Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-23
INDEPENDENT PLANS
Now Rapidly Assuming Shape for
More Decisive Action.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT MEETING.
I, W, Phillips to be One of the Leaders
of the New Movement.
REPORTS FROM THE VARIOUS FIELDS

ant nature was transacted. The meeting was
principally composed of the producers
committee, which met the P. P. A. in
Bradford on Friday. A report of their
mission was handed in, upon which gen.
eral discussion ensued. There were also
present, beside the committee, number of
representative producers, who also took
hand in the general discussion.
AS matters now look the independent
movement is getting down TO basis on
which something of a tangible nature will
soon materialize. The DISPATCH reporter
could not definitely ascertain whether the
places of the old members of the Executive
Committee of the P. 2. A. who resigned on
Friday have been filled, but inferred from
conversation with those interested in the
meeting that the vacancies would probably
be filed at the present meeting of the COM
mittee.
The reporter was also led to believe that
T W. Phillips would in all probability
still affiliate with his old friends, the pro-
ducers. Mr.. Phillips position as regards
the Standard Oil Company would not ia the
least prohibit him from becoming leading
light in the present Independent movement.
No one knows what will be their plan of
action when thoroughly organized, but the
supposition is they will devise some means
to find an outlet to the seaboard. They argue
that when this has been accomplished the
question has been solved, and that the Stand
ard no longer holds them in subjection.
Last nights meeting unquestionablv set in
motion the whole machinery of the P. P. A.
The local assemblies will in all probability
soon convene, and all members who are sus-
pected OF possessing Standard proclivities
will be weeded out All those producers
who are not now members'of the assembly
and are kindly disposed toward the inde-
pendent movement, will be asked to join
the organization and help along the grand
and laudable undertaking.
The West Virginia Situation.
For the past year West Virginia territory
TO manv has been a bear upon the situation.
It has been proclaimed time and time again
that the Standard Oil Company, with its
thousands of acres OF prolific leases could
soon food the markets of the world. This
assertion has not been borne out bv the
demonstration of the drill, and 1t is ques-
tionable to-day whether upon the aggregate
of operations in the entire Virginia field
that investments have paid. Mt Morris,
and especially Warrington has conclusively
shown that oil could not be produced at
present prices. The record OF the field also
shows that the territory is spotted and those
who have made money are but few COM
pared with those engaged in operating.
Eureka, Belmont and ST. Mary's have all
apparently reached the eliminating point
Glycerine in those fields has been used
literally, yet Notwithstanding this fact the
production is constantly declining. Numer-
Gus wildcat wells have been drilled at
nearly every point of the compass
with poor results; and thousands of acres OF
land which had hitherto been counted on as
good territory has been condemned. In
these pools within the past three weeks ten
dry holes certainly confirms the above con-
clusion. The St. Mary's field was opened
up about two months ago by the Duncan &
Co. well on the Smith farm. The well is
only good for so or So barrels day, and is
the only well producing in the field. Since
this well was completed there have been
eight or ten wells started in the vicinity.
Two of these have passed through the same
formation in which the oil was found in the
above WELL and neither oil nor gas was
found
These were the Bills and Galliger wells.
The latter has virtually obliterated the hope
of finding oil in many Of the town lots, and
has had a depressing effect upon the
boom. Between Belmont and ST. Marv's,
along the Ohio river front, three dry
holes have practically annihilated the
theory of a connection between Belmont
and ST. Mary's. johnson & Co.'s dry hole,
three miles south Of st. Mary's on the Beers
farm, and known as the "tom cat well, i"
has also condemned a considerable amount
of territory. In the old Belmont field
proper, matters have Subsided to a sorry
sight as compared with the boom of only a
few days ago. The best well in the field is
the old Stewart No. 1, which, from the most
authentic report, has production of only so
barrels a day. The Ruttencutter district
has also been overestimated, and the produc-
ton of the best well there may be estimated
at 25 or 80 barrels day, while the two wells
recently completed are making but ten bar
Tels each. The old Eureka pool Is a thing
of the past, and its resurrection is beyond
hope. Across the river from here, 81
Hughes however, is looking for an outlet to
the northwest in the direction OF the old
Oracle mill.
In the shallow territory in the Cow run
sand there was small well completed re-
Gently on the Kerr farm which is practically
no good and was a sad disappointment to
many.
Ackerley & Sammall, on the ]. B. Green
farm, are now in the sand with we'll on the
northeast corner OF the farm, which is show
ing for the hest well in the field. Smith &
Aliens well. 1000 feet north and a little
west of the Brown well, is in the sand on
the Hendershot The well is showing some
oil.
Several Small Flows.
WLDwooD-The Forest Oil Company
and Griffith No. 4, Smith, tonight is max
ing from 20 to 70 barrels an hour. They
also got the sand this afternoon in No. 8,
Smith, which has made several small flows.
The Smith Farm Oil Company No. is
doing from 40 to 80 barrels an hour.
Very Scanty Operations.
ORAFToN-Operations in the Grafton
pool are verv meager. The Forest Oil
Company No. 2, on theIPortman farm, is
about 20 feet in the hundred-foot. Consid-
erable interest is manifested by the COM
pany in this we'll which if dry will cause
them to cease operations in this locality
The same company have a fishing job at
their No. on the Hartley farm. At their
No. 2, Phillips farm, they succeeded in get
ting the hole clear Saturday night and have
resumed drilling.
The same company are also drilling
wildcat well near Craig station on the Pan
handle Railroad, three miles from the Nc
Curdy pool.
The Best Days Are Gone.
WESTVIEw-Ihis field has seen its best
days, although there is considerable
good oil territory around here not yet drilled.
The owners of the property will not drill at
the present price of oil, and when the wells
now drilling are finished there will proba-
bly, be no new operations until the market