The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-16
HOTEL LOBBY CLEANINCS
OFFICERS OF SENATE ASPHALT AND
OIL COMPANY MEET.
The Gathering at EngIish's Looked
Like One of Political Significance
Stories from the Hotels.

The lobby of the English was the Mecca
of a number of well-known politicians last
evening, and to the casual observer it
seemed that there must be something Of po-
litical import in the air. The crowd had
much the appearance of the one that
filled the hotel lobby every evening during
the session of the Legislature, although
statesmen were not quite so numerous as
they were then. However, IL developed that
the men were In the city on a strictly bust
ness mission as all disclaimed any political
purpose in their visit.
During the closing days Of the Legisla-
ture a number of the senators and former
state officials became interested In the or
ganization of a corporation known as the
Senate Asphalt and Oil Company, formed
to exploit some oil and mineral property in
the State of Wyoming. The officers and
several Of the directors Of the company
held an informal meeting here yesterday
afternoon to discuss their investment, and
this was the occasion of the gathering OF
the erstwhile politicians. Among those here
for the meeting were State Senators Eban
II. Wolcott, of Wolcott; j. @. Powell, of
Logansport, and Charles Whitcomb, Of
Terre Haute; former Secretary OF State
Union B. Hunt, of Winchester; Isaac n.
Crawford. OF Logansport; George w. Pow
ell, OF indianapolis NJ. T. Hidden, of Terre
Haute; Secretary of State Daniel z.
Storms and George w. Gonser, Indianapo-
lis. former deputy secretary or state.
Senator WOicott said last evening that
the meeting was not one OF especial impor-
lance. I'VE are merely making some ar
rangements for the further investigation OF
our property" he said. I'VE have had a
report from experts who have gone over
the ground and we arranging to send
George Powell, of Indianapolis, and /. n.
Crawford, of Logansport, out to Wyoming
to make further inspection. A Mr.. De
Noon. of wyoming. from whom we pur-
chased the land. was here, stopping on on
his way to New York city. He is one of the
large stockholders in the company and he
brought us very encouraging reports.
The oil field in Wyoming is compare
lively new. but il Is enjoying boom SINH
lar TO the oil booms in Pennsylvania, Ohio
and Indiana of recent years. Our company
owns and controls l. 600 acres OF land in the
center of the Belle Fourche district. located
in Crook county, Wyoming. The land has
been examined by biologists and oil ex-
perts and pronounced to exceed any In the
State. The country Is full of asphalt, oil
and minerals. The rock lodges are satu-
rated with 1t. and they say that hole can
not be dug to any depth without having oil
seep into II, while the springs are covered
with it. The asphalt crops out In the
gulches. and the prairie dogs In making
their holes, bring II to the surface. We
think we have a pretty good thing and ex-
pect to begin developing the property as
soon as we can hear from our own repre-
sentatives."
The officers of the company are Union B.
Hunt, president Senator Powell, vice pres
ident; G. A: Conzman. Terre Haute. treas
tary: Judge NJ. B. Larry. Logansport, coun-
sci, and George w. Gonser. Indianapolis,
field manager.