The Van Buren press., 1898-11-26
"And the circulation of the tiazet,.

sOh ldlul-uO COdl Ho IRON, no ledu
nothing but a little better quality
of rock than appeared on the surface
No one blamed Moses They had taken
"Mother Clark's" word for it. The Ga
zette editorially observed that moth
ing was infallibe, not even a witch
hazel rod, and that under certain eli
matte conditions even the magnetic
needle had been known to have the
jim-lams. For several weeks the Jack
son farm had rest, though the Ga
zette kept OH adding subscribers to its
list and taking in new advertising.
Then something happened to stir up
the public interest again.
"Mother Clark" had heard of her
failure, and she wrote from Mon tana
to explain that she had had a trance
and discovered the reason. There was
basin of coal oil underneath the
farm-a basin holding hundreds of
thousands of barrels of oil 1t was the
oil TIE rod pointed to-not the coal
or iron. She directed that a search
be instituted for surface indications,
but her directions were needless. Even
before her letter arrived the family
well had a greasy surface and taste
of oil, and three days later so much
oil had gathered that bucket was
filled and brought to the surface.
The editor of the Gazette gave up his
entire local page to particulars of the
Great Discovery" 1t was bigger
thing than a coal or iron mine. Oil
wells should be sunk, oil would be
found, and there would be such a
boom as old Richmond county never
dreamed of. There would be a new
railroad line, refining works, factories
who would predict the result? He
prophesied a rush, and there was a
rush. He said that Moses jackson was
getting more than his share Of the
good things of earth, but people didn't
stop o remember anything to Moses
detriment. There were some that
doubted that oil had been found, but
their doubts vanished as they reached
the farm There was the well, the
bucket, the SMELL Plenty of people
descended into the well, and they came
up convinced that petroleum was big
thing. That the coal men had failed
was no reason why the oil men should
not succeed. A dozen Spectators
wanted options before the first week
was over, and every neighboring farm
er who would lease or sell found a
,+ 4 90 4 ha
Jackson farm was taken for one year,
and when the papers had been made
out and the money passed over the
editor of the Gazette expressed his
readiness to figure again with Moses.
"Moses Jackson & Co. will now di.
vide up the sum of $18,OoO," he said as
he laid down his pencil. eve might
have got more by hanging out, but we
are no hogs. The man who knows
when he has got a good thing is the
man who succeeds. Incidentally, /
will add that have had to hire a girl
to book subscriptions, and must now
issue a double edition to provide for
advertisers. Moses you ought to have
about $4,000 in the bank"
"a little more than that" said Moses.
81 move into town next week"
"That is well. You are now a bloat-
ed capitalist and can walk around with
your hands in your pockets. 1t isn't
the end, however. l have something
else in reserve. A few weeks hence we
will have a long confidential talk"
For tn next two months the public
heard nothing from Moses Jackson.
Moses had been experimenting; he had
made a jug with two handles and ap-
piled for patent, and had also discov-
cred the secret of glazing pottery
ware. The editor said that the two
handled jug was the greatest invention
of the age, and gave 154 different rea-
sons for it, Among them was the rea-
son that il one handle broke off there
would still be one left. He computed
the 100000 jug handles were acci-
dentally knocked off each year, and
100000 jugs therefore rendered use
less.
As for the discovery it was worth
hundreds Of thousands of dollars to
the country at large. Pottery could be
glazed beautifully and cheaply, and
the days of tinware were numbered
Not reader of the Gazette brought
up the fact that pottery had been
glazed right along for hundreds ot
years, and that salt thrown into the
kiln at a certain stage was the only
thing needed. 1t read like a new
thing and Moses Jackson was besieged
by strangers and overwhelmed by let
ters. erybody said the two-handled
Jug was good for 100000, and the in
yentors right, title and interest were
disposed of after few days al a good
round sum.
"Moses. l think we will do a little
figuring" said the company, as the
shelf was cleared off. You have about
$4,000 in the bank, take it?'
"Abcut S22OOO," replied Moses.
"A few months ago you were work
ing from daylight till dark for bare
living. In a careless way | may men
tion that a few months ago | was O
dead-broke man and the Gazette was
making its dying kick. Moses, flies
used 10 roost on US"
Yes, they did"
"But the flies roost elsewhere now
My subscription list now numb bera
4,50O, and | have to refuse cash ad
yertising. My rev steam power pres
is a daisy. Let me ask, Moses, if you
sleep and eat well?"
"Never better"
~Aud does your conscience prick
you:"
"Not a prick"
"'Tis well. Moses-'tis well. We have
worked out our claim and the part