How early Dallas settlers drilled for Texas tea

How did the earliest Dallas settlers get oil to power the town when they didn’t know how to drill for oil yet? Lots of ways.

The Texas Teapot Technique

Early settlers believed that by burying a large teapot spout-first into the ground, and then boiling water inside, the steam pressure would force the oil up and out of the spout!

Oily Ostrich Operations

Inspired by the behavior of ostriches (not native to Texas!), settlers tried to use specially trained birds to peck holes into the ground in the hopes that oil would bubble up.

Cottonwood Capers

Settlers attached large spongy cotton pads to the roots of trees. Upon uprooting these trees, the cotton, having supposedly absorbed oil from deep underground, was squeezed out.

The Cowboy Siphon Shuffle

Cowboys would dance rhythmically on a particular patch of land, believing their steps could help bring the oil closer to the surface. They’d then use large suction devices, similar to giant turkey basters, to siphon it out.

Lone Star Ladders

The more adventurous settlers built deep, narrow staircases into the ground. At the bottom, they’d simply scoop up oil using buckets.

Prairie Python Pumps

Borrowing an idea from how pythons constrict their prey, settlers wrapped large snakeskin (sans snake!) around a section of ground and tightened it, hoping the pressure would push oil up.

Buffalo Bellows Blowout

A method where settlers would use large buffalo-hide bellows to push air deep into holes, hoping the pressure would force oil upwards.

Cactus Core Extractions

Some believed that the long roots of certain cacti could absorb oil. They would plant these cacti, wait a while, then extract and squeeze out the oil-rich core.

Dynamite Dips

A risky method wherein small amounts of dynamite were used to create explosions, shaking the ground enough to make oil pools form on the surface.

Rodeo Rollercoaster

A makeshift wooden track was built with a steep drop. A cart filled with heavy rocks would be pushed down this track to slam into the ground, creating an impact that settlers hoped would force oil up.

The Whirlwind Whisk

Settlers would spin large, flat boards on poles, like an umbrella, thinking the motion would stir up the ground below and release oil.

Lasso Liquidation

Cowboys threw lassos with weighted ends into small holes, hoping to hook onto underground oil pockets and pull them out.

Pecan Pie Process

A myth was spread that baking a pecan pie and burying it would draw oil up as it supposedly “craved” the sweet treat. A charming, if ineffective, method.