The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-10
REVIEW OF
SOUTHWEST
OIL FIELDS.
eThe scout' Writes Entsrtainingly
of the Situation in the Sew
ernl Districts.
THE EXPERIMENTAL DRILL
Has Not Yet Unsarthsd the Long
wishsd-For New Field-Ksn-
tucly is Condemned.

An0tner week IN tHe WOEIo uL OlluQtu
has passed into history without mark
ing any material change in the general
situation. The earnest endeayor to
discover new productive territory il
stllI as energetIcally prosecuted rs ever.
but developments this week have failed
to bring to light any thing specially I'M
portant or strictly new. The finding Of
a big well week or so ago in the Cor
don sand formation In the northeast
extension in the Campbell's run district
was the incentive In starting consider
able new work and cutting out Of as
much more. The excitement caused by
the striking OF the strasnider well at
CampbelIs run, has subsidized. Yet
there is more than ordinary interest
manifested in the developments than at
any other point. Just at present in the
southwest district. All are anxiously
awaiting the outcome of the new work
started since the advent Of the gusher.
Some are inclined to the opinion that
this well has given the old diggings a
new lease OF life and opened up an
other batch Of good territory which Will
maSrlally increase the new production.
There are other producers equally as
well informed and whose opinions are
entitled to just as muchwelght as those
who take this rosa view Of the sltua-
tlon, say that the northeast extension
Will never produce another well like
the strasnider farm producer and that
Campbell Run has seen its best days
and produced Its largest production.
However this may be, the verdict of the
drill is the only thing that will def
nlteiy settle the argument. and before
this important event comes to pass
considerable time win have elapsed, as
the completion Of deep sander In the
Flat Run country is no small matter.
PREVIOUS to the striking of this well
the Fiat Run territory was. showing
unmistakable signs of drainage, and
big wells were looked upon as a thing
OF the past. 1t is hoped, however for
the welfare OF small producers and
the good Of the trade in general that
no considerable territory that Will
produce big wells will be discovered in
the old campbelrs Run region. This
week has witnessed the exodus of more
prospective oil men to the sunny CLINE
OF old Kentucky and Tennessee. With
these old Rennsylvania and Buckeye
operators have also gone good
sprinixiing Of new hIood-all seeking
fame and fortunes in these much talk
ed about oil diggings.
In conversation with a number Of
them the writer was Informed there
was no other course left for them to
pursus IL they desired to continue in
the business, as the regions producing
Pennsylvania and Trenton rock oil had
been so Thoroughly explored by the
wIldcatter without result and that
there was no available territory in
either the eastern or western fields to
be had At any price. From their con-
versatlon they were not over sangulne
of results. but said they were going to
try and see what there was in Tennes-
see and Kentucky before they threw up
the sponge.
Kentucky Condemned.
In scouting the southwest fields the
writer met Mr.. F. H. Taylor. of the oil
producing Arm of Alemphey. Taylor &
Torrey, ana one of the most practical
and thoroughly posted operators en-
gagged in the production of petroleum.
He told a very interesting story Of his
operations In Kentucky. which on ac-
count Of its valuable information to
the trade and to those contemplating
operating In Kentucky, is here given!
Mr. Taylor for a number OF years has
had the full management of Messrs.
Miller & Slbiey's oil interests In the
southwest and has done n vast amount
Of experimental work, all OF which has
been located upon well defined geolog-
ical theories. He said: II had done
considerable wlldcattlng in Kentucky
and out OF all my explorations failed
to score one tangible result" II have
made as thorough test" he continued,
"as 1t is possible to make, and my can
did opinion is that there is but little
paying territory in the whole state.
True gas abounds in different sections,
and for gas purposes is as good as any
territory you will find anywhere. When
I developed a prolific gas belt. felt
quite sure I would fnd an oil belt on a
parallel line as Is usually the case in
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but In
this / was mistaken in every instance.
and the drill invariably recorded a dis
astrous story. have no faith In either
Kentucky or Tennessee territory, and
have spent all / will In hunting for oil
In an irregular and broken formation
which SO emInently characteriEes the
territory in these two states. Kentucky
ls,rich In gas. but barren OF oil, at least
my costly experience leads me to this
conclusion.
A story which is void OF truth In
every essential has gained currency
and by many, especially those not well
NerBed In the business, believed. This
tale OF bear origin In that one or two OF
the largest corporations engaged In tne
production Of oil have dozens Of wells
drilled into tho sand and plugged They
will all make good producers At any
time they chose 10 open them up but
they have plugged them, taken away
the machinery, torn down the derrick
to give the appearance that the ven
tureB are no good. This, as the story
runs. was all done on the quiet ana tor