Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1886

No. 364.
Mr. Bell to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States,
The Hague, August 18, 1886. (Received August 31.)

No. 166.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that I have recently learned from sources which may be considered as authoritative that the recent surveys in the islands of Java and Sumatra have brought to light the existence of petroleum wells of apparent considerable value.

In order to fully explore and to ascertain the approved system of working them the minister of the colonies has commissioned Mr. A. Stoop, an officer of engineers, to visit the United States and Canada, to thoroughly study the methods employed there for such work.

I have, &c.,

ISAAC BELL, Jr.