Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-22
WEST VIRGINIA OIL
Does Not Scare the Experienced Op-
orators of This Region.
MUCH MORE SMOKE THAN FIRE.
The Independent Producers Hold Some I'M
pOrtant Meetings
LATEST FROM THE FIELD CENTERS

neld situation. There have been, however,
several bearish attempts by landholders and
lease scalpers to boom West Virginia ter
ritory, but the general trade is too well edu-
Gated to be duped by sensational reports.
When the intelligent oil man has found
good thing in new territory he does not
usually give it away by blowing about
the great possibilities of his venture, and
the fabulous prices paid for territory.
The Ritchey county well located between
Pennsborough and Ritchey Court House,
as usual, upon investigation, turned out to
be a West Virginia canard. THE DIS
PATCH representative made personal visit
to the well, and, in his opinion, together
with eight or ten old scouts, who were also
there, and who have followed the fortunes of
the oil developments from the days of Cherry
Grove, PithOle, Cooper, Sheffield and Ball
town down to the present time unite in say
ing that as a producer the well will never
amount TO pinch of snuff. The well may
properly be denominated as the benZine
venture, as the product is about "a gravity and
soon evapOrates when exposed to atmospheric
inflences.
That the well will never be a market breaker
is evidenced by the fact that it has been plugged
by driving plug in the top of the casing. and
wlen the gas sufficiently accumulates it is
biown out when only very small flow of oil
follows. There a diversity of opinion as to
the depth the oil was found. The driller in
forms THE DISPATCH scout that there were
lSOU feet of 414-inch casing in the hole, which
was necessitated by cave, and that only %
feet below the casing the Big Injun sand was
struck. The character of the sand is white
and pebbiy, but differs from the Big 1njun at
Cairo. some eight miles to the southwest, as
there was q break in this well of 30 feet of
slate below which the oil was found
One of the owners however, thinks they have
got big well He informed THE DISPATCH
representative that the well was only six inches
in the sand, while the dTiller was positive that
the drill had penetrated the rock at least six
feet They have ordered four 25O-barrel tanks
70 be sent out from Belmont, and by Tuesday
or Wednesday the last acts of the tiasco-
drilling ln-will have been performed.
In Exchange Circles.
The speculative trade has been attended with
some innovation, and By some the rise in the
market is attributed to this influence Others
are Of the opinion that the appreciation was
due to the movements of the p. P. A. and the
meeting of independent producers held at
Bradford on Friday. At Oh City, Fred Hart
well on Saturday failed on the exchange
having sold 5000 barrels short, which will re-
guire about s.. 500 to make his accounts square
with those who took the stuff. Young HarIwell
Is a son of Mr.. Hartwell, who was recently inter
viewed IN New YORK on the field and general
situation.
The meeting of the P. P. a. and independent
prod GERS has also been one of the important
beginning of a new order of things in the world
OF oildom. 1t has been learned beyond doubt
that all Standard blood was eliminated from
the old Executive Board, and that the meeting
OF the representatives of the independent pro-
ducers and the Executive Board was harmoni-
Gus. and that the best of results will most like
" follow. The probabilities are that the
p. 2. A. will remain in vogue and
that the present independent movement
will be inaugurated through the old associa-
uon. 1t Is The general opinion that in a few
short days or as soon as some preliminary work
is disposed Of that meeting of all the local
assemblies viii be held which will soon be fol-
lowed by a grand rally when some definite
action will be agreed upon. AS aforerunner of
this fact. representative meeting OF the lnde-
pendent producers Will be held in Plttsburg
Monday evening.
Kane City Producers Hold Meeting.
A large number of the Independent producers
of Kane City and vicinity held an enthusiastic
meeting Saturday night in the Town Hail. The
object of the meeting was to take steps to build
an Independent line and refinery. The refinery
Is TO be located at the Rynd farm, and when
built is to have a capac city of 400 barrels day.
The length Of the main line will be about three
miles, while the branches and connection to the
wells VIII aggregate in the neighborhood of
ten miles.
The project was thoroughly discussed, and it
now looks as If the producers of the Kane
City ana Rynd farm district will go into husi-
ness Tor themselves. The production OF the
wells IN this locality is very small, and the low
price OF oil has driven the producer to this last
resort.
]. ". Kir5wood was made President of the
meeting. and in a few well chosen remarks
stated the object Of the meeting. A. ]. Kirk
wood, Jr., acted as Secretary. Following is a
partial list of those who we're present: ". L.
Gage. J. ). Neely, ]. W. McCracken, William
Kennedy, David Bancroft, Samuel Seiples
William Meyer, H. Thomson, w. II. Wallace
william Shrum, ;: Jross, A. b. Straub Will
lam Toy, Frank II. Beers, George II. TORY,
Frank Taylor.
Independents Active Elsewhere.
ENuLENToN-The Independent producers of
Emlenton held another meeting Saturday after
noon which was largely attended. Further
steps toward building pipe line and refinery
was discussed, and the matter now is almost
foregOne conclusion. The producers in this
locality are as general thing in good circum-
stances and abundantly able to carry out the
scheme under contemplation.
No Change in Field Work.
GLADE RUN-The situation, as far as field
work is concerned, remains unchanged The
immense snowfall of the past few days rather
caused a stagnation of travel and business.
But the outlook of good sleighing and good
roads, in connection with the advance in the
market will no doubt stimulate field work in
the near future after the holidays. An in
stance OF the reward of patience and persever-
ance was practically demonstrated today For
a long time Superintendent Phipps has been
endeavoring to have the p. & w. put in a sid
ing at this place without success, but since the
management of the road has gone into the
hands OF Nj. Patton, this request has been
granted.
The Forest Oil Company No. 4 W. II. Mary.
was finished yesterday. After starting to pump
she ran an hour, when she started TO flow. The
Wei was then shut down until the boiler could
be removed TO safe distance. No accurate
estimate can at thi> time be placed on the we'll
but IT is thought she will be nice one. Their
No. Waldron when cleaned out and started
ShOVyEn a y -har rrpl lvait rior
ging up on No. Sutton. Easton, Guckert &
Co, on the Berring, had rig cremaUed day
or two since. The Forests new venture-the
Huffman well-was tubed with 215-inch tubing
ana the well started. but she was afterward
shut down, as it was feared she would flow and
Ihe tanks were not completed. The first
two or three days of next week will test this
ventures real capacity.
Operating With Renewed Energy.
WAsHINGToN-Operauo at Florence have
been begun with renewed energy. and from
present indications lively time will be had in
that field this winter A lease to which great
deal Of interest attaches is held by the Union
Oh Company, covering 100 acres in the heart of
the field and owned by William Coventry. The
lease states thaS three rigs must be erected and
operations begun on OF before December o.
thus FAR, however, the company has gotten
only two rigs erected. The lumber for the
third is on the way to the farm, but. on account
OF the terrible condition of the roads. IL
seems impossible for the company TO
get it on the ground before Monday. This
would leave them but one day in
which to build the rig and start the drill. Mr.
Coventry had been offered large bonus for the
land by other companies, and says he is getting
the papers in proper shape to re lease the farm
as he does not think the Union ComDapy can
possibly come up to its contract An interest
lng time can, therefore, be expected, as the
Union Oil Company will do its best TO get the
third well started.
An Important Strike.