The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-02
ADVISES EXTREME CAUTION
OWNERS or OIL LANDS SHOULD BE
WARY or SPECTATORS.
Mr., w. A. WhecIdop Recalls the Fate
of the Pcnnsyivanin OIL Fields
Under MonopoIistic Control.

An analysis OF the produc. from the
Beaumont oil we'll was made in Houston
on January 81 by Mr.. w. A. Whceldon,
general baggage clerk of the Southern Pa
cifo railroad, after which he pronounced
1t Of excellent quality, good for illumi-
mating, ubricating and fuel purposes
Since that time Mr. Wheeldon has not
changed in the slightest degree from the
opinion he formed then. He SIN says IT
is a valuable product and discountenances
those analyses that discredit it's valuable
properties. Mr.. Wheeldon thinks specu-
lators are responsible for most of the
INTERPRETATIONS which he declares have
been made as to the real value OF the
oil, and ne suggests that land owners
should be very cautious in leasing their
lands. especially guarding against bind
ing themselves with changing contracts.
Speaking OF the results of monopoistic
control of The oil fields Mr. Wheeldon
grew reminiscent yesterday, and recalled
the time when the Standard Oil company
went into the Pennsylvania fields. He
said;
I'm 1867 I was head distiler and as
sistant chemist of the Union refinery.
to that year. it being then that the
Standard came in, there were many popu-
| lous aud prosperous towns all through
the oil sections. The people had plenty
| OF money too, and everybody seemed
happy and contented. 1t was remarka-
| bic sight to see one OF those towns on
Saturday night. after the weeks labor
had been done. The streets fairly
swarmed with happy. prosperous popu-
/ q no
chose. but most OF them investing in
such articles as would make their home
life more comfortable.
But things were destined to change
from this happy aud contented state, for
no sooner did the great oil octopus in
wade the section than it commenced
Throwing its tentacles around, squeezing
the vitality from every industry, by rob
bling it of its source of support.
at was not many weeks then until
the erstwhile happy and prosperous citi'
aens had to seek other localities TO Sc
cure employment, for with the invasion
OF the octopus came its retrenching poll-
cies. A pipe line was Instituted and &
comparative few men did the work tina
had required the services Of many. The
railroads were affected also. and within
a few months the towns that had beef
populous and thriving were PRACTICAL!
dcserted-grown UP in grass and weeds.
Now / believe that the same fate vii
overtake the Texas oil fields, unless thu
owners of the lands are extremely eau
tious in their deals with the spectators
would advise against any man leasing
piece of oil-producing land without haV
Ing first submitted the proposed contrac
to well informed and competent at
n torney. There are leases and there ar
= other leases. Our people should acquain
: themselves with the various forms an
be on their guard
. by the way. / see from the newspa
pers that a number Of Northern an
$. Eastern chemists have borne me out i
the analysis-I made, and which was pub
=, lished in The Post on January 80, an
: think all those who are uninterested !
c the dscrediting Of the product for tn
= benefit OF the monopolists win arrive a
n the same conclusions l reached ate
making my analysis"