A HISTORY OF OIL EXPLORATION IN ALASKA (1898-PRESENT ...

ALASKA PROSPECTOR, VALDEZ, AK, April 30, 1903, p. 1
‐ has best article on early oil development on Iniskin Peninsula
“In 1896, Ed. Eddleman of Kenai, while out
hunting along what is now known as Oil Bay,
… discovered d a spring of oil bubbling bbli out of
the ground. He staked the property, but never
kept up the assessment work, and finally let it
drop. A.N. Doty and John W. Rowland, who
were then of Seattle, …. Formed the Alaska
Petroleum Co. with a capital of $1,000,000.
This company chartered a schooner, loaded
her with provisions and machinery and
started for Oil Bay. The schooner ran into a
severe storm and save themselves the crew
were forced to over most of their cargo. That
was in 1898, and nothing could be done that
year, but the follow year Mr. August Bowser,
who took charge of affairs got together
another outfit and took that to the ground in
safety.”