Oh! Oh! I know that!
Texas Tea
Colorado City was not only the scene for millions of dollars in gold ore reduction, but experts also claimed that there was “gas and petroleum to be had in Colorado City for the boring.”
Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.
During August 1892, oil was struck at a depth of 83 feet near the Midland Terminal Railroad — a “green, glassy oil” that “in quantity can be obtained at no great depth.” William Strieby, professor of chemistry and metallurgy at Colorado College, “seemed to have little doubt that the substance was petroleum. The only trouble, he said, would be that there would be no way of catching the oil . . . and not enough of it would accumulate anywhere to any good, unless the shales in some way had been lifted up on the down side in a fold . . . making a basin.”
Another scientist, “a geologist who has established a reputation in this immediate vicinity,” said “that no oil could be found at Colorado City, but now that oil has been encountered . . . his theory . . . has been exploded.” The Colorado City Iris reported, “If professor Strieby had examined the formation at Colorado City he certainly would not have made the assertion” that the shale strata of Colorado City is flat, but see that it “stands on edge, and in some places is even tilted from the mountains.”
Contrary to local scientific opinion, the Iris contended that oil could be for Colorado City as gold was for Cripple Creek. “Colorado City is the center of a great oil region,” professed the Iris, “Of this there no longer can be a doubt.” Support for this claim came from Mr. W. E. Steinmetz of the Boulder Valley Oil company who “believes that two chances for obtaining oil exist at or near Colorado City, in the shale . . . and in the sand.”
The Colorado City Oil Company was incorporated in November 1893, with $100,000 in capital stock. Colorado City Mayor J. D. Faulkner was president of the corporation and Dr. R. S. Briscoe, vice president. By March the following year, drilling at 202 feet “penetrated a small streak of black sand” and natural gas was confirmed present when an oil-saturated piece of rope was set afire and dropped into the casing, resulting in loud explosions that sent workmen and spectators hiding.
A strong flow of natural gas was later found at 1,235 feet—pushing at 160 pounds of pressure according to the “gauge taken off a steam engine.” “The well was drilled to a further depth and at 2,070 feet they had all sorts of trouble. The sides caved in and the drilling tools got stuck and to make matters a whole lot worse the company ran out of money,” according to the Iris, “and the project had to be given up.”
Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.
During August 1892, oil was struck at a depth of 83 feet near the Midland Terminal Railroad — a “green, glassy oil” that “in quantity can be obtained at no great depth.” William Strieby, professor of chemistry and metallurgy at Colorado College, “seemed to have little doubt that the substance was petroleum. The only trouble, he said, would be that there would be no way of catching the oil . . . and not enough of it would accumulate anywhere to any good, unless the shales in some way had been lifted up on the down side in a fold . . . making a basin.”
Another scientist, “a geologist who has established a reputation in this immediate vicinity,” said “that no oil could be found at Colorado City, but now that oil has been encountered . . . his theory . . . has been exploded.” The Colorado City Iris reported, “If professor Strieby had examined the formation at Colorado City he certainly would not have made the assertion” that the shale strata of Colorado City is flat, but see that it “stands on edge, and in some places is even tilted from the mountains.”
Contrary to local scientific opinion, the Iris contended that oil could be for Colorado City as gold was for Cripple Creek. “Colorado City is the center of a great oil region,” professed the Iris, “Of this there no longer can be a doubt.” Support for this claim came from Mr. W. E. Steinmetz of the Boulder Valley Oil company who “believes that two chances for obtaining oil exist at or near Colorado City, in the shale . . . and in the sand.”
The Colorado City Oil Company was incorporated in November 1893, with $100,000 in capital stock. Colorado City Mayor J. D. Faulkner was president of the corporation and Dr. R. S. Briscoe, vice president. By March the following year, drilling at 202 feet “penetrated a small streak of black sand” and natural gas was confirmed present when an oil-saturated piece of rope was set afire and dropped into the casing, resulting in loud explosions that sent workmen and spectators hiding.
A strong flow of natural gas was later found at 1,235 feet—pushing at 160 pounds of pressure according to the “gauge taken off a steam engine.” “The well was drilled to a further depth and at 2,070 feet they had all sorts of trouble. The sides caved in and the drilling tools got stuck and to make matters a whole lot worse the company ran out of money,” according to the Iris, “and the project had to be given up.”
Following the collapse of the well, William P. Epperson, Iris editor and publisher and prominent promoter of petroleum possibilities, drilled his own gas well at his home and for a long time used the gas to light and heat his home. In August 1894, Epperson and former Mayor Faulkner attempted to capture the gas in an oak barrel connected to the well with a rubber hose fitted with gas fixtures. The experiment was successful, “sending forth a brilliant flame,” however “without a moment’s warning, the barrel was the center of a mass of flame.” Every joint of the barrel opened and the explosion struck Faulkner in the chest and wrapped Epperson’s lower body in flames. Neither man was seriously injured, but the Iris reported, “It will be some time before they try to barrel up gas again.”
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