The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1873-11-25
HARD TIMES.

little explanation in regard to the f.
nancial condition of oue oil men would
not be ill-timcd, nor out OF place; so
we shall cndcavor in :; few words, to
give plain statement OF facts in that
CONNECTION.
The panic came on in about the
right time for our OF, operators. In
like their Pennsylvania brothers, the
operators here have been for the pas:
year curtailing expenses, and when
the panic came It fourd the oil opera
tors not more than $4,000 10 $4,000
IN debt, 10 Offset this. VIC venture to
assert that, leaving out the lease holds
worth thousands Of dollars, there is
twenty dollars worth Of personal pro-
perty 10 every dollar owed. It must
be admitted that This is 4 favorable
statement for our oil producers, but
will the figures warrant. it? We say
yes; and we appeal to every man that
Is familiar with the business OF our oil
operators. We know this 10 be fact
from our own personal observation;
and we further know that with an easy
money market, there IS not single
operator hut what could pay his debts
ten. yes twenty times over. Then, we
ask, what is this distrust TOR there is
distrust) Of the ability Of cur opera
tors to pay their debts founded upon:.
We answer, upon the idle gossip Of
set OF chronic croakerS; for example,
A. goes to Parkersburg and meets our
insinuating friend, &; 3. SAYS, how
are you, A.; how is friend d. getting
along: Oh; says our doleful friesd,
A, he is hard up. I'm afraid he will
have to 60 under. Poor fellow, says
B., and passes on, and meets D., to
whom he puts the same question about
A. and gets the same answer in reply,
and so it goes. When will men learn
to mind their own business. and get
rich letting other people alone.
Another example: About three
weeks ago, we heard that one OF our
most successful and heaviest operators
was broke up. We started and began
to follow up the rumor, and found that
he would not pay an order given on
him for the sum Of $40, because he did
rot owe the man that gave the order.
Our friends ask, what harm can these
rumors. do if they are. not true? We.
an. wcr that they can ruin man.
Capitalists are naturally suspicious,
and these panicky times make their
senses more acute; start such a story
on a man, and unless they are quickly
followed up and disproved, would ruin
him in a week. Learn ore lesson,
crcakers; when asked about mans
business, answer that You don't know
anything about it; tell your question
er to 60 and see the man himself; don't,
by your whining lies, help ruin any
man; in short, miHd roHr 0srH 6gSi-
ness;syou will be happier, and the
world viii think more OF you.
There is another class OF men to
whom we have word Of ADVICE 10 Of
fer, and that is to the class who, when
a man owes them sum of money
that he cannot pay, run round from
one man to the other telling OF it
This works thus: Smith owes Jones,
Brown, Sha, p, and Hoop, each sum
of money; let Smith alone and he can
pay each Off little at time, until he
is free from debt. Blu: no; Jones tells
Brown that Smith Eowes him; that
Brown is a sharp fellow; look after
No. is his motto; he slides of and
ksues Smith, gets his claim, and ruins
poor Smith, while the Justice and con
stable gobble up the remainder OF the
poor fellows property, leaving Jones
and the rest of the men out in the cold.
We know Of several such cases. This
practice is not only wrong, but is un-
businesslike. Again we give the oft
repeated ad"ice, which we are pleased
to say is strictly followed here: push
no poor fellows in these times; and
when money again gets easier, and oil
commands a better price, our word for
it, you will win friend that may be
able to assist gu, should dame fortune
ever frown upon you.
OIL NEWS.