Maquoketa Oil Field.

CALVIN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/9/2007 at 15:44:36

Maquoketa Record, May 28, 1907:
State Geologist Samuel Calvin has put his foot in his mouth in great shape regarding the Maquoketa Oil Field. In an egotistical sounding letter to a gentlemen here, he says the "oil in the hole did not come in the from the sides or from the bottom," and that it came "possibly from Beaumont" and further that "it did not come from the rocks underlying Jackson County." Our educated egotist over at Iowa City, either does not know the character of rocks underlying Jackson County, having never examined them below the surface, or does not know the character of rocks in the neighborhood of which petroleum is found, for the fact exists that the oil bubbles up with the water from the rocks below the hole in which oil is found as he may know by examining for himself, or by taking the word of dozens of men who have seen it do so. Geologists, even State Geologists are often mistaken. Geologists said there could be no oil at Beaumont as the country there was of too recent formation. Geologists said it was of no use to look for gold at Cripple Creek as gold is never found in the rock formation of which the district is composed, yet gold is there in large quantities and the richest field on earth. Geologists are all right when they happen to be all right, but when they are wrong they are not unlike printers and other common truck. Evidently Dr. Samuel Calvin has not passed the stop over age.