Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-10-03
Spcechley Sand Causes Wonder
fttl Activity.

Sand Causes Wonder
ful Activity.
Three months ago the South Penn Oil
Co. branch of the Standard, drilled an
old well on the John s Campbell farm
north of Troutman in Concord twp.
from the fourth sand to the Speechley,
found at depth of about 1850 feet, and
got well which started off at about 10
barrels day 1t is still doing about .
barrels.
This well created a sensation and was
a puZzler TO the owners and all other
oil men. The nearest Speechley sand
oil Heretofore discovered was 90 miles
north in Venango county, and the near
est place where gas had been found was
eight miles northeast in Parker twp.
Two miles south of Butler a well had
been drilled to the Speechley several
years ago and got nothing No one
knew in what direction the belt extend
ed from the new well.
L. d. Brown and the drilling firm Of
Vance, France & Kennedy furnished
an indicator by starting well on a
lease secured by Brown from l. n.
Campbell at the crossroads at Murtland
school house, probably 500 yards north
of the first well. The well was located
at the extreme southeastern corner of
their lease. 1t came in producer of
about the same size as the J. S. Camp
bell well. The South Penn at once
started their No. on the J. S. c., just
across the road not more than 80 feet
from the Brown well, and got little
better producer.
By this time things were in furor
of excitement all over Concord twp. and
especially in Campbell Hollow, Al
though none Of the wells were produc-
ing more than 10 barrels day and cost
from 81, 900 to s., 900 to complete, pros
pectors focked in and began leasing
everything in sight and paying big bo-
nus
The South Penn gathered in most of
the territory in Campbell hollow, though
Brown &.Co. and Nicholas & McGill
also secured good leases. Southwest of
the first wells T. w. Phillips secured
about 1000 acres and Ed. Barnhart &
Co. 400
The Home Gas Co. and Cal Dauben-
speck got some leases at the north end
of Campbell Hollow; T. N Barnsdall,
for the Southern Oil Co. secured the
largest block of territory by going
north into Washington twp. Around
Hooker the Devonian Oil Co. and the
South Penn gathered up most of the
territory.
Jennings Bros and some Pittsburg
firms also secured leases.
At the present writing Campbell Hol-
low is as lively an oil field as was ever
seen in Butler county. Every farm
house is crowded with boarders and the
derricks form veritable wilderness.
1t is said the South Penn has prepar-
ed to drill so wells at once. Here is a
list of what they are working on now,
beginning at the southern end of the
field, their No 3 on the J. S. Campbell,
four on the W. f Murtland, ? on the
Pres Murtland. ON Murtland heirs,
on Jos. Morrow, 2 on Robert Campbell.
4 on l. n Campbell. 3 on Hovey Camp
bell 3 on Ezra Campbell, 2 ON Nancy
Donaldson. on Mrs Marshall, their
No. q on the Mac Kuhn, on Hender
son Donaldson. and two ON the jackson.
This is 23 and indicates some truth in
the S0-well statement These wells are
all started and in various stages of de-
velopment.
THE LATEST STRIKES.
Two were completed Saturday, one
on the Marshall farm north of Hooker
(the most important indicator in the
field and No. / on the w. IT, Murtland
7-acres in Campbell Hollow. The South
Penn will not give any figures but both
wells are good producers, probably
starting off like nearly every other well
in the field at from 10 TO 20 barrels. The
Marshall well indicates that the belt is
at 9east two miles wide and may extend
indefinitely north.
Another well struck, Saturday, was
I. w. Phillips No. on the Plum Bell
south of the j. S. Campbell. 1t is re-
ported good for 10 barrels.
The Southern Oil Co. has wells drill
ing, each on the Robbery and Hen
Donaldson north Of Hooker, / ON the
Varnum at North Washington and on
the Shields Adams at Maple Furnace
Four miles west Of the other develop
ments the Devonian Oil Co. is putting
an old well down from the third to the
Speechley on the Samuel Glenn north
of Sunbury.
In the already defined territory Mich
olas 81 McGill have well due on the
Pres Murtland and are starting two
near the well they struck on the Robert
Campbell three weeks ago. This is the
best well in the field and is pumping
over 20 barrels day. The South Penn
is crowding them and has wells drill
ing within 300 feet of it,
Snee d Co have started on the Ezra
Campbell, the Home Gas Co. & Dauben-
speck are starting thier No. 2 same
farm, and McAnally q Co. are starting
a well on the Brown.
This makes 13 wells drilling by indie
pendent parties which added to the
South Penn's % makes total of 41-of
these the Marshall, Murtland and Bell
are already through the sand.
Last week we noted the sale of 500
acres of undrilled leases by Tebay d
Christy to the South Penn for $50, 900
Here are some other figures of what
farmers rereived as bonus, according to
current report: Hoyey Campbell heirs,
$4,000; Ezra Campbell, $2j00; Pres Murt-
land, $1,000; Henderson Donaldson, $500;
Monroe Donaldson, $3.50; Lee Donaldson
heirs. $4,000; JAS Hindman. $3.50; Stew
art Hindman, $1,000 for half his farm
and $4,000 for the whole oil right in the
other half. We cannot say these figures
are all correct but they are commonly
so.
Every farmer near the field is run
ming hotel, and has more dodgers than
his house can hold.
Boarding and lodging commands s.
and So a week. Rooms cannot be secur-
ed for all and drillers aud dressers drive
long distances to and from work.
An outsider wonders at the great ac-
tiyity when the small size Of the wells
is considered, but every hole drilled has
made a well worth pumping, which
makes drilling comparatively sure in
vestment, the sand is reputed a great
slayer and the oil is of Tiona quality,
the lest in the world, and it is thought
will in time market at Tiona prices.
ANOTHER BIG SALE.
Wednesday the Home Gas Co. and
Cal Daubenspeck sold their leases on
the Ezra Campbell and other farms
northeast Of Hooker to the South Penn
OIL ('p for &tg0DO There IL nno ,raIl