Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-10
lrronftNa nIL rInLnS.


There is no longer any doubt of the
existence Of oil in paying quantities in
Wyoming. The faith OF moneyed men
in the discoveries is shown by the num-
Der of companies recently organized TO
secure n share Of the new fields and the
profits which await the investment.
Experts from Pennsylvania and New
York have made thorough examina-
tions OF the country and pronounced the
oil bearing region surprising in extent.
The credit OF this important discovery
belongs TO Omaha citizens. Their en-
ergy and perseverance extending over
period of ten years demonstrated that
a second Pennsylvania in mineral re-
sources exists on our western border
These men backed their faith with their
means, and to-day control the cream of
the oil region. OF the six Nebraska
companies operating in that section four
are credited to Omaha, and together
they own nearly four-iifths OF the un-
covered oil fields.
This TACT gives Nebraskans superior
| advantages in tho development of an
| industry of paramount Importance to
the west. Will they continue in
control2 Will Omaha and the
state realize the full benefit of
the ..discovery9 These are questions
demanding the serious consideration of
our money men. Wall street capital is
| beginning to flow into the territory and
the men who made fortunes out OF the
oil industry in Pennsylvania arc placing
| their covetous hands on the new fields
| OF the west. They realize the vast i'm
| portauce of the new fields and the op-
portunities afforded for profitable re-
turns on the money invested, and they
are not slow to take advantage OF the
situation. Our moneyed men are back
ward and indifferent. They must rouse
themselves and back the men whose
faith and energy are virtually crowned
with success. Outside capitalists
are already seeking share of
their property, and it is not unlikely
that sufficient inducements will soon
be offered them to part with q control
ing interest.
Such transfer would be misfortune
to the city, and yet it can hardly be
avoided, under existing conditions, be-
cause the companies do not control
sufficient capital to protitably handle
the oil. Refineries must be built and
operated, and pipe lines constructed to
convey the crude oil from the wells to a
central depot. These essentials require
a vast amount of money, but handsome
returns are certain, not only to iudivld-
| ua1S b,t to nmah and the stafa
Local control of the OIL fields
means that Omaha will be
the Cleveland of the west. 1t
means the construction of pipe line
from the oil fields to this city. An d
more important than all, it means the
solution OF the fuel problem, which now
seriously affects our industrial growth.
This alone would he of incalculable
value to the city and state. Cheap
fuel means more factories, permanent
employment for labor. and a larger
market for the products OF the farm in
exchange for the products of tho mills.
Every factory adds to the sum total of
our prosperity. 1t benefits the mer-
chant as well as the mechanic, and
gives strength and permanency to trade
and population.
These are few of the possibilities in
store for Omaha if her capitalists take
hold of the Wyoming oil fields, not for
speculative purposes, but for their own
and the city's good. Energetic and
united action is necessary to prevent
the tide of oil flowing southwark toward
| the gulf