Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-06-26
The OIL Well.


Monday afternoon the reporter in
company with Col. Hyman made a
visit to the Rocky Mountain oil veil.
General Manager Merritt; met them Oh
Office, where they were shown samples
OF the material taken from the well al
different depth. Each sample was
properly labeled and the samples taken
together give a complete history Of the
different formations passed through
since Mir. Merritt took charge OF the
work. Previous to that tune no samp-
les were kept or at least they are not
now in evidence. The samples show
shale, sand flint and large pieces OF tool
steel. The sand. flint, and shale are the
natural formations and are considered
very favorable by those familiar with the
formations in California and Pennsyl-
vania. Not so, however, with the pieces
OF tool steel taken from the well. They
are either the relics OF a prehistoric age
or they were nIaliciously put there by
seine one Tho had, or imagined he had,a
grudge against tlie company which he
sought TO crafty 10y attempting to ruin
the well. Tie samples OF steel show .llat
they were originally rieces Of a long bar
Of steel winch was broken and bruised
by tue pounding and grinding Of the
heavy drills. \ part of the bar still re-
mains IL the well, behind the iron cas-
ing. To get this steel ont OF the way Of
the dull cost a great deal 81 hard labor
md waste 81 time, beside The ezpendi-
tIre o! Il great deal OF the con. pnny's
money. Patience and perseverance, final
~ ove=cane all obstacles and the bot
tom OF the well Is o a good distance
below where the steel was found and
good progress is being ma lie in drill.
ing.
After the samples had been thorough
ly examined. all went to tae well. Here
were Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. Armstrong.
the d~rllers. and Mr.. Merritt. the engiu-
eer hard at work dressing up a big
dull. This took some time which was
put in by the visitors in looking over
VIC iSlhLh ~ I" liz mhItIInI
taken from the well. Tho plant was
found to be III first class condition and
o: sufficient capacity To do the work.
Some Of the material bad the color OF
crude petroleum and a greasy look,
somewhat resembling printers ink in
color and general appearance. Tie
substance examined was taken from the
well several weeks ago and had been
exposed to the nc lion 81 the air. Still "a
slight petroleum door could be detect
ed
As soon as the bit Was dressed up IT
was lowered to the bottom Of the we'll
and drilling was resumed. The drill
yesterday WIS i'll n formation OF the
hardest kind Of flint. Mr.. Merritt
struck a piece Of the fin: with his knife
and produced almost continuous stream
Of fire. This finty formation is general
ly not over two feet liz thickness in 9th.
or oil fields. Progress through il is
naturally very slow rs the hard rock
simply uses up the BIT and il has to be
frequently taken out and sharpencd.
The working going on yesterday was
drilling and roaming al the same time
tn make a collar in Tic flint upon which
to lower the easing and shut oil the va
ter which nOw stHnda over 800 feet deep
in the well. When this layer ri flint is
passed through and the water shut off.
more rapid progress will he made in
drilling. Mr.. Merritt expects to have
the water shut off today.
Mr.. Merritt is HOW pushing the well
as last az possible and hopes to COM
plete it to - depth Of Of 1000 feet IL oil iE
not struck in paying quantities before
that depth is reached. That the work
was wocfully ~mismanaged before he
took charge 81 it il proven by the
mm"un ~ money expended and time
wasted III accomplishing absolutely
nothing Tor the benefit Of the stock.
holders. Since he assumed the man.
agement the prog ress up to this time
has been SLOW, but it has not been
through any fault 81 his or the men IN.
der him.
But what Of the completion ~ the
wollP The funds Of the company are
abuni exhausted aud unless more are
raiEcd work must stop. This would re-.
suit in incalculable injury to the field
and might delay its development for
years. The writer wants 10 see the
we'll put down to oil or at least to 1000
feet. DO youY