Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-25
.FRED[R|KA' 5 OIL FIND
Little Attention Being Paid to
What May Prove Of Much
Importance.
Oil Is OF Good Quality and There
Is No Fake About
The Only Question Is Whether 1t
Can Be Found in Paying
Quantities.
Special to rimes-Republican


Wavery, Jan 25.-The excitement
over finding of oil at Frederika in thu
northern part of this county has some
what subsidized So much fraud and de-
ception have been practiced relative to
oil prospects that people look upon the
stories that oil has been discovered with
suspicion and distrust, and in the ma
jority Of cases their suspicion and dis
trust is well founded. They are SO used
to being made the targets of unprinci-
pied schemers or invited upon wild
goose chases by visionary cranks, that
when sample of almost pure oil is laid
before them with the statement that it
was pumped from the ground in just
that condition, they smile a knowing
smile, and perhaps tell their interviewer
that they have heard of such things
before-of an orchard that grows baked
apples. of a pumpkin vine that grows
delicious pumpkin pies. ETC., but that
they have been too busy to go and veri-
fy the truth of these alleged phenome-
ma. The trouble with the F'rederika oil
is that 1t is too good to pass easily as
natural product. According to recent
analysis made by Prof. w. L. McClem-
ent of the Armour Institute of Chicago,
its composition is as follows: Light oils.
65 per cent kerosene, So per cent; resi-
due SIS per cent, made up of charcoal,
non-condensible gases, oil adhering to
the condenser. etc. To be asked to be-
lieve that nature has had refinery in
operation here in Iowa while denying
this boon to the rest Of the world Is
something to tax the credulity OF the
dullest of wits to say nothing of keen
man of affairs, familiar with the con-
ditions under which oil is usually found
and alive to the multifarious and subtle
schemes that are put afioat to catch the
unwary. THE wells are sailed that
is the conclusion that the practical oil
man almost invariably arrives at when
the Frederika proposition is brought to
his notice, and that. in truth, was the
opinion for time of most of the people
of this city and even of some of the res
dents of Frederika when the find was
first announced This opinion shared
favor with another one-that the oil had
In the ground to vein OF water lead
ing to the wells. Both of these theories
have been so thoroughly disposed OF
that it is doubtful whether there is
single man now at Frederick who
would not bet his last dollar that the
oil is a genuine natural product, and
Frederika has its full share of skeptics
and croakers. So far as we know, how
ever, but one practical oil man has
shown interest enough to visit Fred
erika. That was Mr.. Scott Haywood of
the Haywood Oil Company, OF Beau
mont. Texas. He went there sharing the
general skepticism, but after spending
a few days in careful investigation,
came away an enthusiast having pre-
viously obtained an option on some
lands there and bound his company to
begin development work next summer.
An option of some few hundred acres
was obtained by Greeley G. Getch OF
Nashua some time before but in all the
oil rights only about 1000 acres have
been contracted for. No one as yet has
tried to launch any kind of a company,
and If deception had been practiced the
motive would certainly have developed |
by this time. But as a matter of truth |
there has been no deception. That the
oil 10 there In a natural state is too we'll
established to admit Of conjecture. The
only question is as to it's quantity, and
that can only be ascertained by delving |
deep into the earth.