The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-27
FEBRUARYOIL EXPANSION
PHENOMENAL BUSINESS FOR SHORT
MONTH OF THE YEAR.
Preparations Actively Making for an
Energetic Summers Campaign
January and February Figures.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
4dONTPELIER, Ind, Feb 2S.-February
shows a slight decrease in completed work
throughout the oil field. but it does not
signify that there is let-up in operations.
for there is not. For this season of the
year it will go down in history as a phe-
nomenal month. During February there
were 269 wells completed. of which So
proved dry holes or gas wells. The balance
of the wells have a daily output of 4.4S0
barrels, or an average per well per day or
% 10 barrels. The list of new operations
is what looks more favorable, especially
for the laborer and the farmer who enjoys
the royalty without the outlay OF cent.
There are 242 wells under way. and rigs
up for 175 more, which is considered great
activity in this State. New wens are
springing up in all parts OF the field, and
the people who are handling the material
are all kept busy. The demand is so great
for rig timbers that they certainly will take
another big advance, all the rig bottoms
have been picked up. Wells county takes
the lead, as usual, in all branches of the
industry with Grant county a good second.
Grant county has a great future before IL.
as the gas territory is rapidly developing
oh-piOuuNihS piOpNtts. 6too~ao go
very active in Grant county. and as soon
as the weather settles and the roads be-
come passable there will be a great rush
there. Blackboard county also has a fair
outlook for the summers campaign, az
there is abundance of territory in Harrison.
Washington and Licking townships that
is good for oil, and it will be thoroughly
developed the coming summer The drill
has not been pushed much around the In
dian reserve for the past two years. but
the trade has come TO the conclusion that
underneath it lies one of the most produce
tive fields in the State, and ii proposes GO
ing after it. The Standard Oil Company's
branch, the Ohio OIL Company, has leasers
scattered all over the State where there
is likely to be any oil found, taking up
leases, but that company very seldom opens
up any fields, as IL leaves the wild
eating for others TO do, for IL can get
about what it wants after a new field is
opened up. Preparations are being made
for considerable work in Jay county. as
the old-time operators there are anxious
to increase their production and enjoy
some of the good market price now paid for
the crude. Many of them drilled a Al
/ cent IudThcl. lie ctlilC Ndh NC cdiN ia
Adams county. In the last mentioned
county, and in what is known as the State
| pool there is but little work in progress.
| as the only wells drilling in close proxim-
| ity to the Dudgeon farm wells are those
| owned by the Ohio Oil Company. and they
number but four. When they are drilled
| in the new field may not look promising
as IL did, and still. some startling wells
may yet be found there.
| The Sun Oil Company. the Lakewood OIL
| Company and several other local firms will
| drill a large number of wells In the SOUTH
| ern part of Huntington county in the spring
and all indications are that the field Will
| be considerably extended. Madison county
bids fair for another boom, the wells on
| the Carver and other farms near Alexan-
| dria are being put into proper shape, and
| as the gas there has about given out, they
| will in all probab be put to producing
| and others drilled. There certainly is lake
of oil somewhere in that vicinity as the
| Carver well flowed like a tornado when
| il was drilled into the sand couple or
| years ago and caused no end of excitement
1 at that time. Miami, Delaware. Marion
| and Wabash counties will also get some
| good tests during the year. as will several
1 of the miscellaneous counties. Following
| tables give a comparison of work for the
| months of January and February in the
| Indiana oil field: