Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-17
BEATS ALL RECORDS.
THE WONDERFUL PRODUCTION OF
THE MDONALD FIELD.

1t is Doing Over Ten Thousand Barrels a
Day-Over One Hundred Wells on
Seventy Acres-Work in the New South
Butler Fields.
The greatest little oil field in the world
to-day is around Mcdonald. For the past
three or four days men who make their
living off the oleaginous fluid have looked
at the big wells which are being drilled
into the fifth sand, and asked "What is com
ing next?" Less than six months
ago this spot was just visible
in the tail of Wildwood's rapidly
disappearing comet, and could only be
seen with powerful glass through the
monday rays of McCurdy's sun. To-day
the Wildwood meteor has been lost in space,
and McCurdy's orb has almost reached the
horizon on the descendant, while it is be-
neved that the full brilliancy of Mcdonald
that field to-day will be over 10000
barrels. and unless men who could not be
considered otherwise than the best judges
are mistaken, it will not be long before this
is increased to 25, 900 barrels day. 1t is
record with few parallels. When the history
OF Pennsylvania's wonderful oil-producing
Donald will be the keystone of the names
around which the interesting volume will be
constructed.
Forest of Oil Derricks.
On an area of only 70 acres there are now
being drilled. at the lowest possible estima-
tton, 100 wells. These are located in the heart
of the little city, and within half a mile of
the railroad station. Since Oil Creek, no spot
has been developed where so many derricks
were built on such a limited tract of terri
tory. The reason for this is that the property
town avail
able foot of ground some enterprising opera
tor has built rig. 1t is possible in many in
stances to leap from one rig into another.
Few of the adjoining rigs are owned by the
same party, consequently every operator is
anxious to get his well into the sand first and
drain as much oil from his neighbor's rock
as possible. 1t is a case of dog eat dog, and
in some cases the tragedy illustrative of the
Kilkenny cats will be re-enacted. Somebody
Will get left, but the hope that springs
eternal buoys up each plucky operator in
the belief that he will not be numbered with
the unfortunateS.
The Work at the Wells.
Drilling was suspended yesterday and
there have been no developments since Sat
urday. The Royal Gas Company's Jumbo
well on the slaughterhouse property, which
started off at the rate of 150 barrels an hour
Saturday evening, filled the tanks ana was
then shut in to wait for pipe line connec-
tions. The Wheeling Natural Gas Com
pany's well on the Cook lot was making over
100 barrels an hour last evening. The work
at Vankirk & Co.'S well on the hotel lot has
been stopped until pipe lines can be laid to it.
Guckert, Steel & Co.'s well on the Mevey
farm was also doing over 100 barrels an hour
last night. Garland & Hays switched the
rope from the socket at their No. 2 on the
Miller farm and are fishing for the tools Just
above the fifth sand. Their No. l on the
Miller is doing about 40 barrels an hour
LaComte & Val1i1ee's well on the Short lot is
putting out over 10 barrels an hour. There will
be q number of wells which should get the
fifth sand the latter part of this week and
many interesting developments are ex-
pected. ]. B. Sammel on the Campbell lot
will be in the Gordon tomorrow or Wednes-
day. Shatfer & Co., on the Fanny johnson,
VII asH Rsc gee me eOTd4h 3he eafy N shS E week
down about l, 400 feet; on the George lot,
1000; on the Jamison, 75O on the Crooks, 700,
Springer's lot. The Peoples Natural Gas
Company is down about 200 on the David
son lot. The Royal Gas Company is 600 feet
deep in their Sauters No. g.
Taking Care of the Oil.
The National Transit Company is being
pushed to take care of the oil at present
For several days G. T. Braden. the hustling
General Superintendent, has been on the
ground with Superintendent z. G. Wright of
the southwest lines, and Foreman E. A. Bee
son, with a large corps of men, has been
working night and day to get pipes laid to |
the different wells and save the production. |
At Noblestown Guffy, Murphy & Co.'S well, |
on the Baldwin farm, was not drilled In sat, |
urday on account of a lack of tankage and |
pipe line connections. These have now |
been made and the bit will be sent into the |
rock to-day.
In Butler County.
CALLERY-slayle, Lutz Co.'S well on the |
Newton Garvin farm, which burned for |
nearly week, is doing nearly 80 barrels an |
hour yet. The same parties have located |
No. 2 on the Newton Garvin and one on Ben
iamin Garvin. The South Penn Oil Com
farm, adjoining the Newton Garvin farm.
John Irwin has rig up for No. on his own
farm, and Osborne Bros. have rig up on
the West farm.
In the Eicholtz District.
ZELIENoPLE-Steel & Co. on the John Stauf-
fer are down 1000 feet and have a rig up on
,he FichoItz Sutton Wick have a rig up
IN the Eicholtz. Donahue & Co. are spud-
ling on the J. Stauffer. Hovis & Co. are
1own 200 feet on the Herr farm; Mckinney
Dill Company on the McCurdy are at depth
If /, 100 feet. McElhaney & Co. on the Nc
Curdy farm are on top of the sand with the
,ools stuck in the casing. Tanker No. 8 is
iswn 600 feet. Latshaw & Co., Herr farm,
ire down 800 feet. Oakshade Oil Company
No.:1 Henry Kock farm, have a rig up, and
he same company are down goo feet with
heir No. on the J. Kocher farm. Patter-
,on No. 2, Allen heirs, is down 800 feet. TAFT
No. ., same farm, is down 900 feet.
The New Leader Refinery.
The refinery which will be known as the
Leader Refinery is now in operation. 1t is
owned by A. B. Caldwell, of Washington,
Pa, and is located near Taylorstown, on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 1t was built
It cost of sl00, 900, and has daily capacity
If 800 barrels. Edward Kells, formerly
If the Excelsior Refinery, of Cleve-
and is the superintendent. The oil
lsed at the refinery is produced from ten
wells on Mr.. Caldwell's farm, which have q
laily production of about 800 barrels. 1t is
.lleged to be the most IA pid running refinery
n the State, and that the stills can be
harged and run OFF every 13 hours with 500
,arrels to the run.
Saturdays Oil Markets,
Oil was steady on its pins Saturday, with
few sales here to prove the reality of the
evival. Cash oil opened at 691lc.s This was
lso the lowest and closing. The highest
vas 693sc. September opened at 7Oc which
a1~ |