The Oil Wells of Baku.

Southland Times, Issue 19197, 7 November 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Oil Wells of Baku.

The Baku oil wells on the Caspian S.m are famous. In point of extent und production they quite out-distance the oil walls of America. The development of the place h.is been the result of the fnterpvi.se of the Xobel Brothers, of " explosives " fame, who, in 1875, placed mutters on their present basis. The quantity of oil taken out of Baku in a month is prodigious ; ono " spouting " well realising about 1,800,000 gallons a day, worth say £11. 00 ft. Fives are of frequent occurrence tit Baku, and, of course, also explosions, though the casualty list is rather small. One tire is kept burning always, us

Baku was the headquarters of tlio ancient Russian lire - worshippers when the robed priests of the Zoroaster bent in adoration before the itiexliiuwlible litfht of the "Temple of Eternal lire." Snob a temple exists even now, and the perpetual fire is fis'.stired in tinway of the sketch — there are places built within the walls of the temple which contain four chimneys each. Out of the latter dart as many sheets of flame from ovens or lumps which the priests fend below. So i.'ieat, is the force of the oil supply nt, ISiilcu that it is a common tbin^, when a pocket of oil is pierced with the drill, for the Huid to out with such force fl.s to attain n heiyht of four hundred feet before falling.