Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-11

there was great excitement prevalent
among all the operators and such
scramble for territory as was manifest
lust after the Woods we'll was intro
duced was never experienced here since
the earlier days of the finding Of the
crude stun in this section. As is nat
ural. large bonuses were paid and big
rents demanded by the farmers.
Shortly after this big find was re-
ported Bill Johnston and others, OF
Pittsburg. laid claim to thousands or
acres in and around this well, in fact,
claiming the farm on which the well
was located. due TO the fact that they
held prior lease on all of the lands
in that particular section. which was Of
the ten-year limit. Under their lease
they were compelled to drill one well
in each of the districts in which they
held leases and to pay certain rental.
They drilled the wells as per the terms
of their leases and got dry holes. They,
so it is said, failed to pay the rent as
contracted in the lease since they fin
isbed drilling. 4 short time after the
Woods well came in, it is reported that
they sent a gentleman out with large
amount Of money with instructions 10
pay each farmer his rent, but the farm
ers refused their money and are IN
sympathy with the Elk Fork Oil Com
panv. who were nervy enough TO seek
oil in their neighbOrhOOd. The matter
has been taken to the United States
Court and the case will not be heard
until June. In the meantime an in
iupctiOn is in force restraining the Elk
Fork Oil and Gas Company from sell
ing any of the oil, which has seriously
crippled several Of the stockholders, who
have a very limited amount of capital
and are unable TO put up the assess
ments levied upon them 10 develop the
territory which they claim they have
a clear title to. The litigation now
pending will also include an extra and
heavy expense.
These men have received a charter
as the Elk Fork Oil and Gas Company.
and have elected officers TO look after
the affairs of the company and they
are old and experienced oil men and
feel assured they will be perfectly safe
i'm spending a good round sum TO
fight the case.
The Venus Oil Company's we'll on the
church lot is making p barrels an hour
and holding up nicely.
The Huling and Brenneman wells
are doing about the same and the stay
ing qualities of the entire production
out there is about on an average or %
barrels an hour for each well. The
we'll of Nichols & Huling, on the Woods
farm. has not. at the time of writing
reached the pay, but is expected in at
any moment. As it lies close up TO
the other wells there is not bit OF
doubt but that it will be another gush-
er of the same calibre as its predeces-
sOrs.
l.. A. Brennaman is putting the tim
bers on the ground for another rig on
the joy farm and one on the Wetzel
farm. more to the northeast of the 9TH
or locations on these farms.
G. &. Foster, field superintendent for
the Atlas Oil Company. of Pittsburg. is
erecting TWO rigs on the Hawkins farm
to the southeast of the Woods we'll
about quarter OF mile.
Treat & Crawford, on the Hawkins
farm. should reach the sand by tonight
or tomorrow morning. and the result
will he of importance as this well is
about half mile from other producers
in a south of east direction.