
of 2,600 ft. This was one of the most noticeable strata in the well and possibly
may represent the Genesee slate of X. Y. Bluish slaty shales with occasional
hard "shells" were found below this with very little change in the character
of the drilling, all the way to the bottom and Mr. Watson is positive that no
limestone was passed through. A hard rock was reported- however just as
the utmost limit of drilling cable forced a suspension of the work at a depth
of 3,553 feet from the surface.
PROFILE SECTION. III. 155
proiile ; but it will be seen that none of them . have gone
deep enough to reach the Corniferous limestone. The Wat-
son well is not only the deepest boring ever made in Wes-
tern Pennsylvania, but it is also deeper geologically than
any other. It is greatly to be regretted therefore that so
little can be known of its history.
356. Localization of the oil horizons to certain areas.
A person unacquainted with the laws of sedimentary de-
position and with the methods of preparing a profile-sec-
tion, might inadvertantly be led to suppose from an exam-
ination of the profile section plate X, that the different
strata represented there spread out continuously and uni-
versally in every direction under the oil regions ; that a
well failing to produce oil in the Venango group, might be
put down four or five hundred feet deeper and pump oil
from the Warren group, and then five hundred feet deeper
and renew itself in the Bradford "Third" sand.
But such has not been the experience of oil producers.
The several groups of oil producing rocks are locally well
defined under certain areas ; but they have their geograph-
ical as well as their geological limits, and as far as at pres-
ent known, the geographical limit of one group never over-
laps that of another.
If we take a map and outline upon it the limits of the
Smith's Ferry and Slippery Rock oil-producing district
and then the Butler, Clarion and Venango and then the
Warren and then the Bradford we shall see that each
has its own particular locus ; and that the different districts
are separated from one another by areas (of greater or less
extent) which have been pretty thoroughly tested by the
drill and proven to be unproductive.
357. Structural variations, Plate X. Theoretically the
structure represented in this section is correct. The hori-
zons of the various strata of limestone, shale, and sandstone,
do lie superimposed one upon the other in regular order as
\here delineated.
But the physical constitution of these sedimentary rocks
is in fact very variable. It must have been true in all ages,
that every deposit of sandstone in one locality must have
1^6 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOH* T F. CARLL.
been represented by cotemporaneous deposits of shales in
other localities. Hence it happens that, in tracing rocks
long distances, the sandstones disappear and shales come
in at the same geological horizon.
It may not then be presumed that each particular sand-
stone, or its oil, will be found in every locality where its
horizon can be pierced by the drill, or that a measured sec-
tion of the rocks in one place can be precisely duplicated
in detail in another.
Vertical Section.
358. Summary sketch of the formations exhibited in the
Vertical Section, Plate XL This generalized section extends
from the surface rocks in the Upper Barren Coal series of
Greene county, Pa., down to the Corniferous limestone, the
Canadian oil rock, and will enable any one to distinguish
and locate the several oil horizons thus far discovered and
profitably worked in these measures. It is in fact an en-
larged representation of the features presented in the Pro-
file Section Plate X.
GROUP No. 1.
Upper Barren Coal Measures, B. "Greene county
group." Thickness 600'.
Vertical Range. From surface to top of Washington
Upper limestone.
Composition. Shales, sandstones, thin beds of limestone
and coal.
Exposures. The high lands of central and southwestern
Greene county, Pa.
Authority. Prof. J. J. Stevenson, Report K, p. 35, and
White and Fontaine, Report PP.
Upper Barren Coal Measures, A. "Washington county
group." Thickness 350'.
Vertical Range. From top of Washington Upper lime-
stone to top of Waynesburg sandstone.
Composition. Shales, sandstones, limestones and thin
beds of coal ; but carrying also the "Washington coal bed "
from 7' to 10' thick. In Washington county 6 beds of lime-
VERTICAL SECTION. III. 157
stoi^e compose about one- third of the mass, but in Greene,
the limestones are thin and less frequent.
Exposures. In the highlands of Washington and Greene
counties. See Keport K, p. 44.
GROUP No. 2.
Upper Productive Coal Measures. Thickness 475'
Vertical Range. From top of Waynesburg sandstone
to base of Pittsburgh coal.
Composition. Shales and sandstones with three thick
bands of limestone and several thick coal beds, of which
the Waynesburg and the Pittsburgh are the most important.
Exposures. Throughout Washington, Greene and Alle-
gheny counties. See detailed section in Prof. Stevenson's
Report K, page 57.
GROUP No. 3.
Lower Barren Coal Measures. Thickness 500'.
Vertical Range. From base of Pittsburgh coal to top
of Mahoning sandstone.
Composition. Shales and sandstones, with some thin
beds of limestone and coal.
Exposures. Partially seen in Washington and Allegheny
counties and in the highlands of southern Butler ; but bet-
ter developed in Beaver county, where Mr. White's detailed
section of these measures was taken. See Report K, pp.
75, 76.*
* Prof. Stevenson gives the section referred to above as a typical one of the
Lower Barrens in Beaver county, and it will also probably hold good in a gen-
eral way in Allegheny, Washington and Greene, where the exposures were
so imperfect that a complete detailed section could not be obtained. But in
the Dunkard creek oil wells he says "the interval between the Pittsburgh
coal and Mahoning SS. is not far from 425 feet ; but this interval increases
northward and northwestward until in Beaver county, according to Mr. White
it is from 530' to 540'."
He adds on page 77 (and this is quoted to show the similarity of structure
pervading all deposits of interstratified sandstones and shales, whether in the
Barrens of the Carboniferous or in the Venango oil group and in confirma-
tion of opinions to that effect expressed in other parts of this report) " So
great and so frequent are the changes in the sandstones and shales of this
series, that a detailed discussion of the whole would be intelligible only by a
comparison of a large number of sections ; but for the most part the rocks are
of so little interest or importance that such a comparison would be only a
waste of time and space, edifying to neither the author nor the reader."
158 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
GROUP No. 4.
Lower Productive Coal Measures. Thickness 400'.
Vertical Range. From top of Mahoning SS. to top of
Conglomerate No. XII.
Compositon. Sandstones and shales, with several good
and persistent coal seams and two important beds of lime-
stone the "Freeport" and the "Ferriferous."
Exposures. This series is exposed over a large extent
of country in Butler, Armstrong, Clarion, Beaver, Lawrence
and Venango counties. See Mr. Chance's detailed section,
Report Y, page 16.
Prof. Stevenson states (Report K, p. 392) that the Mahon-
ing sandstone, the top member of this group, is the central
and principal oil-bearing rock of the three sands found in
oil wells on Dunkard creek, Greene co. * It also appears to
be an oil-producing rock in Westmoreland county, where
a number of oil and salt wells have been sunk through it.
The Ferriferous limestone of this group is the great lime-
stone of Butler, Armstrong and Clarion counties and the
oil miners "key rock " in sinking oil wells in these sections.
It is from 5' to 25' in thickness and lies from 30' to 80' above
the Homewood sandstone, the top member of Conglomerate
No. XII.
GROUP No. 5.
Mountain sand series, including the Pottsmlle conglom-
erate No. XII, and probably in some localities, some of the
sandstones belonging to the upper Pocono sandstone No. X,
(No. XI being either thin, or wanting.) Thickness from 350
to 425' ft. say 375 feet.
Vertical Range. From top of Homewood sandstone to
the base of the Olean- Garland- Ohio conglomerate, or second
mountain sand of the Venango oil wells.
Composition. A group of variable conglomerates and
sandstones interstratified with shales and enclosing sporadic
beds of iron ore and coal ; two of the coal beds, the Mercer
and Sharon being of great importance. It also carries in
some localities two thin bands of limestone (the Mercer
Upper and Lower.)
VERTICAL SECTION. III. 159
Exposures. In the highlands of Mercer, southern Craw-
ford, Venango, Forest, Warren and McKean counties.
The lower members of this group produce heavy oil at
Smith's Ferry, in Beaver county, and on Slippery Rock
creek, in Lawrence county and the upper conglomerate is
said to be the source of some oil in Kentucky.
GROUP No. 6.
Crawford shales, thickness 400' to 500' say 450'.
Vertical Range. From the base of the Mountain sand
series to the top of the Venango oil group.
Composition. Shales and slates, enclosing the PitTiole
grit near the centre of the mass. In some localities 100 ft.
or more of the lower part is composed of red shale; in
others no red appears. The upper part in some sections
contains quite important beds of sandstone.
Exposures. Only favorably seen in cliffs bordering the
streams in parts of Forest, Venango, Mercer, Crawford,
Warren and McKean counties, its northern outcrop being
always obscured by drift.
The horizon of the PitTiole grit appears to furnish the
light gravity amber oil at Smith's Ferry and Ohioville in
Beaver county, with traces of the same on Slippery Rock
creek in Lawrence county. It also probably yields the
heavy, lubricating oil of the Mecca district in Trumbull
county, Ohio. (See Chap. 8.)
GROUP No. 7.
Venango Oil Group. Thickness 300' to 375'. Say 350'
Vertical Range. From the top of the First Oil sand
(the " Second sand" of the driller in Butler county) to the
bottom of the Third Oil sand (called the "Fourth sand"
in Butler, Armstrong and Clarion, and the "Fifth sand"
in some parts of Venango county.)
Composition. A group of variable sandstones, in some
places conglomeritic, and locally divided into several mem-
bers by irregular beds of slates and shales, some of which
are red.
Exposures. These rocks as a group, lie with a remark-
160 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
able uniformity of slope and general structure, in a com-
paratively narrow belt, from Herman Station in Butler
county, to Tidioute in Warn n county. They make no con-
spicuous outcrops to the northwest, but appear t j lose their
sandy characteristics before reaching the surface.
At Tidioute, the deep gorges of Dennis run and the Alle-
gheny river expose the First and Second Oil sands, and as
far up as Warren it is quite probable that we see the upper
portion of the group exposed in the river hills. These are
the only localities where a portion of the group in even an
approximately normal condition may be seen above water
level. Its horizon is cut through by many of the ravines
of McKean county, but it has there become so changed in
its physical aspects, that it disappears or becomes unrecog-
nizable when the proper range for its outcrop is reached.
These are the oil sands of Tidioute and Colorado, War-
ren county ; Fagundus, Forest county ; Church Run and
Titusville, Crawford county ; and of all the well known oil
centres in Venango, Clarion, Armstrong, and Butler coun-
ties.
They produce oil in different localities from the different
members of the group ranging from 30 to 52 in gravity and
varying greatly in color Green oil from the Third sand,
on Oil creek ; black oil from the Stray sand at Pleasantville ;
amber oil from the Second sand in many places ; and dark
heavy gravity oil from the First sand at Franklin. There
are also occasional local deposits of oil, shading from a
light straw color to almost a jet black.
GROUP 'No. 8.
Interval between tlie Venango oil group and the Warren
oil group. Thickness 300'.
Vertical Range. From the base of the Venango Third
oil sand to the top of the Warren oil group.
Composition. Soft shale of a bluish-grey color, but con-
taining some beds of green, purple and red, with irregular
bands of thin-bedded bluish-grey sandstones.
The wells at Warren, even when favorably located, do not
pass through the Venango group in its normal condition,
VERTICAL SECTION. III. 161
nor do the wells on the Venango belt, when sunk to the
proper depth, as many of them have been, find the Warren
oil shales and sands, with oil ; consequently no direct meas-
urement of this interval can be made in oil wells. In the
section, we have assigned a thickness to the mass which
places the Yenango and Warren Oil groups as near as may
be in their proper relative positions vertically, at Warren.
GROUP No. 9.
Warren Oil group. Thickness about 300 ft.
Vertical Range, and Composition. This group may be
viewed as including the so-called Second, Third, arid Fourth
sands of Warren ; but its composition is so variable in dif-
ferent parts of the district that it does not afford any per-
sistent bands of sandstone, by which to define either its
upper or its lower limit.
At north Warren the upper part is shaly, and the largest
wells, it is claimed, flowed from these shales, while others
got their oil from the ' ' Third sand. ' ' At Warren the Second
sand" is fairly developed, but the oil generally comes in
the Third sand. ' ' At Stoneham a lower sand, the ' ' Fourth ' '
produces the oil. Thus the North Warren shales are rep-
resented at Stoneham by more sandy measures which con-
tain no oil, and the Stoneham "Fourth sand " is poorly
developed at North Warren, and unproductive. The'group
then may be said to extend from the top of the North War-
ren shales to the bottom of the Stoneham sandstone, cov-
ering an interval, as nearly as may be calculated,, of about
300 ft.
GROUP No. 10.
Interval between the Warren Oil group and the Brad-
ford "Third sand." Thickness from 400' to 450' say
400 ft.
Vertical Range. From the Stoneham oil sand to the
Bradford oil sand ("Third").
Composition. Slates and shales, generally of a bluish
color but sometimes inclined to red or brown, interstratified
with thin bands of bluish-grey, micaceous, flaggy sand-
11 III.
162 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
stones. The sand pumpings show this interval to be very
fossiliferous.
Similar difficulties are encountered in estimating the
thickness of this group to those mentioned in No. 8. A
large number of wells have been sunk between Bradford
and Warren, but the rocks are so variable in composition
and the well records have been so imperfectly kept, that no
completely satisfactory identification of the rocks of the
Warren oil group with their equivalents at Bradford, or
of the Bradford " Third sand'" with its corresponding
stratum at Warren, can yet be made. The interval between
the two oil horizons, however, appears to be in the neigh-
borhood of 400 ft. as above given.
This interval holds the Bradford "Second sand" which
has yielded oil in many of the McKean county wells and
also the sandy-shale horizon producing ' ' slush oil ' ' along
the Tuna Valley.
GROUP No. 11.
' ' Bradford Third sand. ' ' Thickness from 20 to 80 feet.
Composition. A fine-grained, light to dark-brown sand-
stone, containing pebbles the size of pin heads in some lo-
calities, while in others it is little more than a sandy-shale.
It appears to be rather thin and irregularly bedded, is fre-
quently inters tratified with thin layers of grey, slaty, sand-
stone, and contains many fossil-shells and fish bones.
The constitutional peculiarities of the rock its color, its
composition and its structure insure its ready recognition
by the driller in any locality where he may find it in even
an approximately normal condition. But this rock, like all
others, has its geographical limits, outside of which, its
geological horizon can only be traced by the exercise of
the greatest of care and the best of judgment in keeping
and studying the well records.
It is seldom however that good records of wells on de-
batable territory are kept. The well owner always starts
the drill on the presumption that the oil rock will be found.
He calculates in his own way its approximate depth from
the surface, and makes a contract to drill so many feet.
VERTICAL SECTION. III. 163
Confident of success he urges on the drill making no par-
ticular note of the character of the upper rocks. But when
the supposed horizon of the sand is reached and the evi-
dences of its presence do not appear as anticipated, he
discovers too late that he has nothing to check by, to ascer-
tain whether the oil rock is actually wanting or only so
changed in character as to be scarcely recognizable, or
whether there may not have been some mistake in calcula-
ting its position in the well. Thus it often happens that
wells of this class are abandoned, after drilling in doubt
for a few days, without having been sunk to the proper
depth ; while others are carried on down many feet below
the horizon of the sand they are in quest of ; and much
valuable information is lost which a little prudent foresight
might have secured.
The Bradford ^ Third sand" may be satisfactorily
located in the Wilcox wells, near the southerly line of Mc-
Kean county. At Tidioute, in Warren county, thirty-five
miles nearly due west from these wells, the base of the
Venango group is well defined. Between these two points
the nearest geographical approximation that can at present
be made both groups evidently undergo rapid and radical
changes in composition, and the well records are vague and
unreliable ; hence no absolute determination of the thick-
ness of the mass of shales lying between the two groups
can here be made.
Somewhat better facilities are afforded for a study of
these measures by carefully tracing the rocks from Tidioute
to Warren (15 miles) and then from Warren to Bradford
(25 miles). But even along these lines the structure is so
obscure that mistaken identifications are quite likely to be
made.
These facts are stated to explain why there is yet some
uncertainty regarding the thickness of the vertical interval
between the Venango oil group and Bradford "Third sand."
The figures cannot differ materially, however, from those
given in the vertical section Plate XL
164 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
GROUP No. 12.
Interval between the Bradford ' ' Third sand ' ' and t7ie
Corniferous limestone, commencing in the Chemung and
including the Portage and Hamilton groups of the New
York geological survey. Thickness 1600'.
Composition. In the imperfect records of wells that have
been sunk into these measures in various parts of the coun-
try, we simply find recorded'' shales, slates and soapstone,
with occasional sand shells." The upper part for two or
three hundred feet appears to contain considerable sandy
material, and some of these sand beds produce oil along
the Tuna valley in the vicinity of Limestone, Cattaraugus
county, N. Y. Below this the drillings show principally
slate and soft mud rocks. No important bands of sand-
stone and no oil have been reported.
The thickness of this interval must be left questionable
for reasons previously stated. We have no means of tra-
cing the Corniferous limestone south of Fredonia, N. Y.
except approximately, by its slope. The distance from
Fredonia to Bradford is about 48 miles, direction about
S. 45 E. A dip of 20' to the mile would be required to
place the limestone at Bradford as shown in our section.
GROUP No. 13.
The Corniferous Limestone, probably shown in the ver-
tical section Plate XI, in conjunction with the Onondaga
limestone.
The composition of this group has already been referred
to in the quotations given from Geology of New York.
It is the oil producing rock of the Canadian oil regions,
but at Fredonia, N. Y. yields neither oil or gas. We may
not presume therefore that it will ever be found to be an
important oil horizon in Pennsylvania, and even if it should
prove to be productive here, the great depth at which it lies
beneath the surface must be a very serious obstacle in the
way of its development.*
* Beneath the Corniferous or Upper Helderberg limestone, lie, in regular
order downwards: Oriskany sandstone Lewistown limestone and other
Lower Helderberg calcareous rocks Clinton red and other shales with fossil
CHAPTER XVIII.
Causes for withholding Well-Records from geologists.
359. Their abundance. It is said that about four thou-
sand well-shafts were sunk in the oil fields of Penna. and
New York during the one year of 1877.
Never before in the history of the enterprise were wells
put down so rapidly. Scattered over every part of western
Penna. from Smiths Ferry, near Ohio, to Olean in New
York from Lake Erie to the Allegheny mountains they
were necessarily drilled on every class of territory ; on that
known to be gooft as well as that recognized as purely ex-
perimental on account of its being outside of previously
tested areas. They were drilled in districts producing oil
from all the known horizons extending down from the Ma-
honing sandstone to the Bradford oil rock, and many of
them were carried down several hundred feet below the
Bradford oil horizon in quest of something new.
360. Total length of boring. Allowing these wells each
to average 1056' in depth (and this is undoubtedly too low
an estimate) every five wells aggregated one mile of rock,
making altogether 800 miles of bore hole drilled in one
year!
361. Small percentage of good recording. What a
ore beds and sandrocks Medina and Oneida sandrocks, forming many of the
mountains of middle Pennsylvania Hudson river and Utica slates Trenton,
Birdseye, Chazy and Calciferous magnesian limestones, forming many of the
broad valleys of middle Pennsylvania and containing great deposits of brown
hematite iron ore and Potsdam sandstone, the bottom formation of the Pal-
aeozoic system.
Under these lie vast formations of chlorite and mica slates, gneisses and
primary limestones, with serpentine rocks, conglomerates, porphyries, traps,
and huge beds of magnetic and specular iron ore, belonging to the Huronian
and Lawrentian systems.
As the Palseozeic rocks are 20,000 feet thick in front of the Allegheny mount-
ain, it is probable that a well in the oil region would require to be put down
a good deal deeper than 10,000 feet to strike the Huronian floor.
( 165 III. )
166 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
broad field for geological study would their records have
afforded if they had been properly kept and were now ac-
cessible to us. But unfortunately for the interests of the
survey, the oil producer is drilling solely to benefit himself
and cares very little for the advancement of science or the
financial welfare of those who may drill after him. Of this
large number of wells, probably there has not been pre-
served a special record of one in a hundred, and but few
of those that have been preserved can be obtained in a shape
to be of any use to the Survey.
To those who are unacquainted with the business of oil-
producing and the methods of drilling, this may seem
strange ; and it will be a matter of wonder to scientific men
abroad, that the survey has been able to secure so little,
comparatively, to illustrate the underground structure of
the oil regions, when such wide-spread developments by the
drill has been constantly going on in the country.
A few words in explanation here, to set the matter right,
both as it regards ourselves and the oil producer, may not
be considered out of place in this report.
362. Drilling ~by Contract. Nearly all the wells at the
present time are bored, not by the well owners, but by men
who take the job of drilling by contract. The carpenters
rig having been erected and the boiler and engine set up,
the contractor agrees to furnish his own tools, cable, fuel,
&c., and to drill the well a certain depth or to the oil bear-
ing rock, for a stipulated sum, or at so much per foot ;
binding himself to deliver a good clear hole ready for the
tubing, or no pay. Wells are drilled much more rapidly
and cheaply than they were five years ago, and the com-
pensation is such that a contractor can only make money
by making fast time. The drill must be kept constantly
in motion and the men employed have no time to spare for
anything but the work in hand. The delay occasioned by
measuring depths, preserving sand pumpings and recording
facts, necessary to give a record any scientific value,
would cost a contractor from fifty to one hundred dollars
in loss of time on an ordinary well. We cannot therefore
reasonably expect or ask him to make this sacrifice purely
WITHHOLDING WELL-RECORDS. III. 167
in the interest of science. He has no need of the minute
details which it requires, and while he recognizes the dif-
ferent sands in a general way as the drill goes down, and
mentally notes for the time being, any unusual features in
their structure, his main thought is to complete the contract
as soon as possible without mishap ; and when that is done,
having no further interest in the matter, even these general
outlines of the well's history are soon forgotten.
The well owner, manifestly can give only such a record
as is returned to him by the contractor. This is usually a
brief memoranda giving the depth to the oil sand, its thick-
ness and the best point at which to explode a torpedo facts
very good as far as they go, but too meager to be of much
practical use to the geologist
363: Record circular issued by the Survey. At the
commencement of the survey it was hoped that both well
owners and contractors would see it to their interest to aid
the work. Nearly every operator spoken to on the subject
expressed a willingness to assist in collecting reliable well
records, and some went so far as to insert a clause in their
subsequent drilling-contracts requiring an accurate register
of the well as a part of the work to be performed. To facili-
tate matters and give the contractor as little trouble as pos-
sible, blanks were furnished by the Survey, to be filled in
by the driller as the work advanced ; and to make plain
the method of recording the facts required, a duplicate form
was struck off to serve as a guide or key. On this key a sup-
posititious well record was printed in a different color from
the body of the blank, so that any one could see at once how
the blanks should be filled. A copy of the key is given
on the next page, the italics representing that which was
printed in color.
168 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHIST F- CARLL.
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WITHHOLDING WELL-KECOKDS. III. 169
364. Value of the circulars returned. The blanks and
key were sent out together and it was expected that this
would insure uniformity in the records and result in the
acquisition of much valuable information. But these an-
ticipations were not realized. Not one blank out of ten was
returned, and many of those that did come back bore such
palpable evidences of having been written up from memory
after the well was completed rather than from actual meas-
urement and annotation during the period of drilling, that
their value rated very low and some of them had to be dis-
carded altogether.
365. Utility of well records not appreciated. In many
.cases it is not alone the pecuniary consideration involved
in a loss of time, that prevents a contractor from keeping
a detail record, but he fails to do so because he sees no
utility in it, being perfectly satisfied in his own mind that
he thoroughly understands the structure where he is drill-
ing and honestly believing that he can give a record from
memory sufficient for all economical or scientific purposes.
Other obstacles are encountered in endeavoring to obtain
records, which, while they are only what should naturally
be expected under the circumstances might seem very singu-
lar to the uninitiated if left without explanation.
366. Secrecy observed about trial wells in new terri-
tory. Wells that are drilled in new and untried territory,
and those that are sunk to exceptional depths, are of es-
pecial value to us. Their records, as a general rule are much
more accurately kept than others, for the owners and drillers
pay closer attention to the changes in stratification as a
general rule, too, no one can find out any thing reliable
about them. Quite often it is so much to the interest of
the driller, land owner and lessee to falsify or at least ob-
scure the records by varying versions, that it is very unsafe
to base conclusions upon them eA r en if they can be obtained.
367. The interest of the driller in doctoring the record.
We must not presume the average driller to be less or more
scrupulously honest than other men. He is working for
money and is shrewd enough to know how to take advant-
age of opportunities for advancing his own interests. If
170 III. KEPOKT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
he is drilling for a strong company who have faith in their
territory and pluck to continue to drill notwithstanding a
few dry holes, he in all probability will assure them, that
in the first well put down, the rocks were "regular" but
the third sand was a little to fine and close in texture, show-
ing plainly the edge of the belt. The question then arises
which way to move the rig for another -venture. In this
discussion he is uncertain and wavering until the spot is
selected by the owners. Then, although he acquiesces in
their decision and readily goes to work on No. 2 he begins to
express doubts as to the location of it, and feels pretty con-
fident they ought to have moved east instead of west, or
nice versa. No. 2 is finished. It is dry ; and of course the
sandrock is reported thinner and finer and not so good as
in No. 1. Evidently the rock must thicken on the other
side of No. 1. Result, another dry hole put down in that
direction. Three wells secured to be drilled, by a little
manipulation of the contractor, and the profits pocketed,
when in all probability there was nothing in the first one,
if the stratification had been properly watched and studied,
to warrant even a second venture.
Some of the most unreliable records I have examined are
those returned to extensive operators and systematically re-
corded in their books, by men whose interest it was to agree
with the theories of their employers, and who found it more
profitable to arrange the records in accordance with their
ideas of structure, than to follow with fidelity the precise
stratification as the drill disclosed it.
368. Tlie interest of the land owner in doctoring the
record. In the case of land owners and lessees very cogent
reasons frequently present themselves for witholding well
records from the public. Acting on some closely kept the-
ory of his own which he has worked out from pervious suc-
cesses in prolific areas ; or guided by spiritual influences ;
or led by the divining rod or magnetic-oil-indicator of some
professional well-locator ; or following lines drawn from
one district to another, regardless of the age or stratigraph-
ical relationships of the rocks he is attempting to trace ; or
governed by the appearance of conglomerate on the surface ;
WITHHOLDING WELL-RECORDS. III. 171
or directed by whatever controlling influence it may be
the operator goes out into a new field in search of oil. He
secures large bodies of land by lease or purchase investing
perhaps tens of thousands of dollars. He adds to this the
cost of sinking a well. Is it to be wondered at if he feels
that the information he gains is his own, or that he should
lepel with jealous care every attempt made to pry into the
history of his venture ?
If the well is not a pronounced success, he may be satisfied
from indications discovered in drilling, that he is near the
belt and can locate his next well on the right spot. But
this may necessitate the securing of more land which he can
only get by concealing his record, feigning discouragement
and temporarily abandoning the enterprise, until those who
hold the land he wants, expecting to make him pay roundly
for it in case of success, are induced to forfeit their leases
or transfer them for a nominal consideration to some party
secretly employed by him to secure them.
369. Traditional sentiment that wells have failed be-
cause not deep enough. If on the other hand the well is
unquestionably a failure and he sees that he has made a
mistake and located in hopelessly dry territory, it is equally
to his interest to prevent the record from being made pub-
lic. There is no difficulty in assigning some plausible reason
for the non-productiveness of a well bad management of
the contractor ; water not effectually cased-off ; inadequate
testing; insufficiency of depth, only discovered after aban-
donment, *&c., &c. Rumors like these, particularly the one
in relation to depth, once started, are readily taken up by
the land-owners in the vicinity. They all honestly believe,
as they assert, that "there is no reason why there should
not be just as much oil here as on Oil creek if a well is put
deep enough." The idea that a failure to find oil always
proves the well not to be deep enough, seems to be univers-
ally prevalent among old settlers, and it matters not whether
the location is on the Lake-slope, where the drill starts geo-
logically 1000 feet below the Yenango oil sands, or in the
center of the coal fields of Westmoreland county, where it
commences its work 2000 feet above them. Deeper drilling
172 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
in every case is supposed to be the only thing needed to
procure oil.
After a rest of a few years the oil-fever will in all prob-
ability again break out in the abandoned district. By this
time the unwritten history of the old well has become a
family legend in the neighborhood. No one knows defi-
nitely anything about the stratification, but everybody near
it knows that the well was not deep enough that the rocks
were "regular" as far as drilled, the oil- show good and the
prospects decidedly encouraging. A new party now comes
into the field, bated by these common reports, which agree
perhaps with what he conceives should be the situation ac-
cording to some theory upon which he is operating, and
ventures a second well. This attracts attention in that di-
rection and creates more or less excitement which the first
party probably helps to fan, and then before the second
well is down, he quietly sells out to some of the sanguine
new-comers, thus materially lessening the losses the enter-
prise would otherwise have entailed upon him, had he made
the true situation known by putting on record for public
use a carefully kept register of the well when drilled.
370. Publicity opposed by good business policy.
From a business point of view and looking only to personal
interest, there is no reason why any oil-producer should
allow his well records to become public property. If he has
made a successful venture, the prompt publication of the
fact causes an eager crowd to rush in around him on all
sides, and he is often obliged in consequence to drill more
rapidly than he otherwise would, to protect himself, or in
other words to secure his share of oil in the pool which he
has discovered for it is now well known by experience that
oil cannot safely be "tanked in the rock" as formerly sup-
posed, to be drawn forth when wanted, if in the meantime
wells are drilled and pumped all around the borders of the
oil-bearing "tank."
Many farms known to be good, and held in reserve for
development when the price of oil should warrant, have
been found when subsequently tested, to the chagrin of
their owners, to be almost completely drained by the wells
WITHHOLDING WELL-RECORDS. III. 173
on adjoining lands that had been steadily at work during
the intervening time in depleting the reserved pool which
no farm lines could protect a thousand feet below the sur-
face.
371. The geologist's difficulties. There can be no ques-
tion but that these are some of the causes that have de-
prived the survey of much valuable information of which
it otherwise might have been able to avail itself, and it is to
be regretted that it is precisely that kind of material most
needed in working out broadly the underground structure
of the oil regions.
But who can censure the oil-producer for it. He is only
doing, as he conceives, what any prudent man would do to
further his own plans and facilitate the advancement of his
own interests.
The verdict of "no one to blame," however, does not help
the geologist in this dilemma. He is left to grope on in the
dark, in relation to every new field forced to calculate and
work out deductions as best he can from data obtained at
a distance, or culled from a mass of contradictory and un-
satisfactory statements as liable to mislead as to instruct.
At the same time he is expected to know all about it, and
his views of its structure, extent and possibilities are often
sought by the very men who are withholding or purposely
mystifying the facts on which alone a reliable opinion could
be formed.
He is thus frequently exposed to the hazard of error in
judgment, sometimes by relying upon plausible representa-
tions which prove not to be well founded in fact, and some-
times by unwittingly rejecting absolute facts because tney
are presented to him in such shape and under such circum-
stances that he has no confidence in their authenticity.
His task is a thankless one at best. His vocation seems to
be as generally misunderstood by the well-informed oil-pro-
ducer as by the most illiterate rustic. The one supposes
him capable of telling from the size or shape of a pebble
or from a pinch of soil just what may lie below for thou-
sands of feet, the other is confident that a twenty-two and
a half degree compass line is a safer guide for oil operations
174 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
than all the geology in the world. If lie attempts to trace
the probable outlines of the oil-bearing rocks, he at once
incurs the displeasure of all the land- owners and interested
parties left out of his lines if he makes no exhibit of the
underground structure, he is set down as a failure, so that
in either case his position is an unenviable one.
372. Obligations of the survey to oil-producers for good
records. But it must not be understood that these remarks
universally apply without exception. We are under obli-
gations to many of the oil-producers of the district for
special favors ; for the privilege of copying their well re-
cords and maps ; for specimens of sand pum pings, oil and
gas from their wells ; for fossils &c ; and within the devel-
oped districts, free access has been had to all the facts and
data preserved. The gentlemen who have thus kindly as-
sisted us are too numerous to mention individually, and an
acknowledgment of their courtesy and good will can only
be made in this general manner.
As before stated, however, these data are principally such
as have been furnished by the well-borer for purely practi-
cal purposes in immediate connection with the wells to
which they appertain, and are frequently imperfect and
emissive in those portions most essential for broad geolog-
ical study.
373. Plan adopted for securing good records. To
remedy these defects, it was found necessary to employ a
special assistant for the purpose of securing a few accurately
measured and detailed well sections in different localities
The results of his work will be given in the following chap-
ters.
CHAPTER XIX.
1. Bad well records tlie true cause of the confusion in the
popular names and positions of the Oil rocks.
(Illustrated by Plate XXXI.)
2. Method of measuring two groups of wells by the Survey.
374. How to secure well records in a complete and reli-
able form has been one of the perplexing questions of the
Survey. A number of plans were tried during the first
two years, but with quite unsatisfactory results. The dif-
ficulties in the way are numerous and sometimes insur-
mountable. Some of them are stated in Chapter XVIII,
and others may here be added.
375. In the last chapter it has been intimated that in
the ordinary course of development, proper records for
geological study cannot be obtained. Every interest of the
business is against it. The contractor is drilling to make
the best time possible, that he may reap the largest margin
of profit on his contract. The well owner cares nothing
for the structure, except as it relates to the oil-producing
sand, and with him too time is of great importance. The
work cannot be delayed by superfluous measurements, and
washing of sand-pum pings, to satisfy what they consider
to be, only scientific curiosity.
In districts which are being rapidly developed and where
the drill-holes are clustered closely together, a delay of a
few days in the completion of a well may make a difference
of thousands of dollars in the total receipts from it. There
is a certain amount of oil in a pool, and those who reach it
first have the advantage of a strong flow and full supply
until others tap it and assist in diverting and relieving the
pressure. In such situations contracts are often made
giving the men employed on a well fifty cents or a dollar
a day extra if they succeed in reaching the rock within a
(175 III.)
176 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
specified time. Everything is rushed with the utmost
speed. There is no time for scientific inquiry with the pos-
sibilities of a hundred or perhaps a thousand barrel well in
prospect. Even the most staid and methodical student of
nature is apt to forget himself when he becomes a well-
owner and is caught up and carried along in the whirl of
excitement pervading the atmosphere of a new and prolific
oil field.
376. The drillers'' record is almost always defective
for geological purposes, and sometimes in very essential
particulars. To him nothing in the well has any particular
significance but sandrocks, and these are only deserving of
careful examination when lying near the oil-producing hor-
izon. Consequently the upper strata are carelessly noted,
and the characters of shales and slates indefinitely given.
He has not yet learned the importance of a close scrutiny
of all the measures drilled through particularly the oil
group proper and by reason of this inattention to the
character and position of the upper rocks, has been led into
many errors of judgment and prevented from obtaining as
comprehensive an idea of the general structure of the meas-
ures as he might otherwise have acquired.
377. The driller recognizes no geological distinction
between the higher sands and Hie oi\ group ; assigns no
fixed relative positions to the 4 respective horizons of the
several oil sands, in harmony with their arrangement where
first found and named on Oil creek ; but uses the designa-
tions 1st, 2d, stray and 3d sand indiscriminately in different
districts, sometimes applying them to higher rocks in the
series and sometimes to lower thus introducing great con-
fusion and disorder into the nomenclature of the oil meas-
ures.
378. The careless numbering of the sandrocks gave us
the 4th sand above the true 3d at Pithole and Pleasantville ;
carried the stray up to the lower division of the 2d at Tidi-
oute ; brought the 2d down to the stray at Church run ;
raised the 1st up to the Pithole girt horizon in Butler coun-
ty, and introduced under it in that locality new names
the 50 foot rock, 30 foot rock, Blue Monday, Bowlder, &c.,
POSITIONS OF OIL ROCKS. III. 177
making it appear as if there was no regularity in the gen-
eral structure of the oil producing rocks, and so involving
and obscuring the order of stratification that no one could
tell positively how the sands of one district were related
to those of another.
379. Sections 68 to 73. This popular Babel of oil rock
stratification is graphically illustrated by the plate of sec-
tions on pages 178 and 179.
The same plate also shows how simple the language of
nature is, after all, if we will only stop to read, and study
to interpret it aright.
Six sections made from actual oil well records in different
localities, and drawn to an uniform scale, are grouped upon
the plate for comparison. The complete registers may be
referred to as follows :
Fig. 73 Tidioute'; Report II, well No. 765.
" 72 Church run ; Report II, well No. 965.
' ' 71 Pithole and Pleasantville ; Report II, Nos. 1 and 24.
" 70 Oil creek ; Report II, well No. 112.
" 69 Clarion co. Chapt. XXI, this volume.
" 68 Butler co. Report II, well No. 1170.
380. Local popular arrangements of the sands.
These records are selected because they give the order of
the sands in accordance with their numbers and relative
positions as named and popularly recognized by operators
and drillers in the several districts where the wells are
located. They may be viewed as typical representatives of
the general structure of the areas named, although a com-
parison of them with other records from the same neigh-
borhoods, but given by other drillers, will disclose almost as
much local variation and disagreement of names and hori-
zons in ea;ch of the respective districts themselves, as is to
be seen here in these six widely separated wells.
381. True and universal arrangement of the oil
sands. But whatever irregularity of the oil rocks may be
observed in the sections given or the well records examined
this one universally prevailing characteristic will be noticed
in every part of the oil field immediately above the true
1st sand lies a mass of soft rocks from 150' to 200 feet thick
12 III.
775 III.
Karns Gty.
Hg69
Ec/enburg.
Plate XXXI.
Kg. 70.
l Cs-eeA.
$ m-^:<V:K<-3$. ZUU^.A.
Ipiiiiiiiiiiiiii jRed rod
1-stS.S.
Red rock.
Plate XXXI.
Tig7J. Vig.72.
Pleasantville. Church Rim.
III. 179
TCg.73.
Tidioute.
180 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
a complete and persistent division along the oil belt, between
the Pithole grit and the oil group. Every driller has noticed
this fact, every correct well record in the productive dis-
tricts shows it ; and yet no particular significance has been
attached to it. It is also a fact equally as well established
by deep drilling, that no sandstones like the oil sands of
Venango are found for hundreds of feet below the produc-
tive oil group. We have here then, a well deiined band of
sandstones and shales lying between thick masses of purely
argillaceous rocks, and this band, from 303 to 370 feet in
thickness, includes all the oil rocks of the Venango group.
382. Variability of the oil sands taJcen separately.
It may be safely said that the oil sands individually are
extremely variable thickening or thinning rapidly in this
direction, splitting up into two or three members or fading
into shales in that whatever may be the persistency and
uniformity in thickness of the whole series when viewed as
a group ; therefore the driller discovers very marked vari-
ations in the several members in thickness, in position, in
composition and no precise classification of them that he
may make in one field will hold good in every particular
in another at a distance from it. But the natural horizons
of the three sands will be disclosed in every locality on a
proper study of the stratification. This being the case,
consistency requires that if ordinal numbers are used at
all to designate these sandstones, they should only be ap-
plied at the same horizons in the group, and as near as may
be to the equivalents of the same strata that they were
originally intended to represent : 1st SS. to the top of the
group ; 2d SS. to the middle, and 3d SS. to the base what-
ever other names it may be found necessary for local con-
venience to introduce between them.
383. First arrangement of tJie oil sands made on Oil
creeJc. It so happened that the first wells on Oil creek were
drilled in a valley which had been eroded below the Pithole
grit. They consequently passed through no sandrocks but
those belonging to the oil group. The whole group was
there fully developed and clearly defined, and tho "Three
sands" included all there was of it. The records of tens
POSITIONS OF OIL ROCKS. III. 181
of thousands of oil wells put down since that time, confirm,
(notwithstanding their confused nomenclature) the general
structure then announced and accepted ; and it is folly now
to think of commencing to number the oil rocks on a higher
stratum, or to persist in designating the base of the group
by numbers which convey the impression that new-found
strata have been reached, lying below what was called the
3d sand on Oil creek.
384. No excuse for transposing tJie order of the oil
sands. Referring to the plate on page 178 above, we see
that there is no obscurity in the structure of the oil group
when properly understood, to excuse the operator for the
strange transposition of terms used in designating its sev-
eral members.
Tlic Oil cretfc section. Fig. 70, may be viewed as the nor-
mal typo of stratification, because it represents the order
and position of the sandrocks where discovered and named.
Here the driller took his first lessons in oil sand structure,
and it' he had studied intelligently, when he afterward
came to drill at Church run, the thick mass of 210 feet of
soft rock below the 1st SS. would have suggested at once
the absence of the 2d sand in that locality, and especially
so, when he found the other two sands below corresponding
so nearly in relative position and character to the Stray and
3d on Oil creek.
In the Ttdioute section also, the central position of the
two sands found between the 1st SS. and 3d SS. should have
indicated to him that they both belonged to the horizon of the
2d sand, and not partly to the 2d and partly to the 3d, as
the application of the term "Stray" to the lower member
would imply.
The Plcasantoille record is one selected to represent both
the Ploasantville and Pithole districts, because it agrees
with the general structure as given in the first well drilled
at Pithole, in 180,"), (Frazer well ; II, No. 885,) and to show
the manner in which the name "4th sand" originated;
which narno thenceforth became a common term for this
stratum, (really the representative of the Oil creek stray)
throughout all this region. There is no doubt, however,
182 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
that a split or duplicated second sand was found in the
Frazer well, but the drillers only noted one of them. The
Pithole district and south Pleasantmlle district would,
therefore, be represented more properly by a section with
a second sand similar to Tidioute. This order of the rocks
is given in many of the records of these localities, and then
the first sand is correctly numbered, the two members of
2d SS. are called respectively 2d and 3d, and thus the stray
becomes the 4th SS., as in the section shown in the plate.
It would be impossible to represent on a single plate,
such as the one given on p. 178 above, all the variations in
numbers and positions of sandrocks, made by the drillers,
and it would only complicate matters if we attempted to
do so. It is quite sufficient to show that the oil rocks can
be traced as an independent group from one end of the oil
belt to the other, and that if the original classification of
the three sands had been adhered to as closely as possible,
and confined strictly within the range of this group, oper-
ators as a class would have had much clearer views of the
structure of the oil regions, and been able to work much
more understandingly than they have done.
Measurements of Wells by the Survey.
385. After two years of fruitless effort in attempting to
convince the driller that the whole of the oil group should
be carefully watched and measured as well as the oil-pro-
ducing sand, and finding it impossible to secure such records
from him as were needed for geological study, the employ-
ment of a special assistant was authorized, whose sole duty
should be to secure some carefully-kept and complete well
records for our use.
386. Tlie wells selected for measurement. In the fall
of 1876, my nephew, Mr. John H. Carll, commenced this
work. His first charge, was six wells near Petrolia, in But-
ler co. ; his next, three near Edenburgh, in Clarion co. ; and
these were -supplemented in the winter of 1877-78 by one
at Bradford, McKean co., taken still more in detail by Mr.
Arthur Hale.
387. A full history of the drilling of these wells will
WELL MEASUREMENTS. III. 183
be given, in order that those unacquainted with the business
may form some idea of what it is to put down an oil well ;
and the accompanying records, sections and illustrations,
will also furnish much material of interest, we trust, to
geologists.
Methods of making measurements.
388. Our principal measurements in the wells were made
with a steel wire prepared for the purpose, but as there are
several methods of well measurements in vogue, it may be
well to here describe them in order.
389. Rope measurement is the most common method,
or was- in former years, if not at present. A stick five feet
long, like a yard-stick, is made ; a little strip say two inches
long is then tacked transversely on one end of it and pro-
jects over on each side like a letter T. When drilling is
suspended and a measurement is to be made, the rope is
drawn taut by the bull- wheels until the tools are known to
be just touching the bottom, and a string is tied around the
cable at well-mouth level. The engine is now started slow-
ly, and as the cable runs up, a man holding the measuring-
rod in his right hand, seizes the cable with his left, and
crooking his thumb at right angles to the cable, brings the
end of it against the string. He then clasps the cable with
his right hand, holding the measuring-stick in the palm
against the rope and draws it down until the top projection
rests upon his thumb, immediately removing his thumb and
placing it in a similar manner on the cable under the lower
end of the stick, for a repetition of the operation. Re-
markably accurate measurements can be made in this way,
with proper care, if the engine is run steadily and the
measurer is careful to place his thumb properly and not let
it slip during the changes of the rod.
390. SticJc measurement. Another way is to take two
measuring sticks, without the cross-top, and station two
men at the well-mouth, where they alternately hold their
rods firmly against the ascending cable, and abut the upper
end of one stick against the lower end of the other before
184 III. REPORT OF PEOGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
it is removed. This is considered a more accurate method
than the first.
391. Derrick measurement. Still another way, ("the
derrick measurement") is to measure accurately the dis-
tance from the well-mouth over the crown-pulley and down
to the centre of the bull-wheel shaft, or some fixed point
near the bull-wheels. This distance is ordinarily about 140
feet. A string is tide on the drilling cable at well-mouth
as before, and when this string has gone up over the crown-
pulley and come down to the point at the bull- wheels, the
engine is stopped and another string is tied around the cable
at well-mouth. By repeating the operation, counting the
stops and measuring the last fractional part with a stick,
very good and rapid measurements can be made in this way.
It is more convenient, however, and economizes time, to use
this method when letting the tools in the well, for the stops
can be made more readily with the brake than the engine ;
but it is questionable whether the results are as good. In
the former case the rope is firm and solid from the steady
weight of the tools in drilling. In the latter it has been
coiled on the bull- wheel shaft, has dried somewhat, perhaps,
and is quite likely to alter more or less by stretching, as it
goes into the hole with the weight constantly increasing as
the tools descend, on that part of the cable where the meas-
urement is being made.
392. The wire measurement method is considered the
most accurate, but even this may give unreliable results.
The apparatus generally used consists of a coil of No. 16
steel wire either round or flat, wound upon a hand reel
which can readily be put in position at the well-mouth. The
wire is marked off into 50 feet divisions which are noted by
little buttons of solder brazed to it, or by fine wire or waxed
silk wound firmly around it. The flat wire is sometimes
marked by a 'short twist at each fifty feet. A light weight
is attached to the end of it to carry it down. These "meas-
uring reels" are made by different parties and the well
owners buy and use them with perfect confidence in their
accuracy ; but no doubt many of them are far from correct.
In using them one is not sure that they have been accurately
WELL MEASUREMENTS. III. 185
marked ; the wire undoubtedly stretches more or less when
subjected to heavy strain in deep wells ; the marking tags
sometimes slip unnoticed and many other things may hap-
pen to vitiate their measurements.
The reel used for our work was prepared with a great
deal of care, the tags were brazed upon the wire and plainly
numbered and every part of the wire when measured was
subjected to a strain bej-ond what it would receive in the
well, in order that it might not afterward bo affected by
stretch. It was well taken care of and carefully used and
the results ought to bo perfectly reliable. Several wells
were measured with this wire that had previously been
measured by other wires and a disagreement was found of
from 5 feet to 10 fe3t and in one case a3 much as 15 feet.
393. The w7ieel.ln the fall of 1870, while preparing
for our well measurements and planning how to gain our
ends with the least annoyance to the driller, I suggested
the construction of a wheel which could be held in the
hands and pressed against the cable as it ascended, the revo-
lutions of the wheel to be recorded by an index, on the
same principal as tho odometers used on the survey. The
wheel was made and works nicely but was not completed
in time to be of any service on these wells.
Afterward, in the spring of 1877 I saw a similar device,
made by Mr. J. F. Ramsey, in use on tho Economy Com-
pany's well No. 2 at Beaver Falls, and it was said to do ex-
cellent work. This was a simple grooved wooden wheel 5
feet in circumference, fixed in a frame which was shoved
up to the well mout h whenever a. measurement was required.
A peg in the rim rang a bell at every revolution and the
well was measured at any time by running up the cable and
counting the bell-strokes.
Mr. Ramsey suggests that the crown-pullies for derricks
be made 5 feet in circumference and then by running a wire
down to a bell fixed in the derrick near tho driller the depth
of a well could be known every time the tools were drawn.
This is a novel idea but I have no doubt the plan could be
made to work well and it would suffice for all "ordinary
measurements.
186 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
The hand wheel measurer has recently been patented I
understand by some one in the State of New York, and is
now being introduced into the Bradford oil field. If it works
satisfactorily, (as it must if properly constructed) it will be
welcomed as a great time saver and being so easily used it
will give us much fuller and more satisfactory records than
we have heretofore been able to obtain.
394. Difficulties in the way of getting a good record.
Measuring an oil well, preserving sand-pumping s, and
keeping an accurate register of the variations of strata are
not such simple matters as many suppose.
1. In feeling bottom. The first few hundred feet may be
managed without much difficulty, perhaps, but when one
third of a mile of measuring wire is to be let down into a
hole and reeled up again by hand it is not a speedy or an
easy operation.
At great depths it requires a sense of touch acquired only
by education and experience, to enable one to tell when the
bottom is touched and the wire taut, particularly when the
hole is partly full of oil, kept in constant ebullition by es-
caping gas. Under these circumstances it is sometimes
really impossible to make a correct measurement with wire.
2. The night drilling record. Another bar to absolute
correctness in a record is this. Two drillers are employed
on every well one working from noon until midnight, the
other from midnight until noon. An emulative feeling
almost always exists between them, occasionally one of
them may from want of dilligence, or some other cause, fail
to make as much headway on his "tour" as the other has
done, and to excuse himself he reports hard drilling or he
may have just struck a sand before going off tour and say
he has drilled in it ten feet when perhaps he has only drilled
two.
Where a well is visited only once a day, and the drill is
going down from 30 feet to 90 feet in 24 hours, of course
many of the changes of rock must be taken on the driller' 's
word ; thus from the causes above stated (and others also
might be* mentioned,) it will be readily perceived that quite
serious errors in the thickness of strata might creep into a
WELL MEASUREMENTS.
III. 187
record, in spite of the utmost care, for even if all the sand-
pumpings are saved it is impossible for anyone but the
drillers, to say just how thick the different divisions should
be.
395. Difficulties in measuring a group of wells at once.
It soon became evident after Mr. Carll had taken charge of
the six wells at Pelrolia, that they were too many for one
man to attend to properly, even with the hearty coopera-
tion of the drillers. He could visit each but once a day ;
the drilling progressed rapidly at certain stages, sometimes
passing through several distinct strata in 24 hours ; and
although a sandpumping from every change of rock was
saved for him, it often happened that some points in relation
to the specimens preserved by the man on the ' ' off tour ' '
needed explanation. This man he seldom saw, and if he
did chance to meet him once or twice a week, the details
wanted, which could have readily been given at the time,
had then probably escaped his recollection.
396. At Ederiburg, only three wells were taken in hand,
so that they might be visited twice a day both drillers be
interviewed, and a series of specimens secured, coming in
at closer intervals.
397. At Bradford the most satisfactory plan was
adopted. Here only one well was watched, and arrange-
ments were made for saving a specimen every time the well
was sand- pumped.
398. The number of specimens secured by the several
methods is as follows :
Petrolia well No. 1, . . 79 specimens in 1631 feet.
2,. .
4,
5,
6,
Edenburg well No. 1, ....
" 2, ....
3, ....
Bradford, ....
399. The selection of the particular wells secured .for
measurement was a matter of compulsion rather than of
choice.
. 51
. 63
. 47
. 46
. 42
. 62
. 101
. 92
311
1436
1616
1512
1549
1610
1220
1143
1050
1719
188 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Only those that were drilling simultaneously and likely
to be completed about the same time, could be taken charge
of ; and these must be so situated that they could be visited
in order at least once a day.
The well owners must be consulted and the contractor
and drillers consent to the annoyance and interruption of
frequent measurements, and the trouble and delay of emp-
tying the sandpumpings into pails instead of the waste
trough.
It was desirable also to have the wells located at equal
distances apart, and on a line, as nearly as possible, trans-
verse to the average trend of the oil belt so that the struc-
tural differences of stratification might be clearly brought
out.
400. Kindness of the drillers and owners. Consider-
ing all these circumstances the locations of the wells were
remarkably favorable ; and our acknowledgments are due
to the well- owners, contractors and drillers who so court-
eously assisted in forwarding our designs for without their
consent and cordial cooperation nothing could have been
done.
When it is remembered that from the time the tools are
swung up in the derrick until the completion of a well, if
no accident occurs, there is no cessation to the work of drill-
ing, night or day no time when the well shaft is not occu-
pied either by the drill or the sandpump, for the moment
one is withdrawn the other is inserted the considerable in-
convenience and loss of time they thus voluntarily sub-
jected themselves to in behalf of the furtherance of scien-
tific inquiry will be understood and appreciated. Their
names will be found in connection with the records to be
given further on.
CHAPTER XX.
Six wells near Petrolia, accurately measured.
(Illustrated by plates XII and XVII.)
401. The geographical positions of the six wells near
Petrolia, in Butler county, measured by us with particular
care, in 1876, and sand-pumpings preserved for the State
museum, are designated by dots in circles upon the small
map on page 191.
No. 1 Represents Sutton Well, No. 4.
No. 2 " Dougherty Well, No. 2.
No. 3 " Evans Well, No. 21.
No. 4 " Hazel wood Well, No. 21.
-No. 5 " Morehead & Lardin Well, No. 2.
No. 6 " ' Kern Well, No. 6.
The distance in a direct line from No. 1 to No. 6 is not
quite three miles and a half in a direction about N. 75 E.
402. Production. The area of this little sketch map
covers one of the most productive portions of Butler
county.
The "Third Sand Oil belt" passes across the map from
Petrolia to Karns City; and the "Fourth Sand Oil belt"
crosses the "Third" between the two towns, and runs in
nearly an east and west course.
403. Oil bearing sands. Many of the wells here pro-
duced largely, both from the Third and Fourth sands ;
and when the Fourth sand was first tapped, 1500 to 2500
barrels per day was not regarded as an exaggerated esti-
mate of the flow of some of the largest wells.
Such exhaustive drainage through a large number of
wells could have but one result. Both sands had been
greatly depleted of oil, before the six wells here referred
to were drilled, and consequently none of them turned out
to be large producers ; as some of them undoubtedly would
( 189 III. )
190 III. EEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
have been if drilled earlier. Their records, however, show
the geological structure of the district just as well as if the
bulk of the oil had not been previously abstracted from the
sands.
As it is desirable to have all the facts in relation to these
wells in the same volume with those of the three wells in
Clarion county, and the one in McKean county, all four of
which were watched and measured in the same manner, we
here reproduce their records, * adding to them the specimen
numbers ; so that they may serve as catalogues, if any
reader of this volume should desire to examine any of the
ten suites.
404. Tlie .nomenclature of tlie locality. In the follow-
ing records it will be noticed that we quote such terms as
' * Mountain Sand, " " Second Sand, " "50 foot Rock, ' ' &c.
They are not our names, but those that were applied to the
strata by the drillers at the several \vells. As these names
are so frequently heard in connection with the wells of
Butler county, it may be profitable to put them on record
here, to show the reader where they belong, and what they
represent. I have already made it sufficiently plain in pre-
ceding chapters of this report that the Butler county "Sec-
ond Sand" is really the First Sand of the oil group. This
kept in mind, there need be no difficulty in comparing our
records with those of wells in Clarion county, and other
places, where the term First Sand is properly applied to
the top member of the Venango Oil group.
405. These records also furnish a description of the
rocks shown in the six geological sections on Plate XII. f
406. TJi-e specimens. In examining the specimens,
hereafter, in the museum, it must be remembered that while
the numbers given in the following records stand for their
* From Report I.I.
f The sections and the records taken together, will be of interest to any one
who may be inclined to study the structure of sedimentary rocks in detail.
They show how variable such deposits are even within very restricted geo-
graphical limits, and suggest the necessity of exercising the greatest caution
whenever we attempt to trace any particular stratum over large areas. The
red rocks alone in these sections afford an instructive study. In the most
westerly one not a trace of red was found.
Plate XXXII.
III. 191
192 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
special specimens, yet the records arc Intended to indicate
the quality of tlie strata as shown l>y all tJie facts obtained
at the loells while they were being drilled, and consequently
they may not always give & precise description of the par-
ticular specimen referred to.
407. Records written out from an examination of speci-
mens have been productive of an abundance of error, when
unaccompanied by explanatory notes. Specimens do not
always correctly represent the character of the rocks drilled
through. A great deal depends upon the manner of wash-
ing and drying them. A series of -sand- shells and argilla-
ceous shale may be so ground up together by the drill that
a thorough washing will leave nothing but sand. Fre-
quently all traces of the soft red shales are thus entirely
lost.
A small percentage of pebbles in an argillaceous or slaty
matrix, may be washed and manipulated so as to present a
very good pebble specimen.
A muddy sand may be washed so that it can scarcely be
distinguished from a pure sand.
The natural color of a specimen may be entirely changed
by oxydation of the small particles of metal worn from the
tools, especially if the hole contains salt water and the
material is not quickly dried.
Careless sand-pumping while in a hard sand may leave
the bottom of the hole full of drillings to be ground over
and over, and they then come up as tine as flour, and ap-
pear more like clay than sand.
Specimens also change very perceptibly in color by age,
some bleaching in the light, others growing darker.
408. A well-record should be made at the well, and no-
where else. There a person can see the sand-pumpings as
they come up ; examine the tools, which show unmistaka-
bly the character of the rock they have been working upon,
by being either sharp or dull, scratched or polished ; and
converse with the drillers, who alone can tell at what point
a change of rock occurs.
A record thus made should never be altered, even if the
SIX WELLS NEAR PETROLIA. III. 193
descriptions given do not always exactly fit the specimens
preserved.
409. How specimens should be collected. When a well
cannot be visited by the person who wishes to study its
record, a duplicate set of sand-pumpings should be kept
by the drillers. It can easily be done in this way :
Dump the sand-pump into a pail; let the sediment
settle ; pour off the top ; take a handful of the sediment
and dry it immediately ; then wash out an equal quantity
and dry that. Put them in small paper bags and mark
plainly the depth from which they came, and the thickness
of rock they represent.
It is also a good plan to put on the date.
From specimens thus kept a very satisfactory study of
the character of the measures drilled through could be
made at any time.
13 III.
194 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
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206 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
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208 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
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WELL KECORD. III. 209
Notes to the preceding Table in 4.10.
Column No. 1.
Sutton well, No. 4. Owners, H. L. Taylor & Co. Con-
tractor, William Fee. Drillers changed several times.
Fifty-five feet deep when taken charge of, Oct. 23, 1876.
* From Dec. 29 to Jan. 4 shut down a large portion of
the time on account of gas, the well flowing several times
a day.
Actual drilling time about 64 days. Average 25 ft. per
day. Best 24 hours' work 72 ft.
Specimens collected from 9.00 to 11.30, A. M.
Column No. 2.
Dougherty well, No. 2, McCleary farm. Owners, Dough-
erty & Devlin. Contractor, Seth Andrews. Drillers, Setli
Andrews and A. Wolf.
Seventy feet deep when taken charge of Oct. 12, 1876.
* Drilling water well deeper, it having been drained into
the main hole.
f Pulled casing on account of salt water below. Reamed
down from 476' to 610, and re-cased Oct. 14.
Actual drilling time about 39 days. Average 36.8' per
day. Best 24 hours' work, 90'.
Specimens collected from 7.30 to 9.30, A. M.
Column JVo. 3.
Evans well, No. 21, Dougherty farm. Owners, Evans
& Co. John Layton and Laird Maclan, drillers, and Sam
Maclan, tool dresser, all owning interests in the well.
140' deep when taken charge of Oct. 19, 1876.
* Straightening up crooked hole.
fFrom this point down, drilling was only done by day-
light on account of danger from gas.
Actual drilling time 47 days. Average 34.4' per day.
Best 24 hours' work 80'
Specimens collected from 9.30, A. M., to 12.30, p. M.
Column No. 4-
Hazelwood well, No. 21, H. P. Shakely farm. Owners,
14 III.
210 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Hazelwood Oil Co. Contractor, D. Washabaugh. Drillers
changed several times.
73' deep when taken charge of Oct, 13, 1876.
* Straightening flat hole.
Actual drilling time 42 days. Average 36' per day. Best
24 hours' work 77'.
Specimens collected from 2.30 to 8.30, p. M.
Column No. 5.
Morehead & Lardin well, No. 2. Mortimer farm. Own-
ers, Morehead, Lardin & Co. S. Kaufman, driller, and J.
W. Kaufman and Thompson Frazier, tool dressers, all own-
ing interests in the well.
80' deep when taken charge of Nov. 10, 1876.
* Pulled casing, reamed down from 541', and re-inserted
casing at 562.
f Moving boiler on account of gas.
Actual drilling time about 34 days. Average 45.6' per
day. Best 24 hours' work, 90'.
Specimens collected from 2.00 to 9.00, p. M.
Column No. 6.
Kern well, No. 6. W. Snow farm. Owners, H. L. Taylor &
Co. Contractors, Grace & Criswell. Drillers, John McClure
and Fred Thatcher.
202' deep when taken charge of, Oct. 12, 1876.
* Straightening flat hole
Actual drilling time 44 days. Average 36.6' per day.
Best 24 hours' work, 60'.
Specimens collected from 1.45 to 5.00, P. M.
411. Rate of drilling shown by Plate XVII. The
variable composition of the measures through which oil
wells are sunk, is graphically illustrated on Plate XVII,
where may be seen sections of the six Petrolia wells drawn
in diamonds, each diamond representing on an uniform
scale the number of feet drilled in twenty-four hours.
If the quality of rock is the same in one well as that in
another, we should expect to find but little difference in
.their average daily rate of drilling, where similar methods
SPECIMEN RACK. III. 211
are employed and equal skill is exercised. Irregularity in
the rate of drilling may therefore be presumed to indicate
variability in the rocks pierced. Thus, then, by a compar-
ison of these time sections with the geological sections, we
may get a very good idea of where the hard and the soft
rocks lie, and note how they appear to change in character
in passing from one well to another.
Fig. 1 shows the time occupied in boring from the Fer-
riferous limestone to the First oil sand.
Fig. 2, the time spent in drilling through the oil group.
The diary and notes should be consulted to explain why
some of the diamonds are so small in the oil sands and in
one or two other instances.
412. Rapid drilling in soft rocks. The rapid advances
made in drilling between the mountain sands and the oil
group, confirm what has already been said about the band
of soft shale universally found at this horizon along the oil
belt.
413. Tlie specimen time rack. These shales also give
rise to a very conspicuous feature in the photograph of the
rack of specimens shown in Plate XXXIII, on page 213, as
will be more fully appreciated after a description of the
rack has been given.
TJie rack is formed of six separate strips of deal three
inches wide and six or seven feet long. A iXf inch cleat
is tacked edgewise along the lower side to form a ledge or
shelf for the specimen bottles to rest upon.
Tlie strips are laid on sloping brackets secured to the
walls the slope being at an angle of about 45, and having
steps cut into it corresponding to the width of the strips,
so that the strips keep position by their own weight, and
may readily be moved, independently, either to the right
or to the left, by the knobs seen near the center.
The specimens are enclosed in square bottles containing
half an ounce each, and are labeled with number, depth,
&c.
The bottles are put in proper position on the strips by
scale, six inches on the strip representing 100 feet in the
well ; and they are kept in place by brads on each side.
212 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
When the specimens are mounted in this way, each bot-
tle should represent the character of the rock up to the
next one above it, and we thus have the equivalent of a
glass tube filled to scale, with the advantage of being able
to open a bottle at any point to examine its contents, if re-
quired.
By sliding the slips or bottle holders, comparisons can
readily be made in any manner desired. As seen in the
photograph they are arranged to the horizon of the Ferrif-
erous limestone, to conform with the plan of the geological
sections on plate XII.
The bottom strip holds the material from well No. 1, and
the numbers run consecutively upward. The drilling ad-
vanced from left to right.
The width of a bottle on this scale covers about fifteen
feet and a Jialf in the well, consequently where a number
of specimens were taken close together some of them had
to be left off of the rack. To obviate this objection, the
Clarion county specimens are arranged on a scale of one
foot on the strips to 100 feet in the wells, and the strips are
mounted in two sections, one for comparing the upper part
of the well, and the other the lower. A bottle, by this
scale, covers 7 feet 9 inches.
The scale of the Bradford rack is one foot to fifty feet in
the well. It is cut into six 300 feet sections, and contains
311 specimens, showing almost a solid row of bottles from
top to bottom.
This cabinet of sand-pumpings from ten wells is, un-
doubtedly, the most complete of any in the State.
As the specimens from the Petrolia wells were taken
every day, whether there was a change in the character of
the rock or not, it follows that ichere the bottles are seen
close together in the photograph on the Plate, the rocks
must have been hard or changeable in character, and where
they are wide apart, soft and homogeneous. Thus, then,
the soft rocks between the Mountain sands and the Oil
group are plainly indicated even in this photograph of
specimens.
Ill Chap! XX.
Plate XXXIII
Ferr.Liriie.
CHAPTER XXI.
TJiree wells near Edenburg, accurately measured.
(Illustrated by Plates XII and XXXIV.)
414. A second group of wells, located near Edenburg,
in Clarion county, was watched and measured by John H.
Carll, in 1877, in the same manner as those at Petrolia had
been in 1876. Thus from similarly collected data obtained
at two points about 18 miles apart, we have the means of
comparing the rocks of Clarion county with those of Butler.
It is to be regretted that we must stop here for had it been
possible to follow up this method of investigation, by se-
curing like groups of wells as developments advanced to
the east and northeast of Edenburg, it would have aided
more than all the imperfect well-records now at command,
in a study of the changes in geological structure which
seem to here come in and prevent any great extension of
the oil producing rocks towards the northeast.
At Edenburg, three wells only were selected for meas-
urement, so that they might be visited twice a day and un-
dergo a closer inspection than had been possible with the
six at Petrolia. Their relative geographical positions are
shown on sketch map Plate XXXIV, and the records and
diary following, with the three geological sections on Plate
XII, will furnish all the details connected with them.
(213 III.)
214 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
s
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WELL RECORD.
III. 215
s S3B2S.2 3 32222B33
216 III. REPORT OF PKOGEESS. JOH2T F. CAELL.
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WELL EECORD.
III. 217
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218 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
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WELL EEC O ED.
III. 219
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220 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
418. A diary of each day 's drilling, in a tabular form,
with notes of drawbacks encountered by accidents, &c.
Edenburg wells.
(NOTE. The number marks the well. The column under it gives its suc-
cessive daily increasing depth in feet. The columns headed rf. a. give the
daily advance of each well in feet.
1877.
No. 1.
d.a.
No. 2.
d.a.
No. 3.
d.a.
REMARKS.
May 8.
o
may g ,
10,
46
77
4<>
Bl
....
32
66
32
S4
No. 3, breakdown 5 h. lost.
11,
12,
130
F
58
30
30
85
116
19
31
No. 3, cable parted ; 8 hours
lost.
14,
15,
16,
17,
13,
19,
Sunday,
21
22,
23,
24,
25,
26,
146
193
235
260
274
318
'351
380
A 407
B410
427
477
18
47
42
25
14
44
33
20
27
17
50
52
104
142
175
218
258
'295
F
F
F
F
F
22
52
38
33
43
40
37
140
189
225
265
296
325
'355
394
413
430
452
530
24
49
36
40
31
29
30
39
19
17
22
78
No. 3, broke crank box.
No. 1, "Rubber rock;"
tough drilling.
No. 2, lost bit in the well.
No. 3, cased at 430.
No. 1, cased at 427.
l\
29,
30,
31,
June 1,
2,
Sunday,
531
616
662
743
759
804
:,4
85
40
81
1G
46
F
F
F
F
F
F
585
640
716
756
795
. F
55
66
76
40
39
No. 1, repg. boiler ; 18h. lost.
No. 3, dril'gout S. pump bot.
No. 2, bit taken out and hole
5*,
6,
7,
8,
9,
Sunday,
850
895
967
1006
1042
1093
46
45
72
3ft
86
51
F
340
372
402
441
465
45
32
30
39
24
850
890
939
981
1003
1014
55
40
49
42
22
11
prepared for drill.
No. 1, cleaning water well ;
6 hours lost.
No. 1, repairing boiler ; 6
hours lost.
Jl,
12,
13,
14,
15,
16
mo
1172
1197
1208
1217
1220
17
9-2
25
11
9
|
497
515
533
551
563
567
32
18
18
18
12
4
1018
1026
1050
4
8
24
No. 2, repairing rig.
No. 2, cased at 567.
Sunday,
18,
19
'585
625
18
40
No. 2, breakdown ; 5 h. lost.
20
655
30
21
713
58
22
731
18
23,
Sunday,
768
37
25
820
5?
26
851
31
27.
8H4
33
NOTES.
III. 221
28,
899
15
29,
932
33
30,
972
40
No. 2, breakdown ; 4 h. lost.
Sunday,
'. '. '.
\ \
July 2,
.
1012
40
3,
.
1061.
49
4,
1123
62
5,
1129
6
6,
1136
7
7,
1113
7
Notes to the preceding Table in J+18.
Column No. 1.
A. Upper part. Haney & Bartlett's Well No. 4, Haney farm, four fifths of
a mile S. 65 W. from Edenburg and a quarter of a mile N. 20 E. from Brun-
dred Well No. 4.
Elevation of well mouth above ocean I486'.
This well and McGrew Bros'. No. 4, commenced to drill on the same day,
but after the former had been carried down to 407 ft. and cased, drilling was
suspended on it to await a better price of oil.
No. 1, B, was then substituted for it, making a compound section 400 ft.
belonging properly to Haney and Bartlett well and the remainder to Brundred
well No. 4.
B. Lower part. Brundred Well No. 4, Capt. Kribb's farm, Beaver city; 1
mile S. 55 W. from Edenburg.
Benj. Brundred owner.
Jas R. Adams, contractor and tool dresser.
J. A. McQuade, tool dresser.
Lee Herron, driller.
R. E. Deyoe, driller.
Actual drilling time, after the casing was put in, 15 days. Average drilling
53 ft. per day. Best 24 hours' work 85 ft.
The contractor asserts that this well was drilled with a remarkably small
amount of fuel. Only 800 bushels of coal were used, while Brundred No. 3,
with the same "crew,." consumed 1200 bushels and Brundred No. 2, 3800
bushels. The wells were near together and did not vary much in depth.
A singular accident happened while drilling, caused by the melting of the
"soft plug" in the crown sheet of the boiler, while covered by two "flush
gauges " of water. This must have been owing to the formation, from the im-
purities in the water, of a conical incrustation over the "soft plug," thus
allowing it to heat up and melt.
This well was not taken in charge until May 24, after the Haney No. 4
stopped drilling. It was then about 400 feet deep. The precise date of its com-
mencement could not be ascertained, but it was probably about the 1st of
May, as the workmen had been delayed by several fishing jobs, and encoun-
tered a vertical crevice in the mountain sand which the drill followed for 60 or
70 feet, during which time no water could be kept in the hole, and conse-
quently the work progressed very slowly.
222 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Column No. 2.
Columbia Oil Company's Well No. 19, J. H. Riser farm ; f of a mile S. 20
E. from Eden burg.
Columbia Oil Co., owners.
John McCool, contractor.
Mike McCool, driller.
Jas. Kearney, driller.
Barney McCool, tool dresser.
Phil. Dougherty, tool dresser.
Actual drilling time 36 days. Average drilling 31.8' per day. Best 24 hours'
work 66 feet.
Column No. 3.
McGrew Bros'. Well No. 4, Mcllhatten farm ; 1 mile S. 50 E. from Eden-
burg.
McGrew Bros., owners.
W. G. Southwick, contractor and driller.
D. R. Blair, driller.
John A Patterson, tool dresser.
A. A. Bell, tool dresser.
Actual drilling time 29i days. Average drilling 36 ft. per day. Best 24
hours' work 80 feet.
419. Elevations of a number of wells near Edenburg;
incidentally taken by J. H. Carll while running the levels
for the three wells measured by him.
B. M. on maple, W. of RR., between State street and Penna.
avenue, Edenburg, on authority of W. H. Smith, Chief
Eng. of E. & S. RR. = 468.74' above A. V. RR. depot at
Emlenton. = above ocean, 905' -f- 468.74' = 1373.74'
Oak Shade Well No. 2, 1464
" " No. 5, 1341
" " No. 6, 1335
" " No. 8 1459
No. 10, 1450
Columbia Oil Co. Well No. 7, J. H. Riser farm, 1330
" " " No. 9, " " 1447
" " No. 10, " " 1342
" " No. 13, " " 13S1
" " " No. 14, " " 1330
" " " No. 18, " " 1358
No. 19, " " 1443
McGrew Bros. Well No. 1, Mcllhatten farm, 1347
" " No. 2, " 1316
". No. 3, " " 1345
" " No. 4, " " 1316
Brundred Well No. 4, Capt. Kribb's farm, 1480
Haney " NO. 4, Bower's farm, 1486
Base of Ferrif. limestone near Columbia Well No. 19, .... 1445
" " " " church in Edenburg, 1429
Plate XXXIV.
HI. 223
/Sketch map shelving the geographical positions
of the three wells measured by JohnH.Ctnrll
near Edenbwg in Clarion Cfounty.
Scale 4OOOfeet*lInch.
TRIANGLE
^BEAVER
CITY
Brundred
JW4.
Columbia (
Oil* C9 IX
JW19. I
P~
EOENBURC
224 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
CHAPTER XXII.
One well near Bradford, accurately measured.
(Illustrated by Plate XII.)
420. For the following, record and catalogue of speci-
mens we are indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. C. W.
Dennis & Co., and their drillers, who kindly consented
to subject themselves to the annoyances attending frequent
measurements and the preservation of sand pumpings, in
order that the Survey might obtain a complete register of
the rocks drilled through in the Bradford oil district.
Dennis well No. 1, is located on a high and narrow ridge
between the east and west branches of Tunangwant creek,
about three quarters of a mile in a southwesterly direction
from Bradford, in McKean county.
421. The Olean conglomerate caps the crest a short dis-
tance south of the well, its base being only 115 feet above
the well mouth. This record, therefore, furnishes a section
showing nearly all the strata lying between the Conglomer-
ate series and the Bradford oil sand.
422. To insure an authentic history of the well for the
Survey, Mr. Arthur Hale was detailed to supervise it while
drilling. From the time the tools were swung in the der-
rick until the last sand-pumping came up, he devoted his
whole attention to it ; and probably no well record was
ever kept with greater care or more in detail than this one.
A portion of nearly every sand-pumping was preserved,
and the suite of specimens when bottled and arranged to a
scale of 5^ as described in Chapt. XX, gives a fine exhibtion
of the character of the measures drilled through.
DENNIS OIL WELL. III. 225
423. The distance from Dennis Well No. 1 to the Clar-
ion wells described in the last chapter, is about 65 miles, in
a direction south 48 west. It cannot be expected, there-
fore, that any very satisfactory comparison of the section
of this well, as seen on Plate XII, can be made with the
others there shown. A number of reliable sections are
needed at intermediate points, before the horizon of the
Venango oil group can be positively fixed at Bradford, or
the place of the Bradford oil sand be satisfactorily deter-
mined in Clarion county. From the imperfect records of
wells scattered along this interval, it is evident that import-
ant changes of structure occur, particularly in the rocks
belonging to the Venango group and the mass above it,
provisionally called, in this report, the Crawford shales.
We are not able to recognize any one of the oil sands of
Venango in the Dennis well, neither can we yet trace the
red rocks seen in the section and exposed on many of the
hillsides of McKean county, to a direct coalescence with
the red bands in the oil wells of Warren, Venango, or
Clarion.
424. As Mr. Asliburnef 's Reports on McKean and
Forest counties will contain all the information obtained
on these subjects, no attempt is here made to identify the
Bradford rocks with those of Clarion ; and the Dennis well
record and section are only published in this volume for
the purpose of grouping together all the facts in relation
to these ten measured wells, so that they may be convenient
for reference hereafter.
15 III.
226 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
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228 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
426. A diary of eacli day 1 s drilling, in a tabular form,
witJi notes of the drawbacks encountered by accident, &c.
Dennis Well:
Daily
1877. advance. Depth,
Nov. 29, Conductor, 21 ft. previously set, 12 to 33
30, Thawing supply pipes,
Dec. 1, Pulling tubing from water well,
Sunday,
3, 34 to 67
4, 48 to 115
5, 60 to 175
6, '. 35 to 210
7, . 50to 260
8, Engine gives out, 31 to 291
Sunday, 50 to 341
10, . 49 to 390
11, 45 to 435
12, Putting in casing, 10 to 445
13, 101 to 546
14, 86 to 632
15, 66 to 698
Sunday, _ _
17, 72 to 770
18, 68 to 838
19, 81 to 919
20, 34 to 953
21, 34 to 987
22, 34 to 1021
Sunday,
24, Broke jars and lost tools at 1056', 35 to 1056
Christmas,
26, Fishing, _ _
27, Fishing, _ _
28, Fishing, got tools out, minus bit, _ _
29, Fishing, _ _
Sunday, _ _
31, Fishing, _ _
1878.
Jaa. 1 , Fishing, pin broke above jars,
2, Fishing, _
3, Cleared the hole, 7 to 1063
4, 7 to 1070
5, 15 to 1085
Sunday, _ _
7, 15 to 1100
8, 16 to 1116
9, 9 to 1125
10, . 19 to 1144
11, 31 to 1175
12, . 39 to 1214
WELL KECOKD. III. 229
Sunday, _ _
14, 40 to 1254
15, 33 to 1287
16, 30 to 1317
17, 29 to 1346
18, 55 to 1401
19 49 to 1450
Sunday,
21, 27 to 1477
22, 38 to 1515
23, . . 35 to 1550
24 , Bull wheel broke down, 12 to 1562
25, 21 to 1583
26 , Cable parted, 9.30, P. M., tools and 1400' rope in hole, 62 to 1645
Sunday,
28, Fishing,
29, 17 to 1662
30, Struck the oil sand at 1664', 9 to 1671
31, 14 to 1685
Feb. 1, 14 to 1699
2, 20 to 1719
Total time of drilling about 47 days. Average progress, about 36^ ft. per
day. Sixty-six days from time drilling began to completion of well. Best 24
hours' work, 101 feet.
Contractors, O. P. Boggs and L. B. Andrews. Drillers, Lester B. Andrews
and J. W. Boggs. Tool dressers, H. W. Thomas and C. M. Andrews.
230 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Structure of the Venango Oil Sands.
427. In investigating any branch of physical science,
as in all other logical processes of the human mind, true
deductions depend upon and can only be drawn from cor-
rect premises. The operations of many natural laws are
so patent, and the results produced so plain, that there is
no difficulty in following the chain of events up from cause
to effect, or down from effect to cause. But there are other
more mysterious and occult agencies, which have been and
still are at work, and the effects of which we see, that are
not so readily understood or explained. The mountains
rise above us, but who can write an indisputable history of
the precise manner of their construction ? the oil sands
spread out beneath our feet, who can go down into the dark
places of the deep, or back into the unknown ages of the
abysmal past, and gather the facts for a special and detailed
account of their deposition which shall carry the convic-
tion of truthfulness to all who may read it ?
In all subjects of this kind, where positive proofs cannot
be readily adduced to sustain every position assumed, there
is always room for great diversity of opinion for vague
theories, bold hypotheses, bald assertions and all kinds of
crude speculations. Still, there may usually be found a
common sense way of arriving at a reasonable solution of
these mathematically undemonstrable problems, by ap-'
pealing to analogies in nature, where cause and effect are
open to investigation and the conclusions reached by a study
of them cannot be gainsayed.
The manner in which the oil sands were deposited is one
of these measurably uncertain problems, and one to which
may be obtained a very erroneous solution, unless the
premises upon which the deductions are based be previously
well established.
VENANGO OIL SANDS. III. 231
428. Many strange and fanciful theories have been
advanced to account for the presence of the oil sands in the
positions where they are found. They have been supposed
by some to have been ejected through a portion of the super-
strata by subterranean forces operating beneath them. They
have been described and by reputable geologists, too on
the one hand as fractured anticlinal arches, on the other as
synclinal troughs, traversed by fissures and crevices con-
taining salt water, oil and gas. They have been pictured
as long sand-cores cast in grooves a few yards wide and
running as straight as an arrow for miles as if some
huge grooving-machine had passed over the bed rocks of
shale in a northeast southwest direction, making an uniform
furrow a few rods wide and 30 feet or more in depth in the
center, which was in some unaccountable manner filled in
at a latter day with coarse sand and gravel.
We shall not stop to attempt to refute these baseless
theories and speculations, for they are shown to be unten-
able by the many facts givendn other parts of this report,
but proceed at once to a consideration of the question
involved in a study of the physical structure of the oil
sands.
429. These questions are, (1) what dynamical agents
were employed in the construction or building up of these
rocks ? (2) what was the character of the materials used in
the formative processes ? and (3), with such forces and such
materials, what would be the probable structure of the rocks,
judging from what we see under analogous circumstances
at the present time t
Fortunately we are not driven into a discussion at the
outset, to prove in which grand division of the consecutive
series of formations composing the earth crust the oil rocks
are found. Lying as they do at the top of the Devonian
system, or, perhaps, more properly speaking, in the transi-
tion measures deposited while the Devonian was merging
into the Carboniferous, their sedimentary origin cannot be
disputed. The question thus narrows down at once to a
consideration of those forces alone which have been energeti-
232 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
cally engaged in the past, and are still employed in the de-
position and building up of this class of rocks.
430. Sedimentary rocks are defined by Lyell, as those
which "are formed from materials thrown down from a
state of suspension or solution in water."
This definition, at first sight, seems hardly broad enough
to cover the ponderous mechanical sediments of conglom-
erate and sandstone composing the oil sands. But a second
thought will vindicate its correctness, for even the largest
pebble of the conglomerate must have been, temporarily at
least, held in suspension by the energy of the transporting
current as it was swept along rolling or ricochetting near the
bottom.
Sea-beaches of sand and gravel which were thrown up
along shore by waves and winds, high above ordinary tide
level, belong also as truly to the sedimentary series when
sunken and covered with other stratified deposits as do the
accumulations of finer materials at a distance from the
shore which have been in a more literal sense, "held in a
state of suspension in water."
431. If then the oil sands are of sedimentary origin,
it therefore follows that they could only have been laid down
in oceans, lakes, or rivers, beneath the water level, or at or
near its surface.
The forces employed in their construction could only
have been those prevailing through aqueous conditions, and
they are the same, and no others, that are possessed by
water to-day, to wit : The buoyancy of the fluid, the trans-
porting capacity of swift currents and the tremendous
energy of rolling waves and dashing breakers. These forces,
in connection with probable terrene oscillations causing al-
terations in relative levels of land and water, are sufficient
to account for all the phenomena discovered in studying
the structure of the sedimentary strata.
432. What the component materials of the oil group
are, may readily be ascertained by an inspection of the con-
tents of sand-pumps, coming up from thousands of drill-
holes, scattered throughout the oil district, and by an ex-
amination of the exposed portion of the out cropping oil
VEJSTANGO OIL SANDS. . III. 233
measures and the coal rocks above them, as seen in north-
western Pennsylvania for both masses appear to be gen-
erically the same, and have evidently been deposited under
similar conditions.
The materials vary from coarse conglomerates contain-
ing quartz pebbles occasionally two inches in diameter,
through all grades of conglomerates, down to pebble -sand,
sandstone, sandy-shale, slate, and the most finally levigated
mud rock or "soapstone" of the driller.
433. With such forces in action as are enumerated
above, varying in energy abnormally, with winds, and tides,
and storms ; affected by changes of levels, intensifying their
powers at one time in this place, at another time in that,
and with such heterogeneous materials to work upon, as the
resultant strata indicate, we could only expect to find our
oil-sands and their associates, (as indeed we do find them,)
a variable mass of pebble, sand and shale beds, laid down
locally with great irregularity and disorder, within the areas
most sensibly affected by these changing conditions.
434. Water as a vehicle of transportation for substances
of greater gravity than itself, is strong or weak in propor-
tion to the velocity with which it moves. It follows, then,
that the character of the sediment laid down is an index
of the strength of the current depositing it.
The oil-sands are frequently massive conglomerates,
made up of the coarsest materials to be found in the for-
mation to which they belong; the influence is unavoidable,
therefore, that they owe their origin to the action of the
strongest depositing currents prevailing at the period of
their deposition. There are but three classes of currents
that may be presumed to possess the adequate requisites
for the performance of this kind of work, river currents,
deep-sea currents and shore currents. Let us see which
one of these has left the recognizable marks of its paternity
upon the rocks in question.
Flumatile Currents.
435. In attempting to refer these sandy deposits to flu-
viatile currents, many objections present themselves, al-
234 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
though this view of the origin of their sedimentation is
stoutly maintained by some experienced and well informed
oil miners who claim to have closely watched the structure
of the rock as interpreted by the drill and sand-pump.
Allowing that a river current was competent to bring down
sandy material, and deposit it in islands, sandbars and
marginal banks along its borders at any given period of its
history, how are the intermittent intervals to be accounted
for, when line materials, only, were deposited above the
sand-beds ? How are we to explain the strewing again and
again of alternating sand and mud over the same areas,
when the river beds meantime had filled up hundreds of
feet and ample opportunity was afforded for the channel
to mark out a new bed at each successive period ? Or for
the wide diffusion of similarly arranged sediments over the
whole of the Appalachian basin, for we cannot ignore the
fact before stated, that the impress of the same mechanical
agencies which fashioned the structure of the oil-strata, is
stamped upon all the measures deposited above them.
Those who advocate this view, looking only at the ar-
rangement of the pebbly, or oil-producing portions of the
sand rock, seem to lose sight of the fact that the synchronal
equivalents of these pebble-pockets can be unmistakably
traced in almost continuous, although variable, sheets of
sandstone and sandy-shale, for miles in either direction
transversely to the axes of their assumed river currents.
Another argument against the river current theory, is
found in the even assortment and systematic arrangement
of the sands and pebbles composing the strata. There is
no confusion in tlie strewing of the materials, no inter-
mixture of angular, partly worn fragments of local rocks,
as would necessarily be the case in sediments piled up by
fiuviatile forces but everything betokens that the material
has been subjected to the sifting, assorting, triturating pro-
cesses, which are known to belong only to the action of sea
waves.
Deep Sea Currents.
436. The comportment of deep sea or off shore currents
and the results of their actions, are not so open to observa-
VENANGO OIL SANDS. III. 235
tion as are the like characteristics of fluviatile and littoral
currents. We cannot therefore' judge so confidently by
analogy concerning them. It appears quit(^ probable, how-
ever, from what is known of ocean currents of the present
day, that one having sufficient velocity to transport for long
distances, such coarse materials as the oil sands in many
cases are composed of, would keep its own channel clear, if
indeed, it did not also wear away the floor upon which it
moved ; and that the pebbles and sand carried along by the
flow would only be thrown off along the margins of the
submerged stream ; in which case, so long as the trans-
porting forces occupied a fixed channel, geographically, two
sand-bars would be formed, separated by a distance corre-
sponding to the width of the central, rapid current, without
any direct communication of sandy deposits between them.
But if the position of the ocea^ stream was not constant
if liable at one time to swing to the right, at another to the
left this lateral movement might cause a partial re-arrange-
ment of the sand-bars and a silting up of the old channels
as the deposits accumulated.
The hypothesis that the position of the current was de-
pendent upon the geographical outlines of the sea basin
through which it flowed ; that these outlines were subject to
great variation by reason of changes in relative levels of land
and water ; and that thus the current was made to swing
at one time east, at another west ; strewing the materials
over a broad area transverse to its axis sometimes going so
far to the one side or the other, as to leave its previous
sandy deposits on the side of its recession in comparatively
quiet water during a period of time adequate for the accu-
mulation of those finer sediments which are found inter-
stratified between the sand beds might plausibly account
for many of the phenomena discovered in the drilling of oil
wells. But, if as before claimed in discussing the possible
effects of fluviatile currents, there are good reasons for in-
ferring that the oil rocks were deposited in a similar manner
to the coal rocks that the laws of mechanical deposition
which in after ages controlled the stratification of the latter,
were then in force, and in like manner governed the sedi-
236 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CAELL.
mentation of the former then it can hardly be admitted
that they were deposited by deep sea currents ; for we have
indisputable evidence that the coal rocks could not have
been deposited under these conditions, but must have been
laid down at or near water level.
Other objections to this hypothesis are found in the dis-
continuity of the sandy deposits along what would appear
to be the margins of the ocean stream ; the intermingling
of red shale with the oil sands at different horizons in dif-
ferent localities, the splitting of the sands into two or more
members going in a southeasterly direction from the main
deposit, all seeming to indicate the effects of disturbing
causes, due apparently to shore influences which could
hardly be expected to affect a grand ocean- current capable
of transporting and strewing such a ponderous deposit of
pebbles and sand along its course, as is here found for a dis-
tance of seventy-five miles at least.
The methods of deposition still in doubt.
437. After a patient study of the geological structure
of the oil region for years, before, as well as since the or-
ganization of the present survey, with all the data collected
^by the survey at command and all the assistance that the
researches of geologists and the practical operations of oil
developments can give, I cannot butf* acknowledge that I
am still unable to offer any well digested theory of the pre-
cise methods by which the oil sands were deposited. To
my mind there are many facts in connection with their
stratigraphy, structure and geographical position, pointing
strongly toward the probability of their being shore-line or
sea-coast accumulations, and it will be noticed that this re-
port is written throughout on the assumption that they
were so formed. But the task of proving this is by no
means an easy one. I shall not attempt it. The problems
involved are so complex, the operations of nature so erratic,
(paradoxically speaking,) because controlled by fixed laws
which must produce, under certain circumstances, one class
of results, and under other combinations, another ; and the
physical forces and mechanical sediments we have to deal
VENANGO OIL SANDS. III. 237
with in our investigations waves and currents, winds and
tides, sand and mud are so variable in their actions and
so mutable and prolific in specific results, that they all must
be subjected to a closer and more comprehensive study than
they have yet received, before the varying results of their
combined action can be fully understood or satisfactorily
explained.
The aim in these pages is to put on record the facts as
we find them, and when conclusions are drawn, as they
sometimes necessarily must be, for the purpose of argument,
or as a base to work out from, they must be considered as
tentative only, and held subject to such modifications as
future developments and discoveries may demand.
With this acknowledgement of an inclination to view the
oil group as virtually a shore deposit we will now review
this method of deposition and see if it does not give results
more in consonance with the observed phenomena exhibited
in the structure of the oil-sands than either of those pre-
viously considered.
A new epocJi commencing with the Venango group.
438. The lowest member of the Venango oil group
whether it be called third sand, or fourth, or fifth appears to
mark the commencement of a new era in the history of that
part of the Appalachian basin where it is found. Anterior to
its formation, the conditions of the ocean bed geographically
coincident with the trend of the group, seems to have re-
mained comparatively constant and uniform for ages. Drill-
ings from rocks lying from one to two thousand feet below
it, disclose only such finely levigated sediments as would
naturally be deposited in comparatively still, deep water,
beyond the perturbing influences of surface or shore.
There are abundant evidences in other parts of the coun-
try to prove that during the time this immense deposit of
underlying soft rocks was being formed here, several im-
portant and widely-felt oscillations of the earth-crust oc-
curred, resulting, in other localities, in alternations of
sediments at this horizon, which exhibit, lithologically,
marked constitutional differences, and are readily distin-
238 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
guishable one from the other by the genera and species of
fossils found entombed in them. That these changes were
not more definitely recorded in like lithological variations
of the cotemporaneous strata beneath the oil rocks, (of the
palreontological variations, of course we cannot speak, as
fossils are seldom brought up in the sand-pump,) can only
be accounted for on the presumption that the area over
which the latter were afterwards superimposed, was at that
time so far seaward and so deep below the water surface,
as not to be sensibly affected by these great physical move-
ments, which must have been broad and almost continental
in their scope.
So long as these broad oceanic conditions which had ob-
tained for ages in this latitude, continued, so long the same
kind of sediments resulted. But at this point of time (the
commencement of the oil group) a new class of sediments
come in ; coarse sand and gravel are now laid down over
large areas, where previously only mud and occasionally are-
naceous shales and slates had been deposited. A radical
change evidently must here have taken place both in the
physical conditions and geographical outlines of the great
basin receiving the sediments, and the adjacent lands sup-
plying the materials ; and it is to be remarked, too, that
the new order of stratification here introduced sands and
shales alternating continued' ever afterward during the
deposition of all the oil and coal rocks, and until the final
post carboniferous uplift.
TJie base of tJie oil group appears to furnish a well de-
fined plane of demarkation between the mud-rocks of an
age of uniform conditions and the sandstones and shales of
a period of mutability and unrest. Below this horizon
everything appears to be of a deep-sea, still-water type ;
above it, strong transporting currents, shifting in position
and level, and locally intermittent or variable in action, have
inscribed the evidences of their presence, and left us the
witnesses of their achievements, in irregularly alternating
strata of conglomerate, sandstone, and shale, all the way
up to and through the coal measures.
VENANGO OIL SAKDS. III. 239
Possible elevation of sea-bottom above water level.
439. We may reasonably infer that the crust of the
earth has always been rugose ; that inequalities both of
sea-bottom and dry land have existed ever since the Azoic
rocks first raised their crests above the universal "waters
of the great deep." If, then, in after times, a broad and
gradual uplift of the bed of the old Devonian ocean should
have occurred, say at or near the close of the Chemung
period, it would in all probability have brought up to day-
light large tracts of the uneven sea-bottom, particularly
those portions of it adjacent to the shoaling shores ; and
who knows but that some islands might have appeared also,
while the ancient sub-marine valleys remained submerged ?
New shore lines would thus be formed, new currents
established, new sources of sedimentary supplies become
available. The emerging land would be simply a broad
stretch of sea-bottom, composed of mud and fine sand,
which for hundreds of feet in depth had not yet been sub-
jected to the proper conditions of pressure, heat and desic-
cation to become concreted into rock.
Under these circumstances we may suppose that a system
of drainage would soon inscribe its outlines upon the newly
formed land, bringing down to the sea immense volumes of
mud from the flats and sand from the old beaches, to be
transported, assorted, and deposited in the basin, according
to the direction of the currents and quality of materials.
The new shore-lines, composed of soft and easily abraded
mud banks not yet adjusted to the sweep of ocean currents
or accustomed to the lash of waves, were subjected, no
doubt, to numerous transformations, while the relations of
land and water were being established on a natural basis ;
and these transformations were multiplied and complicated
by the varying contour of the upland and by the unequal
shrinkage, vertically, of the newly raised measures, as they
began to feel the physical effects of their altered position
the amount of shrinkage depending in a great measure on
the position of the beds affected by it, and the quality of
the materials locally composing them.
Thus, for instance, if one part of a coast line, backed by
240 III. EEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
a stable and rather abrupt mainland, so situated in relation
to the currents as to receive and retain the sandy accumula-
tions swept along in front of it, should meantime slowly
and steadily sink, might not a deposit of sand pile up in
an unbroken mass over a restricted area, forming, as at
Triumph, in Warren county, 120 feet of Third sand, while
at another point, say in Butler county, an unequal and ir-
regular rate of shrinkage and subsidence, along a coast line
not yet established in harmony with the currents, (but to
which they were obliged, temporarily, to conform until they
could work out their own natural boundaries,) assisted by
a low sloping shore which the waves were incessantly im-
pinging upon and cutting away, and where a few feet of
subsidence might let the waters sweep inland for miles,
cause a similar volume of wave-washed sand to be laid down
in several beds and spread it out transversely for miles over
the sinking and corroding shore, thus forming successively
the Fourth and Third and Stray sands of that district,
w T hich altogether occupy only about the same vertical space
that the solid Third sand does at Triumph.
Alternating cJianges in relative levels of land and water.
440. There seems to be no plausible way of accounting
for the alternations of sandstones and shales piled up one
over the other all through the oil and coal measures, except
on the hypothesis that many changes in the relative levels
of land and water occurred during the periods in which
these rocks were being deposited. Whether these changes
were caused solely by the rising or sinking of the land
while the ocean level remained constant, or whether the
ocean level has been periodically affected by cosmic causes
as some astronomers and geologists have claimed, or has
fluctuated at different times by reason of sub-marine eleva-
tions or depressions of large tracts of its deep water bed in
distant parts of the globe, is immaterial to our discussion.
The effect, if the oscillations were uniform throughout the
oil district would be the same in either case ; we may, there-
fore, speak as if it were only the land levels that changed.
The evidences of these elevations and depressions as re-
VENANGO OIL SANDS. III. 241
corded in the rocks, indicate that they were quite irregular
both as to the periods of their occurrence and the methods
of their accomplishment. Sometimes they appear to have
been slow, uniform and inconsiderable in vertical range,
making but slight alterations in relative positions of sea
and land ; at others quick and grand rising or falling hun-
dreds of feet at a throe, and completely obliterating or con-
fusedly obscuring all traces of their previously existing geo-
graphical relations. In the former case they seem to have
occurred consecutively in regularly alternating sequence,
in the latter they were intermittent being interrupted by
long periods of comparative repose.
By this oscillating method of deposition it is clearly to
be seen that we should have two lines of shore deposits ;
one made when the land was at its highest elevation, the
lower shore-line along the base of the recently uplifted
mainland ; the other made when the land was at its lowest
level, the upper shore-line, laid down along the face of the
sunken mainland hills 100', 500' or 1000' as the case might
be, above the former beach according to the amount of
depression suffered by the land. It is also evident that so
long as these oscillations continued, no deposits could be
permanently laid down, except those that remained below
the water at its lowest stages, for all the upper, inland de-
posits would be exposed to sub-aerial erosion whenever a
recession of the waters occurred. In this way an unlimited
supply of loose materials derived from these unconsolidated
upland deposits was always at command though the con-
stant action of inflowing streams, for the rapid building up
of the permanent formations at low water levels.
There can be little doubt that our oil sands are simply
the re-arranged materials of otlier ancient sliore deposits,
which have been wrought over many times in this manner,
without having been previously consolidated into rock.
The pebbles and sand have not been brought down direct
from their place of origin, broken up, triturated, assorted
and deposited where we now find them, by the currents of a
single period ; but they have traveled by stages, as it were,
16 III.
242 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHJT F- CARLL.
and made many a halt along the sandy beac7tes of previ-
ously existing seas.
We said above that no permanent deposit could be laid
down except at low water level, but it may have happened
that some portions of the mountain or high water beaches
were so situated in relation to the agencies of sub-aerial
erosion as to escape destruction ; in which case patches of
them might remain almost intact during the interval re-
quired for filling up the basin below, and when by subsi-
dence they were brought down to the horizon of low .water
or permanent deposits they might be incorporated with' very
little alteration into the then forming strata. Where such an
occurrence happened, there would be an apparent exception
to the well established geological rule that the sequence
of sedimentation is always upward, from the older to the
newer; and if the rocks chanced to carry fossils purely
distinctive of their age some confusion, palseontologically
might arise, for here would be an older rock, lying in the
horizon of the new and apparently stratigraphically the
same as those of the horizon in which it was found.
It seems quite probable that a composite stratification of
this kind has occurred in several places in northwestern
Pennsylvania, where occasional beds of massive sandstone
and conglomerate are found, which cannot be correlated
with any of the continuous sand-belts of the country.
They have every appearance of being nothing more than
fragmentary patches the isolated remnants of some old
mountain beach.
Structural variations in sandrock due to varying physi-
cal agencies of deposition.
441. The structure of a sandrock formed under the con-
ditions above alluded to, would depend very much upon
the details of the movements accompanying the changing
levels of land and sea whether the oscillations were regu-
lar or intermittent as to time, quick or slow as to motion,
great or small as to vertical range. Let us see what some
possible combinations of these several circumstances would
result in.
VENAKGO OIL SANDS. III. 243
First, suppose the levels to have remained constant, or
to have varied only a few feet for a long period. Where
the conditions were favorable, long stretches of sandy
beaches have accumulated, with bays in many places be-
tween them and the main land, as seen at the present day
all along our ocean coasts. Deltas have formed at the con-
fluence of rivers with ocean. The mechanical sediments
have been sifted and assorted, arranged and re-arranged by
tides and currents, by winds and storms, and perhaps they
have been further wrought upon, also, by tidal waves, oc-
casioned by earthquakes at a distance ; but the materials
are all arranged in lines, rudely parallel with the average
trend of the shore or of the currents depositing them. If
now a rapid and considerable subsidence of the land occurs
allowing the ocean to flow far inland, and this be followed
by another period of comparative rest, the old sea-beaches
will be deeply covered with water, and receive above them
the off-shore muddy deposits brought into the newly out-
lined basin, without involving any material change in their
position or structure, except, perhaps, a leveling off of some
of the uneven surfaces as the rising waters sweep over
them.
The buried deposit might be described as consisting of
(I) a rather narrow and somewhat continuous main-belt of
sand, containing lenticular patches of coarse grave], flanked
seaward by finer and more uniform sand, gradually becom-
ing argillaceous and finally merging into shale ; (2) sand-
bars at the river mouths containing more or less coarse
material laid down in lines corresponding to the direction
of the currents ; (3) occasional coarse sandy deposits of the
same character as the main belt, formed along the currents
of the inlets, outlets, and channel- ways of the shallow land-
locked bays and estuaries, and perhaps, also, in some places
adjacent to the upland shores.
This structure seems to correspond with what the drill
has developed in connection with the lowest or green oil
member of the Venango group.
For another example, suppose the land to be slowly ris-
ing. The sandy beaches are drawn out and widened along
244 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
the gently sloping shore, as the waters recede, leaving long
parallel lines of hills and ridges exposed to the action of
atmospheric agencies, ponds with connecting drains are
formed among them ; these depressions are occasionally
overflowed by unusually high tides, and become the re-
ceptacles for seaweed, mud and the wind- driven sand and
dust of the beach which eventually accumulate to a con-
siderable thickness; a rise of say thirty feet along a shore
of this character, sloping seaward at the rate of eight or ten
feet per mile, might thus widen out one of these beaches
three or four miles. Now let the motion be reversed and
the waters again slowly encroach upon the land. The
last made sand ridge is driven back land- ward, filling up all
the inequalities of the beach, covering the mud deposits in
pond and creek with sand, and the water line sweeping
onward leaves behind it a perfectly even floor to receive the
muddy deep-water deposits, when it has sunken to a suffi-
cient depth to retain them.
The structure of this rock would be similar to that of the
chief oil producing rock of Clarion county, the third sand belt
of Butler, and the stray sand of the old Venango district.
The sand or pebble drifts lie in approximately parallel
belts in some places over wide areas, they are irregular in
thickness, sometimes in one member and sometimes in two
or more, the splitting being occasioned, we may suppose,
by the mud deposits in pond and creek which were subse-
quently covered with sand. A well drilled through one of
the original sand hills finds a continuous sandrock, Avhile
one driven down through an old pond site encounters a vari-
able sand with "mud veins" and interstratified shales.
Many other possible and very probable combinations of
the varying agencies of sedimentary deposition might be
imagined, but combine them as we may and study their
effects under every possible combination as best we can, and
still we shall find many extraordinary features in the struc-
ture of the oil sands which might be as plausibly accounted
for under the deep sea-current hypothesis as by the shore-
line theory;
CHAPTER XXIV.
Crevices in the Sandrock. Are they essential to a paying
oil well ?
442. During the early years of petroleum development,
the theory of oil rock crevices obtained great currency,
not only among well-drillers and well-owners, but also
among geologists, who examined and reported upon the
the underground structure of the oil country. It was the
popular belief that a fissure must be struck in the oil sand
or a well would be a failure. Entertaining this idea, the
driller, upon reaching the sand, was constantly on the alert
to find a crevice ; and if he happened to get a good well, he
always remembered that at a certain spot the drill dropped,
and his judgment of the distance it fell would now, of
course, be influenced somewhat by the production of the
well. As a consequence, we have had crevices reported all
the way from one inch to three feet in depth. It was not
to be wondered at, perhaps, if the driller did find crevices,
when the geologist told him they ought to be there and his
employer considered them essential to a paying well. Nei-
ther was it surprising that those who had never seen an oil
well should freely accept the opinions of those who were
supposed to understand the subject thoroughly.
443. Crevice searcher. The crevice furor finally became
so prevalent that an instrument was devised and patented,
called a "crevice searcher." It was lowered into a well
by means of poles like sucker-rods, and designed to indi-
cate how many, where located, and how deep were the
crevices in the oil sands. The cylindrical body of the
"searcher," which was about two feet long, nearly filled
the bore-hole. In lowering it, whenever a crevice was
reached a little finger about an inch long,, (which was kept
pressed out against the wall of the well by a spring)
snapped out into the opening and checked the downward
(245 III.)
246 III. KEPOKT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
movement. Then by raising the rods until the finger struck
the top of the crevice, its exact measurement could be ob-
tained. When this was done and the depth recorded, the
finger was drawn back by a cord running up along the rods
to the well mouth, thus unlocking the instrument from the
crevice and allowing it to be lowered until another one was
found.
This was an excellent device for measuring the depth of
a well, for the rods were accurately marked in feet and
inches, and there could be no stretch or slack to mislead,
as in the case of measurements made by rope or wire. For
several years it must have been the source of considerable
revenue to its owners, as it was largely employed at a
charge of thirty dollars for an insertion, to ascertain the
most favorable point at which to explode a torpedo, when
the original driller's record had been lost or could not be
relied upon. The operators of the machine became so pro-
ficient in its use that they claimed to be able to tell the
difference between shale, slate and sandstone, by the sound
and jar communicated through the rods at the well mouth,
as the finger scratched against the changing strata in de-
scending. But however this may have been, it is plainly
seen that the snapping out of a catch or finger into a re-
cess in the well-wall was no proof of a crevice. A rough
spot occasioned by a spalling of the rock while drilling,
would allow the catch to comport itself precisely as it
would in a crevice. There was nothing to show whether
the stoppage was occasioned by a crevice or a rough spot ;
whether the cavity extended half an inch back from the
wall, or half a mile.
Since the introduction of the plan of drilling wells dry,
that is through large casing which prevents the surface
waters from entering the hole, this device has gone into dis-
use. Since that time too, crevices are not so much talked
about. This method of drilling enables the well-borer to
tell just how his work advances, for there is no water in
the hole to buoy up and obscure the action of the tools, or
to hold back the gas and oil when their reservoirs are pen-
.etrated. And now, the driller, having discovered that large
CREVICES IN THE SANDROCK. III. 247
wells can be obtained in porous sandstone without any
discoverable fissures, will tell you that crevices in the oil
rocks, especially where they lie deep below the surface, are
of rare occurrence, and may be considered as exceptions to
the general rule.
Crevices in the Upper Sands.
444. But this subject of fissures and crevices should
not be treated flippantly or dismissed summarily, whatever
may have been the extreme notions of fifteen years ago.
It demands a careful consideration. That crevices or verti-
cal fissures do ramify through all our surface sandstones,
is plainly manifest. We see them in every quarry that is
opened, in nearly every water- well that is blasted into sand-
rock.
TTiey are encountered in many oil wells where a sand-
rock lies near the surface, particularly where shafts are
located on the top of an escarpment along a stream, or on
a hog-back between two ravines, and are often the fruitful
source of a great deal of annoyance and expense to the
well sinker. They are seldom found to be absolutely ver-
tical ; their walls may stand apart a few inches or a foot or
more ; their faces are often oxydized and hardened almost
like iron ; where the auger strikes into one, it will glance
and follow the lead in spite of the most judicious manage-
ment of the workmen, and result in a "crooked hole."
Sometimes torpedoes are exploded in the crevice in hopes
of fracturing the face of the rock, so that the hole may be
straightened. Large quantities of broken stone are then
thrown in and rammed down to fill the hole and crevice to
the top of the rock where the trouble occurs ; wings or
guides are put on tho tools to keep them plumb and steady
in the perfect hole above ; but all to no purpose the drill
still glances and follows the inclined face of the rock. The
only remedy now is to abandon the shaft, move the rig a
few feet, and commence anew. In all probability no diffi-
culty whatever will be experienced in sinking the second
well through the creviced rock.
445. Smaller crevices containing fresh water are fre-
248 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
quently found below the surface or bluff sand. As the
Mountain sand group is generally composed of several
arenaceous and sometimes pebbly bands, interstratified
with slates and shales, the drill may penetrate a water-
crevice in an upper stratum, and afterwards another in a
lower. If the lower one be connected with a free outlet, the
water from the upper one falls down and is carried off by
it, thus draining the upper rock and creating a waterfall in
the well which can be plainly heard in the derrick and
clearly seen by lowering a candle in the hole. Many in-
stances have occurred where valuable never failing springs
and wells fed from an upper stratum, have been almost in-
stantly dried up and ruined by the striking of a lower
crevice of this kind in an oil well in the neighborhood. It
is not always, however, the nearest boring that taps a
spring or well, but the one that happens to strike the same
water lead in the rock. The points of interference are some-
times one hundred rods apart.
446. In every new oil development on high ground, one
of the first effects noticed is a diminution in quantity or a
total failure of the normal water supply in springs and
wells. The shallow wells of the country, dug only to the
first sand beneath the surface, soon fail, and a permanent
supply of water can now be obtained only from sandrocks
lying at a lower horizon. It then becomes necessary also
to drill wells to furnish the water required for the pur-
poses of steam. These holes are drilled in the derrick,
about three feet from the oil well and are usually from 200
to 300 feet deep, (see Plate XIV.) They sometimes go dry,
however, for when the deep oil hole is opened below the
level of the sandrock supplying them with water, the fluid
may flow into it, follow on down and pass out through a
lower rock as mentioned above. The remedy in such cases
is to drill the water well doep into the slates or shales be-
low the sandrock so that it may have a pocket to collect
and hold the water coming into it. There are seldom any
fissures or water courses in these compact shales to furnish
a communication from one well to the other, although they
are generally only about three feet apart.
CREVICES JN THE SANDROCK. III. 249
447. Below the fresh water-bearing rocks the crevices
are quite infrequent and smaller, as a general rule. Still
there appear to be localities, where, judging from the heavy
flows of salt water, quite extensive fissures exist in some of
the lower sandstones, as at Pittsburgh, Sharpsburg and
other places which might be mentioned. When the flow
of salt water is not so copious and is accompanied by a large
amount of gas, it may be inferred that there are sufficient
avenues for its inflow through the porous sandstone with-
out requiring the aid of crevices.
Occasional fissures in tlie oil sands, but no communication
between the different members of the group.
448. In the oil rocJcs it seems quite probable that in
some localities and under certain conditions, fissures do
exist. Several instances have been known where one oil
well interfered with another in such a way that the accom-
panying phenomena could not be satisfactorily explained
on any other hypothesis. But these occurrences are com-
paratively rare, and may be said to be confined to isolated
areas of the rocks. The principal points where these crev-
ices are reported, are in the Venango district, where the
drilling is the shallowest ; at Tidioute, in Warren county,
the rock lying about 100 feet below the river ; on Oil creek,
depth about 450 feet ; near Franklin (in First sand), from
200 feet to 300 feet. In the hill wells of Venango district,
which are from 800' to 900' deep, and in the 1500' wells of
Butler county, crevices in the oil rocks are very seldom re-
ported, and when they are there is always a shadow of
doubt resting upon the authenticity of the record.
449. It is also quite apparent that the fissures belonging
to one stratum or member of a sandstone group are not
connected with those of another stratum above or below it.
For instance, in the vicinity of the Noble well, on Oil creek,
where these connecting crevices seem undoubtedly to exist,
as shown by the action of the wells, confirmed also by the
drillers' report of crevices struck while drilling, the stray
Third sand and regular Third sand are separated by only
about twenty feet of shaly slates; still the Third sand
250 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
produces the typical green oil, and the Stray, (when pro-
ductive), the typical black oil, showing quite conclusively
that there can be no direct crevice connection between the
two strata.
Crevices more numerous in the upper sands than in the
lower.
450 Reviewing the subject, then, we find the upper
sandstones much more frequently and extensively fissured
than the lower ones, and containing fresh water ; the mid-
dle series occasionally fractured and producing salt water ;
the lower series seldom fractured, and containing salt water
and oil.
But the terms upper, middle, and lower, are not fixed
terms, as here applied. The upper sandstones of Butler
county have no existence in the high Pleasantville district
of Venango county ; the upper sandstones of Pleasantville
are wanting in the valley wells at Tidioute, in Warren
county. This is due to the gradual rise of the whole mass
of rocks going northeast from Butler, by which the higher
strata crop out successively and terminate, one after the
other, on the hilltops in that direction.
As a result of this, the upper or fresh water rocks at
Tidioute embrace all the measures from the Second Mount-
ain sand, capping the hilltops, down to and including the
First oil sand, while in Butler county these strata bear
only salt water, and in intermediate places the bottom of
the fresh water series is in some cases the Second Mountain
sand, and in others the Pithole grit. The lower fresh water
sands of Tidioute yield salt water at Pleasantville, and
going higher up in the series the Pleasantville fresh water
sands are in turn found to be charged with salt water in
Butler and Clarion. Thus we see that these sandstones,
which all, no doubt, at some time contained salt water,
have experienced radical changes in their water-bearing at-
tributes, according to the several conditions in which they
have been placed since their uplift from the ocean bed.
The facts recited above point plainly to the conclusion
that the surface sandstones have been more fractured and
CREVICES IN THE SANDROCK. III. 251
disturbed than those lying at a greater depth; and that
wherever the position of a bed offers an opportunity for it
to be affected by atmospheric agencies, or traversed by
water from the surface, it has been so thoroughly washed
by the percolation of rain ; water that no trace remains of
the saline materials it formerly contained.
Porous Sandstone as a reservoir and channel for large
flows of oil.
451. Some oil producers stoutly maintain that a flow-
ing well of one, two, or three thousand barrels per day can-
not be obtained unless a crevice is struck ; that a sandrock,
however porous it may be, cannot afford a sufficient chan-
nel for so large a quantity of fluid to come into a well.
If we examine a piece of oil rock brought up after a tor-
pedo has been exploded, or some of the Third sandstone
taken by hand from the stratum in place and laid open to
view at the bottom of the large oil-shaft sunk by blasting,
at Tidioute, we shall find it simply a conglomerate of peb-
bles seldom larger than grains of wheat, loosely held to-
gether in a sandy matrix. At first sight it hardly seems
possible for any large quantity of oil to pass into a well
through the interstices between the pebbles, but experi-
ments made in a crude way on a number of pieces of this
oil rock, prove quite conclusively that it is capable of ab-
sorbing and holding from one-fifteenth to one-tenth of its
own bulk of water or oil,' this, too, when the pores of the
rock are more or less clogged with residuum from the oil
previously held by it, and without its being charged under
pressure.
452. The diameter of an ordinary oil well being 5"
the circumference of the circle is therefore 17 T Va inches and
the area of its cross section 23 T Va square inches. Suppose
the interspaces of the oil rock to amount in proportion to
its whole bulk, to only one-seventeenth, instead of one-fif-
teenth, or one-tenth, as we have ascertained it to be in some
cases ; then for every inch of depth drilled in an oil sand,
by which 17 T 2 c 8 s square inches of its surface is laid bare, (say-
ing nothing about the bottom area of the hole,) we shall
252 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F CARLL.
have at least one square inch of oil ducts, venting into the
well. A depth then of 23 T y ff inches would give 23 T 7 A square
inches as the combined area of the inflowing oil leads, and
this equals the full capacity of the 5 inch hole. In other
words the aggregate sum of the -pores or interspaces of a
sandrock of this kind, as exposed in the walls of a well of
5f inches diameter, is equivalent to the area of an open
crevice one inch wide, extending from top to bottom of the
gravel bed, whatever its thickness may be.
No account is here made of the friction encountered by
the oil in passing through the thousands of pores in the
sandstone, nor of the compensating force of gas impelling
the oil under a tremendous pressure through them.
This imperfect calculation is not intended to show just
how much oil a porous rock could deliver, but simply to
exhibit the possibilities of a flow through and from it, equal
even to the full capacity of the well-bore. When there is
from five to ten feet of this kind of rock to drill through, it
can readily be seen that a flow of three or four thousand
barrels per day might easily be maintained through the
operation of these numerous oil leads, making ample allow-
ance for friction and all other contingencies, without requir-
ing the aid of crevices to convey the oil into the well.
453. There are others who imagine that the oil lies in
a series of lakes or caverns connected together by under-
ground streams and sometimes receiving supplies from long
distances. Otherwise, they affirm, individual wells could
not produce so largely as some have done, nor could farms
and districts have such an immense amount of oil stored
beneath them as has been extracted from some localities,
particularly along Oil creek.
In answer to this idea we append a few figures below,
which will afford the means of readily calculating the pos-
sible capacity of a porous sandstone, and any one who will
take the trouble to study and apply them will perceive that
" lakes of oil" may be stored in a sandstone 30', 50' or 100'
in thickness without the intervention of extensive caverns
or fissures.
CREVICES IN THE SAKDROCK. III. 253
Superficial quantities.
43.560 square feet in an acre.
27.878.400 square feet in a square mile.
6.272.640 square inches in an acre.
4.014.489.600 square inches in a square mile.
Cubical quantities.
9.702 cubic inches in a barrel of 42 gallons.
Production of oil per acre.
646 &% barrels if the sheet of oil be 1 inch deep.
1293 T o D % " " 2
4.997^ " 7rffr "
Production of oil per square mile.
414.779$}, barrels if the sheet of oil be 1 inch deep.
827.559$% " " " 2 "
1.241.338^ " " 3
3.198.515^ " " 7rf&
454. We have said above that experiments made in a
crude way indicate that an oil sand may contain as much as
one tenth of its bulk in oil. There can be little doubt, how-
ever, that a good rock in its normal condition and under
pressure might hold an equivalent of one-eighth. This
would be equal to a solid sheet of oil one and a half inches
in thickness in every vertical foot of good oil sand, or
nearly 1000 barrels per acre. On Oil creek there is gen-
erally from 30' to 50' of Third sand, and also from 15' to
30' of Stray sand, both locally producing oil. Of this total,
suppose only 15' is good oil-bearing pebble ; we shall then
have a producing capacity of 15,000 barrels per acre, or
9,600,000 barrels per square mile, which is adequate to the
requirements of the most exceptional cases known.
Nothing need be said of small wells and moderately pro-
ductive districts, for there is no difficulty whatever in dis-
covering ample storage-room in porous sandstones of very
inferior quality for all the oil that may be obtained from
them.
455. The above remarks having been confined exclu-
sively to the Venango Oil Group and strata above it, the
254 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
question may be asked, do the same conditions exist in the
Warren and Bradford oil-fields ? To a certain extent they
undoubtedly do. But nearly all the valleys of the last
named sections are cut down into the Chemung formation ;
consequently the sandstones of the Lower District only
appear in the high land and ridges of the Upper Dis-
trict, and those which are the most prominent belong prin-
cipally to the Mountain sand series. These form "rock
cities" on the hilltops, are creviced and broken in a man-
ner similar to those of Venango and Butler, and frequently
perplex the driller with similar difficulties. So far, there
is no point of difference to be noted. But the character-
istics of the principal oil-producing sands of the three dis-
tricts are entirely dissimilar. The Venango Third sand
is a coarse pebble-rock associated with a clean white sand ;
the ''Warren Third sand" is fine-grained, bluish-grey,
and somewhat muddy; the "Bradford Third sand" is
of medium grain, friable, but sometimes almost floury
and of a decided brown or snuff color.
Still, while these sands differ so notably in composition,
texture and color, and while they differ also in the charac-
ter and color of the oils produced, there is nothing in the
action of the wells, as far as I can discover, to warrant the
inference that crevices are more frequent in one stratum
than another.
456. But the measures above the Warren and Brad-
ford "Third sands" have produced considerable "shale
or slush oil," which may perhaps be attributed to a fissured
condition of these rocks.
At North Warren oil is obtained irregularly in shale or
sandstone, and at very variable depths ; one well may find
it in shale at 300 feet, the next one in sandstone at 600 feet,
and others in the immediate vicinity at almost any inter-
mediate point. The character of the shales, the variability
of the points of inflow, and the action of the wells, which
start off at the rate of two or three hundred barrels per
day and soon dwindle down to ten barrels, lead to the in-
ference that the oil lies in crevices. As far as known, how-
ever, these conditions exist over but a limited area, and
CREVICES IN THE SAND ROCK. III. 255
are undoubtedly due to comparative^ local causes, not
at present sufficiently understood to be satisfactorily ex-
plained.
457. In the Bradford district "slush oil" is also ob-
tained in some localities under conditions very similar to
those above described, and it is furthermore claimed that
on the "Tuna flats," in the neighborhood of State line,
wells but a few rods apart strike oil in rocks below the
" Third sand" at unequal distances, and in such an un-
usual manner that the occurrence can only be accounted
for on the supposition that the rocks at that horizon and
in that locality are fissured in an exceptionable manner.
256 III. HEPOItT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CAULL.
CHAPTER XXV.
(Illustrated by Plate XXXV.)
'''Flooded territory.' 1 '' How water invades the sandrock to
the exclusion of oil and gas. A review of some of the
circumstances attending its occurrence.
458. As a general rule, the first oil wells in a prolific
district produce but little salt water with the oil, unless they
are located in shallow territory where the oil rock lies in
such a position as to be somewhat affected by communica-
tion with the surface. The movement of water through
the oil sands, called "flooding" is an abnormal condition
following development, and occurs only after the oil has
been partially exhausted from the rock. It may always be
attributed to the letting down of surface water through
abandoned well-shafts no precautions having been taken
when wells were dismantled, to effectually shut off all com-
munication between the upper, or water bearing rocks, and
the oil sands ; either by filling up the lower part of deserted
wells with sand and sediment ; or by inserting wooden plugs
in the borings, below the horizon of fresh water veins.
Now as the partial drainage of a district must first be ac-
complished before it can suffer from the effects of flooding,
and as a structure of sandrock which facilitates a rapid
delivery of oil affords a correspondingly free medium for
the reception and onward movement of water, we may very
properly in a consideration of the subject of flooding, com-
mence with a "pool" of oil in its normal state and follow
it through all of its changes until finally invaded and de-
stroyed by water.
459. The word "pool" has been rather arbitrarily
pressed into service in this connection. It is an oil miner's
term intended to convey the idea of a body of oil stored in
the porous portions of a sandrock and practically independ-
FLOODED TERRITORY. III. 257
enfc of other pools or deposits of the same character : thus
he speaks of the Pithole pool, the Cashup pool, the Church
run pool, &c. It is also used in a more restricted sense to
designate rich spots in the same district which may have
some slight connection with each other as the United States
well pool ; the Homestead well pool ; the Burtis well pool
all near together and within the great Pithole pool, but
having small wells or dry holes between them.
460. It is a fact well established by experience, that the
pioneer wells of any district, if drilled within the possible
limits of a productive pool, are more certain to prove re-
munerative than those put down at a later date after the
field has been fairly developed although the latter may be
sunken through a sandstone of better quality than the for-
mer ; and the reason of this is obvious if our theory of the
physical structure of the oil sand be correct.
Suppose a lenticular deposit of pebble rock stored with
oil, to lie embeded in fine argillaceous and almost imper-
vious sandstone which completely isolates it from other de-
posits of similar character lying perhaps but a short dis-
tance from it. In this shape it is practically an hermetically
sealed oil tank full of oil and gas, under a tension not sus-
ceptible of precise calculation, but which, judging from the
effects observed when the pool is tapped, may be 300 pounds
or more to the square inch. The first well piercing this
deposit, although it may only touch the extreme thin edge
of it, will have a large reservoir to draw from, and a tremend-
ous pressure of gas to assist and augment its delivery ;
whereas one put down after the bulk of oil has been ex-
tracted and the pressure reduced to two or three atmos-
pheres, receives but sluggish streams of oil and feeble gas
aid, even if it passes through a much greater thickness of
oil bearing rock, and cannot therefore yield so largely.
Those who still adhere to the old notions of crevices and
fissures ramifying through all the measures, with free circu-
lation of fluids through them, will object to this hypothesis
of sealed reservoirs. But we submit that in view of the
many facts cited in these pages, which harmonize with such
a conclusion, the inference that they do exist, practically,
17 III.
258 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
is not an unreasonable one, even if the proofs of it do not
amount to actual demonstration.
461. Geologically speaking as to time, there is no doubt
a slow process of circulation through all the measures ; for
nature is ever active and on the alert to restore any disturb-
ance of an equilibrium. But practically, during the short
time they are being drained, the oil pools are sealed reser-
voirs.
A thoroughly drilled district partially deprived of its oil
and relieved from excessive gas pressure, will undoubtedly
be again supplied and filled with water, oil, or gas from the
contiguous rocks, until the equilibrium is restored for
"nature abhors a vacuum" but this re-filling would be a
slow process, were it not for numerous free passages opened
by the drill, through which surface water may find access
into the oil rock. The manner in which the intruding cur-
rents deport themselves, will be seen to be, as we proceed,
a strong argument in favor of the inferred discontinuity and
isolation of the pebble deposits of different districts.
462. The first wells to tap a new pool of oil have more
vitality than those which follow, but these wells do not al-
ways happen to be on the best part of the rock. For in-
stance, National well No, 1, situated within a few rods of
No. 2, (II, No. 57.) was struck in February, 1866. It was
very near the northwesterly edge of a large and well stored
pool, and passed through rather an inferior oil rock, as com-
pared with that afterwards found on the axis of the belt.
Still it had a sufficiently free connection with the supply-
ing reservoir to furnish a delivery of about 85 barrels per
day, and it maintained its production with wonderful con-
stancy for two years, having only declined to about 60 bar-
rels in that time. In the summer of 1868 wells were drilled
on the center of the deposit from which it had been deriv-
ing its supply. Some of these wells produced as much as
150 barrels per day. The effect on the National was im-
mediately apparent. Its production dropped off rapidly
and dwindled down to 10 barrels or less per day.
463. Rock well No. 1, (II, No. 359,) in the same neigh-
borhood, but on the opposite (south) side of the pool, had
FLOODED TEREITORY. III. 259
a similar history although it never was so large a producer
as the National.
A few rods north of National No. 1, a fine, close rock
with very little oil was obtained in drilling other wells. In
wells a few rods south of Rock well similar features pre-
vailed, but a number of other pools, not directly connected
with this one came in at intervals to the southeast between
it and Pithole city.
464. Harmonial well No. 1, (II, No. 24,) was on the
thinning northerly edge of the Pleasantville belt. The main
body of oil and the best sandrock as afterwards demon-
strated, lay to the south. It started with a small yield and
at the end of a fortnight was pumping about 30 barrels
per day. Gradually increasing its production, as if en-
larging and cleaning out the passages leading into the sup-
plying reservoir, it finally commenced to flow and ran up to
125 barrels, where it remained until wells of larger flow
were drilled on the center of the belt and relieved the gas
pressure, when pumping had to be resumed. After this it
soon fell down to an unremunerative production and was
abandoned.
465. Nettleton wett No. 1, (II, No. 8,) another edge well
furnishes a similar history. It maintained a comparatively
steady production for two years, but quickly succumbed
when the center of the pool was attacked.
466. Holmes and Brown well No. 1, GasTiup, (II, No.
981,) may be referred to as another example of the com-
portment of these edge wells.
467. Scores of similar references could be ffiven, but
these are ample to show that where direct communication
does exist through the porous sand rock or through crevices
it is soon made manifest in the action of the wells. There-
fore the inference is, that if the oil deposits do not lie in
practically disconnected pools as above suggested, we should
not from year to year find new oil fields within short dis-
tances of exhausted areas, lying under a normal pressure
of gas and not having been sensibly affected in any manner
by the depletion of contiguous territory.
If but a small communication exist between two reser-
260 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
voirs each filled with oil and gas under a pressure of from
100 to 300 fcs. to the square inch, and the pressure in one
of them be reduced to a point within three pounds of an
absolute vacuum, (as has been done by the agency of gas
pumps at Triumph in Warren county and elsewhere,) it
would seem that at least a partial restoration of an equi-
librium ought to be effected within two or three years' time,
even if a considerable distance intervened between them.
468. Pithole was practically exhausted in 1867. Yet
Cashup, only two miles to the northeast, lay undiscovered
until 1871. When the latter district was tapped it exhibited
all the normal conditions of new territory, a tremendous
pressure of gas and an abundance of lively oil which at-
tested their energy and force by a well flowing over 1000
barrels per day,
469. Shamburg was discovered several years after the
Oil creek rock had been practically drained and although
not more than three miles from the world renowned Noble
well district, no direct communication has ever been traced
between the two oil fields.
470. Bullion the champion district of 1877, lay with its
wonderful store of oil and gas within a mile and a half of
Scrubgrass, unaffected by the drainage and almost com-
plete exhauston of the latter six or seven years before.
: 471. Butler and Clarion are now constantly furnish-
ing new pools outside of previously developed areas, which
show no symptoms of having been interfered with or weak-
ened by any of the previous operations.
-Facts like these, (and many more might be given in de-
tail were it necessary,) point strongly to the correctness of
the inference 'that the oil producing pebble sands lie in
pockets or patches so completely surrounded by an almost
impervious rock, that practically they may be considered
as independent masses and treated accordingly.
In conformity then with this view of the subject let us
trace the history of one of these oil pools from its first tap-
ping by the drill to its final abandonment on account of
'becoming flooded with water.
472. With the present method of drilling through cas-
FLOODED TERRITORY. III. 261
ing and thus preventing the surface water from following
down to the lower rocks, the effect upon tapping the oil sand
is quite different from what it was under the old process
when the drill hole was full of water. In the latter case
the column of water in a deep well held the gas and oil in
check and but slight indications of oil would be seen until
the well was tubed and a portion at least of the water
pumped out. But now the hole having only a few feet of
fluid in it when the sand rock is pierced, the effect is simi-
lar to the sudden liberation of the safety valve to a steam
boiler under a full pressure of steam. The tremendously
compressed gas and oil rush at once into the opening the
drill hole is soon filled and when the depth of well is not
too great in proportion to the force of gas, the boiling, foam-
ing mass is driven upwards against the forces of gravity,
against the resistance of the atmosphere, and vents at the
well mouth or shoots high above the top of the derrick.
473. The date of the first flow from one of these pools
marks the commencement of a new era in its history. For
ages the oil has been locked up in the pores of the rock,
and there can be little doubt but that an equitable pressure
has been established throughout every freely communicat-
ing portion of it. The equilibirum is now suddenly de-
stroyed in the immediate vicinity of the well by the libera-
tion of compressed gas and oil seeking a rapid exit through
the drill hole, because the pressure in the rock is greater
than the forces to be overcome by the oil in its ascent. The
result is the rarification of the elastic and expansile materials
filling the pores of the sand rock immediately surrounding
the perforation made by the drill. Suppose the pressure
in a radius of ten feet to be thus quickly reduced from 300
Ibs to the square inch to 150 fbs, this allows the next con-
centric area proportionately to expand and reduce in like
manner, and that the next and so on, the movement gradu-
ally widening, the pressure gradually reducing until all the
freely communicating portions of the rock are relieved,
when the oil for lack of propelling force ceases to flow. An
equilibirum has been restored. The rock is still full of oil
and gas under pressure, .biit it is counterbalanced by the
262 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
weight of the column of fluid in the hole and the atmos-
phere above it.
474. The pump is now introduced, and lifting the fluid
from the level of the sand rock relieves it of a pressure
equivalent to the weight of the oil in the hole and leaves
the gas free to again go through with the expanding and
rarefying processes as before, it having now to overcome
only the weight of its own column of gas ascending between
the tubing and well walls against atmospheric pressure.
After the introduction of the pump a generous flow cen-
tres toward the well, and this continues for a longer or
shorter period, dependent in a great measure upon the num-
ber of wells at work in the immediate vicinity ; t but gradu-
ally in any case the pressure in the rock is relieved, it falls
to 50 fbs. 40 fcs. 30 fts. 20 ft>s. ; both oil and gas decreas-
ing as the pressure decreases. When it lowers to 16 or 18
fos. very little gas can make its way to the surface ; but still
the rock contains an abundance of oil, for when a gas-pump
is now attached to the casing-head to further relieve it of
atmospheric pressure, the effect is quickly apparent, in an
increase of both gas and oil. If the gas-pump be a good
one we have by this means, in effect, added from 10 to 12 ft>s.
pressure to the oil in the rock by relieving the gas from that
amount of atmospheric opposition which it previously had
to overcome. Still, after all this is done and the well cham-
ber is so thoroughly exhausted by the gas pump that a
vacuum gauge may show a downward pressure of 13 Ibs. to
the square inch, the rock contains oil, as is proven by the
manner in which it is further acted upon by the introduc-
tion of water into it.
475. Oil and gas in their normal conditions, appear to
lie in the sandrock not as distinct bodies occupying separate
portions of the rock, but as one substance, the gas being as
thoroughly incorporated with the oil, as gas is with water
in a bottle of soda-water. Drawing oil from the rock may
be compared to drawing beer from the barrel. The barrel
is placed in the cellar and a bar pump inserted at first the
liquor flows freely through the tube without using the pump,
but presently the gas weakens and the pump is called into
FLOODED TEREITOEY. III. 263
requisition ; and finally the gas pressure in the barrel be-
comes so weak that a vent hole must be made to admit at-
mospheric pressure before the barrel can be completely
emptied even by the pump.
476. The flooding of an oil district is generally mewed
as a great calamity, yet it may be questioned whether
a larger amount of oil can not be drawn from the rocks in
that way than by any other, for it is certain that all the oil
cannot be drawn from the reservoir without the admission
of something to take its place.
If one company owned all the wells drawing upon a pool,
and had accurate records of the depths and characteristics
of the oil producing stratum in each well, it is quite pos-
sible that some system might be devised by which water
could be let down through certain shafts, and the oil forced
towards certain other shafts w r here the pumps were kept in
motion, and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and
left full of water. As it is however, no systematized plan
of action can be adopted. The careless handling of one
well, by which water is let down to the oil rock, may spoil
several others belonging to different parties. A clashing of
interests at once arises and is likely to result in disaster
to the whole district.
477. The early operators on Oil creek knew nothing
about ' ' casing. ' ' Wells were drilled * ' wet ' ' no effort being
made to shut but the surface water ; consequently when oil
was struck, it met a static pressure of water corresponding
to the depth of the well. In new and shallow territory the
pressure in the rock was sufficient to hold the water in check
and prevent it from entering the oil sand and sometimes it
had force enough to eject a column of water from the hole
and flow on steadily for some time in defiance of it. But
as developments progressed and oil currents began to b3
diverted towards numerous outlets through pumping and
flowing wells, it often very naturally occurred where the
circumstances favored it, that this column of water in a well
just completed would force itself into the oil sand, driving
the oil before it, and quickly flood a neighboring well.
When the new well was tubed and seed-bagged it frequently
264 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
took several days pumping to relieve the sandrock of the
water thus forced into it, and regain the oil. These troubles
increased more and more as territory became older and the
pressure of gas in the rock decreased through the removal
of large bodies of oil. At that time the seed-bag which
prevented the surface water from passing down, was affixed
to the tubing, and any difficulty in the working chamber or
valves which necessitated the withdrawal of the tubing, (and
these contingencies occurred frequently,) involved the let-
ting in again of the surface waters upon the oil rock. Fre-
quent repetitions of this operation finally brought ruin not
only on the well itself but on others in the vicinity. In
the abandonment of a well thus spoilt, or of one which had
been drilled and proved unproductive, no care was taken
to prevent the water from entering the oil rock. Indeed it
seemed to be a satisfaction to those who had been unsuc-
cessful in their ventures, to spoil if possible the good wells
of the more fortunate. From these causes it happened that
nearly all the farms along oil creek were very much injured
by water before the true situation of affairs was rightly
understood.
478. Small casing (?") was first introduced in 1865.
This held the seed bag on its lower end and extended down
below the fresh water veins, so that the tubing could be in-
serted inside of it and withdrawn at pleasure without letting
in the water (see Plate XIV). Many of the old wells were
then cased the abandoned holes were filled up or stopped.,
with a wooden plug above the oil sand to prevent the further
admission of water large pumps were set in motion to ex-
haust the water and after great expenditures and persistent
effort some tracts were partially reclaimed and certain
wells yielded oil freely, for a time. But conflicting interests
and a want of cooperation among the many well owners
prevented systematic work, the flood consequently again
became unmanageable, and large areas oi; old oil territory
were finally abandoned.
479. The manner in which water invades and takes
possession of the oil sands, has created a great deal of
discussion among well owners and others. Some producers
FLOODED TERRITORY. III. 265
have imagined they so thoroughly understood the subject
that they could go ahead and put down new wells or operate
old ones in flooded territory, in such a way as to catch the
oil driven before the water- wave and make a profitable busi-
ness of it ; but they have generally been convinced by ex-
perience if they persisted in their operations long enough,
that success in this kind of oil producing might be attributed
to chance quite as reasonably as to good judgment.
It is an easy thing to theorize as to how the water cur-
rents might conduct themselves, but quite another to show
precisely how they do act, for we can only have, at best, a
very imperfect knowledge of the constitution of the sand-
rock, and therefore cannot foresee all the contingencies de-
pendent upon details of structure, which may arise to
thwart the most shrewd and judicious calculations.
480. In judging of the probable effects of the introduc-
tion of 'Water into any particular oil district several things
are to be considered.
(1) The time of flooding whether early in the progress
of development, while yet a large percentage of oil remains
unexhausted, or at a later period after the supply has suf-
fered from long continued depletion. (2) The structure of
the rode whether regular and homogeneous throughout,
or composed of fine sand interbedding connected and irregu-
lar layers of gravel, sometimes lying near the top and at
others near the bottom. (3) The shape of the area being
flooded. (4) The position of the point at loJiich water is
admitted, in relation to the location of the surrounding
wells still pumping oil (5) The height (which governs the
pressure) of the column of water obtaining admittance.
(6) The duration of the water supply.
It will readily be seen that a temporary flooding in com-
paratively fresh territory, such as frequently occurred in
early days along Oil creek from the drilling of new wells
without casing or the overhauling of old ones where the
seed bag was attached to the tubing in the primitive way,
must necessarily be quite a different affair from one caused
by a permanent deluge through unplugged and abandoned
wells in nearly exhausted territory.
266 III. KEPOET OF PKOGKESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
In the former case the flood may be checked before much
water lias accumulated in the rock, and then the oil flow can
be reclaimed after a few days of persistent pumping ; in
the latter the recovery of oil is very uncertain, because from
its long continued extraction a greater capacity has been
given to the rocks for storing water, and this being sup-
plied from scattered and obscure sources, there is little
probability that it can be shut oif, although the most thor-
ough and systematic attempts may be made to check it.
481. A good illustration of the action of a temporary
flood in comparatively new territory was furnished years
ago by a well on Oil creek. It was drilled in close prox-
imity to large producing wells, and seems to have pierced
the oil rock at a point where the water let in by drilling
and overhauling surrounding wells had accumulated to the
exclusion of the oil originally stored there as well as in
other portions of the rock. On starting the pump nothing
but water was obtained. Day after day the machinery was
kept in motion, but no improvement appeared. All but
the owner rated the well as a total failure and he came to
be looked upon as a man with a great deal of faith but very
little judgment. The pumpers at adjoining wells delighted
to annoy him and thought it a good joke to send every
traveler who inquired for a drink of water, to the "water
well" as they had named it. Still the owner kept pump-
ing night and day, and at the end of six weeks the Avater
exhausted, oil immediately appeared in large -quantities
and the well proved to be an exceptionally remunerative
one. After flowing and pumping for a long time, however,
I believe it again became flooded, when the surrounding ter-
ritory had been nearly drained of oil, and much uncontroll-
able water had found access to the rock, and then a large
amount of time and money were fruitlessly expended in
trying to regain the oil.
482. The following sketch (Plate XXXV) was made from
the records of three oil wells at Triumph, Warren county :
It probably exhibits the general structure of the oil sands
not only at that point but in many other parts of the oil
district, and it will serve to show on a small scale how the
Plate XXXV.
III. 267
268 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
introduction of water at various points might affect the
flow of oil in the several wells drawing from a deposit.
In No. 773 a pocket of pebbles lies near the top of the rock,
where only fine grained sand was found in Nos. 769 and 776.
Suppose No. 773 had not been drilled until Nos. 769 and 776
had partially exhausted the oil and been abandoned, letting
the water down into the oil sand. The heavy gravity of
water would cause it to seek the lower portion of the peb-
ble rock, thus lifting the oil and gas remaining in the rock
and compressing them in the upper parts. Thus the peb-
ble pocket A would be filled with oil and gas, for by reason
of its high position and impervious surroundings it had no
lateral escapes for its .contents when the water line rose
above a certain point. If the body of oil contained in A,
when thus cut off from escape, had already been compressed
to a sufficient degree to withstand the static pressure of
the column of water operating upon it, the water could have
no further effect, but must pass on to points of less resist-
ance, but if they had not yet been sufficiently compressed, the
water line would rise in the arched basin until the proper
compression had been accomplished. If now, after the
lower part of the rock has been flooded, well No. 773 be
drilled, the pool of oil stored in pocket A will yield freely
until it is exhausted and the water fills the rock, when it
will be useless to expect a further supply.
483. * When water is let down into the center of a dis-
trict which has been rapidly drilled and partially ex-
hausted, at it was, for instance, at Pithole City in 1865,
the effect must be to drive the oil remaining in the rock in
all directions. Not only will it force down the dip of the
strata (the direction which some assert it must always
take), but up the dip also ; for being supplied from sources
several hundred feet above the oil-sand, a slight dip in it
of 15 or 20 feet to the mile practically amounts to nothing.
It must naturally travel the fastest towards the points of
least resistance. If the district be an elongated one, with
the pebble deposits lying in beds, as is usually the case,
and a line of wells be pumping, up the dip, or above the
point at which water is admitted, and none below, thus
FLOODED TERRITORY. III. 269
creating a draft in the up-dip direction, these higher wells
will be attacked one after the other as the water wave ad-
vances, just as surely as if the conditions in relation to slope
were reversed. But as the flood advances, and well after
well is reached in succession and flooded, it must naturally
sometimes happen that in consequence of the irregular
structure and geographical outlines of the rock and the
accidental locations of the wells drawing from the deposit,
that stray marginal pools of oil will be forced out into the
pebble pockets not yet drilled upon, and from which it can
find no outlet, as illustrated in the preceding sketch.
484. Two or three such pools containing a large amount
of oil have been discovered on the outskirts of Pithole since
the central district was flooded, and several others also bor-
dering on Oil creek. That they were pools stored and held
in place by the flooding of the central district, was shown by
the fact that when oil failed in the first well, water imme-
diately came in, and the wave followed on from well to
well in regular succession, as if radiating from a central
source.
485. The first intimation of the flooding of a district
is given by an increased production from the wells affected
by it. Old wells, without any observable cause, improve
gradually, running up from five barrels per day to ten
or twenty, or even fifty. After pumping in this way for
some time the oil quickly fails and they yield only a few
barrels of salt or brackish water. As the wave moves on,
the wells in advance, one after another, are affected in the
same way. In some districts the movement is quite rapid,
and wells are invaded and "watered out" in quick succes-
sion ; in others it is so slow that large quantities of oil are
obtained from those which are favorably located to receive
a "benefit." Flooding a well is sometimes a very profit-
able way of closing up its career, inasmuch as it thus yields
more in a few months than it otherwise would in years,
and when the water reaches it the owner knows at once
what it betokens and stops work, thus saving the time and
money usually expended in fruitless efforts to reclaim a
well failing through natural decline.
270 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Origin of petroleum. A chapter of queries.
486. " What is your theory concerning the formation
ff petroleum?" is one of the first questions asked of the
geologist when matters connected with the oil regions are
mentioned, and the question is put as if it were one on a
simple subject, surrounded by no obscure and perplexing
conditions and therefore easily answered by any person who
might be conversant with the general structure and charac-
teristics of the rocks containing oil and the methods of its
procurement.
A superficial or partial examination of the facts connected
with its origin has led to the publication of various and con-
flicting theories regarding it. Many of these are evidently
based upon insufficient hypothetical premises, and we ap-
prehend that even the most plausible one of them now in
vogue will need much modification as our knowledge on the
subject becomes more comprehensive.
When we have discovered the place of its nativity, ascer-
tained the horizon and conditions of its birth, obtained an
approximate idea of its age, studied its constitution and
habits, so to speak, and become in like manner familiar with
its cognate associate gas, then we may possibly be able to
propose a tenable theory to explain the genesis of petroleum.
But at present, with all these points in dispute or ill under-
stood, we must treat the question above propounded as one
which may be discussed but cannot be satisfactorily an-
swered.
487. Tliere are many grades of petroleum even in the
comparatively thin band of Pennsylvania oil rocks. They
may be readily distinguished one from the other by marked
variations in gravity, color, smell, and the manner in which
they are affected by heat and cold. Have they all one conv
ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. III. 271
mon origin or are they the products of different ages ? Do
they vary in composition and character because of the strati-
graph ical position and chemical constituents of the several
rocks in which they are stored, or do they vary on account
of local peculiarities obtaining in successive ages, in the
growth of the assemblages of marine flora and fauna from
which they are supposed by some to have been derived ?
488. If the originating organic matter has been con-
verted into oil at different periods during the earth's his-
tory, corresponding chronologically with the deposition of
the sands in which the oils are found, what effect has this
difference in time of birth had upon the character of the sev-
eral oils since their generation ?
In view of the universal law of mutability, to which both
organic and inorganic matter is subject, the law of growth,
or progressive development from generation to maturity, of
decay, or gradual decomposition from maturity to dissolu-
tion, should we not expect to find certain distinguishing
characteristics in the several oils, (if they were formed at
widely separated periods of time,) from which some idea of
their relative ages might be obtained ?
But there are so many unknown factors involved in a solu-
tion of these problems that we must be content to work
slowly and wait.
489. The fundamental questions to be answered seem
to be these : From what source does petroleum originate and
when was it formed ? and a consideration of them involves
a review of two of the most popular theories of the day, the
one claiming that it has been elaborated by nature from
materials contained in the rock where it is now found, that
the oil producing rock is the parent rock ; the other, that it
is the product of gas originating in much deeper strata, the
sandstones being merely condensing reservoirs for its stor-
age.
There are strong arguments in support 'of both theories
and they each have their earnest and distinguished advo-
cates, but it is not an easy matter to prove either the one
of them or the other to be universally applicable to facts as
we find them. The probabilities are that we shall discover,
272 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
when the subject is more thoroughly understood, that there
is what might be called an indigenous oil in conformity to
the one theory and an exotic oil in agreement with the
other.
Genesis of petroleum in the sandrocTcs.
490. Reviewing the facts connected with the produc-
tion of oil from the Venango group, we find that the largest
wells are those which are sunk through the coarsest part of
the oil bearing sandrock. The drillings show nothing but
coarse sand and pebbles. Pieces of the unpulverized rock
one or two cubic inches in bulk are often brought up after
torpedoing, but nothing can be detected in them that could
possibly originate petroleum. Could a rock of this charac-
ter have originally contained a quantity of organic matter
sufficient to yield a cubic foot of oil to every ten or twelve
(mine feet of rock, and these organic remains be so com-
pletely converted into oil as to leave no residual trace of
their existence ? Could so large a quantity of organic mat-
ter be held by such loose sands during the slow processes of
their deposition, without decomposition and waste? and if
so held, wJien was the organic tissue thus preserved con-
verted into oil ? It could not have been while the sands
were lying at sea level as sand beaches exposed to atmos-
pheric influences, for then the oil would have been vola-
tilized and dissipated in air. Neither could it have been
while the sands were in contact with the water, (if they
were formed beneath water level,) for then the oil would
have risen to the surface and floated away as fast as gener-
ated. It must have been then at a period subsequent to
this.
But if no oil was stored in the sand beds as they slowly
sank to receive the succeeding deposits upon their backs,
the interspaces between the grains of sand and pebbles which
now r contain oil, must have been filled with salt water, for
they could not go down unoccupied, and the sand-beds must
also have contained within themselves large quantities of
organic matter, which sooner or later, when the conditions
became favorable, was to be converted into oil.
ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. III. 273
491. What are the requisite conditions to convert this
organic matter into oil ? Presumably a certain degree of
heat and pressure to be attained only when the strata have
reached a proper depth below the surface or ocean level.
At what depth this horizon which may be termed the plane
of spontaneous distillation may lie, we do not know, and
it is_ immaterial to our present purpose that it should be
definitely fixed. Wherever it may be, however, it must be
reached and occupied successively by each one of the oil
producing sands in order that the organic matter from which
the oil is to be evolved, may be subjected to the proper con-
ditions and the transformation effected.
We will suppose that the Venango Third oil sand has
gradually sunk as the sediments accumulated above it, un-
til it has arrived at this oil making horizon. Spontaneous
distillation now ensues. The salt water contained in the
sand is partially absorbed or displaced in the process, and
the stratum is charged with oil. But the measures still
continue to sink and other rocks are deposited above ; the
Second oil sand, First oil sand, Pithole grit, Serai Con-
glomerate and Malioning sandstone, must all, one after the
other, have been brought down to the oil making horizon,
according to this hypothesis for they all now contain oil
in one place or another.
The vertical distance between the Third oil sand and
Malioning sandstone as shown on generalized section Plate
XI, is about 1550 ft. Therefore, when the Mahoning sand-
stone occupied the plane of spontaneous distillation, the
Third oil sand must have been 1550 ft. below it, and sub-
ject, by reason of this additional depth, to a degree of heat
much greater than that of the horizon in which the oil con-
tained in it was formed.
, 492. Supposing all the oils in the several sands to have
been identical in character when first formed as they passed
through the oil making horizon ; must not that in the TJiird
sand at least, have undergone a great change during the
immense period occupied in slowly sinking 1550 ft. while
the sand beds above it were being successively stored with
oil and especially so, when to the changes incident to age
18 III.
274 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
must also be added the changes wrought by chemical action
under such altered conditions and so considerable an in-
crease of temperature. Would not the increase of heat in
deeper horizons have had a tendency to reduce the gravity
of the oil, so that we should now find the Third sand oil
heavier than that of the Second* and the Second heavier
than the First, whereas we now find it in exactly the reverse
order \
493. The depth of sedimentary strata known to have
been deposited above it, shows that the Third oil sand
must have been at some time at least 3000 ft. below ocean
level. It now lies at Tidioute 1000 ft. above this datum plane.
How much deeper it may have sunk, or how much higher
it may have been elevated, we do not know. If now the
oil was formed during its descent while passing through the
oil making horizon (and AVC can imagine no other point or
time at which it could have been formed, according to the
hypothesis under consideration) and the stratum after being
charged with oil slowly sank 1550' as argued above ; then
came up again, it may be slowly or it may be quickly,
several thousand feet, who can imagine the changes the oil
would be likely to undergo during all these varying circum-
stances of depression, elevation, temperature and time.
494. And then what further mutations may be supposed
to have taken place in such variable and volatile hydro-
carbons as these during the long periods intervening be-
tween the post carboniferous uplift and the present time,
while the sands containing them have been lying in various
positions in relation to surface erosion, some of them being
far above sea level and some below ; having lost their origi-
nal horizontality, and being in consequence, more or less
affected in some localities, by underground drainage, local
escapes of gas and oil at the surface and accessions of sur-
face water.
We are hardly prepared to assign so great an age to
petroleum as the above view of its formation would require ;
and yet, if it is generated in the sandrock, from organic
matter intermixed and buried with the sand, we can im-
.agine no more probable sequence of events than those out-
ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. Ill, 275
lined above, by which, to arrive at some idea of its age and
the possible horizon of its birth.
495. So far we have spoken only of the Venango oil
sands and those above them ; and if we are already amazed
at the immense age of their respective oil deposits, as meas-
ured by the theory under review and are inclined to doubt
whether oil could be preserved unchanged for such incal-
culable ages in rocks exposed to such vicissitudes as these
have experienced, our amazement will only increase if we
go on and apply the same line of argument to the Oil meas-
ures of Warren and Bradford which extend down more
than 1000 ft. below them, and whose oils must therefore be
much older.
496. Further ; It is evident that an oil producing rock
of the character we are speaking of, could only be formed
by the conjoint action of two classes of widely differing
physical agencies one to furnish the organic matter, the
other the inorganic. If only sand and pebbles were de-
posited in any place, they could make no oil. Sea weeds
and mollusks must live and flourish in great abundance on
the forming sand beds, or be within reach of the waves and
currents to be brought in and deposited with them other-
wise the materials for generating oil would be wanting. It
is reasonable to infer that these two necessary conditions
did not everywhere conjointly prevail ; that in some locali-
ties sand was deposited without organic matter and in others
organic matter without sand ; and that consequently we
should now find considerable areas of sandrock barren of
oil. In that case, no doubt, great irregularity would be
noticed in the distribution of these barren spots through-
out the oil producing sand sheets. Each stratum would
have a structure in that respect peculiarily its own, regard-
less of the local variations of the one below it or the one
above; but the same general features observed in the dis-
tribution of the productive and non-productive spots in one
stratum, ought to obtain in the others also.
Thus if the Third sand produces oil almost universally
wherever its characteristic oil bearing rock is found ; then
the Second sand should in like manner produce oil wher-
276 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
ever Us characteristic oil bearing rock is found ; and so on
with all the other oil sands above. Or, in other words, if
oil is generated solely from materials deposited cotempora-
neously with and contained in the rock where it is now
found, there can be no reason assigned why there should
not be good oil deposits, scattered over the whole area of
one sand as well as of another, wherever the typical oil bear-
ing rock is well developed, regardless of the measures above
or below it ; no reason why, all other things being equal,
the Conglomerate and Mountain sands should not produce
oil as freely where the Venango group lies below them as
where it does not ; no reason why the First and Second oil
sands should not produce their normal quantities as well
where underlaid by the Third sand as where the latter is
wanting, or imperfect.
497. Now what do we find the facts to be. Where the
Third sand of the Venango group is well developed it
almost universally contains oil in one or the other of its
three or four divisions, and where these productive mem-
bers spread over a wide area as they do in parts of Venango,
Clarion and Butler counties, the sands above them, although
they are frequently of excellent quality and exhibit every
characteristic of the oil producing portions as found else-
where, yield scarcely a show of oil. Yet the Second sand
produces oil in large quantities in many places skirting the
edges of the Third sand, where the latter is of inferior
quality or wanting the First sand produces oil in similar
situations over an inferior Second and Third sand, or
where one or both of them are wanting the Mountain
sands produce oil in some localities, but only where- the
/ Venango group in its integrity is wanting all of which
( circumstances lead to the inference, that softiehow, the ab-
V sence or presence of the lower sands exercise a controlling
influence upon the productiveness of those above them,
/ which should not be the case if the oil in each rock was
generated in the rock where found from organic matter
I interbedded in the stratum itself.
ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. III. 277
Genesis of petroleum from condensed gas.
498. The hypothesis, that petroleum is the product of
condensed gas evolved from carbonaceous shale lying at a
greater or less depth below the oil sands, while, as before
intimated, not yet sufficiently understood to claim the place
of a demonstrable theory, seems nevertheless not to be open
to so many cogent objections as the one just considered.
As generally understood at present, this hypothesis also
requires organic growth to furnish materials for generating
the hydro -carbons, and mechanical agents to prepare the
sand-bed reservoirs to collect and retain them ; but the
operations of the two classes of agencies need not neces-
sarily have been synchronous, nor is it requisite that the
areas primarily occupied by them should have been geo-
graphically co-extensive. The carbonaceous gas-produc-
ing materials may have been brought into the Appalachian
basin from various sources, at different times, and by many
channels, long anterior to the deposition of the sand-beds.
But they only become oil producing through the superven-
tion of the sandstones ; therefore, to secure this end, both
carbonaceous shale and sandstone must underlie a produc-
tive oil field, for if the shale be wanting, no gas can come
up for condensation in the sandrocks, if the sandrocks are
wanting, there being no reservoirs to receive and condense
the gas, it continues on upward and escapes imperceptibly
as gas at the surface.
499. When we reflect that large quantities of organic
matter were stored in the limestones and shales of the im-
mensely thick beds of the Silurian formation, that they
were augmented in a later period by the contents of other
rich carbonaceous deposits of Lower Devonian age, that
these all now lie far below the Oil sands, and that we may
reasonably suppose many of them are now or have been,
buried at a depth which would subject them to a degree of
heat competent to all the requirements of spontaneous dis-
tilliation of gas, we cannot but admit, in view of the known
intimate relationship and association of gas and oil, that
the hypothesis of the formation of petroleum from this
source is worthy at least of a candid consideration.
278 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
The great bituminous coal basin of western Pennsylva-
nia and Ohio, under which the Silurian rocks plunge from
the east and northeast to appear again as they come up and
fold over the Cincinnati anticlinal on the west, seems to be,
so to speak, one vast cauldron filled with deeply buried car-
bonaceous matter subjected to great heat, and therefore
constantly generating gas.
It may be doubted whether a well was ever drilled in all
this area, where gas was not obtained, or at least where it
might not have been found if drilling had been continued
to a proper depth.
500. It is true that in many wells the volume of gas is
small and sometimes almost imperceptible, and this fact
has been brought forward as an argument against the theory
of a general diffusion of gas throughout the lower measures,
traveling from its assumed source in deeper rocks through
every available avenue to find an exit at the surface.
But let us examine this point and to illustrate, suppose
a gas holder with an unlimited supply of gas under a con-
stant pressure of three or four hundred pounds to the square
inch, to be buried thousands of feet beneath the surface.
From this reservoir let numerous pipes varying in size from
one sixteenth of an inch to three inches in diameter, run
up in branching and tortuous lines toward the surface. If
now, in drilling an oil well one of the smaller pipes should
be tapped at a depth of five hundred or a thousand feet,
the small volume of gas emitted, mixing with the air in an
ordinary well shaft, would make but little show at the sur-
face we should have a well with "no gas." But if one of
the larger leads were tapped a lively gas-flow would at once
ensue. Yet, here both leads come from the same source
and vent under the same normal pressure ; and although
the different measures of friction belonging to pipes of
large are small diameters would exercise some influence,
still for all practical purposes we may consider cause and
effect as operating the same in one pipe as the other, the
only marked difference being in the amount of product;
and even this difference, in so far as it relates to their ca-
pacity for filling limited reservoirs, is equalized by time,
ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. III. 279
for a gasometer which would be filled by the larger pipe in
a day, would as surely be filled by the smaller one, eventu-
ally, if a sufficient period of time were allowed for the
work.
Let the buried gas holder and ascending pipes, represent
the gas generating measures of the lower rocks and the in-
numerable natural leads and fissures through which the gas
is constantly rising to the surface. The supplying reser-
voir is never reached by our drill holes ; the escape pipes
may be tapped or may not as the accidental circumstances
of location of well and structure of rock may determine
we see then that a varying volume of gas-flow in a well, or
even an almost entire absence of it cannot be considered as
a good argument against the theory in review.
501. Wherever the drill descends below the horizon of
the Venango group, a large proportion of mud rock (the
drillers "soapstone") is found, interstratified with slate
and occasional "shells," or thin bands of hard, flaggy, fine
grained sandstone. These mud-rocks are compact and im-
pervious and must necessarily interpose an almost impass-
able barrier to the upward flow of gas. Probably all the
measures have been fractured more or less by oscillations,
shrinkage and warpings of the earth crust, and the main
avenues for the passage of gas through them follow princi-
pally these lines of fracture.
It may be x inferred then that a porous sandstone which
chanced to overlie one of these crazed lines, would be much
sooner filled and stored with gas than another of the same
quality not so favorably situated. But this does not imply
that the latter would never be filled, for we must not lose
sight of the fact that nature works slowly and that there has
been no lack of time for the accomplishment of all her un-
dertakings. Forgetting this we frequently misinterpret her
operations and overlook the achievements of some of her
slow but most effective agents. The smallest jets of gas,
scarcely noticeable in an oil well, insignificant as they ap-
parently are. have no doubt had ample time during the geo-
logic ages, through their agencies alone, to deposit in the
280 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
retaining sandrocks the immense volumes of gas which now
so astonish the world in flowing gas and oil wells.
Water drops falling one every hour will till a barrel in
time, when full, an inch opening empties it in a few min-
utes. So with our underground gas and oil reservoirs we
draw out through drill holes in a few months, what nature
has been ages in accumulating.
502. The question previously asked: "What are the
necessary conditions for converting organic matter into oil ?' '
repeats itself here in a slightly varied form ; what are the
requisite conditions fo converting organic matter into gas
and gas into oil f and must receive again only an hypotheti-
cal answer.
If in the one case an horizon of distillation be required,
in the other horizons of distillation and condensation seem
to be demanded, but it is as impossible to precisely locate
or define the latter as the former.
The disquisition which might very naturally here intrude,
'as to whether it is possible or not for gas to be converted
into oil, must be left for those who have made a special
study of such matters. On the presumption that nature
has some way of accomplishing the fact, although her pro-
cesses are not at present understood by us, we may pro-
visionally admit the possibility and pass on to notice some
of the physical conditions which would seem to be required
to bring about such results, and then see if the significant
phenomena exhibited by the oil development are in har-
mony with these requirements.
503. According to this hypothesis there must have been
two distinct stages in the genesis of oil, a gas-making stage
and an oil-making stage, two distinct and dissimilarly
conditioned natural laboratories where the work was per-
formed, one possessing all the requirements for generating
gas from the carbonaceous shales brought within its limits,
the other containing all the essential qualifications neces-
sary for reducing the gas entering within the sphere of its
influence into oil. A study of the latter, which, for conven-
ience, may be called the horizon of condensation, concerns
us most at present, as that is the one where oil is found and
ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. III. 281
below it (if this hypothesis be correct) it will be useless to
sink the drill, whatever the character of the strata may be,
except in expectation of finding gas.
Whether this hypothetical horizon of condensation should
be expected to embrace a uniform* thickness of measures
lying in a horizontal band having a fixed relation to ocean
level throughout the several oil fields, or may be supposed
to vary from horizontality in consequence of the gradual
uplift of the rocks toward the northeast, its position being
dependent more upon surface influences than sea level, we
do not know.
The facts as developed by the drill are these, and they
seem to suggest that both of the above propositions should
be kept in view while attempting to ascertain the limits of
this horizon.
504. At Tidioute, Warren county, the oil producing
sand lies about 1,000 feet above ocean level, the highest
altitude, I believe, at which oil has been obtained in the
State. At Parkers, Armstong county, the rock has sunk
to very near tide level, and at Herman station, or Great
Belt city, Butler county, to 500 feet below tide. Thus the
Venango Third sand in its range from Tidioute to Herman
station, a distance of about sixty-five miles, runs diagon-
ally through a horizontal section of the earth crust 1500 feet
in thickness.
505. It will be seen by reference to the generalized profile
section from Black Rock, N". Y., to Dunkard Creek, Pa.,
(Plates X and XI,) that the Warren and McKean oil hori-
zons as well as those of Slippery Rock, Smith' s Ferry and
Dunkard Creek all lie within the same vertical range of
1500', covered by the Venango group. Therefore all the
oil thus far produced in Pennsylvania has come from strata
lying between a point 500 feet below ocean level, and one 1000'
above ocean level ; and, as far as I am informed, no oil has
yet been produced here from rocks below ocean level, ex-
cept from those wells located in Armstrong and Butler
counties south of a latitudinal line crossing the Allegheny
river a short distance south of Parker city, as shown on dip
diagram, Plate VIII, (see also Plate IX,) and perhaps from
282 III. KEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
one or two small wells near the south line of McKean county,
where the "Bradford Third Sand" which lies at Bradford
400' above ocean level just begins to dip below that datum
plane.
506. Another suggestive fact may be mentioned. Not-
withstanding the large number of deep holes put down in
the country I have never heard of a well producing oil from
a depth of 2000 ft. below the surface. Some of the Mc-
Kean co. wells may closely approximate to that depth, but
if they do they are located on high ground, more than 2000
ft. above ocean and the oil rock still lies above tide level.*
A list of some of these dry holes which have been put
down more than 500 ft. below ocean level, may be given to
show that the absence of oil below the point named is not
an inference based upon negative evidence alone.
Depth of Bottom of Well
Well. below ocean level.
Well at Sharon, Mercer co., Pa., 1600' 700'
" New Castle, Lawrence co., 2700' 1890'
" Beaver Falls, Beaver co., 2330' 1600'
" Pittsburgh, Allegheny co., 2360' 1508'
" Tarentum, Allegheny co 2284' 1416'
" Pine creek, Armstrong co., .... 1693' 893'
" Titusville, Crawford co., 3553' 2203
" Jackson station, Warren co., .... 2041' 835'
" Fentonville, Warren co., 1830' 590'
507. I do not mention these circumstances to prone that
there is no oil below a plane 500 ft. below ocean level, or
that it is useless to look for it in a well over 2000' deep ;
but simply to place the facts on record and to call attention
to them, let their significance be what it may, so that if
hereafter, deeper productive wells and deeper oil horizons
are found, (as it is quite possible they may be) their import
as new features in a study of the oil rocks may be properly
understood and appreciated.
508. Geologists as well as oil producers have been in-
clined to look upon the question of the origin of oil as one
of secondary importance, and have apparently acted upon
the presumption that the oil bearing strata were to be studied
* Since this was written productive oil wells about 2100 feet deep have
been obtained on some of the high hills in McKean county ; but still the oil
rock lies above tide level.
ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. ' III. 283
and traced just the same whether petroleum was indigenous
to the rocks where found or a foreign deposit accumulating
there from other sources. But we see even from the above
very imperfect review of some of the conditions which ap-
pear necessarily to belong to the two methods of generating
oil that this is a great mistake.
If oil originates in the rock where found, our business is
simply to trace that rock ; for it may reasonably be sup-
posed in that case, that the oil was formed and stored there
before the uplifting of the strata, and similar conditions
prevailing at that time (as far as we can perceive) through-
out the whole range of rock, similar oil deposits ought to
be expected over all parts of it, regardless of the subsequent
elevation which destroyed its horizontality. But if it is
formed from gas, it has probably been collected and stored
since the uplift and we can only expect to find it in certain
kinds of rocks lying within a definite horizon. Where
those rocks by reason of their dip rise too near the surface
or plunge too deep below it, no oil has been elaborated and
stored in them.
How important then to decide which is the correct theory,
so that we may study the subject aright and obtain an ap-
proximate idea of the maximum depth to which it is judi-
cious to bore for oil.
509. Why have all the deep wells proved failures ? Is
it because no proper oil bearing rocks were perforated, or
because they were encountered at too great depth to be em-
braced within the oil making horizon ? Why have these'
wells found only gas and salt water where oil was expected ?
Why does the Venango group so abundantly productive
above ocean level, and so freely yielding oil in Butler co.
down to about 400 feet below the ocean become an uncer-
tain oil horizon at 500 feet below ocean, and after that fur-
nish only salt water and gas, in all the wells further down
the slope toward the south ; as at Beaver Falls, Pittsburgh,
Sharpesburg, Tarentum, Leechburg, &c. ? Why does the
McKean oil rock, so completely stored with oil at Bradford,
400 feet above tide, become the depository of immense sup-
plies of salt water and gas with but little oil, near the south
284 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
line of the county, as the oil horizon sinks beneath ocean
level?
Why do all of our oil producing rocks (with the excep-
tions above mentioned) lie above ocean ? The equivalents
of the Venango, Warren and McKean groups plunge to the
feouth and southwest far below that level, and if the home
of oil is in the rock where it is found why should there not
be oil in these deeper rocks ? Is it not a singular coinci-
dence that the deposit was only made in such portions of
each several stratum as chanced subsequently to be elevated
in a slightly inclined position above the surface level of the
ocean, w T hile the balance of the rock remained barren ?
These and many other curious and pertinent questions
may be asked not merely to arouse idle curiosity in the
matter but to incite to judicious inqifiry. If there be a
point in depth below which it is useless to look for oil, (and
all our practical experience thus far warrants the entertain-
ment of the supposition that there is) then the sooner the
probability is admitted the sooner will investigations be
made to establish the fact, and when the point of maximum
depth is ascertained it may be the means of saving large
expenditures of money which would otherwise be lost in
blindly sinking wells to unreasonable depths in search of
oil.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Description of the above ground machinery employed at
an oil well; derrick, running-gear, rig-irons, boiler)
engine, &c.
(Illustrated by Plate* XIII, XXXVI, XXXVII, and XXXVIII.)
510. " Carpenters' 1 rig" Having secured his land and
selected a location for his well, the first step of the oil- pro-
ducer is to contract for the erection of a complete "carpen-
ters' rig" over the spot where the bore hole is to be sunk.
This "carpenters' rig" consists of (1) a derrick, with bull-
wheels and crown pulley, for raising and lowering the drill-
ing tools while drilling, and for handling the tubing, supker-
rods, &c., after the well is completed ; (2) heavy mud-sills,
main-sill, and sub- sills carrying above them the samson-
post and jack-posts ; (3) walking-beam, band-wheel and
sand-pump reel ; (4) mud-sills and block for the engine to
rest upon ; (5) an engine-house and all the necessary wood
work required about a well, so that drilling may commence
as soon as the boiler and engine are put in position and
the belt is attached to the band-wheel.
511. Cost of rig. This part of the work costs from
$400 to $700, varying according to location, price of lumber
and season of the year when erected. A "winter rig," or
one put up for winter use costing somewhat more than a
"summer rig" on account of extra lumber required in tem-
porarily housing in the lower part of the derrick to protect
the workmen from the inclemency of the weather.
(285 III.)
286 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
512. Wooden conductors. The next step is to sink a
"conductor" through the loose surface accumulations of
gravel and clay, to the "bed-rock."
If the location be on a hillside, where the superficial
clays and gravels are seldom more than ten or fifteen feet
thick, a common well shaft six or eight feet square, is dug
with pick and shovel until the solid rock is reached. A
wooden conductor eight inches square in the clear, made
by spiking together two 2 r/ X10" plank of the proper length,
is then set up perpendicularly between the "bed-rock"
and the derrick floor, the lower end being carefully adjusted
in the rock in such a manner that no gravel or mud from
the washings of the surrounding surface can enter the well
at this point.
Meantime, the boiler and engine having been "setup"
all things are now ready for the driller to commence his
work.
Quite frequently all of this work building the "rig,"
"setting up" the boiler and engine, and adjusting the con-
ductor, is included in the contract for the carpenters' rig.
513. On Plate XIII will be found complete mecJianical
drawings of every part of the carpenters' rig ; prepared in
minute detail by Mr. H. Martyn Chance, from working plans
furnished by Mr. J. H. Carll, while engaged in securing
the Butler county well records given in another place.
These drawings should enable a mechanic in any part of
the world, to construct a first class "rig" adapted to the
sinking of a bore hole 2500 or 3000 feet deep, although he
may never have seen an oil well. It may assist him how-
ever if we briefly refer to some important points in con-
struction, and then show how connections are made between
the several parts so that the machinery may be directed to
do the work required of it.
514. Foundation timbers. Practically, the quality and
dimensions of the foundation timbers are governed by no
arbitrary laws, but depend very much upon the circum-
stances surrounding the well. In some places, sawed tim-
ber like that shown in the drawing, can be obtained ; but
generally, 'it is cheaper to fell trees as near the well as pos-
OIL WELL EIG. III. 287
sible and flatten them on two sides only, in which case the
hewed sticks will necessarily vary somewhat in size. We
have given the dimensions for a good, solid foundation,
and any competent mechanic can judge how far he may
safely alter the details.
The mud-sills, a, (Plate XIII,) are generally sunk in
trenches, where the nature of the ground admits of its be-
ing done. They have gains cut into them to receive the
main-sill, d, and sub-sills, e and e' '. After all have been
put in place and leveled up, the keys or wedges, h, are
driven, and the whole foundation is thus firmly locked
together.
515. TJie Samson-post, 7c, and Jack-posts, I, s, & r,
are dovetailed into the sills and held by properly fitted
keys, li, as seen in the side elevation. The braces are all
set in gains, and keyed up, no mortises and tenons being
used in the structure. The advantages of this method of
'construction are: (1) greater strength; (2) the keys can
be driven from time to time to compensate shrinkage ; (3)
the posts and braces being adjustable, the different parts
are easily put into line and kept there ; (4) the whole is
quickly taken apart in a convenient shape for removal,
when the well is abandoned.
516. Center line of main-sill not always parallel with
center line of walking '-beam. Referring to the horizontal
projection on Plate XIII, it will be observed that the sam-
son-post is placed flush with one side of the main-sill, and
the band- wheel jack-post is put flush with the other side.
In this way the walking-beam is made to run parallel with
the main-sill. But if the main-sill be less than 24 inches
wide say 20 inches, for instance the samson-post must
necessarily be moved two inches in one direction to get a
full bearing upon it, and the jack-post two inches in the
other direction. The effect of this will be to swing the
derrick end of the walking-beam six inches away from the
well-hole as here located, and to throw the engine founda-
tion and all the running-gear out of line.
If, then, a smaller main-sill is to be used, the work may
be laid out as follows :
288 III. EEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
After placing the main-sill in the position desired, mark
the point on it where the center of the samson-post is to
come ; then mark also the point on which a perpendicular
will fall from the center of the wrist-pin. Knowing the
size of samson-post, length of walking-beam and dimen-
sions of band- wheel irons (that is, the length of box, thick-
ness of arm and length of wrist-pin to the center of pitman),
these points are easily fixed. Now snap a chalk line pass-
ing through these two points and take that to work from,
squaring everything to this line, the same as if it ran par-
allel to the main-sill, as seen in the drawing. It virtually
alters nothing except the main-sill which is thus thrown a
little out of square with the other work.
A crooked sticTc is sometimes used to very good advan-
tage for a main-sill, for a slight bend in the right direction
gives both posts a more central bearing upon it than if it
were straight.
These points are mentioned to put the inexperienced on
their guard, should they attempt to build on the general
plan here given, without properly considering the trouble
an alteration of a few inches might make, especially if it
affected the center line. Any intelligent mechanic, how-
ever, when he understands the plan, will readily see how
he can vary the details to meet the requirements of his case
and still secure the results desired.
517. The boiler supplying steam for the engine is not
shown on Plate XIII, but a cut of one now in popular favor
is given on Plate XXX VI, opposite. It was formerly set
up in the engine-house in fact, portable boilers and en-
gines were generally used, the engine being bolted on the
top or side of the boiler, and the boiler sometimes mounted
on wheels. But deep wells and heavy drilling tools now
make it necessary to have a stationary engine ; and since
the plan of drilling through dry casing has been univer-
sally adopted, so many explosions and iires have occurred
from the ignition of gas at the furnace fire that it is found
more prudent to place the boiler at some convenient spot
outside of the engine-house, and then when the oil rock is
approached by the drill and danger from a sudden out-
Plate XXXVIII.
III. 289
19 III.
290 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
burst of gas and oil is apprehended, drilling is suspended
and the boiler (together with the tool-dressing forge which
up to this time has occupied one side of the derrick) is re-
moved to a safe distance perhaps 20 or 30 rods from the
well.
After the well is completed and the gas and oil are under
control, the boiler will again be moved and permanently set
up in the engine-house, if the well is an isolated one, and
is to be pumped independently of others.
But if, as is frequently the case, the owners have already
drilled or intend to drill live or six wells in the vicinity, it
is more economical to centrally locate a 30 or 40 horse-power
boiler, and from it convey steam to the engines at the sev-
eral wells, through pipes wrapped with felt or encased in
boxing ten inches square and filled with saw-dust, tan-bark,
or some other partial non-conductor of heat.
Thus the small boilers become available for drilling in
other places, and two engineers or pumpers, working alter-
nately twelve hours each, can look after all of the wells in
the cluster.*
518. The engine, b', a twelve or fifteen horse-power,
* A still more economical method for pumping groups of wells has come
into very general use in some localities, within the last five years. It is called
the Sucker Rod connection, and by it as many as a dozen wells may be
pumped by one boiler and engine, but slightly increasing the usual cost of
pumping a single well.
From the central well strings of sucker rods branch out in all directions
and form direct connections with the other wells, so that when the central
one is put in motion all the others must move also. To avoid friction, the
rods are held suspended a few feet above the surface of the ground and swing
on cords depending from the tops of posts set at proper intervals along the
line ; or they are supported by placing triangular horses under them, which
rock backward and forward with the alternating movement of the rods.
Wells 1500 feet apart are thus connected and successfully pumped, and by
ingenious applications of rocking-levers, elbows, knuckle-joints, and tees,
the lines are made to run up hill or down, straight from one well to another,
or to turn at any angle desired. The wells are balanced in pairs and so con-
nected that when the pump-rods in one come up those in the other go down ;
therefore but little increase of power is needed to pump additional wells.
Sucker rods were first used for these connections, because they were con-
venient, and old rods were plenty and cheap ; but as they became scarcer,
other things were substituted scantlings nailed together in continuous
strings hoop-iron and wire all of which are successfully used.
OIL WELL KIG. III. 291
reversible movement, is bolted to the engine block, 5, and
by means of its driving pulley, carrying belt, o o, (which is
made of four- ply rubber, eight inches wide,) communicates
motion to the band- wheel, m, and through it to all other
parts of the machinery.
To make the above descriptions more plain, we give two
full page cuts of a popular style of boiler and engine, on
Plates XXXVI and XXXVII ; the electrotypes for which
were kindly loaned by the Gribbs & Sterrett Manufacturing
Company of Titusville. Probably over 10,000 boilers and
engines are constantly at work in the oil region, and of
course there are many manufacturers of them and a va-
riety of patterns. The well-sinker may have a preference
for this machine or that, according to his own ideas of ex-
cellence ; but for the purposes of illustration there need be
no choice between them, for they are all constructed essen-
tially after one model and vary only in details which can
not here be referred to.
519. The tJirottle-valve, II, is operated by a grooved
vertical pulley. From this pulley an endless cord or wire
(technically called "the telegraph") extends to the derrick
and passes around a similar pulley, nn, fixed Upon the
headache post, z, within easy reach of the driller. With
the two pulleys thus connected, the movement of one com-
municates a like motion to the other; consequently the
driller has only to place his hand upon the derrick pulley
to operate the throttle- valve, and thus he starts or stops
the engine and increases or decreases its speed, without
leaving his position at the well mouth.
520. The reverse link, pp, is also operated from the
derrick by the cord, q q, which passes over two pulleys,
one fixed in the engine-house, and the other in the derrick.
A slight pull upon the cord raises the link and reverses the
movement of the driving-wheel of the engine. When the
cord is released the link drops back and restores the regu-
lar motion.
In deep wells and with such heavy tools as are now em-
ployed, it is laborious work for non-reversing engines to
make the first two or three revolutions upon starting to
292 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
drill, and they frequently "stall" or come to a stop on the
"dead center ;" but with the devices here shown, the driller
commands the throttle with one hand and the reverse with
the other, and by adroitly manipulating them both together,
he is enabled to start without difficulty.
521. The band-wJieel, m, receives its motion direct from
the driving-pully of the engine, to which it is connected by
the belt, oo. On or near the end of its shaft, o, is the bull-
rope pulley,* ?i ; and to its other end is attached the arm
or crank, o'. In this arm a number of holes are drilled to
receive an adjustable wrist-pin, p, which may easily be
moved from one hole to another, to regulate the length of
stroke required in drilling or pumping.
As the band- wheel communicates motion through the
pitman, <?, to the walking-beam, while drilling ; to the bull-
wheels, by the bull-rope, rr, while running up the tools;
and to the sand-pump reel, by the friction-pulley, w, while
sand-pumping ; and as these movements are all used sepa-
rately and at different times, it is necessary that the ma-
chinery be so constructed in its different parts that connec-
tions may be quickly made or broken, and one kind of
motion substituted for another at pleasure.
522. The sand-pump reel, w, is put in motion by press-
ing on the lever #, which is joined by the connecting bar, u,
to upright lever, f t. This brings the face of the beveled
pulley, w, into contact with the face of the band- wheel. It
is simply a friction pulley and can be thrown in and out of
gear at will, no matter at what speed the band-wheel may
be revolving.
Tlie sand-pump descends into the well by its own gravity,
*Some prefer to set the jack-post close to the band-wheel, so that the bull-
rope pulley may be put outside of it on the end of the shaft. In this way
the bull-rope is more accessible, and the bull-wheel shaft in the derrick can
be made a little longer, but the band- wheel bearings are thus shortened up
and cannot be said to be improved by it.
f This lever should be made of some tough and elastic wood, cut thin near
the upper end, as shown in the drawing, so that it may act as a spring and
relieve the man at hand lever v from the disagreeable "jerky " motion which
otherwise results from the slight irregularities of the two friction surfaces,
when everything is rigid.
Plate XXXVII.
III. 293
294 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
and to prevent it from attaining too great speed, it is checked
by pressing the lever, t>, backward so as to throw the fric-
tion pulley w, against a post, or a curved piece of sheet
iron set behind it in proper position to act as a brake when
the wheel is pressed against it.
The sand-pump line is coiled upon the shaft, x. It is a
cable laid rope $ of an inch in diameter, and passes direct
from the shaft over the pulley, ii, and thence down inside
of the derrick to the well mouth, where it is secured to the
bail of the sand-pump.
Sand-pumps and bailers of several kinds are in use.
The most common one is a plain cylinder of thin galvanized
iron with a bail on top, and either a leather flap-valve or a
metal stem-valve in the bottom. It is usually about 6'
long, but when large quantities of water or oil are to be
dipped from the well, it may be lengthened to 15 or 20 feet.
Stem-valve bailers are much esteemed on account of their
convenience in discharging contents. The valve stem pro-
jects downward a few inches beyond the bottom of the
cylinder. To empty the pump it is only necessary to let it
rest on the bottom of the waste-trough, when the stem
opens the valve and the sediment escapes. The flap-valve
pumps are emptied through the top, by inverting them.
Other sand-pumps are made of wrought iron casing and
in addition to the bottom valve they have a plunger attached
to an iron rod which passes through a hole in a stirrup
spanning the top of the case. The sand-pump line is
secured to an eye in the top of this rod and the pump
chamber hangs suspended from the bottom of it held by
the plunger, which cannot pass through the hole in the stir-
rup. When the pump stops at the bottom of the well, the
slack of the rope allows the plunger and rod to settle down
into the pump chamber ; consequently on an upward move-
ment the plunger and rod start first and travel the length
of the cylinder drawing in the sediment from the bottom ;
but when the plunger readies the stirrup the cylinder starts
upward also, closing the lower valve and retaining the sedi-
ment thus drawn into it to be delivered at the well mouth.
523. The butt-wheels, bt>, are driven bv the "bull-
OIL WELL RIG. III. 295
rope," rr, which is made of two inch plain-laid cable, joined
together by iron couplings.* When not in use the rope or
belt is thrown out of its grooved pulley on the bull-wheel
and thus remains lying so loosely in the grooved pulley,
n, on the band-wheel shaft, that there is no friction upon
it, and the pulley revolves so smoothly that the rope is sel-
dom displaced from the groove. When the rope is raised
to its place on the bull-wheel pulley and drawn taut, mo-
tion is communicated from the band-wheel, it slips into its
groove and the bull-wheels revolve. It can be thrown on
and off at pleasure when the engine is not running too
rapidly.
524. TTie walking -beam connections cannot be made or
broken while the band-wheel is in motion. To disconnect
at the pitman, g, the engine must be stopped. The wedge
seen above the wrist-pin, p, is driven back to loosen the
follower, f and then the pitman is pulled forward off of the
wrist-pin, carried back toward the samson-post, #, and
lowered to the main-sill out of the reach of arm, o ', when
again revolving. This tips the walking-beam to an angle
of about 25 to the horizon, in which position the derrick
end of it is thrown back a foot or more from its former
perpendicular over the hole, and there is thus no danger of
*As the band-wheel and bull-wheels revolve in opposite directions this
rope must be crossed, and it is advantageous to have it so, for it thus gets
more bearing surface upon the pulleys, by which its tractive power is mate-
rially augmented.
f The dimensions of the lower part of the pitman are 4" X6". After insert-
ing a stout bolt near the end to prevent its splitting, a hole is bored for the
wrist-pin and a slot about six inches long cut upward from it. to receive the
follower which is made of some hard durable wood and forms an adjustable
box for the wrist-pin to work in. Another mortise, say 1^" wide and 4" long
is then cut for the wedge at right angles to the other, the bottom of it being
an inch and a half below the top of the follower slot. But the corresponding
cut in the top of the follower should only be one inch deep, so that when the
wedge is driven it bears upon the follower alone and holds it tightly against
the wrist-pin, preventing the "chuck" which would otherwise occur if no
means were provided for keeping this important joint in proper adjustment.
The wrist-pin has a hole drilled in it and is furnished with a washer and
pin to prevent the pitman from working off in front. The driller seldom
takes the trouble to use them, however, for the pitman never flies off if the
machinery is kept in proper running order.
290 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
its interference with the cable, tools, or sand-pump as they
are run up and down in the derrick.
525. The ^headache-post, z, also called a "life-pre-
server," is comparatively a recent improvement, designed,
as its name implies, to save the driller a headache or per-
haps his life, in case the wrist-pin should break or the pit-
man fly off of it while drilling, thus suddenly causing the
derrick end of the walking-beam to drop under the great
weight of the suspended drilling tools and endangering the
safety of ail who might be within reach of it. This post,
which may be made from any sapling six or eight inches
in diameter cut to the proper length, is set upon the main-
sill immediately under the Avalking-beam, so that if such
an accident occur the walking-beam can fall but a few
inches and do no harm. It is also useful when some slight
repairs to the pitman or band- wheel crank are needed while
the tools are suspended in the well. By placing a block
between it and the walking-beam, the pitman is relieved of
weight and can be unshipped without disconnecting the
tools from the temper screw.
Oil Well Rig Irons.
526. The details of Plate XIII may be further illus-
trated and explained by the figures on page Plate X XXVIII,
which represent the complete set of irons belonging to a
carpenter' s rig. They are as follows :
a, Walking-beam stirrup.
6, Bolts for securing it by a wooden cap to walking-beam.
c, Boxes for band-wheel shaft.
d, Band- wheel shaft, arm, and flanges.
e, Center irons for walking-beam and samson-post.
e', Bolts for securing the saddle to walking-beam.
/, Derrick or crown pulley.
<7, Walking- beam hook, to hold temper-screw.
527. Cost of Rig-irons. In 1879, when low prices were
ruling, these irons complete, (shaft 3'' in diameter and 4'
6" long, flanges 20" in diameter,) together with a sand-pump
pulley and two gudgeons and two bands for the ends of the
bull-wheel shaft, cost $75 00.
Ill (' he! p! XXVI
Plate XXXVIII
j n
Ill Chap! XXIX
Plate JCXXIX
OIL WELL RIG. III. 297
For parts of sets the following prices are given in the
price list of Jarecki Manufacturing Company of Erie, date
1876:
f Shaft, 4' 6" long, 3" diameter, $9 50
Crank, 14" to 46" stroke, 6 holes, 7 00
Wrist-pin, 2f" diameter, 3 50
Pair of flanges, 24" diameter, 8 25
Pair of flanges, 20" diameter, 5 60
Flange-bolts, 7" long, f" diameter, each . . . 12
Steel keys for flanges and crank, each .... 50
Collar, with steel set-screw,* 1 20
c, Two boxes, babbitted and with bolts, 8 50
a, Walking-beam stirrup, 2|" X f ", 5 00
&, Four bolts for securing the cap, 1 00
e, Saddle for walking-beam, 4 50
e, Side-irons, boxes, and bolts for samson-post, . 7 00
e', Four bolts for saddle, 1 20
/, Derrick-pulley, 20" diameter, 5 00
g, Walking-beam hook, heavy, . . 3 35
Sand-pump pulley, 3 25
Two gudgeons with bands, for bull-wheel, . . 5 00
*This collar belongs on the shaft, and is clamped to it by a set-screw, close
to one of the boxes, to prevent the shaft from moving endways. It is not
shown in d, because the llanges of the bull-rope pulley are outside of the box,
and may be keyed close against it, so as to answer the same purpose as the
collar.
298 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
(Illustrated by Plate XVI.)
Description of drilling tools. ^ Stringing" them in the
derrick. "Spudding" and drilling.
528. But little need be said in explanation of plate XVI.
The tools are drawn to scale so accurately and their dimen-
sions given so fully that each figure speaks for itself.
Only the plain drilling tools are shown, for it would re- .
quire a large volume and be almost an endless task to de-
scribe and illustrate the thousands of fishing tools that have '
been invented and used by the driller and well manager to
meet the varied accidental emergencies daily occurring in
well boring and well pumping. These tools are of all kinds,
from the delicate grab designed to pick up a small piece of
valve leather or a broken sucker-rod rivet from the pump
chamber to the ponderous string of "pole tools" contain-
ing tons of iron, which, at a depth of 1500 feet or more, can
unscrew a set of "stuck tools " and bring them up piece by
piece, or cut a thread upon the broken end of a sinker-bar
or an auger-stem, so that it can be screwed fast to and
loosened by the use of "whiskey jacks" at the surface.
529. li A string of drilling tools" consists of rope-
socket, sinker-bar, jars, auger-stem and bit, weighing al-
together about 2100 pounds as will presently be shown in
detail. It is divided by the jars into two members, one
delivering its blow downward, the other upward.
530. The auger or drill which cuts and pulverizes the
rock by its impact, weighs about 1320 pounds, and consists
of the bit, the auger-stem and the lower wing of the jars.
531. The sinker -bar with the upper wing of the jars
and the rope-socket attached, and weighing about 780
pounds, adds no force to the blow of the auger-stem, for it-
hangs at all times suspended on the cable. Its function is
to deliver a blow to the auger-stem on the upward stroTce
DRILLING- TOOLS. III. 299
so that the jar may loosen the drill in case it should wedge
or stick in the rock it is cutting.
If an auger-stem be attached directly to the cable it will
be found impossible to drop and raise it with a regular
motion, for the bit will frequently stick, when the cable al-
ternately stretching and contracting allows the walking-
beam to make its accustomed sweep while the drill remains
stationary at the bottom. A slight jar on the upward stroke
prevents this sticking.
532. The jars, therefore, form a very important mem-
ber of the drilling tools, being the connecting link between
the drill and the means of operating it. Fig. C, on Plate
XVI, is a very good representation of them,* but as they
are there shown closed, or with the upper wing resting
upon the lower one, (instead of the lower suspended from
the upper, as they would appear when in use,) and as the
improved rounded wing in front entirely conceals the cen-
tral slot from view, we give a sketch of another pair, where
both wings are made alike and the links are open. (See
Fig. K, page Plate XXXIX.) The two sets are precisely
alike in principle, and vary only in details of construction.
If the upper wing in Fig. C be drawn up, it will move 13
inches before the cross-heads, (that is the solid part play-
ing in the slot,) seen in section C', strikes the cross-head
seen in C", and we shall then have the upper part of the
slot in the upper wing in view, as in Fig. K, Plate XXXIX.
This slot is If inches wide and 21 inches long, exclusive of
the 5-inch narrow crotch-slot, already in sight in Fig. C.
Both wings are slotted in the same manner, and when put
together, the cross-head of the upper one passes through
the slot of the lower ; and the cross-head of the lower one
through the slot of the upper like two flat links in a chain.
As the cross-heads are each 8 inches long, and the slots 21
inches, there remains 13 inches of the slots unoccupied,
which represents the "play" of the jars.
533. The manner in which the jars perform their
work may be best explained, perhaps, in this way. Sup-
* The jars are sometimes welded to the auger-stem instead of being con-
nected by a box and pin, as here shown.
300 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
pose the tools to have been just run to the bottom of the
well the jars are closed, as in Fig. C the cable is slack.
The men now take hold of the bull- wheels and draw up the
slack until the sinker- bar rises, the "play" of the jars al-
lowing it to come up 13 inches without disturbing the auger-
stem. They watch for the coming together of the cross-
heads, which will be plainly indicated by a tremulous mo-
tion communicated to the cable, and by the additional
weight of the auger-stem. When the jars come together
they slack back about four inches and the cable is in posi-
tion to be clamped in the temper-screw.
If now the vertical movement of the walking-beam be 24
inches when it starts on the up stroke the sinker-bar first
moves ; it rises 4 inches the cross-heads come together
with a sharp blow, and the auger-stem is picked up and
lifted 20 inches. On the down stroke the auger-stem falls
20 inches, while the sinker-bar goes down 24 inches to tele-
scope the jars for the next blow coming up. This is the
theory of the movement, but of course in practice the
spring of the cable in deep wells and the weight of tools
make many modifications necessary.
Some writers, in describing the manner of drilling, con-
vey the impression that the sinker-bar is used as a mall to
drive the auger into the rock ; but this, we see, is entirely
erroneous. A skillful driller never allows his jars to strike
together on the down stroke. They are only used to "jar
down" when the tools stick on some obstruction in the well
before reaching the bottom, and in fishing operations.
An unskillful workman sometimes " looses the jar," (es-
pecially if the well be deep and nearly full of water,) and
works for hours without accomplishing anything. The
tools may be standing on the bottom, while he is playing
with the slack of the cable, or they may be swinging all
the time several feet from the bottom. If he cannot recog-
nize the jar he is working entirely in the dark ; but an ex-
pert will tell you the moment he puts his hand upon the
cable whether the drill is working properly or not.
As the "jar works off," or grows more feeble, by reason
of the downward advance of the drill, it is "tempered" to
DKILLING TOOLS. III. 001
the proper strength by letting down the temper-screw to
give the jars more play.
534. The Temper screw, I, forms the connecting link
between walking-beam and cable, and it is "let out"
gradually to regulate the play of the jars, as fast as the
drill penetrates the rock. When its whole length is run
down, the rope clamps play very near the well mouth.
The tools are then withdrawn, the well sand-pumped, and
preparations made for the next "run." With the old
fashioned temper-screw, a great deal of time was spent in
readjustment, for it had to be screwed up thread by thread,
by tedious revolutions of the clamps. But this delay is
now obviated. The nut through which the screw passes is
cut in halves, one half being attached to the left wing of
the screw frame, the other half to the right wing. An
elliptical band holding the set-screw, Z', passes around the
nut. It is riveted securely to one of the halves, and the
set-screw presses against the other half to keep the nut
closed. The wings are so adjusted that they spring out-
ward and open the nut whenever the set-screw is loosened.
To " run up " the screw, the driller clasps the wings in his
left hand, and loosens the set-screw ; he then seizes the
head of the temper-screw in his right hand, and, relaxing
his grip upon the wings, the nut opens, when he quickly
shoves the screw up to its place, again grips the wings and
tightens the set-screw the whole performance occupying
less time than it has taken to describe it.
But as this is heavy work, even for a man of great
strength, some inventive, and probably unmuscular driller
has recently added a very clever improvement which merits
a passing notice. In the top of the screw is fixed a small
swivel, and in the crotch of the wings above it a small pul-
ley ; a cord passes from the eye of the swivel over the pul-
ley, and thence over two similar pulleys placed on the
under side of the walking-beam, and the end of the cord
suspends a weight about equal to the weight of screw and
clamps. As the screw runs down the weight rises, and
when it is to be run up again, this counterbalance carries
it up to its place, requiring but little assistance from the
driller.
302 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
535. Dimensions of Drilling Tools, Plate XVI.
Pins, each, 3" long, 2f" diameter, 8 threads to an inch.
Collars, each, 3" long, 4" diameter.
Length of boxes auger-stem, 10"; ring socket, 6"; others,
8".
Diameter of boxes auger-stem, 4" ; others, 4i".
Square shoulders, 3i"X3i".
Diameter of auger-stem and sinker-bar, 3".
Length in detail.
Rope-socket, Wings, 2' 6" ^
' Square shoulder, 0' 4" 3' 6"
Box, 0'8" .
Sinker-bar, Collar, 0' 3" s
Bar, 17' 1" > 18' 0"
Box, 08')
Jars, .... Collar, 0' 3" j
Links, (open,) 6' 5" 7' 4"
Box, 0' 8" J
Auger-stem, Collar, 0' 3" j
Stem, 28' 11" V 30' 0''
Box, 0' 10" )
Center-bit, Collar, 0' 3" >
Bit, 3' 0" $ '
Total length of "string" of tools, 62' 1"
Temper. screw. The ironside pieces or wings are l^'xt"
and 4' 6" long. The screw is If " in diameter, 4' long ;
square thread ; two threads to an inch. Sometimes a
double thread, three to an inch, is cut.
536. A wing rope socket to be secured to the cable by
rivets, is shown in fig. d. Other styles have been invented,
which are tubular in form, and have a central opening pass-
ing through them smaller at the top than at the bottom.
The end of the cable is passed through the tube and fitted
into clamps, which wedge and hold it firmly without riv-
ets, when it is drawn back into the tapering sleeve. Many
contractors prefer to use the patent sockets, because they
have suffered from loss of tools by breaking the wings or
rivets of the other kind. Let me explain why these breaks
occur. Usually the end of the cable to be inserted in the
wings is simply wrapped with marline and forced into its
place, when the rivets are hastily driven and clinched down
DRILLING TOOLS. III. 303
on an anvil. This is all wrong, as a moment's thought will
show. The end of a new cable is less firm, and contains
more stretch than other parts of it, and being thus thought-
lessly crowded into the socket, the result is that the upper
rivet must take all the strain alone, and bend or break be-
fore the stretch in the rope will allow the others to render
it any effective support. To prove this, take a socket thus
prepared for the rivets, and put in the lower one only. Fit
it in one of the wrenches firmly secured behind the sam-
son-post ; attach the cable to the band- wheel shaft, and let
two or three men put a heavy strain upon it, when it will
be seen that the part in the socket has stretched an inch or
two, and reduced so much in size that the coils of wrapping
slip loosely upon it. The cable should be under a strain
like this while it is being wrapped. Then after the lower
rivet has been put in it should be again subjected to ten-
sion and held so while the upper rivet is being driven.
After this it may be released, and the center rivets be put
in and clinched in the usual way. I know from experience
that a socket put on in this way can be depended upon
under all circumstances.
537. Weight of drilling tools.
Rope-socket, 80 pounds.
Sinker-bar, 3J,', 540 pounds.
Jars, 5 1", 320 pounds.
Auger-stem, 3^", 1020 pounds.
Bit, 140 pounds.
Total weight when " strung up, " 2100 pounds.
The other parts of the set weigh as follows :
Temper screw, 145 pounds.
Jars for 8" hole, ... . . 565 pounds.
Two bits for 8" hole, (each 160 pounds,) 320 pounds.
Reamer, . 180 pounds.
Two bits for 5i" hole (each 140 pounds), 280 pounds.
Reamer for 51" hole, . 140 pounds.
Ring-socket, . . 50 pounds.
Two wrenches, (each 105 pounds,) 210 pounds.
Total weight of complete set, 3990 pounds.
304 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Cost of drilling tools.
Rope-socket, $20 00
Sinker-bar, 38 00
Jars, 5|", 110 00
Auger-stem, 60 00
Two bits, 5i", 75 00
One reamer, 5jj" 33 00
Two wrenches, 24 00
Temper screw, 40 00
Ring-socket 15 00
Total cost for 51" tools, $417 00
Additional for tJie 8" hole at the top.
Jars, 8", $140 00
Two bits, 8", 85 00
One reamer, 8", 50 00
275 00
Total cost of complete set, f692 00
538. Materials.
The sinker-bar and auger-stem are made of rolled iron,
collars and boxes of hammered iron, and pins of Norway
iron.
The jars are faced with steel on the inside wearing sur-
faces and in the crotches, the other parts are of Norway
iron.
The lower half of reamers and bits are made of the best
steel, the upper half of Norway iron.
All of the above facts in relation to drilling tools were
kindly furnished by the Ames Manufacturing Company of
Titusville, Pa.
Preparing to drill and drilling.
539. "Spudding" With rig put in complete running
order and conductor sunk to bed-rock, the contractor is
now ready to commence to drill. But the common boring
tools are about 60 feet long and therefore cannot be operated
by the walking-beam in the usual way until the hole is deep
enough to allow them to sink beneath the derrick floor.
He must "spud" the first sixty feet, then, without the aid
of the walking-beam. To do this a short cable is run up
over the crown pulley in the top of the derrick. One end
SPUDDING. III. 305
of it is attached to the ring-socket and screwed to the auger-
stein, the other is passed around the bull-wheel shaft two
or three times and the end left free. The bull-rope is now
put on and the engine started. A man stationed in front
of the bull-wheels, seizes the free end of the rope coiled
around the shaft, a slight pull causes the coils to tighten
and adhere to the revolving shaft, the auger-stem rises in
consequence until it hangs suspended in the derrick, when
it is swung over the hole and lowered through tho conduc-
tor to the rock. The engine is kept running and the bull-
wheels revolve all the while, but the man holding the shaft-
rope has full control of the tools. When he pulls on the
rope, the coils at once ''bight" the revolving shaft, the tools
rise, when he gives his rope slack they fall, and so long as
the coils remain loose upon the shaft it revolves smoothly
within them and communicates no motion at all. Thus,
then, alternately pulling and slacking the rope, this ani-
mated substitute for a walking-beam raises and drops the
tools as much or as little as may be required, while the
driller turns the drill to insure a round hole.*
540. Drimnrj Pipe. When a conductor cannot be dug
to the rock, and drive-pipe is to be inserted, a mall and
"guides" must be provided for the purpose. The mall is
made of any tough, hard log, that will dress 15 or 18 inches
square, and 10 or 12 feet long. Two sides only are dressed ;
one end being rounded and encircled by a heavy iron band
to prevent its splitting, the other having a strong staple
driven into it to tie the cable in. Two pairs of wooden pins
are put in each of the dressed sides, one pair near the top,
the other pair near the bottom ; they are two inches apart,
and two inches long, and serve instead of grooves in the
mall the guides fitting in between them.
To erect the guides, draw a line on the derrick floor,
through the center of the well and at right angles to the
walking-beam ; on this line place two 2-inch plank perpen-
* Sometimes connections are made with the walking-beam at a less depth
by using a short auger-stem and the jars without a sinker-bar above them, but
a description of every variation from the general plan of drilling cannot be
attempted. The intention here, is simply to describe the usual modus oper-
andi.
20 ITT.
306 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
dicularly and stay them securely at the bottom and from
the sides of the derrick. They are to be 15 or 18 inches
apart, according to the width of the mall to be used, and
may be continued upward by adding two or three more
plank, as circumstances require. They are strengthened
by spiking a narrower plank on each side, leaving the cen-
ter one projecting a couple of inches to enter between the
pins in the mall.
After spudding awhile, as above described, to prepare
the way for the drive-pipe, the drill is set aside the pipe
to be driven, armed at the bottom with a steel shoe, as shown
in Fig. 3, Plate XIV, is put in place the mall is attached
to the spudding cable and let down between the guides,
where it is alternately raised and dropped upon the casing
or drive pipe by the man at the bull- wheels, precisely the
same as in spudding. The casing used is of wrought iron,
screwed together in thimbles the same as tubing. A heavy
cap of iron is screwed in the top when driving, to prevent
its being injured by the blows of the mall.
When two or three hundred feet of pipe are to be driven,
as is frequently the case in some of our northern valleys,
it requires a great deal of skill and judgment to put it in
successfully. In these deep drivings, after a sufficient depth
has been reached to admit of the introduction of a string
of tools, they are put in and operated by the walking-beam
in the usual way ; the cable (a short one, tarnished for the
purpose) being coiled upon one end of the bull- wheel shaft,
while the other end is left free to work the mall-rope on.
To facilitate the necessary changes which must be made
every time the drill is stopped and pipe driven, the lower
part of the guides are cut and hung on hinges some 10 or
12 feet above the derrick floor, and when not in use may be
swung up overhead out of the way of the workmen.
541. "Stringing" the Tools. When a sufficient depth
has been reached by spudding to admit of the introduction
of a full "string of tools," the spudding machinery is
abandoned.
Now the coil of drilling-cable is rolled into the derrick
and set upon end. The free end in the centre of the coil is
DRILLING. III. '307
tied by a connecting cord to the rope just detached from
the ring-socket, and by it drawn up over the crown-pulley
and down to the bull- wheel shaft, where it is fastened ; the
bull-rope is put in place ; the- engine started, and the men
carefully watch and guide the cable as it is wound coil after
coil smoothly and solidly upon the shaft. When this is
done the end of the cable depending from the crown-pulley
is secured to the rope-socket, as above described, and the
full set of tools are attached and swung up in the derrick.
After carefully screwing up all the joints, (the bull-rope
having been unshipped,) the tools are lowered into the hole
by means of the bull- wheel brake, cc. The band-wheel
crank is then turned to the upper center ; the pitman is
raised and slipped upon the wrist-pin, where it is secured
by the key and wedges ; the temper-screw is hung upon
the walking-beam hook ; the slack in the cable is taken up
by the bull- wheels until the jars are known to be in proper
position ; the clamps are brought around the cable (after a
wrapper has been put on it at the point of contact,*) and
securely fastened by the set-screw ; the cable is slacked off
from the bull-wheels, and the tools are now held suspended
in the well from the walking-beam instead of from the top
of the derrick, as before. Some fifteen or twenty feet of
slack cable should be pulled down and thrown upon the
floor to give free movement to the drill. When the drill is
rotated in one direction for some time the slack coils around
the cable at the well mouth ; if it becomes troublesome the
motion is reversed and it uncoils. Only by this constant
rotation of the drill can a round hold be insured.
542. Drilling. Having now made all the necessary
connections, it only remains to give the engine steam, and
the drill will rise and fall with each revolution of the band-
wheel, and commence its aggressive work upon the rocks
below.
* A small handful of untwisted strands of cable, say two feet long, is gen-
erally used for a "wrapper." It is quickly wound tightly round and round
the cable with a greater thickness at the upper part of the clamps than at the
bottom. This prevents their slipping and preserves the cable, which must
be cautiously protected from harm above ground, or it will be unsafe to use
when the defective parts have entered the hole.
308 III. JIEPORT OF PKOGKESS. JOHN F. CAttLL.
From this point downward the daily routine of the work
is very monotonous unless some accident occurs to diversify
it. l3ay and night the machinery is kept in motion. One
driller and one engineer and tool-dresser work from noon
until midnight, (the "afternoon tour,") and another pair
from midnight until noon, (the " morning tour.") Up and
down goes the walking-beam, while the driller, with a short-
lever inserted in the rings of the temper-screw, walks round
and round, first this way then that, to rotate the drill. He
watches the jar, and at proper intervals lets down the tem-
per-screw as the drill penetrates the rock. When the whole
length of the screw has been " run out," or the slow pro-
gress of the drill gives warning that it is working in hard
rock and needs sharpening, he arranges the slack cable
upon the floor so that it will go up freely without kinks,
and informs the engineer that he is ready to " draw out."
543. "Drawing the Tools" After attending to the
needful preliminaries, the driller throws the bull-rope upon
its pulley, and quickly steps to the bull- wheel brake, while
the engineer commands the throttle of the engine. The
walking -beam and the bull- wheel are now both in motion,
but at the proper moment one man stops the engine, and
the other holds the bull- wheels with the brake just when
all the slack cable has been taken up, and the weight of the
tools is thus transferred from the temper-screw to the
crown-pulley. This is a performance requiring experience
and good judgment, for should any blunder be made a
break-down must certainly result. To loosen the clamps
on the cable, and unlock the pitman from the wrist-pin and
lower it to the main-sill, is but the work of a moment.
Dropping the pitman raises the end of the walking- beam
with the temper-screw attached to it, and throws them back
from their former perpendicular over the hole, so as to
allow the cable and tools to run up freely without interfer-
ence with them. Steam is now turned on again, and the
tools come up. When the box of the auger-stem emerges
from the hole, the engine is stopped. A wrench is slipped
on the square shoulder of the bit, and the handle dropped
behind a strong pin fixed for that purpose in the floor ;
DRILLING. III. 309
another wrench is put on the shoulder of the auger-stem ;
a stout lever is inserted in one of a series of holes bored in
the derrick floor in a circle having a radius a little less than
the length of the wrench handle, it is brought up firmly
against the upper wrench handle, thus making a compound
lever of the wrench, and greatly increasing its power. Both
men give a hearty pull on the lever, which "breaks the
joint," or, in other words, loosens the screw joint connect-
ing the bit with the auger-stem, so that the bit can be un-
screwed and taken off by hand after it has been brought up
above the derrick floor. The wrenches are then thrown off,
steam is let on again, the bit rises from the hole. Now the
driller throws off the bull-rope by operating a lever with
one hand, * while with the other he catches the bull-wheel
with the brake, holding the tools suspended a few inches
above the derrick floor. At the same instant the engineer
shuts off steam, or else suddenly relieved of its heavy work
by unshipping the bull-rope, the engine would "run away "
with lightning speed. It only remains now to hook the
suspended tools over to one side of the derrick, and the
hole is free for the sand-pump.
While the driller is sand-pumping, the engineer unscrews
the worn bit and replaces it by one newly dressed, so that
there may be no delay in running the tools into the well
again when sand-pumping is ended.
544. Sand pumping. The "line" to which the sand-
pump is attached (as before described) passes up over a
pulley near the top of the derrick arid thence down to the
sand -pump reel, which is operated from the derrick by
* A piece of plank five or six feet long, on one end of which three or four
short pieces are spiked one on top of the other, until it has a thickness of
about ten inches, with a hole for the pivot near the center, and another for a
hand rope in the other end, makes a very simple contrivance for unshipping
the bull-rope. A stout pin is put in the derrick floor, say two feet from the
bull-wheel, and in a line toward the well mouth, and on this the lever is piv-
oted. As the rope plays near the floor, and travels toward the wheel, a pull
on the hand rope presses the thick end of the lever against the bull-rope, and
being thrown out of line, it runs off of its pulley and drops upon the bull-
wheei shaft. When the bull-rope is thus thrown off, the weight of the tools
would instantly reverse the motion of the wheels, and, therefore, the driller
operates the lever with one hand and the brake with the other, catching the
wheels with the brake at the instant the bull-rope falls.
310 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CAELL.
means of hand-lever, v and connecting levers, u and t.
While sand-pumping the pitman remains disconnected, the
bull-rope lies slack on its pulleys and the band-wheel is
kept constantly in motion. A slight pressure on lever v
brings the friction pulley w in contact with the band-
wheel, and the pulley immediately revolves, the slack
sand-pump line is quickly wound up and the sand-pump,
which is usually left standing at one side of the derrick,
swings out to the center and commences to ascend, just now
the lever is thrown back and the connection between the
friction pulley and the band-wheel being thus broken the
sand-pump commences to descend into the well by its own
gravity. If it be likely to attain too great speed in its de-
scent, a movement of the lever to bring the pulley either
forward against the band-wheel, or backward against the
brake post previously mentioned, will quickly check it,
and thus the speed may be regulated at will.
As soon as the pump strikes bottom, additional steam is
given to the engine, and the lever is brought forward and
held firmly while the sand-pump rises rapidly from the
well. The sand-pump is usually run down several times
after each removal of the tools, to keep the bottom of the
hole free from sediment so that the bit may have a direct
action upon the rock.
545. Drilling resumed. After the hole has been suf-
ficiently cleansed, the sand-pump is set to one side, the
drilling tools are unhooked, and swinging to their place over
the well mouth are let down a short distance by the brake,
the wrenches are put on and the lever is applied to "set
np" the joint connecting the replaced bit to the auger-stem.
Then removing the wrenches, the tools are allowed to run
down to the bottom under control of the bull- wheel brake.
Connections are now made as before, the driller commences
his circular march, the engineer examines the steam and
the water gauges and the fire, and then proceeds to sharpen
the tool required for the next "run," and thus the w r ork
goes on from day to day until the well is completed.
CHAPTEE XXIX.
(Illustrated by Plates XIV, XIV bis, XV and XXXJX.)
Different methods of drilling and pumping oil wells from
1861 to 1878. Progressive improvements. Relative cost
of wells, &c.
546. Every oil well shaft is naturally divisible into
tliree sections : First, unconsolidated deposits surface clay
and gravel. Second, stratified rocks containing more or
less water shales and sandstones. TTiird, stratified rocks
seldom water bearing slates, mud rocks, shales and sand-
stones, including the oil sands of the different districts.
The first division always requires a conductor-pipe or
casing of some kind to prevent caving. It varies in thick-
ness in different localities from four feet to four hundred
feet, the deepest accumulations always being found in val-
leys.
The second division requires no support for the walls,
but must be cased to prevent the water contained in it from
following the drill down to the oil sand. Its thickness may
be one hundred, or six or seven hundred feet, depending on
location.
In the third division the bare rocks form the well-wall,
and it is not an unusual occurrence to pierce a thickness of
ten or fifteen hundred feet of these strata without encount-
ering enough water to supply the ordinary demands of the
sand-pump. In Watson's deep well at Titusville, 3300 feet
feet of the wall was bare rock, but water had to be poured
in at the top to moisten the drillings.
Therefore each of these divisions must be considered sepa-
rately in describing the well shaft and its appurtenances.
( 311 III. )
312 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
547. On Plate X/Tthe reader will find sectional draw-
ings of three oil wells representing different periods and
designed to show the improvements made in the style of
drill-hole and also in its furniture since the year 1861.
As the horizontal and vertical scales of the drawings are
the same, (j$ of nature,) the sections necessarily show but
a mere fraction of the total length of an ordinary well, for
to thus fully represent one only 1500 feet deep, would re-
quire a roll of paper 75 feet long.
TJie "surface section' 1 '' shows about 4 feet of the well
shaft below the derrick floor, and 7 feet of the well fittings
above it, and is intended mainly to explain the details above
ground.
The "bottom of drive-pipe section" shows about 4^ feet
of the well shaft at the junction of the superficial deposits
with the bed-rock, being the termination of the first divi-
sion mentioned at the head of this chapter.
The "seed-bag section" shows about 5 feet at the junc-
tion of the water-bearing and non-water-bearing rocks,
being the termination of the second division as aforesaid.
The "bottom section" shows about 10^ feet of the oil
sand, being the termination of the third division and bot-
tom of the well.
The artist's representations of shale, sandstone, &c., are
merely illustrative, and not by any means typical.
548. TJie three cross sections of well mouths drawn to
natural scale (see Plate 14, bis.) will materially assist one
in understanding the details of conductor, drive-pipe, cas-
ing, tubing, sucker-rods, &c., as seen in the wells on Plate
XIV.
No. 1 belongs to the well of 1861, No. 2 to the well of
1868, and No. 3 to the well of 1878. As these drawings
represent "the actual dimensions of the drill holes and all
the materials belonging to them that can be seen in cross
sections of the well mouths, they present the facts in a
very clear and comprehensible manner, and need no further
comment.
DRILLING AND PUMPING OIL WELLS. III. 313
Fig. No. l. Well of 1861.
549. The primitive style of drilling and tubing an oil
'well is illustrated in Fig. No. 1, Plate XIY. It shows a
simple wooden conductor* with a 4-inch "wet hole" con-
tinuing down below it to the oil sand, and a string of tub-
ing having an old fashioned seed-bag attached to it.
By this method of drilling, as the hole was generally
nearly filled with water from the gravel-beds, and kept so
by it and accessions from lower water-courses, it was not
possible to note exactly where the lowest water-vein was
passed ; consequently the point for seed-bagging became a
matter of doubt, and frequently the tubing had to be drawn
several times to change the position of the seed-bag, before
the water could be effectually shut off.
It is desirable always to stop the water as near as possi-
ble to 1 the bottom of the stratum where it enters the well,
for if it be allowed to pass down the shaft below the imper-
vious rocks immediately underlying its natural horizon, it
may find access into some more porous stratum beneath it,
and pass through into and flood adjoining wells which are
seed-bagged in a higher geological plane.
550. In preparing to tube a "wetlwle" the point at
which the seed-bag is to be placed must first be decided
upon. Suppose it to be 300 feet from the bottom. Then
the tubing is carefully measured joint by joint, and 300 feet
(less the length of the working-barrel, and whatever dis-
tance is to be left between it and the bottom of the well,f)
is placed in a pile upon the derrick floor. The working-
* The conductor plank in Fig. 1, is shown by scale as one inch thick. It
should have been two inches.
f Sometimes the working-barrel was put 20 or 30 feet, or even more, from
the bottom of the well, on the theory that the pump worked more effectively
when placed as near as possible to the point at which the oil was supposed to
come in. But this resulted in many expensive accidents, for if the tubing
chanced to part above, it would be ruined by so great a fall. To prevent this
an anchor, or piece of perforated tubing of the proper length should be put
below the working-barrel, reaching to within three inches of the bottom, and
thus, while the tubing hangs suspended from the top, (which keeps it much
straighter than if it rested on the bottom,) it cannot fall to its injury if a break
occurs in it.
314 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F- CARLL.
barrel is first put in the well and held by clamps fitting
under the thimble ; then a swivel attached to the tubing
cable, which runs up over the crown-pulley and down to
the bull- wheels, is screwed into a joint of tubing, and it is
elevated and screwed fast to the working-barrel ; the clamps
are opened to allow the thimble to pass, and the tubing is
lowered into the well until the upper thimble rests upon
the clamps ; the swivel is unscrewed and put into another
joint, which is manipulated in the same manner, and thus
the work of tubing goes on until the point for seed- bagging
has been reached. Now a pause is made and a leather bag
like a boot-leg, two or three feet long, and when expanded
exactly fitting the well bore, is slipped over the tubing and
securely fastened to it by wrapping its lower end with cord.
The wrapping is put immediately under a thimble, to pre-
vent the bag from slipping up as it goes into the well, for
if the bag be a little too large, or a contracted spot occurs
in the shaft, the tubing may have to be forced down occa-
sionally by levers at the top. After the bottom has been
tied, the bag is packed with common flaxseed, and a ring
having the same diameter as the well bore is passed over it
to make sure that it is of proper size. The top is then tied
like the bottom, but not so securely (for it is designed to
break loose here and turn, when the tubing is to be drawn
out,) and it is lowered into the hole by adding the remain-
der of the tubing joint by joint, as before, until the amount
required to place the seed-bag in the position designed has
been put in, when the head-block is screwed up, the clamps
are permanently secured beneath the thimble by inserting
the safety-bolt, and the tubing is ready to receive the
sucker-rods.
551. The sucker-rods are introduced in a similar man-
ner to the tubing ; but as the tubing is full of water, which
the rods must displace and cause to flow over at the top as
they descend, they can frequently be inserted the first time
by hand, without the assistance of pulley-rope or swivel.
Indeed, when they are dry and somewhat crooked they re-
quire considerable downward pressure to overcome the
buoyancy of water and friction against the tubing. After
DKILLING A1SD PUMPING OIL WELLS. III. 315
the rods are in and connections with the walking-beam
made, the well is left over night to allow the seed-bag time
to moisten and swell so that it may fit sungly to the walls
of the well.
552. When the pump is started, it can draw its supply
only from the well chamber below the seecl-bag, if the latter
is effective and accomplishes the purpose intended. Hence
(provided there are no water veins below the seed-bag) the
water is soon pumped out from the bottom of the well, the
oil-rock is relieved from its pressure, and the oil and gas
now meeting with no opposition, come into the chamber
and pass up through the tubing as the water exhausts.
553. Very grave defects were soon discovered in this
method of managing oil wells. Ordinary wear and tear of
machinery or accidental break-downs often made necessary
the removal of the tubing before repairs could be made,
and this could not be done without disturbing the seed-bag
and again letting down the surface water in full force upon
the oil-rock. In new wells and new territory this might be
fraught with little damage; but in an old district, after
large bodies of oil had been drawn from the sandrock, it
often proved disastrous. Consequently some plan had to
be devised whereby the tubing could be withdrawn at
pleasure without disturbing the seed-bag, and the first one
adopted was to shut the water off by inserting 3^-inch
casing, as will be described below. '
Fig. No. %. Wells of 1868.
554. No great changes were made in the style of drill
hole or the methods of drilling between the years 1861 and
1868. All parts of the machinery and tools employed were
made heavier and stronger, of course, for the shafts were
larger and deeper, but the wells of 1868 were still drilled
as before, through a simple drive pipe or conductor, the
holes being full of water while drilling, and remaining so
until the pumping machinery was put in motion.
316 III. KEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
Fig. 2 shows a cast iron drive pipe* instead of a wooden
conductor, through which a plain 5 inch hole was sunk to
the oil rock.
555. To introduce the 3-J" inch casing was the first step in
preparing to tube a well of this date. On the bottom of it
was affixed the seed-bag, and consequently the length of
casing required depended upon the distance the base of the
water bearing rocks lay below the suface. In some wells
one hundred feet would suffice, in others three or four
hundred were necessary. Sometimes an ordinary seed-bag
was used, and sometimes a patent water-packer consisting
of a heavy iron ring a quarter of an inch smaller than the
size of the hole, supporting a leather cup similar to the
leathers on the cup valve used in the pump barrel. The
rim of the cup is thrown open and held against the walls
of the well by static pressure as soon as the water below
it commences to exhaust.
But as the casing was a permanent fixture intended to re-
main in place for years, or as long as the well lasted, many
well owners preferred to put on both styles of seed-bags
one above the other as shown in Fig. 2.
*The following note from Report II, page 136, may very properly be re-
printed here :
" Where it is suspected that the floor of the drift lies too deep to be reached
by digging, cast iron " drive-pipe " is used. This pipe is cast in sections about
9' long. A space of 4" at each end is carefully turned in a lathe to a certain
gauge, and the end is cut smoothly at right angles to the axis of the pipe, so
that the joints will stand perpendicularly one upon the other. A joint of pipe is
placed on end in the center of the derrick between two " guides," which have
been temporarily erected for the purpose of driving it. A heavy "mall"
working between these guides is raised and dropped upon the pipe, slowly
forcing it into the ground, precisely as pile? are driven for docks, bridges, &c.
When the top of a joint has been driven to the level of the derrick floor a band
of wrought iron, made to fit the turned ends of the pipe, and heated red hot,
is quickly slipped upon the end of the driven pipe and another joint at once
set up. The contraction of this band in cooling holds the two joints firmly
together, and the driving process then goes on. In this way joint after joint
is added and driven until solid rock is reached. As many as 23 joints have
been used in a well. Great care is required when so long a " string of pipe "
is driven to keep it straight and perpendicular, a broken bank, or a large
bowlder encountered may cause the pipe to so far deviate from the perpen-
dicular as to necessitate the abandonment of the well. To avoid this the pipe
should be frequently cleaned out by the drill while being driven.
DEILLING AND PUMPING OIL WELLS. III. 317
The casing-head was screwed to the top of the casing and
formed a substantial hea.d block for the tubing to rest upon.
It was very similar to the one shown in Fig. a, Plate
XXXIX.
556. Tubing. The work of casing completed, the next
step was to insert the tubing. As the inside diameter of
casing was 3^ inches, and the outside diameter of tubing
thimbles or collars 2f inches, the latter moved freely inside
of the former, and could be put in quickly, there being no
delay for seed-bagging, and no measurements necessary.
An anchor was put below the working-barrel, and the tub-
ing added on until it struck bottom, when a mark was
made on the tube projecting from the well mouth, and the
whole string drawn up again to the first thimble. After
taking off the first joint, another of proper length, with the
casing flange attached to its top was substituted for it, so
that when lowered again into the well the tubing would be
suspended from the casing head, and the anchor swing just
clear of the bottom.
557. Pumping. If the seed-bag proved effective, the
space between tubing and casing was quickly relieved of
water when the pump was put in motion, and as its sur-
face lowered in the well a partial vacuum formed above it,
as was plainly demonstrated by the force with which the
air rushed into the well chamber on opening the stop cock
at the casing-head. When the water surface drew down
below the oil vein, a reaction occurred ; the well chamber
quickly filled with gas and oil, the former turbulently seek-
ing an exit at the casing-head, while the latter was drawn
into the pump barrel as the water at the bottom exhausted,
and gradually filling the tubing from the bottem expelled
the water at the top, and made its appearance at the deliv-
ery pipe in due time.
558. Water Pump. In situations where water was
needed for boiler use, a inch pipe and pump were run
down between the casing and well- wall into the water
chamber above the seed-bag. Its little sucker-rod of
inch pipe or of iron rods was attached by a clamp to the
318 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN" F. CARLL.
polished rod * of the oil well, and thus by working con-
stantly furnished all the water required.
559. Defects in these methods of managing wells.
Although the well of 1868 was a great improvement over the
well of 1861, still it did not meet all the requirements of
the situation. In deep shafts the presence of water in the
hole greatly retarded the speed of drilling, and it was real-
ized that a column of water a thousand or fifteen hundred
feet in height must have an injurious effect upon the oil
rock. Experience proved also that many accidents were
possible which necessitated the drawing of the casing be-
fore the wells could be put in running order ; for the cased
part being only 3 inches in diameter, and that below it 5
inches, adequate fishing tools could not be introduced when
any serious accident happened from dropping tubing, &c.
And again, if the well needed to be cleaned out or sunk
deeper only a 3 inch hole could be drilled, and that with
tools necessarily so light that the work was slow and un-
satisfactory. These and other considerations naturally led
to the experiment of drilling through large casing, and this
was found to be so great an improvement over the old plan
that it soon entirely superseded it.
jy 0m 3. Wells of 1878.
560. This well differs from the last described in many
particulars. Its drive-pipe consists of an eight inch wrought
*The polished rod is a bar of cold rolled iron 12' long and li" in diameter,
having on one end a box to fit the sucker-rod pins, and on the other a thread
for a swivel. In conjunction with the adjuster, it affords a ready means for
connecting the sucker-rods to the walking-beam without the delay of cutting
the rods to the exact length required. The adjuster is attached by its bear-
ing to the walking- beam, and by means of set screws can be clamped immov-
ably to the polished rod at any point, when it becomes a cross head pivoted
upon the walking-beam, and supporting and operating the sucker-rods in the
well. After the sucker-rods are put in the tubing, and the working-valve
rests upon the standing-box at the bottom, the upper joint of rods may pro-
ject above the well mouth a few inches or three or four feet. The walking-
beam is now put in position, and the polished rod is run u p through the adj uster
and screwed to the sucker-rods. Then by means of the sucker-rod rope and
swivel on top of the polished rod, the whole string of rods is raised as much
as is required to give the necessary play between the pump valves, when the
polished rod is clamped in the adjuster, the swivel is detached and the well
is ready to puinp.
DRILLING AND PUMPING OIL WELLS. III. 319
iron tube armed at the bottom with a steel shoe and driven
to the rock as described in the previous chapter. The 8
inch jars, bit and reamer, mentioned among the drilling
tools are employed while sinking this pipe. After it has
been driven to bed rock the 8 inch hole is continued down
to the base of the water bearing strata, one, two, or three
hundred feet as the case may be, when drilling is suspended
and another tube 5f inches in diameter, (technically called
"the casing.") is inserted. Before stopping to case, how-
ever, the bits are drawn down gradually to reduce the
diameter of the hole from 8 inches to 5 inches, thus form-
ing a beveled shoulder for the casing to rest upon, into
which the collar fitted to the bottom of the casing for that
purpose, is ground and seated by revolving the casing a few
times while it is resting on the bottom. This usually pro-
duces a water-tight joint, but if a little sand-pump sedi-
ment be thrown in between the casings it will settle at the
bottom and make the joint still more secure.
After casing, the 8 inch jars and bits are laid aside for
the regular 5 inch tools, which pass freely through the
casing and cut a hole of that diameter to the bottom of the
well.
Quite frequently veins of water are encountered after a
well is cased, and if it does not exhaust by sand-pumping,
drilling is stopped, the casing drawn, the hole reamed out to
8 inches and more casing put in. In new territory where
the depth of the water-bearing rocks is not known, this
' operation may have to be repeated several times. As wells
are now drilled, a contractor is not allowed to continue his
work unless he succeeds in effectually shutting off all water
before striking the oil rock.
561. Deep "wet wells" seldom give much show of oil
either on tools or in the sand-pump while drilling, and it
is only after they are tubed and exhausted of water that
the oil makes its appearance. But in dry cased wells, the
moment a vein of oil is tapped it gives notice of its presence
and frequently flows out at the surface before the tools can
be drawn. Thousands of dollars have been spent in testing
hopelessly unproductive wells that were drilled "wet," be-
320 III. REPORT OF PKOGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
cause it could not be known until they were tubed and
tested, whether they contained oil or not. But with dry
casing the owner knows when the well is finished whether
it will be productive or not, and all the testing required can
be done with a sand-pump. Thus a considerable item of
expense is saved to the operator who is so unfortunate as
to get a genuine "dry hole" or "duster."
562. The average cost of drilling cased wells, (especially
if we take into account the reduced liability to accidents
from tool sticking, &c.,)is probably but little if any greater
than .it would be if they were drilled wet. The additional
expense of boring an 8 inch hole two or three hundred feet,
and the increased cost for large casing, is often fully offset
by the time and money saved in more speedily drilling the
remainder of the well. Quite an item in the cost of fuel is
also sometimes realized, for a vein of gas may be struck
several hundred feet from the bottom of the well, which
will fire the boiler until the work is finished. *
563. Some of the obvious advantages which a cased well
has over the well of 1868 are these :
Fishing operations can be successfully prosecuted, for
the bore is of the same size all the way down.
A deep hole, five and a half inches in diameter, can be
carried on down without letting the surface water in.
Torpedoes can be put in safely and with better efect.
The water -packer can be introduced on the tubing at
* When gas is obtained from the upper rocks in sufficient quantity to fur- .
nish fuel for the boiler during the remainder of the drilling, it is conveyed to
the boiler through a two-inch pipe, connected with the casing beneath the
derrick floor, as seen in Fig. 3. Just before this gas-pipe enters the fire-box,
a quarter-inch steam-pipe from the boiler passes into it through a tee, and
terminates in a quarter-inch elbow, which is thus held in the center of the
two-inch pipe. Another piece of quarter-inch pipe, with the opening in one
end reduced to Jess than an eighth of an inch, is then screwed into the
elbow with the reduced end pointing toward the fire-box. When steam is
let into the small pipe, it vents in the center of the gas-pipe and forms an
"injector,-' which forces a current of gas and steam into the fire-box, while
the draft occasioned by it in the lead-pipe, draws in the pas from the well,
although the well mouth is entirely open, and also prevents all danger from
"back suction." Without an "injector" the burning gas is liable to run
back through the delivery pipe to the well mouth, where it will explode and
set the rig on tire,
DRILLING AND PUMPING OIL WELLS. III. 321
any point desired, either to confine the oil and gas and in-
duce them to flow, or simply to prevent the seepings of salt
water which sometimes come in below the casing in quan-
tities so small as to be scarcely noticed while drilling, from
reaching the bottom of the well, to the detriment of its
oil-production.
Geological Sections. Plate XV.
564. Placing this plate by the side of Plate XIV, we
see that the geological structure of the areas operated upon
at different periods has largely directed and influenced im-
provements in the methods of drilling and the appliances
for pumping oil wells. The system of operating which
met the requirements of the situation in 1861, would have
been worse than useless in the deep territory of 1878. The
problem forced upon the oil producers has been how to ac-
complish a greater depth of drilling without increasing the
cost of his well ; and it has been worked out with such
success by the thousands of energetic, inventive minds, en-
gaged in the business, that the average cost to-day of a
well 1500 feet deep is less than one of 500 feet was in 1861,
and our present wells are also much more fully equipped,
and with a better class of machinery.
565. A little profile section at the bottom of Plate XV
shows that the additional depth of drilling was not required
alone on account of a greater altitude of areas drilled upon,
but was due mainly to the southwesterly dip of the oil
sands.
566. Geographical positions of the vertical sections.
Section No. I is typical of the geological structure on Oil
creek, near the celebrated Noble well ; No. 2, of the higher
table lands at Pleasantville ; and No. 3 is made from the
record of Button well, No. 4, near Petrolia, in Butler
county.
The distance from No. 1 to No. 3 is about 36 miles. The
well mouth of No. 3 is only 324 feet JiigJier above ocean
level than the well mouth of No. 1 ; but the oil sand of No.
3 is 846 feet lower than the oil sand of No. 1. Therefore
21 III.
322 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
over 70 per cent, of the additional depth of drilling is oc-
casioned by the dip of the oil sand.
Page Plate No. XXXIX.
567. Explanation of Figures Illustrating some of the
details of oil-well machinery mentioned in the preceding
pages:
Cost.
a, Casing head for 5 in. casing, $7 65
6, Sand-puinp pulley, 3 25
c, Working-barrel, extra heavy brass, 13" dia. (for 2" tub-
ing), 5 feet long, ... 21 75
d, Upper valve for 1J in. chamber, 7 50
e, Lower valve for 1J in. chamber, 4 00
/, Water-pump and valves, 1 in. dia., 14 75
ff, Rivet catcher, 2 35
A, Bull-rope couplings, 3 holes, for \\" rope, 1 33
Bull-rope couplings, 4 holes, for 2i" rope, 1 90
i, Armor's water packer, 21 35
k, Jars. See Chapt. XXVIII.
The cuts and price-list are taken from catalogue of Jar-
ecki Manufacturing company, dated 1876. It will be seen
that some of these prices vary considerably from those
given in "cost of well at Bradford," in 1878, when well
fittings were down to their lowest figures.
568. The rivet-catcher is a perforated cup, to be at-
tached to the valve stem above the valve, and is designed
to catch broken rivets, in case any should work out of the
sucker-rod joints, and prevent them falling upon the work-
ing valve, where they would quickly wedge and score the
working-barrel spoiling it, perhaps, for future use, before
the pumper was aware that anything was wrong.
569. The water -packer only came into general use about
the year 1875. It is one of the several improvements upon
the old-fashioned seed-bag, made possible by and naturally
following the use of dry casing in wells. Its design is to
prevent any water that may seep into a well below the
casing, from gaining access to the oil sand, and to stop the
ascent of gas on the outside of the tubing. The oil and
gas are thus confined in the well chamber, below the water-
packer, and the diameter of the tube through which they
DRILLING AND PUMPING OIL WELLS. III. 323
must pass to reach the surface, is reduced from 5|- inches
to 2 inches. As a result, many wells flow when treated in
this way, that otherwise would require pumping.
A number of patented packers are in use. The one shown
above is simple in construction and effective in operation.
It is made of malleable iron and rubber. The top piece, 1,
is connected with the bottom, 3, by a slip-joint, the upper
tube, 1, passing through the rubber band, 2, and sliding
inside of the lower tube, 3. Fig. i shows the packer open ;
to close it as in the well, the top is shoved down so that
the flange of 1, rests upon the rubber band, 2. This forces
the cone into the rubber band and compresses it against
the well walls, and causes the lower part of 1 to project be-
low 3, and on this projecting end of 1 is affixed the work-
ing-barrel, when one is to be used. To 1 is attached the 2"
tubing reaching up to the well mouth, and to 3, the
"anchor" extending down to the bottom of the well. The
length of ik anchor" decides, of course, the point at which
the well will be packed, for when it strikes bottom the
weight of tubing above the packer telescopes the slip-joint,
expands the rubber and shuts off all communication be-
tween the annular space outside of the tubing above the
packer and the well chamber below it.
570. The " ancJior " is made of a piece of perforated
3J" casing, say 6' long (it must be long enough to receive
the working barrel.) This is screwed on to 3. A reducer
is inserted in the bottom of the casing, and a proper amount
of 2" tubing is added to make the anchor of the requisite
length.
571. "Packed Wells." A. large number of wells in the
Bradford district are ''packed" in this manner at the top of
the oil sand, and they flow periodically several times a day
without requiring any attention, for months at a time, ex-
cept to watch the receiving tank which quickly tells when
a falling off in production occurs and an " overhauling" is
necessary.
Cost of an Oil Well in 1878. Bradford District.
572. An extensive oil producer in Bradford, McKean
324 III. EEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
county, gives the following figures in detail to represent
the actual cost of drilling and equiping an oil well in De-
cember, 1878. But it should be understood that this was
a period when both labor and well machinery were at their
lowest values :
Carpenter's rig, complete, 350
Belt, bull-rope, engine "telegraph," water pipes, steam pipes
and fittings to connect boiler and engine, 100
Boiler, (20-horse power,) and engine, (15-horse power,) on
ground, 750
Contract for drilling, contractor to furnish fuel, tools, cable,
sand, pump line, <fec., at 65 cents per foot, say 1500', .... 975
Casing say 300', at 80 cents per foot, 240
Tubing, say 1600', at 20 cents per foot, 320
Torpedo, (almost universally used before tubing,) 100
Packer, 25
Working barrel, 8
Casing head, 3
Tees and elbows to make tank connections, 5
One twenty-five barrel tank, . . 25
One two hundred and fifty barrel tank, 110
Tank house, 25
Expense of tubing and packing well, 20
Expense for hauling tubing, material, &c., say, 50
Total cost of well, flowing, $3,106
In the above well no "drive pipe" was used, a short
wooden conductor set by the rig builder being all that was
required. In localities where from 100' to 280' of drive pipe
casing, costing, $1 80 per foot is required, the cost of a well
is increased accordingly.
573. If the well is to be pumped the following items are
to be added :
1500 feet of sucker rods @5i cents, $82 50
Valves for working barrel, 7 00
Polished rod, 2 50
Stuffing box, 1 50
Adjuster, 5 00
Tees and elbows, <fec., say, 2 00
$100 50
574. The necessary tools and implements for handling
the tubing and sucker-rods, are
Large pulley block, Ill 00
Tubing elevators 9 00
Three pairs of tuLl^g tongs, 10 00
DRILLING AND PUMPING OIL WELLS. III. 325
Tubing cable, 25 00
Sucker-rod rope, 11 00
Sucker-rod wrenches and elevators, 3 50
Cost of an Oil Well 1865-1872. Butler District.
575. The following figures, taken from the ledger of a
company which operated largely on the Butler belt, will
convey a very good idea of the relative cost of drilling oil
wells from 1865 to 1872 :
Year. Well. Depth. How drilled. Cost.
1865
No. 1,
1120 r
By day's work, i
&11,069 84
1866
2,
1400'
do. do.
11,441 94
1868
3>
1111'
do. do.
6,116 16
1870
4,
1262'
do. do. . . '.
10,405 62
1870
5,
1105'
do. do
7,827 88
1871
6,
1290'
Drilling contract, $3,500,
8,132 86
1871
7,
1414'
do. 3,500, . .., .
8,401 41
1871
8,
1345'
do. 3,600,
9,017 80
1871
9,
1065'
Everything furnished by contract,
5,750 00
1872
10,
1300
Everything,$6,700; extras, $317 12,
7,017 12
1872
11,
1200'
Everything, 6,300; extras, 380 95,
6,630 95
1872
12,
1212'
By day's work,
6,557 04
1872
13.
1402'
do. do.
6.671 06
Nos. 9, 10 and 11 were put down by contract ; the con-
tractor in each case to furnish the rig, boiler, and engine,
casing, tubing, and sucker-rods and to drill the well to
the oil rock and tube and test it for the price named. The
extras are for drilling deeper after finding the oil sand un-
productive.
Torpedoes.
576. Torpedoes have been so often referred to in these
pages, and they are now employed so generally in oil wells
as socn as drilling is completed, and before the tubing is
inserted, that it seems proper to close the details of drilling
and pumping with a short account of the invention, and a
description of the manner in which it is applied.
The following quotations from k 'The Early and Late His-
tory of Petroleum," by J. T. Henry, 1873, are presumed to
contain the facts in relation to its early history, as the ar-
ticle was prepared under the eye of the inventor.
"In 1862, Col. E. A. L. Roberts, then an officer in the
326 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
volunteer service, and with his regiment in the army of the
Potomac, in front of Fredericksburg, conceived the idea of
exploding torpedoes in oil wells, for the purpose of increas-
ing the production. He made drawings of his invention,
and in November, 1864, made application for letters patent.
In the fall of the same year he constructed six torpedoes,
and on the 2d of January, 1865, he visited Titusville to
make his first experiment. Col. Roberts' theory was re-
ceived with general disfavor, and no one desired to test its
practicability at the risk, it was supposed, of damaging a
well. On the 21st of January, however, Col. R. persuaded
Capt. Mills to permit him to operate on the Ladies' well,
on Watson Flats, near Titusville. Two torpedoes were ex-
ploded in this well, when it commenced to flow oil and par-
affine. Great excitement of course followed this successful
experiment, and brought the torpedo into general notice.
The result was published in the papers of the oil region,
and fiVe or six applications for patenting the same inven-
tion were immediately filed at Washington. Several suits
for interference were commenced, which lasted over two
years, and decisions in all cases were rendered declaring
Col. Roberts the original inventor.
" Notwithstanding the success of the first experiment,
operators were still very skeptical as to the practical ad-
vantages of torpedoes, and it was not till the fall of 1865
that they would permit the inventor to operate in their
wells to any extent, from fear that the explosion would fill
them with rock, and destroy their productiveness.
"In December, 1866, however, Col. R. exploded a torpedo
in what was known as the ' Woodin Well,' on the Blood
farm. This well was a 'dry hole,' never having produced
any oil. The result of the operation secured a production
of twenty barrels per day, and in the following month,
January, 1867, a second torpedo was exploded, which
brought up the production to eighty barrels. This estab-
lished for the torpedo, beyond question, all that Col. Roberts
had claimed, and immediately the demand for them became
general throughout the region."
This historical sketch is followed by a tabular statement
TORPEDOES. ' III. 327
showing the effects of the first thirty-nine torpedoes ex-
ploded, and giving the names and locations of the wells in
which they were used. According to this statement, the
flow of six of these wells was greatly increased the small-
est to the extent of 125 barrels, the largest 200 barrels
while the others ranged from four to ninety barrels. In
the aggregate the thirty -nine torpedoes caused an increased
production of 2227 barrels, or an average of over fifty-seven
barrels per well. It must not be understood, however, that
this increase was permanent ; for although wells may flow
or pump freely immediately after being torpedoed, in a few
weeks or months, at most, they will drop back to their natu-
ral production again.
577. The torpedo as first used consisted of a simple tin
case or shell filled with gunpowder, and having a percus-
sion cap fixed in the upper end of the case in such a man-
ner that a slight blow upon it would cause an explosion.
It was lowered into the well by a cord or wire, and held
suspended at a point in the sandrock where the oil was be-
lieved to enter. When in proper position, a cylindrical
weight through which the wire passed, was dropped from
the well-mouth, and guided by the wire, fell upon the cap
and exploded the charge. The water in the hole acted as
tamping, confining the effects of the explosion to the imme-
diate vicinity of the torpedo, and thus excellent results
were obtained.
Since then every kind of explosive has been employed,
and every device which ingenuity could invent has been
tried by parties endeavoring to introduce rival torpedoes
without infringing upon the first patent. But all these
efforts have failed. The Roberts' patent has been sustained
in every contest in the courts and the original torpedo with
such improvements as practical experience has suggested is
the only one now in use.
But nitro-glycerine has been substituted for gunpowder,
dynamite, and other explosives, it being more easily intro-
duced and more certain in its effects. The charges exploded
in deep wells to-day are enormous when compared with
those of a few years ago. Formerly a shell holding from
328 III. EEPOKT OF PROGRESS. JOHN" F. CARLL.
two to ten quarts was considered a good shot, but now from
thirty to sixty quarts (100 to 200 fes.) are required. The
shells or cases containing the explosive are sometimes over
twenty feet long ; but large charges are generally inserted
in sections. If, for instance, the oil sand is thirty feet thick,
and it is desired to cover the whole of it with one explosion,
the process will be something like this : Take a case, say
fifteen feet long, and attach an "anchor" on the bottom
corresponding in length to the depth of the well-pocket be-
low the oil sand. Introduce the case into the hole, and
holding it suspended at the well mouth, fill it with water.
Then pour in the nitro-glycerine until the water has been
displaced and the shell is full. Lower this carefully by the
torpedo wire to the bottom of the well and unhook from it,
thus leaving it standing upon the bottom and covering the
lower fifteen feet of the sandrock. Now fill another shell
in the same manner, and in the top of it affix the device con-
taining the percussion cap to explode the charge. Lower
this also into the well, and when it rests upon the one
already put in, unhook the wire and withdraw it. * Nothing
now remains to be done but to drop into the well a weight
made for that purpose and run ; for sometimes these ex-
plosions, even at a depth of 1SOO feet or more, are followed
by a discharge of water, oil, mud, and broken rocks some
pieces of which are nearly the full size of the well-bore
which shoots up higher than the top of the derrick, and
makes it disagreeably exciting to those who happen to be
too near when the miscellaneous shower comes down. With
nitro-glycerine the firing of one charge explodes all the
others in the well, and hence a large surface of rock can be
covered by it with more ease and certainty than it could if
any other explosive were used.
578. The simplicity of the torpedo, and the method of
introducing and exploding it, and a desire to evade the
payment of the large profit or royalty, demanded by the
*In cased holes containing but little fluid, it is necessary to withdraw the
wire before the shell is exploded, otherwise it is driven up into a wad and de-
stroyed. In this shape it may lodge somewhere in the well and cause con-
siderable delay in removing it before the tubing can be inserted.
TORPEDOES. III. 329
Roberts' Torpedo Company, (but which royalty, after all,
does not seem so extortionate when the immense advantage
the invention has been to the oil producer and the extremely
hazardous nature of the business are taken into considera-
tion,) have induced many well-owners to buy the materials
and prepare their own torpedoes. These are secretly put
into the wells at night by professionals called "moonlight-
ers," who follow the business of inserting them, charging
from five to ten dollars for their services. But this kind of
work generally ends in an injunction from the court, and a
costly settlement with the torpedo company.
Another shrewd way of defrauding the patentee has been
practiced to a considerable extent by using what has been
appropriately named a "sleeper." An operator orders
from the torpedo company a small ten-quart shot, to be put
in on a certain day, "just to stir up the well a little." He
then procures a case and say thirty quarts of nitro-glycerine
from some of the "moonlight manufacturers," and secretly
lowers it to the bottom of the well some time during the
night previous to the day appointed. When the compariy"s
agent arrives everything is in readiness for him, and he
quickly shoots off his ten-quart shell and goes away, little
thinking that he has exploded forty quarts of nitro-glycer-
ine in the well, while the company receives their royalty
only on ten.
330 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
CHAPTER XXX.
On the Glacial Drift.
579. Many curious and interesting facts relating to the
Drift deposits* of northwestern Pennsylvania presented
themselves to notice at the commencement of the present
survey.
Heavy surface accumulations were frequently met with
by oil miners where least expected, both on ridges and in
valleys. The beds of streams north of the main range of
outcropping carboniferous conglomerate were found to be
more deeply filled with Drift than their southern outlets ;
and it often happened in these northern valleys that a con-
ductor hole could be dug to bed rock in one well, while a
hundred feet or more of drive-pipe would be required in
another but a few rods from it.
What might be the significance of these facts, with others
bearing upon the topography and drainage of the country,
no one could tell ; for they were then too meager and dis-
connected to be intelligently discussed or understood. Since
that time I have embraced every opportunity offered for
studying these phenomena ; but as my observations have
been necessarily restricted to a very small portion of the
drift-covered area stretching across the continent at this
latitude from the Atlantic to the Mississippi valley, the
conclusions based upon them may not always be in accord
with those drawn from a larger field of experience. Still,
I trust that some of the local details about to be presented
may be found to be of sufficient novelty and interest, even
to those who possess a wider knowledge, and who have had
enlarged opportunities for investigations in this branch of
* We use the term "Drift," in a very general way in these chapters and
perhaps rather improperly sometimes to designate any and all of the uncon-
solidated deposits lying above bed rock.
ON THE GLACIAL DRIFT. III. 331
our science, to secure for them a thoughtful consideration,
and for my effort in their presentation, however faulty it
may be, a charitable criticism.
580. A synopsis of some of the principal inferences
which appear to be reasonably deducible from a study of
the topography, drainage, and drift deposits of northwest-
ern Pennsylvania, may be given in a few brief paragraphs
in advance of the detailed facts.
1st. That a system of drainage was here inaugurated by
the post-carboniferous uplift, the main features of which
are still preserved ; although many important changes have
since occurred, by which some of the old outlets have been
closed and new deliveries established, so that certain streams
which formerly ran north now fall in an opposite direction,
and the drainage of large areas has thus been transferred
from the great valley of the lakes to the Griilf of Mexico.
2d. That there was a triplicate water-shed then, as now ;
one portion contributing to the Lake Erie basin, another to
the Mississippi valley, and the third to the Susquehanna
valley.
3d. That the pre-glacial conditions of sub-aerial erosion
must have been in operation for long ages, seeing that some
of the ancient streams are found to have cut out channels
for themselves at least 1200' in depth and of regular gradi-
ent, notwithstanding the varying structure of the rocks
over which they flowed.
4th. That then succeeded a glacial epoch, during the con-
tinuance of which the whole northern country was covered
with an unbroken canopy of ice, and the gorges of the Lake
Erie slope were partially filled up (indeed some of them
were entirely obliterated) with disrupted fragments of
mountain-top and canon-wall, intermixed with immense
burdens of foreign detritus, brought down on the crystal
currents from the Azoic highlands of the north. This also
was an age of very great duration ; and to be studied prop-
erly, it should be divided into 1, a period of accumulation
and advance, 2, a period of maximum development and in-
tensest cold, and 3, a period of recession and decay.
5th. That during the Ice Age the basins of the Great
332 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Lakes were formed by the widening and deepening of old
river valleys through the agencies of ice and sub-glacial
water ; the northeastern outlet was obstructed, holding
back the sub-glacial waters and throwing the overflow
across the low spots in the ridge at the south, where new
avenues of drainage were brought into operation at differ-
ent points and at various elevations, and maintained for un-
equal periods of time dependent upon the accidents of
northeastern obstruction and the topography of the country
where the outlets occurred. That during the age of reces-
sion, while some of the ancient channels were being widened
and enlarged, others were being partially or completely
filled with glacial detritus ; while some of the southern out-
lets were being abandoned by reason of lowering water-lev-
els to the north, others were still kept in operation ; so that,
when the ice finally disappeared, a new system of drainage
had been established, according to which the waters of the
four basins shown on Plates 1 and 2 were diverted from
their former outlets into the valley of the Lake Erie basin,
(as seen on Plate No. 2,) and made to deliver through the
Allegheny and Ohio rivers into the valley of the Mississippi,
(as seen on Plate No. 1.)
6th. That since the Ice Age, atmospheric agencies of ero-
sion have been effectively at work upon indurated rock and
glacial debris ; deepening outlets and bursting barriers have
drained nearly all of the lakelets left in the trails of reced-
ing glaciers, and lowered, by successive stages, the whole
water-surface of the basin of the lakes. Thus the mixed
foreign and local detritus of the ice age has been rearranged
and modified in its character, according to the measure of
these accidental conditions to which it was subjected, and
the rugged pre-glacial orographic features of the country
have been sculptured into more graceful outlines, while the
truncated sub-structure remains to point out the probable
topography of the country anterior to its envelopment by
ice.
7th. That no phenomena have thus far presented them-
selves to notice in this district, which absolutely require
for their explanation the hypothesis of submergence be-
DRAINAGE OF THE CHAUTAUQUA BASIN. III. 333
neath ocean level since the close of the Carboniferous period.
Changes of levels may and probably have occurred ; but
the present outlines of topography and drainage do not
demand such a supposition ; and the deposition of the al-
luvions appear to be as susceptible of explanation without
them as with them.
581. It may be well to add here, also, that I have studied
the phenomena of ice-action, as they are exhibited in this
district, on the theory that the natural laws which govern
the movements of water are not abrogated by its congela-
tion, but merely modified and retarded in their action ; that
owing to the properties of plasticity, viscosity and regela-
tion possessed by ice, there may be different currents of it,
as we know there may be of water, moving with different
velocities, one above the other, and gliding either in paral-
lel lines, or at divergent angles ; the laws of velocity, grav-
ity, and friction operating the same in ice as in water, but
not with equal degrees of activity.
Drainage of the Chautauqua Basin.
582. All the drainage of the Chautauqua Basin now cen-
ters in the Allegheny river at Irvineton, in Warren county,
Pa., as described in Chapter 1, and delineated on Plate No.
1. But, that this channel could not have been the outlet for
the pre-glacial basin, which varied but little from this in
outline (See Plate No. 2) without intermediate unequal
or contorted elevations and depressions of the earth crust,
of which there is now no evidence, seems to be decidedly
apparent from a study of the following facts :
583. The valley of Tunangwant creek, a stream rising in
McKean county, Pa., and trending northerly until it joins the
Allegheny river at Carrollton, in Cattaraugus county, N.
Y., has been very thoroughly pierced by oil well shafts
within the last three years, thus affording a good opportu-
nity for making actual measurements of the thickness of
drift lying between the present water-plain and the bottom
of the ancient valley.
584. The table below shows the maximum thickness at
stated points between De Golier and Irwin' s Mills, a dis-
334 III. REPOET OF PROGBESS. JOHN F. CAELL.
tance of 14 miles ; and the borings over this section have
been so numerous that the results obtained cannot be ques-
tioned.
585. Elevation above ocean of the present and ancient
valley-floors of the Tunangwant creek, with the thickness
of drift now found in the valley.
Well
mouth.
Drive
pipe.
Old
floor.
DeGolier,
1490
155
1335
Bradford,
1440
218
1222
Tarport,
1425
240
1185
1415
255
1160
Limestone,
1405
270
1135
Irwin's Mills,
1400
280
1120
Supposing the water- plain slope to very nearly represent
the slope of the water surface, we get the following :
Approximate fall in present stream.
ELEVA-
TION.
Ii
111
5 g
is
1490
De Golier to Bradford,
50
3
16' 8"
1440
1425
Bradford to Tarport,
Tarport to State Line,
15
10
10' '
4' 0"
1415
State Line to Limestone, .
10
3
3' 4''
1405
Limestone to Irwin's Mills, (1400,)
5
4
1' 3"
1490
De Golier to Irwin's Mills, (1400,)
90
14
6' 5"
587. Slope of Ancient Valley-floor.
ELEVA-
TION.
3d
3l!
,_
1335
De Golier to Bradford,
113
3
37' 8"
1222
1185
Bradford to Tarport,
Tarport to State Line,
37
25
u
2 2
24' 8"
10' 0"
1160
1135
State Line to Limestone,
Limestone to Irwin's Mills, (1120,)
25
15
3
4
8' 4"
3' 9"
1335
De Golier to Irwin's Mills, (1120,)
215
14
15' 4'
DRAINAGE OF THE CHAUTAUQUA BASIN. III. 335
588. It will be observed in the above tables that the super-
ficial deposits in the bottom of the valley thicken as they are
followed down stream or northward, from 155 feet to 280
feet in a distance of 14 miles ; and that the old valley floor
has more than twice as rapid a fall as the bed of the pres-
ent stream.
As the bordering hills rise abruptly from the modern
water-plain to the height of 800 feet or more, it follows that
the ancient current which eroded this valley must have
flowed through a canon not less than 1100 feet deep, (say-
ing nothing about the degradation which the hilltops may
have suffered,) excavated entirely by its own and atmos-
pheric agencies.
589. At Irwin's mills our chain of closely connected
vertical measurements ends ; but we have already caught a
glimpse of the underground structure of drift-filled valleys
in studying the preceding brief tablet of geologic history,
as thus interpreted by the drill, which will b of great as-
sistance in our further investigations of the subject.
The Tuna* joins the Allegheny river at Carrollton, three
miles below Irwirf .<? mills. In view of the above exhibit, it
seems safe to say that here will be found at least 300 feet of
drift, which puts the old valley floor at 1100 feet above
tide.f Now, from this starting point, (since all of the up-
per branches of the Allegheny must deliver their waters
here in any event,) let us trace the ancient stream and see
if an outlet can be found.
If the water flowed down the present valley of the Alle-
gheny, then, provided no changes in levels have occurred,
that valley must contain about 300 feet of drift-tilling all
the way to Pittsburgh, and below ; for the old stream could
hardly have had less fall than the present one. And it
should be expected, also, that the general topographic
features of the valley throughout the whole distance would
afford unmistakable evidences of the former existence of
this deep cut and important artery of drainage.
*This is the popular abreviation for the aboriginal Tunangwant.
f Round numbers are sufficient for the purposes of a general discussion of
this kind.
336 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
590. Following the lead of the current from Carrollton
and examining the characteristics of the valley as we pro-
ceed, a broad river flat, sometimes a mile or more in width,
and with every appearance of being deeply underlaid with
drift, is found to extend all the way to Great Bend, 43 miles
from Carrollton (and nine miles above Warren), in Warren
county, Pa.
At Great Bend the side- walls are high and rugged, stand-
ing only about 1200 feet apart, and the stream is contracted
to a width of 350 feet. Here, in an attempt to put down
an oil well, the floor of the old valley is said to have been
reached at an elevation of 1170 feet above tide ; but with
only the record of one well at our command we cannot be
sure that this represents the deepest part of the old exca-
vation. The surroundings, however, do not indicate any
great depth of drift-filling at this bend.
From Great Bend toward Warren, for five miles, the flats
continue narrow, with high, steep side-walls, lined on their
slopes and at river level with huge blocks of conglomerate
and sandstone, derived in many places from cliffs still scarped
near their summits in massive layers from 20 to 40 feet thick.
Then the valley widens again, assuming the same aspect as
that presented above Great Bend ; and thus it continues
down to Warren and Irvineton, and further on for several
miles towards Tidioute.
In the vicinity of Thompson's station, steep side-walls
again encroach upon the river, and from this point south-
ward the bottoms occupy a comparatively narrow defile,
exhibiting a marked contrast to the broad valleys at the
north.
From Tidioute, in Warren county, to Parker' s, in Arm-
strong county, the river terraces and islands have been
thoroughly drilled upon, disclosing not more than from 30
to 50 feet of Drift below water - level, at any point ; by
which it is shown that the old river bed runs nearly paral-
lel with the new one, through all this portion of the valley,
and that the new flood plain lies approximately about 40
feet above the old one. The following table will further
illustrate this :
DRAINAGE OF THE CHAUTAUQUA BASIN. III. 337
591. Altitude above Ocean Level, of the Ancient Floor of
the Allegheny River.
R. R.
levels.
Depth of
Drift,
Ancient
floor.
Carrollton, Cattara
Cold Spring,
Great Bend, Warn
Warren,
Irvineton,
Tidioute,
West Hickory, Ve
Tionesta, Forest C
President, Venang
Henry's Bend,
Oleopolis,
Walnut Bend,
Rockwood,
Oil City,
Franklin,
Cochran,
Fosters,
Scrubgrass,
Emlenton,
Parkers, Armstron
ugus Cc
en Co.,
ango C
., Pa.,
o Co., P
g Co., F
., N. Y.,
(est.), . .
Pa.,
1400
1330
1230
1200
1168
1113
1092
1060
1048
1035
1032
1023
1016
1003
988
982
970
945
905
889
300
315
60
100
60
50
45
50
40
45
45
40
50
50
40
40
40
40
45
50
1100
1015
1170
1100
1108
1063
1047
1010
1008
990
987
983
966
958
948
942
930
905
860
839
(
o., Pa.,
a.,
a., . . .
The depth of drift, as shown in the second column, has
been obtained from a careful examination of well records,
and the borings have been so numerous that the figures
cannot be other than reliable.
The railroad elevations in the first column are generally
from 20 to 30 feet above low water in the river.
592. Let us now compare the present river fall with the
ancient channel floor, as far as it has been revealed by the
drill.
Present fall of the Allegheny River.
'K 1
Miles.
Average
fall per
mile.
1376
Carrollton to Warren,
200'
52
3'.11"
1176
Warren to Tidioute,
78'
21
3'. 8"
1098
Tidioute to Oil Citv, . ...
113'
35|
3'. 2"
985
860
1376
985
1376
1376
Oil City to Parkers,
Parkers to Pittsburgh (699),
Carrollton to Oil Citv, ... ...
Oil City to Pittsburgh (699), . . . .' .
Carrollton to Parkers (860)
Carrolltou to Pittsburgh, (699), . . . .
125'
161'
391'
286'
516'
677'
49i
82i
108|
132
158
240|
2'. 6"
2'. 0"
3". 7"
2'. 2"
3'. 3"
2'. 10''
22 III.
338 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
The height above ocean level, of the Allegheny river at low
water at the places named, is given in the first column.
593. Fall of the Ancient Valley-floor.
Total
fall.
Miles.
Average
fall.
1100
Carrollton to Warren,
00
52
00
1100
Warren to Tidioute,
37'
21
1'. 9'
1063
Tidioute to Oil City, . . .
105'
35i
2M1"
958
1100
Oil City to Parkers (839), . .
Carrollton to Tidioute (1063),
119'
37'
49
73
2'. 5'
0'. 6"
1100
Carrollton to Oil City (958), .
142'
108^
r. 4"
1100
Carrollton to Parkers (839), .
261'
158
1'. 8"
594. Supposing that the deepest part of the ancient chan-
nel may not yet have been discovered at Great Bend and
Warren, it is nevertheless evident from the above showing,
that with the present status of levels, the waters of the up-
per Allegheny at Carrollton could not have been drained
through the channel at Tidioute, for it is unreasonable to
suppose that a mountain stream of this character would cut
out for itself a bed for a distance of 73 miles having an
average fall of only about six inches to the mile.
595. A difficulty of the same character, and equally in-
surmountable, is encountered in attempting to find a drain-
age towards the south for the waters of ancient Conewango
creek.
At Warren, where the Conewango joins the Allegheny,
the old floor lies at 1100 feet above tide. Two miles north
of Warren, (North Warren,) its level is 1111 feet above tide ;
and probably the deepest part of the old valley has not
been drilled upon. Seven and a half miles north of War-
ren (Sloan farm) i4 is 1024 feet. Thirteen miles north (Fen-
tonville, on the northern line of the State) it is 964 feet.
These figures show a slope in the old valley towards the
'north, of 136 feet in about 13 miles and a corresponding in-
crease in the thickness of the superficial deposits, from 100
feet at Warren, to 276 feet at Fentonville.
CHAPTER XXXI.
The northern outlets.
596. A consideration of the facts noted in the foregoing
chapter and others of like nature observed in the Oil creeJc
and Conneaut basins, plainly indicating that the super-
ficial deposits occupying the valleys north and northwest of
the principal line of outcrop of the carboniferous conglom-
erate were very much thicker than those south of that line,
and that they increased in thickness as they were followed
northward (showing a northerly slope to the floors upon
which they rested) induced me in 1877 to begin the search
for soM8 northern outlet for the old Allegheny waters.
At iirst I suspected that the ancient drainage of the Chau-
tauqua basin centered at West Salamanca, and passed
thence northward through Little Valley into Cattaraugus
creek. But an examination of the surroundings soon
proved that this could not have been the case ; for the bed
of Little Valley rises rapidly going north and soon shows
evidences of indurated rocks in place and lying in such
positions as must necessarily have prevented any drainage
in that direction, even if we admit that great changes of
levels have occurred in comparatively recent times.
I then proceeded down the river to Steamburg, near the
headwaters of the southerly branch of Conewango creek.
Here lies an irregular and rudely triangular flat, containing
a superficies of more than four square miles and walled in
by hills seven or eight hundred feet in height. The Alle-
gheny enters this alluvial tract through a wide gap in the
hills at its eastern angle, making at once a sharp bend to-
ward the south ; and then hugging its southeasterly high-
lands, passes out through a broad flat at its southern angle.
This broad valley continues down to the mouth of Kinzua
creek, near Great Bend. The remaining opening at the
northwestern angle of the triangle is now occupied by
( 339 III. )
340 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Cold Spring, an insignificant stream when compared with
the broad valley through which it flows. These lowlands,
curving around toward the west, connect directly with the
great valley of Conewango creek, so that the Drift deposits
of the latter and of the Allegheny valley are continuous
through this now obliterated channel, while a low divide,
not 50 feet higher than the general surface, determines the
direction of drainage toward the Conewango in one direction
and toward the Allegheny in the other.
The Atlantic and Great Western railway passes in a
westerly direction along the northern side of the triangle,
and goes out at the west, (with a moderate rise of grade
and just cutting down to bed-rock,) through a narrow new
gap, opened no doubt during the glacial epoch.
This interesting cut, which may be noticed by anyone
in passing along on the cars, leaves to the north an isolated,
elliptical, truncated hill, 470 ft. in height and several hun-
dred acres in extent, around which sweeps the broad valley,
(now partly occupied by Cold spring at the east, and by
the sources of Conewango creek on the north and west,)
showing plainly that this was once a bluff point connected
with the highland at the south of the railway at a time
when the ancient stream w T hich lined out these broad val-
leys had a northward sweep.
The sketch on Plate XL will more clearly explain the
situation.
597. Cold Spring is about 17 miles from Carrollton ;
and allowing a fall of 5' per mile to the ancient stream, its
bed would here be 85' lower than at Carrollton, or 1015'
above tide, (110085=1015.) The altitude of the present
water-plain is about 1330', which gives 315' as the depth of
drift to be looked for here, on that supposition of ancient
slopes. The character of this valley and its surroundings
indicate that this is not an unreasonable thickness of sup-
erficial deposits to expect in this locality.
598. At Falconers, Chautauqua county, the north-south
valley from Cassadaga lake to the Allegheny is crossed by
the east-west valley occupied by a portion of Conewango
creek and the outlet of Chautauqua Lake. Here the waters
Chap. XXXI, PL XL.
III. 341
342 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
of Conewango creek from the east, of Cassadaga lake and
creek from the north, and of Chautauqua Lake and its
feeders from the west all converge, and, after uniting in
one stream, turn southward and flow as the main trunk of
the Conewango into the Allegheny river at Warren.
Falconers is about 20 miles west of Cold Spring. Now,
on the supposition that the old valley-floor descends to this
point with a slope of 5 ft. per mile, it would here be found
100' below its level at Cold Spring ; that is, at 915' above
tide. The altitude of the present surface is 1260'. Conse-
quently, on this supposition there 'should be 345 feet of
superficial deposits here.
We have no means of knowing what the actual thickness
may be ; for no oil wells have been attempted in the imme-
diate vicinity ; but at Levant, about a mile to the northeast
and on the northerly side of the old valley, a number of
flowing water wells have been obtained by simply driving
small wrought-iron pipes into the drift gravels. These
.wells are about 100 feet deep, and none of them have
touched bed-rock.
As far as can be judged from the surface, everything in-
dicates an unusual thickness of drift deposits at Falconers.
The river bottoms are wide and the streams wander through
them in an intricate net work of loops and bows, as if be-
wildered in attempting to select channels where so many
opportunities offer themselves. The side hills are low, and
rise from the plain with moderate slopes and curving out-
lines, as would naturally be the case supposing the more
rugged sculpturing of their bases to be concealed.
599. At Fentonyille, nine miles south of Falconers, the
State line crosses the Conewango valley ; and here (in 1877)
the Weeks' well was drilled. It commenced on the water-
plain, at an elevation of 1240', and reached fixed rock only
after driving 276 feet of pipe, through blue clay and gravel.
This puts the old valley floor, by actual measurement, at
964'. From this point an assumed slope in the old floor of
5' per mile would bring it down to 919' at Falconers.
There is thus only four feet difference between the re-
sults of the two calculations, viz : From Cold Spring to
THE NORTHERN OUTLETS. III. 343
Falconers, and from Fentonville to Falconers; the one
making the old valley bed 915', the other 919' above tide.
600. We have shown in 595 that the waters which
excavated the valley at Fentonville could not have drained
into the old Allegheny at Warren ; they must needs, there-
fore have passed northward ; and in doing so they could
not possibly have turned out of the Conewango valley be-
fore reaching Falconers ; neither could they have flowed to
that point unless the old floor lies at about the elevation
here claimed for it.
It seems probable then, that the ancient drainage from the
east and south centered near Falconers ; and if so, then
there were but two possible outlets for it ; one northward
through the Cassadaga valley ; the other westward through
the valley at the foot of Chautauqua Lake.
601. The elevation of Cliautauqua Lake is 1299 feet,
and its maximum depth is said to be about 100 feet. Its
present outlet has cut for itself a narrow channel about 50
feet deep through solid rock, at a point between James-
town and Dexterville ; but there can be no doubt that this
is a post-glacial excavation, and that an ancient channel,
deeper than the present lake-bed exists to the north of it.
Jamestown is built on a cluster of drift-hills which have
been dumped into the old valley at this point in conse-
quence of its peculiar position in relation to the different
currents of ice-flow. The obliterated channel seems to have
crossed the narrow neck of drift near the cemetery at the
northly edge of town, and swept around into the Cone-
wango valley through the broad dry basin north of Dexter-
ville.
There is no evidence, however, of a northern ancient out-
let through the valley of Chautauqua Lake into the Lake
Erie basin ; for all the surrounding hills are high, and strati-
fied rocks appear in such positions as to preclude the pos-
sibility of any old valley being concealed from view. The
slope from the divide toward Lake Erie is abrupt ; and if
an old channel had ever been cut there it must have left
some witnesses of its existence in the present topography.
If the old current passed westward across the foot of
344 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Chautauqua lake, it must have entered the Little Broken-
straw valley at Grant, and followed it down to the Alle-
gheny river.
This is rendered improbable, by the fact that Grant is 138
feet higher than the surface of Chautauqua Lake ; and it
would require a cut of about 500 feet to convey the water
from Falconers in this direction. Even then it could not
flow down the Allegheny river, because, as we have seen,
the old floor lies at Tidioute at 1063', which is 148 feet
above our starting point at Falconers.
From Grant the current could not have gone westward
into French creek, near Corry, because a high ridge inter-
venes, through which the A. and G. W. Ry finds a pas-
sage only by following the windings of a narrow valley
after passing over a summit very close to bed rock at an
elevation of 1550'.*
602. We see from the above facts that the drainage
from the west also centered at Falconers ; and now our only
alternative is to seek for an outlet to the north through the
valley of Cassadaga Lake.
Starting then with our calculated elevation of bed-rock
at Falconers, and continuing the 5 feet slope for 18 miles,
to Cassadaga Lake, bed rock should be found under the
lake at (915' 90'=)825/ As the lake elevation is at 1305',
and as the drift-hills north of it are about 20 feet higher,
the old valley should therefore contain about 500 feet of
drift-filling.
Five hundred feet of drift seems like an immense thick-
ness of superficial deposits. At first thought we are
startled at its magnitude, being hardly willing to accept a
train of reasoning which leads to such conclusions. But
on a further study of the premises, guided by analogy and
the light thrown upon the subject by actual experience in
other places, imaginary difficulties vanish, possibilities pre-
sent themselves which can only be entertained unchallenged,
and probabilities approximate so closely to certainties that
a growing conviction is the result.
* On Plates 1 and 2 the summit elevation a little southeast of Corry should
read 1800' instead of 1500'.
THE NORTHEEIST OUTLETS. III. 345
Five hundred feet of filling beneath Cassadaga lake does
not presuppose an extraordinary depth of old valley in this
instance, for the side hills rise only about 150 feet above
the lake surface ; so that if the valley were again freed from
drift, it would be not more than 650 feet deep ; while, as we
have seen above, the Tunangwant would be more than 1100
feet deep under the same circumstances. There is no im-
probability then on this score. But this of course is mak-
ing no account of the extent of erosion the hilltops have
suffered since the old valleys were excavated ; whether
more or less in one or other of the situations we cannot tell.
Moreover, the calculation is based upon a projection of
the ancient river-fall along a hypothetical slope of 5 ft. per
mile, when it may have been perhaps not more than 2 feet.
The distance from Fentonville, where we have a measured
elevation of the old valley-floor to Cassadaga lake is 28
miles. A slope of 2 feet, instead of one of 5 feet to the
mile as calculated above, would place the old floor beneath
the lake 84 feet higher, and reduce the drift-filling to about
400 feet.
603. Cassadaga Lake, a very irregularly outlined body
of water, five lakelets connected by narrow channels, nestles
among a cluster of drift -hills on the lowest part of the
divide separating the Chautauqua basin from the Lake Erie
slope. At the north end of the lake the tops of the sand
hills are only from ten to thirty feet above its surface.
These hills stretch across a sag in the crest of the divide,
perhaps a mile or more in width, and overlap upon the
stratified rocks of the ridges lying to the east and to the
west of it.
Looking southward from the lake, the valley of Cassa-
daga outlet, which is so wide and level, and merged by such
insensible gradations into the sloping side-hills, as to de-
serve rather the appellation of a plain stretches away, and
loses itself in the distant landscape in such a manner as to
leave the beholder in doubt whether he is looking down
stream or up.
In the opposite direction, towards the north, the land-
scape changes in a remarkable manner ; first a steep decliv-
346 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
ity almost at one's feet ; then an apparently level plain, and
the broad expanse of Lake Erie. Ragged drift-hills and
basins rapidly falling in successive steps, are seen occupy-
ing the whole width of what seems to have been an ancient
valley. Through these yielding clays and gravels the rain-
fall of ages has cut deep and intricate gorges, plunging at
the rate of more than 150 feet per mile towards Canadaway
creek, the stream which now usurps the lower portion of
the old valley.
604. At Laona, five miles north of Cassadaga lake, we
have descended 500 feet below its surface; and here the
Canadaway is flowing in a rocky channel; although this
may not be the channel of the ancient stream.
The probabilities are that the old valley passes down
through Dunkirk harbor ; whereas the Canadaway now de-
bouches at some distance to the west of it. Light-house
point, on the west of Dunkirk harbor, seems like a remnant
of the western old channel walls ; striated rocks also ap-
pear in places on the east ; all between is a mass of wave-
worn Drift.
If it be conceded that the fixed rock exposed at Laona
(from this point up to Cassadaga, nothing but Drift can be
discovered in the center of the valley) be the deepest part
of the old excavation, we still have sufficient fall to deliver
the water from Falconer's basin, where we have already
seen reason to believe that the upper drainage all converged,
thus :
Probable elevation of old floor at Falconer's, 915'
Bed rock seen at Laona, 800'
Total fall, . 115'
Distance, 23 miles.
Fall per mile, 5 feet.
This is more than twice the rate at which the Allegheny
river now falls from Oil City to Pittsburgh.
Three classes of valleys.
605. We pass to a consideration of another class of facts
bearing upon the subject.
THREE CLASSES OF VALLEYS. III. 347
At the commencement of my researches it appeared to
me a reasonable supposition that the present topographic
features of the country would assist in tracing out these
ancient streams. The facts noted and the comparisons
made with this idea soon became fruitful in pointing out a
distinction between three kinds of valleys, classified as
follows :
1st. Broad valleys, deeply tilled with Drift and occupied
by streams still flowing in their original directions.
2d. Broad valleys, deeply filled with Drift, where the
present streams apparently run in a direction opposite to
that taken by the streams which excavated them.
3d. Narrow valleys, with abrupt and steep side- walls,
and slightly drift-filled ; these being the new outlets, cut
in glacial times, at points where the former lines of drain-
age were reversed from north to south.
606. The contrast between a valley of normal current,
where the stream has always flowed in the same direction,
and a valley of reversed current is plainly discernible, and
in several ways.
In regard to the former it will be noticed that lateral
streams generally fall into the main valley so as to point in
the direction of its water-flow ; and in case the after cur-
rent of ice-flow moved also in the same direction, then the
upper bluff-point between the two valleys, where the
streams meet at an acute angle, is drawn out into a long,
tapering, prismatic wedge ; while the lower point is rounded
off obtusely.
In regard to the latter, where the stream has been re-
versed, the tributaries often come in from an opposite di-
rection to the present course of the main channel ; the
acute angle of the original upper bluff-point is rounded off ;
and the lateral current (now flowing over the deep alluvi-
ons of the modern valley, far above its ancient floor, and
with a possible water-plain widened by so much as the
depth of filling and slope of original valley walls may al-
low,) wanders hither and thither through the broad bot-
toms, and finally enters the main stream perhaps a mile or
more from its former junction. For example, the tributa-
348 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
ries of the Allegheny between Steamburg and Great Bend,
and of the Conewango between Warren and Falconers ex-
hibit this peculiarity.
Another observation may be noted. Where a sharp bend
occurs in a stream of rapid fall the current sweeps con-
stantly against the outer arc of the circle ; the banks are
undermined and falling, leave perpendicular bluffs. As the
stream cuts deeper into the bed-rock it also carries the
curve forward, down stream, always hugging the cliff.
Hence the eroded channel at this point is not cut down ver-
tically, as it might be on a tangent, but at an angle to the
horizon dependent upon the force of water and upon the
quality of materials wrought upon. The effect is to leave
a sloping and sometimes terraced point of highland on the
inside of the curve ; and steep bluffs, covered with falling
masses of hill-top rocks, on the outside. It is evident, in
situations of this kind, that erosion originally commenced
at the top of the sloping inner point of upland ; and that
it has cut down by stages ; shifting laterally as it sank ver-
tically to its present plane of activity. Illustrative exam-
ples are numerous along the Allegheny river below Franklin.
Let us now suppose a stream checked in its operations
after having cut out a chasm through horizontal measures
to a depth of five hundred or a thousand feet. Let us next
suppose this chasm filled with loose materials to a height
of one, two or three hundred feet ; so that a wide level bot-
tom be left between the sloping sides of the valley. Finally
let the drainage be reversed. How will the new stream act ?
Certainly the new stream, flowing, not like the old stream
at the narrow bottom of a rock gorge, but over a wide level
bottom of loose materials, will be free to select a new chan-
nel ; and the same laws which directed the old stream flow-
ing in one direction, against the cliffs, should direct the new
stream flowing in the opposite direction, away from them.
New cliffs should be formed in other places, leaving the old
ones unwashed by the stream and silent witnesses of the
change.
Cliffs of this character may be seen at Stoneham in War-
ren county ; on the Allegheny between Irvineton and War-
THE TIONESTA DRAINAGE. III. 349
ren, and between Great Bend and Steamburg, on the Cone-
wango, and in many other places.
607. Without dwelling on these facial characteristics
which may be excellent guides in the field, but cannot be
made intelligible descriptively without the aid of a contour
map of the country, we will note one more piece of circum-
stantial evidence for a northern outlet to the Chautauqua
Basin, and then proceed to indicate what appears to have
been the shape of the water- tree of the upper Allegheny in
pre-glacial times.
The Tionesta drainage.
608. In Mead township, Warren county, at an elevation
of a little more than 1400' lies Cranberry Swamp, under-
laid and surrounded by drift-deposits similar to those found
about the several lakes and swamps which are scattered
along the crest of the Lake Erie divide, and they are the
most southerly accumulations of the kind in the region.
Tionesta creek heading southwest of Cranberry swamp,
in Limestone township, Warren county, (and but a few
miles from the Allegheny river at Tidioute,) flows northeast-
ward to it and through it. After issuing from the swamp,
the Tionesta turns sharply to the south, and flows to Shef-
field, where it is re-inforced by Two Mile run coming from
the east. Thence it flows on to Barnesville, where it meets
the south branch of Tionesta full in the face.
Here the swollen stream turns squarely to the west, pass-
ing out of a broad and terraced basin, through a narrow
gorge between high hills, and enters the main creek which
flows in a devious southwesterly direction into the Alle-
gheny river, at Tionesta Bend, in Forest county.
Just north of Cranberry Swamp, (and perhaps receiving
some of its drainage,) heads Dutchman 1 s Run, a rapid but
inconsiderable stream occupying a broad old valley which
opens northward into the Allegheny river just above
Warren.
A glance at the curious windings of the upper Tionesta,
as shown on any map, would be sufficient to awaken a sus-
picion in the mind of a fluvialist that these peculiarities
were due to unusual causes ; and a few hours spent in the
350 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Held would satisfy him that his suspicions were well founded.
There seems to be scarcely the shadow of a doubt that all
of the upper branches of the Tionesta once delivered through
Dutchman s Run into the Allegheny.
For proof of this proposition we need only point to 1. the
clear evidences of a new cut at Barnesville, furnishing an
outlet to the south ; 2. to the equally clear evidences of a
deep fill of drift at Clarendon, (Cranberry Swamp,) consti-
tuting a divide or water shed to the north ; and 3. to the
abandoned curve-cliffs at Stoneham once washed by the
north-flowing stream, bat now high and dry on the drift-
filled divide.
Moreover, a well sunk at Sheffield (in 1865) and requir-
ing 110 feet of drive pipe, shows that the old floor there is
lower than the floor of its present Tionesta outlet, but Jiigher
than its former Conewango outlet.
Old floor in Sheffield well, above tide, 1215'
at Warren, 1100'
" at Foxburg, Forest county, 1260'
Thickness of drift in valley at Sheffield, 110'
" Warren, 100'
" " " Foxburg, 25'
Foxburg is situated on the Tionesta, nine miles belc^
Sheffield.
609. The following tables will assist in a comparison of
the average fall of the present streams with the slopes of
the ancient channel :
Altitude of Old Valley -floors.
At Carrollton, above tide, 1100'
At Cassadaga Lake, (calculated,) 815'
At Sheffield, . . . 1215'
At Warren, 1100'
At Fentonville, 964'
Fall of the Ancient Valley-floor.
1100
1215
1100
Carrollton to Cassadaga Lake, (815',) ' 285 J 60 ! 4' 9"
Sheffield to Warren 115 11 I 10' 5"
Warren to Fentonville, 136 i 13 I 10' 6'
Fentonville to Cassadaga Lake, (815',) 149 28 5' 4'
DRAINAGE MAPS. III. 351
Present fall of Cassadaga and Conewango Creeks.
1
3
1
1
1305
1225
Cassadaga Lake to Fentonville,
Fentonville to Warren. (1176')
80
49
28
13
2' 10"
3' 9"
1305
Cassadaga to Warren, (1176',)
129
41
3 2
Drainage Maps.
610. Two maps of the Summit water-basins of north-
western Pennsylvania accompany this volume. The first,
Plate I, is designed to show the drainage system as it now
exists. The second, Plate II, is intended to indicate the
probable shape of the pre-glacial water-tree.
A comparison of the two sheets will disclose the points
where the physical changes have occurred which resulted
in transferring the overflows of the several basins from the
valley of the St. Lawrence to the valley of the Mississippi.
611. It will be noticed (Plate II) that the blue rim of
the Chautauqua basin is broken through by a stream only
at one point at Cassadaga lake, in Chautauqua county.
In pre-glacial times all the water from this basin, contain-
ing probably 4,000 square miles of surface, appears to have
been delivered through this one outlet ; and it will be ob-
served by referring to the hilltop summits along the rim,
that the outlet occurs in the very spot where we should
look for it, on the supposition that it was opened under the
influences of atmospheric erosion alone ; for that portion of
the crest between Mayville and Dayton is much lower on
the average than any other part of it.
The only outlet through the rim of the Chautauqua basin
noticeable on the map (Plate I) is at Thompson's station,
in Warren county, Pa., where the Allegheny river now car-
ries the accumulated drainage of all this summit area. An-
other outlet through the ancient rim was cut near Barnes-
ville, in Warren county, but only the waters derived from
a small area tributary to Tionesta creek now pass through
that gap.
352 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
612. The principal points of difference between the two
maps are these :
On map .No. 2 pre-glacial ridges of indurated rocks ex-
tend across the stem of the present Allegheny at Thomp-
son's and at Great Bend, and also across the present Tion-
esta creek, near Barnesville, all in Warren county.
On map No. I, barriers of glacial debris obstruct the an-
cient Cassadaga valley at Cassadaga Lake, and at Steam-
burg, in N. Y., and a similar deposit at Stoneham, in War-
ren county, has in like manner obstructed and reversed the
ancient stream formerly flowing northward into the Cone-
wango.
It is here claimed that the cutting through of these three
pre-glacial ridges and the building up of the three glacial
barriers accomplished during the Ice-age through the agen-
cies of water and ice, as hereinafter to be explained, would
result in the re-alignment of drainage lines as shown on the
two maps ; the status of levels remaining meantime un-
changed ; and that therefore we have no need of resorting
to the hypothesis of warpings and oscillations of the earth-
crust, or of submergence beneath ocean and subsequent ele-
vation, to account for the accomplishment of any of the
effects observed in this basin.
Allegheny river drainage.
613. The upper Allegheny waters appear to have flowed
in pre-glacial times as they now flow, as far south at least
as Steamburg ; where meeting the waters of Kinzua creek
and its tributaries from the south, they swept around to
the northwest into the Conewango. That part of the Alle-
gheny valley, between Steamburg and Kinzua, was then a
portion of Kinzua creek. The present Kinzua valley, for
some distance above Kinzua village, is a counterpart in width
and general appearance of the portion of its old bed now
occupied by the Allegheny. Near where Kinzua village
now stands, a small stream came in from the south, taking
its rise in the highlands trending across the country in the
vicinity of Great Bend. This ridge capped with the mas-
sive conglomerates and sandstones of the coal measures
ALLEGHENY UIVEK DKAIJSTAGE. III. 853
still maintains its superior elevation above the surrounding
country, and lias preserved several patches of good coal
(Quaker Hill, &c.,) notwithstanding its prominent exposure
to erosive agencies during and since the Ice-age by reason
of its peculiar position and altitude. It was also the source
of several streams flowing in a westerly direction, one of
which, a branch of Hook' s Run, appears to have taken its
rise quite near the Kinzua branch above referred to. These
two branches became connected during the Ice-age, and
their channels deepened and adjusted to grade, now form
the Great Bend cut connecting the broad valley north of
Kinzua with the broad valley west of Hook's Run.
The following facts appear to sustain this conclusion :
(1) The narrowness of Great Bend cut as compared with the
valleys both above and below it. If the ancient current
which excavated the deep and broad valleys above and be-
low passed through the bend, why this contraction of the
valley at this point where there is 110 conspicuous change
in structure to cause it ?
(2) Northeast of the bend the lateral streams come in from
a southerly direction corresponding with a northerly flow
of the Kinzua, (now a part of the Allegheny,) and the con-
tours of the hills at their intersection with the main valley,
point in the same direction.
(3) West of the bend, features of a similar character indi-
cate a westerly flow for the drainage in harmony with the
present current.
That the other new cuts of the Tionesta near Barnesville,
and of the Allegheny at Thompsons, have originated in a
similar manner to the above, that is by the joining together
of two streams originally flowing in opposite directions, can
hardly be doubted. The proofs are plain, but it is unneces-
sary to adduce them here, .for they would only be a repeti-
tion of those already given above.
614. The Allegheny in pre-glacial times, according to
these views of the situation, took its rise on the southerly
side of the high lands between Irvineton and Tidioute, and
no water north of that point entered its channel. This ridge,
it will be noticed, forms the southerly rim of Chautauqua
23 III.
354 III. KEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
basin. Down its northerly slope ran a small stream into
the Brokenstraw, at Irvineton. The Brokenstraw flowing
eastward to Warren, there met Hook's run and turned
north through Conewango creek. At Falconer' s the stream
was greatly enlarged by the waters of Chautauqua from
the west and those of the Kinzua, northern Allegheny, and
Cassadaga from the east, and still flowing northward through
the Cassadaga valley entered the Lake Erie basin.
That portion of the Allegheny valley between Steamburg
and Thompson's has had a very different history from the
portions above and below those points. The Allegheny, as
now flowing, may be said to be a modern stream occupying
portions of the valleys of several old ones. From Steam-
burg to Great Bend it has usurped the trough excavated
by the ancient Kinzua and its branch, and reversed the di-
rection of their former currents from Great Bend to War-
ren it has absorbed Hook's run and its branch, but still
carries them in their original course from Warren to Irvine-
ton it has robbed the Brokenstraw of its bed and sweeps
back its waters through a former tributary, and thus effects
a connection with the present trunk stream.
The water-tree of Chautauqua basin, as shown on Plate
No. 2, is somewhat peculiar, but not at all unnatural. When
this area emerged from the ocean we may suppose it to have
been a nearly flat but somewhat warped and undulating
basin shaped plateau of mud and sand. It must have had
a lowest point among its depressions this seems to have
been near Falconer's ; and a lowest point in its periphery ;
this seems to have been at Cassadaga. The rain waters
converging toward the lowest point of the basin would
accumulate and overflow at the lowest point of the rim.
An outlet once established would cut down rapidly in such
soft and unconsolidated materials as we may suppose these
to have been. The main lake would soon be drained, leav-
ing smaller lakelets scattered about in the depressions, all
in turn to be emptied into the common outlet, as the bar-
riers cut down and the channels deepened. A system of
drainage, whose outlines were first inscribed in this manner
upon a soft and undulating plain, would be a striking pro-
ALLEGHENY EIVER DRAINAGE. III. 355
totype of that which we see the witnesses of in this ancient
basin.
It is an interesting thought in this connection, that if the
new cuts on the Allegheny at Thompson's and at Great
Bend were to-day filled up to a height of 1350 feet above
ocean, that is about 200 feet above the present water plain
at Thompson's, and 120 feet at Great Bend, precisely anal-
ogous results to those indicated above would occur. The
old outlet at Cassadaga lake would be re-opened ; as it
deepened the waters would all centre near Falconer's, and
thus no doubt in the process of time the old valleys would
be swept of their superficial deposits, and the ancient floors
again be laid bare.
356 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Conneaut Northern Outlet.
615. The Oil creek and Conneaut water-basins both
present in their topographic features evidences of the ex-
istence of buried channels, drift-barriers, glacial cuts, and
reversed streams, very similar to those of the Chautauqua
water-basin.
As the old valleys are traced northward, the superficial
deposits are found to increase in thickness ; the old floor
approaches nearer and nearer to tide-level ; and the diffi-
culties in the way, supposing that the waters, while exca-
vating these ancient valleys, delivered through any south-
ern outlet now discoverable, become quite insurmountable.
The present outlet of Oil creek water-basin, is Oil Creek,
which joins the Allegheny river at Oil City ; and that of
the Conneaut water-basin is French creek, entering the Al-
legheny river at Franklin.
On Oil creek, the old valley floor is found at the entrance
of the high lands, just below Titusville, at a tide-level alti-
tude of 1125'. Nine miles further north, at Grey's well,
near Clappville, it was not reached at 1034'.
On French creek the elevations are 948' at Franklin, and
800' at Canfield well, 23 miles above Franklin, (equal to
about 780' at the mouth of Conneaut outlet, 20 miles from
Franklin.)
These figures afford proof positive that the old rock beds
on these two streams, between the points named above,
slope downward towards the north at a rate on Oil creek of
at least 10 feet to the mile, and on French creek, (if calcu-
lated to Conneaut outlet,) of not less than 8 feet.
A continuous and elevated range of hills heavily capped
with conglomerate and sandstone, lying to the southeast of
THE CONNEAUT NOETHEEN OUTLET.
III. 357
these two basins, forbids the supposition that other outlets
than those named above might be found leading into the
Allegheny. It is evident, from the shape of the surround-
ing country, that if these waters passed southward at any
time during the pre-glacial period, they must have flowed
through the channels occupied by the present streams.
The following tables, showing the depth of drift and
slope of old floors along Oil creek and French creek, will
throw light on this part of the subject.
Oil creeJc. Elevations above tide and thickness of super-
ficial deposits :
Surface
Depth
of drift.
IQld
floor.
Oil City ...
1008'
50'
958'
Rouseville ...
1036
40
996
1089
40
1049
Pioneer
1099
45
1054
(1115)*
50
1065
Miller farm,
1131
45
1086
Boughton,
Bissell farm, junction of Pine creek, ..;...
(1157)
(1170)
30
45
1127
1125
Titusville,
1194
94
1100
Grey well, 8 miles above Titusville,
(1260)
2264-
1034
French creek. Elevations above tide and thickness of
superficial deposits :
Surface.
Depth
of drift.
Old
floor.
Franklin, . ...
988'
40'
948'
Sugar creek, .
1014
40
974
Canfield well, ...
1070
2704-
800
Note how remarkably the thickness of drift south of the
Titusville flats, and between Sugar creek and Franklin,
agrees with that on the Allegheny river, previously given ;
and how quickly it begins to thicken going northward from
these points.
The figures show a change of slope in the ancient floors
1 The figures in brackets are close approximations.
358 III. REPOKT OF PROGEESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
of Oil creek and of French creek in the vicinity of the
Conglomerate ridge before spoken of, which, aside from
other considerations, makes it appear quite improbable
that these two valleys south of the ridge were excavated by
the currents which eroded the deeper valleys north of it.
And if they were not thus excavated that is, if the waters
of ancient Pine creek and^Upper Oil creek did not originally
find exit through the present main trunk of Oil creek at
Oil City, then they must have flowed northward into
French creek. If the waters of ancient French creek and
its tributaries did not join the Allegheny at Franklin, they
could only find a delivery northward through Conneaut
lake and Conneaut creek into the Lake Erie basin.
616. With the scanty materials at command let us at-
tempt to trace these ancient valleys toward Conneaut lake,
and see if it appears feasible to deliver their waters in that
direction.
Oil creek and French creek elevations above ocean, and
slope per mile of old valley-floors :
Old
floor.
Fall.
Miles.
Rate.
1125
Bissell farm* to Titusville,
25
2
12' 5"
1100
Titusville to Grey's well
66
7
9' 5"
1034
Grey's well to (Janfield well,
234
35
6' 8"
This shows that there is ample fall in the ancient valley-
floor (if the valley be continuous, and of regular grade
along the line indicated on Plate No. 2) to deliver the Pine
creek and Upper Oil creek waters at Canfield well on French
creek, three miles above the mouth of Conneaut outlet ;
and since this well is said to have been abandoned before
reaching bed-rock, the fall is probably greater than that
figured in the table.
Starting now at Grey's well on Oil creek, and distributing
the ascertained fall pro rata according to distance, we get
the following elevations above tide for the ancient floor at
the points named.
* This is where Oil creek enters the highlands at the mouth of Pine creek,
below Titusville.
THE CONKEAUT NORTIIEEN OUTLET. III. 859
Grey's well, old floor above tide, =1034'
Summit between west branch of Oil creek and Muddy
creek, 20' lower, (dist. 3 miles, fall per mile 6' 8"=20')=1014'
Little Cooley, on Muddy creek, (3| milesX6' 10" fall=24')= 990'
Cambridge, on French creek, (10> milesX6' 8" fall=70')= 920'
Meadville, on French creek, (15 milesXS' 8" fall=lOO) = 820'
Cantield well, on French creek, (3 miles><6' 8" fall=20') = 800'
Mouth of Conneaut outlet, (3 milesX6' 8'' fall=20') . . . = 780'
617. From these elevations we may ascertain the proba-
ble amount of superficial deposits at each point, thus :
*
Surface.
d
P
Old floor.
Grey's Well (measured )
1260
226
1034
1358
344
1014
Little Cooley,
1200
210
990
1140
220
920
Meadville
1075
255
820
Canfield Well, (measured,)
1070
270
800
Conneaut Outlet
1065
285
780
Nothing improbable appears in the above exhibit. The
depth of drift required to make this route available is in no
place greater than what might reasonably be expected ; for
both on the summit where the branches of Oil creek and
Muddy creek rise interlocking together among a nest of low
drift hills, and also at Little Cooley, Cambridge and Mead-
ville, everything betokens very heavy drift deposits. The
valleys are broad, the side hills sloping, affording ample
room for a grand old channel of the depth and width re-
quired ; and all the surroundings favor the inference that
such an one once existed there.
No one who examines the superficial features of the coun-
try can fail to conclude that all the drainage of Oil Creek
basin and so much of the Conneaut as did not fall directly
into Conneaut outlet, once centered in French creek and
passed down as far as its junction with the Conneaut Lake
outlet,* From this point then it must either have gone
* In 1877, before the idea of a northern outlet to the Oil Creek basin had
been entertained, Prof. Chas E. Hall, who had been giving considerable at-
tention to the drift-deposits in eastern Pennsylvania, came out to inspect the
drifts in the vicinity of Titusville. After a thorough examination of the sin-
gular deposit lying basined in the hills south of Titusville flats, and nearly op-
360 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
southeasterly into the Allegheny river, or northwesterly
into the Lake Erie basin. These are the only two possible
channels for it ; which one did it follow \
TVe have very good evidence that the ancient valley floor
at the Conneaut outlet junction is not higher than 780'
above tide. At the best then it is 168' below the bottom of
the mouth of French Creek at Franklin, and 60' below the
old floor of the Allegheny at Parker's, 60 miles further
south. There could have been no outlet, therefore, in this
southward direction with the present status of levels.
But the northward outlook is more favorable ; for, the
bed rock at the junction lies about 207' above the surface of
Lake Erie ; and this free delivery can be reached by the
valleys of Conneaut outlet and Conneaut creek in a travel
of about 43 miles ; which gives an average fall of 4 feet
10 inches to the mile. The distance would be greater, fol-
lowing the present windings of Conneaut creek, but the
probabilities are that the old stream did not wander to
westward as far as the present one does ; but rather, that
poslte the mouth of Caldwell creek, we became convinced that it filled an old
vaJlay that it had been transported from the north through Crouse run and
Caldwell creek and that there could not possibly be any continuation of the
buried channel leading into Oil creek toward the southwest. Then, knowing
the fact tint th3 old floor beneith Oil creek on Watson's flats was from 50 to
60 feet lower than it was a mile further south where the stream enters the
gorge cut through the highlands, we conclu led to look for a northern outlet.
Procuring a conveyance we drove up Oil creek to Clappville ; pas-ed over
the divide to Muddy creek, thence to Little Cooley, and so on to Cambridge
on French creek. Down to this point there was no apparent difficulty in the
way, either in levels or in the width of valleys and probabilities of drift-fill-
ing, and wo felt confident that we had been fallowing the coursa of the ancient
stream.
From Cambridge a very broad valley ex.ends northward to Conneautee
Lake, Avhich lies about 70 feet above French creek. It looked as if the an-
cient stream had found its way into the Lake Erie basin through this depres-
sion but on arriving at Conneautee we were met bj- a broad ridge of strati-
fied rocks through which it was evident no buried channel could extend.
We then drove northeaster^- to Waterford, on Le Boeuf creek, where the R. R.
elevation isonlyOO feet above Cam bridge. The width of valley and great accu-
mulation of drift here seen, made an outlet in this direction seem possible.
We then turned north toward Lake Erie, but on reaching the summit swamp
on the divide, r.t an elevation of 1260 feet above tide, became satisfied that this
route was also impracticable, and consequently abandoned all expectations of
finding an outlet except through the southwesterly continuation of French
creek.
THE CO^JNTEAUT JSTOKTIIERX OUTLET. III. 361
it flowed through a more direct but now obliterated or con-
cealed channel leading from the big bend into Lake Erie.
618. There is no necessity for confining this fall within
the narrow limits afforded by the present Lake Erie surface,
for the old valley-floor may have been far below the present
water-level of the Lake. It has been demonstrated that
the bottom of ancient Cuyahoga valley at Cleveland lies
at least 228' below the present level of Lake Erie ; and other
streams entering the lake are known to be flowing far above
their former beds. *
There is no difficulty, then, in obtaining ample fall to
carry the French creek waters into the great valley now
occupied by Lake Erie, provided the old floor could be
shown to have an uniform slope. This unfortunately can-
not be done, for no wells have been sunk along the course
of the old stream. But having seen that the waters could
not have had an outlet towards the south, and that this is
the only oilier available outlet for them, we are warranted
in concluding, in the absence of positive evidence to the
contrary, that the old stream-bed was adjusted to proper
grade ; and more especially so, if we shall find that this
grade would not require an extraordinary amount of drift-
filling on the supposition that the old stream has been ob-
literated and the current reversed.
From French creek to the head of Conneaut lake is a dis-
tance of about 15 miles. By adopting a slope of five feet
per mile from our ascertained elevation of bed-rock on
French creek, 789', we get a fall of 75' to Conneaut lake,
which puts the old valley-floor there at 705'. The present
surface water-level of Conneaut lake is 1082'; consequently
(1082' 70.5'=) 377' is the required thickness of filling un-
* "All these streams [Grand river, the Cuyahoga, Black river, the Huron,
Portage, Maume, &c. ] now enter the Lake from one hundred to two hundred
feet above their ancient beds, and when they flowed in their deeply buried
rocky channels, Lake Erie had no existence as a lake, but was a valley tra-
versed by Detroit river, which flowed north of Point Pele island, at least two
hundred feet below the present lake level, and received the streams I have
mentioned as its tributaries." Dr. J. S. Newberry, iu Geology of Ohio, Vol.
II, p. 199,
362 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
derneath it, and not extraordinary, considering the charac-
ter of Conneaut outlet and the surroundings of the lake.*
619. The surroundings of Conneaut are similar to those
of Cassadaga lake ; and here also a low barrier of drift pre-
vents the Conneaut water from flowing northward. But
the descent from Conneaut lake to Conneaut creek is not
nearly as great or as abrupt as it is from Cassadaga lake
to Canadaway creek ; consequently the drift-filling is not
* It should not be inferred from the methods above pursued in tracing the
old valley-floors by relative levels above ocean, that we are attempting to
give actual profiles of the beds of pre-glacial streams. This could not be
done, even if all our valleys were as thoroughly perforated by drill-holes as
parts of Allegheny river, Oil creek, and the Tunangwant have been, for the
present contours of the old floors do not represent what they were at the
commencement of the Ice Age, but what they came to be long subsequently,
when the conditions had become such as to allow them to begin to retain the
drift deposits now found lying upon them. I have no doubt whatever that
these channels were greatly altered and modified during the continuance of
the Ice Age, some of them having been considerably and regularly deepened,
and others, owing to some peculiar action of the ice and under-ice-currents,
(operating in a manner which, as yet, seems obscure,) having been actually
excavated in long basins or sink-holes considerably deeper than their outlets.
The point in discussion is, not what were the precise ph3 r sical conditions of
cut and slope in these old valleys, but did our streams always flow in the
directions they now flow, or have some of their currents been reversed? Did
the immense amount of excavated material from these deep old valleys of the
north, draining an area of more than 7500 square miles, all pass out in one
turbid stream through the Allegheny river below Franklin, or did they flow
northward by several channels into the valley of Lake Erie?
In preparing to answer these questions, one would naturally be led to first
examine the Allegheny river below Franklin, where it must have received
and forwarded all of these concentrated waters, to see if the depth and width
and topographical aspects of the valley were such as might be expected in
one through which had passed the currents of ages, carrying mam r cubic miles
of sediment eroded from the mountains and valleys to the north ; and which,
consequently, must have furnished a free avenue for the unobstructed flow
of glaciers during the whole of the Ice Age. And if, upon such examination,
he became satisfied that the channel did not present satisfactory evidences of
having been subjected to the tremendous wear and tear of the mechanical
agencies belonging to such currents of water and ice, he would then look
elsewhere, not only for other outlets to convey the waters, but for additional
facts to support his conclusions in relation to the inadequacy of the Allegheny
channel for the performance of the work required of it, if it had always been
the only outlet.
In the pursuance of these latter objects the above levels are given, and they
are to be taken for what they are worth, as collateral aids to assist in weigh-
ing the probabilities for or against the theory of northern drainage in pre-
glacial times.
PL XLI.
Conneaui Northern Outlet.
TIL 363
\Ibotonulla*
364 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
so well exposed below lake level at the north. Conneaut
barrier lies like a core in the old valley, with a surface
sloping quite gradually both north and south from its point
of maximum thickness ; while Cassadaga barrier slopes
very gradually to the south, but cuts off abruptly on the
north, as seen in the following sketches, Plate XLI :
The shape of the trough receiving the deposit, necessarily
determines the shape of the core within it. Cassadaga lies
so high above Lake Erie (1305' 573'=732 / ) and so near the
lake plain bordering it, (being only about five miles from
Laona, where the elevated side-walls of the old valley ter-
minate,) that there is not length enough in the excavation
for such materials as these to form a permanent, gradual
slope. They could not stand at a surface gradient as steep
as one hundred and forty-five feet per mile if any consider-
able volume of drainage passed over them.
The waters of Canadaway creek entering the old valley
from the east, about midway between Cassadaga and Laona,
have carried out a large amount of material and reduced
the slope of the drift-filled valley below that point. But
above this a natural dam stretches across the valley, rising
steeply to the height of 350 feet and holding Cassadaga
lake upon its top. This steep slope is subject only to the
wash of the rainfall received upon it ; and how quickly the
barrier would be removed if once broken by a stream of
water passing over it, may be judged from the following
circumstance :
Some thirty or forty years ago the mill owners on Cana-
daway creek desiring to increase their supply of water dur-
ing dry weather, cut a small ditch through the low gravel
hills at the head of Cassadaga lake., thus allowing lake
water to flow north into Canadaway creek. The stream,
small at first, soon began to cut. It quickly excavated a
gulley fifty or sixty feet deep on the steep slope of the
loose materials which formed the dam, and cut back to-
wards the lake so alarmingly that the people of the neigh-
borhood were called out in haste to fill up the ditch, that
the lake might be preserved from drainage and the country
below from inundation.
THE CCWISTEAUT NOETHEEN OUTLET. III. 365
620. But the situation of Conneaut is quite different
from that of Cassadaga lake in important respects. It is
223' lower than Cassadaga (being 1305' 223'=1082 / ; or 509
feet above Lake Erie) and the old trough below it to the
north is protected by side-hills for a distance of about 20
miles. In addition to this, Conneaut creek, on emerging
from the hills forming the Lake Erie escarpment, turns
shortly to the west, and after a very devious course enters
Lake Erie in Ohio ; thus adding materially to the length
of its channel. As the current runs, this stream must be
about 60 miles in length. I have not examined that part
of it north of Crawford county line, but suspect that it
leaves the old valley near where it turns westward. The
conditions of this ancient valley, therefore, favored the re-
tention of the glacial debris swept into it. It filled in deep
and broad between the protecting hills, and, having been
leveled off on a natural slope as the waters lowered in the
lake basin to the north, has not been materially altered by
subsequent erosion.
How deep the drift of this valley between the lakes may
be, we have no positive data for determining. It has every
characteristic of the oil region valleys, where actual meas-
urements show from 200 ft. to 450 ft., and is unquestionably
very deeply filled.
About a mile from Conneautville and eight miles north
of Conneaut lake, an oil well was sunk in which 112 ft. of
quicksand and gravel were found above bed-rock. The
well mouth is 150' below Conneaut lake, and it does not ap-
pear to be located in the center of the old valley.
Conneaut lake was the summit reservoir of the old Beaver
canal, supplying water for locking down both north and
south. To increase its capacity, an aqueduct about twenty-
one miles in length was constructed, through which the
water of upper French creek flowed directly into the lake
and raised its water-level about eight feet.* This open ca-
*The elevation herein used for Conneaut lake (1082 ft. above ocean) is the
old canal summit level. Since the abandonment of the canal and aqueduct
and the dredging of the lake outlet, the water surface has been lowered from
10 to 12 feet.
366 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
nal tapped French creek at Bemustown, two and a half
miles above Meadville, and following the east side of the
creek to its junction with the lake outlet, there crossed over
the stream in an aqueduct and then followed along the
north-east side of the outlet to the foot of the lake.
It is here interesting to note, as showing the relative lev-
els of different localities, that if this canal were cut through
to Titusville on the alignment of the ancient stream, as
shown on Plate No. 2, all the waters of upper Oil creek,
Pine creek, and their tributaries would flow into Conneaut
lake, instead of passing to the south down the main trunk
of Oil creek as they do at present ; and the current would
have a total fall of about ninety feet between Titusville and
the lake.
621. We might go on now to speak of the evidences of
a new cut, made during the Glacial epoch, on Oil creek,
between Titusville and Petroleum Centre, and of another
on French creek, between Utica and Franklin ; and call at-
tention to the trend of lateral valleys and the aspects of
their terminal bluffs, on that part of Oil creek between Ti-
tusville and Clappville, and on French creek, where the
streams seem to have been reversed but it would only be
a repetition of what has already been said in describing
similar features in the Chautauqua basin. A reference to
the map will show where the ancient dividing ridges and
more recent glacial-barriers are located, as indicated by a
study of the topography of the country.
While it is to be regretted that more abundant and posi-
tive proofs in confirmation of the hypothesis of a former
northern drainage for these basins cannot be offered, it
must be admitted that the facts already presented are suffi-
cient to make it appear not only possible but very probable,
for in no other way can the phenomena observed in connec-
tion witb the drainage and the drifts be satisfactorily ac-
counted for.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Excavation of Lake Erie.
622. Ancient valleys, similar to those mentioned in the
preceding chapter, are known to enter the lake-basin in Ohio,
as shown in the extracts before quoted. The drift-filling
in them, like that in those of our own State, is an unim-
peachable witness of pre-glacial excavation ; and the direc-
tion in which they all trend proves plainly the former exist-
ence of a main channel of delivery to ocean through the
present Lake Erie basin, and an ancient divide between the
water-sheds of the Mississippi valley and the lakes. How
did the crest of that divide compare, geographically, with
the present one ? In Pennsylvania, if the above expressed
views regarding the pre-glacial flow of the upper Allegheny
and its tributaries be correct, the old crest must necessarily
have been many miles south of the present one, and have
had quite a different trend. From the lack of requisite
data, the old ridge cannot be located with so much assur-
ance in New York and Ohio as in Penn'a ; but I have en-
deavored to trace it approximately both east and west, on
contour map, Plate No. 2 bis., in order that the continuity
of the divide might be preserved to illustrate what is to
follow.
That such a ridge existed somewhere in this region can-
not be doubted, and the reasons for locating it, as seen on
the map, will be apparent as we proceed. It was the bar-
rier between two systems of river drainage and the source
of their supplies one delivering to the north of it, and the
other to the south. The table-lands of its summit may have
had considerable width, and the head-water streams .may
have interlocked, some of those flowing south rising north
of its average medial crest, and some of those flowing north
rising south of it, as we frequently observe in similar cases
( 367 III. )
368 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
now ; but it was an unbroken divide, extending from the
Catskill mountains in New York, sweeping around the
head of Lake Erie, and thence northwardly through Mich-
igan to the vicinity of the straits of Mackinaw, and had
sufficient altitude to originate the two systems of drainage
referred to, and prevent any inter-communication between
the waters of the one series and those of the other.
623. What was the actual elevation of the country above
ocean at that time, who can say ? It would appear that it
could hardly have been lower than at present ; for the old
floor of Cuyahoga river at Cleveland is now 228 feet below
lake level, or only 345 feet above ocean ; and the bottoms of
lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Ontario in some
places are known to be from 200 to 500 feet below the present
ocean level. It might have been higher, (and indeed it
seems quite probable that it was,) but inasmuch as any
change that did not materially alter relative levels, would
not affect our argument ; and as there seems to be nothing
discoverable in relation to the old streams of Pennsylvania
which requires a supposititious change of elevations for its
explanation, we prefer to continue our discussion on the
basis of the present status of levels ; for, by so doing we
shall avoid unnecessary complications, and be able to pre-
sent more concisely the facts and inferences to which they
lead. We want it distinctly understood, however, that we
are not attempting to advance a new theory, but only
aiming to record some conclusions (and they are largely
tentative) drawn from local observations in northwestern
Pennsylvania, hoping that they may prove suggestive, at
least, and be of some assistance to others in a more com-
prehensive study of the drift phenomena of this latitude.
Judging then from the present configuration and altitude
of this divide it is inferred that, at the commencement of
the glacial-epoch, its summit could not have been less than
900 feet above ocean in its lowest part which was in north-
western Ohio ; and 2600 feet in its highest part which was
in northern Pennsylvania; and considering the extent of
erosion accomplished since that time, on mountain top as
well as in valleys, it may safely be assumed that it was
EXCAVATION OF LAKE ERIE. III. 369
much higher. In any event it was high enough to originate
the streams flowing northward into the basin of the lakes,
and southward into the Mississippi valley the buried chan-
nels of which still remain on both sides of the divide as
witnesses of the fact.
At that time, we may picture the country north of the
divide (and that to the south must have been very similar)
as a region of sharp and broken ridges, traversed by pro-
found gorges, some of them no doubt more than 1500 feet
deep, and occupied by rapid streams, all delivering into a
grand trunk river which probably swept around somewhat
centrally through the basins of lakes Erie and Ontario into
the St. Lawrence* the drainage and detritus of a vast area
being thus poured into the ocean through a single channel,
and this stream meeting tide-water in latitude more than
eight degrees north of some of its sources of supply.
This is the situation as it presents itself to our view be-
fore the country was invaded by ice. Then, probably owing
to cosmic causes, an arctic climate supervened. But the
* Whether this stream headed in Lake Huron basin or on the southeastern
slope of the Cincinnati anticlinal, is left an open question. Possibly the con-
nection between Erie and Huron was made through the anticlinal during the
Ice Age, and that previously the waters of Huron basin flowed out through
the Maumee, and those of Michigan through the buried channel connecting
it with the Mississippi.
In the absence of positive knowledge to the contrary, and because no other
avenue seems feasible, I have assumed that the St. Lawrence valley must have
been the ancient ocean outlet for the pre-glacial waters. A buried channel
several hundred feet in depth, beneath the present bed of the Mohawk, has
frequently been referred to as a probable connection between Lake Ontario
and the Hudson. But a brief study of the gap at Little Falls, in Herkimer
county, N. Y., ought to satisfy any one that no buried channel exists there,
whatever the conditions may be to the east or to the west of that point ; and I
can see no possibility of there being an abandoned channel either to the north
or to the south of it. Here the metamorphic rocks come up at a sharp angle
and form not only the bed of the stream, but a considerable portion of the
side-walls. The cut can scarcely exceed 100 rods in width the side hills rise
abruptly at least 300 feet in height and the elevation of the top of the falls is
about 380 feet above ocean, or ISO feet above the surface of Lake Ontario. An-
other gap of about the same width, and cut through similar rocks, may be
seen at the "Nose," near Yost, about 24 miles east of Little Falls. These
facts induce me to regard the Mohawk valley only as an auxiliary outlet,
opened during the Ice Age by the overflow of ice and water from the great
central mer de place. It has neither the depth nor the width that we should
expect it to have, if it had been opened anterior to that time.
24 III.
370 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN" F. CARLL.
glaciers did not come down at once from their northern
fastnesses like an irresistible avalanche, plowing up every-
thing before them scooping out the lake basins, filling up
old channels, scaling the dividing ridge, and re-sculpturing
the Mississippi slope as they passed on with a grand sweep
towards the south. Ages on ages were consumed in accom-
plishing all this, and the specific methods by which the
transformations were wrought varied at different periods
and in different places, as the relative relations varied be-
tween the eroding agents and the eroded rocks. In one
place, advantage of position saved soft rocks from destruc-
tion ; in another, direct exposure insured the degradation
of the hardest. We may study now on the surface only
the particular features resulting from the concluding por-
tion of the work the faint marks, as it were, of the sculp-
tor's finishing- chisel upon the statue; what the different
stages were in the process of quarrying the block and out-
lining the figure in the rough, and just how the work pro-
gressed from time to time may be conjectured, but cannot
with exactness be described, for the petrographic inscrip-
tions by which alone this detailed history could be read
have mostly disappeared with the wasting rocks upon which
they were written; the last tablet alone remains to be
studied.
624. But in imagination we may look back into the
abysmal past and attempt to briefly outline some of the
sequences which would probably result from the natural
advance, occupation and retreat of a continental glacier in
a district presenting the features above described.
On the hypothesis of a gradual increment of ice proceed-
ing from a northern nucleus, and a steady southward pro-
gress of arctic conditions of climate, we should expect to
see the great ice wall from the north creeping down slowly
partly by a movement of its own, but more sensibly by the
accumulations of new materials along its face and in front
of it. Step by step it advances it stretches across the
mouth of the St. Lawrence, travels onward, occupying more
and more of its valley. and soon seriously impedes the de-
livery of its waters, which now can only find an outlet be-
EXCAVATION OF LAKE ERIE. III. 371
neath the ice, or through a channel way which the ice-move-
ment tends to constantly fill and obstruct. Meantime the
increasing rigors of the climaf 3 begin to produce their effect
along the great divide to the south. The snow and ice of
winter, which at first barely melted before another crop
appeared, now remain over and accumulate from year to
year. They slip from the steep hill-sides, carrying with
them large masses of disintegrated rocks, and fill up the
deep gorges. Thus the process goes slowly on until the
whole basin draining into the St. Lawrence becomes one
grand mer de glace whose overflows of ice must now neces-
sarily be toward the south.
Through all this period, and indeed during the entire
duration of the Ice Age, immense quantities of water must
have been accumulating beneath the ice sheet. The under-
ice-currents conforming to the general outlines of drainage
already established, all converged toward the common trunk-
stream, and this channel by reason of its trend to the north-
east, was the first one to be seriously obstructed by solid ice.
No doubt the ocean- seeking currents still flowed through
crevasses, and in ice-arched channel ways beneath the glacier,
but the capacity of the aqueducts was inadequate to the
delivery required. The water accumulated as in an ice-
filled lake, until the surface level rose and another outlet
was established through the Mohawk valley ; but even with
this auxiliary in operation the sub-glacial waters still in-
creased, finally filling the basin and overtopping the rim at
several low places in the crest at the south.
But these results were accomplished only through the
greatest irregularity in the operations of the physical agen-
cies combining to produce them. The peculiar situation of
the basin induced and perpetuated a continual antagonism
between the dynamic forces of the ice and water centering
toward or contained in it. The main shove of ice was to-
warfl the south while the only egress for the sub-glacial
and crevass waters was to the northeast. Where a glacier
and its under- water drain move in the same course, we may
suppose that the ice-arch will be kept open with compara-
tive ease ; but where the ice- movement is at right angles,
372 III. KEPOKT OF PROGKESS. JOHN F. CAKLL.
or approximately so, to the water-flow, a frequent settling
of the ice-roof and obstruction of the channelway must
occur.
Imagine an unbroken sheet of ice, say 2000 feet in thick-
ness, gliding down the Canadian slopes into and across the
old valleys of Erie and Ontario and impinging with tre-
mendous power upon the southern cliffs. See the strug-
gling waters beneath, impelled by a static pressure of from
300 to 600 feet, (varying at different times and in different
places according to the fluctuating height of the water sur-
face above the valley floor,) seeking an outlet in the direc-
tion of the old channel through a labyrinth of ice-arches
supported largely by pillars and walls of soft rock left
between the eroding sub-glacial streams.* The cross-move-
ment of the ice current would undoubtedly topple over and
crush down these combination supports of ice and rock,
shifting the currents to new channels, and repeating the op-
eration again and again. By the crushing and grinding of
the rock the material was prepared for easy removal ; by
the changing channels the bottom was broadly excavated ;
by the letting down of the ice -roof the water and ice were
kept constantly at work upon the rocks ; and thus the val-
leys were gradually widened and deepened.
May not some of the lake basins have been partly exca-
vated in this way ? Erie and Ontario are situated precisely
where agencies like these may be supposed to have operated
most actively.
625. To recapitulate, it seems clear that a system of pre-
glacial valleys and streams existed in this region ; that their
accumulated waters reached the ocean either through the
St. Lawrence or the Mohawk and Hudson, most probably
through the former ; that the great divide at that time
could not have been less than 600 feet above the ancient
valley-floor near the present head of Lake Erie, and 2000
* It may be questioned whether the depth of water in the basin was not
sufficient at some stages of the growth and decline of the ice sheets, to float
large fields of it. But even if the mass was too thick to float, we may be sure
that it was buoyed up by the water beneath it and rendered more susceptible
to the guidance of the influences which were propelling it forward.
EXCAVATION OF LAKE ERIE. III. 373
feet near the head of Lake Ontario ; that there is no evi-
dence of a change of levels at any time sufficient to throw
the waters, (if they were free from ice,) from the bottom of
this old channel backward or southward over the old di-
vide into the Mississippi valley. We cannot avoid the in-
ference, therefore, that causes similar to those described
above bore an important part in the excavation of the lake
basins, whether they were competent to the performance of
all the work that has been done or not.
626. It is also clear that at some period subsequent to
the erosion of the ancient river valleys, several important
gaps were cut through the crest of the great pre-glacial
divide, between streams previously taking their rise upon
it and flowing in opposite directions.
One of these cuts may be found near the head of Seneca
lake, opening a communication with the Susquehanna river ;
present elevation above ocean 880 feet.
There are five others in Ohio, as follows :*
1. Between Grand river and the Mahoning, elevation .... 936'
2. Between Cuyahoga river and the Tuscarawas, elevation . 968'
3. Between Black river and the Tuscarawas, elevation .... 909'
4. Between Sandusky river and the Scioto, elevation .... 910'
5. Between Maumee river and the Miami, elevation, .... 940'
Still another gap, the lowest in elevation, the broadest
and most important one of all, connects the valley of the
Maumee with the valley of the Wabash, the summit eleva-
tion being only 790 feet.
It will be noticed that these southern outlets to the lake
basin are cut down to varying levels, being precisely of
such a character as might be expected to result from the
conditions above described. They appear to have been
surface outlets for the overflow of the under-ice waters fol-
lowing the moving glaciers during the period of greatest
accumulation of ice intermittent streams dependent upon
the fluctuating levels of the interior sub-glacial lake. These
water levels, I imagine, were very inconstant. When the
sub-glacial streams were delivering freely to the northeast
the water line would fall ; when they were obstructed, it
* Geology of Ohio, Vol. II, page 47.
374 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
would rise. There were sudden, partial stoppages in the
main channels, periodic accessions to the quantity of water
accumulating, diversion of currents by crevasses in the ice,
and barriers formed by the tortuous movements of ice cores
which projected down into the old valleys hundreds of feet
below the free-moving ice-sheets of the surface in such a
manner as to practically separate, for a time, different
parts of the basin one from another. The area of the basin
was so large, the water communication so retarded and ex-
posed to so many accidental conditions, amounting at times
to almost complete stoppage of inter-communication, that
temporary outlets to relieve these possible contingencies
might be maintained intermittently in this place at one
elevation, and in that at a different level until time was
afforded for an equilibrium to be restored.
It may be said that I have laid too much stress upon the
accumulation and action of sub-glacial water (a). But
witness the facts. The idea that the Ice Age was a period
of cold so intense that it was not possible for water to re-
main in a fluid state beneath it, is evidently an erroneous
one. Arctic glaciers to-day are the sources of immense
water-flows. The cold producing glaciers is atmospheric,
not terrene. A non-conducting ice-sheet, by preventing
radiation and induction must necessarily increase the tem-
perature of the earth' s surface beneath it, and to a greater
degree, probably, under a continental glacier than under
one of restricted dimensions, where numerous avenues of
ventilation or radiation exist around its edges (b). The
luxuriant growth of vegetation in close proximity to the
ice- wall of a glacier is a proof that the soil is as warm there
as at points remote from it (c).
The following quotations may be given to sustain the
views above advanced :
(a) "Our progress on the 5th [Sept.] was arrested by an-
other bay much larger than any we had seen since entering
Smith's Straits. It was a noble sheet of water, perfectly
open, and thus in strange contrast to the ice outside. The
cause of this, at the time inexplicable phenomenon, was
found in a roaring and tumultuous river, which, issuing
EXCAVATION OF LAKE EKIE. III. 375
from a fiord at the inner sweep of the bay, rolled with the
violence of a snow-torrent over a broken bed of rocks.
.This river, [Mary Minturn river,] the largest probably yet
known in North Greenland, was about three quarters of a
mile wide at its mouth, and admitted the tides for about
three miles ; when its bed rapidly ascended and could be
traced by the configuration of the hills as far as a large
inner fiord. Its course was afterward pursued to an interior
glacier, from the base of which it was found to issue in
numerous streams, that united into a single trunk about
forty miles above its mouth."
" Some seven miles further on, a large cape projects into
this bay and divides it into two indentations, each of them
the seat of minor water-courses, fed by the glaciers." From
"Arctic Explorations in the years 1853, '<%, '55 By ElisTia
Kent Kane." Vol. /, p. 97.
"The glacier was about seven miles across at its 'de-
bouchd ;' it sloped gradually up for some five miles back,
and then, following the irregularities of its rocky sub-
structure, suddenly became a steep crevassed hill, ascend-
ing in abrupt terraces. Then came two intervals of less
rugged ice, from which the glacier passed into the great
mer de glace."
"The discharge of water from the lower surface of the
glacier exceeded that of any of the northern glaciers ex-
cept that of Humboldt and the one near Etah. One tor-
rent, on the side nearest me, overran the ice-foot from two
to five feet in depth, and spread itself upon the floes for
several hundred yards ; and another, finding its outlet near
the summit of the glacier, broke over the rocks, and poured
in cataracts upon the beach below." Vol. //, pp. 270-272.
(b) "A body of ice, resplendent in the sunshine was en-
closed between the lofty walls of black basalt ; and from its
base a great archway or tunnel poured out a dashing stream
into the lake, disturbing its quiet surface with a horse-shoe
of foam. * * * The stream which tunnels its way out
near the glacier-foot is about ten feet in diameter ; and I
was assured that it never completely suspends its flow.
376 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL
Although the tunnel closes with ice, and the surface of the
lake freezes for many feet below, the water may still be
seen and heard beneath, even in midwinter, wearing its way
at the base of the glacier."
" This fact is of importance, as it bears upon the tempera-
ture of deep ice-beds. It shows that with an atmosphere
whose mean is below zero throughout the year, and a mean
summer heat but 4 above the freezing-point, these great
Polar glaciers retain a high interior temperature not far
from 32, which enables them to resume their great func-
tions of movement and discharge readily, when the cold of
winter is at an end, and not improbably to temper to some
extent the natural rigor of the climate. Even in the heart
of the ice nature has her compensations." Vol. If, p. 207.
"I have found in midwinter, in this high latitude of 78 50',
the surface so nearly moist as to be friable to the touch ;
and upon the ice-floes, commencing with a surface-tempera-
ture of 30, I found at two feet deep a temperature of 8,
at four feet-j-2, and at eight feet-j-26. This was on the
largest of a range of east and west hummock-drifts in the
open way, off Cape Stafford. The glacier which we became
so familiar with afterward at Etah yields an uninterrupted
stream throughout the year." Vol. /, p. 267.
(c) "The glaciers are moving masses, urged down the in-
clined planes upon which they are situate by the mutual
pressure of their parts, a movement which the seasons accel-
erate or retard, according to their character. This motion
gives rise to the extraordinary spectacle, of summer produc-
tions and winter formations being sometimes in immediate
contact with each other, the ice-fields obtruding into flowery
meadows, and gradually forcing their way into the regions
of cultivation. According to Professor Forbes, the very
huts of the peasantry (in the range of the Alpine glaciers)
are sometimes invaded by this moving ice, and many per-
sons now living have seen the full ears of corn touching the
glacier, or gathered ripe cherries from the trees with one
foot standing on the ice." "The Gallery of Nature" ~by
Thomas Milner,
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Canadian mer -de- glace, and the Appalachian mer-
de-glace / their encounter, and movement westward /
northern drift, and southern drift ; local erosion; erra-
tics, and local deposits.
627. Two movements of ice over the highlands of north-
ern Pennsylvania and southern New York will be described
in this chapter ; one from the north and the other from the
south.
628. After the formation of the great mer-de-glace on
the Laurentian mountains of Canada, and its progressive
envelopment of the Adirondack mountains of New York,
and of the entire region of Lake Ontario, southward, to the
highlands which enclose the Chautauqua basin of the up-
per Allegheny river in Pennsylvania (described in the pre-
ceding chapters,) this continental sheet of ice, always aug-
mented in thickness, continued to rise and advance, and
finally overtopped and flowed over those highlands.
To what height above tide its surface attained we have
no means of ascertaining, but reasons will be given further
on for believing that the sheet upqn the highlands was com-
paratively thin ; for, the main body occupying the lower
country evidently parted into two lobes, one of which was
deflected southeastward down the Susquehanna valleys, the
other south westward over the lower highlands and through
the river gaps of the State of Ohio.
629. On Plate No. 2, Ms, I have endeavored to show,
with sufficient approximation to exactness, the geographi-
cal position of the Chautauqua highland divide and its
continuation to the east and west ; defining it, as closely as
our scattered and imperfect data will permit, by contour
lines 200 feet apart (vertically) from the 800' tide level up-
wards.
( 377 III. )
378 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
These contour lines, of course, are only intended to rep-
resent the general topograpJiical features over which the
ice moved, all the minor details requisite for a detailed topo-
graphical map of the region being omitted, many of which
are indeed still wanting.
630. It will be noticed that the area of the 2400' sum-
mit is small. It is however most important, from the fact
that it forms a water-shed with three slopes, contributing
to the St. Lawrence through the Genesee river, to Chesa-
peake bay through the Susquehanna river, and to the Gulf
of Mexico through the Allegheny and Ohio river valleys.
West and northwest of this solid continental summit
there are several isolated knobs and ridges of equal or
superior altitude ; but they all drain into the valley of the
Allegheny.
631. It will be noticed also, that inside of the 2000' con-
tour line there are both elevations 2500 feet above tide, and
valleys with buried bottoms not more than 1100 feet above
tide. In other words, erosion has here cut down through
a vertical section of surface rocks at least 1400 thick.
This deeply and broadly trenched plateau deserves par-
ticular study ; for, as it was the last to be covered by the
growing glacier, so it was also the first to be relieved when
the great ice-sheet melted. It probably supported an in-
dependent mer-de-glace both before the advance and after
the retreat of the greater northern ice-sea, which in the in-
terval of time overflowed it ; and to the agency of this local
Appalachian mer-de-glace both the sculpturing of its hills
and the drift-filling of its valleys may in the main be re-
ferred.
Its greatest average height is in the southeastern portion,
where the Allegheny river takes its rise ; and it is split in-
to two unequal areas by the deep valley through which
the Erie E. R. passes (the larger area lying to the south of
that valley) which receives the drainage of streams coming
in both from the north and from the south.
632. I have discovered no evidences that the great North-
ern ice, so far as its Drift bearing part was concerned, ever
ICE MOVEMENTS. III. 379
passed over this highland. Indeed ample evidence to the
contrary exists in the following facts :
1. No northern Drift is observed to the south of it ; nor
in any of the streams which rise upon its southerly slope ;
but large quantities of foreign detritus have been swept
around to the east into the north branch Susquehanna water-
ways. Similar drift deposits are also piled up in immense
quantities all around its northern slope and fill the water-
ways of the upper Allegheny and its western branches.
2. No northern Drift, as far as I have observed or am
informed, can be seen in the upper reaches of the streams
falling north from its southerly rim. Such Drift has in-
deed intruded into it, through low spots in its northerly
rim, and has descended the southerly flowing streams as
far as the east and west Erie R. R. valley before mentioned.
But this valley is practically the limit of the Drift. The
ice current which bore it appears to have been met here by
ice-currents from the south.
It is plain to be seen from the lithology of the Drift alone,
that in this valley two ice streams encountered, joined and
flowed out together towards the west. The upper branch
valleys of the Allegheny river in Potter and McKean coun-
ties are excavated largely in measures lying beneath the
Pottsville conglomerate (No. XII), viz., in the Mauch
Chunk (Umbral, XL) Pocono (Vespertine, X) and Catskill
(IX) formations ; and the conspicuous red sands and shales
of these formations are plainly traceable along the valleys
of the north-flowing streams and on the river flats as far
as Olean and Allegany, where they mingle with the North-
ern Drift swept down the opposing streams from the north.
Now, as there is no red rock in the northern branch valleys
and no northern detritus in the southern branch valleys,
as every feature in the main valley shows the movement of
a glacier toward the west, as every feature in the Allegheny
valley south of Olean shows an ice movement toward the
north, and as every feature in the northern branch vall-
eys shows an ice flow toward the south, it follows that the
northern ice-flow, southward, met a sou them ice-flow, north-
ward, and both moved westward side by side.
380 III. EEPOET OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
633. But although the Drift-bearing portion of the
northern ice sheet may not have passed over this summit
land, nevertheless the sculpturing of its surface and the
character of the streams falling from it toward the south
make it almost certain that at one time the upper non- Drift
bearing clear ice did flow over it. This seemingly paradox-
ical statement needs explanation.
634. I intimated in Chapter XXX my belief that ice
flows in different currents, at various horizons, with un-
equal velocities and in divergent lines, dependent upon
circumstances controlling its movements. To illustrate :
Suppose the surface of the front of the Northern Mer-de-
Glace to have been 2600 feet above ocean, and the land ele-
vations in northern Pennsylvania to have been the same
then as now. If the average height of the Chautauqua
basin highland summit was at 2500', then the 100 feet of
ice which overtopped that summit would have no impedi-
ment to its southward flow at any point along the whole
front of the glacier ; no inducement to turn either to the
right or to the left except as it might be slightly influenced
by the draft of side currents in the general mass.
The next stratum of 500 feet (from 2500' down to 2000')
would strike the headland and must either rise up and go
over it or split and pass around it. Of course it would not
ascend so long as it had free passage sideways.
The next 500 feet, (from 2000' down to 1500') encountered
a broader and still more preventive barrier, along which it
would necessarily be compelled to flow, and could do so,
since a free exit at that level (1500') existed towards the
east ; while in northwestern Pennsylvania and Ohio there
were probably only a few isolated knobs higher than 1500'.
But the next 500 feet (from 1500' down to 1000') was
checked in many places ; and now moreover ice moved upon
rock instead of ice upon ice as was the case with the ice
strata above. But still this stratum also had many avenues
of escape to the south even at a level of 1000', as may be
seen on Plate 2, bis.
Considering now the ice from 1000' down to 750', it is
probable that its lower strata met an unbroken mural ob-
ICE MOVEMENTS. III. 381
struction along its front which it could not pass around to
the right or to the left, but must either scale or breach to
make any further progress southward.
From the 750' level down to the bottoms of Lakes Erie
and Ontario the ice must have lain in a closed trough, and
could have had no possible outlet to the south without as-
cending a barrier which at the present day is nowhere
breached to a level less than 500 feet above the bottom of
Lake Erie and 950 feet above the bottom of Lake Ontario.*
635. Obviously, then, both in central Ohio and in cen-
tral New York, the ice-sheet would have had (with an em-
pirically adopted surface level of 2600') unobstructed flow
for its upper 1600 feet ; but on the Chautauqua basin sum-
mit, only for its uppermost 100 feet. The strongest and
most rapid currents would, therefore, be where the greatest
volume found freest movement, and the broad, unobstructed
upper strata would undoubtedly have a more rapid motion
than those at a lower level, because these, impinging upon
the barrier divide, would be deflected along its face if they
could not ascend to pass over its crest.
The free movement which the upper zones of the glacier
had in central Ohio would increase the velocity of its cur-
rents there, thus somewhat concaving its upper surface and
necessarily inviting all the other currents in that direction ;
while the same thing would happen to the east, although
not to so noticeable a degree, because the overflow through
central New York would not be so wide and free.
636. While these upper currents were thus flowing
freely by east and west movements towards the south,, the
lower ice in the deep old valleys would be moving more
slowly in quite different directions, impelled by the weight },
of the upper ice, aided by the drainage water beneath, and
directed by the trend of the gorges from which they could
not escape.
Thus, after a southwestern outlet for the lower strata of
*The breach in Trumbull county, O, is 936' above tide ; that in Summit 968';
that in Medina county 909 ; that in Wyandot county 910' ; that in Auglaize
county, near the Indiana State line, 940' ; that in Allen county, Indiana, near
Fort Wayne, 790'.
382 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
ice and the under ice currents of water had been established
through the Maumee and Wabash valleys (with their pres-
ent low divide of about 800') the Lake Erie ice-core would
slowly advance south westwardly along the face of the great
divide, while the upper and freer ice would pass over the
crest in a southerly direction across the lower level high-
lands of Ohio. The melting of its base would keep the
glacier always at work upon the rocks beneath ; its pressure
toward the south would keep it constantly grinding along the
face of the escarpment in front of it as it moved southwest-
wardly, and the result would be the production of a some-
what abrupt and sharp cut northern face to the Pennsyl-
vania divide. This feature of its form has, in fact, been
reproduced in detail, but on a smaller scale, in many places
in southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania,
along the larger streams which run approximately parallel
with the lake shore.*
637. We may form some idea of the trend of these ice
currents by studying the topography which they have
carved out, and noting the geographical positions and phy-
sical characteristics of the principal lines of northern drift
deposits ; but it seems fairly questionable whether these
deposits necessarily represent the lowest southern reach of
the continental glacier. Let us examine this question.
638. The first piece of Drift that left the northern high-
lands had of course a point of departure, a time of starting,
and a certain average rate of speed for its journey.
It could not start until the ice which bore it had accumu-
lated to a certain height over it, and commenced to move ;
and* this movement implies the advance, also, of all the ice
in front of it, which of course contained no Drift.
If it commenced its journey 200 miles north of the glacier
front, then 200 miles of clear ice free from this kind of de-
tritus must pass on to the south in advance of it. Its move-
[* It must not be overlooked, however, that aerial erosion, in the absence of
glacial action, would accomplish the same result, seeing that the dip of the
rocks constituting the great divide is universally towards the south, so that their
basset edges face northward ; and consequently, the northern escarpment (if
so irregular a country can be said to have one,) should be steep, whether ever
touched by ice or not J. P. L.[
ICE MOVEMENTS. III. 383
ment was slow, and the possible distance it could travel
would be measured by the time allotted to its journey.
Suppose it advanced at the rate of one foot per day ; it
would then consume 3000 years in traveling 207 miles. It
may have journeyed that distance, or it may have traveled
farther ; it may have moved faster or slower, we do not
know ; but in any case, there would seem to have been time
enough for great modifications of climate to have taken
place between the inauguration of the ice age (which must
have been long before the Drift commenced its journey)
and the moment when this first emigrant of foreign rock
plunged into some crevasse along the Pennsylvania divide,
or melted out of the southern ice front of the glacier.
The advance sheet of clear ice formed during the period
of snow, neve and ice accumulation, and during the suc-
ceeding period of intensest cold, may have spread many
miles to the south, and then been cut back again many miles
by an amelioration of climate, before the Drift-bearing bot-
tom ice reached the glacier's front.
This hypothesis is suggested, however, merely as furnish-
ing a possible explanation of some of the traces of ice action
apparently discoverable beyond the southern limits of these
northern Drifts.
Other causes might have had, and no doubt did have,
an important influence in limiting the Drift- deposits to cer-
tain areas.
639. If these ideas regarding the movement of ice be
correct it would naturally follow that the upper ice -cur-
rents, those which reached the farthest south, would con-
tain but little, if any, Drift. For, by the constant under-
waste of ice the debris which it received and bore from the
Canadian hills would drop lower and lower as it crossed the
lake basin ; and the upper ices, formed from atmospheric
accumulations and carried forward by more rapid currents
near the surface, would pile up above it.
The glacier north of the barrier- divide and below its crest
was moving in a southwesterly direction and struggling to
overtop the summit ; while to the south, in many places,
there was a natural slope to the rock surface which induced
384 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOH1S T F. CARLL.
an accelerated movement in the ice passing over it. Cre-
vasses resulted, and into these the northern debris was free-
ly poured. Such primary deposits have been greatly modi-
fied both in position and structure by the various agencies
which have wrought upon them during succeeding ages.
The pre-glacial divide being as we have viewed it, a broad
and deeply trenched plateau, certainly from 30 to 60 miles
wide, the ice-movement was again checked when it reached
the southerly rim of the summit basins, and here other
crevasses occurred and more debris was dropped.
640. All the low areas of these basins are covered by
mixed Drift-beds, some of the valleys being filled to the
known depth of 450 feet. These were the grand glacial
dumping grounds ; and it would seem that the currents
bearing northern material never passed beyond them, ex-
cept as local glaciers creeping down through the several
gaps already referred to. Here, during the immeasurably
long ages of the recession period (when the ice-sheet had
become so much reduced in thickness and power that it
was scarcely able to overtop the hills in front of it) the
southern lip of the great glacier lay and wasted, and its
heterogeneous burden of foreign and local rocks was pro-
miscuously dropped, to be re- worked and re-arranged by
the peculiar agencies which control the movements of ice
and water in such situations as these.
641. If we pause here to consider the location and sur-
roundings of the Summit basins, we shall see that they
must have been, during the final retreat of the Continental
glacier, under climatic and dynamic influences quite differ-
ent from those obtaining in districts both to the north and
to the south of them.
If the ice-front was cut back by a gradual amelioration of
climate, the southerly slope of the divide would first be
sensibly affected by it ; and here the ice-sheet, (being com-
paratively thin and thoroughly under-drained,) would waste
rapidly from the higher grounds, leaving only local glaciers,
urged down the valleys from the mer-de-glace behind or
north of them.
But when the ice-front had been melted back to the south-
ICE MOVEMENTS. III. 385
erly crest of the Chautauqua divide, the battle between the
elements of heat and cold commenced in earnest. North
of the barrier, the ice-king had massed his forces ; lake Erie
basin was full of ice, and all the reserves of the north were
freely moving down into it. As fast as one skirmish line
on the summit w r as repulsed, another was thrown forward ;
and thus alternately advancing and retreating the contest
raged for ages before the invading ice was forced back and
permanently confined within the limits of the present lake
basin.
642. During this period the surface of the summit
basins was wrought upon by almost every possible com-
bination of the powers of ice and water. In some of the
valleys there were local glaciers ; in others, inter -glac'lal
lakes. There were temporary ice-dams and ice-gorges ; in-
termittent deliveries of ice and water, now in one place,
now in another, as accidental obstruction or free delivery
might direct ;* and as a natural result, we now find almost
*Avalanches of rock and earth, snow and ice from mountain heights fre-
quently produce notable changes in the forms and deposits of the valley beds
below. Damming the gorges they produce temporary and even permanent
lakes. When such a dam bursts, either from the pressure of the water behind
or after being weakened by the long erosion of its outlet, deluges and debacles
desolate the lower reaches of the valley for many miles ; load it with a new
covering of sand and gravel ; and oblige the stream to adopt a new water bed.
A memorable instance, occurring in 1818, is described by Escher von der
Linth. The Val de Bagnes is a rocky glen among the Alps, thirty or forty
miles long opening into the valley of the Rhone at Martigny. Its cliffs are
covered with perpetual snow. At its head are two glaciers, out of which
flows the little river Dranse, in a gorge between Mont Pleureur (the mourn-
ful) and Mont Mauvoisin (the bad neighbor), which has often been blocked
by huge masses of ice falling from the end of the glaciers. By April, 1818,
the accumulated obstruction of previous years had grown into a cone a hun-
dred feet high, behind which the Dranse began to form a lake. The cantonal
authorities employed M. Venetz to engineer a tunnel through this conical dam
of ice. The tunnel was begun May 10th and completed June 13th. The lake
already contained 800,000,000 cubic feet of water In three days the new out-
let reduced the amount to 530,000,000 ; but the swift outrush melted the ice,
widened the mouth of the tunnel, hurled forward masses of the adjoining
glacier, and reduced the length of the floor of the tunnel from 600 to only 8
feet. The torrent then attacked the dgbris at the foot of Mont Mauvoisin,
against which the ice cone had rested, thus undermining the glacier itself,
and making a water-way between it and the mountain wall.
At this moment the ice gave way, and the whole of the lake water precipi-
tated itself in 30 minutes past the gorge down into the Val de Bagnes, carrv-
25 III.
386 III. EEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
every variety of Drift-deposits within their limits -finely
levigated clays, pure sand-beds, beaches of lake shingle,
coarse gravel banks, windrows of huge metamorphic bowl-
ders, and sometimes all of these promiscuously intermixed
within a limited area.
643. A similar disorder saems to characterize the deep
deposits also, as shown by oil wells ; in one locality quick-
sand predominates, in another clay, in another gravel ; or
they may all three be present, or repeated in layers in the
same well ; but they do not lie, as far as I have been able
to discover in any regular order of superposition.*
644. The Chautauqua basin appears to have been filled
with bodies of ice and water possessing all the powers and
motions requisite for lake- making. Under their actions
streams were cut together, valleys were broadened, bowl-
shaped basins were formed among the hills ; and had not
the processes been interrupted, either by the failure of ice
ing off the Mauvoisin bridge, 90 feet above the ordinary level of the Dranse.
It deluged the wider part of the Val below, poured through the next gorge,
deluged the next open reach, and so on through a succession of basins and
gorges it swept its burden of rocks and ice, forest timber, houses, barns, and
the very soil itself, forward to Le Chable. Here the half solid deluge became
banked between the piers of a stone bridge 50 feet above the level of the
Dranse, and attacked the slope on top of which stood the church and houses
of the town. Fortunately the bridge gave way, and only the houses at its
two ends went down with the debacle. The wide reach of valley from here
to St. Branchier was then overwhelmed ; houses, roads, fields and crops, or-
chards loaded with fruit disappeared in a moment into the long narrows be-
tween St. Branchier and Martigny, and were strewn on the plain of the
Rhone Le Burg and Martigny were both ravaged, and the wreck of the
spent flo >d was scattered along thirty miles to the Lake of Geneva.
M. Escher calculated that 300,000 cubic feet of water issued from the barrier
per second, at the rate of 20 miles an hour. The Rhine at Basle delivers only
60,000 It reached the lake of Geneva (45 miles) in tfi hours.
A new coat of alluvion, several feet thick, was spread over all the lower
Val de Bagnes, but so irregularly that roads had to be cut through it as if
through snow-drifts. Isolated masses of rock were carried great distances,
one of which, hurled from the gorge on the plain below, measured 12' by 12'
and 27 paces around. S.ill larger masses showed that they had been moved.
The Dranse adopted, after some fluctuations, a wholly new water bed ; and
the whole plain of Martigny was changed in feature by the outspread of a
layer of detritus. (See Gallery of Nature, by Rev Thos. Milner, p. 412.
* Bowlders of metamorphic rock, and blocks of sandstone and conglomer-
ate are quite frequently encountered, and trees a foot or more in diameter have
.been reported, at a depth of over 100 feet.
ICE MOVEMENTS. III. 387
supply or by the wearing down of its outlet (which re-
sulted in drainage) it is evident that the agencies at work
would have here formed a lake, in the same manner as they
formed one in the Lake Erie basin, where, owing to lower
levels and a more favorable situation they continued to
operate for a much longer period. *
As the glaciers did not withdraw from the basins with a
steady and uniform rate of retrogression, but evacuated
only after long periods of alternating advances and retreats,
moraines were formed in many places; and hence, when the
ice disappeared, chains of small lakes stretched all along
the broad valleys north of the outlets. Periodical freshets,
bringing down the waters accumulating from broad sur-
faces, eventually cut channels through the moraine bar-
riers / and thus, one after another, the lakelets were drained ;
but their old outlines may be traced in many places by the
terraces and beaches which surrounded them, and by the
lacustrine deposits left in their beds.
645. It is often remarked as a curious fact that nearly all
our small lakes lie on summits at the heads of streams. But
this should excite no surprise. They remain there as lakes
to-day, because they have always received the drainage of
but small areas, and have not been seriously affected by an-
nual freshets ; consequently their outlets cut down very
slowly, and they have not yet had time to drain. We see
evidences, however, in nearly all of them, that the water
once stood at a higher level than it stands at present.
Chautauqua lake may be taken as an illustration ; it has
[*This must not be taken in so large a sense as to make the whole valley
now occupied by Lake Erie the work of the Canadian mer-de-glace, for the
whole discussion of the subject of this chapter presupposes a topography ex-
isting before the ice age essentially the same with that which exists at present.
To suppose Lake Erie excavated by ice, is to ignore all the knowledge we have
acquired by forty years of study of the Appalachian topography from Canada
to Alabama. The preglacial existence of the present basin of Lake Erie is as
necessary to the argument of this chapter as the preglacial existence of the 1
great Chautauqua barrier overlooking it.
It must also be remembered that an eminent difference in the two cases re-
ferred to in the paragraph above arises from the fact that the Lake Erie basin
valley has a special and r emarkable barrier to the north formed by the up-
lifted outcrop of the Niagara Limestone, &c., through whi -h the Niagara out-
let has been cut. J. P. L.]
388 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
cut down an outlet through about 50 feet of stratified rock.
This has of course reduced its surface level by that much.
What proportion of this cut was made during the ice age
cannot be known ; but the proofs are patent that a higher
water level than the present has been maintained in com-
paratively recent times ; and probably the lake area would
not have been nearly as large as it now is, if, like other
summit lakes, its outlet had been through Drift instead of
through solid rock.
646. The southeastern limit of northern drift is very
closely defined by the Allegheny river valley in north-
western Pennsylvania ; and the locations of the most no-
ticeable deposits, when viewed in connection with the trends
of the channels through w r hich the materials must have been
transported, and by the sculpturing of the hills surrounding
the mountain fiords in which they lie, furnish good evi-
dence in support of the hypothesis advanced in relation to
the methods of ice movement on the divide.
From Olean in New York to Smith's Ferry on the Ohio
line the Allegheny-Ohio river bed is strewn with rounded
water- worn pebbles of northern rock; but the percentage
and quality of foreign material varies quite materially at
different points.
All the tributaries which come into the valley from a
northerly direction, and which rise in or near the summit
basins, are also strewn with Drift ; while those flowing from
opposite directions contain only such local deposits near
their mouths as have been forced up stream, sometimes a
mile or more, by the Drift-bearing glacier of the Allegheny.
647. At Olean, heavy bodies of ice were forced in from
the Genesee valley,* and meeting the ice-current of the Alle-
*The manner in which ice-currents were forced into the summit basins
through every available opening, may be profitably studied along the westerly
branches of the Genesee River. All the larger ones which take their rise on
the divide are flowing in broad and deeply cut valleys which connect directly
with others leading to the Allegheny River. It may be noticed on the county
maps that the highways frequently follow these streams, passing over the
ridge from one river to the other. So continuous are these valleys, and so
similar are the cuts at the summits to some of the passes below, that the or-
dinary traveler might pass over the road a number of times and not be able
to tell where the waters divide. The cuts are generally characterized by pre-
EDDY HILLS. III. 389
gheny, an ice-eddy resulted, which cut out a broad basin,
and deposited heavy masses of Drift, partly foreign, partly
local, which, however, was not carried southward far up the
Allegheny river valley.
This action of the two currents is made manifest both by
the shape of the basin, and by the position of the eddy-
lulls.
Across the river, southwest of the village, a very peculiar
hill may be noticed, rising from the plain with a straight-
cut side of almost bare rock, in appearance like the side of
a truncated pyramid. This sharp-cut hill- face, so in con-
trast with the smoothly rounded slopes forming the other
sides of the amphitheatre, would be hard of explanation
on any theory of sub-aerial erosion ; but as a result of ice-
action it speaks for itself. Here was an elbow in the an-
cient-river ; and when the ice came in south west wardly
from the Genesee valley, it struck the current coming down
the Allegheny almost at right angles and held it against this
point until its projecting nose had been ground squarely off.
A little north of this, the eddying ice has cut another
point into a detached, elongated pyramidal hill, and formed
several conical drift-hills in the valley basin.
648. Between Carrollton and Great Valley the river
has a northerly trend, and here the undercurrents of ad-
vancing ice were met and held in check by another import-
ant stream pouring down Great Valley. The upper strata of
ice found outlets in several places across the hill-tops to the
west. One of these waste- weirs between Great Valley and
Little Valley was occupied long enough to cut down
cipitous banks, a rather narrow stretch of creek-bottom, and an appearance
of but little depth of Drift. They alsa usually occur at or near a considerable
curve in the valley.
The Genesee valley is so located as to have received the full force of the ice-
thrust, and its headwater streams rise upon the highest portion of the divide,
through which no important southern outlets of overflow have been cut; hence
the forward movement of the glacier was impeded and the ice crept through
and deepened every possible avenue leading into the Chautauqua basin.
The summit divides of several streams inside the limits of the Chautauqua
basin have been cut down in a similar manner, and they all clearly show the
action of ice. for they are in situations where water alone could never have
accomplished such results.
390 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
through a considerable thickness of rock, stopping at the
Salamanca Conglomerate, a massive layer forty feet or
more in thickness. When the ice-sheet wasted and the
valley channel became able to carry the ice and water at
lower levels, this outlet was abandoned ; and now, the ice-
cover having been removed, a mysterious "Rock City"
remains perched upon a narrow ridge the admiration and
wonder of thousands of visitors, the subject of many art-
istic sketches and pen-pictures, and the suggestive prompter,
to many strange and some ridiculous hypotheses as to its
origin.
South of Salamanca other cuts, but not so deep, were
made, as attested by elongated Mil-tops trending in an
east and west direction and by deep bowl-shaped basins
(now occupied by insignificant streams) into which the
overflow has poured.
649. At the mouth of Great Valley there are thick gravel-
beds particularly deserving of notice, because they are com-
posed of a large percentage of the hardest northern rocks,
and the pebbles are unusually spheroidal, as if shaped by
attrition under a rotary motion facts which well support
the other evidences of an ice-eddy at this point.*
650. At Steamburg the old valleys were wrought into
a broad basin ; an elliptical, truncated hill was cut off
from the point in the elbow of the ancient river (see Plate
XL), and a number of conical ice-eddy Drift-hills were left
upon the flats.
651. At Jamestown the old Chautauqua outlet was
filled up and a group of Drift-hills were stretched across
the valley, completely closing the old outlet and forcing
the pent-up waters over a point of fixed rock through
which they have since cut a narrow channel 50 feet or
more in depth.
652. At Warren the eastern and southern walls of the
* Not that ice itself is capable of grinding blocks into a spherical shape,
for the characteristics of ice-d6bris are 1. angularity, 2. striation, 3. commix-
ture, and 4. range of distribution. But, where glacial-water-streams can
manage drift pieces in confined places, they are capable of rounding these in
a remarkably symmetrical manner.
ICE EROSION. III. 391
basin at the intersection of the Conewango with the Alle-
gheny are faced with gravel-batiks, from which I have made
a collection of pebbles which can scarcely be distinguished
from a similar one picked up from the strand in Dunkirk
harbor.
As before explained, the ice-sheet here had a southward
draft, one current having an exit through the Barnesville
cut into Tionesta creek. This carried the Drift up to Stone-
ham and Clarendon, about three miles from the Allegheny,
where it forms the present divide, at an elevation of about
1400 feet above ocean, and underlies the area covered by
Cranberry swamp. More or less of it was also carried
forward by the glacier into Tionesta creek. In no other
locality has it penetrated so far to the south-east of the
Allegheny valley as it has here. But the reason for this is
obvious no other stream had an outlet cut at the south,
consequently the ice-flow elsewhere was checked and
thrown back upon the main stream.
653. Brohenstraw, west of Irvineton in Warren county,
flows in an east and west trough occupied by the Allegheny
river at its east end. This trough naturally received the
full force of a number of ice currents from the north. Near
Spring creek, just where such a result might be expected,
the erosion has been very extensive. An isolated pyramidal
hill has been carved out from one of the old points, and the
valley after being widened and deepened was studded with
gravel hills.
654. Opposite Garland a stream comes in from the south
(Grouse or Mullingar run) through which the ice-current
pressed, effected a connection with Caldwell creek, cut down
the divide to within 150 feet of the Garland level, and
poured an immense amount of mixed debris into the Oil
creek basin. It landed in the elbow where the old stream
turned north, about three quarters of a mile from the present
outlet of the basin, the high hills on all the outer circle of
the curve preventing further progress. Here it filled in to
the depth of 300 feet or more, when a new passage was
opened leading more directly toward the present outlet.
But this delivery from the Brokenstraw was only a temper-'
392 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS.
ary waste weir to the Chautauqua basin, and was aban-
doned as soon as the Allegheny channel at Irvineton be-
came sufficiently enlarged to accommodate all the out-flow.
655. At Irmneton the evidences of a long continued ice-
gorge while the Allegheny was being prepared to convey
the additional amount of drainage now forced into it, are
plainly seen in the wide cut basin, in the topography of the
hills and in the character and positions of the drifts
656. At Oil City and Franklin other accessions of
northern material were brought into the Allegheny valley.
The contour map at the junction of French creek with the
Allegheny (Plate XVIII) shows how the confluent glaciers
have sculptured (or completed the sculpturing of) the
topography there.
The Big &Lndy is the last northern inlet of importance to
the Allegheny. Below this little foreign matter has come
into the valley until the Big Beaver river is reached, where,
as may be noticed on Plate No. 2 bis, a short and quite di-
rect avenue is opened up into a large area of low levels.
As might be expected, therefore, here lie immense deposits
of Drift, largely composed of northern rocks transported
and dropped by the local glacier which must have crept
down the Beaver valley and occupied it for ages.*
657. Reviewing the above facts, we see that the most
conspicuous Drift-deposits lie precisely where they should
be looked for if the ice movement were such as we have
supposed it to have been, and the relative surface levels
the same as at present.
The glacial cuts in every instance have been made in
curves in the hill-barriers where the full force of the ice-
shove was concentrated ; and, through those which were ex-
*I strongly suspect that Big Beaver river is a glacial enlargement of a
small ancient stream, formed in the same manner as th'ise found in the sum-
mit basins ; and that anterior to the Ice Age the Shenango and other head-
water streams of the Beaver, including the Connoquenessing, delivered north-
wardly through the Mahoning and Grand rivers into Lake Erie basin : but
having had no opportunity of verifying my suspicions I can say nothing lur-
ther about it. The tendency of all the summit streams to flow southwesterly
down the dip for a certain distance and then to swing round toward the north
into the lake basin, is witnessed by the course of the Cuyahoga, and also by
many of the modern streams along the lake slope.
RIVER TERRACES. III. 393
cavated to a sufficient depth to remain as permanent south-
ern outlets immense burdens of northern debris have been
delivered, which the transporting glacier threw off at every
sharp bend in the valley and on every nose where two con-
fluent ice-streams met. For the sculpturing of the summit
basins, the excavation of the glacial cuts, and the trans-
portation of the gravel beds, we seem therefore to have a
very plausible explanation.
658. The origin of river terraces has been a much
mooted question, which I do not feel prepared yet to dis-
cuss. There are peculiar difficulties in it to be encountered.
While there can be no doubt of the passage of a valley
glacier of great depth along the Shenango and Beaver risers
through the westernmost tier of counties, to within a few
miles of the Ohio river,* and probably into the Ohio river
valley, blocking up for a time the outflow of the Allegheny
and Monongahela water basins, there is entire absence of
evidence in the shape of striae and erratics that a glacier
ever tilled the lower Allegheny river valley; and a complete
lack of northern Drift in the Monongahela river valley, f
If the Allegheny and Mononaghela valleys before and dur-
ing the retreat of the northern ice may be conceived as filled
with two local ice streams, moving independently along those
deep and narrow water ways, meeting at Pittsburgh and pass-
ing together (as one) northwestward down the Ohio river val-
ley, cutting off in their deflection the point of highland and
leaving the conical hill:}: in Allegheny city, now support-
*See for the proofs Prof. White's Reports of Progress Q, QQ.
f See Prof. Stevenson's Reports of Progress K, KK ; Mr. W. S. Platt's
Report of Progress in Armstrong county, H. 5 ; and Mr. H. M. Chance's Re-
ports of Progress in northern Butler and Clarion counties, V, VV.
[t The explanation of such conical hills is still difficult. In my Manual of
Coal and its Topography (1856) page 153, I give a sketch which I made some
years previously, of two such eddy-hills projecting into the valley of Pine
creek in L/ycoming county ; of another similarly half-attached to the sides of
gaps in the Conglomerate of Broad Top in Huntingdon county ; and of two
others connected at gaps in the Bald Eagle mountain near Wilkes-Barre and
Jersey Shore. Another occurs in a gap in Nittany mountain, southeast of
Bellefonte in Clinton county.
No trace of ice-action has been remarked in the neighborhood of these eddy-
hills. They are evidently features of the general topography of the country,
due entirely to water-erosion in some one of its forms. Those in Pine Creek
394 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
ing the soldiers' monument the combined stream would
encounter the Beaver river glacier in Beaver county.
Over or through such ice in the Allegheny and Mononga-
hela valleys all the drainage of their water basins must pass,
a drainage increased in volume in the melting epoch at the
close of the ice-age. The thin upper edges of the ice-core
in each valley would melt first and more rapidly, the lateral
vales would become water pools, and violent water currents
would set down the main valley between the ice and the
hill sides whenever the under-ice water-way became ob-
structed. Thus the materials thrown off sideways by the
valley ice would be rearranged, at various heights of 200,
300 or 400 feet above the valley bed, into terraces or flood-
plains, like those which now cling to the hill sides.
The quality and structural arrangement of the materials
composing the terraces and gravel banks, and the positions
of the deposits, when studied in connection with the sur-
rounding topography, seem to me to favor the view that
they were formed by agencies immediately connected with
the Ice Age, rather than that they are remnants of the silts
of valleys which have been filled up three or four hundred
feet and re-excavated since that time.
659. The distribution of erratic bowlders remains to be
referred to. The highest point at which I have myself seen
large blocks of metamorphic rocks is on the table-land east
valley have their summits one of them on a level with an upper (horizontal)
stratum of massive sandstone the other (in front of it) on a level with a lower
stratum of massive sandstone, as shown in the section accompany ing t lie sketch.
These two hills seem to me to show progress of erosion ; the one in front be-
ing about half as high as the one behind it ; and the higher one being two
thirds as high as the tableland, which is about 1000' above the bed of the val-
ley. Their attachment to one another and to the tableland, their shape, and
respective positions lead me to believe now that they were cut off from
the point of tableland and from each other by accidental differences of hard-
ness in the horizontal formations which ran through all three ; and that their
quasi c mical shape has resulted from the quaquaversal drainage of vertically
descending rain water, and from the universal surface-erosion of frosts and
winds; as in the case of all " pulpit rocks."
The other eddy-hills mentioned above are by no means so easily explained.
But the Allegheny City hill may have owed its birth to ordinary river erosira
when the bed of the Allegheny river was 303 feet higher than at present, and
may have been receiving its present shape by the agency of river freshets from
that time to the present J. P.L ]
ERRATICS. III. 395
of Chautauqua lake, at an elevation of about 1750 feet above
ocean; the lowest (that is, the lowest broad table-land
summit), in Conneaut township, Crawford county, near the
Penn'a-Ohio State line, at an elevation of about 1070 feet.
All along the divide and at any elevation between these
points they may be found.
It has been asserted by some that they always lie upon
the surface, and that therefore they must have been dropped
by icebergs. That they do lie upon the surface in many
notable instances will not be disputed ; but it is well proven
now that they also frequently lie imbedded in Drift many
feet below the surface. Both on the surface and in the
gravel-banks they have a vertical range of several hundred
feet. The iceberg theory, therefore, in every aspect in
which it may be viewed, seems to me to be entirely inad-
missible ; we must look for some other agency. For
1. The proportion wliich the erratics bear to the whole
mass of glacial debris, if it could be calculated, would be
found to be very small indeed ; consequently, where deep
deposits of Drift occur they might be so sparsely scattered
through it as to attract but little attention, while in exposed
situations and in a thin Drift-sheet they would be very
prominent.
2. We must consider also the peculiar manner in which
they have been distributed. Where comparatively undis-
turbed along the divide they are almost always found in
colonies, stretching in long and narrow lines, while for miles
on either side of these rock-windrows scarcely a bowlder can
be seen. ,
Probably they lie in a similar manner where buried in
the Drift, and this would account for their absence in some
gravel-banks and their presence in others.
They appear to have been thrown off from the glacier
moving south-westerly through Lake Erie into crevasses
along the summit. Those which came last, after the great
ice-flow was checked and the ice commenced to melt back
into the lake basin, remain where they were dropped.
Many of them were covered at first to a considerable depth
by glacial debris ; but subsequent denudation has laid some
396 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
of them bare, and others which lay within the range of
frost-action have been brought up by degrees until all such
now lie on the surface.
The tendency of large blocks of local rock to congregate
along certain lines is finely illustrated in many places in the
summit basins, where the sandstones and conglomerates
have been taken up by the ice and dropped in reefs, exactly
as the azoic bowlders have been dropped ; and in some cases
near the northern front of the divide the two kinds of rocks
are promiscuously intermixed.
3. Another suggestive fact is that northern bowlders are
only found in situations where a free movement of glacial
ice has been possible. Thus at Cuba, N. Y., in the draft
between the Genesee river and the Allegheny, they may be
seen at an elevation of about 1600 feet, while at Wellsville
on the Genesee, 100 feet lower, not a large bowlder can be
found. In fact all the valley Drifts here are composed
mostly of local materials, the ice sheet in this stream hav-
ing been held in check by the unbroken divide at the south,
so that the Drift-bearing currents of the north could not in-
trude ; or if they did force up this far, the older Drifts were
afterwards covered up by new debris brought from the
south when the glacier receded.
The conclusion that northern bowlders and Drift have
been landed in noticeable quantities on the great divide, and
south of it only along certain lines where the glaciers were
not permanently checked but had a free southerly draft and
delivery, is further sustained by the evidences of ice action
in Tioga and Bradford counties over which part of the east-
ern lobe of the mer-de-glace passed after breaching the sum-
mit at the head of Seneca Lake. No attempt has yet been
made to interpret the Drift phenomena of this region by the
hypothesis of ice movement advocated in this chapter ; but
it is evident from the facts given in Mr. Sherwood's Report
G, that the foot-prints of the same mechanical agencies
which fashioned the summit basins lying further west are
clearly traceable here. The present main trunk of Pine
creek, in the southwestern part of Tioga county, looks like
a glacial cut similar to those which I have been describing,
ICE MOVEMENTS. III. 397
and it is certain that in preglacial times upper Pine creek
at least contributed its waters to Tioga river through the
old valleys of Marsh creek and Crooked river, now cut off
from Pine creek by a long moraine. See Report G, p. 53,
&c., and accompanying maps.
It is highly probable that the Drift deposits of the North
Branch Susquehanna basin when they come to be studied in
detail will shed much light upon structural questions relat-
ing to the smaller lakes of the State of New York ; for up
along through the deep valleys in which these lakes lie came
forward one section of the Drift-bearing northern ice sheet.
398 III. KEPOET OF PROGRESS. JOIIX F. CARLL.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Well Records referred to on the plates accompanying this
Report, as published in Appendix III.
Boyd Hill Plate VII, Fig. 31.
Economy, No. 2, IV, 7.
Summit, V, 15.
Mahan, V, 17.
Graff, Bennett & C.>., j yjj' 32 ' j
Pine Creek, No. 1, VII, 34.
Midland, No. 1, VII, 35.
(V 21. )
Cherry Run [ vn ^ j
Ortowold.No.1, |^J; |
Kohrer, No. 2, VI, 29.
Strotman, VI. 26.
Hains, VI, 22.
IronB.idge, . IV, 8.
Cove Hollow, IV, 9.
John Smith, IV, 2 & 10.
Boyce, Rawle & Co., IV, 3.
Raymond, No. 6, IV, 4.
Reliance, IV, 12.
660. Boyd's Hill Well (Plate VI L Fig. 31.)
1876-77.
This well is located in the city of Pittsburgh, on a plat-
form overlooking the Pittsburgh steel works, near the north
bank of the Monongahela river. A full history of it has
already been given by Prof. Lesley, in Appendix E of Re-
port of Progress L.
Below we give a catalogue and description of the speci-
mens of sand-pumpings, which were regularly preserved in
glass jars as the boring progressed, by Dr. Hunter, who
was one of the owners of the well, and personally superin-
tended the drilling of it.
BOYD'S HILL WELL. III. 399
These specimens were carefully taken from the original
jars, brought to Pleasantville, put in separate bottles, num-
bered and arranged in order as below, for preservation in
the State museum, the owners of the well having kindly
made a donation of them to the Survey for that purpose.
The thickness of rock assigned to each specimen is that
which was marked on the jar. As some of the intervals
are large, of course it cannot now be positively known
whether the single specimen preserved faithfully represents
the character of the whole vertical distance covered by it
or not.
It is fair to presume, however, that the specimens were
taken carefully, as they were intended to exhibit a correct
representation of the entire stratification when packed in
the jars (one layer on top of another) as the sediment came
from the well, and that therefore no material change in the
constitution of the rocks was overlooked and no important
specimen omitted by Dr. Hunter.
Well mouth above ocean in feet, 852
S %o C Conductor, 8 to 8 = 844
1. Shale, fawn color and blue, with layers of micaceous
sandstone, 78 to 86 = 766
2. Coal 8 to 94 = 758
3. Shale, sandy, dark, bits of lime, 211 to 305 = 547
4. SS., light grey, micaceous, hard, 45 to 330 = 502
5. Shale, fawn and lead c >lor, some lime, 132 to 482 = 370
SS., as given in record, but no specimens preserved,
(see note 2), 100 to 582 = 270
6. SS., light reddish grey, with white specks, soft, fine
grained, . 5 to 587 = 265
7 . Shale, slate, and brownish sand-shells ; trace of lime, 25 to 612 = 240
8. Coal, 3 to 615 = 237
9. Slate, hard and firm 6 to 621 = 231
10. Sand-sh ells, grey and sandy-shale, dark, 21 to 642= 210
11 . Shale, bluish-grey, slaty, micaceous, containing frag-
ments of limestone. (Ferrif rous limestone,) . 15 to 657= 195
12. Shale, slaty, dove color, soft, 18 to 675 = 177
13 A. i Shale, yellow-brown and black, micaceous, gritty,
13 B. $ soft; Top (13 A) darker than bottom, . . . . . 20 to 695 = 157
(13' A and 13 B' same as above, but washed.)
14 . Shale, slaty, micaceous, dark, 25 to 720 = 132
15. Coal, 9 to 729 = 123
16 A. SS., very fine, grey, . . . . \
16 B SS., very fine, white, . . . . [ 60 to 789 = -f 63
16 C. SS., fine, hard, iron stained,. )
400 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Spec tfo.
17 . Slate, nearly black, 90 to 879 == 27
18. Limestone, very dark, 10 to 889 = 37
19 . SS. , white, very fine, and intermixed with particles of
grey limestone, 25 to 914 = 62
19 ^ ( | Same, coarse and fine, separated and washed.
20 A. SS., white, very fine and hard. The specimen is iron
stained, 80 to 994 = 142
20 B j (Sifted spec., lower part of rock.)
21. Slaty-shale, dark, 82 to 1076 = 224
22. SS., gray, with white specks, fine hard, micaceous,
no pebbles, (sifted No. 22 fine, No. 22' coarse.) . 110 to 1186 = 334
23. Slate, micaceous, gritty, 154 to 1340 = 488
24. SS.,light-gray,ftne,flaky,(c >al probably accidentally
dropt in,) (sifted No. 24 fine, No. 24' coarse.) 35 to 1375 = 523
25 . Slaty shale, dark, micaceous, with gray sand shells, 30 to 1405 = 553
26A. Slate, shaly, lead color, J 185 to 1590 = - 738
26 B. SS., greenish and red, fine, flaky, . . >
27 . SS., olive-gray, soft, some pebbles, probably in layers
of white sand, (sifted, No. 27 fine, No. 27' coarse.) 110 to 1700 848
28A. SS., gray, fine, ^
28 B. SS., gray-green, red, some slate, . 40 to 1740 = 888
28 C. SS., gray-green, red, some slate, . . 5
29A. Slate, shaly, dark, . . j
29B. Slate, shaly, dark, . . 20 to 1760 = 908
29 C. Slate, shaly, dark, . . 5
30A. SS., very fine and hard, gray, (specimens oxydized \ ) , r . 1775 __ 903
(Sifted No. SOB fine, No. 30B' coarse. ' $
31. Shaly, gray and red, with thin sand shells 70 to 1845 = 993
32. Slaty shale, with gray sand shells, traces of red, . 15 to 1860 = 1008
33. Slate, with thin white shells, 40 to 1900 = 1048
34 . Slate, common, 38 to 1938 = 1086
35. Slaty, shale, red, green and blue, shelly, 12 to 1950 1098
36. SS.. light-gray, fine, hard, flaky, 15 to 1965 = 1113
(Sifted No. 36 fine, No. 36' coarse.)
37. Shells red green gray with black slate, 45 to 2010 = 1158
38. SS., olive-gray, very fine, flowery, flaky, 25 to 2035 = 1183
(Sifted No. 3S fine, No. 38' coarse.)
39 . SS., white, very line, flaky, some slate, (" 3d SS ,") 15 to 2050 1198
40. Slate, shaly, with sand shells, 40 to 2090 = 1238
41A. SS,veryfine, I 27 to 2117 - -1265
41 B. Slate with close thin layers of fine SS., . .1 '
(Sifted No. 41B fine, No. 41B' coarse.)
42. SS., olive-gray, very fine and hard, flakey, mixed
with slate, as if in thin layers, . 21 to 2138 = 1286
(Sifted No. 42 fine, No. 42' coarse.)
43. Slate, common, soft, . . . . 100 to 2233 1386
Slate, common, soft to bottom, 122 to 2380 1508
ECONOMY WELL NO. 2. III. 401
NOTE 1. Specimens marked A B and C are from the top, middle and bot-
tom of the Ia3 r ers of sediment as originally packed in the large jars. The du-
plicate numbers have been washed and sifted, so that the true character of the
rock may be more plainly exhibited.
NOTE No. 2. The 1'ollovviug quotations from Dr. Hunter's letter to the State
Geologist, dated March 20, 1876, 110 doubt gives a more correct description of
the strata occupying the interval between specimens Nos. 5 and 6, than the
record which was made after the well was completed, for then the facts were
fresh in mind. He says :
"We hive passed through 86 feet of sedimentary friable rock, at the bot-
tom of which we found fresh water ; then 8 ft. of coal ; [the coal is included
in the 6 ft., according to the jars,] followed by 211 feet of rock similar to the
80 ft. ; then 45 ft. of close white sandstone, hard ; then 132 ft. of slate, to u<jh
then 25 ft. of sandrock, more porous than the 45 ft. rock, with a little show of
gas ; then 36 feet of slate ; then 3 ft. of coal, which is some 546 ft. below the
surface or starting point. We are now in slate at 600 ft."
Taking this version and commencing with the 45 ft. sandstone, we get the
following section :
Specimen No. 4, . . . . Sandstone, ....... 45' to SSO 7
Specimen No. 5 ...... Shale, ......... 132' to 482'
( Sandstone, ....... 25' to 507'
( ? ........... 36' to 82'
Specimen No. 6, ..... Sandstone, ....... 5' to 587'
Specimen No. 7, ..... Shale or slate, ...... 25' to 612'
(" Wo are now in slate at 600 ft.")
Specimen No. 8, ..... Coal, .......... 3' to 615'
Specimen No. 9, ..... Slate, ......... 6' to 621'
Specimen No. 10, ..... Sand shells, ....... 21' to 642'
SpecimenNo.il, ..... Shale. Limestone, . . . 15' to 657'
As specimen No. 11 contains traces of the Ferriferous limestone, the bed
of coal reported above appears to represent the Kittanning Upper coal.
Economy Well No. 9.. (Plate IV, Fig. 7.)
July, 1877.
661 . Located near the cutlery works of the Economy Society, at Beavor
Falls, Beaver county. Authority J. W. Ramsey, well manager.
Well mouth above ocean in feet, 730
Nos\ Conductor, 3 to 3 = 727
1. S3., yellow-white, . . . -. 53 to 56= 674
2. Coal, bright, 1 to 57= 673
3. S3., shaly, lino hard, 10 to 67 = 663
4. Slate, clark, 25 j 4Q ^
5. Slate, dark, 15 >
. Calcareous iron ore, 2 to 109 = 621
7. Shale, muddy, light-gray, 10 to 119 = 611
8. Shale, slaty, dark-gray, 50 to 169 = 561
2G III.
402 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
Spec. Nos.
9. SS., white with black seams, ^ 41 to 210:= 520
10. SS., white with slate and pebbles, 6>
11 . Shale, dark and muddy, 40 to 250 = 480
12. SS., shelly, tine, micaceous, gray and brown, ... 24 to 274= 456
13. SS., fine, gray, with white specks, 5^
14. Mud rock, 1 ( 26 to 300 = 430
15. SS., gray, white specks, no pebbles, 20 J
16. Shale, slaty, and shells of micaceous SS., 40 to 340 = 390
17. SS., fine, greenish gray and red, 5 15 to 355 = 375
18. SS., fine, gray and fawn color, soft, 10 )
19. Slate, shale and mud rock, 75 to 430 = 300
20. SS., flaggy, fine, hard, 40 to 470 = 260
21 . Shaly slate, with fine sand, 12 to 482 = 248
22. SS., fine, hard, greenish and brown, 5 to 487 = 243
23. Slaty shale, ^ * 43 to 530 = 200
24 . Slaty shale, somewhat sandy, 18 S
25 . Sandy shale and mud, 7 to 537 = 193
26. SS., gray, pebbly, 3 * 23 to 560 = 170
27. SS., light gray, fine, 20 S
28. Slate, with sand from above, .... 10 to 570 160
29. SS., yellowish, very tine, 20 to 590 = 140
30. Slate, with sand from above, 5 to 595 = 135
31. SS., gray, very fine, . . 15 to 610 = 120
32. Sandy slate, dark, 4 to 614= 116
33. SS., fine, nearly white, 80 to 694 = + 36
34. Sandy slate, dark, 10^
35. Sandy slate (specimen lost), 82 [ 235 to 929 = 199
36 . Slate, 143 J
37 . Red clay and dark slate, 15 to 944 = 214
38. Slate, 116 to 1060 = 330
39. SS., light-gray mica, with white specks, 30 to 1090 = 360
40. Slate and mud rock, ^ 1 400 to 1490 = - 760
41 . Slate and mud rock, 40 >
42. SS., gray, very fine, flaky, 100 to 1590 = 860
43. Slate, (42 B mud at 1580,) 10 to 1600 = 870
44. SS., whitish, very tine, hard, flaky, 10 to 1610 = 880
45. Shale, muddy, 55 to 1665 = 935
46 . Slaty shale, sandy, 40 to 1705 = 975
47 . Mud rock, 75 to 1780 = 1050
48. SS., flaggy, very fine, micaceous, 30 to 1810 = 1080
49. Mud rock, 10 to 1820 = 1090
50. Sandy slate, very fine sand, 15 \
51. Sandy slate, very fine sand, 20V 85 to 1905 = 1 175
52. Slate and fine sand shells, 50 )
53. Black slaty shale, 5 per ct. of carbonaceous matter, 35 to 1940 = 1210
54. SS., very fine, flaky, 10 to 1950 = 1220
55 ' Slate ' 5 | 150 to 2100- -1370
56. Slate, 100$
58. Mud rock, 50 to 2150 = 1420
' ' 50 j 180 to 2330 = -1600
59. Slate, 130 i
ECONOMY WELL NO. 2. III. 403
Work on the above well was commenced in May, 1876,
and suspended about the 1st of July, 1877. At the solici-
tation of Prof. White who was making his survey of Beaver
county in 1876, Mr. J. W. Ramsey, superintendent of the
drilling operations of the Economy society, carefully pre-
served samples of the sand pumpings wherever a change in
the composition of the rocks occurred. These specimens,
59 in number, were designed for the museum of the Survey
and were consequently added to my collection at Pleasant-
ville, so that all oil well specimens might be grouped to-
gether. The above record is made from the specimens and
labels on the bottles, and is no doubt as specific as a record
can be made under the circumstances, where a single speci-
men represents so great an interval as some of these do.
In January, .1877, I visited the well, then 1300 feet deep
and from Mr. Ramsey received the following particulars
relating to it.
A twelve inch hole was drilled to the depth of 557 feet
and cased with 8 inch pipe (inside diameter) which effect-
ually shut off all fresh water. A little gas was noticed at
430 feet. From the large casing an 8 inch hole was sunk
to 820' at which depth 5f inch casing was put in to shut out
a heavy vein of salt water encountered in the 80 foot sand
at 614 feet. In this part of the hole gas was struck at 517
feet, sufficient in quantity to fire a 12 horse boiler, and this
was still further increased by the gas coming in with the
salt water at 614 feet. After inserting the inside casing the
gas and salt water flowed constantly over the well mouth
between the two casings. The water was very salt, yield-
ing on a rough test made by Mr. Ramsey, seventeen ounces
of salt to one gallon of water.
From 820 feet a 5 inch hole, was drilled on down. At
1060 feet another salt water vein was struck but as it was
small and could be kept down by the sand pump, drilling
was not interrupted, until at 1280 feet another supply was
tapped which proved to be so copious that it could not be
exhausted and therefore at 1300 feet it was thought advis-
able to stop drilling, pull the casing and ream down the 8
inch hole to that point. After this was done and the 5f
404 III. HEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
inch casing inserted to 1300 feet, no further trouble was ex-
perienced from water, and the hole was then drilled on
down to 2330 feet, where, meeting with neither gas nor oil,
the work stopped.
Summit Well. (Plate V, Fig. 15.}
1876.
662. Near Great Belt city or Summit, Summit township, Butler county.
Authority, Kirk & Dill worth.
Well mouth above ocean, in feet, 1326
?, 120 to 120= 1200
Coal, 120 = 1206
?, 205 to 325 = 1001
Coal, 325 = 1001
?, 223 to 54S = 778
Limestone, 14 to 562 = + 764
?, 778 to 1310 = 14
Large flow of gas, 1310 = 14
?, . 152 to 1492 = 166
SS., "2d Sand, 11 20 to 1512 = 186
?, 234 to 1746 = 420
SS., "Stray," 16 to 1762 = 436
?, 10 to 1772 = 446
SS., "3d Sand," 36 to 1H03 = 482
?, 14 to 1822 = - 496
Mahan Well. (Plate V, Fig. 17.)
1875.
063. On Mahan farm, Middlesex township, Butler county. Hart&Conkle,
owners. Authority, F. A. Conkle and C. E. Hart.
Well mouth above ocean, in feet :
Conductor, 12 to 12 =
?, 63 to 75 =
"Bluff sand," followed by?, 125 to 200 =
Coal, 4 to 204 =
?, 86 to 290 =
Coal, 2 to 292 =
Slate, 3 to 295 =
Limestone, 20 to 315 =
?, 85 to 400 =
SS, 60 to 460 =
?, 180 to 610 =
Coal and coal shales, water and gas, 8 to 648 =
?, (cased at 660',) 27 to 675 =
SS., very hard, 90 to 765 =
?, 385 to 1150 =
8S., shelly, 100 to 1250 =
?, . 90 to 1340 =
GRAFF, BENNETT & CO.'S WELL. III. 405
SS., black ; brackish water, 10 to 1350 =
SS., fresh water, 50 to 1400
Slates 70 to 1470 =
SS-, black and loose,* 10 to 1480 =
SS., grey, 50 to 1530 =
Slate, 15 to 1545 =
Red Shale, 10 to 1555 =
Slate, 10 to 1565 =
Bowlder, 20 to 1585 =
Slate, 38 to 1623 =
SS., "corn meal," 37 to 1660 =
Slate, 40 to 1700 =
SS., Pink pebble, 25 to 1725 =
?, 15 to 1740 =
SS., fine white, 15 to 1755 =
Shales and slates, 30 to 1785 =
SS., white and pebbly, 17 to 1802 =
Slate, 28 to 1830
Shales and sand, 10 to 1840
Shales, blood red, 90 to 1930 =
Tills record is compiled from the record given by Mr.
Conkle, in Report II, page 271, compared with the record
given by Mr. Hart, in Report Q, page 81.
Graff, Bennett &Co:s Well. Plate V, Fig. 18, and Plate
VII, Fig. 32.
June, 1878.
644. Located on west side of the Allegheny river, Tarentum, Allegheny
county. Authority, James E. Karns.
Well mouth above ocean, in feet 872
?, 418 to 418 = 454
SS., white, coarse "4ff rode," 49 to 467 = 405
Slate, black, . [Brine and red oil horizon, see note,] . 53 to 520= 352
SS., white, hard, fine "70' rock," 75 to 595= 277
SS., green, soft, ) f 95 to 690 = 182
SS., gr^y, hard, } " Mountain Sand," . . . . I 85 to 775 = 97
SS., white, hard J t 43 to 818 = 54
Slate, blue, shelly, 10 to 828 = 44
Slate, red, hard, 5 to 833 = -(- 89
Slate, dark, gritty, 128 to C61 = 89
SS., gray to white, hard, " 1st SS.," 199 to 1160 == 28S
Slate, dark, gritty, shelly, 58 to 1218 = 346
SS., dark to white, 1 ( 29 to 1247 = 375
SS., blue to white, ! "0dSS" J 40tol2G 7= 415
SS., blue to white, [ ' ' j 50 to 1337 = 465
SS., blue to white, ) [ 25 to 1362 = 490
*Mr. Conklesays, " 10' SS., black and loose, with amber oil and salt water."
Mr. Hart, 60' SS.. very white, amber oil, 5 barrel well. Whatever the " show
of oil " may have been, it was not considered worth pumping, and the well
was put deeper and then abandoned.
406 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Slate, dark, gritty, shelly, 68 to 1430 = 558
SS., deep red, hard, > u < 15 to 1445 = 573
SS., blue to gray, $ ' 1 35 to 1480 = - 608
Slate, dark, gritty, shelly, 27 to 1507 = 635
SS., light red, 3 to 1510 = 638
SS., black, 5 to 1515 = 643
Slate, dark, 12 to 1527 = 655
SS., blue, bottom pebbly, } ( 10 to 1537 = 665
Slate, black, I 30 < rock" J 5 to 1542 =- 670
SS., blue to white, . . . [ ' 1 10 to 1552 = - 680
SS., red, ) { 10 to 1562 = 690
Slate, pink to white, 18 to 1580 = 708
Slate, blue and shelly, 22 to 1602 = 730
SS., bluish, very hard,- . . . " Blue Monday," 8 to 1610 = 738
Slate, black, 12 to 1622 = 750
Slate, red, 2 to 1624 = 752
Slate, gray, shelly, 2 to 1626 744
SS., gray, 2 to 1628 = 756
Slate, red and black mixed, 36 to 1664 = 792
SS., gray, 3 to 1667 = 795
Slate, red to blue, shelly, ' 16 to 1683 = 811
SS., gray to white, "Bowlder," 25 to 1708 = 836
Slate, white, 2 to 1710 = 838
SS., dark to light gray, "Stray 3d," 12 to 1722 = 850
Slate, black, shelly, 40 to 1762 = 890
SS., gray, pebbly at bottom, .... "SdSS.," 20 to 1782 = 910
Slate, red to gray, 10 to 1792 =920
Slate, gray, 28 to 1820 = 948
SS , gray, loose, pebbly, "jthSS.," 8 to 1828 =956
Slate, purple to black, 98 to 1926 = 1054
Sand-shells, gray and green, 7 to 1933 = 1061
Slate, gray, 25 to 1958 = 1086
Slate, black, gritty, 20 to '1978 =1106
Slate, gray, no grit, 44 to 2022 = 1150
Slate, black, no grit, 120 to 2142 = 1270
Slate, blue, no grit, 30 to 2172 = 1300
Slate, brown, soft sand shells 20 to 2192 = 1320
Sand shells, light-green, 10 to 2202 = 1330
Slate, dark, no grit, 25 to 2227 = 13-55
SS., gray, flaggy, hard, 5 to 2232 1360
Slate, dark, no grit, 30 to 2262 = 1390
SS., light-gray, coarse, 8 to 2270 = 1398
Slate, dark, soft, 14 to 2284 = 1412
findinos in well :
1st. Salt water, copious, 4 at 454 ft.
Mud vein, at 451 ft.
2d. Salt water, copious, . . 4 at 461 ft.
3d. Salt water, less in quantity, 8 at 476 ft.
4th. Salt water, small quantity, 14 at 828 ft.
Fresh water (brackish) and gas, at 1247 ft.
1st. Gas, small quantity, at 634 ft.
PETERSON WELL. III. 407
2d. Gas, small quantity, with fresh water, at 1247 ft.
3d. Gas, strong, flame 50' high, at 1287 ft.
4th. Gas, small but oily, at 1705 ft.
On closing the well mouth the gas pressure has run up
to 130 fcs. to the square inch, and would go higher if not
relieved.
The well has been cased at five different points, thus en-
abling the testing of each product separately. It is now
cased at 1328 feet.
Mr. Karns says in his letter accompanying the record :
11 You will observe the brine marked 8. This is always
obtained (if found at all) between the 40' and 70' rocks, and
with it comes the red oil of this district. We got the brine,
but merely a show of oil."
"I commenced this record at the top of what is known in
this county as the 40' rock, the stratum which has furnished
nearly all the salt which has been made in the county, al-
though some brine has been got in the 70' rock, the top
member of the mountain sand series. The stratification
above this 40' rock was so well known that I only thought
it necessary to see that this well coincided with it. En-
closed is a record of the Peterson well near by, which will
explain it."
Peterson Well.
1861.
665. Located near the West Penn'a R. R. about half a mile southeast
of the Graff, Bennett & Co. Well, drilled for L. Peterson by F. W. flumes
iu 1861. Level of well mouth 100 below G. B. & Co. well.
Elevation of well mouth above ocean, in feet, 772
Conductor, 50 to 50 = 722
Sandy flags, 25 to 75 = 697
SS., white, flaggy, 50 to 125 = 647
Coal, 1 to 126 = 646
SS., brown, 4 to 130 642
Slate, gray, 30 to 160 = 612
SS., white, sharp, 20 to 180 == 592
SS. and slate, dark, 16 to 196 = 576
Coal, 2 to 198 = 574
Slate, white, 26 to 224 = 548
SS., white 16 to 240 = 532
SS., dark, 19 to 259 = 513
408 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Limestone, 9 to 268 = 504
SS. and slate, 18 to 286 = 486
SS., white, 8 to 294 = 478
Slate, white, 28 to 322 = 450
Slate, dark, 27 to 319 = 423
Slate, white, 13 to 362 = 410
SS., dark, 3 to 365 = 407
SS., white, coarse, sharp, "40' rock," [Brine, see note,] . . 42 to 407 = 365
Mud vein, to 407 = 365
SS., dark, 23 to 430 = 342
Slate, white, 50 to 480 = 292
SS., dark, top of 70' rock," 2 to 482 = 290
"The salt measures here have been worked since about
1832, the brine coming from a sandrock about 40' in thick-
ness, and lying about 380' below the level of the West
'Penn. R. R. track. This rock contains salt water of 4,
and in some localities a pebble stratum below it yields
brine of 8, accompanied by oil and gas. Mr. Peterson
sunk a well here in 1852 and not finding salt water in the
usual place drilled down to 1237' striking fresh water and
gas. The well continued to flow fresh water, and is still
flowing (June, 1878) just as when drilled. Two years ago
the well was reamed out and cased at 600' but no accurate
record could be had of it, as the drillings flowed out with
the water."
Graff, Bennett & Company^ s well produces a large quan-
tity of water which is ejected with varying force as the gas
pressure increases or intermits. It quickly forms a deposit
in the delivery pipe, and every pebble, twig and blade of
grass along the sides of the ditch dug to convey the water
from the well is beautifully encrusted by it. A specimen
sent to Mr. A. S. McCreath for analysis gave the following
results :
"The deposit consists of a thin nodular material, filled
with a light brown clay. The shell after being tolerably well
separated from the clay contains :
Carbonate of lime, 53.910
Carbonate of magnesia, 11.351
Carbonate of baryta, 8.884
Oxide of iron and alumina, 3.640
Insoluble residue, . . 19.160
PINE CREEK WELL NO 1. III. 409
Pine Creek Well No. 1, (Plate VII, Fig. 34.)
1877?
G66. In Pine twp., Armstrong Co., east bank of the Allegheny river and
a short distance above the mouth of Pine creek. Authority Coi. Jos. D. Potts,
per A. B. Howland.
Well mouth above ocean in feet, about 800
Drive pipe, 47 to 47 == 753
Bed, rock, surface sand, 33 to 80 = 720
Slate, 15 to 95 = 705
Coal, 1 to 96 = 701
SS., 150 to 246 = 554
Slate, 5 to 251 = 549
SS., strong gas, 257 to 508 = 292
Slate, (cased at 512',) 12 to 520 = 280
Red rock, 20 to 510 = 260
Slate and shells, 35 to 575 = 225'
Sand shell, oil and gas, 4 to 579 = 221
Red rock, 21 to 600 = 200
Slate, '. 7 to C07 = 193
SS., gas, 20 to 627 = 173
Slate and shells, 43 to 670 = 130
SS., gas, 8 to 678 = -f 122
Slate and shells 142 to 820 = 20
Red rock, 4 to 824 = 24
Slate, 6 to 830 = 30
SS., gas, 10 to 810 =_ 40
Slate and shells, 10 to 850 50
SS., hard, gas, 20 to 870 70
Slate and thick shells, 30 to 900 = 100
SS., gas, sufficient to fire the boiler, 70 to 970 = 170
Slate, 20 to 990 = 190
Slate and shells, 18 to 1008 = 203
SS., pebble, heavy gas, salt water, 43 to 1051 = 251
Slate and shells, 39 to 1090 290
Bedrock, 10 to 1100 = 300
Slate, 5 to 1105 = 305
Red rock, 15 to 1120 = 320
Slate and shells, 30 to 1150 350
Red roc7cf.nd shells, 26 to 1176 = 376
Slate and shell, 4 to 1180 = 380
SS., . . 2 to 1182 ==382
Slate, ... 7 to 1189 = 339
SS., ., . 1 to 1190 = 390
Slate, . .' 2 to 1192 = 392
SS., 2 to 1194 == 394
Red rock, 1 to 1195 = 395
SS., 7 to 1202 = 402
Slate and shells, 13 to 1215 = 415
Red rock, 7 to 1222 = 422
SS., and shells, 10 to 1232 = 432
Slate, 8 to 1240 = 440
410 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Red rock, 4 to 1244 = - 444
Slate, 4 to 1248 = 448
SS., blue, white, and pebble, 9 to 1257 = 457
Slate, 13 to 1270 470
Bed rock, 2 to 1272 = 472
Slate, 5 to 1277 = 477
SS., white and hard 18 to 1295 == 495
Red rock, 7 to 1302 = 502
Slate, 6 to 1308 = 508
Red rock, with shell of slate, 17 to 1325 = 525
SS., gray, 2 to 1327 = 527
Red rock, with 2 feet of sand shell, 11 to 1338 = 538
Slate, dark, 12 to 1350 = 550
SS., dark gray thin white and very hard, 18 to 1368 = 568
Slate and shells, 10 to 1378 = 578
SS., 10 to 1388 = 588
Slate, 8 to 1396 = 596
Shell, 2 to 1398 = 598
Slate, 32 to 1430 = % 630
Red rock, . 40 to 1470 = 670
Slate and shell, 30 to 1500 = 700
Slate, 50 to 1550 = 750
Shells and slate, 25 to 1575 = 775
SS., pebble, 1 to 1576 = 776
Slate and shell, . 21 to 1597 = 797
Red rock, very hard 88., 15 to 1612 812
Slate and shell, 18 to 1630 = 830
SS., dark, 8 to 1638 = 838
Slate and shell, 4 to 1642 = 842
SS., light colored, 8 to 1650 = 850
SS., red, 10 to 1660 = 860
Shell, hard,thin slate, 20 to 1680 = 880
SS., 6 to 1686 = 886
Slate, 4 to 1690 890
SS., 3 to 1693 = 893
"The Ferriferous limestone is supposed to lie about 35
feet above the well mouth."
Midland Well No. 1, (Plate VII, Fig. 35.)
1876.
667. On Jacob Brinker Farm, near Millville Clarion county. Authority
Col. Jos. D. Potts, per A. B. Rowland.
Well mouth above ocean in feet, about, 1080
Conductor, to, . 8 to 8 = 1072
Limestone, Ferriferous 2 to 10 = 1070
MIDLAND WELL NO. 1. III. 411
Coal, 1
SS., black, . 18
Goal, > 26t 36= 1044
SS., black, 4
Slate, . 40 to 76 = 1004
Shells, 2 to 78 = 1002
Slate, 33 to 111 = 969
SS., white, 3 to 114 = 966
Slate, 32 to 146 = 934
Coal, 1 to 147 933
Slate, ' . 4 to 151 = 929
Coal, 2 to 153 = 927
Slate, 17 to 170 = 910
Coal, 4 to 174 " 906
Slate, 44 to 218 = 862
SS., gray, 10 to 228 = 852
Slate, 2 to 230 = 850
SS., white 57 to 287 = 793
Slate, 24 to 311 = 769
SS., " Mountain Sand," 251 to 562 = 518
Bedrock, 15 to 577 = 503
SS., white, . 10 to 587 = 493
Slate, shelly, 75 to 662 = 418
SS., white, gas, 20 to 682 = 398
Slate, with shells, 128 to 810 = 270
Pebble shell, 1 to 811 = 269
Slate, 10 to 821 = 259
Shell, white 5 to 826 = 254
Slate, 12 to 838 = 242
SS., pebble, 10 to 848 = 232
Slate, 8 to 856 = 224
SS., white, 14 to 870 = 210
Slate, 2 to 872 = 208
SS., white, 80 to 952 = 128
SS., gray, 20 to 972 = 108
SS., and slate, 18 to 990 = 90
Red rock, 5 to 995 = -J- 85
Slate, shelly, 135 to 1130 = 50
Red rock, 22 to 1152 = 72
Slate and grey shells, 33 to 1185 = 105
Slate, 11 to 1196 == 116
Red rock, 4 to 1200 = 120
Slate, shelly, 10 to 1210 = 130
Red rock, 43 to 1253 = 173
Shell, 1 to 1254 = 174
Slate, 30 to 1284 = 204
Shells and slate, 24 to 1308 = 228
Shell, 3 to 1311 = 231
Red rock, 5 to 1316 = 236
Slate, shelly, 7 to 1323 = 243
SS., 9 to 1332 = 252
Slate, 8 to 1340 = 260
412 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Shells and slate, 10 to 1350 = 270
SS., 5 to 1355 = 275
Slate, shelly, 40 to 1395 = 315
Red rock, 45 to 1440 = 3GO
Red mud, 5 to 1445 = 3G5
Slate, blue, . 105 to 1550 = 470
Red rock, 60 to 1610 = 530
Shells and blue slate, 100 to 1710 = 630
Red rock, very pale, 5 to 1715 = 635
Shell and blue slate, .' 10 to 1725 = 645
SS., gray, "Drillers' First Sand," 40 to 1765 = 685
Slate and shells with red streaks, 110 to 1875 = 795
SS., grey, (show of oil and gas)" Second sand," .... 45 to 19JO = 840
Slate, blue, 30 to 1950 = 870
Sand shell, light gray, 4 to 1954 = 874
Shells and blue slate, 56 to 2010 = 930
Pebble shell, 1 to 2011 = 931
Slate and shells, 21 to 2032 = 952
Shell, gray, 4 to 2036 = 956
Shells and blue slate, 27 to 20fi3 = 983
Sand shell, 6 to 20G9 = 989
Shells and blue slate, 39 to 2108 = 1028
SS., white, 10 to 2118 = 1038
Slate, blue, 4 to 2122 = 1012
Pebble shell, 2 to 2124 = 1044
Shells and blue slate, , 42 to 21f 6 = 1086
SS., gas and oil show " Stray," 60 to 2226 = 1146
Slate, blue, 22 to 2248 =1168
Slate blue, 32 to 2280 = 1200
Cherry Run Well. (Plate V, Fig. 21, and Plate VII,
Fig. 36.)
1878?
5 668. On Plyer farm near center of Toby twp., Clarion co. Authority, Col.
Jos. D. Potts, per A. B. Howland.
Well mouth above ocean in feet
Conductor, ( Ferriferous eroded here, ) 5to 5 =
SS., and shells, 56 to 61 =
SS., 15 to 76 =
Slate, 35 to 111 =
SS., 150 to 261 =
Slate 5 to 266 =
SS., 385 to 451 =
Slate and shales, 130 to 581 =
SS., 44 to 625 =
Slate and shale, (oil,) 283 to 908 =
SS., gas, ... . . )
Slate, 5 > 105 to 1013 =
SS., gas, pebbles, . . . )
GEISWOLD WELL NO. 1. III. 413
Slate and shells, (5 feet red.) 35 to 1048 =
SS., blue, 12 to 1060 =
Slate, red, with sand shells, 30 to 1090 =
Slate, 5 to 1095 =
Sandstone bowlder, solid 23 to 1118 =
Slate, 3 feet, red, 15 to 1133 =
SS., red brown and yellow, oil show at 1143', 15 to 1148 =
Slate, blue, with hard shells, 28 to 1176 =
SS,, black and yellow pebbles, 3 to 1179 =
Bed rock and brown and olive sandy shale, 9 to 1183 =
SS., (pebbles, and oil show at 1193'; 15 to 1203 =
Red shales with white and blue (lags, 32 to 1235 =
Red, olive and white shells and blue slate, 26 to 12(51 =
SS., close white hard, 9 to 1270 =
Slate, 13 to 1283 =
SS., (oil show at 1287') 9 to 1292 =
Slate, 10 to 1302 =
SS., loose, oily, 5 to 1307 =
Shells Ac., 11 to 1318 =
SS., oily all through, 19 to 1337 =
Slate, blue, 63 to 1400 =
The Ferriferous limestone is seen in place a short dis-
tance from the well. The conductor occupies its horizon,
it having been eroded at the spot where the well is located.
Griswold Well No. 1. (PL VI, F. 30, and PL VII, F. 38.)
May, 1878.
6G9. "This well is located on Rattlesnake gulch, north of Clarion ; about
one mile from the river and one mile east of Toby creek ; on the property for-
merly known as the 'Penn Mill Tract,' and now owned by Win. Griswold,
of Philadelphia." Authority : John W. Griswold.
Well mouth above ocean, in feet,
Conductor, 22 to 22 =
Shales, soft, dark, 26 to 48 =
SS., "bluff sand," 52 to 100 =
Slate, dark, with gray sand shells, 10 to 110 =
Coal, trace, to 110 =
Slate, dark, with gray sand shells, 110 to 220 =
SS., gray, 20 j
SS., white, .110 j Mt. sand, 160 to 380 =
SS , gray, 30 > ,' ,
Slate and sand shells, 50 to 430 =
SS., (cased at 440') " salt water sand," 70 to 500 =
SS., some pebbles, 25 J 60 56Q =
SS., white, .... 35 )
Slate, 185 to 745 =
414 III. RKPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
SS., hard gray shell, 5 ^
SS., yellow, . . . . 107 " 1st sand," 130 to 875 =
SS., white, 18 )
Slate, sandy, 15 to 890 =
Red rock, 5 to 895 =
SS., with gas, 5 to 900 =
Slate, with sand shells, 53 to 953 =
SS., "Zdsand,' ' . . 42 to 995 =
Red rock, " Big red," 90 to 1085 =
Slate, traces of red, 5 to 1090 =
Red shale, 5 to 1095 =
Slate, 5 to 1100 =
SS., " Green bowlder," 3 to 1103 =
Slate, 3 to 1106 =
SS., "Stray 3d," .' 3 to 1109 =
Slate and shells, 6 to 1115 =
SS., "3d sand," 40 to 1155 ==
Slate and shells, 21 to 1176 =
Red shale, 7 to 1183 =
Slate, with layer of gray SS., 27 to 1210 =
Red rock, 5 to 1215 =
Slate, 4 to 1219 =
Slate, with sand shells, some pebbles, 11 to 1230 =
Slate, 8 to 1238 =
" Some gas, but not quite enough to fire the boiler. Only
a ' show' of oil."
Rohrer Well, No. 2. (Plate VI, Fig. 29.)
1877.
670. On Deer creek 1| miles S. of Shippenville, Elk township, Clarion
co., Pa. "Well is located on the bank of Deer creek about half way between
Black's furnace and the old forge about 125' below the level of the surround-
ing country." Authority, C. E. Hatch, Edenburg.
Well mouth above ocean in feet.
?, 660 to 660 =
1st red rock with layers of slate, 48 to 708 =
Shell, very hard, ... 4 to 712 =
Red rock, with small streak of slate, 24 to 736 =
Slate and shells, . 20 to 756 =
Red rock, soft ; hard shell at bottom, 44 to 800 =
Slate, 20 to 820 ==
Red rock, 15 to 835 =
Slate; with one hard shell, 18 to 853 =
SS., (oil rock?) hard, blue to lighter color, 17 to 870 =
Slate ; with hard shell, 34 to 904 =
SS., very hard, small flow gas, 16 to 920 =
Slate and hard shell, 50 to 970 =
Red rock and shell, . 40 to 1010 =
STROTMAN WELL. III. 415
Slate and shells, 95 to 1105 =
Red rock with very hard shells, 25 to 1130 =
Slate, with some shells, 170 to 1300 =
Slate ; soft, pale red, 40 to 1340 =
Slate, with very hard sand shells, 50 to 1390 =
SS., hard and tine, 30 to 1420 =
Slate; soft and "milky," 50 to 1470 =
SS., hard and shelly, 8 to 1478 =
Slate ; soft and white, with shells, 112 to 1590 =
SS., strong smell oil, 12 to 1602 =
Slate ; soft, with shells, 138 to 1740 =
SS., with heavy gas vein, 11 to 1751 ==
SS., similar to cornmeal, 10 to 1761 =
SS., gray and coarse, 19 to 1780 =
SS., smells strong of oil, (lighter color,) 10 to 1790 =
SS., and shells, (50 ?) 40 to 1830 =
Shell, very hard, 4 to 1834 =
SS., with shells and some slate, . . . i c ....... 42 to 1876 =
SS., with shells and some slate, . . . \ 191/ \ 149 to 2025 =
" The last 149' was a mixture of gray and blue sand with
an occasional hard shell and a very little slate in thin
streaks. The well is 2025' deep and stopped in sand. Cased
at 260'. No record kept of 1st and 2nd sands, but they
were passed through in their proper positions."
The well is about half way between Black's furnace and
the old forge. Unproductive.
Strotman Well. (Plate VI, Fig. 26.}
Summer 1877.
671. Elk township, Clarion co., 2 miles N. E. of Berlin's Tavern. Peter
Schreiber, owner. Authority, J. R. Smith, contractor.
Well mouth above ocean in feet.
? 573 to 573 =
Shells, gas, 7 to 580 =
Slate, 167 to 747 =
SS., pebble on top, gas, " 1st sand," . . 58 to 805 =
Slate, 37 to 842 =
Sand shells, gas 38 to 880 =
Red rock 10 to 890 =
Sand shells, 10 to 900 =
Red rock, 14 to 914 =
Slate, 26 to 940 =
Sandy shells, 10 to 950 =
Slate, 34 to 984 =
SS., dark, few pebbles,
" and pebbly, 5 \ " .id sand," . . 20 to 1004
" very dark and fine,
416 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Slate, gas, 15 to 1019 =
S3., coarse pebble, gas, 3> 12 to 1031 =
" fine, ' 9 $
Slate, 17 to 1C4S =
Yellow pebble, 2 to 1050 =
Slate, 6 to 1050 =
SS. and yellow pebbles; gas, 2) 8 to 1034
" white and hard, 6 >
Slate and shells, 35 to 1099 =
Bed rock and shells, "chocolate," in layers, 16 to 1115 =
Some little oil in top of 3d sand, but not in paying quan-
tity.
Bains' Well. (Plate VL Fig. 22.}
February, 1876.
G72. On Holliday run, near Oil City. Authority, Jos. D. Potts, per A. B.
Hovvland.
Well mouth above ocean in feet.
Conductor, 18 to 18 =
? 242 to 260 =
Shelly rock, '. 39 to 299 =
SS., Mountain sand ... 44 to 313 =
Slates, &c., 108 to 451 =
Red rock, 86 to 537 =
S3., "Isisand," .... 37 to 574 =
Slates, &c., 107 to 681 =
SS., "Sdsand," . ... 28 to 709 =
Slates, &c., 81 to 790 =
S3., gray, 14 to 804 =
Slates, ]9 to 8^3 =
S3., oil, "3d sand," . ... 18 to 841 =
Slate, 25 to 86G =
Shelly rock, 50 to 910 =
SS., dark, 30 to 955 =
Slate, dark and shelly, 115 to 1070 =
Iron Bridge or Chew Well. (Plate IV, Fig. 8.)
1870-7.
C73. Located on hillside, 20 rods east of Slippery Rock creek, 40 rods south
of Iron Bridge, Perry township Lawrence ex, Penna., and 2 miles S. 20 W.
of well at mouth of Cove Hollow. Authority, Geo. H. Nesbitt, owner, per
Geo. II. Dimick, manager.
Well mouth above ocean in feet.
Bluff sand, 15 to 15 =
Slate, 10 to 23 =
Coal, 2 to 27 =
COVE HOLLOW OE SHAFFER WELL. III. 417
Slate,* 143 to 170 =
SS., 67 to 237 =
Slate and sand shells (fresh water,) . . 50 to 287 =
SS., light gray and close, 21 to 308 =
Slate, 20 to 328 =
SS., (saltwater,) 25 to 353 =
Slate, 213 to 566 =
SS,, a little amber oil, 30 to 596 =
Slate; 18" sand shell at 690,' 194 to 790 =
Red rock, (stopped in it,) 1 to 791 =
Cased first at 237' then at 267' and finally at 370'.
Unproductive, very little show of oil or gas.
The record adds : "The lubricating oil rock was passed
through from 287' to 308', and it is evident that the oil must
be found in crevices, as this well is located on a line between
two well known producers of 1865, and should have found
either water from the old wells or a supply of oil, if the
rock had riot been too close for the movement of fluid through
it."
The proximity of the old wells probably accounts for the
fresh water in the shelly measure above this close sandrock.
At 690' a slight show of oil and gas was found in a sand
shell about 18 inches thick.
Cove Hollow or Shaffer Well.^ (Plate IV, Fig. 9.)
1876-7.
674. Situated on Slippery Rock creek at the mouth of Cove Hollow, Slip-
pery Rock township, Lawrence co., Pa. Two miles N, 20 E. of " Iron Bridge
Well." Authority, Geo. H. Nesbitt, owner, per Geo. H. Dimick, manager.
Well mouth above ocean in feet.
Conductor, , . 8 to 8 =
Bluff sand, SOto 38 =
Slate, 42 to 80 =
Blue limestone, 3 to 83 =
Slate 12 to 95 =
SS., gray, "60 rock," 75 to 170 =
*The figures down to 170 feet do not agree with Prof. White's section of
this well (QQ. page 89), but they are copied from Mr. Dimick's letter con-
taining the well record in his own handwriting.
t This record like that of " Iron Bridge Well " disagrees with Prof. White's,
(QQ. p. 154.) The disagreement illustrates the unreliability of oil well
records even when they are given by the same party, but to different persons
and at different times.
27 III.
418 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Slate, 340 to 510 =
SS., gray, (a little amber oil,) 40 to 550 =
Slate, with an occasional shell, 150 to 700 =
Red rock, 26 to 726 =
Slate, sand shell at 800', black oil 164 to 890 =
Red rock, 40 to 930 =
Slate and occasional shells, 313 to 1273 =
Conglomerate, black and red slate and pebbles, 10 to 1283 =
SS., brown or light gray, fine, 5 to 1288 =
SS., black, dark gray when dry, 32 to 1320 =
Slate dark, a few shells, 116 to 1436
Cased at 249 feet. Unproductive.
"At 800' struck a shell yielding a few gallons of black
oil of light gravity supposed from 46 to 48."
John Smith Well. (Plate IV, Figs. 2 and 10.)
1877.
675. On John Smith farm, Brady township, one and a quarter miles north-
west from the Prospect bridge, over Muddy creek. Owners, Messrs. Phillips
Bros. Authority, E J. Agnew, per W. G. Power.
Well mouth above ocean in feet, (barometer,) 1325
Slate and fireclay,
. .230
to
230
1095
Limestone, Ferriferous,
. . 15
to
245
=
1080
Slate and clay,
. . 27
to
272
=
1053
SS.,
. . 18
to
290
=a
1035
Slate, black,
. .110
to
400
925
ss.,
. . 65
to
465
=
860
Slate,
. . 3
to
468
=
857
SS., "Mountain sand," .
. .100
to
568
sa
757
Slate and shells,
. . 72
to
640
685
SS., gray,
. . 50
to
690
B9
635
. . 10
to
700
ss
625
SS.,
. . 30
to
730
595
Slate,
. .180
to
910
415
SS.,
. . 26
to
936
389
Slate and shells,
. .119
to
1055
=
270
Red rock,
. . 60
to 1115 =
210
Slate and shells,
. . 15
to
1130
195
SS., "1st sand," .
. . 60
to
1190
135
Slate
. . 85
to
1275
=
+ 60
SS., rotten, 20 j
Slate, 20 [ '-2d sand," .
. . 65
to
1340
=
15
SS., 25)
Slate,
. . 55
to
139-
70
Granite,
. . 5
to
1400
as
75
Slate,
. . 31
to
1431
=
- 106
SS., ("off color,") "Sdsand," .
. . 19
to
14.50
=-.
125
Slate, black,
. . 8fc
to
14581=
133^
EAYMOND WELL NO. 6. III. 419
The Third sand was poor, and quite shelly, and produced
no oil.
This well was subsequently sunk to a depth of 1596'. A
thick mass of red, rocJc was found near the bottom.
Boyce, Rawle & Co.'s Well, (Plate IV, Fig. 3.)
Spring of 1877.
676. At Sharon Furnace, 1> miles above Sharon. Authority, Mr. Hall
Sharon Furnace.
Well mouth above ocean in feet, (by barometer,) 900
Clay and gravel, >
Coarse gravel, C 100 to 100 = 800
Bowlders,
Shale, "soapstone," 85 to 185 =: 715
SS., white, sharp, "Mountain sand," . . 75 to 260= 640
Shale, light-blue and some red, .... 305 to 565 = 335
SS., gray, tine oil, "1st sand," 30 to 595= 305
Shales, lead color, 23 to 618= 282
Shelly, oil and gas "Stray," to 618= -f 282
Shales, lead colored and brownish, turning to dark-blue
near bottom, 607 to 1225 = 325
Shales, blue-gray and brown, with thin layers of fine grit, 375 to 1600= 700
Fresh water at 46', 175', and 280.'
Gas at 485' and 618'.
Cased 5|" casing, at 175' ; cased 4J" casing, at 280'.
Traces of oil either in "1st SS.," or at 618'. Amber oil,
heavy gravity ; no salt water.
Raymond Well No. 6. (Plate IV, Fig. 4-}
1877.
677. At Raymilton, Sandy Creek township, Venango county. Authority,
A. K. Williams' note book.
Well mouth above ocean, in feet, 1196
Conductor, 19 to 19 = 1177
Slate, ? 51 to 70 = 1126
SS., (cased at 191'), ? 100 to 170 = 1026
Slate (shells and gas at about 360'), 262 to 432 = 764
Red rock, 100 to 532 = 664
SS., (oil,) 10 j
Slate, . . 19 ["3d sand," 47 to 579 = 617
SS., . . .18)
Slate, no" stray sand," 259 to 83S = 358
SS., oil show, "3d sand," 10 to 848 = 348
420 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Slate 152 to 1000 = 196
Red rock, 100 to 1100 = 96
Slate, 250 to 1350 = 154
Shells and shale (oil show and gas), 20 to 1370 = 174
Shells, mud and slate, 40 to 1410 = 214
Reliance Well. (Plate IV, Fig. 12.
678. Located on land of A. W. Brown, near the corner of Myrick and Chest-
nut streets, in the borough of Pleasant ville. Authority, E. S. Nettleton.
Well mouth above ocean, in feet, 1652
Sandy shale and surface clay, 141 to 141 = 1511
SS., /Second mountain sand, .... 35 to 176 = 1476
Shale 208 to 384 = 1268
SS., Pithole grit, 22 to 406 = 1246
Shale 139 to 545 = 1107
Red rock, 55 to 600 = 1052
SS., First sand, 28 to 628 = 1024
Shale and slate, . . . . W 113 to 741 = 911
SS,, Second sand, 42 to 783 = 869
Slate 71 to 854 = 798
SS., Stray Third, 11 to 865 = 787
Slate, 20 to 885 = 767
SS., Third sand . 37 to 922 = 730
Slate, 94 to 1016 = 636
Prilled wet. But little gas or oil.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Gravel Pit Oil Wells.
Grey's Well and others in Ohio,
679. The history of petroleum developments in Penn-
sylvania has been a record of wonderful incidents and
repeated surprises. When Messrs. Eveleth and Bissel or-
ganized "the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company"* for the
purpose of collecting ' ' Seneca oil ' ' from a series of trenches
and pits on Watson's flats near Titusville, where the strange
fluid came up in globules and spread upon the water when-
ever a ditch was dug, they little thought what was to be
the ultimate results of their enterprise. It was a suprise to
them, therefore, when after nearly five year's ill success and
discouragement with the pick and shovel, their first ven-
ture at drilling, the Drake well, yielded barrels of oil where
they had only anticipated gallons. It was a surprise to the
world when a couple of years later several wells along Oil
creek started to flow at the rate of from one thousand to
thirty-five hundred barrels per day. It was a surprise to
the ' ' experienced operator ' ' when the highlands were found
to be as good for oil as the creek bottoms ; when the deep
rocks of Armstrong, Clarion, and Butler proved to be so
largely productive ; and when the hidden treasures of War-
ren and McKean counties began to be revealed. It was also
a surprise when it was announced that on the 6th day of
April, 1877, a pit only fifteen feet deep had been dug on
Watson's flats which was yielding by a common hand-pump
thirty barrels of oil per day, and this within a few rods of
territory which had been thoroughly operated upon ten or
*This was the first oil company organized in the United States, the certifi-
cate of incorporation having been filed in the cities of New York and Albany
on the 30th of December, 1854. The " Seneca Oil Company " operating under
a lease from the above, and embracing several of the original stockholders,
came into existence on the 23d of March, 1858, and under its direction the
Drake well was drilled.
( 421 III. )
422 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CAKLL.
fifteen years before. At first many were disinclined to be-
lieve the report and for some time the novel development
attracted but little attention. But the original discoverers
Messrs. Herron and Potts kept quietly at work and opened
several additional pits which added to their production,
and it became clearly apparent that they were shipping
considerable quantities of oil. An excitement on a limited
scale then suddenly broke out which rivaled the liveliest
days of Pithole or Pleasant ville. Operatorsfrom every part
of the oil regions flocked in to see the novelty. Crowded
stages lined the highway leading from Titusville to "Grass-
hopper City," (so named from the singular manner in which
the hand-pumps were coupled together and worked, at first
by horse-power and afterwards by steam,) and it is said
that from 1000 to 1500 visitors were daily upon the ground.
But inasmuch as the extent of territory supposed to be
good was limited to a few acres, at most, the excitement
soon abated for want of something to feed upon.
680. The following letter written for StoweW s Petro-
leum Reporter, and dated Pleasantville, August 28, 1877,
is re-printed here as a part of the history of this remark-
able development :
In August, 1859, just 18 years ago to-day, the quiet little
hamlet of Titusville was electrified by the report that pe-
troleum had been found in large quantities at a depth of 70
feet, in the Drake well. Since that time probably 30,000
oil wells have been sunk, and great improvement has been
made in the art of drilling. An ordinary 1,500 foot well is
put down to-day with more ease and dispatch than was this
little 70 foot well in 1859. We are not even surprised to
learn that the Watson well, within two miles and a half of
this first venture, has been carried down to the great depth
of 3,553 feet, for we have become prepared for almost any
achievement of the drill.
But now appear new claimants for our notice. The pick
and shovel step forward to take the place of the drill. A
15 foot gravel pit assumes to supersede the 1,500 foot drill
hole. And curiously enough, this happens on the same
creek flat, and within a mile of the old Drake well.
GRAVEL PIT OIL WELLS. III. 423
The gravel-well district of Titusville is the latest wonder
of oildom at least it has been made such by the exagger-
ated reports and astounding theories in relation to it, that
have gained currency through the daily press.
Let us see what are the geological facts concerning it, and
what the relations it bears to the regular oil producing rocks
of the district.
Titusville is situated in abroad irregularly outlined basin
of erosion, between hills more than 300 feet high, at the
junction of Pine creek and Oil creek. The "flat," or old
water plain, contains perhaps 1,000 acres, having its greatest
length in a N. W. and S. E. direction. Oil creek enters it
at the N". W. angle and sweeping around to the east and
south leaves it at its S. W. angle. Pine creek falling from
the N. E. and east, enters at the S. E. angle, and joins Oil
creek near the outlet. Church run from the north, Shaffer
and McGee runs from the south, and several other minor
runs likewise empty into it. "Watson flats," a locality re-
nowned in the early history of petroleum developments is
included within these outlines.
The new oil pits are near the Pleasantville plank road,
which passes along the northeasterly side of the basin before
crossing Pine creek. More than 100 oil wells have been sunk
on these flats in the usual way since 1859, and by the length
of drive pipe required to reach the bed rock, they conclu-
sively demonstrate the fact that the channel of the old stream,
once flowing between these hills, was a hundred feet or more
below the present surface. Within a rod or two of some of
these oil pits 53 feet of pipe was driven through these su-
perficial deposits ; a little further out towards the center of
the basin 80 feet ; and in the center about 100 feet. As the
oil pits on the creek-flat are only from 15 to 18 feet deep it
will be seen at a glance that the oil is not obtained from
the stratified rocks, for the old wells referred to show that
they lie much deeper, and have not been reached by the
pick.
This basin, then, as it existed in pre-glacial times, must
have been at least one hundred feet deeper than it is at
present. It was occupied by a stream whose birth could
424 III. EEPORT OF PKOGRESS. JOIIX F. CAELL.
scarcely have antedated the close of the carboniferous
period, and whose great age can only be surmised from the
evidences it has left behind in the magnitude of the work
performed. At this point it had already cut down through
the solid rocks to within fifty feet of the first oil sand. This
would be equivalent (if the rocks originally lay here as they
now lie at Pittsburgh) to a vertical excavation of 1.900 feet.
It is quite probable that it flowed to the north (as did others
of these northerly streams at that day) delivering its waters
into the Lake Erie basin.
But now a great change occurs the glacial epoch comes
on a thick ice-sheet covers all the northern country ; slowly
advancing and holding in its icy grasp fragments of rocks,
gathered along its track, all the way from Northern Canada,
it levels off the hilltops, widens out the valleys, and plunges
into the old river beds its burden of mixed transported
debris. The northern outlets of drainage are all covered
with ice and obstructed, and when long afterward, under a
modification of climate, a recession of the glacier commences,
pools and lakes of water accumulate in front of it ; they fill
up and overflow at the lowest depressions in the hills at the
south. As these new outlets gradually deepen, the lake
surfaces lower, the lake bottom fills up with detritus brought
in by the melting ice, and finally when the ice disappears,
we find the old river beds at the north filled with hundreds
of feet of Drift, the valleys almost obliterated, and a new
direction given to all the drainage of this section of the
State. This is but a brief and partial statement of the
probable sequence of events during this epoch. It may
serve to show, however, that the beds of gravel or sand from
which these pick and shovel wells obtain their oil, could not
have been deposited until near the close of the Glacial
period, for they lie very near the top of the Drift.
Examination of the sand or gravel shows that it is com-
posed of a mixture of water- worn comminuted particles de-
rived from the Primary rocks, the Silurian limestones, and
the Local measures of the surrounding hills. It is a com-
paratively recent deposit, filling up an old deeply excavated
GRAVEL PIT OIL WELLS. III. 425
channel in the sedimentary rocks, which channel had pre-
viously been the bed of a stream ages before.
There is no marked difference between the deposit here
and thousands of other Drift deposits scattered all across
the country in this latitude. They were all laid down in
the same era, and by similar agencies. The fact that this
particular spot produces oil, while others apparently just
as favorably located do not, seems to indicate that the oil
is not indigenous to the gravel bed itself. It is evidently
derived from some other source, the gravel bed acting only
as a reservoir for its reception and storage.
Many stories are afloat concerning the bursting of a pipe
line near these pits, and the leakage of storage tanks for-
merly located in this neighborhood ; and some affirm that
the oil has soaked into the gravel bed from these sources.
Others contend that it has ascended from the regular oil
sands below through the old abandoned bore holes on the
flat. But we think a much more probable explanation of
the phenomenon can be found in the operations of natural
agencies alone, unaided by the accidents or interventions
of men.
The gravel bed (the thickness of which is not at present
known, as it has not been dug through,) is capped by a
sheet of tough, impervious blue clay, varying from two feet
to twelve feet or more in thickness. This clay seems to
cover the gravel bed like a hood, and the retention of oil
in the gravel bed is no doubt due to the peculiar shape of
the clay sheet.
Oil formerly issued with the waters of springs, and through
the gravel of the creek bottom, in many places along the
valley of Oil creek. The Drake well and some others of
the early wells struck oil before reaching the first oil sand.
But it is now well understood that this oil came up from
the first oil sand which was in these places surcharged with
oil. In the same manner, no doubt, the gravel beds have
been supplied with oil. The first oil sand lies, as has been
stated, only 50 feet below the bottom of the drift deposit.
For ages the oil has been slowly escaping into the drift and
working its way to the surface. In the locality of the
426 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
gravel pits it was obstructed in its passage to the present
surface of the Watson flats by an impervious sheet of clay
lying immediately over a good deposit of coarse sand or
gravel. In this almost hermetically sealed reservoir it has
collected and has here remained until now set free by the
piercing of the clay hood above it.
How considerable the deposit of oil may be in this locality
of course no one can tell. The agencies depositing the clay
and gravel were wide-spread and general in their action,
but extremely variable in their local results. An examina-
tion of any railway cutting through a gravel bank will illus-
trate this. Small bowlders, gravel, sand and clay, will be
found in many cases to be almost indiscriminately mixed,
and no one class of material can be traced for any great
distance. We should not, therefore, expect this peculiar
structure of a clay-capped sand bed, which seems to be the
requisite basis of a paying gravel well, to extend continu-
ously over a very wide area. The whole question may be
briefly resolved thus :
Given the clay-sheet without the sand-bed ; the sand-bed
without the clay-sheet ; or the clay and sand in reversed
positions, and no oil could be obtained. So also given the
clay and sand in good condition and proper position, but
in a locality where there is no oil-producing sand beneath,
and the same result would follow.
If then the success of a gravel well depends upon the
rare and rather accidental conjunction of the several neces-
sary conditions above mentioned, we need not apprehend
any danger of an overflowing of the storage tanks, or an
overstocking of the oil supply from the products of these
drift deposit wells.
681. Area of the Gr ami pit Oil Pool.
The location and surroundings of the gravel-pits may be
seen by reference to Plate XIX. The Drake well is not
noted on this map ; it should be on the island in Oil creek,
at the entrance of the highlands below the intersection of
Pine creek.
It will be observed that the productive spot is on the nose
GKAVEL PIT OIL WELLS. III. 427
of a point projecting down into the old valley ; and proba-
bly the peculiar position of this head-land in relation to the
transporting currents of the glacial period caused the de-
posit in this place of coarse quicksand, which contains oil,
and afterward covered it with the irregular hood-cap of clay;
for the two deposits seem to thus lie in conjunction only on
this point. The thickest part of the clay is on the point of
the hill, and it thins and slopes rapidly towards the flats.
The shallowest pit was iifteen feet deep, with only two feet
of clay the deepest fifty-two feet, with fifteen feet of clay.
An abrupt rise in the surface accounts for the difference in
depth.
A superficies of a little over one acre will cover all the
productive territory at this date, (Dec. 1879,) and on this
small area about one hundred pits have been sunk 70 on
the flat below the plank-road, and 30 above it those on the
lower side having been the most productive, probably owing
to the fact that they were first opened. Many other pits
were dug outside of this cluster, but no indication of oil
was found.
681. Production and Value of the Gravel pits.
From the Pioneer well dug at a cash outlay of six dol-
lars, and opened on the 6th day of April, 1877 four hun-
dred and seventy-three barrels of oil were sold up to the
30th of June. At first it only brought light oil prices (about
$2 50) notwithstanding its gravity of 32 ; but after its true
value became known it readily commanded the same price
as other heavy oils, and was shipped to the lubricating re-
fineries of Franklin and Rochester, at $4 90 per barrel.
Supposing the oil from this well to have averaged $3 50
per barrel, it is easy to see how enticing the "dug- well oil
business" would appear to the many who possessed the
necessary capital to engage in it muscle and a pick and
shovel when they figured up something like the following :
473 barrels of oil, @ $3 50= $1,655 50
Less i royalty, 413 88
Gross receipts, . . . $1,241 62
428 III. EEPOBT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Cost of well, $6 00
Cost of pump, tank, &c., say ..... 50 00
Cost of pumping 85 days, say 170 00
226 00
Net profits for 3 months' work, $1,015 62
It was this feature of little outlay with quick returns and
large profits, that drew so many people to the spot, and
created such an unusual excitement. So eager was the
crowd to get a foothold within the charmed district that
leases twenty feet square were readily taken at $20 bonus
and half the oil, and larger ones in proportion.
A steam engine was soon brought into requisition, and
the pits were so crowded that twenty-five pumps could be
operated with it at once. The net- work of vibrating walk-
ing-beams, joined together in every conceivable manner by
bolts and links, or tied by ropes, formed when in motion
one of the most novel sights ever seen in any country.
The ludicrous movements of these pumping arrangements,
suggested in some one's mind a resemblance to a mass of
huge disabled grasshoppers writhing and kicking upon the
ground, and thereupon the place was immediately dubbed
"Grasshopper City."
The "city," however, like its namesake, was destined to
be short-lived. With the early frosts of October it per-
ished. On the 10th of August the Oil Oily Derrick, after
a careful examination of the field, reported 23 wells pump-
ing, with an aggregate production of 170 barrels per day,
and 46 pits in different stages of completion. But by the
middle of October everything was quiet ; a few old wells
were pumping, but probably the whole output did not then
exceed 40 barrels a day.
In 1878, Messrs. Potts & Johnson having secured control
of all the desirable territory, managed, by judicious pump-
ing and frequent additions of new wells, to keep up an av-
erage production of about eight barrels per day for nearly
the whole year; but the following season the new wells
were more uncertain and the yield of oil gradually declined
to almpst nothing.
GEAVEL PIT OIL WELLS. III. 429
No accurate account has been kept of the quantity of oil
actually drawn from this pool, which may be said to have
been practically exhausted by the winter of 1879, but from
the best information to be had it appears to have been from
ten to twelve thousand barrels.
The largest well in the pool is said to have yielded 30
barrels of oil the first day ; but they all ran down rapidly
and very few of them paid to pump longer than three months,
notwithstanding that they could be kept profitably in mo-
tion if they produced only a fraction of a barrel of oil. As
the oil came in with an inexhaustible supply of fresh water
it was useless to pump longer when the water once became
clear.
In digging one of the deep pits a pebble sandstone five
feet thick and entirely covering the bottom of the hole,
was encountered at a depth of 25 feet from the surface. It
had to be drilled and blasted the same as fixed i*ock, but it
was not in place, being evidently a large block of Church
run conglomerate slipped from the hilltop half a mile away.
The edge of the same block was supposed to have been
struck in another excavation a rod or more from this one.
In another pit at a depth of 20 feet the workmen passed
through a one foot layer of black peaty material contain-
ing matted masses of small twigs and rootlets. A trace of
this was only seen in one other well although there were
several that should have shown it if it had been of any con-
siderable extent.
682. Powers' Corners district in Ohio.
The Oil sand in this section is about 60' thick in layers
of varying character. In some wells the oil is found at three
points in the rock, at say 5', 40', and 55'. The wells are gen-
erally short lived, but some exceptional ones have produced
lightly for 6 or 7 years. A well pumping 100 barrels dur-
ing its life is considered an average well. One of the most
prolific wells in the district the Thompson well, near Pow-
-is said to have produced from 1800 to 2200
430 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
barrels. But this was one of the first wells, and none like
it have since been found. The oil brings from $12 to $15
per barrel of 40 gallons, (September, 1878.)
About 1 mile north of Grey well three shafts were dug
during the excitement, about the year 1865. A drift was
run in the oil rock from No. 1 north to No. 2 about 150',
and also part of the way from No. 2 westerly to No. 3, the
interval between No. 2 and No. 3 being about 300'. The
design was to expose a large surface of the oil rock, and
thus secure a greater flow of oil. But it was a failure finan-
cially. The amount of oil is limited it is heavy and almost
free from gas, and can only be obtained by washing the
rock as it were with water. Some of the wells furnish all
the water a 4" pump can handle. The oil comes in globules
with the water, and collects at the top of the tank while
the water is let off at the bottom. When the water comes
clear the well is abandoned, as it is an indication that the
rock has been washed out within the reach of that well.
Then another hole is put down, and the current directed in
that direction, and another portion of rock is cleaned, thus
the whole territory is gone over, some farms having had as
many as 80 wells put down upon them. The old wells are
sometimes re-tubed and pumped the second time, produc-
ing in some instances quite an amount of oil. The effect of
these drill holes so thickly scattered over the tongue of
clayey land between Grand river and Mosquito creek,
has been to much improve the soil for agricultural pur-
poses. The wells afford a ready exit for the surface water,
and a system of drainage has thus unintentionally been
established of nojittle value to the farmers of that section.
The oil appears to come into the wells from a band of
coarse gray sandstone, described by those who have seen
it in the shafts and drifts, as "honey-combed." It is not
more than from one to three feet thick, and lies between
bands of flags and fucoidal sandy shales. The pieces of
sandstone thrown out on the surface weather white, with
iron specs thickly scattered over their surfaces. On break-
ing them they are found to be still saturated with oil and
give out an unmistakable odor of petroleum. The wells
TKUXALL WELL. III. 431
show that the rock dips quite strongly to the south, or per
haps a little west of south, and the best wells have been on
the higher part of the rock or north end of the district.
Grey Well.
683. On road running south from Powers' Corners, 1 m. N. of its intersec-
tion with the road running west from Baconsburg, Trumbull countj r , Ohio.
Authority, Mr. Grey.
Elevation of well mouth above tide, (barometer,) 940
Conductor, 14 to 14
Blue slate and shale 33 to 47 = 893
In sand, 4 to 51
Pumping about \\ barrels per day. An old well recently
re-opened, (September, 1878.)
A deep well was put down on the Cowdry farm about
two miles south of Powers' Corners. The following record
from memory, by one of the drillers, indicates the charac-
ter of the formation in this section :
684. Cowdry farm well, Deep well.
Elevation of well mouth above tide, about 940
Conductor, 10 to 10 =
Blue sandy shale, 35 to 45 = 895
Bereagrit (oil sand), 110 to 155 =
Blue shale, 580 to 735 ==
Sandstone, 2 to 737 =
"Soapstone," 198 to 935 =
Sandstone, 3 to 933 =
"Soapstone," 176 to 1114 =
No red rock was found, and the drilling below Berea grit
was all of a homogeneous character. No oil below Berea
grit.
685. Truxall Well, \ mile south of Powers Corners.
Elevation of well mouth above tide, about 945
Conductor, 10 to 10 =
Flags, 3 in. to 1 ft. thick, 8 to 18 =
Bluish shale, 12 to 30 == 915
SS., honeycombed and creviced (not through), 8 to 38 =
In this neighborhood the drill has been sunk 70' in the
sand without going through it.
432 III. REPORT OF PBOGEESS. JOHN F. CAELL.
Water Wells at Warren, Ohio.
Eagle House Well.
686. Elevation of well mouth above tide, about .... 890'
Conductor (set in an old water well,) 25 to 25
Slate with hard shells, 85 to 110
SS., white, fine, solid, no seams saturated with oil but water
fresh and good, . . 40 to 150
Shales and slates free from shells, 250 to 400
No red rock in well. At 313' heavy flow of gas for three
days, then ceased. Some salt water below gas vein. Water
now stands within 4' feet of surface and is excellent for or-
dinary use. Diameter of drill hole 3".
Van Gorder Well.
687. Elevation of well mouth above tide, about 890'
Conductor, surface clay and gravel, 20 to 20
Hard flaggy slates, .. 20to40
Soapstone, 20 to 60
Hard slates, 40 to 100
Slate with some pebbles, 33 to 133
SS., white, (not through,) 20 to 153
No red, sandpumpings grayish-blue to white, water stands
within 6' of top. Remarkably soft and pure.
Chase Well, at the National Hotel.
688. Elevation of well mouth above tide, about 890
Conductor, surface clay and gravel, 23 to 23
Sandy shale, 60 to 83
" Loadstone," . 1 to 84
Soapstone, 46 to 130
SS., white and fine, (not through,) 14 to 144
Copious supply of soft water, used in preference to rain
water for washing and all hotel purposes and standing con-
stantly within 5' of the well mouth.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Notes on various building stone quarries in Ohio.
Nelson Ledge.
689. In the northeast corner of Portage county, Ohio,
about If miles northeast of Nelson Centre. Elevation of
base (by barometer) 955' above ocean.
A reproduction of a Pennsylvania or New York ' ' Rock
City," with the exception that the exposure lies but a few
feet above the level of the plain below it, and not conspicu-
ously on a ridge or hilltop, as is the case in Penna. and N.
York. From 50' to 60' of rock exposed at the ledge, con-
glomeritic in places from top to bottom. Pebbles pea to
hazelnut, ovoidal, and of same aspect as those of Garland,
Olean, &c. Many of the pebbles are crushed and fractured
as if the mass had been subjected to heavy pressure, and
the weaker material had yielded to the stronger. The in-
terspaces between the pebbles are but partially filled with
sand and clay. This fact no doubt accounts in part for the
crushing of the least resistant quartz one pebble ground
directly upon another, the cementing material being too
scanty to fill the interstices and assist in equalizing the
pressure. It also accounts for the rapid disintegration of
the rock when exposed to the action of moisture and frost.
So porous a conglomerate as this is seldom seen.
Other sandrocks, sometimes conglomeritic, are seen in
different exposures, extending up 100' or more above the
top of the ledge. These are massive, frequently obliquely
bedded, and precisely similar in character to rocks of the
same horizon in Penna. The conglomerate may be said
then, to be about 150' in thickness in this locality, but it is
probably in two or three bands with thin local partings of
shale. A constant and copious rain during my visit to the
28 III. (433)
434 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
ledge prevented as full an examination of these points as
was desired.
690. Quarry in Fowler township, O.
(About 1 m. S. E. of Baconsburg. )
A massive coarse firm sandstone, excellent for architec-
ural and engineering purposes, in courses from 2' to 6' thick.
Some of them olive gray, others yellow and iron stained.
About 20' seen. Elevation of top 1130'. No fossils noted.
Escarpment faces the west. Top oxydized and sharply gla-
ciated. Direction of striae S. S. E. Large granitic bowld-
ers along the face of the escarpment.
691. Burgliill Conglomerate.
On farm of Mr. Hayes half a mile south of depot. Ele-
vation of top about 1125', bottom 1100'. A fine exposure
covering a large area. Pebbles ovoidal from the size of a
grain of wheat to a hazelnut. About 25' of cliff exposed,
but probably more below. The rock is broken in large
masses and scattered to the north and west below the face
of escarpment. On the southeast slope of the hill the rock
is bare in many places and always plainly glaciated, the
grooves running with the trend of the slope, about S. S. E.
A similar exposure may be seen about 2 miles E. of Burg-
hill on the farm of Mr. Turnkey. It caps the ridge east of
the Pymatuning and forms perpendicular cliffs 20' to 25' in
height. Elevation of top about 1200'. From the topogra-
phy below this ledge one would infer that another sandrock
lies a short distance below it.
692. FoulJce 1 s quarry.
(One mile south of Mossmantown, Mercer Co., Pa.)
Top 1290'; 12' to 15' thick.
Coarse yellowish soft sandstone in massive layers from 4'
to 5' thick. Of irregular fracture ; iron stained on top and
in the seams ; containing scattered pebbles, small and ovoid-
al, with clay balls and iron concretious. Some impressions
of carboniferous plants. Glacial scratches on top. Escarp-
BUILDING STOISTE QUAKKIES. III. 435
ment faces the west and extends south a mile or more, bor-
dering the level drift-filled plain below. Large granitic
bowlders lie scattered over this ridge, but principally along
the escarpment, and intermixed with well rounded bowlders
of this local sandstone.
693. Austin Flag quarry.
(3 miles JV. of Warren, Ohio.}
Elevation of top above tide, (aneroid,) 915
Drift clay overlying the quarry, = 8'
Flags, blue and gray, rather irregularly bedded, 2' 6''
Olive shales, friable, .... 2' 6"
Flags, blue and gray, 1" to 8" thick, 2'
Black shale, containing Lingula melia, seen, 2'
This quarry is the most remarkable one of the kind I
have ever seen. The upper band furnishes some good flag-
ging, but it also works up nicely into blocks for street pave-
ments, for which it is largely used. This stratum alone
would make a valuable quarry.
But it is the lower stratum which has given the quarry its
wide-spread reputation.
The stone is reached by stripping. The surface clay, upper
flags and shales, have been removed, and several acres of
the lower band lie open to daylight. A stone floor stretches
out over the whole area more smooth and uniform than the
best laid pavement in a city. One could hardly believe
that any sediment could be laid down over large spaces in so
complete a plane. Here are 2' of perfect flags, lying in from
6 to 10 courses, and separated from each other by invisible
parallel planes of division ; and these lines of separation
.are so complete that the quarrying of the stone becomes a
mere'matter of cutting out the squares into the dimensions
required.
Large areas a rod wide, perhaps, and four or five rods
long, are sometimes cut loose from the main body by
wedges inserted at short intervals along a line and driven
simultaneously ; and when the connection is thus broken
the mass moves as readily on the bed-plate as the top plank
in a pile would move upon the one under it.
436 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
There is little or no waste in this lower stratum, every
layer being perfect. They vary in thickness in different
portions of the quarry from one inch to eight inches.
The top of the upper stratum is smoothed and polished
in some places as nicely as any stone worker could do it by
rubbing two plane surfaces together ; in others sharply cut
striae run in parallel lines across the polished surface as
nearly as could be ascertained in a S. S. E. direction.
There is a uniform dip to the south, making the drainage
very easy. In opening the drain 2' of black shale is dis-
closed.
This shale is very hard, requiring nearly as much labor in
its excavation as if it were ordinary sandstone; but on
exposure to air and moisture soon crumbles into a blue-
black clay. Some layers of this shale contain immense
numbers of Lingula melia, principally in broken fragments.
The flags themselves are said to be remarkably void of fos-
sils. Occasionally a single shell has been found, and sev-
eral small beds of apparently drifted coal plants have been
noticed, but they are not of usual occurrence. The only
fossil seen at the quarry was a small fragment of lepido-
dendron ? about six inches in length, water- worn, and im-
perfect.
About two miles S. E. of Warren, on the Howland road,
at an elevation of 915, a band of flags shows itself in the
roadway apparently from 5 to 10 feet thick. This would
appear to be a higher band than the Austin quarry, and
affords another proof of the variable character of the Cuy-
ahoga shales in this section.
694. Section at Oil City, Venango county, Pa.*
S. S., massive, in hill top ; crops out in cliffs ; elevation not accurately as-
certained, but the top of the hill is about 1515' ; and the base of the rock is
between 1350' and 1400' above ocean.
? Unseen, between 100' and 150' to 1241
SS., beds 2' to 4' thick, parted by shale and slate, 20') ^ to 1206
SS., massive and hard, 15' >
* By H. M. Chance.
BUILDING STONE QUARRIES. III. 437
Slate, 5 to 1201
SS., massive and hard, 6 to 1195
Shale, slaty or shaly slate, with some sandy layers, . . 21 to 1174
SS., hard and fine-grained beds, 3'' to 2' thick, .... 11 to 1163
Shale ; sandy, greenish-gray, 19 to 1144
? Unexposed, 96 to 1048
SS., fine-grained beds 1' to 3 thick, 10' exposed, ... 10 to 1038
Shales, sandy, thin-bedded and fine-grained, .... 8 to 1030
SS., thin-bedded and fine-grained, with shale, j
(forms roof of L. S. & M. S. RR. tunnel,) . . 6' V 23 to 1007
SS., thin-bedded and fine-grained, to RR. level, 17' J
? Unexposed to river level (low- water), 22 to 985
695. Section at Franklin, Venango county, Pa.*
Coal 2 miles east of river, at elevation of 1479
? Unexposed 65'-40' dip,= 25 to 1414
SS., massive and coarse-grained, (about) 30 to 1384
? Unexposed, 104 to 1280
SS., flaggy, 5 feet exposed, 5 to 1275
? Unexposed, 167 to 1108
SS., Bell's quarry, 28 to 1080
L. S. & M. S. R. R. depot, to 1014
A. V. R. R. depot, to 988
The top of the SS. in the quarry south of the Galloway
farm is at an elevation of 1109'. The rock is here a gray-
ish drab colored flaggy SS., rather fine-grained, and split-
ting into plates from V to 6" in thickness.
SS., thin-bedded, spliting into flags i" to 2" thick, 10'
SS., flaggy, splitting into flags 1" to 6" thick, 15'
SS., more massive than above (in floor of quarry).
696. Section compiled near Cranberry Coal
Ferriferous Limestone on the farm of Jacob Fox, 8' exposed.
Elevation of base of F. L. above tide=1587'.
Exposure of F. L., 8 feet.
Height of F. L. above coal bank, at least 74'.
Slate, blue, 2'
Coal (Clarion), 1' to 2'
Interval at least, 8' to 10'
Sandstone yellowish, whitish and reddish brown,
loose and coarse (inairshaft), 56' 0''
Slate (inairshaft), 6' 0"
* By H. M. Chance,
f By H. M. Chance.
438 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Coal; Cranberry Bank. (A. T.=1531'), 2'
Fireclay, varying from, 2' to 10'
Sandstone thin bedded, hard and full of roots, . . . . 2' to 3'
Shale soft olive, 11'
Ball iron ore, 0' 4"
Shale, 1'
Bituminous slaty shale, 0' 3"
Fireclay, .....
Interval concealed, \
Coal, reported 4' thick, but with a thick parting slate, 4'
Fireclay (at least), 3'
Sandstone hard (at least 2' and possibly), 10'
Sandstone thin bedded, 2'
Shale soft, about, 25'
Sandstone white shaly, 4'
Fireclay and shale, 5'
Sandstone fine grained, 6' to 10' exposed.
The place of the ferriferous Limestone at the coal bank
would be at or near the level at which the air shaft was
started. In this shaft the coal was struck 82' below the
surface. The section reported is
Surface clay, 20'
Sandstone, 56'
Slate, 6'
Coal 2'
The Ferriferous limestone was not found here ; but the
blossom of a coal is reported as having been found a short
distance off. This is evidently the Clarion coal which un-
derlies the limestone at the limestone workings.
Between the coal bank and the limestone quarry a ridge
intervenes which rises to 1631'. This should contain the
limestone ; but the residents in the vicinity state that none
has ever been seen, although much sought after.
697. Note on Pre-glacial erosion.
At the meeting of the British Association in 1880, Mr.
De France described the pre- and jwst-glacial surfaces of
northwestern England, between the Welch mountains and
the Cumberland lakes. To the west of the Pennine chain
of carboniferous hills spread the plains of Lancashire and
Cheshire, covered with Drift, deep enough at one point
(near Ormskirk) to measure 230 feet.
NOTE ON PKE-GLACIAL EEOSION.
III. 439
The valley gorges of Cumberland were excavated before
the Ice age.
Windermere and the other lakes were excavated during
the ice age ; Windermere to a depth of 230 feet, i. e. 100
feet beneath present sea level.
The marine Drift covers so thickly an extensive area in
Lancashire, Cheshire and Flintshire that vales 200 feet
deep (like the Kibble and the Irwell) have been post-gla-
cial excavated in it ; the lowest places in the vales being be-
low present tide level, showing that the laud has more
recently subsided (or the ocean risen.) In the Cumberland
mountain valleys the marine Drift no longer exists (if it
ever did, ) having been subsequently re-excavated and swept
out.
" A terrace of post-glacial deposits fringes the glacial area
at, and often below (in one place 70') the sea level, con-
sisting of peat, with a forest at the base, resting on a ma-
rine post-glacial deposit." (Report in Nature, Sept. 9.)
INDEX TO III.
A. Nominal and Geographical.
Page.
Adams (Jas. R.), 221
Adamsville, Crawford Co., 11, 51
Adamsville quarry, 51,52, 54
Adirondacks Mountains of N. Y., 377
Agnew, E. J., 418
Alabama, 387
Albany, 421
Allegany, N. Y., 379
Allegheny City, 391,393
Allegheny County, 157,405
wells, 84,282,104,105,106,115
East Brady Township, 115
Allegheny Mountain, 13,165
Allegheny River, 3 to 7,13,14,82,146,150,160,281,332
335,339,340,343,344,346,348 to 358,360,362,377,379,388,389,391,396,409
bed channel, 362,388,392,394
drainage, 352,349
glacier 388
headwater branches, 4,5,335,348
valley, 4,97,340,352,354,378,379,388,391,392,394
water basin, . 393
slope or fall preglacial, 337,338,339
ancient floor, 337,360
ancient course, 367
at Carrollton, 333
at Irvineton, 333
at Thompson's station, . 6, 28
Allegheny Township, Westmoreland Co., Leechburg gas well, 115
A. V. RR. depot, 140,222,437
Allen's creek, 152
Allen County, Indiana, 381
Alpine glaciers, 376,386
Ames Manufacturing Co. of Titusville, 304
Amherst quarries, 93,94, 96
Andrews, C. M., 229
Andrews, Lester B., 229
Andrews, Seth, 209
Aqueduct (Upper French creek), 365
Argyle (Level), 142,143,144
( 441 III. )
442 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Page.
Armstrong County, . . . .84,97,127,130,142,143,145,158,159,231,336,409,421
Ashburner, C. A., 11,20,108,225
Ashland Township, Clarion County,
Oelschlager well No. 1, Ill
Ashville, N. Y., 63
Atlantic station, 43,48, 50
Atlantic and Great Western RR., 42,43,46,50,59,67,76,340,344
Auglaize County, 381
Austin Flagstone quarry, 435,436
Baconsburg, 429,434
Bailers, 294
Bald Eagle Mountain, 393
Barnesville 349 to 353, 391
Bates' (F.) section, 30
hill 34, 33
3, Wiconisco basin, 17
Bear lake station, 76
Beaver canal, 6,365
Beaver city, 97,142,221
Beaver county, 84,157,158,159,282,394,403
Beaver Falls, 64,87,89,90,102,185,282,283,401
Beaver River, 4,5,6,87,392,393
country, 16
glacier, 394
valley, ' 14,392
Beaver run, 66
Bedford county, 19, 96
Bell, A. A., ' 222
Bell's quarry, 437
Bellefonte, . 393
Bemustown, 366
Bennet (Ed.) Sheakley Station, 100
Bennett, Graff & Go's well, 106,111,398
Berea, Ohio, 94,95, 96
quarries, 93
Berlin's Tavern, 415
Big .Bend in Warren Co., 20,361
Big Sandy creek, 392
Binkard well No. 1, (Fig. 20,) Ill
Bissell ,fe Eveleth, 421
Bissellfarm, (Level,) . 357,358
Black River, 93,361,373
valley section, 96
Black Rock on Niagara river, 150,152,153,281
Black's furnace and the old forge, 414,415
Blair, D. R., 222
Bleaksley quarry, 65,66
Blockville, N. Y., 63
Blood farm, Avoodin well on, 326
Blooming Valley 36
Blue Eye run, 3,26
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 448
Page.
Blue Monday rock, 17(1
Blyson run, James well, ... 115
Boggs, J. W .229
Boggs, O. P., 229
Booth run, 57
Bordwell (E.) farm, 72
Boss Well, Criswell, 100,142
Boughton, (Level), 357
Bower's farm, 222
Boyce, Rawle & Co., (well), 398,419
Boyd Hill well, Fig. 31, .115,398
Bradford, McKean Co., 78,79,182,334,322,323
oil well, 187,224,225,226
oil sands, 162,163,164,282,283
oil district 149,150,151,155,224,254,255
oil measures, 275
Bradford County, ice action in, .396
Brady's Bend, 142,143,145
Brady Township, Butler Co., 85,86,418
Brinker (Jacob) farm, 410
Broad mountain, 18
Broadtop, Huntingdon County, 19,108,393
Brokenstraw creek, 3,4,6,25 to 30,68,71,150,354,391
Brown, A. W., 420
Brown, Holmes & well No. 1, Cashup, . 259
Brownhelm, (cliffs bordering the Vermilion), . . 96
Brundred wells, 2,3,4,214,216,221,222
Burtis well pool, ' 257
Buffalo, Corry and Pittsburgh RR., 64,65
Bullion, Venango County, . . 85,86,99,100,127,129,134,260
Bullion run, 86,140,144
Burghill, 434
Buried valley, 29
Burns, gas well, 110
Busti, Chautauqua County, N. Y., 11
Butler, 102
Butler County 75,82,88,100,127,130,158,159,177,240,244,421
Middlesex Township, 404
Summit Township, 404
Butler, Venango County line, 98
Butler, Clarion oil district, 102,113,146,155,225
Butler, Clarion oil belt, 97,98,132,139,145,147,151
Butler County, "Cross Belt," 128
Butler County wells, 84,125,281
new pools, 260
Caithness flagstone, 122
Caldwell creek, 7,28,360,391
Cambridge (Level), 359,360
Cameron County, 11
Canada, Lauren tian Mountains of, 377,385
" Northern, 424
444 III. KEPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Page.
Canadian mer-de-glace 377,387
Canadian oil, 152,164
Canadaway creek, 7,346,362,363
Canfieldwell 356,357,358,359
Cape Stafford, 376
Carll, John H., 111,182,187,213,222,286
Carroll (Moravian quarry,) 41, 67
Carroll's (College Hill) quarry, . . 37, 38
Carrollton, 78,79,335,336,337,340,350,389
Carbon Centre, Butler County, 100,105,127,134,142,143,144
section, Fig. 47, 131
Cashup, 140,141,257,259,260
Cassadaga Creek, 346,351,354,363,365
Cassadaga lake, 3, 7,9, 340 to 346,351,352,355, 362, 363
lake level, 350
Cassadaga Valley ; outlet; ancient, 343; 345; 352
Cassadaga barrier, 363
Catskill mountains, 368
Cattaraugus County, N. Y., 2,13,77,124,164,333,337
Cattaraugus creek, 339
Cawdor, 123
Cemetery (Greendale), 39
Cemetery run, 41
Chance, H. M., 20,42,108,145,146,158,286,393,436,437
section, 93
survey along Shenango River valley, 91
Chase well, at the National Hotel, 432
Chautauqua basin highland barrier, 380,7,9,377,381,387
Chautauqua basin, . . . .4,5,9,345,349,351,353,354,356,366,377,386,389,392
drainage, 333
ancient drainage, 339
Chautauqua County, N. Y., 11,13,57,58,66,67,68,123,152,346,351
Chautauqua lake 3,5,6,63,68,77,340 to344, 354, 387, 395
Chautauqua outlet (old) , 390
Chautauqua quarry, 64,67, 70
Cherry run, 104
wells, Figs. 21,36, 111,115,118,398,412
Chesapeake bay, . 5,378
Chew (Nesbitt) well, Fig. 8, 84
Chew, Iron Bridge well, 416
Christy run; Gibson well, 53; 54
Christy's quarry, 52,54, 55
Church run, 140,141,160,176,181,257,423
oil wells, 85,177
section; dip, Fig. 72, 179; 139
Cincinnati anticlinal, 9,278,369
Citizens' oil well, 40
Clapp Farm, 140,141
Clappville, 356,360,366
Clarendon, 350,391
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 445
Page.
Clarion County, 100
104,111,115,127,130,142,158,159,177,212,225,244,410,413,414,415,421
Clarion-Butler oil belt, 97,98,113,149,155
Clarion oil wells, 84,111,112,115,117,118,125,190,225,224,260
Clarion River, 115,142
Cleveland, 96,361,368
Clinton County, 13,108,393
Clinton Township, Venango Co., 85,105
Clintonville, 86,98,139,140,141,144
Clymer well, 75
Coal Pit section, 44
Coburn gas well at Fredonia, N. Y., 152,153
Cochran, 337
Coffee creek, 76
Colburn, (Mr.,) 153
Cold Spring, 337,340,342
College Hill & quarries, Meadville, 36 to 42
Colorado, 7,85,139,140,141,144,160
Columbia Hill, Butler county, 98,100,127,134,142,143
Columbia Oil company, 216,112,214,218,222
Columbus well, 75
Conewango creek, 3,4,68,338 to 342,348 to 354,391
Conewango Valley, 6,340,342,343
Conglomerate ridge, 358
Conkle, F. A., 404,405
Conneaut barrier, 362
Conneaut lake, 5 to 8,43,44,358 to 366
Conneaut marsh and swamp, .... 6 , 7
Conneaut creek basin, 4,5,6, to 9,339,356 to 365
Conneaut outlet, 3,43,46, 356 to 362
Conneaut Township, Crawford Co., 395
Conneautee Lake, 360
Conneautville oil well, 365
Connoquenessing River, 392
Corry in Erie county, 6,75,344
Cotter farm, 27, 29
Coudersport, 5
Cove Hollow well, 417,416,398, 84
Cowdry farm well, 431
Cranberry Coal Bank, 437
Cranberry swamp, 349,350,391
Cranberry Township, Venango Co., 98,111,112
Crawford County, 85,94,95,125,128,395
line; geology, 365, 33
highlands of Southern, 159
cliffs, 159
coal beds, 14, 43
oil wells, 85,282
quarries, 69
Report, 11
Crawfords's Corners, 98
446 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Page.
Criswell City, Armstrong Co., 128,134,142,143
Criswell wells, 100,210
Crooked creek, 3,5,6,43,50, 52
valley, 51
section, 51
Crooked River (old valley), 397
Cross Farm, Clintonville, 140
Grouse, or Mullingar run, 28,360,391
Cuba, N. Y., 396
Cummings No. 1, Criswell, 100
Cutlery works of the Economy Society, 401
Cuyahoga creek, 360,368,373,392
Cuyahoga Valley, 94,95,361
Dauphin, 17
Dayton, 351
Deer Creek, 112,414
De France (Mr.), 438
De Grolier, 324,333
Delemater gas well, 110
Dennis (C. W.) & Co., 224,225
Dennis oil well, 78,224 to 228
Dennis run, deep gorges, 160
Dennison, J., 55
Detroit river, 361
Devlin & Dougherty, , 198,209
Dexterville, 343
Deyoe, R. E., 221
Dillworth & Kirk, . . 404
Dimick, Geo. H., 416,417
Dodge, C. A., 12
Dogtown, 142,144
Donegal Township, Butler County, 104,105,168
Doolittle, 66
Dougherty, , 222
Dougherty* Devlin, 196,209
Dougherty farm, Fairview Township, Butler Co., .198,209
Dougherty well No. 2, 198,169,198,209
Drake well, 421,422,425,426
Dranse river. 385
Dry run (junction), 29
Dunkard creek oil field, 150,157,281
Dunkirk harbor, 346,391
Dutchman's run, 349,350
Eagle House well, 432
East Brady Township, Allegheny County, 115
East Cleveland quarries, 96, 97
East Fallowfield township, 43
East Oil creek, 7
Eastman (J.) house, 34
Economy well No. 2, 401,84,185,398
Economy Society cutlery works, 401,403
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 447
Page.
Edenburg 133,178,134,142,182,187,213 to 222
wells, 220,100,112,187,213,222
Elk County Report, 11
Elk Township, Clarion county, 98,112,414
Ellicottville, 58, 77
Ellis (or Thorp) quarry, 37, 42
Ellory Centre, 63
Elyria, 94, 96
Emlenton, 98,134,140,222,337
Erie, 110
Erie County, . 5,65,67,68,124
Report, 11
quarries, 66, 69
Erie County, N. Y., 150
Erie Extension Canal, 6
Erie RR. valley, 378,379
Escher, M., . 386
Etah (glacier near), 375,376
Eureka oil well, 71,73,76, 77
Evans & Co., 198,209
Evans well No. 21, Fig. 19, 198,100,111,117,134,189,200,209
Evansburg; station, ' 43, 85
Eveleth & Bissell, 421
Fagundus, 139tol41,160
Fairview (Sutton No. 4) 100,134,142,143
Fairview Township, Butler County, 104,105,194,196,198,200,202.204
Falconers, Chautauqua County, N. Y., 340, 342 to 346, 348, 354
Farrentown, 142,143,144
Fee, Wm., 209
Fentonville, N. Y. (well in Warren Co., Pa.), . . 282,338,342,343,345,350,351
Fontaine & White, 156
Forbes (Prof.), 376
Forest County, 11,20,159,225,337,349
Fort Wayne, 381
Foster (section) Fig. 42, 129,134,140,141,144,337
Foulke's quarry in Mercer County, Pa., 56,57,434
Fowler Township, Ohio, quarry, 434
Fox.(Jacob) farm, 437
Foxburg, 133,134,142,144,145,150,350
Franklin, . 5,7,20,104,112,141,160,249,337,348,356,357,358,362,366,392,427,437
wells, 111,117
A. V. RR. depot, 140
Frazer well, 181,182
Frazier (Thompson), 210
Frederick, 100,134,142,143
Fredonia, N. Y., ', .110,152,153,164
Freehold Township, * 23, 25
French creek, 3,5,7,8,20,36,40,41,67,68,344,356 to 361,365,366
Village, ' .... 96
Fronsinger, Martinsburg, 142,143,144
Galloway farm (quarry S. of), 437
448 III. KEPOKT OF PEOGEESS. JOHN F. CAELL.
Page.
Garland, 6,23,26,27,28,58,60,85,125,391,433
quarries, 26 to 28
Gas City (Pool oil at), 98
Gealy Farm, Bullion Eun, 140
Geauga County, Ohio, Little Mountain, 94
Geauga Township, 56
Geikie (Prof.), 122
Genesee Co., (N. Y.), LeEoy, 152
Genesee river, 5,58,378,396
Genesee valley, 388,389
Gibbs & Sterrett Manufacturing Co. of Titusville 291
Gibon's oil well, 53,55
Grace & Criswell, 210
Graff, Bennet & Go's well, Fig. 18, 105,115,398,405,407,408
Grampians, 123
Grand river, 361,373,392,430
Grant Station A. and G. W. ER., 59,344
"Grasshopper City," 422,428
Great Belt City, 150,281,404
Great Bend, 336 to 339,348,349,352 to 355
Great Valley, 77,389,390
Greece City, 100,128,134,135,142,143,145
Greendale cemetry (Eavine E. of) 39
Greene County, 150,156,157,158
Greenland (North), 375
Greenville in Mercer County, 5,48,52
Gregg farm, .... . . . 357
Grey 'swell, Crawford Co., Pa., 356 to 359
Grey's well, Trunbull Co., Ohio, 421,429
Griswold, John W., 413
Griswold well, Fig. 30, 112,115,398,413
Gulf of St. Lawrence, . 2
Gulf of Mexico, 2,5,331,378
Hains well, Fig. 22 111,398,416
Hale, Arthur, 12,145,182,224
Hall, C. E 32,359,419
Hall, James, 70,152
Hall's run (McGrew well near), Ill
Hammond & Warren, 64
Haney well, 110,214,221,222
Haney & Bartlett's well No. 4 221
Harmonial well No. 1 259
Hart, C. E 404,405
Hart & Conkle, 404
Hartstown, 6
Harvey gas well, 105,109,117
Hatch, F. A., ; 12,33,145
Hatch, C. E., Edenburg, 414
Hayes' farm, 434
Hazen farm and mine, 44,48,49,50
Hazel wood Oil Co. and wells, . . . 100,189,200,202,209,210
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 449
Page.
Hazle creek gap, 18
Henry, J. T. (The Early and Late History of Petroleum, by) 325
Henry's bend, 337
Henry's run, 50, 51
Herkimer County, N. Y., 369
Herman Station, 105,136,132 to 145,160,281
Herron, Lee, 221
Herron & Potts, 422
Hickory corners, 33, 36
Hill well, at Bullion, 85
Hobart's quarry, 56
Hodge, J. T., 39
Hollidayrun (Hams well), 111,416
Holmes & Brown well No. 1, Cashup, 259
Homestead well pool, 257
Hooks' run branch, .353,354
Hope well, 112,113
Hoppin, Mr., 24
Horn, C., 28
Horn's cliffs 28
Hosmer run oil, 32
Rowland, A. B., 409,410,412,416
Howland road, 436
Hudson River, 369,372
Humboldt glacier, 375
Humes; F. W., 142,143,144; 147
Hunter, Dr., 116,398,399,401
Huntingdon Co., 19,103,393
Huron, 361
Hyde (or Little Oil) creek, Crawford Co., 3, 34
Independence (quarries), 93
Indiana .State line, ... 381
Iron Bridge; well, 84,398,410; 417
Irvineton, Warren Co., 4,333,336,337,318,353,354,391,392
Irwin's Mills, N. Y., 333,334,335
Irwell (Valley, England), 439
Jackson Station, Warren Co. (well), . . 382
Jackson's quarry, * 46
James; well, 119; 104,115,117,118
Jamestown, Pa. (on Mercer-Crawford line) , . . 1,3,11,20,53,55,56,85,94,95
Jamestown, Pa., section S3, 54
Jamestown, N. Y., 150,343,390
Jaquay (J S.), water well, 24
Jarecld Manufacturing Co. of Erie, 297,322
Jersey Shore, 39&
John Smith well, . 393, 41S
Johnson & Potts, 428
Johnson's saw mill, 30
Jones <fe Smith, . . 168
Juniata River (upper), 13
Kane in McKean Co .- 5
29 III.
450 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Page.
Kane, E. K., 375
Karns, James E., 405,407
Karns (Matteson & McDonald), 100
Karns (section), 131,134,143,144
Karns City, 142,178,189
Kaufman (J. W.) (S.), 210
Kearney (Jas.), 222
Keating, 134
Keating Summit in Potter Co., 5
Kentucky, 159
Kern well No. 6, Frederick, 204,100,189,210
Kinney's Corners, Trum bull Co. Ohio, 11, 56
Kinzua Creek, 339,352,353,354
Kinzua Valley, 352
Kinzua Village, 252
Kinsman township, 56
Kirk & Dillworth, 404
Riser (J. H.) farm, near Edenburg, 112,216,222
Kribbs (Capt.), Beaver City, 214,221,222
Kycenceeder Hill, 40
Ladies' well on Watson Flats, 326
Lake Erie, . 2,7,8,9,68,70,150,152,165,343,346,360,361,363,363,369,372,337,395
basin, 331,343,354,358,360,369,385,387,392,424
basin valley, 332,362,387
escarpment, . . 365
head, 368,372
bottom, 381
outlet, 152
slope 331,345
divide, 7,9,11,349
Lake Huron, 368,369
Lake Michigan, 368,369
Lake Ontario, 5,368,369,372,373,377
Lake Orcadie 123
Lake Superior, 368
Lake Shore <fe Michigan RR. depot, 437
Lakeview, 150
Laona, 346,363
Larden's Mills, Harvey gas well, 105,110
Lardin, Morehead & Co.,. . . 189,202,204,210
Lardintown well, Harvey gas well, 110
Laurentian mountains of Canada, 377
Lawrence County, 6,94,158,159,416,417
wells 84,91,282
LeBoeuf, 66,67,68,360
LeBurg, . . . 386
LeChable, 386
Leechburg gas well, 115,283
LeRoy, Genesee County, N. Y., 152
Lesley (J.P.), 115,123,398
Lewis quarry, .64
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 451
1'age.
Licking Creek (Sligo well on), 115
Light-house point, Dunkirk Harbor, N. Y., 340
Limestone village, N. Y., 164,334
Limestone Township, Warren County, 349
Little Brokenstraw Creek, 2,3,23,25,59,71,77,344
Little Cooley 359,360
Little Falls, gap, N. Y., 369
Little Mountain, Geauga County, Ohio, 94
Little Oil (or Hyde) creek, in Crawford County, 3
Little Schuylkill, 16
Little Sugar Creek, 36
Little valley, 77,339,389
Lockhaven, Clinton County, 108
Locust Mountain, 16
Lorain County Ohio, 96
Lottsville, 25,60,73,77, 78
Lycoming County, 393
Lyell, Sir Charles 232
Lykens valley bed, 15
Mackinaw straits, . 368
Maclan, 209
Mahan farm, 404
Mahan well, 105,106,109,117,393,404
Mahoning river, 5,373,392
Marsh creek, 397
Martigny, 385,386
Martinsburg, 131,142,143
Maryland State Line, 13
Mary Minturn river, 375
Matteson & McDonald, 100
Mauch Chunk, 15
Maumee river valley, 361,369,373,382
Mauvoisin bridge, 386
Mayville, 64,351
McClay Hill, 23, 33
McCleary farm, Fairview, 142,196,209
McClelland's (J.) farm, 66
McClure, John, 210
McCJyman's farm 142
McCool (John) (Mike) (Barney), 222
McCreath, A. S., 408
McDonald & Matteson, 100
McEntire farm and coal, 44,45,46,48, 50
McGee run, 423
McGrew well, Fig. 24, 100,111
MoGrew Bros, well, 216,218,221,222
Mcllhatten farm 218,222
McKean County, 5,13,20,78,82,119,125,225,323,333,421
southerly line, 163
Report, 11,225
ravines, 160,379
452 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHX F. CARLL.
Page.
McKean County, highlands, cliffs, 159
wells, 110,162,190,281,284
McLanahan's quarry, 48
McQuade, J. A., 221
Mead Township, Warren County, 36,349
Mead well, St. Joe, 100,104,105,110,117
Meadville, 3,7, 11, 33to43,85, 94,95, 359, 366
Mecca oil district in Ohio, 91,93,94,159
Mercer county, . .' 5,11,13,14,94,56, 57
highlands, cliffs, 159
wells, 84,282
Metzer, Fredk., 40
Mexican gulf, 2,5,331
Miami, Gap between Maumee river and the , 373
Michigan, 36S
Middlesex Township, Butler County, 105,405
Middleton's (J. W.) farm quarry, 66, 67
Midland well, No. 1, 115,398,410
Mill Creek Township, Clarion County, 115
Mill run, Crawford Co., 40, 41
Mills, Capt , 326
Miller (O. K.) farm, 49,50,357
Miller (T. J.) farm, 50
Miller's quarry, 43,44, 48
Millerstown, 100,127,131,134,142 to 144,150
Millville, Clarion County, 102,115,117,410
Milner, Thos., . . 376,386
Milton farm, 140,141,144
Mississippi river valley, 330,331,332,351,367,369,373
Modoc (Sweepstakes), 100, 134, 142 ,-143, 144, 148
Mohawk river valley, 369,371,372
Monongahela river valley, 393,394,398
Mont Mauvoisin, 385
Mont Pleureur, 385
Moravian or Carroll quarry, 67
Morehead, Lardin & Co., 189,202,204,210
Morris, I)., 40
Morrison, Greece, 100
Mortimer farm, 142,202,210
Mosquito creek, Ohio, 430
Mossmantown 434
Muddy creek, 8,9,35,85,89,359,360,410
Mullingar or Crouse run, . 28.360,391
Mushrush's farm and hill, 44,45,50
Myrick Street, 420
National Hotel, Warren, Ohio, 432
National well, No. 1, and 2, 258,359
Nelson Centre, Ohio, 433
Nelson Ledge, Ohio, 433
Nesbitt or Shaffer well, 84
Nesbitt, Geo. H., 416,417
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 453
Page.
Neshannock river or creek, 5,6
Nettleton, E. S., 420
Nettleton well, 259
Newberry, Dr. J. S., 361
Newburg, Ohio 96
New Castle, Lawrence County, . . . 6, 94 to 97, 113
wells, 91,93,282
Newell, Benjamin, 39
New Richmond, 35
New York, 1,11,12,14,19,119,120,367,368,397
fctate line, 6,83
Central, 381
Southern, 78,81,377
South Western, 382
Niagara River, 150,152,387
Nittany Mountain (Gap), 393
Noble well, on Oil creek, 249,260,321
North Branch, Susquehanna basin, 397
North Greenland, , 375
North Parker (section, Fig. 54), 133
North Street in Meadville, 40
North Warren, ...'..' 161,254,338
Now ( J) farm, St. Joe, 142
Oak Shade Well, 222
Oelschlager well No. 1, Fig. 25, Ill
Ohio, 1,5,6,11,12,13,20,82,91,97,113,123,125,365,367,360
Eastern, 34
Northwestern, 380
Central, 381
State line, 34,83,84,90,388
highlands, 382
oil fields and wells, 149,421,432
quarries, . . 433,434
Ohio river and valley, 2,4,6,332,378,393
Ohio Township, Beaver County, Pa., 84
Ohioville well, 64,87,89,90,159
Oil City, Venango County, 5,20,98,104,111,337,338,346,356,357,358,392,416,436
Oil creek, . 6,7,8,9,55,75,82,160,171,176,181,252,253,265,321.339,356 to 362,366
East branch, 3,5, 34
West branch, 8,359
water basin 4 to 9,356,359,366,391
farms, 264
gap 8
island in, .426
junction with Pine creek, 423
valley, 425
wells, 177,180,266,421
Oil lake, 7
Oil region, 123
Old Beaver Canal, 6,365
Olean, N. Y., 2,58,125,165,379,388,433
454 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Page.
Olean Rock City in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., 2, 3
Oleopolis, 337
Ontario lake, 5,372
Orangeville, 57
Orcadie Lake, 123
Ord, 122,123
Ormskirk, England, 438
Panama ; Rock city, Chautauqua County, N. Y., . . 57,59,63,64,70 to 78,125
Panama oil well, 75
Parker, Armstrong County, . . . 97,100,127,128,131,144,145,281,336,337,360
Parkers Landing, 134, 146 to 150
Parkers Island, at mouth of Clarion, 142,143
Patterson, John A., 222
Pennine chain of carboniferous hills, 438
Peiin Mill Tract, 413
Pennsylvania-Ohio State line, 395
Pennsylvania Rock Oil Co 421
Perry Township, Lawrence Co., . . . , 84,416
Perry Township, Armstrong Co., Ill
Peterson well, 407
Petrolia, Fairview Township, Butler Co., 104
105, 111, 131, 134, 137, 142, 143 to 148, 150, 189, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 321
wells, 99,101,102,103,130,182,187,189,210,212,213
Hazelwood well No. 21, 100
Evans well No. 21, 100
Petroleum Centre, 140,141,357,366
Philadelphia and Erie RR., 26
Phillips Bros., 85,86,418
Pickwick, v 134
Pike's ridge , 2
Pike's rocks, 19,23
Pine creek, Warren Co , 5,358,366,423
Pine creek, Armstrong Co., 409
Pine valley, in Lycoming County, 393
Pine valley, in Tioga County, 396,397
Pine Station, Warren Co., 76
Pine well, Armstrong Co., 115,282,398,409
Pine Township, Armstrong County, 409
Pine Valley Township, Armstrong County, 115
Piney Township, Clarion Co. (Sligo well), 115
Pioneer, Venango Co., level, 357
Pioneer well, gravel pits, 427
Pithole, Venango Co., 140,141,176,182,257,259,260,268,269
wells, 82,177,181
Pittsburgh, 4,6,84,97,102,104,115,116,150,335,337,346,393,398,424
steel works, 398
well, 115,117,118,282,283
P. T. & B. RR., Ill
Pittsfield, Warren County, Pa., 71
Pittsfiekl Township, Warren County, 26
Platt, W. G., 393
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 455
Page.
Pleasant valley, Warren County, 7
Pleasantville, Venango- Co., . 81,84,85,90,116,140,141,144,160,176,399,403,422
belt, 259
district, 181,182,250
plank road, 423
section, 81,85,129,179,321
wells, 85,134,138,177,420
Plyer farm, Cherry run well, 111,412
Point PelS island, 361
Portage County, Ohio, 56,433
Portage river, Ohio, 361
Potter County, 5,379
Potts, Col. Jos. D., 409,410,412,416
Potts & Herron, 422
Potts <fe Johnson, 428
Pottsville, Schuylkill County, 13, 16
Power, W. G., 418
Powers' Corners, Mecca Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, . . . . 94 ,429 to 431
President, Venango Co., 150,337
Prospect bridge, Butler Co., 418
"Pulpit Rocks," 394
Pymatuning creek, swamp, basin, 5 to 9,56, 434
Quaker Hill, Warren Co., 58,353
Ramsey, J. W., 185,401,403
Randall, F.A., 20, 21
Randolph Township, Crawford Co., 36
Rattlesnake gulch, Clarion Co., 413
Griswold well, 112,115
Rawle, Boyce & Co. well, 419,398
Raymilton, Venango County, Pa., 94,95,140,141,419
Oil wells, 85, 93
Raymond estate, Raymilton, 140
Raymond's Corners in Potter County, 5
Raymond well No. 6, 419,93,393
Red Bank creek, 115
Red Bank Township, Clarion County 115
Reddick farm ("Columbia Hill"), 134,142
Reliance well, 420,85,398
Reno; section, 134,140,141,144; 129
Reservoir (new) at Meadville 41
Rhine, 386
Rhone, Plain; valley, 386; 385
Riceville, Crawford County, 11
Richmond (Section), Fig. 57, 133
Richmond Township, Crawford Co., 35
Ritts, between St. Petersburg and Emlenton, 134
Roberts, Col. E. A. L., 325,326
Roberts' patent, 327
Roberts' Torpedo Co., 329
Rochester lubricating refineries, 427
Rock cities 21,23,25,77,79,254,390,433
456 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
of Southern N. Y. and North Western Pennsylvania, 62
"Rock Hotel," Panama N. Y., ' 59
Rockwell; No. 1, 259; 258
Rockwood, Venango Co., 237
Rodger's farm, McKean Co 226
Rogers, Prof. H. D, ; final report, 14,39,108; 14,17, 66
Rorher well No. 2; Fig. 29, 113,398,414
Rouseville; section, 134,140,141,144,357; 129
Salamanca, N. Y., 58,77,124,125,390
rook, 78
rock city, 77
Sandusky River, Gap between it and the Scioto, 373
Sandy Creek Township, Venango County, 419
Say farm, Martinsburg, 142
Schreiber, Peter, 415
Schreiber well, Fig. 26, 112
Schuylkill County, 13
Scioto, Gap between Sandusky River and the, 373
Scotland, 123
Scrubgrass, 134,140,141,260,337
section, Fig. 41, 129
Seneca Lake, 396
cut near head, 373
Seneca Oil Co., 421
Shaffer run, 423
Shaffer or Nesbitt well, Fig. 9, 84
Shakely H. P. farm, .' 200,209
Shamburg, Venango Co 140,141,144,260
Shamokin basin, gap, village, 18
Sharon, Mercer County Pa., 93,94,95,97,419
Furnace, 419
block coal bed, 14, 57
coal group, 15, 17
well, 93,282
Sharp Mountain, 16*17, 18
Sharpsburg, Allegheny Co., 105
wells, 283
Sheakley Station, 100,134
Sheasley, 100
Sheffield, 349,350
well, 350
Shenango creek, 5
Shenango, river 3,6,7,8,52,54,55,56,392,393
valley, 91
dam or obstruction, 7 , 8
country, 9, 20
Sherwood's Report G, 396
Shippenville, 98,134,142,144,145,414
section, 133
Hope well near, 112
Rohrer well No. 2, near, 112
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 457
Page.
Siverly Farm, 140,141
Six Points (Pool oil), 98
Slate run, (Oil pool on), 98
Sligo well, 115
Slippery rock, 90
creek, 86,87,89,159,416,417
country, 89
oil-producing district and oil horizon, 155,281
wells, 87, 88
Township, Lawrence county, . : 84,417
vicinity, 89
Sloan farm, 338
Smith, John ; farm ; section, record, 168 ; 418 ; 87,
well, 85,86,91,96,418
Smith farm well record, 168
Smith's ferry, 84,90,159,165,388
oil-producing district, 155
oil horizon, 281
Smith's Straits, 374
Smith well, 89
Smith <fe Jones, .168
Snodgrass, J. M., <fe Robt., farm, . . 52
Snodgrass, W. J. farm, 53
Snodgrass quarries, 19,53,54, 55
Snodgrass ore bank, 52
Snow, W. farm, Kern well, .204,210
Southwick W. G., 222
Southwick's summit, i 33,35, 36
Sparta, 85
Spartansburg, 34
Spring creek, 3,23,28,33,391
west branch, .... 29
watershed, 34
station, 25,27, 29
Spring mountain, 18
State line, 65, 71, 72, 255 ',334, 342
"State road," 11,33,34,36,37,38, 39
line run over, 77
between the two Brokenstraws, 25
St. Branchier, 386
Steamburg, 339,348,349,332,354,390
Sterrett & Gibbs Manufacturing Co. of Titusville 291
Stevenson, Prof. J. J., 156,158,393
Report K, 157
Stick measurement, 183
Stillwater creek, 2,23, 26
St. Joe, 110,134,143,144
line from to Herman Station, . 145
Base line from Parker City to 145
J. Now farm, 142
section, Fig. 48, 131
458 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Page.
Mead well, 100,105
St. Lawrence, 5,169,171,172,278
mouth, 370
valley, 351,369
Gulf, 2
Stoneham, 161,348,352,391
abandoned cliff, . . 350
Stonehouse, 143
Valley near RR. Station, 142
Stony ridge 63
Stowell's reports, 147
Petroleum Reporter 147,422
St. Petersburg ; section, 134 ; 133
Straits of Mackinaw, 368
Strotrnan farm, Schreiber well 112
Strotman well, 398,415
Sugar creek, 357
mouth, 7
oil wells, 85
Sugar Grove in Warren Co., 1,2,3, 11
Sugar Grove Township, Warren Co., 23
Summit, 150,359,404
County, Ohio, 94, 96
Township, Butler Co., 404
Thompson well, 105
Summit well, 105,398,404
Susquehunna River, 5,13,373,378
North Branch, 379
Valley, 331,377
Sutton, P. farm, 194
Sutton well No. 4, 100,134,189,194,196,209
Sutton well section, 321
Swamp run, 25
Sweepstakes, Modoc, 100
Tamaqua 15
Tarentum 102,104,105,108,405
wells, 109,118,282,283
Graff, Bennett & Co.'s well, 103,115
Tarport, 334
Taylor, H. L. & Co., 194,204,209,210
Thatcher, Fredk., 210
Thomas, H. W., 229
Thompson, Carbon Centre ; farm, 100,142
Thompson's gap 8
Thompson's station ; cut, 4,5,6,7,28,336,351; 8
Thompson well, 430
at Carbon Centre, 105
section, 110
Thompson's, 352,353,354,355
Thorp's quarry, 37
INDEX A, NOMINAL. III. 459
Paj?e.
Tidioute, Warren Co., , 5,84,85,134,139,140
144,150,160,163,176,182,251,274,336,337,338,344,349,353,127,136,281
crevices in oil sand, 249
district, 139
section, 129,179,181
wells, 85,177,250
Tidioute to Fagundas, 139
Tidioute to Church Run, 139
Tidioute, Bullion oil belt, 97
Tioga County (ice action in), 396
Tioga River, 397
Tionesta, Forest County, 337
Tionesta Bend, 349
Tionesta Creek, 349,350,351,352,353,391
South branch, 349
Upper branches, 350
drainage, 349
outlet 350
Titusville, 5,141,160,326,356,357,358,366,421,422,423
drifts, 359
flats, 357,359
Watson Flats, 140,141
wells, 154,282,311
Gravel well district, .423
Toby creek, 413
Toby Township, Clarion County, 412
Cherry run well, Ill , 115
Trevorton, 18
Triangle section, Plate XXIX, 133 .
Triumph, in Warren County, 240
agency of gas pumps, 260
district, 139
oil wells, 266
True's quarry, 39; 37,39,40,42
Trunkey farm, 434
Trumbull County, Ohio 11,56,96,159,429
breach in, 381
Mecca oil field, 93
wells, 429
Tuna=Tunangwant, 335
Tuna creek, 335
Tuna flats, 255
Tuna valley, 162,164
Tunangwant creek, 3,345,362
East and West branch (Ridge between), 244
Valley, ... 150,333
present and ancient valley floors, 334
rock cities on hills bordering, 79
Turkey City, 142,144
Tuscarawas. Gap between Black River and the, 373
Tuscarawas. Gap between Cuyahoga River and the, 373
460 III. REPORT OF PEOGEESS. JOHN F. CAELL.
Page.
Two Mile run, 349
Unger'shill, 46, 48
Unger's J. mill, 48
Union, well, .75
United States well pool, 257
Upper Oil creek, 358
Uray's hill, 19
Utica, 366
Val de Bagnes, 385,386
Van Gorder well, 432
Venango County, 55,58,71,74,94,125,130,132,140,141,158,436,437
Sandy Creek Township, 419
geology of, 88
oil wells, 87,225
well records, 127
highlands of Cliffs, 159
rock cities, 254
Venango-Butler County line, . 98
Venitz, M., 385
"Vermilion River, 96, 97
mouth, 94
Virginia, 123
Wabash River Valley, 373,382
Walnut Bend, 337
Warren, Pa., 6,21,160 to 163,336 to 338,342,348 to 354,390
wells, 160,162
Warren County, Pa 13,20,23,125,128,159,161,240,282,421
lines, 33, 96
wells, 85,225
oil field, 254
Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, 94,95,432,435
Warren & Hammond of Mayville, 64
Washabaugh, D., 210
Washington, 326
County, 156
well, Ill
Waterford, 360
Township, 66
Watson, 154
Watson Flats, Titusville, 140,326,360,421,426
Watson's well, 154,311,422
Wattsburg, Erie County, 65
Wayne Township, 36
Weeks' well, . 342
Welch Mountain (England), 438
Wellsville, N. Y., 58,396
West Branch Spring Creek, Warren Co., 33
West Greenville, 6, 7
West Hickory, Venango Co., 337
Westmoreland County, 115,158,171
West Pennsylvania RR., 407,408
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 461
Page.
West Salamanca, 389
West Spring Creek, Warren County, 11,23,29,33,85
West Virginia oil region, 149,150
Wheatland Township, Clarion County, 112
White, Prof., 11,20,22,39,57,87,110,146,157,393,403
White & Fontaine 156
Wiconisco basin, 17
Wilcox wells, 163
Wilkesbarre, 393
Williams' quarry, 64, 70
Williams A. K., 419
Wolf, A., 209
Wolf creek, 86
Woodcock creek, 35, 36
Woodin Well on Blood farm, 326
Worrall, Col. Jas., 6
Wrightsville, 2,25, 77
Wyandot County, Ohio, 381
Youngsville, 150
Zerbe'sgap -. 18
Index B. Subjects.
[NOTE. The reference/I in this Index are not to the pages, but to the Sections (5) on the
pages. ]
Advantages of cased wells, 563
Age of the petroleum, 495
Amber-oil horizon, Ohioville, (Pithole Grit,) 235
Amber-oil from Second Sand, p. 160, 358
Anchor piece described, note to 549
Anchor described, 570
Ancient valleys, . . . . 616
Antiquity of rock-oil, 495
Area of country of well borings, 292,359
Ascent of petroleum from below advocated, 497
Auger; stem; bit, 529,530,531
Avalanches of snow and rock, t 642
Aviculopecten under GaTland conglomerate, 81
Aviculopecten on Crooked creek, 145
Bad well-records the cause of confusion in oil-theories, shown in Chap.
XIX, 374
Bailers for oil-wells described, . . . . 523
Band-wheel described, 521
" shaft, arm and flanges, 526
Barrier divide stops the glacier, 634
Barrels of oil per acre, calculated, 454
Base of the Oil Sand Group fixed geologically, 438
Beaver Falls 80' Sandstone=Pithole Grit, 234
Bedford Shale of Ohio=Reds of Pennsylvania, 245
Belt of red shale under Pithole Grit (Map), 246
462 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Berea Grit of Ohio=Third Mtn. Sand=Pithole Grit, 216
" at Mecca, Ohio, described, 240
" =75' Sandstone in Sharon well 240
" =Pithole Grit, proved by underlying red shales, 245
" Resum6 of arguments, . 313
Big Red, between Second and Third Oil Sands ; See Reds, 283
Bits used in oil-boring, 538
Black oil from the Stray Sand, 358,449
Black shale ; Snodgrass, 146
Blocks of Garland Conglomerate, on hill side, 71
" of Panama Conglomerate at Panama, 172
" " " at Bleaksley, 181
" " one mile south of the State Line, 196
Block coal, 130
Blood rock, between Second and Third O. Sand ; See Reds, 283
Blue shale roof to First Oil Sand, local, 267
Boiler for oil well pumping engine, described, 517
Bolts for saddle in oil well rig, 526
Bore-holes at Hazen's, 141
Borings over a large area of country, 292
Borings: total combined length=800 miles, 360
Bottle arrangement of drillings, note to 317
Bottles for specimens of drillings, . . 413
Bowl-shaped valleys, 644
Bowlders of gneiss; in Crawford county, 89, 92
" of local rocks carried by ice, 98
" atMeadville; and elsewhere, 116; 131,134
" See Gneiss; See Erratics.
Boxes for band-wheel shaft at oil wells, 526
Bradford Oil horizon, supposed at first to be the same as that of Venango
Oil Sand Group, 341
Bradford Third Sand never seen in Warren wells, 349
" described on page 162, 358
Bradford well carefully measured, 397
Building stone quarries at Meadville, 109
" of old canal locks in Erie county, 189
" west of the Ohio line, described in Ch. XXXVII, 684
Buried valley of Spring Creek, 80
Bull wheel at oil wells described, ^ *.... 523
Catamites in Ellis quarry, Garland Conglomerate, 104
" abundant in quarry at Coal Pit section, 125
Canadian Oil field, page 164, . 358
Canadian Mer-de-glace, described, Ch. XXXIV, .627
Careless numbering of Sand rocks by drillers, 378
Carll's measurement of six wells at Petrolia, &c., 395
Carpenter's rig for Oil wells, described, 510
Casing wells a modern invention, 477
" enlarged before 1876, 478
" of wells, described; its advantages, 546,563
" of 3J" introduced, 555
Casing-head for Oil wells, 555
Ctenacanthus triangularis in Conglomerate, 90
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 463
Catskill red rocks, 302
Caverns filled with oil, an absurdity 453
Center-irons for walking-beam and sampson-post, 526
Center line of main-sill and walking-beam, 516
Chains of small lakes produced by moraines, 644
Chemung shales under the Sub-Garland Sandstone, 65
Chemung; see Oil Sands, 88
Chemung type of fossils over the Panama Conglomerate, 204
Chemung age of the Oil Sands now very doubtful, 297
Chemung rocks perhaps redeposited, 302
Chemung shales shown in plates on pp. 129 et seq., 315
Christy Sandstone 151
Circular issued to Oil men, 363
Circulation of oil in the sands, slow, 461
Classification of the Oil Sands on Oil Creek, 383
Cliffs at Horn's, 76
Coal see Plant Bed, 86
" 30' below top of knob, Randolph township, Crawford Co., . . . .100
" most northerly coal known in N. W. Pa., 100
" south west of Meadville, described, 123
Coal layers in quarry rock at Mushrush's, 125
Coal at Mclntyre's ; at Hazen's, 130,139,140,147
Collar to shaft in Oil-well rig note to 527
Collection of specimens, how best made, 409
Colors of petroleums from different sands, page 160, 358
Condensation of oil from gas, discussed, 503
Conductors for oil wells, described, 512
Conductor pipe for oil wells, 546
Conglomerate, see Pottsville Conglomerate, 33,35,38,213,265
Conglomerate, see Ohio Conglomerate, 684
Conglomerates; number and order suggested, 213
Conglomerate, see Olean, Garland, Panama, Salamanca.
Conglomerate, see Sub-Olean, Sub-garland.
Conglomerate of the Tunangwant, 213
Connoquenessing Sandstone, 24
" " =:First Mountain Sand, 24
" " =Kinzua Creek Sandstone, 24
" " south west of Slippery Rock Creek, 233
" " a key rock in Beaver County, 233
Continental divide or highlands, 622
Contract drilling, 362
Contractors, careless about good well-records 375
Contrast of producing & nonproducing areas Chap. XIII, 297
Corniferous Limestone, described, note to 351 ,358
" in Coburn well at Fredonia, N. Y., 352
< " " thickness remarkable 352
Corniferous oil-horizon 351
Cost of oil well rig ; of rig irons, 511,527
" of drilling cased wells, 562
" of an oil well in 1878 in the Bradford district, 572
" of an oil well, 1865 to 1872, Butler district, 575
464 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Crawford shales above & below Pithole Grit, 217
of uniform thickness (400' to 500'), .230,316
shown in sections, 266
characteristically sandy, 267
shown in plates on pp. 129 et seq., 315
described on page 159, 358
Crevices in the Sub-Garland rocks at Pike's 64
Crevice in the Mountain Sandstone note to 418
Crevices in Sandrocks described and discussed, Ch. XXIV, 442
Crevice-searcher, described, 443
Crevices rare, 448
" not continuous upward ; proved by the oils, 448
" in the Noble well district, 450
" more numerous in the higher Sands, 450
Crevice theory exploded, 460
Crown pulley for Oil-well rig, 526
Current-bedding characteristic of Sub-Garland Cong., 58
Current, Direction shown by a fossil tree stem, 72
Currents in the'ocean in the Oil age, 300
" were they fluviatile or oceanic? 435
Cuts in the Conglomerate barrier made by ice, 648
Cypricardia under the Garland Conglomerate, 81
C. rhombea, in the Panama Conglomerate, . . . , 190
C. contra eta, in the Panama Conglomerate, 190
Date of the gaps made for the Southern drainage, 23
Debacles, or Avalanches, 642
Deep wells, dry, tabulated, 506
Deep wells all fail to yield oil 509
Deep wet wells, 561
Defects of the old styles of boring wells, 553,559
Deposit of the Oil Sands, theories discussed, 299,427
Deposits of the same age, locally different, note to 304
Depth of bore-holes, total 800 miles, 360
" of oil producing wells, less than 2000', 506
Depth of Drift in the Allegheny River Valley (table), 591
11 345' by calculation at Falconer's, 598
" 600' at Cassadaga lake, 602
" on Oil Creek and French Creek, tabulated, 615
Derivation of the sand and gravel of the Oil Sands, . 435
Derrick measurement of wells, 391
Derrick pulley described, 526
Disastrous mistake in naming Butler Third Sand, 327
Diameter of wells, 452
Diagram of structure of oil sands, Plate 35, p. 267, 482
Diary of each day's drilling ; Dennis well, 418 ; 426
Difficulties encountered in measuring well depths, 394
Dimensions of drilling tools, 535
Dip of the rocks ; rate at Hazen's coal mine, 142
" of the Panama Conglomerate southward, 161
" down the Brokenstraw 161,187,193
44 at Lottsville 82'-j- per mile, 197
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 465
Dip calculations of Berea and Pithole Grits agree, 241
Dip of Oil Sand Group uniform south westward, 244
Dip, as assumed by drillers, deceptive, 328
Dip of Venango Oil Sand Group, discussed in detail, . 329
" Chapter XV; Plates VIII, IX, . . 329
Dip of Corniferous Limestone Oil Horizon calculated, 353
Direction of ancient current shown by fossil tree, 72
Distinct at Christy quarry, 154
Distillation theory of the genesis, of petroleum, 497,498
Distribution of Erratics (see Erratics; Boulders), 659
Divide at Cassadaga Lake, .... . 603
Dividing highlands along the State Line, 622
Doctoring well records, 367
Drainage-waters of the region ; principal streams, 8
Drainage might now be reversed by dams, 16, 17
" affected by the boring of many wells, 446
Drainage of Chautauqua basin, described, 582
" actually reversed, 607
" of the Tionesta, reversed, 608
Drainage maps, Plates I and II, 610
Drainage of the Alleghany River discussed, 613
Drawings (working) of oil well rig and tools, 513
Drawing the tools from an oil well, . 543
Drift heaps at Pike's Ptocks ; elsewhere, 66; 97
Drift (northern) in Spring Creek valley, 77
" 200' deep on Cotter Farm ; 137' at Spring creek, 80
" at Meadville ; on Henry's run ; at Lottsville, 115,143,196
" in Allegheny valley ; table of depths, 591
" on Oil and French creeks ; tables of depth, 615
" calculated depth at Falconer's, 345', 598
" " at Cassadaga Lake, 500', 602
" depth diagrams, p. 364, 619,620
" rate of advance from Canada, estimated, 638
" limit towards the south-east, 648
Drilling by contract ; effect upon records, 362
Drill-holes sunk too rapidly to get records, 375
Drillers' records geologically defective ; why? 376
" Kindness toauthor, 400
Drillings from Boyd's Hill well, Pittsburgh, described, 286
" in bottles, note to 317,371
Drilling rate shown in Plate XVII, 411
" rapid in soft rocks, 412
Drilling; diaries kept, 418,426
Drilling tools described, Chap. XXVIII, Plate XVI, 528
" dimensions; weight, 535,537
Drilling process described .539,542
Drilling resumed after casing, 545
Drilling methods changed, from 1861 to 1878, 546
exhibited Plates XIV, XIV bis. XV, XXXIX, 546
Drillings of wells preserved and discussed, 660,661
Drive-pipe described, p. 316, . . . 540; note to 554
30 III.
466 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Drive-pipe section of oil well, 547
Dry holes of great depth tabulated, 506
Dunkard Creek (Greene County) Oil Horizon, note to 358
Earth-heat. Does it affect the theory of Oil ? 492
" as to the decomposition or organisms, 499
Eddy-hills cut out by glacial ice, 647 note to 658
Eden burg three wells, measured carefully, 397
Eighty foot sandstone at Beaver Falls=Pithole Grit, 234
Ellicottville rock=S;ilauianca conglomerate, 307
Emergence of land in Oil Sand age, discussed, 439
Encroaching sea hypothesis, 440
Engines for pumping oil, described, Plates XXXVI, XXXVII, 517
Epoch of the Venango Oil Sand Group, 428
Erection of guides at oil wells, 540
Erosion produces rounded hills in the north, 10
" rugged hills in the south 10
Erosion of the district, 79
" of valleys, of three characters, 605
Erosion of gravel, swift & dangerous, 619
Erosion (postglacial) southward, 621
Erosion by the glacial waters, discussed, 626
" by ice, described and exemplified, 646
Erratics at Meadviile ; see Gneiss, 115
Erratics, how distributed; in long lines, 659
" in small proportion to the general Drift, 659
JEuomphalus depressus in the Panama Conglomerate, 190
Excavation of Lake Erie, 622
Fall of the present Allegheny river bed, 592
Fast drilling a sign of Crawford Shales, 318
Feeling bottom in oil well drilling, 394
Ferriferous (Shenango, Yellow, Sub-Garland) Sandstone, 58
Ferriferous Limestone a good guide S. W. of the Smith well, 231
a Key rock for drillers, 223,227,238,252,264
" in the Boyd's hill well, Pittsburgh, discussed, 288
Fifty-foot rock at Petrolia 404
Fifth Oil Sand=Third Oil Sand, 323
First Butler Oil Sand overlies First Venango O. S., 272
" " " distance 65', and 110', 272
" " =Gas Sand.
First Venango Oil Sand ; in Gibson well, 88 ; 155
" " =Second Butler Oil Sand, . . 272
" " exposed in hillsides at Warren, 358
" " oil bearing when not underlaid by Second Sand, 497
First Mountain Sand=Connoquenessing Sandstone, 214
" " =Kinzua Creek Sandstone of McKean Co., 214
fish-spine in bowlder of pea Conglomerate, 90
Fish in Miller's quarry rock ; Sub-Garland Cong., 122
" in Panama Conglomerate, 190
Fishing jobs in Oil well sinking, p. 221, note to 418
" tools; many such invented, 528
" in cased wells easier done, 563
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 467
Fissures in Panama Conglomerate, described, 172
" see Crevices.
Flooded oil territory discussed in Ch. XXV, 458
Flooding an oil district calamitous, 476
" sometimes temporary, 481
Fluviatile currents in the Oil age discussed, 435
Formations in vertical column, ... . 358
Fossil tree in a block of Garland Conglomerate, 72
Fossils abundant in Mill Creek, Meadville, 114
" very abundant in Panama Conglomerate, 190
" in the rocks over Panama Cong. Coffee Creek, 204
" abundant in lower rocks, 499
Fossil life changed, 301
Foundation timbers of Derrick, described, . 514
Fourth Oil Sand yields Gas in Thompson well, 273
" " also in Burns & Delemater wells, 273
" " of Butler County, 323
" " not found at Parker's, being Venango 3d Sand, 340
Fourth Sand Oil belt at Petrolia, ... 402
Fourth Sand at Warren (quite different), 358
Fracturing of rocks universal, . .501
Fresh-water Sands at Tidioute (2d Mtn. S. to 1st O. Sand), 450
" " " hold Salt water in Butler County, 450
Fresh water cased out, 476
fucoids in rocks beneath Garland Conglomerate, 81
" in Sub-Garland rocks on Henry's run, 144
" on Crooked Creek, 145
" in Panama Conglomerate, 190
" in rocks over the Panama Cong., Lottsville, 197
Gaps gradually deepened and widened, 4
" cut by glacial waters for a new drainage system, 20
" cut by ice and water, 21,23,24,626
Garland Conglomerate ; its topography, Ch. I, 1
" " outcrop, winding and irregular, 9
Garland=Sharon Olean Conglomerate described, Ch. II, 27
" outcrop surveyed with transit and level, 27
Garland Conglomerate; its place in the Series, 32
" " exposures for study, ." . ..... 52
Garland and Sub-Garland Conglomerates contrasted, 58
" " distinguishable by four marks, 58
Garland Conglomerate in Warren Co. Chap. Ill, . 59
" " makes Pike's Rocks, ... 60
" " northernmost outlier at Lottsville, 67
Garland quarries described, . . 68
Garland Conglomerate in Crawford Co. described Ch. IV, 91
" in Bates' Hill, 93
" " in Ellis' quarry near Meadville, 104
" " at Meadville, 101,106
" " southwest of Meadville, 118
" " in Unger's Hill; at Snodgrass' quarry, 134; 151
" " eroded from off Trumbull Co. Ohio, 159
Garland=Ohio Conglomerate, Pymatuning Ridge, 159
468 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Garland Conglomerate underlies Sharon coal, 160
Garland Conglomerate=Seco'nd Mountain sandstone, 215
Garland Conglomerate. Resume 1 of its story, 311
Gas in the Fourth Sand of Butler county, 273
Gas not confined to any one horizon, 274
Gas and oil, 460,475
Gas condensed into oil in the Sands. Theory, 498
Gas universally issuing from all oil wells, 499
Gas well horizons of unusual power, 273
Gas well at Fredonia, N. Y., Coburn well, 352
Gas delivered at rates proportionate to rock porosity, 500
Gas pumps invented and used for restoring oil wells, 467
Gas in cased wells. Method of management, note to 562
Gas pressure 130 lib to the inch, 644
Gas from oil well, 665
Gas Sandstone of Harvey well overlies Oil Sands, 271
" " =Butler First Oil Sand, 273
" " in the Leechburg & Pittsburgh wells, 293
Gates of erosion for the post glacial drainage, 626
Genesis of petroleum. See Oil, 490
" " from condensed gas. Theory discussed, 498
Geological Strata of the Oil Wells. See Section, 564
Geologists' difficulties in the Oil region, 371
Glacial ice sheet, advance from Canada, 624
Glacial amphitheatres, . . . 647
Glacial Drift described in Chap XXX, . . . . ' 579
Glacial eddy-hills, 647
Glacial Epoch, 580
Glacial lakes, 642
Glacial Scratches, strife, at Meadville, 105
" " at McLanahan's quarry, 138
" " at Christy's quarry, 149
" " on the Panama Conglomerate, 176
Glacial waste-weirs, 648
Glacial waters; their agency in erosion, 626
Glaciers of Greenland, . . 623
Gneiss bowlders. See Bowlders, Erratics, 89
" " in Crawford county, 92
" at Ellory Centre, N. Y., 175
Grades of petroleum. See Black, Green, &c., 487
Grand divide, highlands along the State line, 622
Gravel pit wells on Titusville Flats, Ch. XXXVI, 679
Green oil from the Third Sand, p. 160, 358,449
Group of the Three Venango Oil Sands, Ch. XIV, 314
Grouping the Oil Sands important to Oil men, 326,328
Guides erected for drilling wells, 540
Headache-post for oil wells, described, 525
Hand-wheel well measurer, patented, 393
Heavy oil at Slippery Rock and Smith's Ferry from a low member of the
Mountain Sand Group, . . . . 235
Heavy oil from the Venango First Sand, p. 160, 358
Heat and oil. See Earth heat, . 492
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 469
Highland divide, overtopped by the Mer-de-glace, 628
" defined in Plate II bis., 629
History of Torpedoes. See Torpedoes, 576
" " casing wells. See Casing Wells PI. XIV, 478
Homewood Sandstone, top of XII, discussed, 34,37
" " south-west of Slippery Rock creek, 223,233
" " key rock in Beaver county, 233
Hook for walking beam of Oil well, 526
Horirxm lines across Plate V, merely indicatory, 269
How to secure good well records, 374
Ice moved as governed by present topography, 150
Ice advanced at a slow rate from Canada, 624
Ice-movement pictured in Chap. XXXIV, 627
Ice-sheet moved east and west along the barrier's face, 635
Ice-dams and Ice-gorges, 642
Identity of Pithole and Berea Grits, discussed, Chap. VIII, 236
Improvements in drilling wells, 1861-1873, Chap. XXIX, 546
Incrustation at wells, p. 221, 418
Intermittent spouting of gas and water, ........ 665
Interval rocks between Garland and Panama Conglomerates (600'). 207
" between the (Bedford) reds and Venango Oil group, 231
" between the two oil belts ; its extent, 250
" between Ferriferous Limestone and Oil Sands, constant, .... 253
" between Venango and Warren Oil groups, p. 160, 358
" between Warren and Bradford Oil groups, p. 161, 358
" between Bradford 3rd Sand and Corniierous Limestone, p. 164, . 358
Invasion of water; how effected, 479
Iron ore of Unger's Hill ; Siiodgrass bank, 136 , 146
Isolation of oil-pools by water-flooding, 484
Jack-post of oil well, described, 515, note to 521
Jars for oil well sinking, described, 529,532,538
" never allowed to strike together by good sinkers, 533
Joints in drive-pipe, maximum number 23, note to 554
Key rock to Oil well sections, Ferriferous Limestone, 223
Kindness of drillers and well owners to the Survey, 400
Kinzua Creek Sandstone in McKean County, 214
" " =First Mountain Sand ;=Connoquenessing Sandstone, .... 214
Knob, two miles south of New Richmond, 95
" at Hickory Corners ; at Christy's quarry, 99; 148
Lake Erie once a wide river valley, ( 618
" " Its excavation discussed, Ch. XXXIII, ' 622
Lakes at the heads of small streams, accounted for, 645
Lakes of petroleum, an absurd idea, 453
Land rising ; its effect on deposits, 427
Land and sea alternating ; effect on deposits, 440
Length of life of oil wells, 462
Lepidodendron in Ellis' quarry, 104
Levels of the water basins compared, 16
Levels of country southwest of Meadville, 119
Level of highest point on surveyed line (1413'), 139
Levels of the line southwest of Jamestown, 157
Levels at Panama, 167
470 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Level of Rock City at Lottsville and Wrightsville (1950'), 207
Levels of the Be rea Grit, tabulated, 241
Levels of top of Third Oil Sand, tabulated, pp. 140 to 144, 330
" " ranges between 1000'+ and 500' tide, 504
Level of petroleum in relation to tide, 504
Levels of preglacial valley-floors, 585
" of Allegheny River bed, 591
" of Chautauqua Lake, <fcc., 601
" of Oil Creek and French Creek Valley beds, 615
Level of preglacial upland unknown, 623
Levels of low divides in Ohio and Indiana, 626
Level of the Mer-de-glace surface, 634
Leveling along the Garland Conglomerate outcrop, 27
Lever, for oil wells, 522
Lifetime of oil wells, 462
Life preserver for oil well, described, 525
Limit of Northern Drift towards the South, 646
Lingula melia in the Ohio flagstones, 688
Link for oil well engines, 520
Local Sand rock over Venango First Oil Sand, 267
Local names given to the Oil Sands, 378
Local popular arrangements of the Oil Sands, 380
Local glaciers; local Drift, . 642 ; 655
Localization of Oil-horizons, 356
Low divides in the Ohio and Indiana barrier, 626
Lower Oil Belt=Southern Butler-Clarion belt, 247
" its extent, 248
Lower Crawford shales, 316
Lower Barren Coal Measures described, p. 157, 358
Lower Productive Coal Measures, described, p. 158, 358
Limestone of Meadville, Ill
Limestone (White) in the Harvey & Mahan wells, 290
Limestones, local, probably often overlooked, 290
Machinery of oil-boring and pumping described, Cli. XXVII, 510
Mahoning Sandstone, oil bearing in Greene Co., 358
Main sill for oil well, 516
Map of dips of Oil Sands, Plate IX, Chap. XV, 329
" of Butler-Clarion Oil-belt, described, Ch. XVI, 331
" of Six wells measured at Petrolia, ... 406
Marshes of Pymatuning and Comieaut, note to 16
Materials for oil-well-rig. Sec, Cost, 538
Mauch Chunk Formation, No. XI, discussed, 33
" =interval between Garland and Sub-Garland, 54
Meadville rock : Meadville limestone, 95; 111
Measurement of wells, difficult, 385,394
" of Dennis well, . ... 421
Mechanical working drawings of rig, &c., Plate XIII, 513
Mer-de-glace. See Ice, Ch. X XXIV, 624,627
Mercer Coal groiip, discussed, 34
Micaceous sandstone at Meadville, 108
Mnllusks 400' beneath Garland Conglomerate, 86
Moraine at Lottsville, 196
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 471
Mountain Sand Series, discussed, Chap. VII, 212
Mountain Sands ; why unreliable guides, 228
Mountain Sand group obscure west of Slippery Rock, . . . 232
Mountain Sands omitted as unimportant from the driller's records of oil-
borings, 279,377
Mountain Sand Group described, p. 158, 358
" at Petrolia, 404
Mountain Sand oil bearing, locally, where the Venango Oil Sand Group is
wanting, 497
Mud-cracks in the rocks, '...'. 144
Mud-sills for oil-well, described, 514
Names locally given to the Mountain Sands, 213
New epoch in geology commenced with the Oil Sands, 438
New cuts made by the postglacial waters, southward, 621
Night-drilling records deceptive, 394
Nomenclature of Sand rocks local, 378
" of the Petrolia district, 404
Non-producing areas of the oil region, 297
Northern oil belt, called the Upper Oil belt, 247
Northern outlets, of the great basin discussed in Chap. XXXI, 596
Northern outlet of the Conneaut basin described Ch. XXXII, 615
Northern Drift. Sec Drift, 646
Numbering of the Oil Sands confused, 378
Number of specimens from measured wells; table, 398
Obligations of the Geological Survey to Oil men, 372
Ocean currents. See Currents, 300
" discussed, 436
Ohio Conglomerate=Garland Conglomerate, 32
" traced in Mercer county, in Ohio, 160,684
Oil. Its origin discussed in Chap. XXVI, 486
" of great antiquity, 495
" probably not of Chemung age in Venango county 297
" derived from fucoids and mollusks. Objections, 496
" how converted from organic matter, 502
" preserved in reservoirs of porous sandstone, 451
" " not in crevices or caverns, ... .
Oil in Clarion county at first from super 3rd Sand, 340
Oils of different colors do not mix by crevice passage, 449
" " hence no connection between two Oil Sands, 449
Oil seems to have ascended from below. Argument, 497
" how related to tide level, 491,504
" never found deeper than 2,000', 506
" replaced by salt water in some districts, 509
" driven back by water, 483
Oil and gas, 460,475
Oil of Hosmer run described, . . 87
Oil belts, (two of them), described in Chap. IX,. 247
" " not connected by producing belts, 247
" " yet of the same age, in the same horizon, 251
" " See Upper and Lower (oil belts),
Oil Creek classification of the Oil Sands, 383
" " Section of the measures, 384
472 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Oil Creek once flowed westward into French Creek, 617
Oil-horizons all exhibited in Vertical column PL XI, 350
" " local ; never overlap, 356
Oil-horizon of Dunkard Creek, described, note to 358
Oil pits at Titusville discussed in Ch. XXXVI, 679
Oil-pool history, 471
Oil-pools isolated by fresh water floodings, 484
Oil-pool in gravel at Titusville Flats, p. 426, 679
Oil production in the Butler-Clarion belt, 336
" " tables of quantity in the rock, 453
Oil questions still to be answered, . 429
Oil-bearing Sand rocks ; The Third and Fourth, 403
Oil Sands. Non Chemung age, discussed, 88
" " flatter on top than at their bases, 325
" " some fine, others coarse, 455
" " thicknesses, 454
" " structure shown in diagram XXXV, p. 267, 482
Oil Sand theory discussed, 299
" " conglomerates ; whence derived, 434
Oil-Sand-Group. See Venango Oil Sand Group.
" " different when productive or nonproductive, 303
" " nonproductive where it is of maximum thickness, 304
" " Resum6 of characteristic features, 308
" " important to Oil men to view it as a single group, 326,328
Oil-well divisible into three parts or sections, 546
" " at Meadville (Citizen's) ; at Christy quarry (Gibson's), . 112; 155
" " at Doolittle's; at Eureka (no water in it), 183; 194
" " at Lottsville, described, . 196,197
" " in Bradford district (Dennis well) . 210
" " at Pithole ; Bleaksley's well hole, 216 ; 217
" " spouting gas and water paroxysmally, . 665
Oil wells ; their great numbers in the region, 359
" " west of the Ohio line at Powers' corners, p. 429, 683
" " sunk too fast to get good records, 375
" " drillings preserved and discussed, 660,661
Oil well bailers, described, 523
" " band-wheel shaft, arm and flanges, 526
" bits, described, 538
" " boiler for engine, 517
" bolts for saddle, 526
" " boxes for band-wheel shaft, 526
" " bull-wheel, described, 523
" " carpenter's rig, described, ' 510
" " casing-head, 555
" centre-irons for walking-beam and sarnson post, 526
" collar to shaft, note to 527
" conductors, described, 512
" crown-pullej', 526
41 drive-pipe, described, p. 316, note to 554 ; 540
" drilling-tools, described in Ch. XXVIII, PI. XVI., .... 528,529
" derrick-pulley, 526
" engines, described, Plates 36, 37, 517,518
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 473
Oil well headache-post, described, 525
" " hook for walking-beam, 526
" " jack-post, described, 515
" " jars, described, 529,532,538
" " joints in drive-pipe, note to 554
" " lever, 522
" " life-preserver, described, 525
" " link v 520
" " machinery for boring and pumping, Ch. XXVII, 510
" " main-sill, 516
" " materials for rig, 538
" " pitman dimensions, note to 524
" " pulley for derrick, 526
" " reamers, 538
" " reel for measuring wells 392
" " reel for sand-pump, 522
" " reverse link, 520
" " rig of oil-well described, . . ..... 510
" rig-irons, described, Plates XIII, XXXVIII, 526
" " rivet-catcher, described, 568
" rope-measurer, 389
" " rope-socket, 529
" " saddle, 526
" " samson-post, described, 515,526
" " sand-pump reel, described, 522
" " seed-bag section of wells, 547
" " set-screw, note to 527
" " swivel invention for temper-screw, 534
" " sinker-bar described, 531,538
" soft plug, p. 221, 418
" " spudding, 539
" " sucker-rods, described, 551
" " temper-screw, 526,534
" " throttle-valve, described, 519
torpedoes, described in detail, 562,572
" " tubing, described, 549,556
" " walking- beam, connections, stirrup, 516,524,526,533
' " water-pump of 1868, described, 558
" " water-packer m cased wells, 562,569
" " weight of tools, 537
" wheel for measuring depth, 393
" " wheel and bell, Ramsey's, 393
" " wing of jars, . 532
" " wing-rope socket, 536
" " wire measurement of depth, 388,392
" " wooden conductors described, 519
" " wrist-pin, note to 524
Oil-well records only reliable when grouped, 229
" " six at Petrol ia ; SatEdenburg; 1 at Bradford, 379
Oil-well sections, line of 80 miles, Plate IV 220
" " from Pleasantville to Smith's Ferry, ... 220
" " from Pleasantville to Bullion, discussed, 221
474 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Oil well sections, southwest of Bullion, discussed, 223
" " at the John Smith well, discussed, . . 224
" " southwest of the John Smith well, 226
" " southwest of Slippery Rock creek, 232
" " to prove Pithole Grit=Berea Grit, Plate IV, 237
" " to show variability of Oil Sands, 257
" " continued on Plate V, Chapter X.
" " over a large area, 292
" of Venango Oil Sands, page (plates) 129, 131, 133, 135, 315"
" " from Petrolia to Cherry run, Plate V, 275
" " from Oil City to Clarion, Plate VI, 276
" " from Pittsburgh to Clarion, Plate VII, 285
Olean Conglomerate=Garlancl Conglomerate, 32
" " at Dennis well, 421
Order of the Conglomerates suggested for future research, 213
Organic theory of the origin of petroleum, 488
Origin of petroleum discussed in Ch. XXVI, 486
" " river terraces, 658
Outlines of the Garland Conglomerate, Pike's ridge, 5
Packed wells, 571
Panama Conglomerate discussed, Ch. VI, 33,164
" " older than the Garland Conglomerate proved, 165
" " alternate layers described, 171
" " range of Knobs described in detail, 174
" " at Lewis' quarry in New York, 177
" " at Chautauqua quarry in N. Y., 178
" " at Bleaksley's quarry in Pennsylvania, 179
" " at Blocksville and Ashville, 174
" " at Ellory Centre, 175
" " at William's quarry, 176
" " at Middleton's quarry, - 185
" " at Carroll's quarry, 186
" " topography described, 188
" " not the Erie and Crawford quarry rock, 189
" " at the top of the Eureka Oil well, 194
" " not one of the Venango Oil Sands, argued, 198
" " of Chemungage, proved, 206
" ' not the same as the Garland Conglomerate, 207
" " absent from the Lottsville well, 210
" " Resume of the statements, 306
Parallelism of the Ferriferous Limestone & Oil Sand horizons, .253
Pebbles of the Garland Conglomerate are round, 58
" of the Sub-Garland Conglomerate are flat, 58, 93
" of the Garland, at Meadville, small, white, . . 107
" of the Panama Conglomerate, large and flat, 178
" of the Northern drift, 646
Pebble bed at Meadville, water bearing, 110
Percentage of good to bad oil-well records, 361
" of petroleum to the Oil-Sand, discussed, 451
Petrolia wells measured ; diagrams; Ch, XX, 251; 395; 401
Photograph of oil-well drillings, in bottles on rack, 317
Picture of the advance of the Canadian mer-de-glace, . 624
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 475
Pine trees on rocks, 63
Pioneer oil-wells always the best of a district, 460
" " longer lived than other wells, 462
Pipe-driving described, 540
Pithole Grit Third Mountain Sand, 216
" " enclosed in the Crawford Shales, 217
" "a persistent rock over large areas, 230
" " maximum thickness S. W. of Slippery Rock Creek, 232
" " ="80 foot sand" of the Beaver Falls well, 234
" " =Berea Grit of Ohio, discussed in Ch. VIII, 236
" " sometimes unrecognized in Clarion-Butler wells, 236
" " exceptionally absent from the Harvey well, Plate V, 271
" " thins in a south east direction 280
" " Resume 1 , 310
" " shown in plates pp. 129, &c., 316
" " often obscure in a section or record, 317
" " described on p. 159, 358
" " sometimes holds fresh and sometimes salt water, 450
Pitman dimensions, note to,. 524
Plant bed, 400' beneath Garland Conglomerate, 86
Plants drifted into the Oil Sands, 88
" in sandstone beneath Christy 'sore, 147
" in the lower Snodgrass quarry sand, 156
" in the Panama Conglomerate at Chautauqua, 190
Pleasantville well-record, 384
Pocono formation=Sub-Garland ; current-bedded, 58
Pools of petroleum ; history of pools, 458,459; 471
" " isolated by water flooding, 484
Popular classification of the Oil Sands, misleading, 380
Porous sands, reservoirs of petroleum, described, 451
Post-glacial gaps in the southern barrier, 626
" " rock cuts in various places, 621
Pottsville Conglomerate, No. XII, discussed, 33
" " not wholly represented by Homewood Sandstone, 36
" " described lithologically by H. D. Rogers in 1858, 38
" " base ill defined as a geological horizon, 265
" " described as a group of Conglomerates, 358
Pre-glacial topography same (essentially) as now, 580,625
" erosion, p. 438,
" water-way slopes, discussed, .... 585
" northern outlets of drainage into Lake Erie, Ch. XXXI, . . . 596
" outlet of the Conneaut, northward, Ch. XXXII, 615
" floor of Lake Erie, . . ' 618
" height of table lands in N. W. Pennsylvania, 623
" divide, or highlands, 639
Preparing to drill a well, described, ... 539
Pressure of gas discussed ; 130 Ibs. to the inch 500 ; 644
Productus in interval beneath Garland Conglomerate, 81
" on Crooked creek. 145
" in the Panama Conglomerate, 190
Producing and non-producing areas contrasted, Ch. XIII, 297
Production of oil from the Butler-Clarion belt, Ch. XVI, 336
476 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Profile Section of the Butler-Clarion oil belt 340
Profile in Crawford county, 120
" " from Lake Erie to West Virginia, PI. X & XI, Ch. XVII, . . .341
Proportion of erratics to the rest of the Drift, . 659
Publicity opposed to Oil-business policy, 370
Pulley for oil-well derrick, ... 526
Pumping oil wells; in 1868 ; described, 474; 557
Pumping gas to restore dead wells, described, 467
Pyramidal hills made by ice erosion, 653
Qualities of various oil-sands, 455
Quantity of oil which can be held by a Sand, 451
Quantities of oil, tabulated, 453
Quarries at Meadville ; S. W. of Meadville, 103 ; 121
" in Ohio, described in Ch. XXXVII, 684
Questions respecting the theory of oil, still unanswered, 429
Rack for measuring and exhibiting drillings, PL XXXIII, 413
Ramsay's wheel and bell well-measurer, 393
Rate of drilling shown on Plate XVII, 411
Rate of percolation of oil through rocks, 501
Rate of advance of the great glacier from Canada, 638
Reamers for oil boring, described, 538
Rearranged materials of deposit, 440
Record of James well modified. See Well records, 294
Red oil of the district, 644
Red shale above First Venango Oil Sand in Bullion well, 221
Red shale in the John Smith well, 224
'< " characteristic, '. 230
" " thins southwest from J. Smith well, 231
" " cut out southwest of Slippery Rock Cr., 232
Reds lie parallel with Ferriferous Limestone, PI. IV, 239
" under Pithole Grit and also under Berea Grit, 245
" in Ohio, as the Bedford Shale, 245,246
Red belt of Penna. and Ohio shown on the map, 246,309
Reds overlie the Venango First Oil Sand, 247,282
" in the Rohrer well, . . . 281
Reds in the Venango Oil Sand Group intervals, 283
" between the Venango Second and Third Sands, 283
Reds below the Venango Third Sand for 300 feet, 284
Reds under the Panama Conglomerate, Eureka well, 194
" " in the Lottsville oil well, 195,197
Reds local and variable, 284
" increase in number and thickness southeastward, 284
" u thicken from oil belt into nonproducing area, 803
" " not a trace of them seen west of Petrolia, 405
Red rock near the bottom of well, 675
Reel for measurement of well's depth, 392
" " for sand-pump, ... 522
Relations of petroleum to sea-level, 491
Reservoirs of petroleum in porous Sandstones, 451
Resumg of structural features of Venango O. S. Group 305
Reverse link for oil well engine, 520
Reversed direction of post glacial streams, 606
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 477
Reversal of the Tionesta valley drainage, 608
Rig lor oil well boring, described, 510
Rim of the Chautauqua basin, defined, 12
Ripple-marks in Garland Conglomerate, Ellis', 104
" " in shale at Meadville, 113
" " in Sub-Garland Sandstones, Henry's run, . . . .* 144
Rivers of the Oil Region, 8
Rivet-catcher for oil-wells, described, 568
Rock cities made by Garland and Sub-Garland rocks, 51, 57
Rock city of Pike's Rocks, described, 61
" " at Lotsville, Garland Conglomerate, 67
" " at Panama, Panama Conglomerate, 166
Rock cities of the Panama Conglomerate, . 172
Rock city of Garland Cong, between Lottsville and Wrightsville, . . . 207
" " at Salamanca, . . 209
Rock cities between Carrollton and Bradford, 212
Rock City near Nelson Centre in Ohio, 684
Rope measurement of wells, 389
Rope-sockets for oil-wells, 529
Rounded-wing for jars, 532
nhynchonella in Panama Conglomerate, 186,190
" in shales over the Panama Conglomerate, 192
Saddle for oil-rig, 526
Saint Lawrence Valley, the preglacial outlet, 623
Salamanca Conglomerate, discussed, 33
" " at Ellicottville, discussed, 208
" " not noticeable in the Dennis well, 210
" Resum6 ; probably 200' to 300'+Panama Cong., 307
Salt water replaces oil in some districts, ... 509
" " in Butler county in sands holding fresh water in Venango county, 450
Samson post for oil well, described, 515,526
Sand from the Garland Conglomerate, 63
Sand-pump and pumping, described, 544,522
Sand-pump reel for oil well, described, 522
Sand-pump line for oil well, described, ... 522
Sand specimens supposed to suffice for a geological opinion on the proba-
bilities of oil, 371
Sands alternating with shales, PI. XXXV, p. 267, 482
Sandstones irregular, 254
Sandstone layers local over Venango First Oil Sand, 267
Sandstone in Tarentum well top of Butler Oil Group, 270
Sea beaches discussed, . 430
Sea bottom emerged in Venango Oil Sand age ? 439
Sea-weed origin of Petroleum ; objections, . *. 496
Sea-level; does it affect the existence of oil, 491
Second Mountain Sand=Garland Conglomerate, 31
" " =Garland=Olean Conglomerate, 215
Second Butler=First Venango Oil Sand 272,326,404
Second Venango Oil Sand is oil-bearing when it is not immediately under-
laid by Third Oil Sand, . . 497
" " exposed in hill sides at Warren, 358
" " at Petrolia, 404
478 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Secrecy maintained about results of trial wells, 366
Section of measures at Garland, 74
Section below Garland Conglomerate on Cotter's farm, 74
" " at Bates', W. Spring Creek, 84
Section at Johnson's saw-mill, 85
Sections at Meadville, 111,117
Section at Coal Pit (Mushrush's), 124
" at McEntire's coal pits, 130
" at Hazen's coal mine, 140
" at Adamsville, on Crooked creek, 145
" at Jamestown, 181
" at J. H. Christy's quarry, 156
Section of Panama Conglomerate at Middleton's, 185
" " at Moravian quarry, Carroll's, 186
" " above Panama Cong. (54') in Coffee Creek valley, 203
Section of measures, .... , 217
Sections of Well records to show the Venango Oil Group, 219
Section on profile of the Butler-Clarion belt, 340
" " from Lake Erie to West Virginia, . . 343
Section of Oil Horizons, Plate XI, 350
Section of all the Formations, 358
Sections of Petrolia measured wells, 379
Section of Dougherty's well, pp. 196,197, 409
" " Evans' well, pp. 198, 199, 409
" Hazel wood well, pp. 200,201, 409
" Morehead & Larden well, pp. 202,203, 409
" " Sutton well, pp. 204,205, 409
" " Kern well, pp. 206,207, 409
Sections of Edenburg wells, Ch. XXI, 414
Section of Brundred well, pp. 214,215, 414
" Columbia O. Co's No. 19, pp. 216,217, 414
" " McGrew well, pp. 218, 219, . . 414
Section of Dennis well in Bradford field, Ch. XXII, 420,425
Sections at Oil City, &c., p. 436, '. 688
Sections. See Oil Well Sections.
Sediments discussed, 430
Seed-bag section, 547
Set-screw for oil rig, . . note to 527
Swivel invention for temper-screw, 534
Shale oil at Warren. See Slush, oil, 456
Shape of Oil Sand deposit, described, 325
Sharon Coal bed, Chapter V, 118
Sharon Coal group, local ; not seen in wells, 312
" " productive of coal in Ohio, 312
Sharon Conglomerate=Garland=Olean Conglomerate 32
Shenango Sandstone=Sub-Garland=Sub-Ol8an, 50,54, 56
" " at Foulke's quarry in Mercer County, 160
Shore lines in the Venango Oil Sand age ? 439,440
Sigillaria in Garland Conglomerate, , 96
" " at Ellis' quarries. 104
Sinker-bar for oil-rig described, 531,538
Size of oil-rig tools, 535
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 479
Six sections at Petrolia, carefully measured, 379
Sixth Oil Sand in some places, . 323
Slope of pre-glacial water-ways, ... . . 583, 615
" " post-glacial river bed ; tabulated, 592
" French Creek valley bed, 618
" " Canadaway Creek bed, . . 619
Slow drilling through Pithole Grit and Oil Sands, 318
Slush oil at Warren ; at Bradford, 456; 457
Smith well a turning point, 225
Snodgrass Upper quarry rock, 151
Snodgrass Lower quarry rock and plants, 151,156,158
Soapstone, a driller's term, described, ... 501
Soft rocks always under the Venango Oil Sand Group, 320
Soil a guide to rocks, ... 91
Source of petroleum, discussed, 489
Southern=Lower Oil Belt, 247
Specimens of well drillings.how best collected <& kept, . 398,406,409,413,660,661
Spirifers under Garland Cong., 81,145,154
" over Panama Cong., 192,204
S. disjunctus in Panama Cong., 186,190
Spirit-levelling along line of survey, 27
Spudding, .... 539
Stages in the genesis of oil, 503
Stick-measurements of oil-wells, 390
Stoneham Sandstone, base of Warren Oil Group, 358
Story of an oil pool, 471
Stoss side in glaciation, 98
Stray Oil Sand joins the Venango Third, note 329
String of drilling tools, 529
Stringing the tools, ... 541
Strophomena, found on Crooked creek, 145
Structural variations in Oil Sands, 357,482
Style of well, changed from 186 1 to 1878, 549
Sub-Garland Conglomerate Sub-Olean Conglomerate, 48
" " =Shenango, Ferriferous, Yellow Sandstone, 48
" " described, making rock cities, 56, 57
" " not seen in oil wells, 58
" " habitually ferriferous or ferruginous, 58
" " at Pike's Rocks, described, 64
" " at Garland ; on McClay's hill, 73 ; 89
" " on Woodcock Creek ; flat pebble, Bate's hill, 90 ; 93
" " atMeadville; under Trues' quarry, 110; 111
" " blocks, on Unger's hill ; on Henry's run, 134; 143
" " at Snodgrass' quarry ; Pymatuning ridge, 151; 159
Submergence improbable, .... 26
Sub-Oil Sand Group formations in deep, dry wells, 320
Sub-Olean=Sub-Garland Conglomerate, 51
Sub-Panama Shales, described, 169,191,201
Sucker-rods, described, 551, note to 558
Summit basins, 641
Super-Oil Group formations (400' soft)=Crawford shales, 326
Super-Panama Cong, rocks (225 ; 300' soft) described, 191,202
480 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Survey line through Warren and Crawford, . . 27,91
Surveys in the Butler-Clarion oil region, 332
Surveys of White and Chance, 334
Swamps on divides, 652
Table of deep, dry holes, 506
Table of thickness of Venango Oil Sand Group, 322
Table-land of northern Pennsylvania, 622
Tailings in glaciation, 93
Temper-screw for oil well ; described, 526 ; 534
Terraces of Spring creek, 658 ; 77
Theory of Oil Sand Deposition, 427
" " Origin of Oil, Ch. XXVI 486
" " Genesis from gas, condensed, 498
" " important in a practical sense, 508
Thickness of the Oil Sand Group tabulated, 322,454
Third Mountain Sand=Pithole Grit, which see, 216
Third Oil Sand of Petrolia not the Venango Third, 327
Third Venango Oil Sand, and Stray, note to 329
Third Oil Sand belt, . . 335
Third Bradford Oil Sand, p. 162, 358
Third Sand of Gibson Well=? Venango First, 155
Third Sand Oil Belt, 402
Third Sand at Bradford, McKean county, 457
Third Oil Sand generally oil-bearing, 497
Throttle-valve described, 519
Three Oil Sands, Ch. XIV, 314
Tide-level relations to oil, 504
Tidioute section, 384
Time rack, Plate XXXIII, 413
Timber in country southwest of Meadville, 129
Top of Venango Oil-Sand Group fixed by sections 277
Top of an Oil-Sand more level than its bottom, 325
Topography of northern belt of Garland Cong., Chap. I, 1
" and soil together indicate the geology, 91
" of to-day, governed the flow of the ice, 150
" of the Panama Conglomerate belt of country, 188
" post and pre-glacial. essentially the same, 580
" modified however by ice erosion, Ac., 580
" of valleys, threefold, . 605
" proves that Oil creek flowed into French creek, 617
" of the Conneaut region, 619
" pre-glacial, described, 625
" of summit basins, varied by ice debris, 642
Tools, how drawn from oil-well, 543
Torpedoes in cased wells ; use described, 562; 576
Tours by day and night, in well-sinking, 542
Tradition that wells are dry because not deep enough, 369
Transition Chemung, Catskill strata, 299
Tubing a wet hole, described, 549,556
Tunangwant Conglomerate, 213
Two separate oil belts, 247
Two separate Third Oil Horizons discovered, 340
INDEX B, SUBJECTS. III. 481
Unity of the Venango Oil Sand belt, important, 218
Uniformity of measures above the red horizon, 231
" " Venango Oil Sand Group for 62 miles, ... 324
Unwritten history of oil wells, 369
Upper Barren Coal Measures, described, 358
Upper Productive Coal Measures, described, 358
Upper Crawford Shales, 316
Upper or northern Oil Belt= Venango Belt, 247
Upper non-Drift bearing layers of the glacier, 636
Variations in Sedernentary structure, . 357
Variation confined to interval between Reds and Venango Oil Sands, . . 231
Variable sandrocks ; variability local, 264; 256,382
Valley features of the Oil region, 10
Valleys divisible into three classes, 605
Valley-floor levels. See Levels, 616
Valleys of the pre-glacial age, 616
Valleys, bowl shaped, 644
Venaugo Oil Sand Group, a well denned unit, 200,230
" this is an important geological discovery, 217,218
" " thin, south west from the J. Smith well, 231
" " cut out, southwest of Slippery Rock creek, 232
" described in detail in Chap. XIV, 314
" " origin and propriety of name, discussed, 319
" " 300' to 380' thick. See Tables and Sections, 321,322
" " described on page 159, 358
" " not seen in the Dennis well at Bradford, 423
" structure described in Ch. XXIII, 427
Vertical Sections of Oil-Horizons, Plate XI, 350
Walking-beam; connections; stirrup, 516,524,526,533
Warren Oil-Horizon, 348
Warren Oil-sands never struck beneath the Venango Oil-sands, ..... 349
Warren Oil Group described, 358
' " field, production, 456
Water invades oil-wells ; movement among wells, 458,479
Water-basins in the oil region ; 11
" " levels compared, 16
Water wells in gravel, 83
Water-bed of loose pebbles at Meadville, 110
Water wells sunk to supply dry hole engines, 446
Water-pump of 1868, described, 558
Water-veins encountered after casing, 560
Water-packer in cased wells, 562,569
Watson's deep well, 354
Waverly fossils in the Sub-Garland rocks, 58
Weight of tools, . .537
Wells at Hosmer run, discussed, 87
Wells supposed popularly to be dry, because too shallow, 369
" affected by each other through crevices, but rarely, 448
" killed by new wells sunk in the vicinity, 462 to 466
" sunk deeper and deeper in the series, .564
" shown in detail in diagram, 567
Well-bore cross sections in Plate IV, 547
31 III.
482 III. REPORT OF PROGRESS. JOHN F. CARLL.
Well-boring in 1861, 1868, 1878, described, 549,554,560
Well-measurement, 385
Well owners set little value on good records 375
Well sizes, 452
Well-records withheld from geologists and others, 359
few of them reliable ; reasons given, 361
Circular issued by the Survey, 363
good ones not appreciated at their true value 365
kept secret in new territory ; reasons, 366
doctored for various reasons stated, 367
difficult to obtain by geologists 371
bad ones the cause of confusion in theories, 374 4
how to secure good ones, 374
defective for geological uses, 376
written out from specimen-drillings, 407
should be made only at the well itself, 408
of wells at Petrolia, Ac.^ tabulated, pp. 194 to 208, 409
described in detail, Ch. XXXV, pp. 398 to 420, 660
discordant, when collected by different observers, 674
Wheel, and wheel and bell measurer for oil wells, 393
White limestone in Boj'd's hill, Harvey and Mahan wells, 290
Wing of jars, described, . . 532
Wing-rope socket, described, 536
Wire-rope measurement of wells, 388,392
Wooden conductors, described, 519
Working drawings and plans, Plate XIII, 513
Wrist-pin, note to, 524
Yellow Sandstone=Sub-Garlandi=Shenango, 49
Yield of an acre of petroleum rock, 454
Zones of ice in the mer-de-glace, 634
SECOND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
REPORTS FOR 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, AND 1880.
The following Reports are issued for the State by the Board of Commis-
sioners, at Harrisburg, and the prices have been fixed as follows, in accord-
ance with the terms of the act :
PRICES OF REPORTS.
A. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS in Pennsylvania
and other States. By J. P. Lesley. With appendix, containing Annual
Reports for 1874 and 1875 ; pp. 226, 8vo. Price in paper, $0 25 ; postage, $0 06.
Price in cloth, $0 50 ; postage, $0 10.
B. PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE MINERALOGY OF PENNSYLVANIA
1874. By Dr. F. A. Genth. With appendix on the hydro-carbon compounds,
by Samuel P. Sadtler. 8vo., pp. 206, with map of the State for reference to
counties. Price in paper, $0 50 ; postage, $0 08. Price in cloth, $0 75 ; post-
age, |0 10.
B. 8 PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE MINERAMGY OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR
1875. By Dr. F. A. Genth. Price in paper, $0 05 ; postage, $0 02.
C. REPORT OF PROGRESS ON YORK AND ADAMS COUNTIES 1874. By
Persifor Frazer. 8vo., pp. 198, illustrated by 8 maps and sections and other
illustrations. Price in paper, $0 85 ; postage, $0 10. Price in cloth, $1 10 ;
postage, $0 12.
CC. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE COUNTIES OF YORK, ADAMS, CUMBER-
LAND, AND FRANKLIN 1875. Illustrated by maps and cross-sections, show-
ing the Magnetic and Micaceous Ore Belt near the western edge of the Meso-
zoic Sandstone and the two Azoic systems constituting the mass of the South
Mountains, with a preliminary discussion on the DILLSBURG ORE BED and
catalogue of specimens collected in 1875. By Persifor Frazer. Price, $1 25 ;
postage, fO 12.
CCC. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN 1877. The Geology of LANCASTER COUNTY,
with an atlas containing a colored geological map of the county, local map of
the GAP NICKEL MINE, map and sections of the East Bank of Susquehanna
River ; other geological sections across the county, and geological colored maps
of York and Lancaster counties. By Persifor Frazer. 8 vo., pp. 350. Price
of Report, fO 89 ; postage, $0 16. Price of Atlas, $ 1 32 ; postage, $0 08.
D. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE BROWN HEMATITE ORE RANGES OF LE-
HIGH COUNTY 1874, with descriptions of mines lying between Emaus, Al-
burtis, and Foglesville. By Frederick Prime, Jr. 8vo., pp. 73, with a contour-
line map and 8 cuts. Price in paper, fO 50 ; postage, $0 04. Price in cloth,
$0 75 ; postage, $0 06.
DD. THE BROWN HEMATITE DEPOSITS OF THE SILURO-CAMBRIAN LIME-
STONES OF LEHIGH COUNTY, lying between Shimersville, Millerstown,
(1)
Schencksville, Ballietsville, and the Lehigh river 1875-6. By Frederick
Prime, Jr. 8 vo., pp. 99, with 5 map-sheets and 5 plates. Price, 1 60 ; post-
age, SO 12.
E. SPECIAL REPORT ON THE TRAP DYKES AND Azoic ROCKS of South-
eastern Pennsylvania, 1875; Part I, Historical Introduction. By T. Sterry
Hunt. 8 vo., pp. 253. Price, 50 48 ; postage, 12.
P. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE JUNIATA DISTRICT on Fossil Iron Ore
Beds of Middle Pennsylvania. By John H. Dewees. With a report of the
AUGHWICK VALLEY AND EAST BROAD TOP DISTRICT. By C. A. Ashbur-
ner. 1874-8. Illustrated with 7 Geological maps and 19 sections. 8 vo., pp.
305. Price, 52 55 ; postage, 20.
OS-. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN BRADFORD AND TIOGA COUNTIES 1874-8. I.
LIMITS OF THE CATSKILL AND OHE.MUNG FORMATION. By Andrew Slier-
wood. II. Description of the BARCLAY, BLOSSBURG, FALL BROOK, ARNOT,
ANTRIM, AND GAINES COAL FIELDS, and at the FORKS OF PINE CREEK IN
POTTER COUNTY. By Franklin Platt. III. ON THE COKING OF BITUMIN-
OUS COAL. By John Fulton. Illustrated with 2 colored Geological county
maps, 3 page plates and 35 cuts. 8 vo., pp. 271. Price, 51 00; postage 12.
OJG. REPORT OF PROGRESS. THE GEOLOGY OF LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN
COUNTIES. I. Field Notes, by Andrew Sherwood. II. Coal Basins, by Frank-
lin Platt. With two colored geological county maps and numerous illustra-
tions. 8 vo., pp. 268. Price, $1 08 ; postage, 50 14.
GGrQ. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN 1876-9. 8 vo., pp. 120. The Geology of
POTTER COUNTY, by Andrew Sherwood. Report on the COAL FIELD, by
Franklin Platt, with a colored geological map of county, and two page plates
of sections. Price, fO 58 ; postage, $0 08.
H. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE CLEARFIELD AND JEFFERSON DISTRICT
OP THE BITUMINOUS CoA FIELDS of Western Pennsylvania 1874. By
Franklin Platt. 8vo., pp. 296, illustrated by 139 cuts, 8 maps, and 2 sections.
Price in paper, $1 50 ; postage, 50 13. Price in cloth, $1 75 ; postage, 50 15.
HH. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE CAMBRIA AND SOMERSET DISTRICT
OF THE BITUMINOUS COAL FIELDS of Western Pennsylvania 1875. By F.
and W. G. Platt. Pp. 194, illustrated with 84 wood-cuts and 4 maps and sec-
tions. Part I. Cambria. Price, 1 00 ; postage, 50 12.
HHH. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE CAMBRIA AND SOMERSET DISTRICT
OF THE BITUMINOUS COAL FIELDS of Western Pennsylvania 1876. By F.
and W. G. Platt. Pp. 348, illustrated by 110 wood-cuts and 6 maps and sec-
tions. Part II. Somerset. Price, 50 85 ; postage, $0 18.
HHHH. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN INDIANA COUNTY 1877. By W. G.
Platt. Pp. 316. With a colored map of the county. Price, 50 80 ; postage,
?0 14.
I. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE VENANGO COUNTY DISTRICT 1874. By
John F. Carll. With observations on the Geology around Warren, by F. A.
Randall ; and Notes on the Comparative Geology of North-eastern Ohio and
Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Western New York, by J. P. Lesley. 8 vo.,
pp. 127, with 2 maps, a long section, and 7 cuts in the text. Price in paper,
50 60; postage, 50 05. Price in cloth, SO 85 ; postage, 50 08.
II. REPORT OF PROGRESS, OIL WELLS, RECORDS, AND LEVELS 1876-7.
By John F. Carll. Pp. 398. Published in advance of Report of Progress, III.
Price, SO 60 ; postage, 50 18.
J. SPECIAL REPORT ON THE PETROLEUM OF PENNSYLVANIA 1874, its
Production, Transportation, Manufacture, and Statistics. By Henry E. Wrig-
ley. To which are added a Map and Profile of a line of levels through Butler,
(2)
Armstrong, and Clarion Counties, by D. Jones Lucas : and also a Map and
Profile of a line of levels along Slippery Rock Creek, by J. P. Lesley. 8 vo.,
pp. 122 ; 5 maps and sections, a plate and 5 cuts. Price in paper, $0 75 ; post-
age, $0 OG. Price in cloth, $1 00 ; postage, $0 08.
K. REPORT ON GREENE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 1875, Bituminous
Coal Fields. By J. J. Stevenson, 8 vo., pp. 420, illustrated by 3 sections and 2
county maps, showing the depth of the Pittsburg and Waynesburg coal bed,
beneath the surface at numerous points. Price in paper, 65 ; postage, $0 16.
Price in cloth, $0 90 ; postage, $0 18.
KK. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE FAYETTE AND WESTMORELAND DIS-
TRICT OF THE BITUMINOUS COAL FIELDS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
1876. By J. J. Stevenson ; pp. 437, illustrated by 50 wood-cuts and 3 county
maps, colored. Part I. Eastern Allegheny County, and Fayette and West-
moreland Counties, west from Chestnut Ridge. Price, $1 40 ; postage, $0 20.
KKK. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE FAYETTE AND WESTMORELAND
DISTRICT OF THE BITUMINOUS COAL FIELDS of Western Pennsylvania 1877.
By J. J. Stevenson. Pp. 331. Part II. The LIGONIER VALLEY. Illustrated
with 107 wood-cuts, 2 plates, and 2 county maps, colored. Price, $1 40 ; post-
age, $0 16.
L. 1875 SPECIAL REPORT ON THE COKE MANUFACTURE OF THE YOUGH-
IOGHENY RIVER VALLEY IN FAYETTE AND WESTMORELAND COUNTIES,
with Geological Notes of the Coal and Iron Ore Beds, from Surveys, by Charles
A. Young; by Franklin Platt. To which are appended: I. A Report on
Methods of Coking, by John Fulton. II. A Report on the use of Natural Gas
in the Iron Manufacture, by John B. Pearse, Franklin Platt, and Professor
Sadtler. Pp. 252. Price, $1 00 ; postage, $0 12.
M. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE LABORATORY OF THE SURVEY AT
HARRISBURG 1874-5, by Andrew S. McCreath. 8 vo., pp. 105. Price in pa-
per, $0 50 : postage, $0 05. Price in cloth, $0 75 ; postage, $0 08.
MM. SECOND REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE LABORATORY OF THE SUR-
VEY at Harrisburg, by Andrew S. McCreath 1876-8, including I. Classifica-
tion of Coals, by Persifor Frazer. II. Firebrick Tests, by Franklin Platt.
III. Notes on Dolomitic Limestones, by J. P. Lesley. IV. Utilization of An-
thracite Slack, by Franklin Platt. V. Determination of Carbon in Iron or
Steel, by A. S. McCreath. With 3 indexes, plate, and 4 page plates. Pp. 438.
Price in cloth, $0 65 ; postage, $0 18.
N. REPORT OF PROGRESS 1875-6-7. Two hundred Tables of Elevation
above tide level of the Railroad Stations, Summits and Tunnels ; Canal Locks
and Dams, River Riffles, &c., in and around Pennsylvania ; with map ; pp. 279.
By Charles Allen. Price, $0 70 ; postage, $0 15.
O. CATALOGUE OF THE GEOLOGICAL MUSUEM 1874-5-6-7. By Charles E.
Hall. Part I. Collection of Rock Specimens. Nos. 1 to 4,264. Pp.217. Price,
$0 40 ; postage, $0 10.
P, 1879 ATLAS OF THE COAL FLORA OF PENNSYLVANIA AND OF THE
CARBONIFEROUS FORMATION THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. 87 plates
with explanations. By Leo Lesquereux. Price, $3 35; postage, fO 22.
PP. UPPER CARBONIFEROUS FLORA OF WEST VIRGINIA AND S. W.
PENNSYLVANIA, with 38 plates and text. By Wm. Fontaine, A. M., and I. C.
White. Price, $2 25 ; postage, $0 17.
Q. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE BEAVER RIVER DISTRICT OF THE BITU-
MINOUS COAL FIELDS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. By I. C. White ; pp.
337, illustrated with 3 Geological maps of parts of Beaver, Butler, and Aile-
(3)
gheny Counties, and 21 plates of vertical sections 1875. Price, $1 40 ; post-
age, $0 20.
QQ. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN 1877. The Geology of LAWRENCE COUNTY,
to which is appended a Special Report on the CORRELATION OF THE COAL
MEASURES in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. 8 vo., pp. 336, with
a colored Geological Map of the county, and 134 vertical sections. By I. C.
White. Price, 50 70 ; postage, ?0 15.
QQQ. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN 1878. 8 vo., pp. 233. The Geology of
MERCER COUNTY, by I. C. White, with a colored geological map of county,
and 119 vertical sections. Price, $0 60; postage, fO 11.
V. REPORT OF PROGRESS 1878. Part I. The Northern Townships of But-
ler county. Part II. A special survey made in 1875, along the Beaver and
Shenango rivers, in Beaver, Lawrence, and Mercer Counties. 8 vo., pp. 248,
with 4 maps, 1 profile section .and 154 vertical sections. By H. Martyn
Chance. Price, f!0 70 ; postage, $0 15.
W. REPORT OF PROGRESS IN 1879. 8 vo., pp. 232. The Geology of CLAR-
ION COUNTY, by H. Martyn Chance, with colored geological map of county,
a map of the Anticlinals and OIL BELT, a contoured map of the Old River
Channel at Parker, 83 local sections figured in the text, and 4 page plates.
Price, $0 43 ; postage, $0 12.
Other Reports of the Survey are in the hands of the printer, and will soon
be published.
The sale of copies is conducted according to Section 10 of the Act, which
reads as follows :
* * * "Copies of the Reports, with all maps and supplements,
shall be donated to all public libraries, universities, and colleges in the State,
and shall be furnished at cost of publication to all other applicants for
them."
Mr. F. W. FORMAN is authorized to conduct the sale of reports ; and letters
and orders concerning sales should be addressed to him, at 223 Market street,
Harrisburg. Address general communications to WM. A. INGHAM, Secretary.
By order of the Board,
WM. A. INGHAM,
Secretary of Board.
Rooms of Commission and Museum : Address of Secretary :
ggS Market Street, Harrisburg. 223 Market Street, Harrisburg.
TM
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