Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-20
THE TOWN LOT WELLS
In Mcdonald Have Been Disappoint-
ing to the Operators.
SOME CHANGES IN THE SITUATION
MellonssNo. 5,Neeley Reported Big, and the
>Walker Well Small.
BIG PIPE LINE RUNS FROM THE FIELD

NWalker Well Small.
BIG PIPE LINE RUNS FROM THE FIELI
There has been a'decided change in the
tune of the operators in the southwestern
end of the Mcdonald field within the past
10 days. Most of the town lot wells have
been completed, and not one in 20 have
come anywhere near the anticipations Of
the owners. The whole aspect of the field
in and around the borough has been one Of
disappointment. Where many were called
but few were chosen, and the great crowd OF
disappointed operators would now be will
ing. to take almost any price for the exceed
inglv small wells which they have drilled.
For a time it looked as though the town lot
ventures might be good. Northeast of the
borough were the big Miller and Mevey farm
wells, and directly southwest were the
big Cook lot and the Sauters wells. Fur
ther to the west were the Butler lot, the
Short lot and the Royal Gas Company's No.
} Sauters Jumping at the conclusion that
these wells were all connected, and that the
belt was under the borough, scores of men
who could i'll afford it leased town lots and
induced machinery men to advance
them the requisite tools to
get down wells on their leases. AS
a consequence there was scarcely back
yard in the whole town that did not have a
rig on it within ten days. All were anxious
to get down first. They believed that the
first in the sand would get the choice of the
chicken.
Derricks Side by Sid!
1t was known by this time that the sand
drained easily, and as it is almost possible
to go from one end of the town to the other
by jumping from derrick to derrick, it is
easy to understand why there was such a
feverish hustle to complete the wells. One
well in a week ahead of those around it
would doubtless leave its neighbors worth
less by taking all their oil. These wells
have now, with possibly one or
and also with one or two
exceptions they have proven failures.
Taken as a whole, there were at a rough
guess half dozen persons interested in
each well. In one we'll there were as many
as 20 persons who owned from one-eighth to
a thirtv-second. In others, of course, there
were only two or three partners, but on the
whole 1t will average up six to the well.
Counting 40 small wells in this end of the
pool, the above average would make 240
people who have been disappointed. Many
of these wells which are now making from
so to 100 barrels a Gay are being offered at
ridiculously low prices, but no one seems
inclined to buy. In the western part of
the borough they all get their oil from
the fifth sand, which is unusually ca
fathers clock at any moment by stopping
short
East of the Borough.
Over toward the eastern line of the
borough. and between it and Willow Grove,
good Gordon sand wells are being found.
These are more hopeful, and may hold out
long enough to make some money for the
owners. 1t is in this locality that
ting in what little spare cash they
may have left. Standing on hill over
looking the valley yesterday THE DIS
PATCH scout counted "a new derricks, and
at all but possibly half dozen the drill was
the earth. These wells are re-
SUI of the Rend well and of the Gordon
wells in the eastern part of the borough. 1t
is not the Gordon, however, upon which
they rely. They are looking for
a cross belt from the Miller
farm over to the Rend we'll or from the
Mevey to the Rend The sanguine operators
figure that they have at least three chances
to make their ventures pay out These are
two chances for fifth sand cross belt spoken
of above, and a chance for good wells in
the Gordon sand. The latter may be real
lied at any. rate judging from the
only well. in the valley to the
east which has yet reached the Gordon sand
1t is Davis & Browns No on the brick
vor6 lot 1ooafod of Ak live
through the Rend we'll Yesterday the
brickyard well was drilled deeper into the
Gordon sand and increased its production
from $50 barrels a day to 800 from the Cor
don formation.
More Men Than Needed.
Operators are not the only ones who
field. Ever since the field was first opened
up men have been pouring in from all
parts Of the country looking for work.
Dozens of them had just enough money to
get there, and, consequently, after the first
few days were compelled to rely on
the generosity of their friends to live.
While speaking of this state of affairs yes.
terday, contractor said: "There are six
men for every job. We cannot hire all of
them, and it is really pitiful. There is lit
tie or no work being done in the other fields.
and all of the idle men in them who could
raise car fare have come to Mcdonald A
good driller is nearly always in demand
under ordinary circumstances, but when all
Of the drillers in the country pour in upon
US the supply greatly exceeds the demand.
On several wells that I know of old-time
and trusty driilers are working as tool
1ressers, where two or three years ago they ,
would have scorned the Job. There is
scarcely any chance for a general
,oustabout down here, and new men
cannot get work as tool-dressers
when old drillers can be employed. It
would be very good thing if the men in i
The other fields understood the situation so
hat they would not come flowing in here
without first securing lob
in advance. Should a new field be deyel-
,ped in the southwest as anticipated it is
very likely that many more men would be
employed than there are at present. You
see when operations are active it
demand. First, there are the teamsters.
5hen the rig builders, the tank builders.
and then comes the drilling crew of two
lrillers and two tool dressers, who are en-
Dloyed on every well in this country, from
IS to so days Thus in putting down we'll
eight or ten men are given employment"
Big Well on the NeeIey.
There were several developments of gen.
,ral interest in the field yesterday. In the
southwest McCurdy field w. L. Mellon s.
20. s No. g. on the j. NJ. Neelev farm. got |
he paw in the fifth sand and was reported
o have started off at 200 barrels |
IN hour. This farm is located di- |