The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-18

crude oil of IL million barrels at Neo-
desha, and next year 1t VIII ada Ia
million more. In addition the COM
.pany has increased the capacity of its
refinery from 1000 to $500 barrels
day. In the beginning of its opera
lions in Kansas the company needed |
no very great storage capacity, but
now since the big supply is expected
to be produced in Kansas,it is economy
to esta blish it's storage tanks here. For
the same reason the capacity of the
refinery will be increased from time to
time.
The company also has established a
complete system of pipe lies in this field.
It's mains extend south to BartleSville,
l. T., and north to Chanute and Hum
boldt, and laterals reach out in all di-|
for this service. IT, while waiting for
the pipe line, producers ship to the re-
finery by rail, twenty cents barrel
freight is charged, but the pipe lines
come right to the storage tanks of the
producers and conveys the oil to the re-
finery without charge. The company
even pays a cent barrel for the steam
supplied by the producers plant to
push the oil into the main pipe. Three
per cent is deducted for shrinkage,
which is the only cause of complaint.
In the eastern fields it is 2 per cent,
and occasionally an operator says the
same rule ought to apply here.
Land is increasing in value every day.
Tt is impossible now to get a lease with
out buying it. Land is even sublet and
this week $50 acres without a drill or
hole in it, sold for $4,000. Developed
land is advancing in value many fold.
To illustrate, the properties of the Fed
eral Betterment company, which We're
bought last spring for $155, 600, could not
be bought today for a million. These
properties consist of 1900 acres of
leased land and 800 in fee; sixteen oil
wells that produce 40 barrels day,
| ten gas wells that have a capacity of %
million feet a day, and brick plant
| that is turning out $4,000 pressed brick
a day. This is a great property, but it
ty to make money in this country as
elsewhere, and it languished in feeble
hands.
Last spring it was offered to Willard
Hall and Horace Hall of Topeka and
| they organized the Federal Betterment
| company and bought it. The company
consists of T. e. Weare of Kansas City,
G. j. Lantry Of Strong City, Kan, and
Willard Hall, Horace Hall, F. w. Free
man, John s. Parks and Charles H.
| Pattison of Topeka. Mr.. Pattison is a
| promoter and organizer of recognized
ability and he was made president of
| the new company. He is the man who
combined the cTeamerieS of Kansas into
| the Continental Creamery company of
Topeka and obtained the contract to
supply the United States navy with
| butter. Coming to Cherryvale, Mr.. Pat
tfson took hold of the property and
1
in its reorganization, and now it is the
most promising property in this part of
the state. Mi. Levy says it will be
earning a million a year before it is
| three years older.
Similar stories might be told of
other enterprises in the Cherryvale dis
trict The Federal company is men
toned only because it is the biggest
here and by thrift and foresight it has
jumped from a struggling and un-
profitable enterprise to a concern of
gigantic proportions and great earning
capacity. Another big enterprise here
is the Edgar Zinc company, wi1ich be-
long to a trust, and employs 700 men.
Besides the zinc smelter and the Fed
eral oompany's brick plant, the Cherry
vale gas wells supply fuel for four
other brick plants and a glass factory.
Altogether the Cherryvafe enterprises
employ 1000 men, and in addition the
citizens look for two big glass fac
tories from Indiana to locate here soon.
In the Cherryvale district there are
fifty-seven oil wells that will produce.
now that the pipe line has come. 400
barrels a day. This, however, is only
a. beginning.