Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-03
DRY HOLES COME IN.
The Spotted Character of the McDon-
aid Field Demonstrated.
SEVERAL ON TOP OF THE SAND
A Gusher on the Wallace Farm, Between
the Mathews and Mevey.
OPERATIONS ARE NOW BEING RUSHED

OPERATIONS ARE NOW BEING RUSHED
The production of the Mcdonald field
yesterday was about IS, 600 barrels. While
this speed is being kept up by a few wells,
a number of the wells which were COM
pleted yesterday are little better than dry.
Such results are not unlocked for, as the field
has proven to be spotted in every direction
There are few lines or theories which will
stand a practical test in this territory. The
only sure test is the drill which alone can
demonstrate the value of the oil bearing
rock. Many an operator has won
other fields, but in this it is entirely differ
ent. Wells are found in the most unek-
pected places, and dry holes are drilled
where gushers should have been. AS an
instance of the first statement the Elliott No
1, of the Devonian Oil Company, may be
cited. 1t is located away off to the west
where no one would have thought of
drilling if it had not been for the Royal
Gas Company's No. l, on the Mary Robb
farm The day the latter we'll came in THE
DISPATCH scout was going over the field
with member Of the Royal Gas Com
pany.
Thought It no Good.
A trip to the Mary Robb well was pro-
posed, but the Royal Gas man demurred,
and gave as an excuse that the we'll would
be no good. Not two hours after this the
we'll came in at 100 barrels an hour and
since then has been keeping up its original
record.
The developments yesterday were surpris-
ing. The Oakdale Oil Company's No. 1, on
the Wallace farm, reached the pay streak
and started off at 300 barrels an hour The
Sam Sturgeon No. 2 is also making from 800
to $50 barrels an hour. The Hopper
No. / of the Oakdale Oil Company
The Wallace Oil Company's we'll
on the lumber yard lot in Southwest Nc
Donald is about through the fifth sand and
showing light. Guckert & Steele are having
bad luck on the Mevey farm in Southwest
Mcdonald Their No. 1 has stopped
flowing, No. is almost dry, No. 5
has been drilled through the sand and is
almost a duster and No. 4, which was
finished Yesterday, is in the last stages of
production. 1t will only make small well
at most. Mellon & Gartland's No. 1,
on the Taylor farm was reported
dry last night G. W. Sparks
part of the Moore farm, was shot yesterday
and will probably make q small producer.
On Top of the Fifth.
There are a number of wells which should
reach the fifth sand to-day or tomorrow.
and these are being closely watched and
should increase the production.
Gauges of the Wells.
An hourly gauge of the big wells yester-
day resulted as follows: Mathews, 250; Her
ron No. 1, 1876; No. 2, 125; No. 4, S25; Bell
No. 1, 70; No. q 100; Baldwin, 125; Elliott
No. 1, 85; No. 2, 115; Sam Sturgeon No. 1,
IS; No. 2, 25O; Forst & Greenlee's Mol
Mevey, 14O: No 5, 40; No. 4, 150; Wallace
No l, 100; Sturgeon heirs No. 1, 20; No. 2,
20; Miller No. 1, so; No. 5, 20; No. 4, 80; NJ.
Robb, 20; Devonian Oil Company's No. 1,
Elliott, 40; Hoffman & Co. s No. 2, Moore,
80; Gamble, 81; Bowman & Co.'S No. 1, 20;
Rend, Is, Conklin & Co.'S No. 1, 20;
Black & Co.'S No. 1, 30; Miller
& Co.'S No. 1, so; Shaffer & Co. s No /, 35;
No. 8, 25; Patterson and Jones, 80 barrels.
The estimated production was $4,000 bar
rels.
Runs From the Field.
The runs of the Southwest Pipe Line
Company on Saturday from the Mcdonald
field were about 65, 900 barrels.
Export Oil Trade.
The exports of Mineral oils from the
United States during the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1891, were 704, ,3S7 ,532 gallons of
the value of S51, 313, ,454 according to the re-
port of the Bureau of Statistics of the Treas
urv Department at Washington. In the
preceding year such exports were but
$50, 365, ,475 gallons of the value of $50, 1884,.
522, or an increase of over $4,000, 900
gallons in quantity and nearly $46O, 900
in value. Such an increase in the for
eign trade of the country in a single
commodity would be cause for gen.
eral congratulation were it of any other
commodity than petroleum and its products.
But the organization which has carried on
this foreign trade chiefly, through which the
wealth of this nation is increased at the rate
of nearly 81 200, 600 per week, has been de-
so long by an ignorant rabble of
takers and equally unconscionable crowd
of inconsiderate scribblers, that the public
have been led to believe there is nothing to
be commended in this enterprise, but rather
the people should rejoice when an obstacle
is put in the way of the traffic by foreign
power or combination of competitive per-
sons.
To those who take an interest in the
traffic and a pride in its success in common
with all other American enterprises, it may
be said that the increase was almost ex-
in illuminating oil. The increase
-
2S9, 1O5 gallons and the increase in value |
was 81, 4i6, 1863, but. there was decreases in |
the volume as well as value of the crude oil |
during the year and a large de- |
crease. in the exports of naphthas and |
residuum. Lubricatihg oil, however, showed |
O slight increase. The month of June, the !
last reported shows continuation of the |
same condition increasing exports of illum
mating and lubricating oils and decrease in |
the outgo of crude, naphthas and residuum
A close examination of the figures will show
q decline in the price generally for export
and they are sufficient to cast doubt upon
that rule SO often stated by political econo-
mists as infallible. that decline in the
price necessarily stimulates and increases
sales. Those who start with bias of this
Illuminating and lubricating oil as proof,
and shrewdIy say nothing about the
other commodities in which the same re-
suits have not followed. The price of
naphthas has declined about 13 per cent dur
ing the year, but the exports have de-
creased, those for June this year being
but about one-third as much as in the same
month last year. Because this fact does not
verify the rule the philosophers lay down,
they do not like to consider it. The fact is,
people do not buy anything merely because
It is cheap, but if they buy at all it
is because they want it and are able
20 pay the price asked for what
hey want. If price is SO high that the
people cannot pay it, no matter how de-
'irable the article may be, they will not buy
because they cannot. A decrease in the
price may easily stimulate trades under
icle be offered which the people do not
pant reducinu tho price will not iporoo.a |