Early Oil and Gas Industries

By Carol Jenkner

Santa Fe Trail Center

 September 1, 2022

            As Kansas grew in population and discoveries of things like gold, coal, salt, water and oil and gas were made across the United States, Kansans took notice and began an active search for these things. They may even have created a host of new industries across late 19^th and early 20^th Kansas. The state’s history provides many interesting stories like the gas that didn’t burn in Dexter, Kansas, the salt mines in Hutchinson, the gold rush in Phillips County, discoveries of coal, tin and zinc across the state. Sometimes, one thing led to another and people got excited. Sometimes they were just disappointed.

            In Larned virtually any discovery garnered some excitement and an attempt to turn it into money in the community’s pockets. For example, there was the dig on the south end of town looking for coal that resulted in the discovery of an artesian well that produced salt water and a health spa, a going concern for a few years. The discovery of clay in Larned’s first decade led to a brick and pottery industry. And, of course, all things agriculture were big news here.

            The discovery of oil and gas created a lot of excitement since many counties were profiting from that discovery. In the 1950s, oil and gas drilling resulted in the possibility of a Conoco Refinery for Larned. That never materialized, but it shows the scope and intensity of the activity in Pawnee County. Larned did, however, have some small independent refineries here in the 1920s and 1930s.

            The main product of the early refineries was kerosene used in lamps and as a fuel for tractors. The heavier distillations were used as lubricants for steam engines. The gaseous leftovers were burned off as flares to dispel the volatile gases. Gasoline was an oil byproduct until the early 20^th century and the growth of the auto industry.

            Larned had three oil companies listed as refineries in 1921. They were Midland Refining Company at the corner of 8^th at Santa Fe Trail; Sinclair Refining Company at 109 Topeka St.; and White Eagle Oil and Refining company at 5^th and Santa Fe Trail St. In 1931 Sinclair Refining was at 1007 Topeka, and White Eagle was at 620 Broadway. Apparently, it was not uncommon in an oil producing area to have a small refinery nearby. Russell had at least one as did Hays.