Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-26
CRUSHING OFT RIYALs.
Standard Oil Methods of Wrecking the
Wells of Competitors in Ohio.


Wells of Competitors in Ohio.
Chicago Herald.
The investigation Of some of the
methods of business employed by the
Standard in its dealings with rivals in
the oil business in the neighborhood of
the Lima oil fields reveals some remark
able tactics on the part Of the great cor
poration.
The two chief plaques of the Stand
ard in the matter of production of crude
oil are the independent producer and
the farmer owning Unbiased oil terri
tory. Both operate largely in "wild cat"
or undeyeloped lands, as all the known
producing territory is absorbed The
independent operator posted in the bust
ness, by watching his well and keeping
shotgun in sight to prevent the cor
ruption of his driller, may strike oil. If
he does he is soon induced to sell out to
the Standard. The field once opened,
however, it rushes in, buys or leases
everything in sight, and drives down
holes by the dozen.
When the farmers or village people
drill for oil on their own lands their
chances for successful outcome in the
venture are equal to that of the tradi-
tional feline clawless in hades. The
wildcat" of the independent operator
may become the gusher that precedes
great production; may lift him into a
good thing, But the Changers well
never, never does, In the dozens of
wells for test purposes not single one
has ever been known to pay.
The wrecking Of good oil well, not
fully completed, is an easy matter if
caught before the gas pressure is too
strong. Even when closely watched the
driller can in five minutes drop 80 feet
of cable into it. The drill is then
dropped, ostensibly to finish drilling,
and the rope pounded down, eifectu-
ally calking the oil seams. When
drilled to the required depth a well is
completed by shooting" To spoil the
well the shot is anchored about 100 feet
from the bottom in stratum of loose
shale. Exploding at that point, it tears
out cavern and fills the well from that
point down. The well thus treated is
disposed of as effectually as though il
had never been drilled, and every dollar
invested is lost to its owners.
At Leipsic, Putnam county, the citi-
zens' well struck oil and flowed fol
three days. The constant attendance OF
q strange gentleman put the owners on
| guard, and watchmen were kept in at
tendance During the evening these
watchmen left the derrick for short
time, and during their absence the well
was filled in with chunks of iron and
steel and then pounded down with the
drill and the shot put down only to tho
shale. Attempts made afterward Il
clean the well resulted in finding a par
Of these distractions.
/ AT Deweyvillc a test well put down {
few months ago met the same fate, bu
this time the owner of the property was
declared Sin it, He found the derrick
boarded up about the time the sane
should have been reached and a strange
sleek looking gentleman measuring thu
depth of the well. The farmers eye
and nose appraised him Of the presenct
of oil. Work on some pretence wa
suspended until after dark TIL,
farmer, calling in a witness, quietly ap
preached the derrick and overheard th,
preparations made to wreck the we'll
As he had o $4,000 mortgage ornament
ing the title Of that particular piece o
property, and expected his lease oil o
royalty to pay 1t off, he at once objected
to the proceedings proposed Negotia
tions followed between himself and tn
sleek gentleman and the well wa
wrecked. Somebody paid off the mort
gage, and the witness was paid 800 +
keep quiet.
The production of crude petroleum
presents a commercial paradox. Whe
Ohio oil is 30 cents a barrel at the wei