The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-10
ACTIVITY AT VAN BUREN,
THAT OIL FIELD Is DEVELOPING A
LARGE AMOUNT OF WEALTH.
Alleged Slayer of Omcer Lee Arrest
During Their Mothers Absence.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
MARION, Ind. Dec. 9.-Situated as 1t Is
In the center OF oil field embracing a
tract of 40 square miles. 1t is not strange
that Van Buren,. this county. should feel
the Importance of it's position among the
thriving towns of Indiana. The steady al
vance in the price of crude oil has stimu-
lated operations wonderfully. and men of
experience and sound judgment predict
that the price will yet reach SIS per bar
rel before il begins to decline. Oil to-day is
quoted at SLIP. BY actual demonstration
IL has been shown only recently that the
oil field is slowly stretching away south
ward. The fact impressed itself upon the
business end OF the Sun Oil Company. now
operating in the Van Buren, field. and the
agents of the company have been instruct
ed 10 press further into the undeveloped
territory. The results have been entirely sat-
isfactory, since the wells. three In number.
which have been put down on the Lynn
farm, two miles south and one mile west
OF Van Buren, have shown a good produc-
ton Of oil. The first and second wells pro-
duce one hundred barrels per day each.
This is the farthest point south which has
been reached successfully by any company.
Among the companies operating in this
field are the Ohio Oil Company, Sun Oil
Company. Betmer & Watson, Betmer Light
and Fuel Company, Argue q McKisson and
]. r. keenan,. 1t is estimated that there
are one thousand wells In operation in the
Van Buren, field, and the total production
will exceed the usual average of four bar
rels per well per day. This makes the field
the most productive for the number OF
wells In operation IN the country. a fact of
which the citizens, of the little town are
justly proud
The Huntington Qnd) Light and Fuel
Company operates number of gas wells
In this county near Van Buren,. For sew
eral years gas was piped TO huntington,
Warren and Van Buren, through six-inch
pipe. Last summer, however, the consump-
ton became so great st to render this six
inch pipe inadequate. and another six-inch
pipe was laid alongside the first one. The
company Is now considering the advisable
ity OF building a pumping station near Van
Buren, ct a cost of 10000. This company Is
furnishing fuel for twenty-five strings of
tools in the employ of the oil companies:
The outcome of the suit in the Circuit
Court here to prevent the piping or gas
will have bearing on this proposed enter
prise. and IL is understood that the COM
pany's plans hinge on the forthcoming
verdict.
The Ohio Oil Company has Isl producing
wells and Is drilling others with its eleven
strings of tools. The company employs
fifty-one men at steady work and twenty
extras. These are paid on an average SO
per month. There are probably 400 men
employed in the field. They are paid as
follows: Drillers. $135 per month; tool
dressers, 500 per month; bumpers, $50 per
month: well shooters. Sis per month;
gaugerS, 800 per month. There are but
two gaugers employed I'm the Van Buren,
field, but the work has increased so much
within the past few months TO make
IL necessary 10. employ third 1t Is said
that over 5000 is paid out monthly in
wages at Van Buren, With such an enor-
nous traffic Van Buren, presents an active
aspect every day IN the week and business
Is brisk at all times.