Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-01
f is BULLlSH


of Mcdonald, the
ever known in the
iucing business, has
pIdity with which it
tateness of its decline
cen experienced. In the
.or it outshone all others.
flashed across the oleg-
and in its flights entirely
esser lights. The briliiancy
re attracted from the other
.fe, wealth and sinews. They
ieally deserted while the new
eemed with energy. 1t was
.th haste and hustle, which fire.
deadened the better Judgment of
orators and caused even old and ex-
iced producers to rush in where green
IS feared to tread With scarcely an
.eption, the first wells were gushers.
rdging from these, and believing that the
ghole country was underlaid with an ocean
OF petroleum. hundreds of wells were
started and drilled, which will never pay
1Or themselves.
In scores of instances only an unforeseen,
but as it subsequently proved, a lucky feat
ure of the Gordon sand saved dozens OF
these wells from being utterly worthless.
Where they were absolutely dry in the nth
sand from whence the bulk of the oil has
been produced, the Gordon sand came to
the rescue. and by putting out from 80 to 800
barrels day will probably pay for the wells
eventually, and few of them may make
little money for the owners.
ItLeads All the Others.
such a wonderful field, such wonderful
Of
money may never be seen again in the bust
ness Before this territory was opened up it
was supposed that the supply of oil produc-
ing sand in tie southwest was exhausted.
Wildwood had been about given up and Nc
Curdy was rapidly nearing the horizon after
enjoying the undivided attention of Penn
Svivania producers for a brief period.
Allegheny now enjoys the distinction of
being the oil producing county of the State,
and it has 9lade a record for itself that al
most eclipses all of the others combined.
one wear akO such magnificent results as
have been Obtained within the limits of this
county were never thought of Although
Mcdonald Is just inside the Washington
county line. the big wells, and nine-tenths
of the rich oil producing sands are
lin Allegheny county. 1t has within six
months prQiuced nearly 100000 barrels of
petroleum. the cheapest illuminant by
which NAH lights the world. The Allie
ghenv co1nty pools, in the order of their
discovery are as follows; Brush Creek;
Jacks Run. Coraopolis, Wildwood, Nc
Cur and last and greatest, Mcdonald.
present knowledge they are
ltas compar red with Mcdonald.
alone would place Allegheny
e head of the oil producing
is distinction has been enjoyed
lmes since 1861 by Yenango,
Aean and Washington. The
obably remain where it rests at
many years to come. The west
this State has been so thoroughly
II, except in the extreme south
ere il is TOO expensive work drilling
ent prices, near that danger of new
of any magnitude is at a minimum.
.perators in all parts of the country are
hoping against hope that no new field will
lie opened. and those disinterested that Nc
Donald may keep on the downward road,
until it loses its prominence at least. One
Of the Oldest and closest operators in the
business. and a member of the Oakdale Oil
Company. asserted yesterday that the finan.
cial condition of the producers and opera
tors was never at a lower ebb than it is at
present
Operators Getting Poorer.
They are continually becoming poorer, he
claims, and see no star of hope ahead, eX-
cept perhaps in material advance in the
market. There are nearly 5000 wells in the
country, and over 40 0G0 of these do not aver
age barrel and half day, or less than 50
cents each.
The first wells in the Mcdonald field were
weu was put down in advance of McCurdy
On the Jonn Robb farm by the OaSdale Gas
COMPANY When it reached the Gordon
sand it began to spray out but, before the
capacity of the well could he definitely ascer-
tained, the tools were lost and the hole had
Ito be plugged. Others were soon afterward
drilled on some OF the surrounding farms. |
ut, as the company was after gas and had |
no idea of the immense lakes of oil near |
them, they stopped at the gas sand and did |
not go to the fifth. These wells were located |
lat least three miles north of Mcdonald /
norough, and west of what later proved to |
lie the genuine oil belt. |
The first well drilled in the Mcdonald |
field proper was put down by the Royal Gas |
Company, of which w. p. and A. II. Logan |
Rre the managers as well as heavy stock |
holders. They were also after gas, and at |
one time held leases on several thousand |
bcres of territory around Mcdonald. On |
Day, $780, the Royal Gas Com |
pany brought in its first well. 1t was located |
on the Ed Mcdonald farm. and made 65 bar |
Fels day for some time. They then drilled 1
on the Mcdonald Bros property, and got D |
showing OF 4 the Gordon sand. 1t was |
4 t. .th subsequently, and after a |
from 20 to 25 barrels a dav.
Operations at Mcdonald.
t well completed was the Royal |
Ipanys No. l on the Sauters, which /
IA II