Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-28
General Field situation.

The general situation in every section of
the great Southwest is encouraging for bet
fer prices, and in the natural channel of
olelgiuous events everything conspires for
better times. The producers should be
truly thank .ul for the signs of bright and
prosperous future. and ere another Thanks
giving Day rolls around, should WIS
dom and harmony guide their actions, they
may be Tree from the enthradom of an op-
pressive monopoly. While the market has
gradually been on the decline, and from all
appearances it has not reached rock-bed bot
tom vet. the field indication presents
altogether 4 different aspect of affairs which
IN nowise warrants the prevailing depress-
ION Careful investigation, together with
the most reliable statistical information,
clearly and beyond doubt corroDorates the
position taken by THE DISPATCH. that
there is not only material falling off in
production. but also new work. But
what is more favorable still for the future
outlook is the general disposition among
producers to suspend the drill in almost
every locality.
There is no better sign of the decline of
territory than the increased use of glycerine
which is now being freely employed to main
tain production. a prominent torpedo man
informed The DISPATCH scout to-day that
within the past 60 days their business had
increased wonderfully and, from his long ex-
perience and association in the oil business,
he could plairlv see that the pools of the
southwest have seen their halcyon davs
This condition o, affairs is most marked
in West Virginia, and especially so in the
Belmont and Eureka pools In the former
place big wells are a thing OF the past, and
the territory on the Virginia side of tine
Ohio, so to speak, has shot rs wad. There
E. =
velopment across the river in Ohio, as
marked out by Messrs. Ackerley & Sam
melS
While present developments have clearly
defined a large scope OF territory, The fact
has also been esta blished that the wells are
uniformly small, which, together with the
conservative manner in which operations
are conducted, will make big production
unlikely. ST. Mary'S is an unknown
quantity. and nothing but the revelation
q the drill ran, with any degree of GER
Jaiuty, demonstrate the extent and character
of the apparently new pool. Many pro-
aucers from the Allegheny, Butler and
Washington fields who have visited the
place and made careful investigation into
the Duncan well are not particularly en-
ruusiastic in their comments upon the well
aud situation. Warrington, like Belmont
IS not making the grand showing which it
promised some time ago by the advent of
several large wells.
The production here is also on the de-
cline, and the producers at present prices
are driving an uphill business. Butler
county has also Joined the retrograde pro-
cession, and 4 marked decline in both pro-
duction and new work will note the import
ant features of the coming monthly report
The Jake Dambach well, which has been
freely advertised. is only doing nine bar
reIs d day, and the general appearance in
this locality of the 100-foot is bv no means
as rosy as it was some time ago. 1t is
strange that Old and experienced operators
should become so inoculated with the oil
fever as to pay big sums for prospective ter
rIIcry. One company paid $500 bonus for
one piece, while another firm planked down
s.. 500 for 20 acres. There are five or six
rigs up and in course of construction
Iu the immediate vicinity of the new wells.
The only thing Of Importance that has come
TO Light IN the lOO-foo. district ior the past
two weeks Is the well near Harmony on the
Zeigler farm and owned by Sutton & Chris
Tie. The well came in yesterday, and is To-
Gated one mile southeast from the Zelien-
ople developments, and is rated anywhere
from so TO 30 barrels day.
Contrary to expectations Wildwood
brought in another big well TODAY. The
Roth Oil Co.'S No. 5 Harbush tanned
the second pay at IL O'clock, and has since
made 4 production of 40 barrels an hour.
This we'll is surprise as it is located $50
feet east of the 45o line. Contractor
Sevbert, who drilled the well, says thew
we're not looking for a producer of
this caliber. The next we'll due on the
southwest line is No. 3, on the Rolsehouse
30 acres, and is expected TO reach the sand
IN about ten days. Ireland 6; Hughes to-
dav gave the contract for building rig to
q W. Sparks on the farm adjoining the
VocIe on the south. Some operators are of
the opinion that there is another prolific
belt LAYING parallel with the one already
defined, aud the above we'll will be pretty
fair test
Developing New Territory.